With NHL rosters finalized and the season underway, we take a look at the top 10 players not currently playing in the NHL.10. Rasmus DahlinDahlin is the projected No. 1 overall pick in the 2018 NHL draft. The 6-foot-2 Swedish blue-liner is currently playing for Frolunda in the Swedish Hockey League, and already has a goal and assist in four games. Not bad for a 17-year-old playing with grown men.He's fast, he's skilled, and he's nasty. Frolunda veteran Joel Lundqvist, the twin brother of Henrik, claims he's never played with a better prospect. And that's saying a lot considering he played with a young Erik Karlsson.9. Jesse PuljujarviPuljujarvi wasn't good enough to make the Oilers out of camp, but he's good enough to be on this list. The 19-year-old is a rare blend of size (6-foot-4, 211 pounds) and speed. There's a lot of NHL rosters he would probably be on, but the Oilers decided that a little more seasoning can't hurt.8. Kirill KaprizovKaprizov, 20, was a fifth-round pick by the Wild back in 2015, and has already proved to be a steal, without stepping foot on an NHL rink. Last season in the KHL, he set a league record for most points in a season by a teenager with 42, surpassing Evgeny Kuznetsov. He was also the Forward of the Tournament at the 2017 World Juniors, leading the tournament with nine goals.Kaprizov is proving that 2016-17 was no fluke, as he already has seven goals and five assists in 13 games this season.7. Kasperi KapanenKapanen simply got caught in a numbers game. Toronto's depth on the wings is second-to-none in the league. The Finn proved to be too good for the AHL a year ago, tallying 43 points in as many games as a 20-year-old. With his quickness and offensive skill, it's scary to think what he'll do this year.6. Thomas ChabotChabot was the best defenseman in the CHL last year, and took home MVP honors at the 2017 World Juniors. He has the potential to be a true No. 1 defenseman, but Ottawa opted to send him to the minors to work on the finer details of his game. He's big, he can skate, and he's creative offensively. Don't anticipate him being in the minors long.5. Pavel DatsyukDatsyuk may be 39 years old now, but he could certainly still play in the NHL if he wanted to. In his last season with Detroit, he still averaged 0.72 points per game in an injury-riddled campaign. He's off to a good start in the KHL this year, as he has already collected 22 points in 18 games.Though his speed and explosiveness has obviously declined, his hands, smarts, and dominance in the faceoff circle that made him a perennial Selke candidate would still make him an effective player in the NHL today.4. Eeli TolvanenIt may be early, but Eeli Tolvanen is already looking like the steal of the 2017 NHL Draft. Chosen 30th overall by the Predators, Tolvanen already has 10 goals and eight assists in 14 games in the KHL, placing him ninth in points and sixth in goals in league scoring. Not bad for an 18-year-old.3. Nikita GusevGusev, a seventh-round pick by the Lightning in 2012, has become a star over in Russia. In 18 KHL games this year, he is leading the league in points with 27. This is no fluke, either, as he finished fourth in league scoring a year ago with 71 points.Gusev's rights are now owned by the Vegas Golden Knights, and he would surely be a marquee player for them if he didn't just sign a two-year extension with SKA St. Petersburg.2. Slava VoynovDespite his terrible actions off the ice, Voynov is the best defenseman outside the NHL. Keep in mind, he was a 22-minute per night defenseman on a Stanley Cup-winning team in Los Angeles, and that was when he was 24 years old. Voynov is now 27 and in the prime of his career, as evidenced by his 37-point season a year ago.1. Ilya KovalchukKovalchuk may be 34 years old now, but there's no doubting that he would still be able to make an impact in the NHL today. He's coming off a career-best 78-point season in the KHL, and is showing no signs of slowing down this year, as he already has 16 goals in 18 games. He still has a lethal shot, and that plays in any league.(Photos courtesy: Action Images)Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

In the words of "Slap Shot" icon Jim Carr, "Good seats are still available."The Ottawa Senators will open their season on home ice Thursday against the Washington Capitals, but there are no assurances the game will be played before a full house.Speaking Wednesday with Sportsnet's "Prime Time Sports," Senators owner Eugene Melnyk was unsure if the team's first game of the campaign would bring a maximum capacity crowd to the Canadian Tire Centre in Kanata."I don't know. We're trying, but if we can't, we can't. What are you going to do?" Melnyk said. "Yeah, we could go out and stand on the corner and sell them for the best price. If we do (sell out), that's great. If we don't, well, it's a long season."The issue of empty seats has long dogged the Senators, who were unable to sell out postseason contests last year despite the team finishing one goal shy of a Stanley Cup Finals berth.Last month, Ottawa took aim at its attendance woes by announcing it will remove 1,500 upper-level seats in an effort to create a more intimate crowd at the home rink."What's crazy, it's the 'cheapy' seats that don't sell," Melnyk added. "By the way, that's what we covered up. We covered up 1,500 of the cheapest seats in the stadium because they're such an eyesore and people don't want to sit up there."According to ESPN, the Senators averaged 16,744 in attendance last season, ranking 21st league wide, a figure that falls three spots lower when based on percentage, the worst showing among Canadian clubs.The Senators feel a move out of suburban Kanata and closer to their greater fan base in Ottawa's city center will improve the box-office performance. The club has submitted a bid to build in the downtown district of LeBreton Flats, and hopes to have a deal in place by early 2018.In the meantime, fans could also be skeptical to show up Thursday due to the absence of superstar defenseman and captain Erik Karlsson, who won't be in the lineup as he continues to recover from offseason foot surgery.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

On a night when the defending champions raised their second straight Stanley Cup banner, the most followed team in the league poured in seven goals, and Connor McDavid scored a hat trick, it was pretty tough to stand out.Wayne Simmonds is probably used to quietly going about his business by now, though, and the Philadelphia Flyers forward did just that to start the 2017-18 season, netting a hat trick of his own versus the San Jose Sharks on Wednesday night.Simmonds is by no means a flashy player, yet he's among the most prolific goal-scoring wingers the NHL has to offer. His performance versus the Sharks was a prototypical example of what makes him so effective.Two of Simmonds' goals were scored with the man advantage, both coming off deflections from his office just outside the crease. Last season, Simmonds totaled 16 power-play tallies, the second-highest total in the NHL. Looking at the data, it's easy to identify where he does his damage.(Chart courtesy: hockeyviz.com)Simmonds added an empty-netter to complete the third three-goal night of his career, giving him an early advantage in his attempt to reach the 30-goal plateau for a third consecutive season.Over the past two seasons, Simmonds has combined for 63 goals, which ranks 12th league-wide. He's convincingly outscored Flyers teammates Claude Giroux (36) and Jakub Voracek (31) over that span, and both those players earn over $8 million per season, compared to Simmonds' $3.975-million cap hit. Talk about bang for your buck.Simmonds' sparkling debut may have fallen through the cracks during a thrilling opening night, but with the way he scores goals, he's bound to catch the hockey world's attention sooner or later.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

As expected, Ottawa Senators captain Erik Karlsson will miss the club's season opener Thursday as he recovers from offseason foot surgery.Though he won't be in the lineup versus the Washington Capitals, general manager Pierre Dorion said he's hopeful Karlsson will be ready to go Saturday when Ottawa hosts the Red Wings.Karlsson underwent surgery to repair torn tendons in his foot following the Senators' run to the Eastern Conference Final, and previously stated he won't play until he's 100 percent, no matter how long it may take.With Karlsson unavailable, here's a look at the Senators' defensive pairings.

The Ottawa Senators signed defenseman Mark Borowiecki to a two-year contract extension which will carry an average annual value of $1.2 million.The 28-year-old recorded one goal and two assists in a career-high 70 games last season, and led the NHL in both hits (364) and penalty minutes (154) despite missing 12 games.Borowiecki was drafted 139th overall in 2008, and was the first Ottawa native selected by the Senators.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Buffalo Sabres will begin the new season with a group of leaders.The four-man group of Ryan O'Reilly, Zach Bogosian, Kyle Okposo, and Jack Eichel will wear the "A"s for the Sabres this season, the team announced Thursday.The news comes just two days after the Sabres signed Eichel to an eight-year, $80-million extension, making him the face of the franchise.Brian Gionta, who remains an unrestricted free agent, captained the Sabres for the past three seasons. O'Reilly and defenseman Josh Gorges served as alternate captains last year.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The San Jose Sharks appear to have sniffed out something worthwhile in Kevin Labanc.To begin 2017-18, the 21-year-old winger is being given every chance to succeed at the NHL level. He's being deployed on the top line alongside Joe Thornton and Joe Pavelski, and being offered power-play time to boot.He made good with two goals in the first period of Wednesday's eventual loss to Philadelphia, becoming the first Sharks player to achieve that feat in a season opener.Both goals were nice, but the first showed off some special skill.

The Winnipeg Jets were absolutely embarrassed on home ice to open the season against the Toronto Maple Leafs, and fingers can be pointed in multiple directions, but it all comes down to the fact that Paul Maurice has been unable to institute discipline and structure into his team.Maurice signed a multi-year extension to remain the Jets' head coach prior to the season, so his job appears to be safe, but if he fails to make some adjustments, the Jets will once again be on the outside looking in when it comes to the Western Conference playoff picture - despite boasting one of the league's most talented rosters.Poor special teams and peewee caliber defensive zone structure were the two most glaring issues in Winnipeg's 7-2 loss to the Leafs - and it's been this way as long as Maurice has been behind the Jets' bench.Last season, only the Ducks and Flames were shorthanded more often than the Jets, who owned the fifth-worst penalty kill in the league. On Wednesday against Toronto, they found themselves shorthanded on four occasions, and surrendered two power play goals.Then there's the power play. You'd think a unit featuring Patrik Laine, Dustin Byfuglien, and Mark Scheifele would be among the most dangerous in the league, but last year they boasted the 18th-most efficient power play. Only three playoff teams - Chicago, Ottawa, and San Jose - were worse with the man advantage. On Wednesday night, their power play was 0-for-8.While the special teams were atrocious, their defensive zone structure would have made any Jets fan want to throw up. Here are a few examples:

Connor McDavid did not disappoint on the first night of the regular season.The Edmonton Oilers superstar provided all of the offense in a 3-0 victory over the Calgary Flames, capping off a hat trick with an empty-netter in the final minute.Watch: McDavid absolutely burns Flames for 2nd goal of gameMcDavid scored three goals in a game for the second time in his young NHL career, and became the first Oiler to notch a hat trick in the club's first game of the season, according to TSN.He's also the first player in franchise history to post multi-goal games in back-to-back season openers, according to Sportsnet.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New season, same explosive Connor McDavid.The reigning Hart Trophy winner picked up right where he left off in the Edmonton Oilers' opening game of 2017-18 on Wednesday night, pouncing on a loose puck in his own zone, going the length of the ice, and firing home his second goal of the contest against the Calgary Flames midway through the third period.It's only one game, but McDavid - who opened the scoring in the first period Wednesday - shouldn't have much trouble surpassing last season's 30-goal total.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

One thing is certain when the Toronto Maple Leafs and Winnipeg Jets meet: There will be goals, lots of goals.Wednesday night was no exception, as the Maple Leafs skated to a 7-2 trouncing of the Jets. For both clubs, there was a lot to like and a lot to hate about how they kicked off the regular season.Here are four takeaways from the 2017-18 season's first game:Maple Leafs firepower is incredibleIt wasn't necessarily a secret, but the Maple Leafs reminded the Jets that their lineup is offensively sound.The Maple Leafs fired seven pucks past Jets netminders, resulting in six players picking up multiple points, including Auston Matthews and James van Riemsdyk with three apiece.The Maple Leafs really showed just how offense-heavy their top-nine is, as Zach Hyman was the only member of the top three lines who didn't register a point.It's not enough to just key in on Matthews and William Nylander.Jets goaltending still has holesEarlier in the day, Jets head coach Paul Maurice said that his team would need "average goaltending" this season if they want to improve. Well, they got anything but that Wednesday.Steve Mason was pulled early in the third period after giving up his fifth goal on just the 20th shot. Connor Hellebuyck entered in relief, but didn't fare much better, giving up two goals on the 11 shots he faced.The Jets controlled the majority of the play to begin the game, and there's no question the rest of the club must've felt defeated by the goals against.Heading into the season, goaltending was the Jets biggest question mark and is key to their postseason potential. If tonight's trend continues, it seems the club will be back to square one.Marleau with a memorable debutThen there was Patrick Marleau.In his first regular-season game not with the San Jose Sharks, the veteran looked anything but 38 years old, finishing with two goals, including a dazzling first as a Maple Leaf off a slick feed from Matthews.Marleau fired five shots on goal, played on both the power play and penalty kill, and even threw his body around. He might be oldest Maple Leafs forward, but he by no means looked out of place.Andersen helped Leafs weather Jets' barrageWhile the Maple Leafs' offense was the story of the night, things could've looked a lot different if Frederik Andersen hadn't had such an amazing game - actually, first period, to be more precise.The Jets took the game to the Maple Leafs early in the first, thanks in large part to three power-play chances. In all, the Jets hammered 17 shots at Andersen in the first period with nothing to show. Andersen would keep the Jets off the board until late in the third, and finished the night with 35 saves on the 37 shots thrown his way.Andersen got a full training camp and is injury-free - which wasn't the case last year - and if Wednesday was any sign, it appears to have done the 28-year-old wonders.(Photos courtesy: Action Images)Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Patrik Laine didn't hold back after a forgettable opening night for his Winnipeg Jets."This was just embarrassing. I'm ashamed," the young Jets star said after a blowout loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs on Wednesday night, according to Finnish reporter Sami Hoffren.Despite out-shooting the Leafs through 40 minutes, the Jets trailed 4-0 after two periods and allowed three more goals in the final stanza en route to a 7-2 defeat.Laine picked up an assist on Mark Scheifele's goal midway through the third, but the game was far out of hand by that point. He managed only two shots on goal in more than 18 minutes of ice time, more than eight of which came on the power play.The Jets failed to convert on all eight of their power-play chances in the game, while the Leafs scored on two of their four opportunities with the man advantage.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It's more deja vu for the Pittsburgh Penguins, but they'd probably tell you it doesn't get old.The two-time defending champs watched as the staff at PPG Paints Arena raised the club's second consecutive Stanley Cup championship banner to the rafters Wednesday night before their game against the St. Louis Blues.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

On the eve of the Anaheim Ducks' first game of the 2017-18 season, the team has signed defenseman Josh Manson to a four-year contract extension, with Manson himself announcing the news on the Ducks' Twitter account.The contract will pay Manson $4.1 million per season for a total of $16.4 million, according to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.Manson's extension will kick in at the conclusion of this season and will keep the 25-year-old with the club through the 2021-22 campaign.Last season, the 2011 sixth-round pick played a career-high 82 games while setting a career high with five goals and 17 points. He also finished second on the team with 227 hits and sixth with 79 blocked shots.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Jaromir Jagr is a Calgary Flame.The legendary forward met the media for the first time as a member of his new team Wednesday, moments after the club confirmed his one-year, $1-million contract.

Toronto Maple Leafs forward William Nylander is apparently letting his play do the talking in 2017-18, as he told Sportsnet's Chris Johnston he doesn't plan to negotiate a contract extension during the season.Nylander has one year left on his entry-level contract before hitting restricted free agency. He became eligible to sign a new deal on July 1.For now, Nylander's focus is on the present, as he'll try to build off a sterling rookie campaign in which he potted 22 goals and 39 assists, helping the Maple Leafs make the playoffs.The eighth overall pick in 2014 has recently seen a few of his draft mates - namely David Pastrnak (25th overall) and Nikolaj Ehlers (ninth overall) - sign long-term extensions.Both players serve as good comparisons to what Nylander could be offered.PlayerContractCareer P/GPPastrnak6-year $40M0.71Ehlers7-year $42M0.66Nylander?0.71Nylander, of course, can stake his claim to earn more than his peers if he improves this season. And based on the way he looked alongside linemate Auston Matthews in the preseason (seven points in four games), waiting it out could be the best course of action for him to cash in.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Daniel Winnik has translated a camp tryout into a full-time gig, signing a one-year, $660,000 deal with the Minnesota Wild on Wednesday.Winnik joined the Wild on a professional tryout offer last month. His showing in the preseason, in which he tallied one point in five games, was enough to earn a spot with the team.Winnik, 32, recorded 25 points in 72 games with the Washington Capitals last season.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Arizona Coyotes are not rushing to name a new captain.Instead, defensemen Oliver Ekman-Larsson and Niklas Hjalmarsson will serve as alternate captains to begin the 2017-18 NHL season, while centers Derek Stepan and Brad Richardson, as well as defenseman Alex Goligoski, will serve as a third alternate on a rotating basis."After numerous discussions and thorough evaluation during training camp, (head coach) Rick (Tocchet) and I have decided that it's best to go with five alternate captains to start the season," general manager John Chayka announced Wednesday."With a new head coach and several new players joining the organization, this will be a transition year as far as leadership is concerned. Fortunately, we have a very strong leadership group in our dressing room and collectively, we're confident that these players will do an excellent job leading our team on and off the ice."The Coyotes are a young squad, and Tocchet - who will decide game-by-game who wears the third "A" - will rely on his veterans to provide guidance in the room and on the ice."This is a great opportunity for Oliver, Nik, Derek, Brad, and Alex to step up and demonstrate their leadership abilities," Tocchet said. "We need everyone in our room to lead but these five players are all great people and have the necessary NHL experience to collectively guide our team. I'm excited for them and the challenge ahead."The captaincy was left vacant when Arizona announced it would not re-sign longtime leader Shane Doan.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Former NHL forward Ray Whitney has accepted a role with the Department of Player Safety, the league announced Wednesday.Whitney's hiring comes less than one month after former NHL enforcer George Parros was selected to lead the department, taking over for Stephane Quintal.Whitney, 45, spent 21 seasons in the NHL before retiring in 2014.A Stanley Cup champion with the Carolina Hurricanes, he finished his career with 1,064 points and 465 penalty minutes in 1,330 games.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

To celebrate the start of the 2017-18 regular season, the NHL and Twitter have teamed up to create official hashtag-triggered emojis for all 31 teams.Fans can add team logos to their tweets by using the following hashtags:NHL TeamTwitter HandleHashtagAnaheim Ducks@AnaheimDucks#LetsGoDucksArizona Coyotes@ArizonaCoyotes#YotesBoston Bruins@NHLBruins#NHLBruinsBuffalo Sabres@BuffaloSabres#SabresCalgary Flames@NHLFlames#CofRedCarolina Hurricanes@NHLCanes#RedvolutionChicago Blackhawks@NHLBlackhawks#BlackhawksColorado Avalanche@Avalanche#GoAvsGoColumbus Blue Jackets@BlueJacketsNHL#CBJDallas Stars@DallasStars#GoStarsDetroit Red Wings@DetroitRedWings#LGRWEdmonton Oilers@EdmontonOilers#LetsGoOilersFlorida Panthers@FlaPanthers#FlaPanthersLos Angeles Kings@LAKings#GoKingsGoMinnesota Wild@mnwild#mnwildMontreal Canadiens@CanadiensMTL#GoHabsGoNashville Predators@PredsNHL#PredsNew Jersey Devils@NJDevils#NJDevilsNew York Islanders@NYIslanders#IslesNew York Rangers@NYRangers#NYROttawa Senators@Senators#SensPhiladelphia Flyers@NHLFlyers#LetsGoFlyersPittsburgh Penguins@penguins#LetsGoPensSan Jose Sharks@SanJoseSharks#SJSharksSt. Louis Blues@StLouisBlues#AllTogetherNowSTLTampa Bay Lightning@TBLightning#GoBoltsToronto Maple Leafs@MapleLeafs#TMLtalkVancouver Canucks@Canucks#CanucksVegas Golden Knights@GoldenKnights#VegasGoesGoldWashington Capitals@Capitals#ALLCAPSWinnipeg Jets@NHLJets#GoJetsGoHere they are in action:

Alex Chiasson signed a one-year, $660,000 contract with the Washington Capitals following a successful training camp tryout.The deal is one-way in nature.The winger registered 12 goals (11 at even strength) and 12 assists in 81 games with the Calgary Flames last season.Chiasson was drafted 38th overall by Dallas in 2009, and has totaled 106 points (50 goals, 56 assists) in 320 career NHL games with the Stars, Ottawa Senators, and Flames.As a reminder, Chiasson was included in a package sent to the Senators in the Jason Spezza trade back in 2014.He'll now be counted on to provide scoring depth for a Capitals team looking to keep its Stanley Cup window wide open.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The bar has been set.In order for the Winnipeg Jets to succeed this season, the team simply needs to get "average goaltending" out of Connor Hellebuyck and new addition Steve Mason, head coach Paul Maurice told TSN."In order for them to have that, a couple of things got to happen, maybe three," Maurice added. "We've got to stay out of the penalty box. When we can't stay out of the penalty box, we've got to do a much better job killing penalties."Maurice may be on to something. Hellebuyck, alongside Michael Hutchinson, allowed 256 goals last season, fourth most in the league. Although it didn't seem to matter how many skaters were on the ice, as Winnipeg allowed the fourth-most goals when on the penalty kill, which was only marginally better than its even-strength rank."In our overall five-on-five game, just an adherence to defense and a respect for the defensive part of the game," Maurice added. "Not that we don't have it, but when you're chasing goals and you're chasing the game an awful lot, and you need your goaltender to make that save and you don't get it, then that becomes who you are."The team hopes its signing of Mason - who spent parts of the past five seasons with the Philadelphia Flyers - can bring a little more stability between the pipes."If they (the goalies) can start us at average, we've got to do everything we can to help our goaltenders to get us to the middle of the pack, and then we'll push from there," Maurice added.Whether or not the change in goal will help the high-flying Jets will be answered soon enough. The team kicks off its season Wednesday against the Toronto Maple Leafs, with Mason getting the nod as the starter.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Bank on the Edmonton Oilers and Pittsburgh Penguins facing off in the 2018 Stanley Cup Final.This according to oddsmakers, who've tabbed teams respectively captained by Connor McDavid and Sidney Crosby as Cup co-favorites as of opening day.TeamCurrent Odds (10/4/17)Edmonton Oilers8/1Pittsburgh Penguins8/1Tampa Bay Lightning11/1Chicago Blackhawks12/1Anaheim Ducks14/1Dallas Stars14/1Nashville Predators14/1Toronto Maple Leafs14/1Washington Capitals14/1Minnesota Wild16/1New York Rangers16/1Los Angeles Kings22/1San Jose Sharks22/1Columbus Blue Jackets25/1Montreal Canadiens25/1Boston Bruins28/1Calgary Flames28/1Ottawa Senators33/1St. Louis Blues33/1Buffalo Sabres50/1Carolina Hurricanes50/1Florida Panthers50/1New York Islanders50/1Philadelphia Flyers50/1Winnipeg Jets50/1Las Vegas Golden Knights66/1Detroit Red Wings75/1Colorado Avalanche100/1Arizona Coyotes150/1New Jersey Devils150/1Vancouver Canucks150/1Also of note, the Dallas Stars have gone from a non-playoff team to having the fourth-best odds, while the Los Angeles Kings also experienced a bump after last season's failure. On the flip side, oddsmakers are not high on the Ottawa Senators, who were a goal away from the Cup Final last spring.Oh, and the expansion Vegas Golden Knights have higher odds than five other teams, for those feeling especially lucky.(Odds courtesy: Bodog)Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Chicago Blackhawks signed defenseman Cody Franson to a one-year contract, the team announced Wednesday.The deal is reportedly worth $1 million, according to Scott Powers of The Athletic.Franson inked the contract after completing a training camp tryout with the Blackhawks during which he recorded four points in three preseason games.Franson spent the past two seasons with the Buffalo Sabres. The 30-year-old has appeared in 527 career NHL games, notching 42 goals and 163 assists.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Jack Eichel is getting paid.Now, he needs to show he's worthy of the eight-year, $80-million contract extension signed with the Buffalo Sabres on Tuesday.And he knows it, too."I think I have a lot to prove," Eichel said back in training camp. "Actually I think I've proven nothing, so it's a huge year for me personally and as a team."If you look at what I've done, it hasn't been a whole lot; two mediocre seasons on a losing team, so we just need to be better as a group this year, and I think everyone went home with the mindset this summer that we wanted to get better and head into the season and hit the ground running."It's true that Eichel, the second overall pick in 2015, hasn't exploded onto the scene along the same lines as other recent top picks like Connor McDavid, Auston Matthews, and Patrik Laine. He doesn't have any individual awards, has not appeared in any playoff games, and maxed out last season at 24 goals and 33 assists, well below his highly touted contemporaries.The caveat here, of course, is that Eichel started 2016-17 on injured reserve after spraining his ankle just before the regular season began. Unable to play until Nov. 29, he went on to post those aforementioned totals over the course of 61 games, good for a point-per-game average of 0.93.Among all players to appear in at least 61 games, Eichel ranked 11th in that category, giving a more accurate reflection of his place in the hockey landscape.What's more, Eichel ranked first in shots per game with 4.08 last season, but was stuck on a shooting percentage of 9.6. As a point of comparison, Sidney Crosby led the league with 44 goals on 255 shots (17.6 percent success rate), firing only six more pucks on net than Eichel.With that in mind, Eichel should be in for a monster 2017-18 - one that should justify or even surpass expectations for the average annual salary that only five other players will match this sesaon.Indeed, that's why his agent suggested he play out the final year of his entry-level contract before signing an extension, in the belief that Eichel could command even more next summer.

Congratulations, everybody. We made it.At several different points, wading through the fruitless summer months and meaningless preseason games seemed impossible, but we've reached the light at the end of the tunnel, and hockey is officially back.As we begin another NHL voyage, here are three things to keep an eye on during opening night. Only 27 weeks until the playoffs!Matthews vs. Laine (and Leafs vs. Jets)Wednesday marks another meeting between 2016's top two draft picks, and if their rookie season was any indication, Auston Matthews and Patrik Laine are destined to provide another classic. The electric Finn bagged a hat trick in their first matchup while Matthews notched three assists in round two, giving each side a win.The sophomore phenoms will draw most of the attention, but the Maple Leafs and Jets have several supporting candidates capable of stealing the spotlight: William Nylander, Mark Scheifele, Mitch Marner, and Nikolaj Ehlers, just to name a few.Both meetings between Winnipeg and Toronto last season were high-scoring overtime thrillers, and we should all be hoping for more of the same.Penguins raise bannerThe Penguins' quest for a three-peat begins Wednesday, with the defending champs hosting the St. Louis Blues on banner-raising night.The target on Pittsburgh's back grew even larger after adding another ring - a rather flashy one - to its collection, and the Blues should offer a tough test right out of the gate.Even if the game is tightly contested or low scoring, there should be no shortage of entertainment with Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Vladimir Tarasenko sharing the same ice surface.Battle of Alberta Vol. I Based on personnel alone, the Oilers and Flames have the potential to be the most entertaining rivalry in the NHL. Both sides have hated each other for a long time, but it's been quite a while since Edmonton and Calgary have each entered a season with such high expectations.Edmonton swept the season series last year, but Calgary has an early chance to erase those memories with a win Wednesday night. The Flames added Mike Smith and Travis Hamonic over the summer to help fix defensive issues the Oilers were able to expose, and it will be interesting to monitor how well their new pieces perform.Oh, and there's that Connor McDavid guy. He's pretty fun to watch, too.(Photos courtesy: Action Images)Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Nikoaj Ehlers is beginning the 2017-18 NHL season with some long-term security, as the Winnipeg Jets have locked up the electrifying winger to a seven-year, $42-million contract extension, the team announced Wednesday.Ehlers, the ninth overall pick in 2014, will play out 2017-18 on his entry-level contract before the extension kicks in next season, paying him $6 million per.The 21-year-old had an outstanding sophomore season, suiting up in all 82 games, registering 25 goals - 20 of which came at even strength - and 39 assists. His 64 points were good enough for a tie for third on the Jets.Winnipeg begins its season Wednesday night versus Toronto.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

There are plenty of intriguing storylines heading into the 2017-18 campaign, and some of the NHL's most significant subplots could yield unexpected results.From long, drawn out trade negotiations that will mercifully come to an end, to a brand-new franchise avoiding the basement, here's a handful of things we're expecting to see this season:The Predators will get Matt DucheneDavid Poile knows a thing or two about reeling in a superstar who's on the trade block, and the Nashville Predators' general manager is going to swing another blockbuster trade.The Predators' only real weakness entering the season is up the middle, and Poile undoubtedly understands the club's need, the importance of getting back to the Stanley Cup Final, and the opportunity that presents itself in Duchene's availability.Ryan Ellis' injury made it temporarily impossible for the Predators to trade one of their top-four defensemen to the Colorado Avalanche, but Nashville made a play for the talented forward over the summer, and Poile still has pieces he can offer.The Predators aren't the only team in the mix, but they'll put a package together that Avalanche GM Joe Sakic will ultimately accept.Alain Vigneault will be firedThe New York Rangers are on the decline, and that will accelerate this season, despite the fact the club boasts a few talented forwards and power-play point producer Kevin Shattenkirk. They've been carried by Henrik Lundqvist over the last couple of years, but the veteran goaltender is 35, and Ondej Pavelec is New York's Plan B, so this won't end well.Trading Derek Stepan and Antti Raanta to the Arizona Coyotes over the summer will come back to haunt the Rangers, who'll sputter to a sub-.500 record into December, costing head coach Vigneault his job.Lindy Ruff was brought in as an assistant coach to add some experience behind the bench, and that move is going to prove prescient when the former Buffalo Sabres and Dallas Stars bench boss takes over the Rangers in a misguided and ultimately unsuccessful attempt by GM Jeff Gorton to right the ship.2 teams will be worse than the Golden KnightsExpansion teams are usually terrible in their inaugural seasons, but there are a few reasons why the Vegas Golden Knights won't be the worst team in the NHL this season.First of all, their roster isn't atrocious. They have some experience with the likes of James Neal, Marc-Andre Fleury, and Jason Garrison, plus some promising, relatively young talent in Jonathan Marchessault, Shea Theodore, and Alex Tuch.Secondly, the Avalanche are going to be awful again, and if they finally trade Duchene, they could be even worse than they were last season, when they set the salary-cap era record for futility.Lastly, the Vancouver Canucks are also going to be very bad. Beyond the development of Bo Horvat, Brock Boeser, and Thatcher Demko, there isn't much to look forward to for the Canucks this season, particularly given the uncertain future of the Sedin twins.The Golden Knights won't be good either, but the Avalanche and Canucks will be here to remind them it could be worse.Someone will score 5 goals in a gameThree players scored four goals in a game last season, and given the amount of offensive firepower in the NHL, it's not too far-fetched to expect someone to pot a handful during a game in 2017-18.Johan Franzen was the last to score five, in 2011, and it's only happened a dozen times in the last three decades, but Auston Matthews, Max Pacioretty, and Patrick Marleau all posted four-goal games last season.Any one of Matthews, Sidney Crosby, Connor McDavid, Nikita Kucherov, Vladimir Tarasenko, or Patrick Kane are capable of scoring in bunches at any time, and it could also come from someone a little less likely.It's even more of a possibility when you consider there will be more power plays this season, with minor infractions now being handed out for failed offside challenges, plus more calls for slashing and faceoff violations.Jonathan Drouin will finish with 30 goalsDefense is going to be a recurring issue for the Montreal Canadiens all season, but offense from the top six won't be a problem.Whether ​​​​​​Drouin sticks on the Canadiens' primary unit centering Pacioretty or slots in on the wing, he'll build on the 21-goal, 53-point season he put together with the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2016-17.Montreal has enough talent on its top two lines to ensure Drouin enjoys a breakout campaign regardless of where he ultimately lands in the lineup.Three of his 30 goals this season will come Dec. 28 in his return to Amalie Arena, and the 60-point plateau is a realistic target for the dynamic 22-year-old.(Photos courtesy: Action Images)Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Chicago Blackhawks signed Bryan Bickell to a one-day contract, and the forward concurrently announced his official retirement from the NHL on Wednesday as a member of the team with which he won three Stanley Cups (2010, 2013, and 2015).Bickell played 384 of his 395 career NHL games with Chicago. The other 11 came as a member of the Carolina Hurricanes in 2016-17, but his season was interrupted by a diagnosis of multiple sclerosis last November."As any professional athlete will tell you, stepping away from the game is extremely difficult especially given my circumstances," said Bickell. "I’m honored to be retiring a Chicago Blackhawk - a team that has given me and my family so many great memories. I appreciate Rocky Wirtz, John McDonough, and Stan Bowman for allowing me this opportunity."Bickell scored 65 goals and added 70 assists over his 10-year NHL career. He upped his game and became a fan favorite in the playoffs, however, scoring 20 goals and adding 19 assists in 75 appearances, all with Chicago."We are thankful to Bryan for his accomplishments on the ice and we look forward to hearing his voice in raising awareness for multiple sclerosis as he fights the disease," added Blackhawks general manager Stan Bowman.Bickell was able to rejoin the Hurricanes for the final two games of the regular season, and he capped his career by scoring a shootout goal in his final act as a pro hockey player. He was also honored at the 2017 NHL Awards for being able to play following his diagnosis.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

NHL opening night rosters have been set.On the eve of the start of the NHL regular season, much is always to be made about the players who were given the heartbreaking news that they're not among those to crack their perspective team's roster.Related: 5 most surprising cuts before the regular season beginsOn the flip side, many received news that they had done enough to earn their spot, even if it was a bit of a shock. With that, here are five players who surprisingly earned opening-night roster spots:Seth GriffithSeth Griffith has broken through the American Hockey League barrier.After being placed on waivers several times last season and spending the majority of his time with the Toronto Marlies of the AHL, Griffith has claimed a spot on the Buffalo Sabres roster.Griffith had a respectable preseason with the Sabres, tallying a goal and an assist in four games. His roster spot looks to be the result of paying his due in the AHL, where he's tallied 66 goals and 202 points in 203 career games.Haydn FleuryThe Carolina Hurricanes defense corps has quickly become one of the more desirable ones in the league.With the likes of Noah Hanifin, Jaccob Slavin, and Justin Faulk in the mix, it's not easy to crack this unit - but Haydn Fleury has done just that.Sure Fleury was the seventh overall selection in 2014 and looks to be a great talent, but it's somewhat surprising he was able to muscle his way into the lineup after just one year of seasoning in the AHL.Kailer YamamotoKailer Yamamoto may now be the smallest player in the NHL.The 19-year-old is just 5-foot-8 and 154 pounds, but what he lacks in size, he more than makes up for in offensive prowess. The Edmonton Oilers forward finished second on the club in preseason scoring behind only Connor McDavid and led the team with five goals, while adding two assists in six games.Considering Yamamoto was just drafted this past June (22nd overall) and given his size, there's no question he had to fight for his spot, but it appears it has been well earned.David BoothGiven that he hadn't played in the NHL since the 2014-15 season - on a lowly Toronto Maple Leafs squad - it seemed a return might be out of the cards for David Booth.However, after two years in the KHL, the 32-year-old inked a professional tryout with the Detroit Red Wings and made the most of it. He tallied just one assist in five games, but proved he can create offense, firing the second-most shots on the club (16) during the preseason.Booth is expected to slot on the fourth line, according to MLive.com's Ansar Khan, but after a two-year absence from the league, he'll take it.Victor MetePrior to training camp few people had likely heard about Victor Mete, but very quickly he has become one of the better stories to come out of camp.The 19-year-old earned a spot on the Montreal Canadiens' blue line after proving he can contribute offensively while also taking care of things in his own end.His four points during the preseason were just one point shy of the team lead, while his three power-play points paced the Canadiens. Not bad for a 2016 fourth-round pick.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Though $80 million is certainly a lot of money, Jack Eichel apparently could have taken more in his recent eight-year contract extension with the Sabres.Eichel's agent Peter Fish said that the 20-year-old chose to take less money to allow the Sabres more room to make moves under the salary cap, according to John Wawrow of the Associated Press."It was important for Jack to get a deal done that was friendly for both sides and would not hamstring the Sabres going forward," Fish told Mike Harrington of the Buffalo News.Evander Kane, Sam Reinhart, and Robin Lehner are among key Sabres who will be in need of new contracts next offseason.Though it's unclear how much more money Eichel could have received, it's certainly an unselfish move by the face of the Sabres' franchise.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The following five players were all expected to make their respective teams' opening day rosters, but were instead assigned to the American Hockey League, or even placed on waivers.Jesse Puljujarvi, OilersPuljujarvi, the fourth overall pick from the 2016 NHL Draft, made the Oilers' opening night roster a year ago, but wasn't so lucky this time around.Puljujarvi was beat out by the diminutive Kailer Yamamoto, Edmonton's 22nd overall pick from the 2017 NHL Draft.The 6-foot-4 Puljujarvi only lasted 28 games with the Oilers to begin last season, collecting just one goal and seven assists. Upon being sent down to the AHL, he tallied 28 points in 39 games.Given how high of a draft pick he was and his relative success in the AHL last year, Puljujarvi seemed like a lock to make the Oilers out of camp this season.Kyle Connor, JetsConnor had a tremendous season in the AHL a year ago, scoring 25 goals and adding 19 assists in 52 games with the Manitoba Moose. Winnipeg seemed to have a spot up for grabs in their top-9 forward group, and Connor seemed like the obvious fit.The 20-year-old was chosen 17th overall in the 2015 NHL Draft and seemed poised to make the jump this year, but obviously the Jets deemed he still has some learning to do.Thomas Chabot, SenatorsAnyone who watched Chabot play for Canada at last year's World Juniors would have assumed he could have stepped into the NHL at that moment, let alone without an offseason of training to play in the world's best hockey league.Once it was learned that Erik Karlsson would likely miss the start of the season and Marc Methot was lost in the expansion draft, Chabot seemed like a lock to make the team. However, the Sens will opt to start the season with a more experienced back end. Here is their projected top six:LDRDDion PhaneufCody CeciFredrik ClaessonJohnny OduyaMark BorowieckiChris WidemanHead coach Guy Boucher didn't mince words when assessing Chabot, saying "He hasn't surpassed our regular guys."Malcolm Subban, BruinsThis may have been the most surprising move of them all. Subban, the Bruins' first round pick in 2012, needed to clear waivers in order to be sent down to the minors. The Bruins didn't seem to care though, as he was claimed by the Vegas Golden Knights.Subban, 23, didn't play all that well in his four games this preseason, posting an .889 save percentage and a 2.71 goals-against average, but he has put together an impressive AHL career thus far:YearGPGAASV%2013-14332.31.9202014-15352.44.9212015-16272.46.9112016-17322.41.917Obviously nobody is unseating Tuukka Rask as Boston's starting goalie, but 31-year-old Anton Khudobin wasn't exactly spectacular as the backup last season, recording a 2.64 GAA and a .904 SV% in 16 games.Frederick Gaudreau, PredatorsUnlike the previous four names on this list, Gaudreau wasn't a first round pick. In fact, he was far from it, as he wasn't even drafted.However, when both Ryan Johansen and Mike Fisher went down during the playoffs last year, Gaudreau was brought up to provide center depth and he performed admirably, scoring three goals in eight games.Given his playoff performance, and the fact that Nick Bonino missed the entire preseason, it's surprising Gaudreau wasn't able to carve out a spot on the Preds' 23-man roster.Honorable mentions: Alex DeBrincat (CHI), Vadim Shipachyov (VGK), Shea Theodore (VGK)These three players were all surprise cuts, but DeBrincat and Shipachyov are expected to return to their respective clubs once other members of their teams are placed on long-term injured reserve. Theodore, however, may have to wait until the Golden Knights are able to trade away one of their many defensemen. Regardless, don't anticipate him spending much time in the minors.(Photos courtesy: Action Images)Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Bruins general manager Don Sweeney was really hoping goaltender Malcolm Subban would go unclaimed after Boston placed him on waivers, but it wasn't to be, as the Vegas Golden Knights jumped on the opportunity to nab the former first-round draft pick."I had my fingers crossed that it wasn't gonna happen," Sweeney said, according to NBC Sports' Joe Haggerty. "But that's part of the business, and we wish Malcolm obviously success in the opportunity that he's going to get. But it's a loss for us."Am I surprised? I think Malcolm has taken a step, and I'm not surprised in the situation. Vegas is doing what they're trying to build. Obviously, (Bruins goaltender) Zane (McIntyre) had experience last year and had a very good run. Daniel (Vladar) probably, if Malcolm does stay there, will get an opportunity to back up in Providence and get the exposure there at the next level. It's disappointing. We've had a lot of time invested in Malcolm, and we were seeing him grow as a person on and off the ice."While Subban was claimed by Vegas, he's still likely to end up in the AHL again, slotting in between Marc-Andre Fleury and Calvin Pickard.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Buffalo Sabres locked up the face of their franchise Tuesday, inking Jack Eichel to an eight-year extension with an average annual value of $10 million, the team announced.Eichel is going into the last year of his entry-level contract, and would have been a restricted free agent after the 2017-18 season.Assuming his contract kicks in at the beginning of the 2018-19 season, his $10-million AAV will be tied with Anze Kopitar for the NHL's fifth-highest mark, behind Connor McDavid, Carey Price, Jonathan Toews, and Patrick Kane.Eichel, 20, recorded 24 goals and 33 assists in 61 games a year ago.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Washington Capitals forward Tom Wilson was suspended four games for boarding St. Louis Blues defenseman Sam Blais, the NHL Department of Player Safety announced Tuesday.The incident occurred in the second period Sunday when Wilson caught Blais with a hit from behind. Wilson was immediately assessed a five-minute major for boarding and a game misconduct.Since Wilson also earned a suspension for interference on Blues forward Robert Thomas two weeks ago, he was considered a repeat offender under the collective bargaining agreement.With the suspension, Wilson will forfeit $97,560.96. He's eligible to return to the lineup Friday, Oct. 13 versus the New Jersey Devils.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Vegas Golden Knights, the Foley Family Charitable Trust, and the NHL announced Tuesday a joint donation of $300,000 to aid the victims of Sunday's mass shooting in Las Vegas and the first responders who attended the scene.It was also announced that the league, teams, and players will honor victims at this week's season-opening games under the banner "Vegas United." In addition, pledge drives and other fundraisers will provide further assistance to the city of Las Vegas.On Monday, the Golden Knights announced "events, in-arena recognition, player involvement, and awareness initiatives" to aid the relief efforts.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

In preparation of the 2017-18 NHL season, theScore will be rolling out all the fantasy hockey advice you'll need in order to dominate your draft and win your league.2017 Fantasy Rankings

Connor McDavid is projected to win another Art Ross Trophy by a landslide.The Edmonton Oilers phenom's over/under points line has been set at 101.5, a cool 12 points higher than Chicago's Patrick Kane.Here's a look at the top 11 projected scorers, courtesy of Bodog:PlayerTotal points (over/under)Connor McDavid (EDM)101.5Patrick Kane (CHI)89.5Sidney Crosby (PIT)87.5Nikita Kucherov (TB)83.5Jamie Benn (DAL)80.5Nicklas Backstrom (WAS)79.5Mark Scheifele (WPG)79.5Leon Draisaitl (EDM)78.5Vladimir Tarasenko (STL)77.5Brad Marchand (BOS)76.5Tyler Seguin (DAL)76.5Related: Predicting the NHL's top 5 scorersMcDavid finished last season with exactly 100 points, but topped Sidney Crosby in points per game by a slim margin of 1.22 to 1.19.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

A lot has changed since 1990. Fads have come and gone, fashion trends have alternated, and opinions have shifted.Such is the case with the ageless wonder that is Jaromir Jagr.Through the years, the long-haired sniper has transformed from a seemingly selfish villain to an admired elder statesman of the league. People - especially younger fans - tend to forget that Jagr was once known as much for his arrogant attitude and trade demands as he was for scoring goals.Perhaps Jagr was just another misunderstood professional athlete, but more likely, he created the negative perception with his words and actions. He made no secret of viewing hockey as a cash cow - rather than as the game he grew up loving - and that built his reputation as a money-first, me-first player.Don't forget that Jagr called for a trade away from the Pittsburgh Penguins - and was subsequently dealt to the Washington Capitals in 2001 - before inking the richest contract, at the time, in NHL history.Jagr was immediately deemed a selfish player who turned his back on the Penguins' organization and fans. He insisted the deal was done to help Pittsburgh lock down future stars, but the damage to his public profile was done.And it wasn't just Jagr's trade demand; his salute, his greasy flow, and his swagger made the hockey world want to hate him.His perceived bad attitude saw his stock plummet, and so despite remaining productive through two-and-a-half seasons with Washington (190 regular-season games and 201 points), and another four years with the New York Rangers (277 games, 319 points), Jagr received few legitimate NHL offers when his contract expired in 2008.In response, he shocked the hockey world by bolting for a lucrative deal with Avangard Omsk of the KHL.But that wasn't the end of Jagr's NHL story.He left the league as a disgruntled veteran looking for a fresh start, and came back as a rejuvenated 39-year-old with a point to prove. Sure, the days of 100-point seasons and Hart Trophies were gone, but Jagr had altered his game - both on and off the ice.He returned for the 2011-12 campaign with the Philadelphia Flyers, recording a respectable 54 points across 73 games by utilizing his playmaking abilities and silky mitts to make up for his decreasing speed. And, while his soft hands were the same, Jagr had morphed into the fun-loving personality we've come to embrace over the past few years.Instead of the cocky demeanor and selfish approach from his youth, Jagr began displaying his quirky humor, his hilarious social media presence, and his newfound light-hearted style.With that in mind, fans have seemingly overlooked his declining skills to shower No. 68 with love and praise at every turn in the years since. He's gone from a player no general manger or coach wanted, to being one of the best locker room guys in the league - something that doesn't happen very often in pro sports.Jagr's professional turnaround was solidified with the 2015-16 Bill Masterton Trophy, awarded to the player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to the sport - an award he would never have been considered for during his prime.And whether you agree with the Calgary Flames signing him or not, the 45-year-old can still contribute to the team, while continuing to grace the league with his valuable - and extremely positive - presence.He may not have done it overnight, but Jagr has truly evolved from villain into NHL sweetheart, and the league as a whole is better for it.(Photos courtesy: Action Images)Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

theScore's NHL team simulated the 2017-18 regular season using EA Sports NHL 18. Injuries and trades were turned off, allowing for a more precise analysis of what each team is capable of at full strength as currently constructed.Here are the results:StandingsAtlantic

The Vancouver Canucks have acquired defenseman Derrick Pouliot from the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for prospect Andrey Pedan and a 2018 fourth-round draft pick, the team announced Tuesday.Pouliot, 23, was the eighth overall pick in the 2012 draft, but has spent the majority of his pro career in the AHL. In 67 games with the Penguins, he's registered two goals and 12 assists.Pedan, meanwhile, was a third-round pick of the Islanders in 2011. The 6-foot-5 blue-liner has only appeared in 13 NHL games, failing to record a point.The pick the Penguins acquired replaces the fourth-rounder they dealt to Tampa Bay at last season's deadline for Mark Streit.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Covers.com is the biggest and best source for sports betting information, providing unrivaled and original content sports bettors cannot live without.The puck drops on a new NHL campaign on Wednesday and that’s good news for bettors looking to find weak betting lines.Oddsmakers agonize over each number they hang on pigskin spread and totals because of the sheer volume of action placed on NFL and college football games. That’s not the case with hockey.There are opportunities to make some dough wagering on a fringe sport like the NHL while the eye of Sauron – aka the book – is solely focused on football.Here’s a look at a few early season NHL betting trends to keep in mind before the skates hit the ice and shoulders hit the boards on Wednesday night.Bet Under the game totals early onExcluding pushes, the Under is 318-259 (55.1 win rate) in October since the start of the 2013-14 season. Last year the Over went 19-9-7 in the first week of the season but finished 55-65-9 by the end of the month.“I’d say we see that Under trend for a few reasons,” TSN’s Dustin Nielson told Covers. “Shooters are still rusty from the offseason, for the most part defenseman are healthy, and coaching is still fresh to the players so they are focused on playing systems as opposed to playing a little loosey goosey like they would later in the season.”Bet on the Montreal CanadiensIf the season ended on Halloween, the Habs would be four-time defending champions. Montreal is 34-11 in games in October since the 2013 campaign, including 8-1 last season. If you had bet $100 on Montreal in each of its games in October since 2013, you’d be up $1635.75 or 16.36 units.The Canadiens aren’t the only team that gets out of the blocks quickly. The Pittsburgh Penguins are 28-14 over the same stretch, but of course oddsmakers make you pay a premium to back the club with Sidney Crosby.Best puckline bet: Washington CapitalsThe Washington Capitals continue to disappoint in the playoffs but that shouldn’t discourage NHL bettors from backing them in the regular season. The Caps have won the last two Presidents’ Trophies (awarded to the team with the most points at the end of the regular season) and their success has spilled over to the puckline as well.For those unfamiliar, the puckline is just like betting the runline in baseball which means backing a team at plus or minus 1.5-goal spread. Washington would normally always be the favorite meaning you’d be betting them at -1.5 goals. Betting the Caps this way means improved odds, which explains why they had a 37-42 record on the puckline last year but still finished up 15.39 units for the season.If you bet $100 on the Caps on the puckline in each of their regular season games over the last three seasons, you’d be up $3436 or 34.36 units.Not too shabby.Best Under team: Los Angeles KingsThe Kings are one of the slowest-skating teams in the NHL and they used to have one of the best goalies in the world. Netminder Jonathan Quick missed all but 17 games last season and the Under still went 37-24-21 for the Kings in 2016-17.That brought the Under win rate to 57.4 percent for the Kings in the regular season over the last four years. And that’s with this team seeing more 5-goal totals than any other team in the league.Last season all seven teams in the Pacific division saw more Unders than Overs with the San Jose Sharks being the worst offenders with a 22-37-13 Over/Under record for the season.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Calgary Flames signed left winger Tanner Glass to a one-year contract Tuesday worth $650,000.Glass participated in training camp on a professional tryout and is entering his 11th NHL season.In 511 career games, he has recorded 24 goals, 45 assists, and 639 penalty minutes.Glass split last season between the New York Rangers and their AHL affiliate, and scored the first goal of the 2017 Stanley Cup Playoffs.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Toronto Maple Leafs winger Joffrey Lupul failed his follow-up physical and is now eligible to be placed on long-term injured reserve, NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly said Tuesday on "Hockey Central at Noon."The veteran forward spent the entire 2016-17 season on LTIR, but stirred up questions when he called the Leafs cheaters for how they used the designation, hinting at the fact that he was indeed healthy enough to play.Now that Lupul has undergone an independent evaluation of his status and been deemed unfit to play, the Leafs have the option of placing him on LTIR, which would mean his $5.25-million salary for the 2017-18 season wouldn't count against Toronto's salary cap.Lupul has not suited up in an NHL contest since the 2015-16 campaign.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Vegas Golden Knights claimed goaltender Malcolm Subban off waivers from the Boston Bruins on Tuesday.Selected 24th overall in 2012, Subban appeared in only two games with the Bruins, recording a save percentage of .727 in 62 minutes of play. He's posted a .918 save percentage in 127 AHL appearances and put in a strong showing at training camp, but was beat out by Anton Khudobin for the right to serve as backup to Tuukka Rask.The Golden Knights have Marc-Andre Fleury and Calvin Pickard penned in as the top options in net, meaning Subban will likely begin the season with the AHL's Chicago Wolves.Subban is entering the final season of a two-year deal that carries a $650,000 cap hit.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

"Family man, friend, coach and mentor."That's the inscription on a helmet sticker to be worn by the Ottawa Senators this season in honor of Bryan Murray, who died on Aug. 12 after a three-year battle with colon cancer.He was 74.

Brian Boyle is taking things one step at a time.After New Jersey Devils head coach John Hynes declared Boyle a possibility for opening night, the veteran forward - who was recently diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukemia - is tapping the brakes"The bottom line is, it's progressing," Boyle said Monday, per Mike Morreale of NHL.com. "I said (on Sept. 19) that I wanted to play in the season opener, because doesn't everyone? But it's not the be-all, end-all if it didn't happen. Even if I'm cleared to practice with the team, I'm not just going to jump in. I need to get my own training here at some point and get into situations that are real instead of just skating."Boyle has been skating on his own to date, and wants to make sure he can contribute when he joins his fellow Devils on the ice for game action."I haven't bumped or hit anyone, and that's a huge part of your conditioning, so that's still something hanging over my head so that when I come back, I want to have an impact," he said. "I'm doing everything I can now to make sure that happens, but it's going to take some time."Boyle signed a two-year, $5.5 million contract with the Devils as an unrestricted free agent on July 1. He scored 13 goals and added 12 assists in 75 games last season split between the Tampa Bay Lightning and Toronto Maple Leafs.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Chicago Blackhawks are allowed to place forward Marian Hossa on long-term injured reserve this season, an NHL source informed Scott Powers of The Athletic.Hossa was ruled out for the duration of the 2017-18 campaign due to a progressive skin disorder, propelling the league to review the situation with an independent doctor.The ruling serves as a huge relief for the cap-crunched Blackhawks, who can stash Hossa's $5.275-million cap hit for the length of the season. Chicago also placed defenseman Michal Rozsival on LTIR on Monday.Hossa, 38, still has four years remaining on the mega-contract he signed with the Blackhawks in 2009. Over his first eight seasons in the Windy City, he's suited up for 534 games, accumulated 415 points, and won three Stanley Cups.The Blackhawks begin their 2017-18 season Thursday night versus Pittsburgh.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.