The Columbus Blue Jackets officially signed forward Josh Anderson to a three-year contract Tuesday, the team announced.It was reported that Anderson ended his summer-long holdout Monday night.Per Blue Jackets policy, terms were not disclosed, but Aaron Portzline of The Athletic reports the pact is worth $5.55 million over three seasons."Josh was an important contributor on our team a year ago and we believe he will continue to be an important part of our team in the years to come," said general manager Jarmo Kekalainen. "He brings size, speed, and grit to our lineup, and as a young player, is still growing and developing with his best years still to come."The 23-year-old Anderson registered a career-high 17 goals in 2016-17.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NHL season is fast approaching, and theScore's hockey editors are previewing the upcoming campaign from a multitude of angles. Here's everything you need to know before the puck drops on opening night:Predictions

As part of our extensive season preview coverage, theScore's hockey editors are taking a look at who we think will earn some of the NHL's biggest honors at season's end.The next round of NHL Awards won't be officially handed out until next June, but that doesn't mean we can't get a head start on projecting them.Some players are virtual locks to repeat as recipients of certain trophies, while we should see some new winners in several key categories.Here's who we believe will take home the hardware:Hart Trophy - Connor McDavidJosh Gold-Smith: We've now seen what McDavid is capable of in a full season, and there's no reason to believe he won't replicate his MVP form of a season ago.The 20-year-old superstar hauled in both the Hart and Art Ross trophies in 2016-17, hitting triple digits in the points column while playing every game.Barring another injury, McDavid is surely due to improve on his 30-goal output, and another season of growth at the NHL level will leave no doubt that he's the league's most valuable player.Vezina Trophy - Matt MurrayIan McLaren: We've all witnessed how good Murray has been in the postseason, serving as the goalie of record while the Pittsburgh Penguins raised the Stanley Cup the last two seasons.His sample size in the regular season is not huge, but he's proven to be as good during the winter months as he's been in spring. Over the past two seasons, he's tied for first in save percentage with Carey Price after stopping 92.5 percent of all shots against, only a slight dip from the 92.8 percent success rate achieved in the playoffs.Now that Marc-Andre Fleury is gone, he'll get even more starts, and he'll have Kris Letang back on defense to help keep the puck away.Murray has emerged as one of the best goalies in the game, and he'll further back it up with some hardware earned when the games don't mean quite as much.Norris Trophy - Erik KarlssonCraig Hagerman: Karlsson played arguably the best hockey of his career last spring, as he spearheaded the Ottawa Senators' unlikely run to the Eastern Conference Final, all the while playing on just one healthy leg. Who can forget his rink-long saucer pass to Mike Hoffman against the Boston Bruins?As the 2018 season nears, Karlsson will be cautious about his return, to be sure his leg is 100 percent healthy before getting into game action. However, it's partially for that reason that Karlsson will win the Norris Trophy.He's the most electric defenseman in the league, and at 100 percent health, he should be that much better. Karlsson isn't expected to miss any major time to begin the season, so a lengthy absence shouldn't be an issue. Offensively and even on the other side of the puck now, Karlsson is the best defenseman in the league. End of discussion.Calder Trophy - Clayton KellerSean O'Leary: There are plenty of intriguing rookie of the year candidates entering the league this season, but Keller gets the nod. The 19-year-old is a dynamic offensive talent, and will have every opportunity be the centerpiece of a young Arizona Coyotes attack under new head coach Rick Tocchet.

The holdout appears to be over.Josh Anderson and the Columbus Blue Jackets have agreed to terms on a three-year contract with an average annual value of $1.85 million, Aaron Portzline of The Athletic reports.Portzline notes that though the sides have agreed to terms, no deal has been officially signed.Anderson, a restricted free agent, failed to report to Blue Jackets training camp and hasn't played in any preseason games. Last week, he requested a trade out of Columbus.Related: Who is Josh Anderson?Anderson, 23, finished with 17 goals and 12 assists in 78 games while averaging just over 12 minutes per game a year ago. His 1.07 goals per 60 minutes at five-on-five was the best on the Blue Jackets, and 29th-best in the NHL.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Jaromir Jagr will be back in the NHL this season, but at 45 years old, he's well aware of the circumstances of the team he's joining.On Monday, the veteran agreed to a one-year contract with the Calgary Flames. At his age and with the Flames' depth, chances are Jagr will feature prominently on the third or fourth line, but to the NHL's second-leading scorer of all time, that's just fine."I'm not against it," Jagr said, according to NHL.com. "I can play against third or fourth lines of the opposing teams in that case. Let's see how it's gonna fit me and what I can do there."Related - Report: Flames working on immigration issues with JagrWhile much of the hockey community appears to be enthusiastic about his return, Jagr admits that, in the end, the number of opportunities for him to make a return was few and far between."One thing is there were not many options (in the NHL)," Jagr said. "The offers have been much alike. But the factor for me was also that Calgary had been in play since the beginning; not very intense, but there have been some talks all the time. Then (the) St. Louis (Blues) experienced some unpleasant things, many injuries. But those players will come back during the season. I would be kind of a supplement there. (In Calgary) I can still take it as some real chance."Jagr confirmed he won't be in the lineup for the Calgary's season opener on Wednesday against the Edmonton Oilers, meaning Saturday's home opener against the Winnipeg Jets could mark his Flames debut.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

When Jaromir Jagr was acquired by the Florida Panthers at the end of the 2014-15 season, he was asked to play on a line with a 19-year-old Aleksander Barkov and a 21-year-old Jonathan Huberdeau. In Calgary, he could be put in a similar situation with two talented players nearly half his age: Sean Monahan, 22, and Johnny Gaudreau, 24.If Flames head coach Glen Gulutzan opts to put the 45-year-old Jagr alongside his two best forwards, it could pay massive dividends.Monahan and Gaudreau have been very productive over the last three seasons, despite posting pedestrian possession numbers. Here is a look at their Corsi For percentages by season since 2014-15, according to Hockey Reference (all at five-on-five).YearMonahan CF%Gaudreau CF%2014-1546.147.32015-1649.350.52016-1750.351.8Though Jagr doesn't move like he used to, his ability to possess the puck still might be second-to-none in the entire NHL. He uses an exceptionally long stick, has great puck control, and is able to use his big rear end to shield off defenders. Here is a look at his Corsi For percentages since returning to the NHL in 2011-12 after a three-year stint in the KHL.YearTeamCF%2011-12PHI54.32012-13DAL/BOS53.52013-14NJ58.72014-15NJ/FLA52.32015-16FLA51.22016-17FLA55.4As you can see, Jagr has been a mark of consistency when it comes to puck possession, even in his old age. If he's on a line with Monahan and Gaudreau, their possession numbers should sky-rocket. More time with the puck will lead to more scoring chances.This proved to be evident when Jagr played alongside Barkov and Huberdeau in Florida. Though Barkov and Huberdeau both missed significant time due to injury last season, the trio was very effective when they were all on the ice together.Among lines that played at least 200 minutes together at five-on-five, Florida's trio of Jagr, Barkov, and Huberdeau ranked 13th in CF% and 24th in Goals For percentage, according to Corsica.(Photo courtesy: Action Images)Oddly enough, centers Barkov and Monahan have plenty in common. They were chosen just four picks apart in the 2013 draft, both stand at 6-foot-3, shoot left, and play very similar games. Gaudreau and Huberdeau don't have as much in common, but they're both highly skilled left-handed shots with soft hands and great vision.Even though Jagr missed all of training camp and preseason, it's conceivable that he could jump onto a line with Monahan and Gaudreau and find instant chemistry. After all, he's one of the smartest players of all time and shouldn't be difficult for any intelligent player with skill to gel with.Yet, perhaps more importantly than any sort of offensive skill or ability Jagr possesses, it's his leadership qualities that could truly help Monahan, Gaudreau, or any other Flames player take the next step in their careers.Jagr may not be the "stand up and give the team a pep talk" type of leader anymore, but he leads by example. When players see how Jagr trains in the gym, they'll take notice. When they see him stay late after practice, or hear about how he came to rink at 3 a.m. the night before to skate around with weights on his skates and stick, they'll understand why he's still an effective player at 45.A 50-point season out of Jagr is still very likely, and with a base salary of $1 million, that would be a steal. The progress of Monahan, Gaudreau, and the rest of the team because of Jagr's presence will just be the cherry on top.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Diamonds are a Penguin's best friend.The Pittsburgh Penguins unveiled the rings that each player, coach, and staff member of the 2017 Stanley Cup-winning team received for their efforts, and it's something.

It might be a few days before Jaromir Jagr finally dons a Calgary Flames jersey.The team is currently trying to sort out issues with immigration and Jagr is not expected to arrive in Calgary until Wednesday, with an official announcement on the deal potentially being delayed, according to The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun.

Gandhi, Sting, Kelly Ripa, and Phil Kessel. What do those four have in common? All were born Oct. 2.While all important figures, only Kessel has blessed the hockey world with amazing moments on and off the ice. Sit back and relive the five best "Phil being Phil" moments of Kessel's career.Kessel trolls Team USA with outstanding subtweetSince 2008-09, Kessel ranks second in points by American-born players with 583, trailing Patrick Kane. However, Kessel was left off USA's 2016 World Cup of Hockey roster in favor of players such as Justin Abdelkader, David Backes, and Brandon Dubinsky.The night the Americans were eliminated from group play, Kessel dropped an absolute bomb for his third tweet of 2016:

The Chicago Blackhawks placed defenseman Michal Rozsival on long-term injured reserve, the team announced Monday.The move comes after the 39-year-old failed his training-camp physical due to an upper-body injury. He may still be feeling the effects of an injury suffered after being punched in the face by Anaheim Ducks forward Nick Ritchie in April.Subsequently, Rozsival suffered facial fractures and Ritchie was suspended two games.With Rozsival on LTIR, the Blackhawks' roster sits at 27 with 16 forwards, eight defensemen, and three goalies. The roster must be cut down to 23 by 5 p.m. ET on Tuesday.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Vegas Golden Knights are doing their part after the city was subjected to the deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history on Sunday night.The team has announced a "significant donation" in wake of the tragedy to help aid in relief efforts.Related: Golden Knights offer 'prayers, heartfelt condolences' in wake of mass shootingThe team stated "additional fundraising, events, in-arena recognition, player involvement, and awareness initiatives" which will be announced in the future.The Golden Knights also tweeted Monday that their previously scheduled Fan Fest - set to take place Tuesday - has been cancelled.Related: Wild's Zucker confident his hometown Las Vegas 'will bounce back'The shooting left 58 people dead and another 515 injured."All Vegas Golden Knights players and Vegas Golden Knights staff are accounted for and safe," the team stated. "However, we know that this is not the case for many other organizations in our city. Our hearts are with those affected and we will be doing what we can to support the victims, their families, and those grieving."Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Washington Capitals forward Tom Wilson will meet with the NHL's Department of Player Safety on Tuesday regarding his hit on St. Louis Blues forward Sam Blais, the league announced.Wilson received a major penalty for boarding and was ejected following the hit on the Blues rookie Sunday night.Tuesday's hearing could result in Wilson facing the dubious distinction of being suspended twice in the span of only a few weeks.The rugged winger was previously suspended Sept. 23 for two preseason games for a hit on Blues forward Robert Thomas.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The largest mass shooting in United States history hit close to home for Minnesota Wild forward Jason Zucker.The California native grew up in Las Vegas, and he has a friend who was shot Sunday night while attending a country music concert on the city's Strip. His family is safe, though, and he's heartened by the response to the unimaginable events.Related: Golden Knights offer 'prayers, heartfelt condolences' in wake of mass shooting"It's a very small community there," he said Monday, per Dan Myers of Wild.com. "It seems like there's a lot of people and a lot of tourists, obviously, but it's a very small community. I know they'll rally behind everyone."The law enforcement did a wonderful job as far as I've been hearing. Everybody, all the responders, from what I've heard, have been phenomenal and just the support overall has been great."Vegas, of course, is now home to the NHL's Golden Knights, and Zucker is confident the city won't be forever defined by this moment."I know Vegas will bounce back. I know they're a strong community with a lot of great supporters behind them."At last report, 58 people were killed and over 500 injured in the tragedy.The Wild will visit the Golden Knights on March 16, 2018.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

When it was announced that Ottawa Senators rearguard Erik Karlsson could miss the beginning of the 2017-18 regular season, many expected highly touted first-round draft pick Thomas Chabot to make the jump to the NHL.On Sunday, however, Chabot was sent down to the club's AHL affiliate in Belleville. And on Monday, Senators head coach Guy Boucher provided some direct reasoning for the demotion."He hasn't surpassed our regular guys," Boucher said of Chabot, according to TSN's Brent Wallace."He was minus-5 last game. Same recurring theme. Professional reads, we call them," Boucher added, according to Don Brennan of The Ottawa Sun.With Chabot unready to be an NHL regular just yet, and Karlsson expected to miss - at least - the season opener, the Senators will be taking the ice Thursday night with a less-than-ideal defensive lineup.D-men Johnny Oduya, Cody Ceci, Dion Phaneuf, and Fredrik Claesson stand to see the most significant uptick in minutes until Karlsson returns.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Boston Bruins have placed goalie Malcolm Subban on waivers, head coach Bruce Cassidy confirmed Monday.Subban 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.Selected 24th overall in 2012, Subban has appeared in only two games with the Bruins, with a save percentage of .727 in 62 minutes of play.His play at the AHL level gives a better look at how he's fared as a pro. In 127 games with the Providence Bruins, he's posted a record of 56-45-14 with a .918 save percentage.Regardless of whether he's claimed or clears waivers, it appears as though drafting a goalie in later rounds is the way to go:

On the heels of the deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history, Las Vegas' only major professional sports franchise offered its support to the city in a heartfelt message.Here is the statement from the Golden Knights:

The Minnesota Wild will start the season without Zach Parise on the ice.The veteran winger has been dealing with a back issue throughout training camp, and because of the problem, will be held out of the lineup for at least the club's first two regular season games, scheduled for Thursday and Saturday."Parise's having a hard time getting to 100% so we'll be pulling back slightly," said general manager Chuck Fletcher. "If all goes well he'd rejoin the team next Monday."Last season, Parise was limited by nagging injuries and illnesses, and finished with only 19 goals and 23 assists in 69 games - his lowest full-season totals since his rookie season with the New Jersey Devils.Minnesota's third game is set for Oct. 12, giving him extra time in which to get up to speed, health permitting.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Calgary Flames signed Jaromir Jagr to a one-year contract, according to Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet.The deal is believed to be worth a base salary of $1 million, with $1 million available in bonuses.Jagr, who will turn 46 in February, appeared in all 82 games for the Florida Panthers last season, recording 16 goals and 46 points.The hockey legend sits second on the NHL's all-time points list with 1,914, and third in goals with 765 - 36 behind Gordie Howe. He could also achieve another career milestone with the Flames.

The NHL won't be sending its players to Pyeongchang, South Korea, for the Winter Olympics in February, but that's seemingly not stopping some of the league's newest rules from featuring prominently.According to International Ice Hockey Federation president Rene Fasal, the IIHF is planning to review the possibility of including coach's challenges at the 2018 Games."We will have consultations with the leagues that are currently utilizing the coach’s challenge system and will look at the best possible method of implementation," Fasel said."We are also aiming to test out a system during the international breaks in the leadup to the games."The proposal to include the challenges was introduced last Friday at the IIHF semi-annual congress, with support coming from Canada, Finland, Sweden, Switzerland, and Russia.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Jaromir Jagr reportedly won't be joining the St. Louis Blues, but could be heading to Calgary.St. Louis general manager Doug Armstrong told TSN's Pierre LeBrun that the Blues made an offer to the unrestricted free agent over the weekend, but was told Jagr is going in a different direction.

Connor McDavid. Sidney Crosby. The rest.That's basically the hierarchy of talent in today's NHL, with those two greats expected to battle it out once again for the Art Ross Trophy as the top point producer.There's other contenders, however, and it's quite possible that any of the following five players could take the scoring title:5. Mark ScheifeleWith 30 goals and 52 assists for the Winnipeg Jets last season, Mark Scheifele finished with the fifth-highest point total among all NHL players. He reached 82 points while appearing in only 79 games, and despite the fact high-scoring winger Patrik Laine missed nine games due to injury.One would figure his assist total will be boosted if both he and Laine remain on the ice together over a full season, but his goal production may fall off a bit considering he scored at a 20 percent success rate in 2016-17.Still, the Jets offense is loaded, and Scheifele will be at the middle of a large part of the action.4. Patrick KaneOver the past two seasons, no player has been more productive than Patrick Kane, and it's not even really close.The Chicago Blackhawks winger registered 80 goals and 115 assists for 195 points in his last 164 regular season games, 21 more points than the second-ranked Crosby.It remains to be seen whether his numbers were boosted by playing with Artemi Panarin, who's since been traded to Columbus for Brandon Saad. For now, Kane is riding the wave of his career, and should be expected to keep it going.3. Nikita KucherovBy the end of last season, Nikita Kucherov had put his name in the Hart Trophy conversation, and would have garnered some votes had the Tampa Bay Lightning made good on a late playoff push.The Russian winger is a superstar few have yet to give the title, a station earned after registering 40 goals and 45 assists in 74 games last season. And that was without Steven Stamkos in the lineup for the majority of the season.One gets the sense this 24-year-old is just getting started.2. Sidney CrosbyHe very well may have been supplanted as the best player in the world, but Crosby is second to one.The Pittsburgh Penguins' all-world center recorded 44 goals and 45 assists in 75 games last season, missing the opening seven contests with a concussion. That 0.59 goals per game average is the second-highest of his career, proving he's aging quite well.Crosby excelled once again in the playoffs, where he meshed well with young wingers Jake Guentzel and Conor Sheary.Expect Sid to continue to do what he does best, and that's produce.1. Connor McDavidIt's hard to imagine any player topping the Edmonton Oilers phenom anytime soon.McDavid was the only player to reach 100 points last season, topping Crosby and Kane by 11 points in the Art Ross Trophy race. For his career, he's averaging 1.17 points per game, which works out to 96 over an 82-game season.Only Kane has surpassed that total in any of the past three seasons, recording 106 in 2015-16.In short, McDavid is the perennial favorite to win the scoring race until further notice.(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Detroit Red Wings signed winger David Booth to a one-year contract Monday, the club announced.According to Craig Custance of The Athletic, Booth's deal is a two-way agreement worth $700,000 (NHL) and $250,000 (AHL). Custance also pointed out that Booth will serve as insurance if current restricted free agent Andreas Athanasiou isn't re-signed in the next couple of days.The veteran forward hasn't suited up in an NHL game since 2015 when he was a member of the Toronto Maple Leafs. He registered seven goals and six assists across 59 regular-season games that campaign.Booth was invited to Red Wings camp on a professional tryout, which was the third PTO of his career.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Calgary Flames are having talks with the camp of Jaromir Jagr Sunday night, according to The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun.LeBrun says there is no certainty that a contract will get signed between the two, but that "it is very possible."The report comes a day after Jagr tweeted an interesting photo of his cat with a bottle of tequila and a stash of money with the caption: "Look, I just tell my cat, there is a chance to play in NHL this year".Jagr remains without an NHL contract with the regular season now just three days away. On Friday he told a Czech publication that he would not skate with a Czech league team this weekend as he continues to negotiate a potential NHL contract.This came after St. Louis Blues general manager Doug Armstrong noted his team had internal discussions about signing Jagr earlier in the week.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

This year's second overall selection, Nolan Patrick, has cracked the Philadelphia Flyers opening night roster, according to general manager Ron Hextall.The news doesn't come as too much of a surprise given Patrick entered this year's draft as the No. 1 rated prospect by NHL Central Scouting. Nevertheless, the 19-year-old had a fairly underwhelming preseason offensively, wherein he tallied just three assists in six games, with his biggest highlight coming when he dropped the gloves with Boston Bruins forward David Krejci.Patrick is primed to be an important cog for the Flyers moving forward and is expected to slot down the middle on Philly's second or third line.With the preseason now in the rear-view mirror, Patrick and his teammates will head to San Jose where they will open the regular season against the Sharks - and for Patrick - his first career regular season contest.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Tom Wilson isn't getting the message, according to St. Louis Blues head coach Mike Yeo.Just eight days after the NHL handed the Washington Capitals forward a two-game suspension for interference on Blues forward Robert Thomas, Wilson was back at his old tricks, receiving a five-minute major and a game misconduct for boarding Blues' forward Sam Blais Sunday.Aafter seeing Wilson's antics twice in just over a week, Yeo was not thrilled and suggested the league should be a little more strict if Wilson is dealt further discipline."It's a predatory hit with a guy that apparently didn't learn his lesson from the first suspension," Yeo said, according to NHL.com's Lou Korac. "Maybe coming down on him a little bit harder will make him think a little bit more about it. It's tough going after vulnerable people."Of course, Wilson will now be considered a repeat offender so any discipline would carry a stiffer penalty.Blais noted after Sunday's game that he was feeling good and he disapproved of Wilson's hit."I didn't see (him), but I think it was not a good hit," said Blais. "I didn't see him coming. For sure if I would have seen him coming, I would have protected myself."The Capitals next game will be their season opener against the Ottawa Senators Thursday.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Edmonton Oilers forward Jesse Puljujarvi will not begin the season with the big club.The 2016 fourth overall pick was assigned to the Bakersfield Condors of the American Hockey League on Sunday to begin the 2017-18 campaign, the team announced.The 19-year-old failed to make enough of an impression in preseason action by tallying just two goals and three points in five contests. Puljujarvi will now return to the AHL, where he spent the majority of last season, putting up 12 goals and 28 points in 39 games.The club also placed defenseman Mark Fayne on waivers for the purpose of assigning him to Bakersfield.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

A custody battle over Edmonton Oilers season tickets has been settled.Beverly and Donald McLeod separated in 2015 after 35 years of marriage, with Donald agreeing to pay his ex-wife $15,000 in spousal support per month, according to the Canadian Press. But there was still the issue of who would get to keep the Oilers season tickets they shared for 11 years.A judge ruled that since the tickets were acquired during their marriage and fall under the definition of household goods, the McLeods will have to share them for the 2017-18 season, including the playoffs, if applicable. They will not, however, have to sit together."The parties shall alternate choices for game tickets with the defendant choosing first the game for which he wants tickets, the plaintiff choosing second for her game, and the parties alternating choices thereafter until all regular season tickets have been assigned," Justice Ritu Khullar of Court of Queen's Bench wrote in her ruling."In the event there are playoff tickets, the plaintiff shall choose her game first, the defendant second, and alternating thereafter."Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The St. Louis Blues signed veteran forward Scottie Upshall to a one-year contract, the team announced Sunday.The deal is reportedly worth $800,000, according to Jeremy Rutherford of The Athletic.Upshall, 33, spent the last two seasons with the Blues, registering 16 goals and 16 assists in 143 games while being used as a fourth-liner and penalty-kill specialist.The former sixth overall pick by the Nashville Predators is just four regular-season games away from 700 for his career.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Jimmy Hayes has parlayed his PTO with the New Jersey Devils into a one-way contract, joining the club on a one-year, $700,000 deal, the team announced Sunday.Hayes was bought out by the Boston Bruins after a dreadful five-point output in 2016-17, leading him to Devils training camp on a tryout basis this summer. In five preseason games with New Jersey, the 27-year-old notched one goal and two assists to solidify a spot on the roster.Over his seven-year career, Hayes has also spent time with the Chicago Blackhawks and Florida Panthers. In 301 contests, he's recorded 51 goals and 49 assists.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Dallas Stars television play-by-play announcer Dave Strader died Sunday morning of cholangiocarcinoma, a form of bile duct cancer.Strader began calling games for the Stars in 2015-16. In 2017, he received the Foster Hewitt Memorial Award recognizing his outstanding contributions to hockey broadcasting over his career.Known as "The Voice," Strader's career began in 1979, calling games for the AHL's Adirondack Red Wings. He is likely best known as the No. 2 play-by-play announcer behind Mike "Doc" Emrick for the NHL on NBC."Everyone who knew him, and everyone who was able to listen to him call games, is saddened to learn about the passing of Dave Strader," Stars president and CEO Jim Lites said in a press release. "His voice is synonymous with hockey to fans all over the globe and he built a connection for so many fans to this game. More importantly, he was a tremendous husband, father, grandfather and friend and we will miss him deeply. Our sincerest prayers and condolences are directed to his wife Colleen and their entire family."Strader was diagnosed with cholangiocarcinoma in June 2016.The hockey world was saddened by the loss.

Ottawa Senators forward Kyle Turris and general manager Pierre Dorion are making progress - although it's slow - in talks regarding a contract extension, reports Bruce Garrioch of The Ottawa Sun.The 28-year-old is owed a team-friendly $3.5 million in 2017-18, and will become an unrestricted free agent July 1 if a deal doesn't get reached before then. Discussions have been described as healthy, according to Garrioch, and neither side is forcing the issue.Agent Kurt Overhardt is reportedly seeking a seven- or eight-year deal worth around $6 million per season for his client.Turris recorded a career-high 27 goals in 2016-17 and has emerged as the Senators' most complete center. He's averaged over 19 minutes per night over the last three seasons, and has consistently been above 50 percent in the faceoff circle.The Senators awarded goaltender Craig Anderson a two-year, $9.5-million extension Friday, and Dorion will have to be shrewd to keep Ottawa's core together. Beyond Turris, winger Mark Stone becomes a restricted free agent in 2018, the same time all-world defenseman Erik Karlsson is eligible for a new deal.According to Cap Friendly, the Senators have a projected $17 million in cap space for the 2018-19 season.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Montreal Canadiens might have their first-line center position figured out after all.Head coach Claude Julien said he was impressed with Jonathan Drouin's play in the Canadiens' final preseason game - a 9-2 win over the Ottawa Senators - and feels he could slot in at center."I see a player who definitely can play center in this league," Julien told reporters, according to Sportsnet's Eric Engels.Drouin centered the club's top line alongside Max Pacioretty and Brendan Gallagher on Saturday night and tallied three assists in the process. Julien was also complimentary of his play on the opposite side of the puck, and appears to have shut down any thoughts of Alex Galchenyuk moving to the center ice position.

Hockey fans often relive classic moments on the Internet over the offseason.Donald Trump appears to be doing the same. On Saturday, the U.S. president tweeted a video showing the playing of the American anthem prior to a game between the Chicago Blackhawks and St. Louis Blues last season.

It appears Jaromir Jagr and his cat have something to celebrate.The NHL's second all-time leading scorer, who happens to be an unrestricted free agent, tweeted a picture Saturday night of his cat nestled on the couch with a bottle of tequila and some money with the caption: "Look, I just tell my cat, there is a chance to play in NHL this year."

The NHL wants the action left on the ice.According to ESPN's David Payne Purdum, the NHL will submit a request to MGM Resorts that it bans gambling on the city's new pro sports team, the Vegas Golden Knights, at two of its Las Vegas Strip properties.The request covers the Monte Carlo and New York-New York, the two casinos that sit adjacent to T-Mobile Arena, the Golden Knights' home rink. The Nevada Gaming Control Board has not been asked to fully ban betting on the Golden Knights."One of the things we're focused on is the atmosphere in the arena," NHL commissioner Gary Bettman told ESPN. "We're family-friendly."MGM will need to work in short order if it plans to rule in favor of the ban, as the new Vegas franchise will play its first-ever regular-season home game Oct. 10 against the Arizona Coyotes.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Jay McClement's hopes of joining the reigning back-to-back Stanley Cup champions have come to an end.The Pittsburgh Penguins announced they released the 34-year-old from his professional tryout contract Saturday night.McClement signed the tryout deal after going without a contract in free agency this summer. He was coming off his third season with the Carolina Hurricanes, where he posted five goals and eight points in 65 games.The dismissal will certainly be tough for the veteran of 906 regular-season games, as Penguins general manager Jim Rutherford stated in August that McClement would be "given a good chance to make the team."In three preseason games with the Penguins, McClement tallied one goal and one assist.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Carey Price put on a show for a legend Saturday night.The Montreal Canadiens netminder robbed Ottawa Senators forward Kyle Turris with a desperation stop late in the first period.The save got the stamp of approval by the Canadiens faitfhul and goaltending great Patrick Roy, who was on hand to take in some preseason action.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Washington Capitals head coach Barry Trotz hopes his club is just in a brief slump this preseason.Through six exhibition games, the club has managed just eight goals, and was limited to one goal or less in five of those six contests. And while the preseason means very little, Trotz admits he needs to see more from his forwards."We need a little more offense out of our forwards, there's no question," Trotz said, according to Isabelle Khurshudyan of the Washington Post. "We've scored three five-on-five goals (in six games). So, that's disturbing for the quality of forwards that we have. We've got nothing from our top guys to this point in terms of production and points, but I trust that their skill and their pedigree will come out."Fortunately, they don't count right now. But still, you want to start feeling good about yourself."After finishing with the third-ranked offense last season, chances are the Capitals will find a way to turn the tide. In the meantime, Trotz suggested that part of the reason for the early struggles could be the mindset the club entered camp with after falling short once again last season - bowing out to the Pittsburgh Penguins in the second round after claiming a second straight Presidents' Trophy."If you talk to players, it's been a little bit harder to get the energy this year based on how it ended and the summer," Trotz said. "So, in some ways, in lack of another way to say it, we got stuck in last year's energy or lack of at the end. It took a piece of us and now we've got to dust ourselves off here and go, 'Hey, you know what? It's for real. Let's get going. We're professional. Let's quit with the self-pity and all that. Whatever's holding us back, let's go play because we can play.'"The Capitals will play one last preseason game against the St. Louis Blues on Sunday afternoon before they open the regular season Thursday against the Ottawa Senators.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Mercifully, the NHL's preseason will soon come to an end.Coming to determinations based on the exhibition slate can be a dangerous course of action, but for the sake of living on the edge, let's take a look at the trends formed this preseason, and if they'll last once the games really matter.Basement-dwelling CanadiensThe sky in Montreal was emphatically falling until the Habs pulled out a 3-1 win Friday over the Panthers, bringing their preseason record to 1-6.The Canadiens have a -14 goal differential, but are you going to put stock in Carey Price mustering an .870 save percentage through October? Didn't think so.Verdict: FictionMatthews' scoring bingeLast season's Calder winner looks poised to continue his assault on opposing defenses through his sophomore year, producing five goals in four preseason showings, including a hat trick.Matthews and linemate William Nylander feed off each other and have great potential to amass lofty offensive totals for the Maple Leafs.Verdict: FactVegas 'Goalden' KnightsIf anybody's destined to be let down by the stark differences between preseason and regular-season hockey, it's the fan base of the NHL's 31st franchise.Vegas is 3-2-1 in six exhibition games, averaging a blazing 3.8 goals per contest. However, with some very shallow digging, it's easy to see the Golden Knights' offense likely won't continue to produce at such a high clip in their inaugural season.The Golden Knights' totals are boosted by a nine-goal thrashing of the Canucks in Game 1, and haven't scored more than three in three of their last four games. Elsewhere, their leading scorer is defenseman Brad Hunt with six points. The preseason can be pretty weird.Verdict: FictionHischier lighting it upNo. 1 overall pick Nico Hischier has excelled in his first taste of the NHL, barging his way to the top of the Devils' attack plan.Hischier's recorded seven points in four games, and hasn't looked a touch out of place in letting his offensive ability shine. His pace is sure to slow down, but right now, it looks like New Jersey found a good one.Verdict: Fact1st-place AvalancheYour early leader of the vaunted Central Division? None other than the Colorado Avalanche.The Avs are 4-2, led by six points from Nathan MacKinnon and a .948 save percentage through three starts from Semyon Varlamov. Encouraging signs, for sure, but this is virtually the same roster that was historically inept a season ago - a campaign that started with an undefeated preseason record.Verdict: Fiction(Photos Courtesy: Getty Images)Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Scottie Upshall could be on the verge of officially reuniting with the St. Louis Blues.The veteran forward took the ice with the club Saturday morning, according to The Athletic's Jeremy Rutherford, and the team announced earlier Saturday that Upshall will meet with general manager Doug Armstrong and head coach Mike Yeo later in the day.Upshall passed a physical and signed a tryout agreement with the Blues that enabled him to practice with the club while the two sides negotiate a contract, Rutherford added.The Vancouver Canucks released Upshall from a tryout deal Friday.He spent the last two seasons with the Blues before becoming a free agent this summer.St. Louis has been looking to fill the void left by the season-ending injury to Robby Fabbri, and Armstrong revealed Thursday that the club has had internal discussions about signing Jaromir Jagr, among others.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Going to the Olympics was a life-changing experience for T.J. Oshie, a shootout star for the United States against Russia in Sochi.Oshie and dozens, if not hundreds, of NHL stars are disappointed they won't get a chance to do it again at the 2018 Winter Olympics in South Korea. He would like to ensure Olympic participation in the future - but not at any cost.''To what end, like what we would have to give up?'' Oshie said. ''Now you're talking about an entire league of players and families potentially losing out on whatever it would be. ... What we'd be giving up would affect everybody. It's a tough talk.''Because Olympic participation wasn't written into the collective bargaining agreement signed in 2013, the decision rested with NHL owners, who decided against going to Pyeongchang after the league participated in the previous five Games. With the first chance for players or owners to opt out of the CBA now two years away, the Olympics, escrow payments and the draft age look like they are bound to be among the hot topics.NHL Players' Association executive director Donald Fehr said owners choosing to skip the 2018 Olympics ''is a thorn, is a sore'' for players and is ''not going to be forgotten.''''I think it is clearly something the players are going to want to think long and hard about when they get to the point of formulating their positions,'' Fehr said. ''I would not be at all surprised if they wanted to make this an issue around which they felt very strongly in terms of the overall agreement because you have to remember that while it's true that roughly a fifth of the players play in any particular set of Games, everyone would like the opportunity to go.''Dallas Stars center Tyler Seguin said not going to the Olympics ''kind of makes you angry.'' Seguin added: ''We're going to have to figure something out for future players and for our future in general as a game.''The future of the game likely will involve increased international events that help grow revenue and spread hockey's influence around the world. The Los Angeles Kings and Vancouver Canucks recently played in Shanghai and Beijing, site of the 2022 Olympics, with the NHL attempting to make inroads in China.The NHL and NHLPA staged the return of the World Cup of Hockey last year in Toronto, and the Colorado Avalanche and Ottawa Senators will play two games in Sweden in November.Fehr said the NHL has ''for some time now indicated a lot more interest in China'' than in Korea. But Commissioner Gary Bettman said in several meetings with Chinese businesses and government entities ''not one of them asked about the Olympics because what we're doing isn't about two weeks.''The NHL is interested in China, and it wouldn't hurt the players' Olympic chances if Salt Lake City or Calgary lands the 2026 Winter Games, but the topic of ensuring participation is not an easy one for upcoming negotiations.''For us to say that there's a change of heart, there's obviously going to have to be a change in circumstance, including how the (International Olympic Committee) and the (International Ice Hockey Federation) view our participation,'' said Bettman, who noted that neither side is currently focused on reopening CBA talks.''I have no idea what the Players' Association will raise in that regard. But we were clear in the last round of bargaining that we needed the ability not to go to the Olympics because we understood how disruptive they are to the season.''After 147 NHL players participated in Sochi, much of the reaction inside locker rooms to the NHL's decision on Korea wasn't positive. At the very least, a handful of players said they'd like to know in advance about the Olympics so it doesn't come down to the wire like it did last time.''I think it's important that we address it so that it's a done issue, whether it be that we're not going or we're going,'' Anaheim Ducks center Ryan Getzlaf said. ''I don't think we want to leave it open to interpretation every year that it goes on.''One thing that hasn't been open to interpretation since 2013 is players having some of their pay held in escrow to compensate for the 50/50 split of revenue with owners. Last season, players had 15.5 percent of their pay withheld and many have expressed displeasure with the system.Fehr said changes could be made to the escrow system, but added that it has always been his view that salary caps ''cause all kinds of problems.'' The NHL and NHLPA instituted the salary cap coming out of the 2004-05 lockout that wiped out a season, and Bettman is proud of the competitive balance it has created.''That's why we fought so hard and we were committed to getting a system that would enable all of our teams to be competitive,'' Bettman said.Another topic that is likely to spark conversation is raising the draft age from 18 to 19. Former player and current NHLPA special assistant to the executive director Mathieu Schneider said it can be a positive but knows there are challenges to changing it like the NBA did several years ago.Fehr, who was executive director of the Major League Baseball Players Association from 1985-2009 and has headed the NHLPA for the past seven years, said preparations for the next round of bargaining will ramp up after the executive board meeting next summer. With plenty of conversations left to have, he thinks it's too early to tell what will be the central issues when push comes to shove.''You can make guesses, you can sometimes make educated guesses and every so often you're going to be right,'' Fehr said. ''But it's a chancy prospect.''---Follow Hockey Writer Stephen Whyno on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/SWhyno---For more AP NHL coverage: https://apnews.com/tag/NHLhockeyCopyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

On Friday the Ottawa Senators made surprising, yet seemingly calculated move, inking goaltender Craig Anderson to a two-year contract extension that will keep him with the club until the end of the 2019-20 season.The deal means so much more to the club than just reassurance and stability between the pipes going forward. At an annual average of just $4.75 million per season, the price point makes the extension a sure win for the Senators.Great value for what Anderson brings(Photo courtesy: Action Images)It's quite clear that the Senators were able to ink Anderson well below the going rate for a No. 1 goalie in today's NHL. While Anderson's extension won't kick in until next season, the $4.75-million cap hit would be just the 18th highest in the league this year.That's despite the fact that he is coming off a strong campaign in which he posted the third-highest save percentage (.926), 10th-best goals-against average (2.28), and a tie for the seventh-most shutouts (7).This all came during a season that saw Anderson take multiple leaves from the team as he accompanied his wife during her battle with cancer. In the end, he played just 40 games, making these numbers all the more impressive.A cheap one-two punch(Photo courtesy: Getty Images)What also makes the new extension so beneficial to the Senators is that along with Mike Condon's relatively cap-friendly deal, it gives the Senators a solid, yet inexpensive duo.Last season - due in large part to Anderson's absences from the club - Condon was forced to play 40 games, and the 27-year-old proved to be incredibly steady when called upon.Condon posted a 19-14-6 record with a 2.48 goals-against average and a .914 save percentage. His reliability is precisely why the Senators brought him back as Anderson's deputy.Once Anderson's extension kicks in, the two will combine for just $7.15 million. That total would rank as the 15th-most expensive goaltending duo in the NHL this season, which is not bad given the two helped the Senators boast the 10th-best defense last year.Cap space to retain free agents later(Photo courtesy: Action Images)It's fitting that Anderson's extension will kick in at the end of the upcoming season as that is precisely when it will become so noticeably valuable.That's because the Senators will see a number of players hit the restricted and unrestricted free-agent markets.Player Status Current Cap HitMark StoneRFA$3.5MKyle TurrisUFA$3.5MCody CeciRFA$2.8MMark BorowieckiUFA$1.1MJohnny OduyaUFA$1MChris WidemanUFA$800KFredrik ClaessonRFA$650KStone, Turris, Ceci, Claesson, and Borowiecki will presumably be the team's main priorities and it could be argued all would be deserving of raises.Perhaps most crucially, captain Erik Karlsson will become a UFA the following offseason. The two-time Norris Trophy-winner could demand near Connor McDavid-like money, and deservedly so.When that happens, the Senators - who aren't known as a cap team - will be forced to cough up the money to keep their star player. It's at that moment they'll be glad to have saved some pennies with Anderson's affordable extension.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

There's no question as to whether Nico Hischier will play in the NHL this season.The 2017 first overall draft pick has put on a show during the preseason, scoring four goals in as many games and leading the New Jersey Devils with seven points.As a result, he's played his way into a prominent role with the club, according to head coach John Hynes."Right now he's a top-six forward. He's played his way and earned his way into that role," Hynes said Friday, per Chris Ryan of NJ.com. "We didn't start him there, but he played his way into that. I think he's done a nice job, also, when he's gotten the opportunity to play on the power play. And we think he's been able to play center very well."It can take time for a center to transition from junior hockey to the professional level, and some never find their way, ending up on the wing. Hischier, Hynes says, is up to the task."It looks like he's been able to handle the responsibilities of a centerman with not too much of a problem. There's certain things he can adjust to, but that's where we see him right now."Hischier will make his NHL regular-season debut against Colorado on Oct. 7.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Pick your favorite.Oddsmakers can't seem to come to a conclusion in regards to the 2018 Vezina Trophy, with three of the NHL's top goalies sharing 5-1 odds.Washington's Braden Holtby won the award in 2016, while Montreal's Carey Price took it - along with league MVP honors - in 2015. Matt Murray, meanwhile, has backstopped Pittsburgh to back-to-back Stanley Cup wins.Interestingly, the 2017 winner - Columbus' Sergei Bobrovsky - comes in fifth on the list.Here's a look at the eight goalies with 15-1 or better odds at winning the Vezina.GoalieOddsBraden Holtby (WSH)5-1Matt Murray (PIT)5-1Carey Price (MTL)5-1Devan Dubnyk (MIN)8-1Sergei Bobrovsky (CBJ)10-1Cam Talbot (EDM)12-1Henrik Lundqvist (NYR)15-1Pekka Rinne (NSH)15-1(Odds courtesy: Bodog)Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Colorado Avalanche had a 2016-17 season to forget, recording a league-worst 48 points (22-56-4) under first-year head coach Jared Bednar.Since the shootout was adopted following the 2004-05 lockout, no team has finished with fewer points in a full season. Colorado's .296 point percentage ranks dead last even including the lockout-shortened 2013 campaign.To make matters worse, Colorado missed out on a top-three draft pick, settling for defenseman Cale Makar fourth overall, a player who won't make the kind of immediate impact expected from Nico Hischier (New Jersey) or Nolan Patrick (Philadelphia).So how can the Avs turn things around? Here are three ways they can avoid another disastrous season:Resolve the Matt Duchene situationQuestions surrounding Matt Duchene's future in Colorado date back almost two years, and even he believed there was a good chance he'd be traded at some point this summer.But general manager Joe Sakic appears to be asking for the moon. He is dealing with a player who's averaging 25 goals for every 82 games played over the course of his career, and should fetch a nice package of players, prospects and/or picks, with Columbus, Nashville and Ottawa believed to be the most interested parties.For everyone to move forward, a split here is necessary. Duchene could use a change of scenery, and the rest of the team - both on and off the ice - doesn't need that cloud hanging over its head any longer.Receive steadier goaltendingA Vezina Trophy finalist in 2014, Semyon Varlamov has been hindered by a steady stream of injuries in recent years, culminating in career-worsts across the board last season.Varlamov underwent offseason surgery meant to repair these nagging issues, and has looked good in the preseason. If he can maintain his .916 career save percentage, the Avalanche will have a fighting chance.Jonathan Bernier was brought in to replace Calvin Pickard as backup. He filled in admirably for an injured John Gibson in Anaheim last season, and has shown an ability to carry a team at times in his career.Between the two of them, Colorado's goaltending should perform better than the lowly .894 team save percentage Bednar had to work with a year ago.Develop the young coreOn paper, Colorado has a decent core of young talent to build around.Gabriel Landeskog, Nathan MacKinnon, Mikko Rantanen, and Tyson Jost are the key players up front, while Sven Andrighetto, J.T. Compher, Alex Kerfoot, and Nail Yakupov (really!) round out a nice group of guys 25 and under.Granted, there are major questions on the blue line, but if Nikita Zadorov can make strides, and any of rookies Andrei Mironov, Chris Bigras, Nicolas Meloche, and Anton Lindholm make the jump at some point, the future could be bright.This team likely won't make a push for a playoff spot at the end of the day, but Colorado can't possibly be as bad as last season - right?If they can move on from Duchene, get a boost in net, and develop the youth movement - while adding another lottery pick - the Avs should see both short-and long-term improvement.(Photos courtesy: Action Images)Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Jaromir Jagr is playing it safe.The legendary forward has been practicing with Rytiri Kladno, a second-tier team he owns in the Czech Republic, but has decided to sit out this weekend with his future in North America still uncertain."I won't play for Kladno because there are still some negotiations in the NHL," Jagr told Czech publication iDNEZ.cz, according to NHL.com's Michael Langr. "Those teams don't want me to play here and I have to respect that."The 45-year-old unrestricted free agent lamented not being able to play in front of his hometown fans and gave an additional reason for taking the weekend off."It is unpleasant because people expected I would play," he said. "On the other hand, we haven't promised anything to anybody. It would make no sense to meddle in something when I'm not 100 percent sure that (I'm) stay(ing) here. I don't (want to) interfere with someone who has a roster spot (in Kladno)."On Thursday, St. Louis Blues general manager Doug Armstrong acknowledged his club has had internal discussions about signing Jagr in addition to several other players in the wake of the season-ending injury to young forward Robby Fabbri.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

When a player asks for a trade, it's usually a high-profile name, such as Dany Heatley or Chris Pronger. But Columbus Blue Jackets forward Josh Anderson's request to be moved in the midst of a contract dispute may have left some hockey fans outside of Ohio with no clue why a player they've never heard of wants to be dealt.Anderson, a restricted free agent, is loaded with potential, but the 23-year-old hasn't gotten the opportunity to let the hockey world know just how good he could be.Last season, he scored 17 goals in 78 games, and did so while averaging just 12:01 minutes per game. His 1.07 goals per 60 minutes at five-on-five was the best on the Blue Jackets, and 29th-best in the entire league. That put him ahead of Brad Marchand, Patrick Kane, and Nikita Kucherov.Anderson was able to produce without getting any power-play time either, as he was buried in Columbus' bottom-six forward group all year, primarily playing with subpar linemates William Karlsson and Matt Calvert. In fact, he ranked 12th in average time on ice among Blue Jackets forwards who played at least 25 games.Though the goal-scoring is obviously a major attraction, Anderson's likely drawing interest because he's a rare breed: the prototypical power forward who can set the tone of a game with a bone-crushing hit, and isn't afraid to drop the mitts.(Photo courtesy: Action Images)The 6-foot-3, 221-pound winger racked up 89 penalty minutes and 147 hits last season. The pure enforcer role has faded out of the league, making players such as Anderson who can throw haymakers and actually contribute offensively more valuable. It's a big reason why the Oilers gave Milan Lucic a massive contract.The desirability of this type of player is also a huge reason why the Blue Jackets gave the Vegas Golden Knights a first-round pick in exchange for expansion draft assurances, which reportedly included not selecting the exposed Anderson.A lot of questions about Anderson still need to be answered, however. Can he sustain his production rates against better competition? Is he capable of playing a defensive role on a shutdown line? With a 14.3 shooting percentage a year ago (league average was 9.01), was he lucky to score 17 goals?Some of these uncertainties could explain why Anderson's camp and the Blue Jackets have reached a stalemate in their contract negotiations. In what will be his second full season, Anderson will offer a better indication as to exactly what kind of player he can be - especially if he gets his wish and is moved to a team where he can play a larger role. Then, whether or not hockey fans know his name will be up to him.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Minnesota Wild released veteran forward Ryan Malone from his professional tryout, the team announced Friday. He will now try out for Minnesota's AHL affiliate in Iowa.Even if he signs an AHL contract, Malone would still be eligible to suit up for Team USA at the upcoming Olympics.Malone last played in the NHL in 2014-15 with the New York Rangers, but only dressed for six games and didn't record a point. He did enjoy success early in his career, however, compiling six 20-goal season from 2003-04 to 2011-12.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Ottawa Senators signed netminder Craig Anderson to a two-year, $9.5-million extension Friday, the team announced.Anderson's new deal has an average annual value of $4.75 million, and includes a 10-team no-trade clause.At age 36, he has proven he can still anchor the Senators' crease. Across 40 regular-season games in his last campaign, which was cut short due to his wife battling cancer, Anderson posted a solid record of 25-11-4 to go along with an impressive 2.28 goals-against average and .926 save percentage.His current deal expires at the end of the 2017-18 season.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.