The Minnesota Wild have signed captain Mikko Koivu to a two-year contract extension worth $11 million, the team announced Monday.Koivu will carry a cap hit of $6.75 million in the final season of a seven-year contract signed in 2010. Once his extension kicks in, he'll earn $5.5 million per campaign.The Wild centerman has been consistent throughout his career in Minnesota, and is the club's all-time leader in games played, assists, and points.In 80 games last season, Koivu, 34, recorded 18 goals and 40 assists, marking his highest point total since 2010-11. Koivu also led all Wild forwards in averaging 19:07 in ice time, and won 55.2% of faceoffs, good enough to earn recognition as a Selke Trophy finalist.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Matt Duchene is setting the record straight.The Colorado Avalanche center clarified his status with the team Monday, telling Mike Chambers of The Denver Post, "I'm not going to predict the future on my longevity here. I'm day by day. I'm just enjoying playing hockey."A lot got blown out of proportion. I said what I wanted to say then. Nothing's changed since Thursday. I'm here to get better, I'm here for those reasons - that I said on Thursday."Monday's appearance was just the second time Duchene had spoken with the media since training camp opened last week.Duchene has long been mired in trade speculation; however, an expected deal out of Denver never came to be this offseason. The Columbus Blue Jackets and Boston Bruins have reportedly expressed interest in the 26-year-old.For now, Duchene is focused on the present."I love playing hockey," Duchene added. "I want to win. That's the biggest thing on my mind. I'm trying to get better every time I touch the ice right now."Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NHL preseason is upon us, and while the exhibition slate is mostly a wash for the established stars with secured roster spots, plenty of players around the league have something to prove in hopes of cracking their respective lineups.Here are five players that have a little bit extra riding on their performances leading up to the regular season.Kasperi Kapanen - Maple LeafsThe Maple Leafs have an abundance of prominent forwards in their lineup, leaving one spot available on the wing. Kapanen filled in on Toronto's fourth line nicely to close out last season and into the playoffs, but he won't be the only one vying to crack Mike Babcock's roster.Kapanen has to compete with Josh Leivo and Nikita Soshnikov, among others, to capture the final spot, and considering he tasted such success in the pros in his last stint, it's unlikely he'll want to relinquish his position.Alex DeBrincat - BlackhawksAfter three consecutive seasons topping 100 points in the OHL, DeBrincat is on the verge of facing a real challenge for the first time in a long time. Listed at only 5-foot-7, the undersized forward has to prove he can keep up at the NHL level to earn a spot on the Blackhawks.That said, Chicago's forward depth could use a boost, and if DeBrincat can produce offensively in the preseason, he could very well get an NHL look come October.Jay McClement - PenguinsA 34-year-old journeyman defensive center might not be the most exciting player to keep an eye on, but the Penguins currently don't have a pivot under contract to play behind Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin.McClement was offered a PTO earlier this summer, and won't produce much if he makes the team, but a full-time spot on the back-to-back Stanley Cup champions seems like enough incentive to make a positive impact.Cody Franson - BlackhawksFranson presents an interesting case. On one hand, he's largely approved by the analytics community for proving to be a competent defender on a terrible Buffalo Sabres team in 2016-17, but on the other hand, he fell through the cracks of free agency, only to earn a PTO with Chicago.The 30-year-old is no guarantee to make the Blackhawks, but he's in a good position to make an impression on a defensive corps that needs to fill the void left by Niklas Hjalmarsson's departure.Jimmy Hayes - DevilsComing off a dreadful five-point campaign that led to being bought out by the Boston Bruins, the future of Hayes' NHL career potentially hangs in the balance of his PTO with the Devils.Hayes has registered seasons of 19 and 13 goals as recently as 2016, and at 6-foot-5, 215 lbs, he seemingly possesses the tools to contribute as a depth forward. Still, Hayes will need to out-perform some of the Devils' prospects to prove he belongs in the league.(Photos Courtesy: Getty Images)Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Roberto Luongo rarely misses a chance to be self-deprecating, and that was evident Monday when he came up with the perfect caption for a photo from training camp.

UNIONDALE, N.Y. – Part of the deal between Nassau County and Barclays Center, where the Islanders play now, but which operates the renovated Nassau Coliseum, is that the Islanders either play four regular-season games and two preseason games at their traditional home, or the county gets an extra $1 million in rent.Because Sunday’s preseason contest between the Islanders and Philadelphia Flyers is the only scheduled NHL action at the Coliseum in 2017-18, Nassau County is getting its extra million bucks.Sunday’s game also was little more than a tease. Gary Bettman said earlier this month at the Winter Classic press conference that “my gut reaction is it’s not a viable option” for the Islanders to return to an arena that got a $165 million renovation but still has many of the same issues as it did before the Islanders moved to Brooklyn, simultaneously 22 miles and light years away.John Tavares nearly blew the top off the old barn when he scored his second goal of the game, an overtime winner to give the Islanders a 3-2 verdict. The level of sound in the old barn is the same as ever when the building is full, and the sellout crowd serenaded the Islanders all the way off the ice.“It was pretty close to what we had in the playoffs,” Tavares said. “It was through the roof coming out in warmups and certainly the start of the game. Hearing the ‘Let’s go Islanders’ chants and the ‘Yes! Yes!’ chants (for goals) were prominent again. This fan base has got a tremendous identity, and they don’t want to lose hold of that. As players, we recognize that, and we want to reward them with good hockey, so this was fun.”During the break between the third period and overtime, the fans made their opinion known, loudly chanting, “BRING THEM BACK.” The chant rose up again after Tavares’ game-winning goal.“They certainly wanted to be heard,” Tavares said. “That’s above my pay grade, but I think certainly this place is very meaningful to this organization and the identity of this organization for a reason.”(Photo courtesy: Getty Images)The identity lives on in the Islanders’ logo, which has not changed since the move to Brooklyn. The tip of the “I” in the word “Islanders” points directly to the location of Nassau Coliseum. Keeping the team’s identity exactly the same is one of the reasons the move has felt half-baked for a lot of people, and why a return to Nassau County, even for an afternoon, was priceless.“It means a lot,” said Matt Mead of Rockville Center, wearing a vintage Dave Scatchard jersey. “It’s kind of sad, because you know we’re going to have to head to Brooklyn after this, so it’s nice to have one little last hurrah here. It’s a good turnout, and I got to see a lot of old friends that I haven’t seen in a while."I’m enjoying it. It’s a 30-minute train ride to get to Brooklyn – it’s not that bad, but I miss coming here, tailgating, being with friends and family. Brooklyn’s a little bit of a pain.”That pain is measurable in the fact that the Islanders ranked 28th in the NHL in attendance last year, at 13,101 per game, 82.9% of capacity in Brooklyn. That was down from an average of 13,626 (86.2%) in the first season in Brooklyn, while the Islanders averaged 15,334 per game, 94.8% of the final-season capacity at the Coliseum.Sunday’s crowd of 13,917 not only filled the Coliseum, but the parking lot as well. Arriving in the morning, fans set up their tailgates and Islanders flags flew all over.“I think we had a good sense that was going to happen,” said Tavares, who owns 89 regular-season goals at the Coliseum, plus five in the playoffs. “That was such a great part of Islanders hockey and who the Islanders are, is a lot of weekend afternoon games or evening Saturday home games, people out in the parking lot with a lot of space, just enjoying the atmosphere of what it was to be an Islander fan. It was great that they got to enjoy that again.”Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Throughout the month of September, James Bisson and a cast of editors from theScore will share their rankings of the greatest players, teams, and moments in the 100-year history of the National Hockey League. This week's list focuses on the greatest team logos (active team logos courtesy NHL; defunct team logos courtesy SportsLogos.net).100-81 | 80-61 | 60-41 | 40-21 | 20-1Voter List

Joffrey Lupul may have opened up a can of worms.Lupul - still a Toronto Maple Leafs forward, at least on paper - took to Instagram on Sunday to dispel the notion that he's unable to play in the NHL despite reportedly failing his training camp medical, commenting: "Haha failed physical? They (Leafs) cheat, everyone lets them."The NHL may now be forced to do some digging of its own."We aren't in a position to comment right now," NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly told TSN's Darren Dreger on Monday. "That may or may not change when we know more."Lupul is entering the final season of a five-year, $26.25-million contract with the club, and missed all of last season after not being cleared to play in training camp.His injured - or, allegedly, "injured" - status allows Toronto to place Lupul and his $5.25-million cap hit on long-term injured reserve, thereby freeing up cap space.Lupul can file a grievance against the team through the players' association, but so far has chosen not to do so.He hasn't played for the Leafs since Feb. 6, 2016.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

There are players in the NHL who are exceptional talents in reality, but whose skills don't necessarily translate into elite fantasy production.These players will be overdrafted in your fantasy leagues because of their high-profile names. Don't be the one in your league to make that mistake.Drew Doughty, KingsDoughty is arguably the NHL's best defenseman. There's nobody better at preventing zone entries, and thanks to his outstanding skating ability and overall hockey sense, he's one of the best - if not the best - puck-mover in the league.It might be hard to believe, but in nine NHL seasons, Doughty has only reached the 50-point plateau twice, and just once in the last seven years. For his career he has averaged 43.5 points per 82 games. While this is good, it's certainly not elite in fantasy circles.A low-profile defenseman, such as Boston's Torey Krug for example, has averaged 45 points per 82 games in his career, but will certainly be drafted much lower because he is a lesser-known player.Jonathan Toews, BlackhawksWidely considered one of the best all-around players in the game today, it's amazing to think Toews has reached the 70-point mark only once in his career. In fact, Toews has reached 60 points just twice in the last six years.With Brandon Saad back in the Windy City, Toews could regain his 70-point form, but the probability doest justify a high selection, especially coming off a lackluster 58-point campaign.Ryan Suter, WildSuter is a high-floor, low-ceiling draft pick. He's never played fewer than 70 games in a season, and has piled up at least 30 points in 10 consecutive campaigns.Even though he's averaged nearly 30 minutes per night since joining the Wild, he has just one 50-point season to show for it. Suter is a bona fide No. 1 defenseman in reality, but he's better served as a No. 3 blue-liner for your fantasy team.Joe Thornton, SharksThornton is coming off his worst season since his teenage years, but it won't stop players in your league from thinking that he can have a bounce-back year.Even if Thornton does rebound and records somewhere around 65-70 points, he really only helps you in one category: assists. He barely averaged over a shot per game last year, will be lucky to score 15 goals this season, and probably won't record an outstanding plus-minus.Given the depth of the center position, let someone else draft Thornton, unless he is still hanging around in the final few rounds of your draft.Nathan MacKinnon, AvalancheUnlike the other four players on this list who are either in the primes or on the back nine of their careers, MacKinnon has yet to have his breakout season.The former first overall pick is one of the fastest skaters in the league, and is gifted with great hands and a lethal shot. What he isn't gifted with is talented linemates, and that is what's holding him back from being the 80-point player he should be.Nevertheless, MacKinnon, another center, will be drafted higher than he should because of his elite skill, even though it won't translate to elite fantasy production until he has more help around him.(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Goaltenders will be able to breathe easier for at least one more season.The NHL's attempt to reduce equipment size has reportedly been delayed, and goalies won't have to wear smaller chest protectors this season, according to Renaud Lavoie of TVA.It's "possible" the new gear will be ready for 2018-19, Lavoie added.Goalie pants were reduced in size last season, but it didn't make a noticeable difference in terms of goal-scoring.There's no word on what caused the delay on the chest-protector front, but we're sure to be kept abreast of any further developments.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Detroit Red Wings and restricted free agent Andreas Athanasiou remain at odds over a contract agreement with training camp now well underway.The team has reportedly offered a two-year contract with an average annual valuation of $1.9 million, TSN's Bob McKenzie reports.Earlier this month, player agent Darren Ferris said the option of playing in the KHL had become "more of a probability." But Athanasiou and his representatives were in Toronto on Sept. 16 to meet with Detroit general manager Ken Holland and "some progress" is believed to have been made, McKenzie adds.In 101 games with the Red Wings, Athanasiou has scored 27 goals and added 16 assists, with 39 of those 43 points coming at even strength and in limited ice time.Detroit's first preseason game is Tuesday against Boston.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

In today's run-and-gun, fast-paced NHL, we sometimes forget that icing a formidable defensive unit is just as crucial as having a dynamic forward group.Clubs across the league are always looking for the right mix on the back end. Combining defensive-minded players with others who like to jump up and get pucks on net is key to building a balanced unit.And regardless of what strategy a team employs, touting an elite group of defensemen usually puts it in the mix for a Cup. This season will be no different.Here's the NHL's top four defense corps heading into 2017-18, in no particular order:Nashville Predators Losing a player like Ryan Ellis until the new year is obviously a massive blow, but luckily for Preds fans, general manager David Poile has done an amazing job of stacking Nashville's blue line with studly defensemen.Roman Josi, P.K. Subban, and Matthias Ekholm are three elite rearguards who stand to see the most increase in ice time during Ellis' absence, with newly acquired Alexei Emelin, Matt Irwin, and Yannick Weber rounding out the group.Last season, the Predators allowed the 16th-fewest goals per game while their D-men combined to score 46. The unit's combination of skill, speed, and size makes Nashville a very difficult team to play against.With perennial Norris Trophy threats in Josi and Subban anchoring the blue line, look for the Preds to be competing in May once again. Calgary Flames Funny how a new starting goalie and a top-four defenseman can catapult a team's defensive game from above-average to elite in a matter of days. Such was the case with the Flames following the additions of Travis Hamonic and Mike Smith this offseason.Smith's built a reputation as one of the best puck-moving netminders in the game, which will pair nicely with the offensive-minded styles of T.J. Brodie and Dougie Hamilton, as well as captain Mark Giordano and Michael Stone. While Calgary's back end is obviously talented offensively, it also gets the job done at the other end of the rink, where the unit limited opposing teams to the eighth-least shots on goal last season at 28.7 per game.If the Flames can receive consistent goaltending from Smith and maintain a healthy blue line, few teams in the Western Conference will match up well against them.Carolina Hurricanes You read that right: The Carolina Hurricanes will ice one of most talented young corps in the league this coming season.Justin Faulk, Noah Hanifin, Brett Pesce, and Klas Dahlbeck are four returning defensemen who were taken in the first three rounds of the draft, while only Jaccob Slavin (fourth) was taken outside the top three. So, they have the collective pedigree to be elite.Also, don't forget, this is the same group that allowed the fifth-least shots on goal per game last season. The only change in this year's group is the addition of two-time Stanley Cup winner Trevor van Riemsdyk, who will provide an element of experience and stability.Yes, the group is young an inexperienced, but that doesn't change the fact that its offensive upside is seemingly limitless.That potential might not be much on its own, but when you factor in Scott Darling's addition in goal, this crew should develop into one of the NHL's top D-cores. Anaheim DucksRight off the jump, the Ducks will be in tough to replicate last season's defensive stinginess due to the serious injuries to Hampus Lindholm and Sami Vatanen, as the pair are each coming off offseason surgeries.While both are expected to return before Christmas, their early-season absences could obviously impact the overall effectiveness of Anaheim's defensive group.However, the Ducks allowed the third-least total goals last campaign at an impressive 197, and still employ the services of Cam Fowler, Brandon Montour, and Josh Manson.If Anaheim can get healthy, sooner than later, it will again have one of the most formidable defensively sounds corps in the entire league - a main reason the club is a perennial Cup threat.(Photos courtesy: Action Images)Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Joffrey Lupul doesn't seem particularly thrilled with the Toronto Maple Leafs.The oft-injured forward lashed out at the club in the comment thread of one of his Instagram posts Sunday, responding to at least one user who brought up his latest failed physical.(Courtesy: Instagram/@jlupul, relevant comments highlighted by theScore)Last week, Leafs general manager Lou Lamoriello revealed that Lupul failed his physical for the upcoming season, according to Sportsnet's Chris Johnston.Lupul didn't appear in a single NHL game in 2016-17, as he was stashed on long-term injured reserve in a move that helped to alleviate some of his $5.25-million cap hit while creating another open roster spot for the upstart club.He played only 46 games in 2015-16 and was limited to just 55 contests in 2014-15.It's the second straight year Lupul failed his pre-season physical, and it's the second time in three days that a player associated with the Leafs has criticized the organization for its roster practices.Jared Cowen, who's now essentially an unrestricted free agent, called his unsuccessful arbitration case against the club "a joke of a process" when asked about it on Friday at Colorado Avalanche training camp, to which he's been invited on a pro tryout.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Dale Tallon appears determined to undo the work of Tom Rowe, and he doesn't seem to care too much about what's required to do so.By jettisoning defenseman Jason Demers to the Arizona Coyotes for grinding forward Jamie McGinn on Sunday, the Florida Panthers general manager made his second obvious reversal of a Rowe transaction since re-assuming the GM position in April.Tallon also traded Reilly Smith and his five-year, $25-million contract to the Vegas Golden Knights on the day of the expansion draft in June, getting back a fourth-round pick.Rowe, who originally replaced Tallon as Panthers GM in the spring of 2016, signed both Demers and Smith to long-term deals, inking Demers to a five-year, $22.5-million contract on July 2, 2016, a day before finalizing the Smith pact.That Tallon was only able to get a physical, but largely unproductive winger in McGinn for Demers, and a fourth rounder in return Smith, isn't too surprising, given the difficulty many GMs have trading players signed to long-terms deals.What's telling, though, is that he was so willing to part with them, that he was perfectly content dumping their salaries for minimal returns, and that he was reportedly willing to retain 12.5 percent of Demers' salary in Sunday's trade to ensure the blue-liner's departure.Tallon's attempt to redo Rowe's roster restructuring runs deeper than that, too.Demers revealed Sunday that he had to use his modified no-trade clause to veto a trade that would have sent him to the Vancouver Canucks for Erik Gudbranson, the defenseman Rowe dealt away for Jared McCann in a move that also involved a few picks in May 2016.In other words, Tallon unsuccessfully tried to get a player back that his predecessor (and successor) sent packing.There's been no public indication that Tallon was upset about being promoted out of the GM role when Rowe was appointed to replace him, but now that Tallon is back in his old job, his latest moves are providing a window into how he may have felt about the roster.While Demers and Smith are both solid players, signing them to five-year contracts was ill-advised, even if the moves came following a season in which Florida won its first-ever Atlantic Division crown.The Panthers lost in the first round of the playoffs that spring, but Tallon built the team that notched that historic regular-season achievement, and he put together much of the core that gave South Florida newfound hope on the hockey front.But under Rowe's leadership, the Panthers struggled out of the gate, and the GM exercised a quick trigger finger, firing head coach Gerard Gallant and jumping behind the bench himself, with disappointing results.Tallon's back in the saddle now, though, and the longtime executive appears willing to do whatever it takes to restore the lineup to the way it was during his previous run.Given the Panthers' recent track record, it's hard to argue with that strategy.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Jason Demers was nearly a member of the Vancouver Canucks.The veteran defenseman told reporters Sunday that Florida Panthers general manager Dale Tallon tried sending him to the Canucks to get blue-liner Erik Gudbranson back, but Demers turned it down, according to the Miami Herald's George Richards.Demers has a modified no-trade clause that allows him to submit a list of eight teams to which he can't be dealt, according to CapFriendly.The Panthers shipped Gudbranson to the Canucks for center Jared McCann in May 2016.Tallon reassumed Florida's GM position in April when Tom Rowe was reassigned.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The regular season is just around the corner, but that hasn't stopped the Florida Panthers and Arizona Coyotes from making some last-minute changes.On Sunday, the Panthers acquired veteran winger Jamie McGinn from the Coyotes in exchange for right-shot defenseman Jason Demers, the clubs confirmed Sunday.The Panthers will retain 12.5 percent of Demers' salary in the deal, according to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.The veteran blue-liner is under contract for the next four campaigns at a $4.5-million cap hit, but his salary this season - including a million-dollar bonus - will be $5.4 million.It's the second hefty player contract signed by former Panthers general manager Tom Rowe that current GM Dale Tallon has shipped out since returning to the position in April.Tallon sent Reilly Smith - to whom Rowe gave a five-year, $25-million extension in July 2016 - to the Vegas Golden Knights for a fourth-round pick on the day of the expansion draft in June.McGinn joins the Panthers after one season in Arizona which he tallied 17 points in 72 games. He signed with the Coyotes as a free agent last summer and has two years remaining on his contract which carries a $3.33-million cap hit.Demers spent just one season in Florida after signing with the team last summer. In 81 games with Florida, Demers registered nine goals and 19 assists.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Just what the doctor ordered.San Jose Sharks center Joe Thornton is back to perfect health after offseason surgery to repair ACL and MCL tears in his left knee."I feel good," Thornton said from Sharks' training camp, per Eric Gilmore of NHL.com. "I rehabbed hard this summer. The knee feels great, to be honest with you. It feels real good."It was pretty much just to get my knee strong again. But they feel real strong. I feel a lot of pop out there. They're probably as strong as they've ever been just because I had to rehab that knee so much."Despite the injury, which he suffered in the final week of the season, Thornton made a remarkable appearance during San Jose's first-round playoff series against the Edmonton Oilers."The amount of work he's put in rehab-wise and fitness-wise is such an inspiration to everybody in this organization," added Sharks general manager Doug Wilson. "If we were starting (the season) tomorrow, he'd be ready to go."The 38-year-old became an unrestricted free agent this summer but quickly re-upped with the Sharks on a one-year, $8-million extension.Whether the short-term deal is an indication that Thornton sees 2017-18 as his final campaign is an unknown. Still, there is plenty to play for, as the accomplished center remains in pursuit of his first Stanley Cup.Thornton will have at least one honor to his name this season, as he becomes the NHL's active leader in all-time scoring after free agent Jaromir Jagr was unable to secure a contract.In 1,446 career games, Thornton has tallied 384 goals and 1,007 assists to sit tied for 22nd in all-time scoring. He can move into the top-10 in the all-time assists category with 33 helpers this year.Thornton recorded seven goals and 43 assists last season.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Ron Hextall has called upon a familiar face.The Philadelphia Flyers general manager has added Dean Lombardi, former GM of the Los Angeles Kings, to his hockey operations department, according to TSN's Pierre LeBrun.

Knowing the depth of each position in fantasy hockey is one of the most underrated, yet crucial, aspects of planning for your draft. Simply selecting the best player available is a fairly lazy strategy. Knowing the scarcity of each position, and when the position group is about to fall off, can go a long way in building a championship roster full of balance.This article assumes your league uses the following standard roster position setup:PositionQuantityC2LW2RW2D4G2BENCH4GoaltenderThere are only 31 starting goaltenders in the NHL, making it by far the scarcest of all positions. The value of goaltenders can vary depending on the size of your league. If you're in a deep league - with 14 or 16 users - the value of a solid goaltender becomes increasingly high.Goaltender has very distinct tiers - more so than any other position. The first 15 or so are very reliable. The next six or seven are serviceable, but anyone after that comes with significant red flags.The best way to exploit the poor goaltending market is drafting more than you need. Supply and demand. At one point or another, someone in your league will be desperate for a goaltender, and will overpay to acquire one. Drafting four or five netminders may seem ridiculous, but it will make your team stronger in the long run.DefenseDefense is the second-most scarce position in fantasy hockey - especially in standard-league scoring. With that said, building your team around someone like Erik Karlsson, Brent Burns, or Victor Hedman is never a bad idea - even if it costs you a first-round pick. There's a slight drop-off after those three blue-liners, but not as steep as at goaltender.Furthermore, building your team from the net out is arguably the best way to go. If you can draft five defensemen who can each record at least 50 points, you will still be able to land forwards capable of putting up 60 points in the later rounds. Don't hesitate to use four of your first six picks on defensemen.Left WingIt may sound crazy, but forwards are the players you should prioritize last, and of them, left wing is the position with the least amount of depth.In theScore's standard league rankings, nine left-wingers cracked the top 50, compared to 12 right-wingers. In the top 125, there are 25 left-wingers, but 35 right-wingers.Right WingThe difference between left wing and right wing isn't as dramatic as some of the other positions, but it should simply be used as a tiebreaker if you're stuck between picking a left-winger or a right-winger in the early rounds.Right wing has slightly more talent than left wing, but it isn't even close compared to center.CenterCenter is like the quarterback position in fantasy football, or the outfield in fantasy baseball. There's a countless number of productive players that you can really afford to wait on.In theScore's standard league rankings, 18 centers cracked the top 50, 33 made the top 100, and 72 made the top 200.Unless you're in a position to draft Connor McDavid or Sidney Crosby, you can really afford to wait on your centers until the end of the draft. There will be tons available. If a player like Jack Eichel or Auston Matthews begins to fall well below their ADP, then obviously draft them, but there is no point in reaching on a center.Furthermore, even if the centers you take at the end of your draft get off to rough starts, there will be a plethora available on the waiver wire ready for the taking. The same can't be said for any other position in fantasy hockey.(Photos courtesy: Action Images)Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

When the Atlanta Thrashers drafted Zach Bogosian third overall in 2008 - one spot behind Drew Doughty and one ahead of Alex Pietrangelo - many observers would have been hard-pressed to believe that in 534 NHL games, he'd have just 169 points.Here was Bogosian, a towering 18-year-old defenseman who could skate like the wind. He had 61 points in 60 games as a 17-year-old in his final year of junior for the Peterborough Petes. However, his NHL career high is 30 points, and he's coming off a career-low 11 in 2016-17.Bogosian is hoping that the Buffalo Sabres' new bench boss, Hall of Fame defenseman Phil Housley, will help him rediscover the offensive side of his game that made him such a coveted prospect."I'm looking forward to getting up in the play and making sure I'm that second layer of offense," Bogosian told Bill Hoppe of the Buffalo Times Herald. "He wants us to get up there. Everyone that's playing defense on our team can skate, so it's going to bode well for us."Housley made a living rushing the puck up ice and piling up points during his illustrious career, and spent the last four seasons as assistant coach of the Nashville Predators, primarily working with their blue-liners. Anyone who watched the Preds during the postseason is well aware that Nashville liked to activate its defensemen.Under previous Sabres head coach Dan Bylsma, though, seeing a Buffalo rearguard join the rush was akin to seeing a solar eclipse. Only one D-man - Rasmus Ristolainen - topped 20 points. That's set to change under Housley."He seems to be part of that new group with the skating and getting up in the play on the offensive side of things," Bogosian said. "Guys are looking forward to playing that style."Housley seems just as excited about the prospect of coaching a player with Bogosian's skill set."He's in great shape," said the first-year head coach. "You can see him out there, he's explosive, he's enjoying himself."He can be part of the rush. I can definitely see him pinching down the walls and keeping pucks in, and when you say that, it means you have to get up ice."Both Housley and Bogosian are hoping the new, aggressive style of play will help end the Sabres' six-year playoff drought. If they succeed, it would be the first playoff appearance of Bogosian's nearly 10-year career."It's been frustrating the last few years in Buffalo," said Bogosian, who was acquired from the Jets in a 2015 blockbuster trade along with Evander Kane. "We're getting sick of not making the playoffs. There's no way of getting around that. It sucks when you're sitting around watching good teams that you know you can try to compete with."Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The grueling chase of the Stanley Cup has taken its toll on a few clubs. Three of the league's final four teams from the 2017 postseason are dealing with significant injury issues heading into the 2017-18 campaign.Here is how these injuries will affect those clubs moving forward.Ottawa SenatorsPlayerInjuryPrognosisD Erik KarlssonFootStatus uncertain for season openerC Derick BrassardShoulderWon't be cleared for contact until Oct. 6LW Clarke MacArthurConcussionFailed physical; could miss entire seasonThe Ottawa Senators' magical run to the Eastern Conference final has come with serious consequences. Erik Karlsson carried the team despite having one good foot, but it doesn't appear he will take such risks to begin the season. Karlsson told TSN's Ian Mendes that he will come back when he's "100 percent, whether that's in October or November."That obviously doesn't sound promising. Karlsson is the straw that stirs the Senators' drink. Without him, Ottawa's defense projects to look something like this:LDRDThomas ChabotDion PhaneufFredrik ClaessonCody CeciJohnny OduyaChris WidemanGiven how competitive the Atlantic Division looks this year, a slow start could significantly hamper the Sens' playoff chances. It only makes matters worse that Clarke MacArthur's career is potentially over, and second-line center Derick Brassard could miss a month.Anaheim DucksPlayerInjuryPrognosisC Ryan KeslerHipOut until at least DecemberD Hampus LindholmShoulderLikely out until Nov. 1D Sami VatanenShoulderLikely out until mid-NovemberKesler is arguably the second-most important player on the Ducks, behind Ryan Getzlaf. As one of the league's best defensive centers, he plays all the tough minutes against the opposition's top lines. In his absence, Rickard Rakell will attempt to fill the void, but it's a tall task considering he spent most of last season playing wing.Lindholm and Vatanen are Anaheim's second and third-best defensemen, respectively, behind Cam Fowler. Luckily, it's better equipped to handle this loss than most teams. Francois Beauchemin and Korbinian Holzer will have to jump into the lineup full time, while youngsters Brandon Montour and Josh Manson will be asked to play larger roles.Even with these key losses, the Ducks are still a playoff team, but they could fall behind enough to draw a tough road matchup in the first round. For a team with a "championship or bust" mentality, this would certainly decrease its chances at hoisting the Stanley Cup.Nashville PredatorsPlayerInjuryPrognosisD Ryan EllisKneeHoping to return by January 2018C Nick BoninoLegWill miss all of preseasonNashville's core-four on defense has suddenly become the big three. Newly acquired Alexei Emelin will be asked to play a top-four role until Ellis returns. He is a physical defender, but lacks the offensive skills and puck-moving ability of Ellis.With only one dangerous scoring line, Nashville relies heavily on the offense it generates from the back end, so it will dearly miss Ellis for the first half of the season.Bonino was brought in to replace Mike Fisher as the teams' second-line center. His status remains uncertain for the season opener, but it's hard to imagine he'll be thrown right into action if he doesn't skate in a single preseason game. The combination of Calle Jarnkrok and Colton Sissons should be able to temporarily fill the second-line void just fine.By now, some may forget that Nashville squeaked into the playoffs as the league's 16th-seed. It could be another uphill battle to get into the postseason this year.(Photos courtesy: Action Images)Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Chicago Blackhawks veteran defenseman Michal Rozsival has failed his training camp physical, general manager Stan Bowman announced Friday.The 39-year-old has continued to battle post-concussion symptoms after he was punched by Anaheim Ducks winger Nick Ritchie last season. Ritchie was suspended two games as a result of the incident.As for Rozsival, he was limited to just 22 games in 2016-17, often scratched or out of the lineup due to injury. The Czech blue-liner was used sparingly by coach Joel Quenneville, rotated into the lineup on an as-needed basis.Rozsival has spent the past five seasons with the Blackhawks, winning Stanley Cups with the team in 2013 and 2015. He inked a one-year extension with the Blackhawks in February, a deal which carries a $650,000 cap hit, according to CapFriendly.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Steve Yzerman's offseason report card came up aces.While the Tampa Bay Lightning were disappointed after failing to qualify for last year's postseason - the Lightning missed the playoffs by a single point - the summer changes initiated from the general manager's office received a top grade from team owner Jeff Vinik, per Joe Smith of the Tampa Bay Times.It was a busy offseason for the Lightning, which kicked off the summer by bringing in young and highly-regarded blue-liner Mikhail Sergachev from the Montreal Canadiens, whose acquisition cost the team former third overall pick Jonathan Drouin.With training camp now underway, the expectation is Sergachev will compete for a spot on the team's bottom defensive pairing. A first-round pick by the Canadiens in 2016, the 19-year-old made impressive strides upon returning to junior last season, scoring 43 points in 50 games with the OHL's Windsor Spitfires and played a major role en route to a Memorial Cup victory.Related - Sergachev thrilled for chance with Lightning: 'They asked for me'With Sergachev in the bank, Yzerman continued to make moves as the offseason progressed, agreeing to terms with veteran free agents Chris Kunitz and Dan Girardi. Both players will bring an added layer of experience to a Lightning squad that many pundits see as a Stanley Cup favorite.While the new faces should help push the Lightning to the next level, Yzerman also went to work in retaining the club's core pieces, signing center Tyler Johnson to a seven-year extension and later coming to terms with Ondrej Palat on a five-year deal.For now, Yzerman is the offseason champion. But will his moves be enough to live up to his summer grade and lead the Lightning to the franchise's second Stanley Cup?Fans will know soon enough, as the chase begins Oct. 6, when Tampa Bay opens its season against the in-state rival Florida Panthers.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Father Time, he catches up with all of us.For many older NHLers, though, age is simply a number on the back of their hockey cards.Here are four aging players you can still bank on in your fantasy league:Patrice BergeronFour Selke Trophies won't do much for your fantasy stats, but Bergeron still contributes for the Bruins at the other end of the rink.Despite already having 13 NHL seasons under his belt, the 32-year-old has shown no signs of slowing down. Since the 2009-10 campaign, he has registered 50-plus points every year except for the lockout-shortened 2012-13 season.Aside from his contributions on the stat sheet, Bergeron is also durable, as he hasn't missed more than 10 games in a season since 2008-09.Regardless of his age, his ability to stay in the lineup and post 50-point seasons make him a solid fantasy add in any format.Duncan KeithIf three Cup rings, two Norris Trophies, and a Conn Smythe aren't enough to spark your interest in Keith, his offensive numbers might.Since the 2013-14 campaign, he has racked up solid points, recording 192 across 306 regular-season games. His fantasy appeal grows exponentially when you consider he also chips in on the power play.Over the same four seasons, Keith tallied 12 goals and 58 assists on the man advantage while anchoring the Chicago Blackhawks' deadly No. 1 power-play unit.Despite being a 34-year-old D-man with a lot of mileage on him, he can still log a ton of minutes, play special teams, and contribute offensively. Grab him in the middle rounds of your draft if you can. Jeff CarterThe Los Angeles Kings took a step back last year, missing the playoffs for only the second time in eight seasons, but that didn't slow down Carter's scoring pace.The 32-year-old continues to contribute, recording more than 60 points in three consecutive seasons (62, 62, 66). And, when you consider the fact he's played in 72 or more games since 2013-14, his addition to your squad becomes even more attractive.While the Kings had their struggles last season, the team still touts an all-world goalie in Jon Quick, a rugged No. 1 rearguard in Drew Doughty, and a solid group of forwards that includes the criminally underrated Anze Kopitar.Los Angeles will be much improved next season, so expect Carter's numbers to trend in the same direction. Henrik ZetterbergZetterberg's days of playing on Pavel Datsyuk's wing and racking up 80-plus-point seasons are over, but that doesn't mean he can't still contribute.While he'll turn 37 on Oct. 9, the slick-skating Swede can still produce offensively.Despite the Red Wings' struggles last season, his numbers remained solid. Across a full 82-game slate (his second straight year without missing a game), Zetterberg recorded 17 goals and 51 assists while throwing 195 shots on net.And, when you consider the fact he could see a lot of time on the top line with two blossoming offensive talents in Tomas Tatar and Anthony Mantha, he becomes another aging player you can safely bank on.(Photos courtesy: Action Images)Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

There are plenty of reasons to get excited about the upcoming NHL season, but there are also several areas of concern.All seven Canadian franchises, in particular, have issues that could hinder them during the 2017-18 campaign.Here are the primary challenges facing Canada's teams, presented alphabetically by city:Calgary FlamesThe Flames had an encouraging summer, but they head into the fall with a potentially significant distraction.Calgary's arena mess has ramifications far beyond the sports world, especially with a municipal election looming Oct. 16 - less than two weeks after opening night of the NHL season.There's no reason to believe the squabble between the Flames and the city will go away anytime soon, and the unceasing questions about the club's future could take a toll on players, coaches, and executives alike.Edmonton Oilers(Photo courtesy: Action Images)The Oilers appear primed to build on last season's long-awaited return to the playoffs, especially with franchise cornerstones Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl now under contract for the long haul, but there is something of which they need to be mindful.Cam Talbot performed admirably last season considering he led the NHL with 73 appearances and played in 13 playoff games, but his heavy workload could eventually start to wear him down.Another 70-plus-game regular season might take its toll on Talbot - who turned 30 in July - and while he's proven to be up to the task so far, it's something the club would be wise to monitor.Montreal Canadiens(Photo courtesy: Getty Images)In some ways, the Canadiens had a productive summer, locking up all-world goaltender Carey Price and acquiring dynamic winger Jonathan Drouin. But, on the other hand, Montreal's defensive group will likely be a source of recurring headaches for coaches, executives, and fans.Andrei Markov's exodus to the KHL in July left a gaping hole on the back end for Montreal. Karl Alzner, who was signed to a five-year deal a few weeks before Markov left, will probably be counted to play top-pairing minutes with Shea Weber at even strength and on the power play - neither of which he has much experience doing.Related: Markov's departure ups pressure on Weber, PriceSay what you want about Alexei Emelin's game, but Montreal won't have his 20-plus minutes per contest or Nathan Beaulieu's steady play this time around, either.Center depth is also going to be a key issue for the Canadiens, as it was last season, but the blue line is a more critical concern.Ottawa Senators(Photo courtesy: Action Images)Few expected the Senators to go as deep as they went in the playoffs last season, and it's tough to imagine them getting back to the Eastern Conference final next spring, so Ottawa's biggest challenge will be living up to the expectations set by the improbable run.The Senators got within one game of the Stanley Cup Final thanks in part to the NHL's divisional playoff format, but Ottawa was also buoyed by Erik Karlsson's persistence, Jean-Gabriel Pageau's heroics, and Craig Anderson's perseverance.This season might not be as memorable, though, considering the Senators will face some improved Atlantic Division foes, including the Toronto Maple Leafs, Tampa Bay Lightning, and Florida Panthers.The 2016-17 campaign was undoubtedly a magical one in the Canadian capital, but duplicating it is going to be very difficult.Toronto Maple Leafs(Photo courtesy: Action Images)The Leafs had their own season to remember, as their youth movement got its first taste of playoff action and pushed the Washington Capitals in six hard-fought games, but Toronto's talented core also faces the burden of increased expectations now.That shouldn't be a problem for most of the veterans, like newcomers Patrick Marleau and Ron Hainsey, or for a generational talent like Auston Matthews, but the Leafs' other promising young players will need to avoid falling into prolonged slumps now that the book is out on them around the league.There are plenty of reasons for optimism in Toronto, but building on last season's encouraging step forward - and not taking a step back - is going to be the Leafs' major challenge beginning this fall.Vancouver Canucks(Photo courtesy: Getty Images)There's really no way around this, so we may as well get right to it:The Canucks' biggest challenge will be to avoid once again being one of the worst teams in the NHL. Vancouver finished in the basement of the Pacific Division last season, and only the historically-atrocious Colorado Avalanche had a worse record in the entire league.There are some rays of hope out west, however, with Bo Horvat now signed long term, highly touted prospect Brock Boeser primed to make an impact in the NHL over a full campaign, and prospects like Thatcher Demko and Jordan Subban knocking on the door.Still, it looks like it'll be another grim season for the Canucks.Winnipeg Jets(Photo courtesy: Getty Images)After missing the playoffs for the second straight season and for the ninth time in the last 10 campaigns as a franchise, Jets ownership rewarded general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff and head coach Paul Maurice with contract extensions.Those new deals, and the club's commitment to a duo that hasn't accomplished much to this point, will need to be justified relatively soon by the young Jets squad.There's a solid foundation in Winnipeg led by Patrick Laine, Mark Scheifele and company, but it's on the entire organization to make owner Mark Chipman look smart for giving two key members of his staff some job security.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. 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Jared Cowen is trying to put his spat with the Toronto Maple Leafs behind him, but he's clearly harboring some resentment about the contract ordeal."It was a joke of a process," Cowen told BSN Denver's Adrian Dater at Colorado Avalanche training camp Friday. "But, it’s in the past. It was a stressful time in my life, in terms of getting traded, getting bought out, getting waived, (and) finding out I needed surgeries."The defenseman, who joined the Avalanche on a pro tryout last month, lost his arbitration case against the Leafs back in December. He was arguing Toronto shouldn't have been able to buy out his contract because he was injured, but the Leafs were of course ultimately permitted to do so.Cowen was a throw-in in the Dion Phaneuf trade, but never played a game for Toronto. He had a pretty blunt assessment of the sequence of events that played out."Basically, they got me, figured out that I was hurt, they didn’t want to deal with it and they got rid of me," he said.He added, "I wish teams would have more of an interest in taking better care of their players instead of whatever their goal or mindset was there."Cowen became an unrestricted free agent after losing his case, and signed his tryout agreement with the Avalanche on Aug. 29.- With h/t to SportsnetCopyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Unlike coaches, general managers don't usually get fired mid-season. However, that doesn't mean GMs aren't feeling the pressure of having their fates decided by the performances of their players throughout a grueling campaign.Here are five GMs who could find themselves unemployed by the time the 2017-18 season draws to a close.Marc Bergevin, CanadiensBergevin is the most obvious candidate on the list. He has been heavily scrutinized for several moves he's made as GM of the Canadiens, but none more so than the P.K. Subban-Shea Weber blockbuster.More than just questionable trades, Bergevin hasn't been able to stockpile young talent since taking over in May 2012. Perhaps the best prospect they've unearthed during his tenure was defenseman Mikhail Sergachev, who was traded this offseason for Jonathan Drouin.It's extremely difficult to imagine Bergevin keeping his job unless the Canadiens are able to go on a deep playoff run in 2017-18.Ken Holland, Red WingsHolland is the second-longest tenured GM in the NHL behind Nashville's David Poile, but his time may be coming to an end.The Red Wings have gone from the class of the league to the laughingstock. They are one of the worst teams in the NHL, have very little young talent, and a boatload of bad contracts.Related - How the mighty have fallen: The dark age of Red Wings hockey is upon usHolland was credited as the genius for finding players like Pavel Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg in the late rounds of drafts. These two players helped the Wings extend their playoff streak to 25 years, but with Datsyuk playing in the KHL and Zetterberg not the dominant player he once was, Holland doesn't have much to hang his hat on these days.With a finish near the bottom of the NHL standings, it wouldn't be surprising at all if Holland was relieved of his duties. With the death of owner Mike Ilitch and a brand new arena, it seems like a good time to go in a different direction.Garth Snow, IslandersIt's incredible to think that Snow is the fourth-longest tenured GM in the NHL, despite bringing nothing but mediocrity to the Islanders for over a decade. During his 11 seasons at the helm, they've made the playoffs just four times, with only a single series win.Snow was responsible for Rick DiPietro's 15-year contract, trading a 20-year-old Nino Niederreiter for grinder Cal Clutterbuck, and making several questionable high-end draft picks. He's now on the verge of letting a franchise player in John Tavares walk in free agency. It doesn't get much worse than that.Doug Wilson, SharksWilson has done an outstanding job building the Sharks. Since taking over as GM in 2003, San Jose has failed to make the postseason just once. He made one of the greatest trades in NHL history in 2005, stealing Joe Thornton from the Boston Bruins in exchange for Marco Sturm, Brad Stuart, and Wayne Primeau.However, all good things must come to an end. The Sharks are an old team. Their core is made up of Thornton (38), Brent Burns (32), Joe Pavelski (33), Marc-Edouard Vlasic (30), and Logan Couture (28).If San Jose were to miss the playoffs this season, the organization's hierarchy may want to kick-start a rebuild, and may want a new man for the job.Chuck Fletcher, WildThe Wild have made the postseason in five straight seasons and are coming off a franchise-record 106-point season. That doesn't necessarily mean Fletcher's job is safe, though.Under Fletcher's reign, the team has never advanced past the second round of the playoffs and is coming off back-to-back first-round exits. Perhaps more glaringly, as each season goes by, the 13-year, $98-million contract he gave Zach Parise in 2012 is looking progressively worse.Though Fletcher is certainly the safest on this list, another early playoff exit could spell the end of what would be a nine-year run in Minnesota, even though he has built an incredibly deep team.(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Calgary Flames president and CEO Ken King went on the defensive Friday after the city of Calgary revealed its arena plan that the club rejected earlier in the week."This is no money grab," King said. "If it was, we'd be long gone. There's a lot of places to make a lot of money in sports other than here."King claimed the city's proposal - that his team declined - would have forced the Flames to fund "120 percent of the project."The city proposed splitting the costs three ways - between itself, Flames ownership, and arena users by way of a ticket surcharge.But King insisted Friday that the rejected proposal would have required the Flames to pay the city back for its part of the cost through property taxes and rent or lease fees, in addition to the ticket surcharge, the latter of which he argued would come right out of the club's revenue streams.Calgary's arena squabble has dragged on for quite some time, but the Flames escalated matters Tuesday, declaring they were walking away from the negotiating table for the time being.The arena dispute is expected to be the biggest issue in the city's upcoming municipal election on Oct. 16.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

"I'm still going."That was Alex Ovechkin's succinct response to the NHL's decision to boycott the 2018 Olympic games just five months ago, doubling down on his prior stance while his employer did its best to squash his enthusiasm.As one of the league's most ardent ambassadors of the international tournament, Ovechkin's determination to suit up for his native Russia, even at the cost of leaving the Washington Capitals for two weeks midseason, served as the exemplar of how badly NHL players want to represent their countries in Pyeongchang next February.Jakub Voracek called the Olympics decision "absolutely ridiculous." Erik Karlsson said it's "crap." Evgeny Kuznetsov said he'd follow his Capitals teammate overseas, while Connor McDavid and Jonathan Toews, two of the sport's biggest names, publicly expressed their disappointment.Even as droves of superstars made sure their voices were heard, Ovechkin's longstanding desire to defy the norm, and to do it his way, felt like the lone glimmer of hope for fans and players, making everyone believe that all parties could work past the numerous complications involved in sending the league's most treasured figures to Korea for the love of the sport.(Photo Courtesy: Action Images)As adamant as he was, Ovechkin's wish ultimately fell by the wayside Thursday night, when he finally conceded defeat in the form of a heartfelt statement that all but assured not a single NHLer will participate."Me, my teammates, and all players who want to go all lose. So do all the fans of hockey, with this decision that we are not allowed to be invited. NHL players in the Olympics is good for hockey and good for Olympics. It sucks that (we will) not be there to play!!" Ovechkin wrote.There you have it. After months of wondering if Ovechkin would deliver on his audacious pledge to play for gold with his countrymen, the delusion abruptly vanished. Even with the support of the Capitals' owner, he won't get what he wants, and, sadly, neither will we.It was fun, though, in hindsight, wondering whether Ovechkin would force his way into Russia's lineup. Who knows what kind of chain reaction he could have set off if he got the green light? Would Evgeni Malkin and other Russians have joined him? Would superstars of other countries want in too? Could the NHL stomach two weeks without its biggest names? We'll never know.Through it all, Ovechkin's viewpoint was admirable. Reading his statement, it's easy to sense how passionate he is about the Olympics, a tradition that's as deeply rooted in his family history as his well-documented nationalistic pride. But, after Thursday's acceptance plea, the dream is unofficially dead for both Ovechkin and hockey supporters alike. And now, rather than wondering whether Ovechkin will follow through on his previous claims, we're left to begrudgingly settle on his latest: "It sucks."Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Colorado Avalanche signed restricted free-agent defenseman Nikita Zadorov to a two-year contract.The deal is worth $2.15 million per season, TSN's Pierre LeBrun reports."Zadorov is a big, young, physical defenseman who was starting to emerge as one of our top D before his injury last season," said president and general manager Joe Sakic. "He's an important part of our blue line and we expect him to log big minutes this year. We are excited to have him under contract."Acquired from the Buffalo Sabres as part of the Ryan O'Reilly trade, Zadorov is seen as a big building block for last season's last-place team, and will be given every opportunity to help the Avalanche while improving his stock on a bridge-type contract.The 22-year-old has appeared in 145 NHL games since being drafted 16th overall in 2013, registering four goals and 24 assists. He was limited to 56 appearances in 2016-17 due to a season-ending ankle injury suffered in a February practice.Zadorov didn't begin training camp with the team Thursday as the sides continued to negotiate.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Anaheim Ducks are hopeful center Ryan Kesler will be able to join the team by Christmas, general manager Bob Murray said Friday, per Eric Stephens of the Orange County Register.Kesler underwent surgery in June to remove bone fragments in his hip, and was given a 12-week timeline to resume activity at the time of the procedure.For the first time since 2010-11, Kesler suited up in all 82 games last season, and finished second on the Ducks with 58 points.He'll be sorely missed in the middle of Anaheim's lineup, as he's Randy Carlyle's top shutdown pivot. Last season's Selke runner-up is effective in all three zones, and finished 2016-17 with a remarkable 57.4 faceoff win percentage.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The City of Calgary revealed its plans for building a new arena to house the Flames following a declaration by team ownership earlier this week that a new arena would no longer be pursued following a series of failed negotiations.Here's the city's proposal in the form of a handy pie chart:

Jack Eichel wasn't mincing words at the outset of Buffalo Sabres training camp.Entering his third NHL season after being selected second overall in 2015, the 20-year-old is out to prove he's someone the club can indeed build around."I think I have a lot to prove," Eichel said Thursday, per Joe Yerdon of NHL.com. "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," he added, "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."In fairness, Eichel did miss a chunk of games last season with an ankle injury suffered late in camp, but registered 24 goals and 33 assists in 61 games. That 0.93 point-per-game average ranked him 11th among players with at least that many appearances.Still, he and the Sabres are expected to at least be in contention for a playoff spot this season, and Eichel knows it's on him to step up and lead the way, especially as he attempts to secure a long-term, big-money contract extension."It's the third year, so if there's ever a time to start winning and being a good team in this league, it's right now. I think all the guys are pretty sick of losing and not playing in the playoffs."Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Throughout the month of September, James Bisson and a cast of editors from theScore will share their rankings of the greatest players, teams, and moments in the 100-year history of the National Hockey League. This week's list focuses on the greatest Stanley Cup champions in the NHL era:100-81 | 80-61 | 60-41 | 40-21 | 20-1Voter List

Patric Hornqvist was conspicuously absent as Pittsburgh Penguins training camp began Friday.General manager Jim Rutherford revealed that the forward had a "procedure" done on his hand in the summer and is expected to join the team on the ice before the end of camp.There's no indication as to whether the procedure was related to the broken finger Hornqvist played through during the Stanley Cup Final, an injury that didn't keep him from scoring the series-winning goal.Hornqvist recorded 21 goals and 23 assists last season, and chipped in five goals and four assists in 19 playoff games.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

In a lot of ways, hockey players are just like us. They put their pants on one leg at a time, go to the office every morning, and occasionally profit off the hard work of others.Across the NHL, a number of players have the distinct advantage of playing next to a guy who makes all his teammates better, and that's resulted in some big-time increases in point totals.Here are three players to target in your draft who will continue to benefit from playing next to a star:Patrick Maroon - Edmonton OilersPlaying on a line with arguably the best player in the world is bound to do wonders for your offensive output. Such was the case last season for Maroon, who saw his goal and point totals skyrocket once he became a regular on Connor McDavid's wing.In the three years prior to playing alongside McJesus, Maroon totaled less combined goals (21) than during his one year with him (27). McDavid's ability to dish the puck and create quality scoring chances allowed Maroon to develop his offensive game to the point where he's become a quality addition to any fantasy squad.That's especially true considering he also contributes with penalty minutes, hits, and shots on goal.Presuming Edmonton's top line of McDavid, Maroon, and Leon Draisaitl are broken up this season - with Draisaitl dropping to the second unit to fill one of the Oilers' holes up in the middle - Maroon's production may dip slightly.But, playing next to a generational talent like McDavid still makes him a solid selection in most formats. Anders Lee - New York Islanders While Lee may have more natural offensive talent than Maroon, that doesn't change the fact that he's greatly benefited from playing next to New York Islanders captain John Tavares.During the 2016-17 campaign, Lee totaled impressive offensive numbers while playing with Tavares on New York's top line, as Johnny T assisted on 34 percent of Lee's 35 goals.The pair also clicked on the power play last season, combining for 32 points while playing on the Islanders' No. 1 unit. Factor in the offseason addition of sniper Jordan Eberle, and Lee's offensive output stands to increase even more, as Eberle's scoring touch and playmaking should open up more opportunities on the man advantage.Regardless of Eberle's impact, Lee playing with Tavares makes him a player to target for those in need of scoring depth. Conor Sheary - Pittsburgh PenguinsWhen you play on Sidney Crosby's line, you automatically become an offensive asset for any fantasy squad. And while Penguins rookie Jake Guentzel could have also made this list, Sheary is much more likely to play with Sid in 2017-18, as Guentzel could be needed at his natural position of center further down the Pens' lineup.With that in mind, Sheary is certainly a winger you should be targeting, especially when you look at his offensive production across only 61 regular-season games last campaign.Sheary notched 23 goals and 30 assists while playing just under 16 minutes per night. Factor in that Crosby assisted on 11 of Sheary's 23 goals, and the 25-year-old forward becomes a very intriguing late-round grab.(Photos courtesy: Action Images) Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Alex Ovechkin has apparently given up his quest to play at the 2018 Olympic Games."Our countries are now not allowed to ask us to play in the Olympics," Ovechkin conceded in a statement Thursday night. "Me, my teammates and all players who want to go all lose. So do all the fans of hockey with this decision that we are not allowed to be invited. NHL players in the Olympics (are) good for hockey and good for (the) Olympics. It sucks that (we will) not be there to play!!"Russian Hockey Federation president Vladislav Tretiak said Wednesday that Ovechkin needed to accept he would not be permitted to play, and the Washington Capitals star appeared to respond directly to that remark Thursday."I (saw) the news this week and I am very disappointed that IOC, IIHF and NHL put me and all NHL players in this position (in which) some of the best players in world do not have chance to play in the Olympic Games," he wrote. "This is not just about me but all the NHL players who want to play and have a chance to win gold for their country."The veteran forward, who's represented Russia many times on the international stage, lamented the fact that he'd never before been forced to choose between his NHL team and his home country.Capitals owner Ted Leonsis supported Ovechkin's desire to play in the 2018 Olympics, and Ovechkin thanked him for that Thursday, while insisting he planned to go unless his country said he couldn't."I said every time I was asked since last Olympics that nobody is going to tell me I can't play because my country was going to be allowed to ask me," Ovechkin wrote. "Now the IIHF and NHL say my country is not allowed to ask anybody in the NHL to play and there is nothing to talk about anymore."I talk(ed) to Ted about this last year and he support(ed) me and (had) my back and understand what I want to do if I was allowed to be asked to go. Me and my family thank him for his support."Ovechkin has long stated his intent to go to South Korea and take part in the Games even if the NHL elected not to, and the league revealed in April that it would forgo the 2018 event in Pyeongchang.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The highly publicized contract saga between the Boston Bruins and star winger David Pastrnak came to a justifiable conclusion Thursday, as the two sides agreed to a six-year, $40-million extension that kicks in for the start of the 2017-18 season.The negotiations threatened to linger into training camp and beyond, but general manager Don Sweeney ultimately brokered a deal that pays his youngest asset appropriately, and doesn't harm the Bruins' salary cap moving forward.Pastrnak may have wanted more, but the contracts signed by Leon Draisaitl and Ryan Johansen this summer, which he reportedly used as comparables in negotiations, only proved there is a considerable difference between what centermen and wingers should make.Only four players at Pastrnak's position outproduced him in 2016-17. While his new $6.67M cap hit might not match that of his elite peers as well as his production does, his reasonable price will serve as a reference point for these three players who have the potential to enter Pastrnak's echelon this season, and use it as leverage when negotiating their own deals.Nikolaj EhlersPastrnak, alongside possession wizards Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand, form one of the most formidable lines in the NHL. Ehlers, meanwhile, has the opportunity to play in a trio of similar ilk in Winnipeg, suiting up with Mark Scheifele and Patrik Laine.In his second season in the league, Ehlers points-per-game average jumped considerably from 0.58 to 0.78. In other words, he bagged 64 points over 82 games in a fine 2016-17 season where he emerged as a vital playmaking piece to the Jets' potent offense.Ehlers has one more year on his entry-level contract, and another season improving his production could put him in a position to land a contract that pays similarly to Pastrnak's.William NylanderNylander and Pastrnak are longtime friends and former teammates. Soon, the 21-year-olds may be basking in the glory of similar multimillion-dollar contracts.Through 103 career games, Nylander has averaged 0.71 points per, which matches Pastrnak's career mark, albeit in 69 fewer contests. Nylander was a central figure in the Maple Leafs' progression to a playoff team a season ago, and there's little reason to believe he can't improve upon a 61-point output.If Nylander can eclipse 70 points or so in his final entry-level season, he'll be well on track to match Pastrnak's pay, and that should sit well with a Maple Leafs organization that will need to pay Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner soon enough.Patrik LaineIn terms of young, pure snipers, Laine might be the only player that can beat Pastrnak at his own game.Laine netted 36 goals in his rookie season, though there were times when it looked like he was capable of reaching 50 and beyond. Laine's situation, however is different than Ehler's and Nylander's, as he has two full seasons to play before he has to sign a new contract.Still, Laine is technically eligible to put pen to paper next July 1, and if he continues his goal-scoring assault into year two, he could benefit from Pastrnak's pact in a completely different sense than the others, potentially using it as a low point to leverage an even more lucrative deal.(Photos courtesy: Action Images)Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Get your popcorn ready.Edmonton Oilers fans will have the privilege of watching a leaner and meaner Milan Lucic this coming season.Lucic spent the offseason training with former NFL wide receiver Terrell Owens. The hulking winger played at 236 pounds a season ago, and though that number hasn't drastically changed, Lucic has worked to improve his overall fitness levels."The weight's (roughly) the same," he told Sportsnet's Mark Spector. "But the body fat number is lower than last year."Owens, a five-time All-Pro, hasn't played in the NFL since 2010, but has remained in peak physical condition."If you ask me, if it weren't for all the extracurricular stuff, he'd still be in good enough shape to play in the NFL," Lucic said of Owens, who gained a reputation as a diva throughout his potential Hall of Fame career.Lucic's lack of foot speed was brought into question when he signed a seven-year, $42-million contract on July 1, 2016. The new offseason training regimen is certainly aimed at improving his speed on the ice.Head coach Todd McLellan has already taken notice."We're expecting him to be a little quicker out there," said the Oilers bench boss. "It looks like he's leaned out a little bit. We're counting on him."Lucic was originally brought in to play alongside Connor McDavid, the game's fastest player, but was unseeded by Patrick Maroon early on in 2016-17. He still managed to reach the 50-point mark, but only half of those points came at even strength. Heading into his second season in Edmonton, Lucic feels a greater sense of familiarity with his surroundings will help him improve."Last year coming in here, the only guy I knew was Benoit Pouliot," Lucic said. "Knowing the city, knowing the trainers, the coaching staff, the arena ... It makes it easier coming into the second season. But just like the team, I want to be better than I was last year."Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Matt Duchene probably didn't expect to be back at Avalanche training camp.The star forward has long been involved in trade rumors, but Avalanche general manager and executive vice president of hockey operations Joe Sakic has been unable to find an offer to his liking. It's certainly not because of lack of interest in the 26-year-old. Duchene has the capabilities of a true No. 1 center - something every team covets.The problem is, Duchene is coming off the worst full season of his career, in which he totaled just 41 points in 77 games. He's one of the game's fastest skaters, has silky, smooth hands, and is an elite face-off man. He's been a near-point-per-game player before, and is certainly capable of doing so again.Sakic, however, is hoping to get a return befitting of a No. 1 center, but teams are likely low-balling him with offers, due to Duchene's lackluster season and also cognizant of the fact that he no longer wants to be in Colorado.Those calling for Sakic to simply just trade Duchene for the best offer he can get are in the wrong.The Avalanche were a historically bad team last season, and Duchene's individual statistics suffered because of it. Though the Avs certainly won't be a playoff team this year, there's no doubting they will have an improved offense.Fellow cornerstone players Nathan MacKinnon and Gabriel Landeskog also had down years and will be looking to rebound in 2017-18. Mikko Rantanen should be able to build upon a stellar rookie season, while youngsters Tyson Jost and J.T. Compher will add more speed and creativity to the offense. Additionally, Colin Wilson and Nail Yakupov were brought in to provide scoring depth.(Photo courtesy: Action Images)The point is, Duchene's trade value has hit rock bottom. It can, and will, only go up from here.Take the case of Jonathan Drouin, for example. After his holdout, many thought it was in the Lightning's best interest to trade him right away in order to remove the "distraction." Sound familiar? Lightning GM Steve Yzerman ended up waiting over a year for Drouin's trade value to rise, and then dealt him for a potential No. 1 defenseman in Mikhail Sergachev.Duchene won't be an unrestricted free agent until after the 2018-19 season, so Sakic isn't exactly on the clock or anything just yet.The return Sakic receives for Duchene is an incredibly vital step in Colorado's rebuild. They are in dire need of a true No. 1 defenseman - or at least someone with the potential to be one. There's simply no point in rushing something that doesn't need to be rushed.In the end, Duchene is in the driver's seat. If he really wants to be traded out of Colorado, he will stop sulking and play to the best of his abilities so teams will be willing to pony up and meet Sakic's trade requirements. That's his quickest ticket out of Denver.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Minnesota Wild and forward Marcus Foligno have agreed to terms on a four-year extension worth $11.5 million, the team announced Thursday.The deal, which carries an annual cap hit of $2.875 million, locks up the Wild's final restricted free agent.Foligno is set to make his debut with the Wild after the team acquired him from the Buffalo Sabres this offseason. That deal saw forward Jason Pominville and defenseman Marco Scandella sent to the Sabres, while the Wild also obtained forward Tyler Ennis.Prior to the trade to the Wild, the 26-year-old spent six years with the Sabres, finishing last season with 13 goals and 10 assists in 80 games.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Matt Duchene appeared just "thrilled" to attend Colorado Avalanche training camp on Thursday.Following an offseason in which Duchene was expecting a trade away from the Avalanche - a team which finished with an NHL-low 48 points last season - he reported to Avalanche camp after a summer deal never came to fruition.While Duchene is under contract for the next two seasons, there had been speculation he could be a no-show when camp opened. Ultimately, that was not the case, and Duchene and Avalanche general manager Joe Sakic are continuing to work toward an eventual trade.Related - Report: Blue Jackets, Bruins discussing Duchene trade with AvalancheEarlier Thursday, Duchene kept his comments with the media brief, telling reporters, including Adrian Dater of BSN Denver, "I'm here out of respect for the fans. I'm here for my teammates. I had a great summer of training and I'm in good physical condition. So, thanks so much and I'll see you in the next couple of days, OK?"Duchene's expression, starkly differently from those of his teammates who also took part in the team's media day duties, was not lost on the social media crowd:

James Neal's debut with the Vegas Golden Knights might have to wait.The veteran forward continues to recover from a broken hand suffered during the Stanley Cup Playoffs while with the Nashville Predators, and is expected to be sidelined for another two-to-four weeks, general manager George McPhee told David Schoen of the Las Vegas Review-Journal.That timeline could leave things a bit tight if Neal is to play in the Golden Knights' first-ever game, set for Oct. 6 against the Dallas Stars.Prior to his selection by Vegas in this summer's expansion draft, the 30-year-old spent the past three years with the Predators, finishing last season with 23 goals and 18 assists in 70 games.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Everywhere you look, there's something to get excited about as the NHL heads into 2017-18.Here's one positive storyline for every team, presented in alphabetical order by city.Ducks: Andrew Cogliano, who has never missed a regular-season game, brought his iron-man streak to 786 by the end of last season and can move close to third-place on the all-time consecutive appearances list by playing out 2017-18.Coyotes: Everyone loves pups, and while they might spend time chasing their tails, these young desert dogs will be a captivating pack and incredibly fun to watch.Bruins: Charlie McAvoy is a hard-hitting, offensively-talented and all-around entertaining defenseman who could very well win the Calder Trophy.Sabres: Sit back and watch Jack Eichel establish himself as a superstar.Flames: The addition of Travis Hamonic helps this defense corps stack up against the best, and with enough support for Mike Smith, this team could very well replicate the achievements of last year's Predators.Hurricanes: A hot new goalie makes this up-and-coming squad the Darling's of the Metropolitan Division.Blackhawks: Brandon Saad and Patrick Sharp have reunited with the Blackhawks and it feels so good.Avalanche: Positivity is left wanting after last season's debacle, but keep your eyes on Mikko Rantanen, whose name everyone will know by season's end.Blue Jackets: Artemi Panarin gives Columbus some much-needed game-breaking talent, and his quest for a bread-themed sponsor is a ... wonder.Dallas: Dallas been a fun team to watch in recent years, but the additions of Alexander Radulov, Martin Hanzal, Marc Methot, and Ben Bishop should take them from the realm of offseason champions into actual contenders.Red Wings: So ... at least they have a fancy new arena, right?Oilers: Connor McDavid alone makes this team a must-watch, but it would be neat if Ryan Strome is carried to new heights on his wing.Panthers: Years after Evgenii Dadonov went home to play in the KHL, Florida - who drafted him back in 2007 - signed him to a three-year contract, and he'll have plenty of opportunity to succeed in his NHL do-over.Kings: While unlikely to crack the NHL roster, 18-year-old Jaret Anderson-Dolan inspires by bearing the surnames of his two mothers on the back of his jersey and being committed to fighting homophobia in sports.

Roman Polak is getting another shot with the Toronto Maple Leafs.The veteran defenseman will join the team's training camp on a professional tryout offer, Dave McCarthy of NHL.com reports."He understands the situation and we're delighted to have him. It's just great to have him here," Maple Leafs general manager Lou Lamoriello told McCarthy. "No promises, we'll just wait and see what transpires here in training camp."The 31-year-old has spent part of the past three seasons with the Maple Leafs, but could have difficulty securing a spot on the squad as he returns from a devastating injury suffered during last year's playoffs.Polak has appeared in 634 career games, registering 23 goals and 92 assists, alongside 504 penalty minutes.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Ottawa Senators got some bad news as training camp opened Thursday after veteran winger Clarke MacArthur failed his medical testing.MacArthur missed nearly all of last season as he dealt with concussion issues, but made an inspiring comeback toward the end of the year. Upon his return, he was one of the team's top performers in the playoffs, as he netted nine points in 19 games.

The new coach of the Arizona Coyotes is in no rush to name his team's next captain.While awarding the "C" prior to this season hasn't been ruled out, head coach Rick Tocchet told Dave Vest of the team's official site that there is no timetable to announce the captaincy.

The St. Louis Blues are bringing in a little veteran experience.Former Arizona Coyotes head coach Dave Tippett will take part in Blues training camp as a guest coach, serving as a soundboard for bench boss Mike Yeo."He's going to come in for the first five or six days of camp and just sort of talk to Mike (Yeo) and evaluate our team, evaluate practices," general manager Doug Armstrong told Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. "Share ideas with Mike. It's a great time because he's a really good coach and it gives Mike someone different to talk to."While the addition is only temporary, it could serve as Tippett's first step back into the NHL. He spent the past eight seasons with Arizona but stepped away from the team in June.Prior to joining the Coyotes, Tippett served as head coach of the Dallas Stars for six seasons, when Armstrong was at the helm of the Stars. He is also familiar with Yeo, who played under Tippett while with the Houston Aeros of the former International Hockey League.As for Yeo, he's entering his first full season as Blues coach. He joined the club as an associate coach last year but was promoted to the top job following the firing of former bench boss Ken Hitchcock.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Los Angeles Kings are having a little fun.With training camp opening this week, the Kings, like all teams, will be out to see which of their players will find a spot on the final roster.But the role of the emergency goaltender could be filled from the stands.On Thursday, the Kings announced that the team will host open tryouts for qualified amateur goalies who can fill in between the pipes on an as-needed basis."Fans are encouraged to strap on their goalie gear and hit the ice for (this) unique opportunity," the Kings said in a statement.Added Kings president Luc Robitaille, "The NHL requires each home team to have an emergency goalie in the stands for every game and we thought this would be a good opportunity to see who in our area is best qualified for the job. It will be interesting, that is for sure."Tryouts will take place Sept. 27 at the Kings' practice facility in El Segundo, Calif. A member of the team's hockey operations staff will be on hand to scout the talent.Publicity stunt? Maybe, but it appears Los Angeles is taking no chances after what happened last season.After losing starter Jonathan Quick in last year's opener, the Kings shuffled through four other netminders on the season, namely Peter Budaj, Jeff Zatkoff, Jack Campbell, and Ben Bishop.In the end, one lucky fan could get the opportunity of a lifetime.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Goalies can't do it all on their own.As the last line of defense, the man in the crease needs plenty of help from the men in front of him to keep the puck out of the net.To that end, here are three improved defense corps that will lead to better goaltending in 2017-18.Dallas StarsTo say the Dallas Stars have needed to shore things up in their own zone would be a massive understatement.With high expectations - boosted by one of the NHL's top offenses - the Stars' defense and goaltending have let the club down time and time again, as evidenced by team save-percentage totals in recent years, per Sporting Charts:SeasonTeam Save %Rank2016-17.893302015-16.904252014-15.89529The addition of Ben Bishop in net will certainly help, but even the best goalies will struggle if left out to dry time and time again.As such, general manager Jim Nill went out and added Marc Methot by way of the Vegas Golden Knights. Deployed largely alongside Erik Karlsson last year, Methot was a key member of the Ottawa Senators, who tried desperately to avoid losing him in the expansion draft.His stabilizing presence in Dallas, along with the full-time arrival of a highly touted rookie in Julius Honka, should help the likes of John Klingberg (Methot's likely partner), Esa Lindell, Stephen Johns, and Dan Hamhuis keep the puck as far away from Bishop as possible.Arizona CoyotesIn the midst of a serious rebuild, Coyotes general manager John Chayka took advantage of a rival's cap issues, scooping Niklas Hjalmarsson from the Chicago Blackhawks at the cost of Connor Murphy and Laurent Dauphin.With Chicago, the 30-year-old Hjalmarsson was one of the most effective shutdown defensemen on one of the league's top teams of the past decade. He regularly recorded a positive plus-minus rating, and - more specifically and importantly - was on the ice for more shot attempts for than against.The loss of Jakob Chychrun to a knee injury will hurt a bit, but Hjalmarsson's stay-at-home presence will free up OIiver Ekman-Larsson to make his magic all over the ice and help Antti Raanta establish himself as a bona fide starting goalie, thereby putting the team closer to where it wants to be.Calgary FlamesThe Brian Elliott experiment didn't work out as planned for the Calgary Flames last season, prompting yet another move in net. Enter Mike Smith, who was acquired from the aforementioned Coyotes by GM Brad Treliving, who's quite familiar with the veteran from his time as an assistant in the desert.There'd be every reason not to expect a marked improvement in net following this somewhat lateral move, were it not for another trade pulled of by the Flames this offseason.With the addition of Travis Hamonic, Calgary now boasts a top-four defensive unit that arguably stacks up against any other group around the NHL, including the formidable Music City quartet who recently propelled the Predators to the Cup Final.PREDATORSFLAMESRoman JosiMark GiordanoP.K. SubbanT.J. BrodieRyan EllisDougie HamiltonMattias EkholmTravis HamonicSmith isn't seen as an elite option in net, especially at this stage of his career. But with that defense in front of him, he'll be given every opportunity to succeed, much to the benefit of fantasy owners.(Photos courtesy: Action Images)Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.