Bo Horvat believes the Vancouver Canucks will surely be rewarded for the investment made in him on his new deal.The 22-year-old center signed a six-year, $33-million contract with the club Friday, and, despite leading the team in scoring last season, Horvat feels like he's just starting to find his stride."I think them signing me to a long-term deal means that they they have a lot of support for me and they believe in me," Horvat said Friday, per Sportsnet's Iain MacIntyre. "I’m really humbled by that and, obviously, I respect them for that."I think I’m just scratching the surface. I’ve only been in the league three years. These next six years is where I can really step up my game and prove myself."The Canucks, like Horvat, are planning on having better days ahead after a rough past few seasons. For his part, Horvat believes a somewhat roller coaster-like entry into the NHL will serve him well."I feel pretty confident in this group and myself that I’ll be a big part of this team for a while," he said. "I’ve been through a lot in my first three years: just getting drafted for Cory Schneider (who was traded to New Jersey at the 2013 Draft), going through a 27-game goal slump, starting on the fourth line last year."I’ve been through a lot already. It was a mental grind. I feel I’m ready for this.""This" as in serving as one of the faces of the franchise, especially with the futures of the Sedin twins not set in stone past this season.Horvat has averaged 0.51 points per game over his first three seasons.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Alex Chiasson is getting another kick at the can.The veteran forward will attend Washington Capitals training camp on a professional tryout, the team announced Saturday.The 26-year-old spent last season with the Calgary Flames, appearing in all but one game as he finished with 12 goals and 12 assists.Prior to his one-year stay in Calgary, Chiasson spent two seasons each with the Dallas Stars and Ottawa Senators. He has skated in 320 career games since making his NHL debut in 2012.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Edmonton Oilers general manager Peter Chiarelli is tempering expectations heading into the new season.His squad was recently tabbed by oddsmakers as one of the favorites to win the Stanley Cup in 2018, but Chiarelli knows the roster still has some learning and growing to do, individually and as a group."That will be one of our biggest challenges," Chiarelli said Friday of managing the favorable forecasts, per Tim Campbell of NHL.com. "There are a lot of new experiences that these guys will face. If you look through our lineup, outside of last year, there's not a lot of playoff experience or having success as a, well, I wouldn't call us a front-runner."Last season's goal of making the playoffs was well achieved, and the Oilers came within a win of advancing to the conference finals. The hope, then, is simply that the next step will be taken."So … how are we going to do this? We'll just have to work ourselves through it, a new experience, the same way as last year," Chiarelli said. "Then, our goal was to make the playoffs and when you're in the playoffs, it's a better testing ground, a better development ground for your young guys."So this is the next step. Hopefully it's a natural progression."The Oilers will begin their preseason schedule Sept. 18 against Calgary.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Oh, how the mighty have fallen.Remaining an elite player for an extended period of time in the NHL is certainly not easy, and for goaltenders the struggle can be even greater.Heading into this season, there are several netminders who've long been ranked among the best in the league but appear to be losing their luster. Although they still have the ability to steal some games for their respective teams, these goalies have most certainly begun slipping down the depth charts.Henrik LundqvistYearGPWLOTLG.A.ASV%SO2016-1757312042.74.9102The King no longer rules all seven kingdoms.For years Lundqvist has been the pinnacle of consistency, but signs of regression have begun to appear in the New York Rangers puck-stopper's game.This past season he posted the worst goals-against average and save percentage of his career, while tying a career low in shutouts.He posted a .918 even-strength save percentage, good enough for 36th among all goaltenders with at least 25 games played. In fact, Lundqvist even saw his net stolen for a brief period of time in 2016-17 by Antti Raanta.Lundqvist is 35 years old and will be 36 next March. He is certainly no slouch, but his best days are in the rearview mirror and it's hard to imagine him being much better this season.Roberto Luongo(Photo courtesy: Action Images)YearGPWLOTLG.A.ASV%SO2016-1740171562.68.9151Much like Lundqvist, Roberto Luongo's biggest detriment is likely his age.This season the 38-year-old was hampered largely by injury which played a role in his diminished stats. Luongo posted a 2.68 GAA (his worst mark since 2006) and a .915 save percentage (his lowest total since 2010), while tallying just one shutout for only the third time in his career.In fact, the Florida Panthers acquired James Reimer ahead of last season with the perception he might soon become the team's No. 1 in the near future.Luongo is capable of having a bounce-back season, but don't expect a rebound of epic proportions.Cory SchneiderYearGPWLOTLG.A.ASV%SO2016-17602027112.82.9082Cory Schneider should be in the midst of his best season in the NHL, but 2016-17 was anything but.Schneider had an abysmal year by his standards, as the New Jersey Devils netminder posted the worst save percentage (.908) and GAA (2.82) of his career.Schneider ranked 30th with a .920 save percentage at 5-on-5 in 2016-17 - a far cry from the two previous seasons that saw him rank ninth and sixth, respectively.The Devils' defense corps hasn't improved from a season ago, so Schneider is not likely to get any more help this season.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

If anyone ever doubted Sidney Crosby's work ethic or passion for the game of hockey, have a conversation with Arizona Coyotes head coach Rick Tocchet, who spent the last three seasons as an assistant coach with the Pittsburgh Penguins.In a Q&A with Sports Illustrated, Tocchet revealed that he and Crosby would have late night phone conversations to simply talk hockey."He would text and say, 'You up?' And it'd be 10 o'clock. I'd do the same to him. Whatever the topic, 10 o’clock, 10:30, things like that," Tocchet told SI. "He's always thinking hockey, that kid. And that's why I love him. But it wasn't always hockey too. He made me a better coach, and a lot of those phone calls or texts really helped me, for sure."When asked exactly what they would talk about specifically, or why Crosby made him a better coach, Tocchet didn't shy away."Because he keeps you on your toes. 'Hey, did you see that in this game tonight, the way this team ran a faceoff on the power play? What do you think?' I'd go, 'Shoot, I didn’t even see the game,' so I'd take a look at the game, come in around nine in the morning and we'd take a look at it together. So I better have some good answers for him or analyze some good stuff with him. It made me a harder-working coach," he said.(Photo courtesy: Getty Images)It's clear that Crosby's devotion to the game is what makes him so special. Even with all the hardware he already has in his trophy case, he is continually looking for ways he can improve.The praise from Tocchet shouldn't be understated either, considering he played with both Mario Lemieux and Wayne Gretzky during his career. Tocchet has been fortunate enough to soak up knowledge from all three of these greats, and use it in his coaching."Mario and Wayne's calmness in high-pressure situations, and the way they react to them is something I've learned over the 20-something years I’ve been involved in hockey," Tocchet said. "Or the hockey IQ of Sidney Crosby, watching him ask a question to one of the coaches, or say something in a meeting, or analyze something with the team, his hockey IQ is outstanding."There's a lot of players I've learned over the years with work ethic, leaders in the room, but those three guys have special gifts. To be around those three guys, you can pick out some stuff and learn and implement it, for sure. I’m very lucky."The evidence would suggest that the Coyotes made an astute hiring in Tocchet.As for Crosby, being a great player doesn't always translate to being a successful coach, but it appears as though he has what it takes if he ever decided to take up coaching once his playing career is all said and done. He's seemingly already an assistant coach of sorts with the Penguins right now.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Gary Bettman doesn't sound keen on the idea of the New York Islanders returning to their old barn for the long haul."I don't view the Nassau Coliseum as a viable option," the NHL commissioner said Friday at a press conference announcing next year's Winter Classic at Citi Field in Queens, N.Y., according to Newsday's Jim Baumbach and Steve Zipay."Ultimately, whether or not the Islanders want to consider that and bring it to the league or something, you've had to ask them about it," Bettman said. "But my gut reaction is it's not a viable option."Nassau lawmakers held a press conference of their own back in July in an attempt to woo the Islanders back to their original arena, even as a temporary solution.The club will soon submit a proposal for a brand-new facility at Belmont Park. Bettman declined to specifically address that possibility Friday."The Islanders have very good options and they're in the process of evaluating what makes the most sense for the franchise and their fans," he said.Bettman did say he believes the New York metro area can support another arena.The Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum, as it's officially known, has been renovated over the last couple of years since the club left for Brooklyn's Barclays Center in 2015.If officials with the Brooklyn-based facility want to opt out of their 25-year lease, as they've reportedly considered, that would have to happen before Jan. 30, according to Newsday.The Islanders will play a preseason game at Nassau Coliseum on Sept. 17 against the Philadelphia Flyers, but Bettman said Friday he doesn't think playing additional games there "makes a lot of sense."The club has dealt with several issues at Barclays Center, including piping systems that don't meet NHL requirements and poor sightlines.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Vegas Golden Knights are likely to wait and "C."With the expansion franchise's regular-season opener set for Oct. 6, it appears as though there will not be a captain in place when the puck drops."We may be better off just having a leadership group than naming one guy captain," general manager George McPhee said Thursday, per Lisa Dillman of NHL.com. "We really don't want to put a 'C' on a guy unless this is going to be the person that's going to lead us for a long time. We'd like to get to know these players a lot better than we know them right now."McPhee has, of course, put together a full roster, but few players are under contract long term. Furthermore, he and head coach Gerard Gallant are in the process of getting to know the players, and there's no pressure to anoint a team leader without proper evaluation."Do you know a player well enough after a month - I'm not sure - to put a 'C' on them?" McPhee said. "So we'll see how it goes."Again, in this entire process in expansion, there's some uncertainty. We don't have all the answers. We've tried to prepare for everything. But we've embraced the uncertainty. That's what makes this fun."Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Chris Neil isn't lacking in opportunity.The gritty veteran winger remains an unrestricted free agent with training camps set to open next week, and while he's been presented with both one-year, one-way contracts and professional tryout offers heading into 2017-18, he's happy to wait it out in hopes of finding the best possible situation for him and his family."I've had some opportunities to go to some other teams and play, it just hasn't been the right fit for my family," the 38-year-old told TSN 1200 Radio Ottawa on Friday. "I think I've been very blessed to play as long as I have and so I'm able to sit back, and if there's the right fit for me, great. If there isn't, I'm also looking to spend time with my family."Neil began playing for the Ottawa Senators in 2001 after being drafted 161st overall in 1998. Thus, not having a hockey home in place is a new experience for him. But again, he won't sign just anywhere."This is probably the first September in 20 years I haven't had a place to go and it wasn't from a lack of teams or interest. So I think for me, just being the right fit and obviously we're still talking with some teams and we'll go from there."Neil racked up 112 goals, 138 assists, and 2,522 penalty minutes in 1,026 regular-season games in Ottawa.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

After his unceremonious dismissal in February, former Montreal Canadiens head coach Michel Therrien will serve as a scout for the team this season."I want to be out there, I want to see games, (and) I want to be ready," he told TSN 690's Tony Marinaro on Friday. "I'm not going to stay in my place and wait for (a) phone call. I did (this) before when I lost my job in Pittsburgh. I went to see as many games as I (could), and this is what I'm expecting to do next year."Therrien won't be working full time for the Canadiens, though, according to TVA's Renaud Lavoie.

Jason Pominville's return to the Buffalo Sabres allows him another opportunity to play outdoors.The winger is the only player on the current roster who skated in the original Winter Classic at Ralph Wilson Stadium (now known as New Era Field) against the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2008.Almost a decade, eight Classics, and a stint with the Minnesota Wild later, Pominville feels privileged to look forward to the 2018 event between his Sabres and the New York Rangers at Citi Field, home of MLB's New York Mets."I was fortunate enough to play in the first one about 10 years ago in Buffalo," Pominville said Friday at a press conference at this season's venue. "Look at what it's become today. It's a privelege to be part of this. It's an honor."Our fans are excited about it, we're excited. Hopefully we can put on a good show and everyone will enjoy it."Pominville, acquired in an offseason trade with the Wild this summer, was Buffalo's second-leading scorer in 2007-08. This time around, it'll likely be Jack Eichel who leads the club offensively, and the young center also has fond memories of the first Classic, but from a different vantage point.

The Vancouver Canucks have signed 22-year-old center Bo Horvat to a six-year contract extension worth $33 million, the team announced Friday."Bo has quickly become a foundational player on our team and we're thrilled for him to be a part of what we're building here long term," general manager Jim Benning said. "His commitment and work ethic have helped his game improve each season. He's already a leader on our team and a young player fans can be excited to watch for years to come."As a restricted free agent, Horvat's $5.5-million annual cap hit will kick in immediately, making him the fourth-highest paid player on Vancouver's roster, trailing only the Sedin twins and Loui Eriksson.Horvat built a strong case to sign a long-term deal coming off his entry-level contract, as he netted a career-high 52 points in 81 games in 2016-17 - good enough to lead the Canucks.The Canucks identified Horvat as the centerpiece of their future at the 2013 draft, selecting him ninth overall on a pick acquired in exchange for goaltender Cory Schneider. Now, as one of the few bright spots in the rebuilding organization, Horvat will be the go-to guy as Vancouver navigates its transition back into relevancy.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 best individual seasons (* denotes a league-leading statistic).100-81 | 80-61 | 60-41 | 40-21 | 20-1Voter List

Insert wide-eye emoji.The morning after the Ottawa Senators announced the removal of 1,500 seats from Canadian Tire Centre in order to "right size" the arena, the Ottawa RedBlacks jumped on Twitter to jokingly break some news.The tweet has since been deleted.The RedBlacks - winners of the 2016 Grey Cup - average near capacity attendance, while the Senators struggled to fill their building during their run to the Eastern Conference finals this past spring.Interestingly, the Senators will host the Montreal Canadiens at TD Place on Dec. 16 for the NHL100 Classic.Those extra seats may come in handy after all.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Here are three goalies who will become elite fantasy netminders this season:Andrei Vasilevskiy, LightningVasilevskiy is just 23 years old and could start becoming a perennial Vezina Trophy candidate as early as this year. While splitting time with Ben Bishop he performed admirably, but once Bishop was traded and Vasilevskiy was handed the keys to the car, he took off:StatPre-Bishop tradePost-Bishop tradeRecord11-13-512-4-2GAA2.812.27SV%.909.930It appears the title of being the surefire No. 1 goalie drastically increased Vasilevskiy's confidence. A full season of being the starter, behind a Lightning team that can't possibly deal with as many injuries as they did a year ago, will result in his status as an elite fantasy goaltender.Scott Darling, HurricanesOne might think that moving from the Chicago Blackhawks to the Carolina Hurricanes would result in a downward trajectory in terms of fantasy value, but not so fast.The Hurricanes actually boast one of the league's best, young defense corps, featuring three-time 15-goal scorer Justin Faulk, former fifth overall pick Noah Hanifin, and one of the most underrated players in the league, Jaccob Slavin.Last season the Hurricanes allowed the fifth-fewest shots per game, but were let down by the goaltending of Cam Ward and Eddie Lack. Now, in steps Darling, who was actually the best goalie on the Western Conference's best team in the regular season last year:StatCorey CrawfordScott DarlingRecord32-18-1427-18-5GAA2.552.38SV%.918.924As you can see, Darling outplayed his teammate Corey Crawford last season. As the undisputed No. 1 on an up-and-coming team, the 6-foot-6 netminder could very well finish as a top-five fantasy goaltender.Mike Smith, FlamesA change of scenery should do wonders for Mike Smith.The veteran netminder was in fantasy hockey purgatory during his time with the Arizona Coyotes, but should find new life with the move to the Calgary Flames.Smith still managed to post a .914 save percentage while playing behind one of the worst defensive teams in the NHL a year ago. Not only did Arizona allow the second-most shots against per game, but its 41.4 HSCF percent (high-danger scoring chances for percentage) was the worst in the NHL, meaning the Coyotes gave up a ton of quality scoring chances.In Calgary, Smith will have the luxury of playing behind one of the best blue lines in the league. The Flames' back end is anchored by Mark Giordano, Dougie Hamilton, T.J. Brodie, and the newly acquired Travis Hamonic. They will also have Michael Stone, who was acquired at last season's trade deadline, for a full campaign.(Photos courtesy: Action Images)Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Jack Eichel and the Buffalo Sabres still haven't shaken hands on a contract extension, but the young star says a new pact is inevitable."It's going to get done at some point, whether it's now or a couple months or next year," the 20-year-old told NHL.com's Tom Gulitti on Thursday. "Who knows? I just know if my play takes care of itself, then good things will happen."Earlier this week, one of Eichel's agents, Peter Donatelli, said his client was prepared to start the upcoming season without a new deal.Sabres general manager Jason Botterill said last month that the club wants to sign Eichel for the longest term possible - in other words, an eight-year extension - adding that Eichel shares that desire.The 2015 second overall pick, who has one year left on his entry-level contract, characterized talks as "ongoing," according to Gulitti, as the discussions reportedly have gone on for much of the summer.Connor McDavid's new eight-year, $100-million megadeal is likely being used as a high-end comparable for a potential Eichel extension, but the Sabres phenom says he isn't fixating on the player drafted one spot above him a couple of years ago."There are some players in the league who are always going to be linked together just because people like comparisons," Eichel said. "People like to compare two things no matter what it is. Obviously, (McDavid has) had some great accomplishments early in his career."For me, it's more about worrying about myself. We're in two different situations, we play in two different areas, so I'm just trying to worry about Jack Eichel and helping Jack Eichel be the best that he can be."Eichel led Buffalo with 57 points last season, despite missing 21 games due to injury.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Artemi Panarin won't stop until he has a bread-themed sponsor.After making a pass at Panera Bread with a picture of bread shoes to no avail, the "Bread Man" reached out to Wonder Bread with a nice Photoshop job in search of a better result.

It was not the news the Nashville Predators wanted to hear with the beginning of the regular season just a month away.The team announced on Thursday that defenseman Ryan Ellis will be out several months as he continues to recover from offseason knee surgery.General manager David Poile noted the team is hopeful he will be able to rejoin the Predators around Christmas. A return at Christmas would mean Ellis misses the Predators' first 35 games of the season, or just under half the season.At first glance, there is no question that filling in Ellis' spot will not be easy. On the other hand, it's become common knowledge around the league that the Predators boast the best defense corps in the NHL. And while Ellis is a big part of that, the Predators have enough depth to handle his absence.Others veterans on guard(Photo courtesy: Action Images)One of the biggest reasons why the Predators will be able to withstand the storm is that they have some veteran defenders at the ready.Matt Irwin is waiting on deck, the club acquired Alexei Emelin to further bolster the blueline this offseason, and Anthony Bitetto also remains an option.Now that is certainly not to say that these players live up to Ellis' talent level, especially offensively, but Emelin and Irwin are everyday NHLers, and Bitetto is no stranger to the Predators lineup.Last season Irwin suited up for 74 games with the Predators, Emelin dressed in 76 games for the Montreal Canadiens, and Bitetto - while spending some time in the American Hockey League - played in 29 games with the Predators.As mentioned, these three will not provide the same kind of offense that Ellis can. The three combined for five goals and 31 points in 179 games, while Ellis tallied 16 goals and 38 points in on his own.Then there is the other side of the puck. Last season Ellis paced the Predators with 137 blocked shots. However, Irwin finished second in that category with 121, while Emelin blocked 127 shots of his own in Montreal.They won't be able to replicate his offense, but if they can remain sound in their own end while Ellis is out, the team should be able to find goals elsewhere.Then there's the other three(Photo courtesy: Getty Images)On the other hand, it's important not to forget who is still there.Ellis being out hurts, but the Predators still have Roman Josi, P.K. Subban, and Mattias Ekholm who will still be there doing their thing.Last season Josi and Subban finished first and second in scoring among Predators defenders, with 49 and 40 points respectively, and averaged 25:04 and 24:24 of ice-time per game each, leading the Predators in that category.Then there is Ekholm. While he might not get as much attention as the other two, he has proved to be a rock on the back end. Ekholm logged the fourth-most ice-time during the regular season for the Predators - including the third-most on the penalty kill. He also logged the third-most during the playoffs - even more than Ellis.In the end, Ellis' lengthened recovery time just means that Josi, Subban, and Ekholm have to step up a little more, and they are certainly capable of doing that. Heck, they did as much during their playoff run this past spring.So sure missing Ellis hurts - especially as the 26-year-old appears to be entering his prime - but the fact is the Predators depth on the blue line is precisely the reason the club was able to snag a playoff berth and reach the Cup Final last season. Are the Predators worse off without Ellis? Of course. Are they doomed? No way.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Cody Franson will apparently have a shot at cracking the Chicago Blackhawks' opening-night roster.The veteran defenseman agreed to a professional tryout contract with the club, a source confirmed Thursday to Mark Lazerus of the Chicago Sun-Times, as first reported by freelancer Dhiren Mahiban.

It turns out the artistry displayed by some pro hockey players extends beyond the rink. Others? Not so much.Eight NHLers did their best to draw the logos of their respective clubs Thursday, as shared by USA Today's Jimmy Hascup.

Before they head off to their respective training camps, Brent Burns and Connor McDavid are having some last minute fun and games.The San Jose Sharks and Edmonton Oilers stars took part in a trio of hockey style carnival games as part of a new CCM campaign.Things started out with some shots at milk bottles - a carnival classic - which McDavid took quite handily.Round 2 saw Burns unleash complete destruction on a set of plates.The games concluded with McDavid giving Burns and his beard a nice soak in the dunk tank.Both Burns and McDavid can pickup where they left off on Dec. 18 when the Sharks visit the Oilers for their first meeting of the regular season.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Nashville Predators were dealt a serious blow Thursday, as general manager David Poile announced defenseman Ryan Ellis will be sidelined several months as he recovers from offseason knee surgery.Ellis underwent the procedure in June, and the team was initially optimistic he'd be ready for training camp, which is set to open next week. Now, Poile hopes the star blue-liner can return by the start of the new year.The 26-year-old was an integral piece to the Preds' endearing run to the Stanley Cup Final in the spring, racking up 13 points in 22 playoff contests to build off a career-best regular season in which he scored 16 goals and added 22 assists.Thankfully for Nashville, defensive depth is the organization's best asset. The Predators can still roll out a star-studded top three of P.K. Subban, Roman Josi, and Mattias Ekholm to help combat the absence of Ellis, while it appears newcomer Alexei Emelin and fellow defenders will see an increased role to start the season.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Toronto Maple Leafs named former defenseman Stephane Robidas as assistant director of player development, the team announced Thursday.Robidas, a veteran of 937 games and 15 seasons in the NHL, suited up for the Montreal Canadiens, Dallas Stars, Chicago Blackhawks, and Anaheim Ducks before ending his journey with the Maple Leafs.Despite not being able to contribute on the ice for Toronto since 2015 due to multiple injuries, Robidas joined the Leafs' front office as a consultant last year when he was deemed physically unable to compete.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Your move, Brian Gionta.The veteran winger appears to have options on the table should he choose to suit up for another season."Gio has not made any final decision on his future," his agent, Steve Bartlett, wrote to John Vogl of the Buffalo News. "We have had a number of teams that have indicated they would sign him, but he is not sure right now which if any offer he would accept."He will continue to prepare as though he will play, and we will see how things play out here over the next couple weeks."Gionta, 38, registered 15 goals and 35 points in 82 games with the Buffalo Sabres last season. It's believed his first choice was to return, but his spot in the lineup was filled via the offseason acquisition of Jason Pominville, and he'd even admitted it was very unlikely he'd be able to re-sign.Along with retaining the ability to chip in offensively, Gionta has served as captain of the Sabres and Montreal Canadiens over the past seven seasons, providing experience and leadership that teams covet.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Circle your calendars: The NHL's trade deadline has reportedly been set for Monday, Feb. 26, 2018, according to Renaud Lavoie of TVA Sports.The wheeling and dealing will come to a close early this season, as last year's deadline was March 1.Typically, the precise cutoff is 3 p.m. ET on the assigned day. Over the past couple of years, though, teams have gotten a jump on things by announcing meaningful trades days or weeks in advance of the deadline date, taking a bit of the drama out of the proceedings.Safe to say it's worth paying close attention once Valentine's Day has come and gone.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Ottawa Senators seem to have figured out how to rectify their low attendance issue.According to team president Tom Anselmi, Canadian Tire Centre will have 1,500 less seats than it did for the 2016-17 regular season and playoffs. The reduction in seating capacity will attempt to make the arena easier for fans to fill, Don Brennan of the Ottawa Sun reports.Despite being one of the top eight teams in the Eastern Conference all season long, Ottawa struggled to put people in the seats, averaging just under 17,000 fans a game - the ninth-worst attendance in the NHL.

The Winnipeg Jets have announced contract extensions for general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff and head coach Paul Maurice, keeping the duo in the cockpit for the foreseeable future.But is it prudent at this stage in the club's trajectory?Assessing the meritsCheveldayoff was named GM shortly after the team relocated from Atlanta, inheriting a roster that had not qualified for the playoffs in the previous four seasons. While Jets 2.0 have yet to produce a playoff win, Cheveldayoff can be credited for building a prospect base that seems capable of taking the club to new heights.As the team was quick to point out in the extension announcement, Winnipeg's prospect group is seen as one of the best around the league.Of Winnipeg's 44 draft picks made between 2011 and 2016, 38.6 percent of those players have already played in the NHL - second-most in the league. Nine of those picks (20.5 per cent) have played more than 70 games, also second in the NHL. Three of those players (Mark Scheifele, Patrik Laine, and Nikolaj Ehlers) have averaged at least 0.5 points per game since coming into the league, which leads the NHL.In short, that's how you go about building a team in today's NHL.For his part, Maurice - who joined the team in 2014 as Cheveldayoff's second coaching hire - has guided the team to a regular-season record of 136-112-33, with one playoff appearance that resulted in a four-game sweep.His greatest accomplishment as a head coach was taking Carolina to the Stanley Cup Final in 2002, a five-game loss to a powerhouse Detroit club. Overall, he's earned 596 wins, putting him a tie with Toronto's Mike Babcock for 16th on the all-time list, albeit in 251 more games.In Winnipeg, Maurice has been at the mercy of the roster given to him. And, all things considered, he's done an OK job with the team he's had to work with.Question marksThe biggest knock, as has been mentioned, is the utter lack of tangible success achieved during Cheveldayoff's tenure.Sure, the Jets have posted a winning record in five of his six seasons as GM, but careers are made and broken in the postseason, where Winnipeg is 0-4.That's total games, not series wins and losses.Cheveldayoff has been criticized for being too loyal to key pieces he inherited from Atlanta, seemingly reticent to part ways with a core group that had accomplished essentially nothing together.His trade record, and his apparent reluctance to explore that side of player movement, has been the biggest knock on his performance as GM. He's kept the active roster in a state of neutrality while the prospect base was slowly but surely being reinforced.Free agents have also proved reluctant to sign, but that could be more a function of location, location, location than a knock against Cheveldayoff.As for Maurice, he's the GM's choice to take the team to the next level, and management is afforded only so many coaching changes before the accountability falls to the front office. For his career, he's got 595 losses, 120 overtime losses, and 11 ties to go along with his 596 wins, and a losing record in the playoffs (25-32).Despite his career lengevity, whether he's a coach capable of getting the most out of this group remains to be seen, and any success or failure on his part will be a reflection of Cheveldayoff's faith in him, for better or worse.Winnipeg's hashtag heading into 2017-18 is #RiseTogether, and that seems to be the plan off the ice with these twin extensions.The pieces appear to be in place to get things off the ground, but failing wins when they matter most, this pilot project will go down as a poorly laid flight plan.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

One year removed from joining the NHL's Department of Player Safety, George Parros has been named the new head of the department, the league announced in a statement Thursday.In addition to the year he's already spent in the league's front office handling disciplinary decisions, Parros knows a thing or two about getting physical. The longtime enforcer racked up 1,092 penalty minutes across 474 career regular-season NHL games."George possesses one of the brightest and most innovative young minds in our game," commissioner Gary Bettman said."He has immersed himself in all aspects of player safety during the last 12 months and his selection to run this department not only will maintain the stability and consistency in decision-making that have been essential to the department’s success but also will enable it to continue evolving in step with our game."Current vice president of player safety and fellow former NHLer Stephane Quintal will step down to pursue other opportunities, but is expected to stay on in his current role until the end of the 2017-18 season to help ease the transition period for Parros.According to TSN's Pierre LeBrun, Parros is prepared to enforce stricter punishment for slashing and non-hockey plays.

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 best individual seasons (*: led league):100-81 | 80-61 | 60-41 | 40-21 | 20-1Voter List

The Winnipeg Jets have signed general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff and head coach Paul Maurice to multi-year extensions, the team announced Thursday.Cheveldayoff has been with the club since it relocated from Atlanta, and has built a competitive roster through strong drafting, landing the likes of Mark Scheifele, Nikolaj Ehlers, and Patrik Laine, among others.Maurice, meanwhile, joined the Jets in January 2014, and in the following season led the club to its only playoff berth since returning to Winnipeg. In the two years since their first-round sweep at the hands of the Anaheim Ducks, the Jets have finished seventh and fifth, respectively, in the Central Division.Despite the recent disappointments, the Jets have the talent to improve, and Maurice is expecting his team to turn things around in 2017-18."I expect our team to get better at everything, in all areas of our game," Maurice told reporters. "We scored a lot of goals last year - seventh in the National Hockey League - and I think we can score more. We absolutely have to become a better defensive hockey team, and some of that is experience and understanding the game, but the other part of is (focusing on) certain things to be good defensively: Staying out of the penalty box, blocking shots, grinding when the puck's in your own end."Winnipeg is set to begin training camp next week, while its regular season officially gets underway Oct. 4 at home versus the Toronto Maple Leafs.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Most of the skaters and goaltenders projected to be taken in the first few rounds of fantasy drafts are all but locks to live up to their rankings with stellar campaigns, but not all of them are going to live up to those lofty expectations.Every season, at least a few players chosen early in drafts underachieve and frustrate fantasy owners who've invested a high pick hoping for elite production.Here are three players who won't justify their draft position this season:Alex OvechkinLook, there's no doubting Ovi's talent, durability, or effort level, but there is reason to be concerned about his offensive output as he enters his 13th NHL season.The Washington Capitals captain has been one of the game's most consistent scorers for more than a decade, but his heavy workload and physical style of play might be starting to catch up with him.Ovechkin's goal production fell off dramatically last season, as he potted only 33 markers after three straight 50-plus-goal campaigns.It was the second straight season in which both his goal and point totals declined, and those dips occurred despite the fact that he played all 82 games, continuing a trend seen over the last three years in which he's missed only four total regular-season contests.While a 35-goal, 70-point season should be attainable for the veteran winger, that won't be enough for fantasy owners who are taking him as high as fifth overall.Jonathan MarchessaultAfter bursting onto the scene last season, look for Marchessault to fall back down to Earth in 2017-18.Yes, he led the Florida Panthers with 30 goals in 2016-17, but the club spent much of the campaign without arguably its two best players, Aleksander Barkov and Jonathan Huberdeau.Marchessault will be hard-pressed to muster the same goal-scoring prowess with the expansion Vegas Golden Knights.His shooting percentage was a whopping 15.5 last season, a figure that was much higher than both the league average (about nine) and the 8.6 percent mark he posted in 45 games with the Tampa Bay Lightning two seasons ago.Look for those numbers to regress back to the mean as he moves to the desert.Cam AtkinsonThe Columbus Blue Jackets had the sixth-best offense in the NHL by goals per game last season, and Cam Atkinson was a major part of that. But he may be due for regression this time around.Atkinson had a career year with 35 goals and 62 points last season, but he also posted a shooting percentage of nearly 15 percent (14.6), which was far greater than his career average (11.5) and like Marchessault, significantly higher than the league average.That's bound to come down, and while Atkinson has shown an Ovechkin-esque knack for durability over the last four seasons himself, he had never collected more than 27 goals or 53 points in any of those previous campaigns.The 28-year-old forward is being taken in about the sixth round in early fantasy drafts, and while he's likely in line for another solid season, don't expect him to duplicate what he did in 2016-17.(Photos courtesy: Action Images)Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Artemi Panarin is hoping a funny ploy on Twitter will help land him a sponsorship deal with a company that's become his moniker over the years.The Columbus Blue Jackets forward has long been known as "The Bread Man" due to the similarity between his last name and the restaurant chain Panera Bread. So for that reason, Panarin posted a photo of his "new shoes" while suggesting the company should reach out.

The Calgary Flames signed forward Sam Bennett to a two-year, $3.9-million contract, the team announced Wednesday.The news comes just a day after it was reported by TSN's Darren Dreger that there was a "sizable gap" in contract demands from both Bennett and the Flames.The 21-year-old - who was a restricted free agent - is coming off a 2016-17 campaign that saw regression from his rookie year. Bennett tallied just 13 goals and 26 points in his second season in the league, after finishing with 18 goals and 36 points in 2016.With Bennett now under contract, the Flames have come to terms with all of their pending free agents.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Florida Panthers continue to take safety measures ahead of a looming storm of potentially significant proportions.Hurricane Irma's imminent arrival is forcing the club to charter a plane to transport players, staff members and their families to Boston on Friday, according to the Miami Herald's George Richards.The Panthers are funding the flight and may open training camp in Springfield, Mass., - home of the team's AHL affiliate, the Springfield Thunderbirds - next week."We have the facilities in Springfield and could start camp there if we had to," Panthers CEO Matthew Caldwell said Wednesday, according to Richards. "We hope this is just a couple days up in Massachusetts and a flight home. But we don't know what's going to happen, don't know what (kind of damage) we will sustain."Aleksander Barkov, Vincent Trocheck, Roberto Luongo, and Derek MacKenzie are among the players planning to take the charter flight. Keith Yandle, who hails from Boston, has apparently arranged his own flight to Massachusetts.Irma is projected to make landfall in Florida on Sunday at about 2 p.m. ET, according to the National Hurricane Center.Earlier Wednesday, the Panthers canceled their prospect tournament that was originally scheduled to take place in Estero, Fla., from Sept. 9-12.- With h/t to SB NationCopyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Unrestricted free agent P.A. Parenteau has accepted a professional tryout with the Detroit Red Wings, his agent Allan Walsh announced on Wednesday.Parenteau split last season with the New Jersey Devils and the Nashville Predators. He posted 13 goals and 27 points in 59 games with the Devils, but chipped in just one assist in eight games with the Predators.While Parenteau is coming off a down year, he is just two years removed from a 20-goal season with the Toronto Maple Leafs.Meanwhile, with Andreas Athanasiou in the midst of a contract dispute and Johan Franzen - who has not played since the 2015-16 season - likely going back on the long-term injured reserve, there could be a couple forward spots to be had going into Red Wings training camp.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

From now on, if an NHL head coach wants an opposing goal disallowed on an offside review, he better be sure he's right.A new rule will punish teams that unsuccessfully issue an offside challenge by assessing those clubs a two-minute penalty for every failed review, Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reports.The cost of losing a goaltender interference review will remain the same, as teams that unsuccessfully challenge for that infraction will still give up a timeout, according to Friedman.There is reportedly one additional rule change that will take effect beginning this season, as teams will no longer be allowed to call a timeout immediately after icing the puck.Offside challenges became the subject of much controversy last season, and that came to a head on what was briefly the opening goal of the Stanley Cup Final, when Nashville Predators defenseman P.K. Subban's marker was disallowed because teammate Filip Forsberg was deemed to be offside entering the Pittsburgh Penguins' zone.Colin Campbell, the NHL's director of hockey operations, said back in June that the league was considering a two-minute penalty for failed offside reviews.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

One of hockey's most colorful personalities is getting a bigger voice.Former NHL tough customer Paul Bissonnette will join the Arizona Coyotes' radio booth this season as a color analyst, the team announced Wednesday."Paul was an incredibly popular player when he played for the Coyotes so I'm confident that our fans will be thrilled to have him back," Coyotes president and CEO Steve Patterson said in a statement. "He will be a great addition to our broadcast team and we look forward to his presence on our website and social media platforms. Paul will also make a positive impact in the community."While Bissonnette's on-ice stats aren't something to write home about, his legendary status stems from his social media fame, where "BizNasty" has more than 1 million Twitter followers.

The ongoing contract saga between John Tavares and the New York Islanders seems to be farther from a resolution than ever before.Last week, it was reported that the two sides had yet to even discuss financial details of a new deal, and this week, Tavares himself fanned the flames of speculation."Things are a lot more complicated than they think," Tavares told Brian Compton of NHL.com. "I think everyone's situation is different, everyone's circumstances are different, but you look at some of the situations with guys in similar situations that I'm in, it doesn't always happen the first day or that first month. It takes time."It's a big decision in your life and you want to make sure you're thorough and you understand everything going forward, so I think anybody making any decision like this in life would approach it the same way."Before Tavares commits to the Islanders long term, it's obvious he's waiting to see where the club will even be playing its future home games, as the team is expected to put forth a new arena proposal for the Belmont Park site within the next few weeks."I'll take everything into consideration," Tavares said."When the time is right, it'll all work out. It's hard for me to just sit here and say what-ifs, because I don't like to look at it that way. You obviously have an idea of the future and things you want to understand and have an idea, but at the same time, I really try to live in the present."Unless the Islanders and Tavares have some unforeseen breakthrough in contract talks over the next few months, he will become an unrestricted free agent July 1, 2018.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Vegas Golden Knights netminder Calvin Pickard has chosen a winner in his mask-design contest, opting for a look that highlights different pieces of the Las Vegas culture.The winning design, which Pickard will wear in his first season with the Golden Knights, includes a royal flush, the Strip skyline, and a medieval knight, in addition to the Golden Knights logo.

When Seth Jones was traded to the Columbus Blue Jackets from the Nashville Predators in January 2016, few expected the club he was joining to set a season record for wins (50) and points (108) just a year later.Now, he recognizes that expectations for the club have changed a bit since he arrived."We want to win the Stanley Cup right now," Jones said Wednesday, according to Dan Rosen of NHL.com.Jones added, "We've come a long way, I'll say that. When I got to Columbus, you knew it was in the room. You knew the core. You knew the values of the team. You knew the leadership and you knew it was there. But last year, we definitely translated it to the ice."That core consists of such talented players as Zach Werenski, Cam Atkinson, and the recently signed Alexander Wennberg - all of whom are 28 years old or younger.Last year's 108-point performance made a statement to the rest of the league that the Blue Jackets are the real deal. Jones doesn't expect his opponents to forget it, but isn't satisfied with the status quo."We're not catching any teams off guard this year and we all know that," Jones said."Every year you have to get better. You have to build on something. Last year wasn't good enough. We had a great season. We came a long way from the year before. But it wasn't good enough. We have to be that much better to be at the top of the league, where we want to be."Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Las Vegas sportsbooks make a living off of sharp predictions. Win totals, losses, even injuries. You name it, Vegas will handicap it.And, usually, their expert predictions are scarily accurate. So, when the projected 2017-18 point totals for all NHL clubs were released by Westgate SuperBook on Tuesday, it came as a bit of a surprise that the Anaheim Ducks were pegged as the team to earn the most points.Especially when you consider that the Ducks finished last season behind such powerhouse clubs as the Pittsburgh Penguins, Washington Capitals, and Chicago Blackhawks.Regardless of who you feel should be on top, here is the complete list of projected 2017-18 points, according to Westgate SuperBook:TeamProjected 2017-18 point totalAnaheim Ducks106.5Pittsburgh Penguins104.5Edmonton Oilers103.5Washington Capitals103.5Tampa Bay Lightning102.5Montreal Canadiens100.5Chicago Blackhawks99.5Dallas Stars98.5Nashville Predators98.5Columbus Blue Jackets96.5Minnesota Wild96.5San Jose Sharks96.5Calgary Flames95.5New York Rangers95.5St. Louis Blues95.5Toronto Maple Leafs94.5Carolina Hurricanes93.5Boston Bruins92.5Ottawa Senators92.5Winnipeg Jets92.5Philadelphia Flyers91.5Los Angeles Kings89.5New York Islanders88.5Buffalo Sabres87.5Florida Panthers87.5Detroit Red Wings78.5Arizona Coyotes74.5New Jersey Devils74.5Vancouver Canucks72.5Colorado Avalanche69.5Vegas Golden Knights68.5Hedge your bets accordingly.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Few defensemen are as important to their team's success as Ottawa Senators rearguard Erik Karlsson, but he's not sure he'll take the ice with them when the season begins.Karlsson's status for opening night remains up in the air, he told TSN's Pierre LeBrun on Wednesday, adding that he hasn't started skating yet as he rehabilitates from surgery in June to repair torn tendons in his foot.Training camp is days away, and considering Karlsson is coming off major offseason surgery and still hasn't stepped back onto the ice, he seems unlikely to be ready by Oct. 5.If Karlsson indeed misses any portion of Ottawa's regular-season schedule, the Sens will be in tough to replicate last season's 98-point success.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Florida Panthers aren't taking any chances.The club announced Wednesday that the four-team prospect tournament scheduled to be held in Estero, Fla., has been canceled.Florida is preparing for Hurricane Irma, the strongest Atlantic storm since 2005. Evacuation orders have been rolled out as the Category 5 storm intensifies. Estero is about 150 miles south of Tampa on the state's west coast.The tournament was set for Sept. 9-12 and was to include the Nashville Predators, Tampa Bay Lightning, and Washington Capitals.

The NHL and NHLPA have established a Declaration of Principles that fosters positive values and life skills in the hockey community.The declaration was created after a group of governing bodies established a set of shared beliefs to help deliver positive experiences to all hockey participants and to guide the behavior of hockey organizations.

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 best individual seasons (* denotes a statistic led the league).100-81 | 80-61 | 60-41 | 40-21 | 20-1Voter List

The Vegas Golden Knights have yet to hit the ice for a regular-season game, but their social media team is in prime midseason form.Following a flurry of media attention surrounding the New York Yankees accusing the Boston Red Sox of using Apple watches to steal signs, the Golden Knights social media team issued a warning to the rest of the NHL, while also taking a subtle jab at the Sox.

Derick Brassard is feeling pretty good.The Ottawa Senators center underwent shoulder surgery following the team's run to the Eastern Conference Final, and believes his recovery is going better than expected."I haven't really talked to the doctors and stuff, just doing the daily routines in the gym with trainers," Brassard told Ken Warren of the Ottawa Citizen. "We'll see where we're going to be when training camp opens. I would say I'm probably ahead of (schedule), but they would never clear you before four months. I'm sure (the doctors) will be cautious with it to make sure I'm ready to go 100 percent."Oct. 6 will mark four months from the date of his surgery.Acquired in the trade that made Mika Zibanejad a member of the New York Rangers, Brassard skated in his first season with the Senators last year, putting up 39 points in 81 contests. While his production dropped off from his final season on Broadway, he emerged as one of the Senators' top postseason performers, as he posted 11 points in 19 games.Ottawa could have a few new faces to help Brassard create offense this season. That list includes Boston College forward Colin White, who appeared in three games with the Senators last season, and possibly offensive blue-liner Thomas Chabot, the CHL Defenseman of the Year.Brassard is itching to get back on the ice despite what feels like a short break."It was a short summer," Brassard added. "I had the surgery a couple of weeks after the last game, so I was pretty busy with that in training. Now, I'm just excited to be back."Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

When Nashville Predators centerman Ryan Johansen underwent emergency surgery to repair a potentially life-threatening acute compartment syndrome issue in his left thigh in May, team doctors expected him to make a full recovery.On Tuesday, Johansen was back on the ice for an informal skate with teammates, and afterward, confirmed what Preds fans - and doctors - have been waiting all summer to hear: "I finished my rehab here in Nashville so we could get that out of the way and make sure I'm back to 100 percent as fast as I could," Johansen said, according to Robby Stanley of NHL.com."And then I just went through the usual summer process and getting ready for the start of the season. It feels good to be back to 100 percent and skating with the guys here getting ready for it all to start."Johansen managed to produce decent offensive numbers during his first full season in Smashville, tallying 14 goals and 47 points across 82 games. He also tasted postseason success, registering 13 points in 14 games during the Predators' 2017 playoff run.Despite the postseason uptick in production, Johansen recognizes that team success is paramount, and, that the Predators came just short of accomplishing their ultimate goal."Obviously we've got some unfinished business to do," said Johansen."We're just looking forward to getting back at it here now and going through the process of trying to put ourselves in the same situation. Just looking forward to spending each and every day moving forward now with the guys."Nashville opens its season Oct. 5 with a trip to Boston to take on the Bruins.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

In order to win most fantasy hockey leagues, late-round picks need to pay off in a big way.Here are five players who could provide great value as sleepers on draft day.Ryan StromeThe Edmonton Oilers jumped at the chance to dump Jordan Eberle's salary by trading for Ryan Strome, a former high-end prospect who - outside of a few productive spurts here and there - never found his footing with the New York Islanders.But Strome wasn't drafted fifth overall in 2011 by accident, and clearly there's potential for a big return here.The caveat, of course, is with whom he'll play. If Strome draws a wing spot alongside Connor McDavid, he could end up being the "Ocean's 11"-level steal of many drafts. But even if he mans center lower down in the lineup, he'll still get a chance to play with decent offensive talent, and see his share of power-play opportunities to boot.It's now or never for Strome. Bank on the former.Evgenii DadonovGone from last season's Florida Panthers are Jonathan Marchessault, Jaromir Jagr, Reilly Smith, Jussi Jokinen and Thomas Vanek, leaving a player like Evgenii Dadonov with every opportunity to finally make an impact at the NHL level.Originally drafted in the third round of the 2007 draft by the Panthers, Dadonov spent the past five seasons in the KHL, averaging 0.77 points per game.He does have 55 NHL games to his credit, in which he registered 10 goals and 10 assists. Should he land on Florida's top line, he could prove to be great value for both the Panthers and fantasy owners.Ivan ProvorovIn his rookie season with the Philadelphia Flyers, Ivan Provorov was solid, yet not spectacular.With six goals and 24 assists in 82 games, he gave us a taste of what he's capable of, with reason to believe he's in for a breakout in 2017-18.For starters, he fired 161 shots on goal, with just a 3.7 percent success rate. With an improvement there, he'll be good for 10 goals, no problem. And only five of his assists came on the power play, so increased time with the man advantage should help balloon his overall numbers.If anyone on this list is going to "Prov" us right, it's Ivan.Connor MurphyThe Chicago Blackhawks shook things up by trading a steady and reliable defenseman in Niklas Hjalmarsson to the Arizona Coyotes, replacing him with Connor Murphy.While the former carries little fantasy value in Arizona, the latter - the 20th overall pick from 2011 - should receive heavy playing time, and most importantly, a full opportunity to contribute with the man advantage.Given limited opportunities, Murphy registered just one goal and two assists on the power play in 258 games with the Coyotes. If all goes well in Chicago, he could replicate Johnny Boychuk's breakout production from his first season with the New York Islanders.All it takes is ice time where it never came before.Robin LehnerOf all NHL goalies with at least 41 appearances (or half a season's workload) in 2016-17, Robin Lehner ranked seventh with a save percentage of .920. Only Sergei Bobrovsky, Braden Holtby, John Gibson, Devan Dubnyk, Matt Murray, and Carey Price posted better success rates.Nice company to keep.The thing is, the Buffalo Sabres weren't good, meaning Lehner's win total was well below those other guys.New Sabres general manager Jason Botterill signed Lehner to a one-year, $4-million contract this summer, giving the goalie ample reason to put his best pad forward in 2017-18.Expect a contract-year bump from Lehner to combine well with an improved Sabres team in front of him.(Photos courtesy: Action Images)Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Jaromir Jagr retired from international play after the 2014 World Championships, but there's a chance he could once again don the red, blue, and white of the Czech Republic at the 2018 Olympics if he is unable to sign with an NHL team."There is a possibility (one of many) that I would stay in Kladno and prepare for the Olympics," he said on Czech TV according to their hockey reporter Darina Vymetalikova. However, Jagr told the reporter his priority is the NHL.Though not getting signed by an NHL team would certainly break the hearts of many die-hard Jagr fans, using the Olympics as his swan song wouldn't be the worst ending to a Hall of Fame career either.Jagr has totaled 123 points in 123 games for the Czech Republic in his international career.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.