on (#30CCA)
Twitter has been consumed by good boys all day Saturday as part of #NationalDogDay, so that got us thinking: Who among hockey circles is most aptly named for the occasion?From current players to NHL alumni, and even mascots, here are nine figures in hockey whose names or nicknames are perfect for this canine celebration:Aleksander BarkovThe Florida Panthers forward is clearly the best current player on this list, and even though he has a very appropriate name for this social media holiday, he certainly doesn't dog it out on the ice.Jay BeagleThe Washington Capitals center is another active player whose family name was made for the day.He may not be the most offensively gifted forward in the league, but he does have a nose for the puck, and that helped him post career-highs in goals and assists this past season.Lindy RuffThe New York Rangers assistant coach's place in this exclusive group is pretty self-explanatory. Formerly the bench boss of the Buffalo Sabres and Dallas Stars, he's been known to be a little Ruff - err, rough - on his players in the past.Cam BarkerThe third overall pick by the Chicago Blackhawks in 2004 was a bust in North America, but at 31 years old he's still plying his trade in the KHL, where he's played for the last four seasons.He won three gold medals with Canada - two at the World Junior Hockey Championships and one at the Spengler Cup - so fortunately for him, his inclusion on this list won't be his only claim to fame.Curtis JosephThe former star goaltender, who played most prominently for the St. Louis Blues, Edmonton Oilers, and Toronto Maple Leafs, doesn't immediately appear to warrant inclusion here.That is until you remember his nickname, "CuJo", which was obviously inspired by his first and last name, but which also invoked memories of the title antagonist from the Stephen King novel and 1983 horror film.Joseph embraced the canine connection and featured a dog on many of his masks.Ray SheppardSure, it's not spelled exactly like the German shepherd his name conjures up in this context, but the longtime NHL winger's moniker is close enough.Duane 'Dog' SutterA prominent member of the famed Sutter family, the three-time Stanley Cup champion earned his nickname because of his penchant for barking at opposing players and officials during games.'Pup'Brent Sutter was given this nickname because he was Duane's younger brother, but he carved out a solid career in his own right.Brent played with Duane during the New York Islanders' heyday in the 1980s and later coached the Canadian world junior team to back-to-back gold medal victories in 2005 and 2006.Harvey the HoundWe'd be remiss if we didn't include the Calgary Flames' mascot, who also got some love from his team's Twitter account earlier in the day.
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Updated | 2024-11-29 02:00 |
on (#30BZK)
We're officially into the dog days of summer.NHL clubs got into the spirit of #NationalDogDay on Saturday, filling their Twitter timelines with canine content.Here's what the teams shared:
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on (#30AV3)
Team Canada isn't lowering the bar.Despite the fact that NHLers won't partake in the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, Team Canada general manager Sean Burke feels he can still put together a team that can compete for the top spot."We go into Pyeongchang believing gold is realistic," Burke told Andrew Podnieks of IIHF.com. "The last time that Canada wasn't favored was back in 1994, and I played in 1988 and 1992 so I remember those days very well."But even then, when the Russians were so powerful and the Czechs weren't far behind, you still went into the Olympics expecting to compete for a gold."In scouting out who could make up the final roster, Canada played six exhibition games as part of the Sochi Hockey Open and the Nikolai Puchkov Tournament held in Russia.Canada came away with a 4-2 record, posting wins against Metallurg Magnitogorsk and SKA-Neva St. Petersburg, plus two victories against HK Sochi, while falling to SKA St. Petersburg and the Russian "B" team."We know there's a lot of work to do and that things are different," Burke added. "We have to build our team differently. We'll be as prepared as we can possibly be when we go into Pyeongchang to compete for a gold, and that will give us a chance to win."Participants in the exhibition games included former NHL netminder Ben Scrivens, in addition to defensemen Cam Barker, Carlo Colaiacovo, and forwards Derek Roy, Mason Raymond, and Ryan Garbutt.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.
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on (#30APH)
Tyler Seguin had his heart set on the Olympics.The NHL won't participate in the 2018 Games in Pyeongchang, and it's a missed opportunity for at least one member of the Dallas Stars."It's a bit heartbreaking for sure," Seguin told reporters Friday. "Growing up as a kid, for myself at least, and I'm sure a lot of guys in the league, it was a dream to play in the NHL and win the Stanley Cup, and also represent your country. That's the pinnacle of sports and the pinnacle for a hockey player."Seguin last represented Canada at the 2015 IIHF World Championships, when he netted a tournament-leading nine goals in 10 games to help push Canada to a gold-medal victory. It marked Canada's first gold at the worlds since 2007.The NHL has been involved in the past five Winter Olympics, beginning in Nagano, Japan in 1998. However, in April, the league announced it would not break for South Korea in the coming season."It's definitely not something I really support, not going. I wish we could," Seguin added. "But at the end of the day, you've got to go about the business."As for Seguin, he's entering his fifth campaign suiting up for the Stars, a club that underwent a major offseason makeover in a bid to return to the playoffs after failing to qualify for the 2016 postseason.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.
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on (#30AMY)
NHL 18, the latest in the video game series produced by EA Sports, released a sneak peak of its player ratings Friday, with some of the grades taken tongue-in-cheek by NHLers:
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on (#30AFG)
There's no resting on laurels when you play for a last-place team.Joe Colborne's first season with the Colorado Avalanche was one to forget, as the center followed up an opening night hat trick with one goal over the next 61 games and was often scratched altogether.As a squad, the Avs earned only 48 points in the standings, finishing with the lowest point percentage in the shootout era.Quite simply, Colborne knows there is plenty of room for improvement all around."The only way you can take anything positive out of that was, it was a learning experience," he told Mike Chambers of the Denver Post. "I don’t think any of us had ever been through the hardship that we went through. Part of being a pro is putting that season behind you as much as you can and realize that every single one of us has to be better. There wasn’t one guy who can honestly say that was something you can be proud of."Nathan MacKinnon led the team with 53 points, while only Matt Duchene also eclipsed 40. The lack of offense and porous defense amounted to a league-worst goal differential of minus-112, with Arizona ranking 29th at minus-63."It hurt," Colborne added of the embarassment, "and being a professional, being someone who’s proud of themselves, none of us are happy with it and it’s up to each of us to come back and make sure that we’re a lot better."Unfortunately for Colorado, the arrival of the Vegas Golden Knights means there actually is somewhere else to go but up.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.
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on (#30ADE)
The Pittsburgh Penguins signed veteran center Jay McClement to a professional tryout contract, the team announced Friday.McClement spent the past three seasons with the Carolina Hurricanes, serving as a valuable penalty killer. He's also quite proficient in the faceoff circle and contributed 15 goals and 40 points in his past 224 games.Related: Penguins GM seeking 3rd-line centerThe Stanley Cup champions are on the hunt for depth at center following the departures of Nick Bonino and Matt Cullen via free agency, thereby giving McClement a good shot at cracking the opening night lineup.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.
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on (#30A8Y)
It's not for a lack of trying.Petr Svoboda, the agent of Jaromir Jagr, admits he's "working around the clock" to get the future Hall of Famer signed to a contract.While Svoboda wasn't specific about where Jagr could land, he told Rick Dhaliwal of News 1130 Sports that a deal will get done.Related: Jagr didn't expect finding a new team to be so difficultJagr spent part of the past three seasons with the Florida Panthers, finishing fourth in team scoring in 2016-17 with 46 points. However, his tenure in Florida ended this offseason, as the Panthers chose to cut ties.Despite his age, the 45-year-old was a picture of health over the past two seasons, missing just three contests. He also appeared in all six playoff games in 2015-16.Arguably his best moment as a Panther came last December, when he passed Mark Messier for second all time in NHL scoring. Jagr now ranks behind only Wayne Gretzky - 943 points separate the two stars.As for his future, a move to a new NHL city - should he not return to one of his former stops - would mark Jagr's ninth team. At the least, it means there could soon be an opening with the Travelling Jagrs.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.
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on (#309PB)
Will Butcher appears to be doing some last-minute consulting ahead of his big reveal.The college free-agent defenseman previously stated that he would decide on the NHL team he'll sign an entry-level contract with on Sunday, and on Friday the 22-year-old was scheduled to travel to New Jersey to meet with both the Devils and Los Angeles Kings, according to Mike Chambers of the Denver Post.Per Chambers, the two clubs are believed to be among Butcher's top choices.On Thursday, Butcher's agent, Brian Bartlett, confirmed that both the Vegas Golden Knights and Buffalo Sabres were among a list of four teams in the mix to ink Butcher.Bartlett further stated that Butcher is looking for a club that can give him the chance to have a long and prosperous career.Butcher had seven goals and 30 assists in 43 games last season at the University of Denver, captaining the team to the NCAA championship.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.
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on (#309KE)
Brandon Dubinsky is tweeting what some in hockey circles are thinking about the NHL's free-agency rules when it comes to college players:
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on (#309BF)
Bob Hartley will coach Latvia for at least another half-decade.The former NHL head coach signed a new five-year deal to remain with the Latvian Hockey Federation, the IIHF confirmed Friday.Hartley will guide Latvia in the 2018 World Championship in Denmark, and he'll lead its qualifying efforts for the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing.Under his leadership, Latvia narrowly missed earning a berth in the 2018 Olympic Games in Pyeongchang, South Korea, and the former Soviet nation's men's squad is now ranked 12th in the world.Hartley assumed the role in December 2016 and helped Latvia impress at the 2017 World Championship before ultimately finishing 10th.He led the Colorado Avalanche to a Stanley Cup championship in 2001 and also served behind the bench with the Atlanta Thrashers and Calgary Flames, with whom he won the Jack Adams Award as the NHL's coach of the year in 2015 before being fired the following spring.Hartley is the second former NHL head coach to lead Latvia's men's national hockey team following Ted Nolan's tenure from 2011-14.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.
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on (#30987)
The New Jersey Devils signed forward Drew Stafford to a one-year, $800,000 contract, the team announced Friday.The 31-year-old is coming off a down year that saw him post eight goals and 21 points in 58 games split between the Winnipeg Jets and Boston Bruins. He was slightly more effective in the postseason for the Bruins, scoring twice in six contests.The Devils mark Stafford's fourth team since the 2014-15 campaign. In 725 career games he's amassed 183 goals and 400 points.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.
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by Ian McLaren on (#3091Z)
There's simply no room for error in the salary cap era.If an offensive talent isn't carrying his cap hit's worth in goals and points, his team is less likely to succeed in the long run.Here, then, are five players who must produce this season in order to render their cap hits more tenable.P.K. Subban2017-18 cap hit: $9M
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on (#308VZ)
It appears the Vancouver Canucks were prepared to go off the board at this year's draft.After finishing last season with the 29th-best record, the club entered the draft lottery with the second-best chance at nabbing the top pick. In the end, the balls didn't bounce the Canucks' way and the club walked away with the fifth selection.However, it doesn't appear to have been a monumental loss for the club. President Trevor Linden joined TSN 1040 on Thursday, where he admitted the club wouldn't have selected Nico Hischier or Nolan Patrick had it won the draft lottery, according to TSN's Matthew Sekeres.Patrick and Hischier entered the draft as the top two ranked skaters by NHL Central Scouting. The New Jersey Devils ultimately nabbed Hischier with the first overall pick and the Philadelphia Flyers grabbed the latter at No. 2.Vancouver used its pick on Elias Pettersson, who looks to have the chops of a gifted goal-scorer after putting on a show at the Canucks' top prospects game in July.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.
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on (#308RS)
The Vancouver Canucks and Bo Horvat's camp continue to work toward a new contract.Horvat remains the club's lone restricted free agent and president Trevor Linden joined TSN 1040 on Thursday, noting that the sides have had encouraging talks and there are many options regarding a new contract."All options are on the table, I think we've explored many of the options, anything from two to eight (years)," Linden said. "We've had some good conversations with Bo and his rep - Newport Sports - who I was a client of there's and we've done several contracts with them. I would say they have been very positive. We're looking forward to getting Bo under contract. Out of respect to the process, I don't want to say a whole lot, but things have been very positive, we're moving along and I don't see any issues."Linden noted that the club expected a lengthy negotiation going into the offseason and in the end is just hopeful a new deal will be hammered out before training camp."Bo's a quality kid and a good character guy and he's been great through the process, not that's he's been specifically involved in the conversations, but we're working hard at things to avoid not having him at training camp," Linden said.Last season, Horvat tallied 52 points becoming the first player not named Henrik or Daniel Sedin to lead the Canucks in scoring since the 2006-07 season.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.
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on (#308GH)
The following five signings left NHL fans and analysts alike scratching their heads, wondering, "why?" Or, "that much?" These signings were not only questionable from Day 1, but could end up hurting their teams long term.*Age is considered at the start of the season (Oct. 4).Patrick Marleau, Maple LeafsAge: 38
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by Sean O'Leary on (#307DY)
Evaluating the impact of goals to the average NHL fan is rather simple: people like them. Goals are fun, goals are exciting, and more goals generally leads to a more exciting on-ice product for viewers.The problem, though, is goals these days are hard to come by. In 2016-17, the team average for goals in a game was 2.77 (Hockey Reference), a number which, shockingly, is the highest season total since 2010-11, when the stat was a barn-burning 2.79.If tight-structured defensive systems aren't your thing, we recommend keeping a close eye on the following five teams in 2017-18, as they're poised to ensure the NHL's goals per-game number continues its brief upward trend.Dallas StarsSee this thick-bearded, toothless fellow above? He gets to join a forward corps that already features the likes of Tyler Seguin, Jamie Benn, and Jason Spezza.Alexander Radulov was one of the Stars' prized offseason acquisitions, coming off a rebirth in Montreal in which he recorded 54 points in 76 games. Radulov provides Dallas another power play producer, and can slot in beside Seguin on a top line that, on paper, is simply unfair.Dallas also bolstered it's attack by luring towering pivot Martin Hanzal to the club in free agency. The 30-year-old should nicely complement prospering depth contributors Devin Shore and Radek Faksa.Toronto Maple LeafsAfter netting the fifth-most goals in the NHL last season (250), year two of the youth movement in Toronto should warrant more of the same.While the Maple Leafs sophomores surely won't be taking anyone by surprise this time around, Toronto added Patrick Marleau into the mix to solidify one of the deepest forward groups across the NHL.Winnipeg JetsFinding the back of the net certainly isn't what kept the Jets outside the playoff picture last season.Winnipeg scored 246 goals in 2016-17, a sum good for seventh in the league. The Jets didn't make too much noise in the offseason in terms of adding personnel, mainly because they didn't have to. With a top six that includes Patrik Laine, Mark Scheifele, Blake Wheeler, and Nikolaj Ehlers, Winnipeg is primed to rack up gaudy offensive numbers for years to come.Columbus Blue JacketsLast season's Blue Jackets were sandwiched between the Maple Leafs and Jets in terms of goals, and on the heels of a historic breakout campaign, Columbus added yet another offensive weapon in Artemi Panarin.Panarin, who's recorded 151 points in 162 career games, should adequately replace Brandon Saad's output, and joins a roster that had seven skaters, excluding the departed Saad, eclipse 40 points last season.Tampa Bay LightningWho knows where Tampa Bay might have ended up last season with Steven Stamkos involved.The Lightning captain had 20 points in 17 games before a knee injury ended his season, leaving the club without one of the game's purest scorers. However, Stamkos is expected to be fully ready for training camp, and should he stay in the lineup, will form an incomparable duo with 40-goal man Nikita Kucherov.Behind the two big dogs, the Lightning have a formidable trio of Ondrej Palat, Tyler Johnson and Brayden Point to rely on offensively. Not to mention Victor Hedman, who anchored the blue line and put up a whopping 72 points in 2016-17.(Photos Courtesy: Action Images)Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.
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on (#3071F)
If there's one thing the Colorado Avalanche could offer college free-agent Alexander Kerfoot, it was opportunity.In an interview with TSN 1040 in Vancouver on Wednesday, Kerfoot - New Jersey's 2012 fifth-round pick who chose not to sign his entry-level deal with the Devils - explained the rationale behind the decision to join last season's last-place club, boiling it down to a chance to make an immediate and impactful jump to the NHL."The first thing I was looking at was opportunity," Kerfoot said. "I'm a 23-year-old guy now coming out of four years in college. I know I have a lot of work to do as a player, but I want to go somewhere where I think that I have an opportunity to play. That kind of narrowed my list down from the start."I just felt really comfortable with the Avalanche organization in general and with (general manager Joe) Sakic and (head coach Jared) Bednar. I'm excited about joining their young group of guys and going into camp this year and competing for a spot."Kerfoot added he was indeed close to signing with the Devils, but simply didn't see where he would fit at his position."That was a really, really difficult (deal) to turn down, but I think that just the main thing that came into play there was that (New Jersey) obviously had the first overall pick this year and he was a centerman (Nico Hischier). They traded for a couple of centermen in the off-season. Their last couple of kind of high draft picks have been centermen, so I think there was a plethora of young centermen coming into the organization who I would have to compete with."Kerfoot believes he has a good shot at cracking Colorado's lineup after averaging slightly over a point per game over four years at Harvard, but understands if the organization believes he needs to spend some time in the AHL."I'm prepared for whatever," he said. "I mean, if I don't make the team then it's not like I'm just going to give up on my career. But at the same time I'm going in to Colorado expecting to make the team. I think that I'm confident in my abilities and I think that I have a good shot to make their roster. I'm excited to go in and be a part of their group."- With h/t Chris NicholsCopyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.
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on (#306SG)
Prized college free-agent defenseman Will Butcher is close to announcing which NHL team he'll sign with, he told NHL.com via email."I will be making my decision on Sunday with my family and my agent there with me," said Butcher, who took home the Hobey Baker Award as the top player in NCAA Division I men's hockey last season.Butcher's agent, Brian Bartlett, confirmed that the Buffalo Sabres and the Vegas Golden Knights are in the mix to sign him. Butcher will visit two more teams before returning to his home in Wisconsin on Saturday.The New Jersey Devils and Pittsburgh Penguins are also believed to be among the teams involved in the Butcher sweepstakes."He wants to play for a team that really understands and believes in him as a player and what he can bring to an organization, so it's weeding out the ones who just kind of want good players since every team needs good players," Bartlett said."The second part is which team has the opportunity and resources to give him the best chance to be a longtime professional player. We haven't been demanding he make the team right out of (training) camp or have a roster spot. It's about the process over the next couple of years."The Colorado Avalanche made Butcher a fifth-round pick in the 2013 NHL Draft, but he chose not to sign with the organization. He became a free agent on Aug. 16.Butcher had seven goals and 30 assists in 43 games last season at the University of Denver, captaining the team to the NCAA championship.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.
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on (#306J7)
More than one team that missed out on the 2017 Stanley Cup Playoffs should find its way back into the dance in 2018.This past spring's postseason featured the usual crop of powerhouses, but a few talented clubs were surprisingly absent.One went deep into the spring two years in a row before suffering a major setback this past campaign, while another followed up a historic achievement with a coaching change and failed to overcome a couple of health setbacks of its own.A third club boasts two of the most gifted offensive players in the game, but fell short of expectations due to poor goaltending.Here are three squads that will return to the postseason in 2018:Tampa Bay LightningSteven Stamkos' torn meniscus was obviously a devastating blow for the Lightning, and despite their best efforts, they couldn't sneak into the playoffs after losing their captain to the significant injury in November.Still, after reaching the Stanley Cup Final in 2015 and the Eastern Conference Final one year later, Tampa Bay only missed out on qualifying for the postseason by a single point in 2017. The Lightning finished with more regular-season wins than the Toronto Maple Leafs, who edged them out for the second wild-card spot in the East, and the Nashville Predators, who made an improbable run to the final in June.Lightning general manager Steve Yzerman did some tweaking in the offseason, acquiring defensive prospect Mikhail Sergachev for electric winger Jonathan Drouin, and adding depth players Chris Kunitz and Dan Girardi.If Stamkos can stay healthy for the balance of the 2017-18 schedule, Tampa Bay shouldn't have too much trouble returning to the playoffs.Florida Panthers(Photo courtesy: Getty Images)The Sunshine State's other squad should also get back in the postseason next spring.Losing two of their best players, Aleksander Barkov and Jonathan Huberdeau, to injury last season put the Florida Panthers in an early hole that arguably cost Gerard Gallant his job as head coach.Still, Florida boasts one of the best and most exciting collections of relatively young players in the NHL, including Barkov, Huberdeau, Aaron Ekblad, and Vincent Trocheck - and the Panthers added Evgeny Dadonov, a 30-goal scorer in the KHL last season, to the roster this summer.Florida fell flat in 2016-17 after winning its first Atlantic Division title in the previous campaign, but if the Panthers' two young stars can avoid significant injury this time around, getting back into the postseason shouldn't be difficult.Dallas Stars(Photo courtesy: Action Images)Jim Nill's been the busiest GM in the league this summer, and his Stars are primed for a return engagement in the playoffs as a result.Nill addressed the club's goaltending woes by acquiring Ben Bishop and signing him to a six-year contract in May, then added steady defenseman Marc Methot in a trade with the Vegas Golden Knights and signed free-agent forwards Martin Hanzal and Alexander Radulov in early July.Tyler Seguin and Jamie Benn combined for 141 points last season, but the Stars didn't have the offensive depth, nor the stability on defense or in goal, to compete for a playoff spot.However, the new-look Dallas squad should show enough improvement to grab a Western Conference wild-card spot this April.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.
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on (#306BR)
Goaltending is the key for the Winnipeg Jets going forward as far as Blake Wheeler is concerned.Last season the Jets finished with the fourth-highest goals-against per game (3.11) and the third-worst team save percentage (.900), making it clear that the men manning the crease in Winnipeg have been a large part of the problem - a problem Wheeler sounded off on, according to Matt Larkin of The Hockey News:
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on (#305YD)
Alexander Kerfoot has put pen to paper with the Colorado Avalanche.The coveted forward agreed to an entry-level contract with the NHL club Thursday.It's a two-year deal that carries an NHL rate of $832,000 per season and an AHL rate of $70,000 per campaign, according to Mike Chambers of The Denver Post.Kerfoot chose to become an unrestricted free agent last week rather than sign with the New Jersey Devils, who drafted him in 2012.He posted 45 points in 36 games with Harvard this past season in his senior campaign with the Crimson, and his point production improved in all three subsequent college seasons following his freshman year.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.
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on (#305YF)
Thanks to an incredible turnaround last season, NHL clubs aren't likely to overlook the Columbus Blue Jackets this year.The Blue Jackets rose 32 points in the standings from 2016 to 2017 and claimed the fourth-best record in the league, though their season concluded with a first-round loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins.The club is still looking to improve, but as defenseman Seth Jones suggests, the team won't be able to surprise its opponents anymore."I think we need to earn more respect in this league and one year and a playoff appearance doesn't do that," Jones said, according to Sydney McNulty of BlueJackets.com. "I think we caught a lot of teams off guard, and I don't think we are going to catch as many teams off guard this season, so we have to be even better and on top of our game for sure."What the Blue Jackets hope will make them better, and an even more legitimate threat in the Eastern Conference, is the addition of Artemi Panarin. Jones feels the sniper, acquired from the Chicago Blackhawks, should boost the club's offense."I think it is going to add a little bit more creativity offensively," Jones said. "We lost a great player in Brandon (Saad), but, at the same time, we are getting a very awesome player, a very exciting player to watch in Panarin. I think we are really happy with some of the moves we've made, and hopefully that makes the team better."Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.
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on (#305V6)
Will Butcher might be ready to choose his NHL destination as soon as Saturday or Sunday.The highly sought-after college free agent is still visiting teams with three or four in the mix, and his decision is expected to be made either this weekend or by the start of next week, according to TSN's Darren Dreger.Butcher reportedly trimmed his list of suitors down from a dozen clubs this week.He's apparently already spoken with the Buffalo Sabres, New Jersey Devils and Vegas Golden Knights, while Pittsburgh Penguins general manager Jim Rutherford confirmed last Wednesday that his team would be making a presentation to the 22-year-old defenseman.Butcher became an unrestricted free agent last week after choosing not to sign with the Colorado Avalanche, who drafted him in 2013. He won the Hobey Baker Award as the top U.S. college hockey player after helping the University of Denver win the national championship this spring.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.
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on (#3041F)
Last year was only the beginning of a budding rivalry between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Washington Capitals.And at least one player wants to see the clash reach the next level."It was fun to come home and kind of play the villain," Capitals winger and Toronto native Tom Wilson told reporters Wednesday. "It will be a fresh start now though. They are going to have another good team and hopefully that rivalry can continue because it was a pretty exciting series."Lining up in the first round of last year's playoffs, the series matched the Presidents' Trophy-winning Capitals against the eighth-seed Maple Leafs. But the meeting wasn't nearly as lopsided as the teams' regular seasons finishes, as the series extended six games and all but one contest required overtime."A series like that is what creates rivalries. There's a lot of emotion, a lot of speed, a lot of skill. They're only going to get better, and keep pushing us to get better. It's probably a rivalry now," said Wilson, who notched three goals in the series, including the overtime winner in Game 1.While there is no telling if the series will renew next spring, the Maple Leafs and Capitals will at least have a memorable match on the calendar this season. The two sides are set to link up on March 3 at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis, Md. in the 2018 Stadium Series.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.
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on (#303PX)
Owen Tippett believes he can be a star.The Florida Panthers' first-round pick in this summer's draft, Tippett is a budding winger who starred with the OHL's Mississauga Steelheads last season - a campaign in which he netted 75 points in 60 games.Of those totals, 44 came as goals, a mark which only four players topped league-wide, and an ability that drew the Panthers' attention."Owen is a natural goal scorer with a bright future and he already possesses NHL-ready size and speed," Panthers general manager Dale Tallon said in July. "We're looking forward to watching him compete for a spot on our NHL roster at training camp this fall."A hulking power forward, Tippett is a prime candidate to make the immediate jump to the NHL, particularly on a Florida roster that has just 10 forwards currently under contract."I have the upside of Phil Kessel - the speed, the shot, the way he can make plays," Tippett told Luke Fox of Sportsnet. "I also have some things I need to work on to be a 200-foot player."Tippett could soon have another attribute in common with Kessel: making the NHL as an 18-year-old. Drafted fifth overall by the Boston Bruins in 2006, Kessel made his NHL debut just four months later, as he appeared in 70 games in 2006-07.No doubt Tippett will be given every opportunity come training camp to make his best impression."I feel I can fight for a spot in Florida," Tippett added. "But at the end of the day, if I'm back in Mississauga, I'll look at it as a chance to develop my game and get stronger and faster."Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.
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on (#3031H)
The New Jersey Devils have invited forward Jimmy Hayes to training camp on a professional tryout, the team announced Wednesday.The 6-foot-5 right-winger averaged 17.5 goals per 82 games from 2013-14 to 2015-16, but went completely invisible last season with the Boston Bruins, picking up just two goals and three assists in 58 games.With Kyle Palmieri as the Devils' only notable right winger, it's possible Hayes - who's still just 27 years old - could be given an opportunity as a top-nine forward on a rebuilding team.Hayes played less than 10 minutes per game last season, and the biggest concern surrounding him is his foot speed - or lack thereof.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.
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on (#302VH)
Highly touted college free agent Alexander Kerfoot has decided to sign with the Colorado Avalanche, according to TSN's Darren Dreger.The Avalanche will be the team out of five finalists to sign the Harvard University star, beating out the New York Rangers, San Jose Sharks, New York Islanders, and Vancouver Canucks, according to Dreger.
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on (#302NM)
At least two of Patrick Marleau's former teammates expected the 37-year-old would return to the San Jose Sharks this offseason.Marleau had played his entire career with the club that drafted him second overall in 1997, but after hitting the open market on July 1, the seven-time 30-goal scorer elected to sign with the Toronto Maple Leafs, catching both Joel Ward and Jason Demers off guard."Definitely pretty surprised," Ward said, according to NHL.com's Dave McCarthy. "I was hoping he would stay, for sure. He was a big help for us, on and off the ice. It's definitely going to be a big blow for us."As for Demers - who played with the Sharks from 2009 to 2015 - he knows the decision for Marleau to leave the team he's played 19 seasons with could not have been easy."That was crazy," Demers said. "For him to make that decision, I know him well personally and I know that was probably the biggest decision of his career. I don't think anybody understands on the outside how big of a decision that was for him. … In my head, after talking to him a little bit, I thought he was going to stay, but I think him and his family discussed it and I think it's going to be a great thing for him."With the Maple Leafs, Marleau will now be playing alongside the team's speedy, young core, and while Demers welcomes the challenge of facing Marleau on a more regular basis - as a member of the Florida Panthers - he understands matching up against Marleau and the Maple Leafs won't be easy."Playing alongside those guys in Toronto, they're going to be real fast," Demers said. "It's going to be fun seeing him more than twice a year, but it's going to (stink) because now I've got to try to defend him more than twice a year."Demers will get his first look at Marleau in a Maple Leafs' uniform when the Panthers host Toronto on Nov. 22.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.
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on (#302BN)
When T.J. Oshie was traded to the Washington Capitals in the summer of 2015, he expected to do one thing: win Cups.But, after running through the Eastern Conference in back-to-back regular seasons to only be bounced in the second round of the playoffs, Oshie knows the task ahead is only getting harder. Especially when you consider the talent Washington lost this offseason."We lost a lot of really, really good players, and I think we knew that was going to happen," Oshie said, according to Jessi Pierce of NHL.com. "Now we're going to need a lot of younger guys to fill in for a lot of different roles."With the offseason losses of veteran wingers Marcus Johansson and Justin Williams, the Capitals' bottom-six forward group will need unproven youngsters like Jakub Vrana, Andre Burakovsky, and Riley Barber to take their games to the next level."I'm looking for everyone to take that next step," Oshie said. "It's not one or two guys; we need everyone to get on board and to find that next level. From our star players to our support players and to the guys that play the dirty minutes, we need everyone."Washington was also dealt a blow on the blue line, as salary cap restrictions influenced the departures of rearguards Karl Alzner, Nate Schmidt, and Kevin Shattenkirk.Oshie recognizes that without some of the aforementioned names, the Caps are in for a much stiffer test this season as opposed to the past two."I don't expect us to run away with it like we did the past couple years in the regular season," he said.Washington still touts one of the best core groups in the NHL today with Alex Ovechkin, Braden Holtby, and Nicklas Backstrom anchoring the club.But, regardless of who it is, the Capitals will need someone to step up to support the big three, otherwise it will be another long summer for Ovi and the boys.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.
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More space for shooting equals more space for scoring.That's the thinking of New York Islanders winger Josh Ho-Sang, a proponent of bigger nets in a bid to see more goals in the NHL."It's not rocket science. They can literally make the nets wider and not make them (deeper). It's the same game," Ho-Sang told Sportsnet's Luke Fox. "If you want more goals, that's what I'd do."Related: Ho-Sang hopes Tavares is happy whenever, wherever he signsIn recent seasons, the NHL has toyed with various tweaks to create more offensive opportunities, from a reduction in goalie equipment, to reviews on goaltender interference, to the implementation of hybrid icing, among other ideas.Bigger nets, an idea championed by Ho-Sang, represents a starker change."The goalies are really good. That's reality," Ho-Sang added. "The technology side has to give because athletes are just going to keep getting better. There are goalies who aren't in the NHL that are outrageously good."Season Total Goals Goals Per Game2016-1767045.452015-1665655.342014-1565495.322013-1465735.34(Information courtesy of SportingCharts.com)The NHL's goals per game has remained relatively stable over the past four full seasons, and since the introduction of the salary cap, has averaged more than six goals per game just once, reaching 6.05 in 2005-06.Maybe Ho-Sang is on to something. No doubt he's speaking from experience. After beginning last season with the AHL's Bridgeport Sound Tigers, Ho-Sang moved up to the Islanders, where he netted 10 points in 21 games.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.
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Detroit Red Wings forward and current restricted free agent Andreas Athanasiou is considering a one-year contract offer from a KHL team, his agent told Craig Custance of The Athletic.Athanasiou is the lone player on Detroit's ledger without a contract, and negotiations between he and the organization this summer have yet to lead anywhere productive.While considering leaving the NHL could simply be a move to apply pressure on general manager Ken Holland to get a deal done, losing Athanasiou would be a crucial loss to a Red Wings roster that lacks talent.Athanasiou, just 23, is one of Detroit's top young players, and in 64 games with the club last season, he recorded 18 goals and 11 assists despite playing just over 13 minutes per night.The situation further magnifies Detroit's cap problems, as the Red Wings are a projected $3.9 million over the limit, per CapFriendly. Even when Johan Franzen's cap hit is placed on LTIR, the club still has virtually no wiggle room without making a roster move.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.
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on (#300MN)
Harvard University forward Alexander Kerfoot has narrowed his list of potential suitors to five teams, reports TSN's Darren Dreger.His hometown Vancouver Canucks are believed to be among those clubs, as are the New York Rangers, San Jose Sharks, New York Islanders, and Colorado Avalanche, while as many as 10 teams showed interest in the center.Kerfoot was a fifth-round pick by the New Jersey Devils in 2012 but became a free agent last week after he failed to sign an entry-level contract.The 23-year-old completed his fourth season with Harvard last year, as he appeared in 36 games and netted 16 goals and 29 assists.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.
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The Edmonton Oilers have only taken the first step.And the team will need to continue its climb if it's to be considered a Stanley Cup contender, according to captain Connor McDavid."We know we have a good team. We showed that last year and it's up to us to re-establish ourselves," McDavid told Sportsnet's Shawn McKenzie. "Realistically, we still haven't done anything in the league."The Oilers qualified for the postseason last spring, their first appearance following a 10-year drought, an NHL futility record the franchise shares with the Florida Panthers.Edmonton punched its ticket to the playoffs following years of rebuilding, in which it won a series of lotteries between 2010 and 2012 to select Taylor Hall, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, and Nail Yakupov with three-straight first overall selections.McDavid evidently served as the last piece of the puzzle, added with the top pick in 2015 after more lottery luck boosted the Oilers to a familiar place - the top of the draft order.While McDavid made his NHL debut just four months later, his rookie campaign was cut short due to a collarbone injury, limiting him to 45 games and the Oilers to 70 points - the worst record in the Western Conference.But the team rebounded a big way last year, with the Oilers securing 103 points - their best season since 1986-87 - to finish second in the Pacific Division.Now, the Oilers are hungry for even more."We made the second round, that's great, but that's not what hockey is about," McDavid added. "It's about winning, and we have a long way to go to do that."Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.
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on (#3008Q)
If Shane Doan and Jarome Iginla want to sport the maple leaf at the Winter Olympics, they may first need to have their legs under them.That's the stance of Team Canada general manger Sean Burke, who on Tuesday stated he's looking for full buy-in from the players he picks to compete in Pyeongchang."We want to look at all possibilities, but there has to be a long-term plan because it's going to very intense and it's going to be great hockey and guys are going to have to have a plan for the year," Burke said on a Tuesday conference call, according to Jonas Siegel of The Canadian Press.Burke confirmed he has reached out to both Doan and Iginla, not only to gauge their Olympic interest, but to get a better idea of where each player stands for the coming season. Both Doan and Iginla are unrestricted free agents.With the NHL sitting out the 2018 Winter Olympics, Burke is left to build a roster consisting of minor-league pros, Canadians competing in European leagues, and, as is the case with Doan and Iginla, NHL players not currently under contract."We just played games in August and the pace of these games and the intensity was very good and that's going to increase as we move along," Burke added. "So anybody that's going to play on this team, no matter what their pedigree or what they've done in the past, we're going to consider."Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.
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on (#2ZZX0)
It's not the length of Jack Eichel's possible new contract that's holding up an agreement with the Buffalo Sabres. It's the money.Sabres general manager Jason Botterill confirmed Tuesday that both sides would like an eight-year deal, the maximum allowable under the NHL's CBA."We certainly want to get Jack signed up for the maximum amount of term possible," Botterill told reporters, via WROC's Dan Fetes. "(Eichel) has the same belief, and all of our discussions with him have been very positive about the contract, but also just about his season and preparation in general."In early August, the Sabres were reportedly negotiating an extension with the star forward for up to eight years in length.That report came just under a month after Connor McDavid signed an eight-year, $100-million extension with the Edmonton Oilers, and two weeks before the same Western Conference club inked Leon Draisaitl to an eight-year, $68-million pact."It's obviously a little bit of a new market this summer with some of the new contracts that have (been signed), but our discussions have been very positive," Botterill said."Discussions have been very amicable on both sides," he added. "I've done quite a few deals in the past with (Eichel's agency) and we have that relationship there, so we understand both sides' positions and (we'll) continue to work for an agreement."Eichel, who's entering the final year of his entry-level deal, led the Sabres last season with 57 points and ranked second on the club with 24 goals despite missing the first 21 games with an ankle injury.The 20-year-old was drafted second overall behind McDavid in 2015.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.
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on (#2ZZRP)
Thomas Vanek and Drew Stafford could both be on the verge of agreeing to new deals."Things have kind of heated up here in the last week or so," Steve Bartlett, who represents both free agents, told Andrew Peters and Craig Rivet on WGR 550 on Tuesday."I think we were kind of in the midsummer hibernation with some of the teams and now (as) they're starting to get closer to training camp, they look at where their holes may still be or where they're not sure about a young guy here or there," Bartlett added."I do feel optimistic that something will come through for both of these guys in the next week or two, and I think definitely the temperature has risen from teams around the league on both players."Vanek is arguably the second-best unrestricted free agent left on the market behind Jaromir Jagr. The 33-year-old notched 17 goals and 48 points in 68 games this past season - 48 contests of which came with the Detroit Red Wings before they dealt him to the Florida Panthers at the deadline.Stafford was limited to 58 games due to injury in 2016-17, and he split them between the Winnipeg Jets and the Boston Bruins, who acquired him on March 1, the same day Vanek was moved. Stafford collected only eight points in 18 regular-season games for the Bruins down the stretch, but he scored twice in six playoff contests.Both players spent parts of nine seasons with the Buffalo Sabres, playing together from 2006-07 to 2013-14.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.
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on (#2ZZHP)
Many hockey fans are disappointed that the NHL won't allow its players to compete at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang. Don Cherry is not one of them.The commentator and ex-coach joined Sportsnet's "Starting Lineup" radio show Tuesday, and threw in his two cents on the NHL's hotly debated decision to skip the Winter Games."The games are going to be at 3 o'clock in the morning," Cherry said. "Who the hell's going to watch hockey at 3 o'clock in the morning? Maybe the final game and that. I'm glad we're not going. And I'm glad I'm not going because I don't enjoy them at all."Who wants to go to North Korea or South Korea or wherever the hell it is?"Cherry's knowledge of geography may be spotty, but his thoughts on potential injuries to franchise players are less out of place."It's OK for people to say, 'Oh well, they should go over,'" said Cherry. "Sure. But what if (Carey) Price goes over and he gets hurt? The season's over for all those fans. What if (Sidney) Crosby goes over and he gets hurt?"Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.
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on (#2ZYSY)
Tampa Bay Lightning forward Ryan Callahan is fully healthy after missing 64 games last year and is excited about the prospect of a bounce-back season."I'm full go, right from day one," Callahan told Corey Long of NHL.com. "It's going to be nice to be able to do a hard training camp this year."Callahan missed training camp and the start of last season due to offseason hip surgery. He returned and played 18 games, only to undergo a second procedure in February to deal with a stitch from the previous surgery that had come out and was pulling on his femur.In his abbreviated campaign, Callahan picked up a measly four points."It goes without saying this is the most excited I've been in a long, long time going into a season after only playing 18 games last year and feeling the way I do now," he said.If Callahan is feeling like his old self again, it would go a long way in helping the Lightning return to the postseason. In his first season in Tampa, he scored 24 goals, added 30 assists, and was counted on to play crunch-time minutes as one of the league's most reliable defensive forwards - much like his time with the New York Rangers.However, over the last two seasons, he has totaled just 32 points in 91 games, bringing into question whether or not the 32-year-old - who carries an annual cap hit of $5.8 million over the next three years - can still be an effective player."I know there's chatter and people doubt me - if I can come back and what I'll be like when I come back," Callahan said. "I've always tried to use it as motivation. That's how they propelled me to the place I am right now in my career. I'm looking at this the same way. I'm excited to get going this year. I think it's going to be one of the best years I've ever had."Callahan wasn't the only member of the Lightning to miss significant time last season. Their top three centers - Steven Stamkos, Tyler Johnson, and Brayden Point - missed a combined 95 games. Nikita Kucherov, their leading scorer, missed eight games, and Ondrej Palat missed seven.Despite this adversity, the club fell short of the playoffs by just a single point."We have the talent in here, but now I think we have some of that hunger back," Callahan said. "Just talking to the guys in the room, we're all excited about what could be and to prove to everybody that last year was a fluke."Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.
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on (#2ZXBM)
Joshua Ho-Sang isn't at all worried about John Tavares' contract situation.The New York Islanders captain has yet to sign a contract extension since the window to do so opened July 1, and can become an unrestricted free agent next summer if an agreement isn't reached prior to that time. But as far as Ho-Sang is concerned, it's a personal decision that will be fully supported by those who know Tavares."I'll say it to anyone. If you care about John Tavares as a person, it doesn't really matter where he ends up," Ho-Sang said Monday at the BioSteel pro hockey camp, per Lance Hornby of the Toronto Sun."It's about his personal happiness and well-being. Whatever decision he makes is foregone and you have to be happy for him at the end of the day. He's definitely leaning towards New York, he's said it multiple times. But he still has a year, no rush."Speculation in regards to Tavares' future will run rampant until he decides one way or the other because the media wants him to sign with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Ho-Sang contends, according to NHL.com's Dave McCarthy.But in the end, the young forward - who's looking to make a full-time jump to the Islanders - expects a Steven Stamkos type of resolution, where Tavares ends up sticking with the only team he's ever played for.Ho-Sang added the situation won't affect Tavares' game in a negative way in the meantime."John's dealt with a lot his whole life, I don't think this is going to be anything to him really," he said. "If anything, I think he's going to score more."Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.
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on (#2ZX3D)
Light has been shed on Daniel Alfredsson's decision to leave the Ottawa Senators, a move that was announced seemingly out of nowhere back on July 1.The team's longtime captain disclosed he left his front-office job with the club "to be a stay-at-home dad for awhile," according to Ken Warren of the Ottawa Sun.He'll remain in the Ottawa area, but with a focus on becoming more involved in the lives of his four sons, specifically helping coach them in the game in which he made his name. Alfredsson added he's looking to renew a sense of stability after uprooting the family for his brief tenure with the Detroit Red Wings prior to retirement."We just bought a house and (there) is school and sports," he said. "We're not going anywhere for a lot of years, if ever."However, he's not closing the door on working at the NHL level again in the future."Who knows? If that opportunity would come back again, I would look at it very hard," he said. "It's what I know best. It's what I love, as well. I can see that in the future at some point. But when, I don't know."Over the past two seasons, Alfredsson worked closely with former general manager Bryan Murray, current GM Pierre Dorion, and assistant GM Randy Lee, learning the ins and outs of hockey operations.Alfredsson's No. 11 was retired by the Senators on Dec. 29, 2016.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.
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on (#2ZX3F)
Will Butcher is taking his time choosing his first NHL team.The free-agent defenseman will trim a list 12 interested teams to three or four, and plans on personally visiting the finalists, according to Kevin Allen of USA Today.The decision-making process could therefore take another week or so, Allen adds.The Vegas Golden Knights are believed to have made an "impressive" pitch, and it's been reported he also spoke with the New Jersey Devils and Buffalo Sabres.The reigning Hobey Baker Award winner as college hockey's top men's player chose not to sign his entry-level deal with the Colorado Avalanche, who drafted him 123rd overall in 2013. He became an unrestricted free agent on Aug. 16.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.
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on (#2ZX0P)
To the surprise of many, Ryan Reaves was at the center of one of the most talked about trades at the 2017 NHL Draft.The 30-year-old tough guy was traded by the St. Louis Blues - along with a 2017 second-round pick - for a 2017 first-round pick (No. 31, used to select forward Klim Kostin) and forward Oskar Sundqvist on June 23.Reaves initially didn't believe reports suggesting he was being traded for a first-round pick, thinking "obviously that's a bunch of garbage." But now that reality has set it, he's obviously a proud Penguin."I'm obviously very honored and humbled that a team that good and that's won the last two years wanted me on their team and traded for me," Reaves told Lou Korac of NHL.com. "I'm excited to do whatever they need me to do to help them win a third one."Sometimes you look at trades and sometimes it's dumping salary, sometimes it's just getting rid of a player. I think the feeling was however I can go in there and help, they wanted me that they traded for me. I don't think this is a getting-rid-of-me kind of move. It's something they thought they needed in their lineup and I'm excited to bring it."Reaves had been with St. Louis since being selected in the fifth round of the 2005 draft. He racked up 695 penalty minutes in 419 games with the Blues, along with 27 goals and 24 assists.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.
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on (#2ZX0R)
The thought of a more potent offensive attack makes Tyler Seguin a happy man.Seguin was one of few bright spots in a lost season for the Dallas Stars in 2016-17, recording 72 points in 82 games. However, the Stars made it their mission to improve this summer, and on paper, they did.First, Dallas replaced Lindy Ruff with Ken Hitchcock at the head coach position, and then improved player personnel in all areas of the ice by bringing in goaltender Ben Bishop, defenseman Marc Methot, and forwards Martin Hanzal and Alexander Radulov.Based on roster improvements, the Stars' outlook for next season is undoubtedly promising, and it was the signing of Radulov that put Seguin's excitement over the top."I was really happy to get a goalie and when we got Hanzal, I thought to myself, that's the forward we probably need and that's going to be huge, but when we topped it off with Radulov, it got me a little giddy. I was definitely excited to see that," Seguin told Dave McCarthy of NHL.com.Radulov bagged 54 points with the Montreal Canadiens in his return to the NHL last season, and Seguin is hoping to have the hulking power forward playing on his wing going forward."Obviously with him playing in the Eastern Conference, you don't see him too much. I'll be honest, I've looked at some YouTube clips and stuff and I can see how good a player he is," Seguin said. "He's so good on the puck, he's a good playmaker, and he's a guy who always has good puck possession numbers. You can see he controls the play so I'm looking forward to that."Fans of offense will surely look forward to that as well, but the rest of the Western Conference may reserve their excitement.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.
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on (#2ZWYG)
Roberto Luongo is ready to hit the ground running.The Florida Panthers goaltender is back on the ice preparing for a new season after missing the final six weeks of 2016-17 due to lingering hip issues, and is expected to be a full participant in training camp.The nagging injury stemmed from hip surgery in May of 2016, and Luongo partially blames the complications on not being as diligent in his off-ice physical therapy as he needed to be, according to George Richards of the Miami Herald.It's a misstep the 38-year-old doesn't plan on repeating."I'm going to come in earlier than everyone else every day," Luongo said."I have to stay on top of this, manage it," he continued. "It's going to be important for me to stay on top of it and sometimes last year, I was feeling good and wasn't on top of things as much as I should have been. That was a mistake on my part. After what I went through last year, I know I have to stay strong do the exercises to make sure the muscles around (the hip) are strong."Luongo further acknowledges the need to listen to his body, especially at this stage in his career."Last year those muscles started to weaken and everything started to tighten up. I want to make sure that doesn't happen again. I have to remember I'm not 25 anymore. Once I started feeling better, I thought I was good to go. I've never had an operation like that before. I acted like nothing was ever wrong. Again, a mistake."Luongo appeared in 40 games for the Panthers last season, posting a record of 17-15-6 with a .915 save percentage, numbers well off his capabilities, even at this stage in his career.James Reimer remains in the mix as a capable backup able to carry the load if and when need be, but for the Panthers to return to the postseason after missing in 2017, they'll need Luongo to be at the top of his game.This newfound commitment to taking care of himself should go a long way toward that end.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.
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on (#2ZWVZ)
The New York Rangers could potentially add another Harvard product to their roster this offseason, as the Blueshirts are one of the final teams that college free agent Alex Kerfoot is considering signing with, reports Larry Brooks of the New York Post.Last summer, the Rangers dipped into Harvard's hockey program and nabbed winger Jimmy Vesey, who recorded 27 points in his rookie campaign on Broadway.Kerfoot, a Hobey Baker nominee as a senior last season, recorded a team-high 45 points in 36 games. The 23-year-old center was originally drafted by the New Jersey Devils in the fifth round of the 2012 draft, but officially became a free agent earlier this month.The Rangers are well-suited to pursue the young pivot, as the club's center depth took a hit upon dealing Derek Stepan to the Arizona Coyotes in June. New York later signed David Desharnais to help fill the void down the middle, and Kerfoot could prove to be another cheap, low-risk option for general manager Jeff Gorton.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.
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on (#2ZWDW)
What's old is new again.The Anaheim Ducks signed defenseman Francois Beauchemin to a one-year deal, the club announced Monday.Beauchemin's contract has a base salary of $1 million, but the 37-year-old could earn an additional $500,000 in performance bonuses, according to TVA Sports' Renaud Lavoie.The veteran blue-liner was originally acquired by the Ducks in the 2005-06 season as a part of a midseason trade with the Columbus Blue Jackets. He won a Stanley Cup with Anaheim in 2007 before signing in Toronto as a free agent in 2009. His tenure in Toronto was short-lived, as he returned to Anaheim in 2010-11 and spent the last two seasons in Colorado.Joining one of the league's deepest blue lines, Beauchemin will likely find himself in a dog fight for playing time this season. Here is how the Ducks' defense projects:PairingLDRD1Cam FowlerSami Vatanen2Hampus LindholmJosh Manson3Brandon MontourKevin BieksaExtrasBeaucheminKorbinian HolzerBeauchemin recorded 18 points in 81 games with the Avalanche last season.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.
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on (#2ZWDY)
Monday's total solar eclipse is a big deal. Unless you're going city to city chasing these things down, chances are you will only see the moon completely cover the sun once in your lifetime - if at all.Hockey has it's own versions of total solar eclipses. If you've witnessed the following five things, consider yourself lucky, as there's a very good chance you'll never see them again.Wayne GretzkyThere will never be another Wayne Gretzky. Not just because of how skilled a player he was, or because so many of his records won't ever be touched, but no player will ever transcend the game the way The Great One did. Gretzky helped grow the game worldwide, but perhaps made his biggest impact in Los Angeles and the southern United States.A player as big, dominant as Zdeno CharaYou might think the 6-foot-9 Zdeno Chara - the tallest player in NHL history - is on this list because he's actually big enough to block the sun and create his own Zdeno Eclipse, but no. Will there ever be a player as tall as Big Z? Maybe. Will there be players more dominant? Certainly. But it's difficult to envision a player ever matching his combination of size and influence.Any 6-foot-9 players that come into the league will be hard-pressed to match Chara's skating ability - obviously crucial in today's NHL - for such a large human being.The 40-year-old has been remarkably durable throughout his 19-year career, while big men across all sports often find their bodies breaking down at a much younger age. He has logged 1,350 regular-season games and 147 playoff contests. He has done so with style, too, winning the Norris Trophy as the league's top D-man in 2008-09 and captaining the Bruins to a Stanley Cup in 2011.Teams averaging 4 goals per gameIn the 1981-82 season, teams averaged 4.01 goals per game - the sixth-highest total of all time. Much of the '80s was the same way. Many fans claim '80s hockey was the NHL at it's peak, and there is zero chance hockey will ever be this high-scoring again.No matter what the NHL does in the future in an effort to increase scoring, whether they make goalie equipment even smaller or make the nets bigger, the game is far too structured, goalies are too good, and there is too much player-wide parity across the league for games to become river hockey. Even if they went to 4-on-4 full time, coaches would figure out how to defend it.2 rookies recording 100 points in same seasonIn the 2005-06 season, an 18-year-old Sidney Crosby tallied 102 points, not be outdone by a 20-year-old Alex Ovechkin, who recorded 106 points and took home the Calder Trophy.Since then, no rookie has reached the century mark in a campaign. The likelihood of two rookies doing so again is virtually nil. Not only are Crosby and Ovechkin generational talents, but their point totals were aided by the high-scoring first season in the post-lockout era. All the new rules led to a league-record 5.85 power-play opportunities per game by team.The rookie class of 2016-17 is regarded as one of the best ever, and not a single player even sniffed 100 points.A player racking up 300 PIMs in 1 seasonAs recently as the early 2000s, it was routine for a player to register 300 PIMs in a season. The most recent member of the 300-PIM club was Zenon Konopka back in 2010-11. He will undoubtedly be the last.Enforcers are few and far between in today's NHL. Teams value players with skill on their fourth lines. Once every player is wearing a visor, it will be difficult to imagine a player recording 200 PIMs, let alone 300.(Photos courtesy: Action Images)Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.
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