In an effort to add some depth on their back end, the Florida Panthers will have veteran KHL defenseman Nikolai Belov at their upcoming training camp on a tryout basis, according to George Richards of the Miami Herald.Belov stands at 6-foot-3 and weighs 194 pounds. He's never played in the NHL - or any North American league - but has spent the last 10 seasons playing in the KHL.The 30-year-old is coming off the best offensive season of his career with Chelyabinsk Traktor, as he recorded eight goals and 15 points in 59 games.Florida's top six defensemen seem to be set in stone, but it's not beyond the realm of possibility that Belov cracks the opening-day roster as the team's seventh D-man.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Gnash never seems to pass up an opportunity to take a shot at the Chicago Blackhawks.The Nashville Predators' mascot was at it again Sunday afternoon.

Let's get one thing straight: Eating anything out of the Stanley Cup is awesome. And when you bust out the Parmigiano-Reggiano, things get a little extra special.Such was the case for former Pittsburgh Penguins forward Nick Bonino, as the veteran recently got his day with the Cup. Bonino took the opportunity to load Lord Stanley's mug with parm-covered pasta as he enjoyed some of his mother's home cooking.

Los Angeles Kings goaltending prospect Calvin Petersen may not see a ton of action in the NHL next season, but that's not stopping him from throwing a little shoutout to the 6 God.Petersen posted pictures of his new mask to Twitter on Sunday, with a clear shot of rapper Drake's famous owl logo emblazoned on the back.

Before the start of the 2017 Stanley Cup Playoffs, the NHL gave the green light for teams across the league to begin using the iBench video system - a decision Pittsburgh Penguins head coach Mike Sullivan said aided his team in its latest championship run.Using iPads, the iBench system lets coaches show their players video footage during the game, allowing them to quickly adapt and adjust tactics.Such was the case for Sullivan and his staff during Pittsburgh's second consecutive Stanley Cup victory this spring. "The main areas where we probably gained the most use out of it was special teams, because you get immediate feedback,” he said, according to Fluto Shinzawa of the Boston Globe."You can make subtle adjustments on the fly. In the playoffs, you might only get two power plays a game. So if you have the ability to make an adjustment that might lead to an opportunity to score or generate a scoring chance, that could be the difference between winning and losing."While Sullivan has embraced the tablet technology, he's also a traditionalist who looks to strike the right balance between new-school and old-school approaches to the sport."There’s always going to be that fine line between analysis and emotion and instinct. That’s our game," Sullivan added."For me, the game is rooted in emotion and instinct. As a coaching staff, we don’t want to get in the way of that. My antennas are always up, because I want to make sure that doesn’t happen. Having said that, the feedback and the ability to make adjustments on the fly is really important."With tablets in tow, the Penguins will be looking to become the first three-peat champions since the 1982 New York Islanders.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

One NHL player's canine companion appears set on paw-patrolling the blue line.Anaheim Ducks defenseman Hampus Lindholm shared an adorable picture of his puppy sitting in a skate Saturday.

The Avalanche are growing hockey in Colorado.According to Mike Chambers of The Denver Post, the Avalanche will have their AHL squad in nearby Loveland, Colo. for the 2018-19 season.The market is currently served by the ECHL's Colorado Eagles, which will shift to the American Hockey League next season to partner with the Avalanche.The Eagles play out of the Budweiser Events Center, about 50 miles north of Denver. Founded in 2003, the Eagles were previously part of the former Central Hockey League but transferred to the ECHL in 2011.Their addition to the AHL will bring the league to 31 teams, matching the NHL after its expansion to Las Vegas.An official announcement is expected in September.The Avalanche are currently affiliated with the AHL's San Antonio Rampage, which will partner with the St. Louis Blues beginning in 2018-19, according to Jeremy Rutherford of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.The Blues are without their own minor-league team this season, and will share the Chicago Wolves with the incoming Vegas Golden Knights.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Mikko Koivu had plenty to say about the fatal stabbings that took place in his hometown of Turku, Finland."Friday's events in Turku were shocking," the Minnesota Wild captain said in a statement issued by the club Saturday. "This is my home and I have so much love for this community. My thoughts are with my fellow residents of Turku and all the people of Finland. Mostly, I am thinking of the people who died and were injured, and am sending my support to their families and friends."Police stopped the suspect by shooting him in the thigh, but not before two people died and nine were stabbed in an attack that targeted women, according to The Associated Press.Koivu said he and his family weren't harmed."I am extremely thankful to say my wife and children, our extended families, and those closest to us are all safe," he continued. "Like our fellow Finnish countrymen and women, we are extremely grateful for the quick actions of the police, emergency services and other first responders."The Finnish Security Intelligence Service is treating the incident as a likely terrorist act.Koivu said he was touched by the outpouring of support since Friday's deadly attack."I am moved at how many people have sent their support to the city of Turku and the country of Finland," he added. "I know my fellow countrymen and women will use the upcoming days as a chance to cherish those closest to us, and to be thankful for our great country."Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Leave it to a team owned by a petrochemical company to provide some nightmare fuel.The KHL's HC Neftekhimik revealed a terrifying new mascot Saturday while unveiling its new wolf-themed uniforms.Here's a look at the frightening new character, as seen in a video released by the club of the ceremony:Here it is sharing a moment with the team's previous mascot:And here are a couple more mildly disturbing screenshots:Neftekhimik fans can seek sympathy from supporters of the Edmonton Oilers, whose club was roasted last September after introducing Hunter the lynx.Watch the full video of the Neftekhimik unveiling here:Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Extra games on the calendar left Jori Lehtera playing on fumes.The veteran forward, who was traded to the Philadelphia Flyers from the St. Louis Blues at this year's entry draft, believes a busier than usual schedule last season contributed to his dip in production."It was different than before. It made it a little bit harder," Lehtera told Jeremy Rutherford of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. "We started to skate so early, so I was kind of out of gas the second half."In 64 games with the Blues last season, Lehtera put up just 22 points, down from 34 and 44 points in his past two campaigns.The Finnish forward, who made his NHL debut with the Blues in 2014-15, was called upon by his home nation to skate in last year's World Cup, a tournament in which his country finished dead last and Lehtera was held pointless in three contests.That inability to score carried over to the regular season, and the Blues, surely unhappy that Lehtera wasn't living up to his $4.7-million cap hit, shipped him to Philadelphia in the deal that brought Brayden Schenn to St. Louis.Still, Lehtera is happy to get a fresh start with the Flyers."It's always tough to leave when you know all of the guys and the city," Lehtera added. "But hockey-wise, it's going to be good for me. I didn't play well at the end, but I think a new start will be really good for me."Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Josh Leivo isn't going anywhere.That much was evident when the Toronto Maple Leafs protected the winger ahead of the expansion draft, leaving fellow frontman Brendan Leipsic free for the taking by the Vegas Golden Knights.And while a move to Sin City would have offered a fresh start for Leivo, he's excited to remain with the club that originally drafted him six years ago.That enthusiasm was shared by Maple Leafs coach Mike Babcock, whose message to Leivo in the team's year-end meetings in April was an early reveal to Leivo that he'd be sticking around in Toronto."You didn't know what was going to happen at the time, but when they informed me they wanted to keep me, it was wonderful to hear," Leivo told Lance Hornby of the Toronto Sun. "They wanted to develop me and keep me on the roster. I'm very excited they gave me that opportunity. I just want to go out this year and prove myself to them."A series of unfortunate injuries limited Leivo's appearances last season, as did a bout of healthy scratches courtesy of Babcock. All in all, Leivo wrapped the year with 13 games with the Maple Leafs, in which he compiled an impressive 10 points. He also skated in five games with the AHL's Marlies.Where he fits on Toronto's roster going forward, particularly one already crowded with young talent, remains to be seen. The 24-year-old also understands that it could be now or never to get his NHL career on track, and he's thrilled to have the chance to make his mark with the Maple Leafs."As you get older, you realize what's at stake and you want to make the most of the chance," Leivo added. "We have a group who built a lot of chemistry last year. Even when I wasn't playing, they were still great to me and when I got in, I felt like I hadn't missed a game. Hopefully this season is even better."Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Will Butcher could be the next star to take his show to Sin City.The University of Denver defenseman, who became an unrestricted free agent Wednesday, held a teleconference with the Vegas Golden Knights this week and, according to his agent, came away impressed with what the expansion franchise has to offer."The conversation went well," Butcher's agent, Brian Bartlett, told Ben Gotz of the Las Vegas Review-Journal. "The management was well prepared and painted an impressive picture of their plan and how a player like Will would fit into that."The reigning Hobey Baker Award winner, Butcher impressed with Denver last season as he netted 37 points in 43 games. Interest in his services grew as he captained Denver to its first national championship since 2005.Butcher was originally drafted by the Colorado Avalanche in 2013, but did not sign an entry-level deal. Bartlett stated in July: "We appreciate what Colorado has done, and we're not ruling out the Avalanche as a potential destination. But we just feel there will be other opportunities that should be explored too, and therefore we're going (to free agency)."As for the Golden Knights, they aren't the only team showing interest in Butcher, who has reportedly heard from the Buffalo Sabres and New Jersey Devils. He's also expected to receive a pitch from the back-to-back Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Remember what you were doing at 20 years old? Well, for most of us, it was spent working part-time jobs, partying late with friends, and figuring out when we could borrow the car from Dad next.However, for Boston Bruins winger David Pastrnak, it was spent wreaking havoc on opposing NHL defenseman. The now 21-year-old winger had a career year in 2016-17, finishing second on the Bruins in scoring while putting the league on notice that he was indeed for real.Fast forward to today, and Pastrnak is still a restricted free agent. Unlike many of his young peers, such as Leon Draisaitl, Ryan Johansen, and Evgeny Kuznetsov, Pastrnak remains without a new contract for next season.And, despite his All-Star-caliber campaign and seemingly limitless offensive potential, the young Czech and the Bruins seem no closer to agreeing on a deal than they did when the season ended in May.But, why the hold up?Here's a look into why inking Pastrnak long term should be a no-brainer for the Bruins:He's worth the high price tagIn a short period of time, Pastrnak has proven that he can score with the best of them, and he's only just starting to scratch the surface of his potential.Across 75 regular-season games last campaign, Pastrnak tallied 34 goals and 36 assists while playing on the Bruins' top line and No. 1 power-play unit.The former first-round draft pick has also produced effectively when compared to others from his 2014 draft class.Of the 24 players taken ahead of him at 25th overall, only one player has registered more points than Pastrnak's 123. Oh, and that guy (Draisaitl) just got paid $68 million across eight years.Related: Oilers sign Draisaitl to 8-year, $68M extensionObviously, paying a player with less than three full seasons in the NHL under his belt is a risk, but, considering Pastrnak's caliber and talent, it's one the Bruins should be more than willing to take.His offense is irreplaceable Pastrnak's value in Boston increases exponentially when he's compared to the rest of the Bruins' forward group. After Brad Marchand, the B's lack the elite scoring punch needed to take them over the top and back into Cup contention.No disrespect to two quality NHLers in Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci, but, after Marchand and Pastrnak, the drop-off in offensive potency is steep.During the 2016-17 campaign, Pastrnak and Marchand formed a formidable duo on the Bruins' top line, combining to score an impressive 73 goals - good enough for 31 percent of the Bruins' total goal output.Boston finished last season with a respectable 232 goals scored, 13th most in the league. But, subtract Pastrnak's 34-goal total, and the Bruins' offensive output plummets to the bottom third of the NHL.He can play both wings, log big minutes (averaging 17:59 last year), and produce in the clutch - his six game-winning goals tied him with Evgeni Malkin and Connor McDavid for sixth most in the league.Pastrnak's versatility and importance to Boston's offense make him an indispensable part of the Bruins' future and the team needs to lock him down for years to come.The Bruins can afford it With nearly 33 percent of their payroll committed to Krejci, Bergeron, and Marchand, Boston already has a sizable chunk of change earmarked for its forward group.However, according to Cap Friendly, the B's currently have just over $10.1 million in available cap space for next season. So, in short, they can afford to give Pastrnak the money he's looking for.It's been rumored that the talented winger declined the Bruins' initial offer of six years at $6 million per season, but, after seeing what Draisaitl and Johansen were paid, it's understandable if Pastrnak feels that he's worth more than what Boston is currently willing to pay him.General manager Don Sweeney would be wise to pay the man his money.(Photos courtesy: Action Images)Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Calgary Flames believe they can be part of the century club.That's the goal for second-year head coach Glen Gulutzan, who in speaking with Wes Gilbertson of the Calgary Sun was clear in setting this season's benchmark: 100 points."We weren't a 5-10-1 team to start last year, and we weren't a 16-5 team to end. We finished with 94 points," Gulutzan said. "I think, realistically, we can do better than that. But to make a jump from 77 to 94 to 118 isn't realistic. So we have to manage that expectation. Our goal is we think we could be a 100-point club."As Gulutzan alludes, while the Flames saw a slow start to last season, they were one of the hottest teams through the stretch drive, only to flicker out in a four-game playoff exit to the Anaheim Ducks.That led to some offseason tweaks, particularly in goal, where the Flames swapped out Brian Elliott and Chad Johnson for new recruits Mike Smith and Eddie Lack.Gulutzan believes the two new goaltenders will be big factors in Calgary's climb up the standings."The thing that gives me the most optimism is the way we've solidified our defensive core, along with our goaltending," Gulutzan added. "I like the tandem that we have, the size of the goalies and their character and their play."Should the Flames crack the 100-point barrier, it will be their first time doing so since 2005-06, and just the second in more than 25 seasons.The drive to the century mark begins Oct. 4, when the first two points will be up for grabs against the rival Edmonton Oilers.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It's time to pay Jack Eichel what he's worth.The Buffalo Sabres sniper's camp has reportedly been negotiating an eight-year contract extension for weeks, but the two sides appear hung up on the dollar amount.Eichel, who has one more season left on his entry-level deal, is rumored to be seeking $10 million annually on a potential extension, but the club is believed to be reluctant to go that high, according to The Buffalo News' Mike Harrington.The 20-year-old forward led Buffalo with 57 points and ranked second on the Sabres with 24 goals despite missing 21 games due to injury.He finished 11th in the NHL among qualified players with 0.9344 points per game, just barely missing out on a $2-million bonus for ending up in the top 10, because Leon Draisaitl of the Edmonton Oilers wrapped up the regular season at 0.939.Eichel matched the goal total he posted in his rookie season and exceeded his point total from that 2015-16 campaign by one despite being limited to 20 fewer games.That he was able to improve his rate of point production by more than 33 percent in an injury-plagued campaign provides quantitative evidence of his year-to-year improvement, and it's hard to imagine he'll regress considering the tools he possesses that justified his selection as the second overall pick behind Connor McDavid in 2015.Eichel's negotiations have no doubt been influenced by McDavid's eight-year, $100-million extension and the eight-year, $68-million deal Draisaitl agreed to earlier this week. He doesn't deserve the $12.5 million McDavid will earn annually, but it makes sense to pay Eichel a number that slots in somewhere between the two Oilers stars.The fact that Draisaitl agreed to take a team-friendly $8.5 million per campaign could work against Eichel in his contract talks considering their comparable point production, but it shouldn't.Draisaitl collected many of those points while playing with McDavid, who won the Art Ross Trophy with 100 points in the regular season and took home the Hart Trophy as the league's MVP.Giving Eichel upwards of $10 million per year would put him in rarefied air. A $10.5-million annual amount would match what the Chicago Blackhawks are paying Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews against the cap on their respective deals, and it would exceed Alex Ovechkin's cap hit.But those contracts were signed years ago, the market has evolved since then, and Eichel is a star in the making whose name will soon be mentioned among the very best active players in the game if he continues to improve.He has less than two full seasons under his belt at the NHL level, but neither his injury nor his relative inexperience should prevent him from truly cashing in.It's understandable that the Sabres would be hesitant about giving Eichel $10 million every season until 2026, but we're at the point now where the two sides could be as close as $1 million apart on the annual figure, and they could be even closer.While there's no huge rush to get a deal done, both sides would clearly like to avoid having talks stretch into the fall.Is it really worth creating a potential in-season distraction when you're as close as you appear to be to locking up your franchise player for the majority of his prime years?If the Sabres are indeed concerned about paying Eichel double digits on a per-season basis, they should get creative with the year-by-year breakdown and front-load it to give themselves flexibility in the future.An extra million dollars per season won't do much to hamper their cap situation in the grand scheme of things, anyway, and conceding would create some added goodwill between the franchise and Eichel after a season full of reported frustration for the budding superstar.The Sabres should offer him an eight-year, $80-million extension and shouldn't hesitate to do it any longer.(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Craig Cunningham will have his No. 14 retired by the Tuscon Roadrunners prior to an Oct. 27 contest against the Iowa Wild this season, nearly one year after an on-ice emergency ended the former captain of the team's playing days.Cunningham appeared in 11 games with the Roadrunners last season. However, prior to a Nov. 19, 2016 contest against the Manitoba Moose, he suffered acute cardiac arrest and collapsed on the ice.Cunningham was rushed to an area hospital where he was provided with life-saving care. He awoke from a coma nine days later when surgery was performed to amputate part of his foot as a result of the medical emergency.Cunningham, 26, has since been named as a professional scout with the Arizona Coyotes, the parent club of the Roadrunners.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

A homecoming could be in the cards for Alexander Kerfoot.The Harvard University center became an unrestricted free agent Wednesday, and one of his first meetings took place with his hometown Canucks, as he sat down with general manager Jim Benning, hockey operations president Trevor Linden, and new coach Travis Green.Kerfoot has the opportunity to join a team of his choosing after he failed to sign an entry-level deal with the New Jersey Devils, which drafted him 150th overall in 2012. And while Wednesday's meet and greet didn't end with a contract, Kerfoot's agent J.P. Barry classified the talks as "productive and informative," per Rick Dhaliwal of NEWS 1130 Sports.A finalist for the Hobey Baker Award, presented to the NCAA's top player, Kerfoot tallied 45 points in 36 games with Harvard last season. He wrapped his four-year collegiate career just above a point-per-game pace, as he registered 123 points in 121 contests.Prior to reaching free agency, Devils GM Ray Shero made a late attempt to put pen to paper with Kerfoot, stating in July, "Would love to have him. I think what we're doing, he'd fit in the way he'd play. The speed he brings, the hockey sense, would love to have him. But I don't control that. He does."Joining Vancouver's hockey scene wouldn't be a first for Kerfoot. Prior to committing to Harvard, he spent three seasons with the BCHL's Coquitlam Express.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Jack Eichel likes life in Buffalo.The Sabres center, who could enter the coming campaign on the final year of his entry-level contract, is negotiating a long-term extension with the club, which he hopes covers a championship for the city."I've made it clear that I want to be a Sabre. I want to be in Buffalo when we start winning. I want to reward the city," the North Chelmsford, Mass., native told Barry Scanlon from the Lowell Sun. "It's been two great years. I don't want to go anywhere else."The Sabres drafted Eichel second overall in 2015, one slot behind Connor McDavid. The Edmonton Oilers captain, coming off a season in which he won the Art Ross and Hart Memorial trophies, agreed to an eight-year, $100-million extension this offseason, a deal which could be used as a comparison for Eichel.So too could that of McDavid's teammate, Leon Draisaitl, who on Wednesday inked a $68-million extension that will him keep in Edmonton through 2025."We're in the midst of it. It's between my agent and (Sabres general manager) Mr. (Jason) Botterill," Eichel said. "I'm just going to work hard this summer. All of that tends to take care of itself. Obviously the contract is important. But for me it's all about the play."Eichel, whose season was delayed last year due to a high ankle sprain, appeared in 61 games with the Sabres in 2016-17, recording 24 goals and 33 assists.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

While the players have been the centerpieces of the NHL's offseason movement, management teams deserve their due.General managers have flexed their muscles this summer largely during the free agency period, using their wit to lure new fish to their rosters, while also locking up homegrown talent.Here are five of the offseason's best signings:5. Scott Hartnell - Predators(Photo courtesy: Getty Images)Hartnell has gone from buyout dud to potential offseason stud.At the conclusion of the 2017 season, the Columbus Blue Jackets bought out the final two years of Hartnell's six-year, $28.5-million contract - which held an annual cap hit of $4.75 million.Following the buyout, the Nashville Predators swooped in and signed the 35-year-old to a risk-free, one-year, $1-million deal.Hartnell had a down year in 2017, tallying 13 goals and 37 points in 78 games, but he played just an average of 12:03 per game. In the three years prior, Hartnell averaged 23 goals and 53 points, but averaged 16:25 per night.Hartnell's best days are surely behind him, but he can still produce if given an opportunity, and Nashville might just be able to provide him with that.4. Kevin Shattenkirk - RangersShattenkirk was the biggest fish to be had in free agency, and in the end he went where he wanted at solid value.After stating his desire to play in the New York area, the Rangers inked the 28-year-old to a four-year, $26.6-million deal - an annual average of $6.65 million. Surprisingly, the Rangers didn't have to aggressively overpay for the offensive rearguard and also weren't swayed into giving him an excessively long-term deal.Shattenkirk has 189 points over the last four seasons, good enough for 11th among defenders, while 104 of those points came on the power play, ranking second only to Erik Karlsson.He's a great grab by the Rangers.3. Tanner Pearson - Kings(Photo courtesy: Action Images)This offseason, the Los Angeles Kings made sure to lockup two future stars in Tyler Toffoli and Pearson.The club did well to get both on potential bargain deals, especially Pearson on a four-year deal with an annual average of $3.75 million.Last season, the 25-year-old scored a career-high 24 goals, finishing behind only Jeff Carter for the Kings' lead. The two were the only Kings players to hit the 20-goal mark in 2016-17.Pearson is still getting the hang of the NHL, but he looks to be a vital building block for the Kings, so getting him on a budget is a huge gain for the club.2. Viktor Arvidsson - PredatorsAfter Arvidsson's breakout season last year, the Predators took an interesting gamble with the 24-year-old winger.They avoided a bridge deal, electing to sign Arvidsson to a seven-year, $29.75-million contract. The deal is risky given the term and the fact that Arvidsson appears to have come into his own only last season, pacing the team with 31 goals and sharing the lead in points with Ryan Johansen (61).That said, if it was just a sign of what's to come for Arvidsson, locking him up long term at a $4.25-million cap hit is masterful work by GM David Poile.1. Conor Sheary - Penguins(Photo courtesy: Action Images)In Sheary's short time with the Pittsburgh Penguins, he's become an integral part of the team.The 25-year-old has found a home on Sidney Crosby's wing, where his talent has become evident. Sheary played his first full season in 2017 and, despite being limited to 61 games, still managed 23 goals and 53 points.In fact, he boasted a higher points per game average than John Tavares, Phil Kessel, Auston Matthews, and Johnny Gaudreau, just to name a few. Despite that, the Penguins were able to ink the restricted free agent to a three-year, $9-million deal.If he can continue to develop and produce as he has, this contract could become one of the NHL's best bargains.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

A team name contest for a pending East Coast Hockey League franchise has turned up quite an entry.Beginning in fall 2018, Portland will join the ECHL, but first it needs a name. Comcast Spectacor opened a "name the team" contest in July and on Thursday the final five nominees were announced. For better or worse, one entry has garnered more attention than the others.The final five nominees are: the Mariners, the Watchmen, the Lumberjacks, the Puffins, and the Wild Blueberries.As bizarre or awesome as Wild Blueberries might sound, blueberries are the official berry of Maine, as the state produces 10 percent of all blueberries in North America, according to the club.Fans can vote between the final five nominees at PortlandMaineHockey.com.- With h/t to Puck DaddyCopyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Where oh where will Matt Duchene ever end up?The Colorado Avalanche forward has been at the center of trade talks for what seems like an eternity in hockey circles, but after surviving the trade deadline and the initial rush of summer madness, Duchene is inching toward another training camp in Denver - a scenario general manager Joe Sakic is content with."I will be listening to offers. Right now it's quiet on all fronts," Sakic told Mike Chambers of The Denver Post. "But I'll listen to offers on how we can get better. I'll never name names but I'll sit there and if something makes sense for the way we want to go, with our team, we'll really look at that."The Avalanche posted a dreadful 48-point campaign in 2016-17, and because of their futility, it was expected Duchene would be the first cast off to ignite an organizational rebuild. It's yet to happen, and it appears Sakic will maintain his patient approach to maximize the potential return for the 26-year-old sniper.Since registering a career-high 70 points in 2013-14, Duchene hasn't matched that level of productivity, and only mustered 18 goals and 23 assists a season ago. Still, he remains an incredibly talented, affordable player, and if the Avalanche are - somehow - unable to significantly improve on one of the worst seasons in NHL history, his name will only continue to be brought up in trade rumors.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Zemgus Girgensons is staying in Buffalo.The Sabres signed the Latvian forward to a two-year contract worth $1.6 million per season Thursday.Girgensons collected only 16 points in 75 games in 2016-17, his fourth campaign with the Sabres, who selected him 14th overall in 2012.The 23-year-old is coming off a one-year, $1.15-million extension he signed before last season.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New Jersey Devils center Travis Zajac will be out four-to-six months after undergoing surgery to repair a torn pectoral muscle, general manager Ray Shero announced Thursday.Zajac was injured while training, and at best, will be able to return to the lineup in December.The news surely damages the Devils' depth chart, as he's a serviceable center that can be deployed in all situations. The 32-year-old suited up in 80 games last season, and recorded 45 points - his highest total since 2013-14.After landing No. 1 overall pick Nico Hischier, trading for Marcus Johansson, and signing Brian Boyle, New Jersey was expected to make positive strides in the stacked Metropolitan division in 2017-18, but losing Zajac may delay the process.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Few positions in pro hockey are as hotly debated as goaltending, and for good reason - starting netminders can make or break a team's season in a matter of weeks.Before the latter situation comes to fruition, though, 'tenders usually lose their starting duties to a goalie who's been deemed more capable of getting the job done.Here are three goalies who will be on a short leash come October.Connor Hellebuyck - Winnipeg JetsWhen the Jets signed Hellebuyck to a one-year, $2.25-million contract in July, it signified their willingness to give the 24-year-old one more shot at being the Jets' No. 1 goalie.It also indicated Hellebuyck's margin for error is razor thin, as the club was clearly unwilling to commit to the unproven netminder long term.His leash is especially short due to his poor numbers and performance last season. In 56 appearances for Paul Maurice's club - 53 of them starts - Hellebuyck recorded a .907 save percentage and a 2.89 goals-against average while struggling to maintain his hold on the No. 1 gig.Former third-round pick and backup Michael Hutchinson was given ample opportunity to steal the crease, and showed flashes of bona-fide starter ability. But he also struggled to find consistency, going 8-9-0 across 20 starts.Despite Hutchinson's lackluster performance, the cloud of doubt over Hellebuyck grows with each passing Maurice tirade.Don't forget, the Jets signed Steve Mason for a reason.Brian Elliott - Philadelphia FlyersThe Flyers need a goaltender. No, this isn't a broken record, merely a recurring problem that's plagued them since Ron Hextall retired in 1999.Instead of simplifying things in the blue paint, the Flyers complicated their mess by adding Elliott, an aging puck-stopper who's yet to top 30 wins in his NHL career.Last season, Elliott had a decent showing during his first (and only) year with the Calgary Flames, starting 45 games and registering a 26-18-3 record. However, Philly doesn't boast the same crop of defensive-minded blue-liners that Calgary does, meaning Elliott will face a whole lot of rubber - the Flyers allowed the 12th-most total goals in the NHL last year.All due respect to a veteran who's made 300-plus NHL starts, but Elliott is far from the answer the Flyers are looking for. With capable backup Michal Neuvirth and rookie Anthony Stolarz breathing down his neck, Elliott's leash is sure to be short.Robin Lehner - Buffalo SabresLehner is easily the most talented goalie on this list, but he'll still ride the pine if he struggles to start the season.When healthy, Lehner's shown he can be the No. 1 guy. During the last two campaigns for the Sabres, he's posted solid numbers despite playing on a club that's toiled near the bottom of the standings.A .921 save percentage and 2.63 goals-against average should be enough to earn him day-to-day starting duties, but Buffalo's quality backup options threaten his job security.Linus Ullmark and Chad Johnson both have the pedigree and talent to fill in should Lehner fail to stop pucks, especially Ullmark, a former goalie of the year in the Swedish Elite League.Johnson, meanwhile, proved last campaign that he has what it takes to hang as a starting netminder. Across 36 starts for the Flames, Johnson performed admirably, earning a record of 18-15-1 to go along with a 2.59 goals-against average, .910 save percentage, and three shutouts.Lehner needs a hot start - unless he wants to spend some time in Phil Housley's doghouse.(Photos courtesy: Action Images)Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The trio of major professional sports teams in Tampa Bay are banding together to take a stand against oppression.In a statement released by the Buccaneers, Rays, and Lightning on Thursday afternoon, the clubs announced a joint initiative to dedicate funds to assist in the removal of a Confederate monument from a public space outside of the Tampa courthouse.

Newly re-signed Minnesota Wild forward Mikael Granlund recently suffered a rolled ankle while on a run in his native Finland, and will be unable to engage in offseason training for two weeks, a source told Michael Russo of the Star Tribune.Granlund inked a three-year, $17.25-million extension at the beginning of the month, and is coming off a season in which he led the Wild in scoring with 69 points.If Granlund's injury affects his ability to be ready for training camp in September, the start to Minnesota's season could look a lot different.The Wild kick off their 2017-18 schedule Oct. 5 with a visit to the Motor City to take on the Red Wings.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The signings of Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl made a statement to front offices around the NHL: Get your pocketbooks ready.Related: Oilers sign Draisaitl to 8-year, $68M extensionThis summer, the Edmonton Oilers committed to dishing out $168 million to lock down their two franchise players for the foreseeable future.Regardless of the price tags, inking two forwards of Draisaitl's and McDavid's caliber is a huge win for Edmonton and general manager Peter Chiarelli - one that also has major implications for the rest of the league.Related: Oilers sign McDavid to 8-year extension worth $100MThe Oilers' young guns are among several high-flying duos making a mark on today's NHL, and their respective high-priced contracts will impact future deals for other up-and-coming players.Here's a look at four star pairings who could get paid in similar fashion by their clubs.Winnipeg Jets - Patrik Laine & Nikolaj EhlersWith an elite sniper like Laine, it's easy to understand how some people can forget about Ehlers.But the former ninth overall pick is no slouch, notching 25 goals and 39 assists in his first full season with the Jets (his 2015-16 campaign was cut short by injury).Combined, Laine and Ehlers racked up 61 goals while playing important roles on the Jets' top power-play unit. Along with Mark Scheifele, Ehlers and Laine form a potent scoring attack few teams in the NHL can rival.Both wingers are still on their entry-level contracts, so expect Jets GM Kevin Cheveldayoff to have that Brink's truck on speed dial. Laine and Ehlers are worth the price of admission and deserve to get paid for it.Columbus Blue Jackets - Zach Werenski & Alexander Wennberg(Photo courtesy: Action Images)The Blue Jackets were handily dealt with by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the first round of this year's playoffs. However, due to guys like Wennberg and Werenski, first-round exits won't be a common trend.Wennberg may be the lesser-known name, but the former first-round pick has increased his point total by nearly 20 in each season following his rookie campaign.Werenski, on the other hand, has received plenty of praise for last season's performance. He finished with 47 points and a plus-17 rating while logging 20:55 of ice time per game.If not for a few other stud rookies on this list, those numbers would have earned Werenski the 2016-17 Calder Trophy. There's no need to stress over it, though, as he - and Wennberg - should be earning cash hand over fist in the very near future.Toronto Maple Leafs - Auston Matthews & William Nylander In a short span, the Maple Leafs have gone from pretenders to contenders, and a lot of that has to do with the play of two rookies that are set for major paydays.(Photo courtesy: Action Images)Matthews' quality and worth is obvious. He has elite scoring ability and a well-rounded, two-way game that seemingly gets more effective with every shift. Meanwhile, Nylander combines silky-smooth passing ability with a nose for the net, and managed to total 61 points last season.Nylander comes off his entry-level deal at the end of the 2017-18 campaign, while Matthews has two years remaining on his rookie contract.Both forwards are crucial to the future success of the Leafs and will be compensated as such.Carolina Hurricanes - Sebastian Aho & Jeff Skinner Aho finished last season with the fourth-most points by a rookie and Skinner buried 37 goals - good enough for sixth-best in the league.This criminally underrated and offensively dangerous duo will be counted on to bring the Hurricanes back to the playoffs for the first time since 2009.(Photo courtesy: Getty Images)Skinner's already attached to a substantial cap hit of $5.725 million, but that number seems low considering his age (25) and ability to rack up goals.Much like the Leafs, Carolina is no longer a pushover thanks in large part to the club's solid young core. As the Hurricanes' place in the standings rises, look for their payroll to climb along with it.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

While Oliver Ekman-Larsson has long been a leader for the Arizona Coyotes, this season his jersey might finally reflect that.The club is reportedly set to hand the "C" to Ekman-Larsson - now that Shane Doan won't be back - and for the 26-year-old, it's a privilege he never envisioned, but one he certainly welcomes."That would be a huge honor," Ekman-Larsson said, according to NHL.com's Tim Campbell. "I didn't dream of that when I was a kid. It was a long, long way from that. It would be unbelievable."Giving Ekman-Larsson the captaincy is part of club's offseason shift to attempt to rise from the depths of the Western Conference.The club added Derek Stepan and Antti Raanta, but Ekman-Larsson admits the move he's most excited about is the addition of defenseman Niklas Hjalmarsson, who's expected to be his new defense partner."Bringing Hjalmarsson, I think that's a really good pickup by us," Ekman-Larsson said. "He can help our young team to really get better and to just see and be around a guy like that … I know from playing with him (on the Swedish national team), we can learn a lot. He knows what it takes to win."He's super easy to play with. He talks a lot and he's a good skater and moves the puck. I would say he's underrated."The Coyotes finished with the West 's third-worst record in 2017, but only time will tell if new leadership and a stronger roster can drive them up the standings.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

San Jose Sharks forward Logan Couture has offered a gruesome update on a facial fracture suffered last season.During a March 26 game against the Nashville Predators, a deflected Brent Burns shot caught Couture in the mouth, forcing him to race off the ice to the dressing room.It caused substantial damage to Couture's teeth, resulting in extensive dental work.On Wednesday, he joined "NHL Tonight" to describe how the injury has progressed."There’s good days and bad days," Couture said, according to Daniel Mano of The Mercury News. "My bottom teeth are still my real teeth. They’ve tried to keep ’em so I don’t lose 'em. I don’t know if I’ll be able to, they’re still pretty sore. My top teeth are all fake now - my front six, I think. So, it’s different. It just feels different in my mouth."But everything else with my face and all that’s healed. So I’m lucky that it’s an injury that didn’t affect my training, and hopefully won’t affect me going forward."Couture reached the 50-point plateau for the fifth time last season, tallying 25 goals and 52 points in 73 games.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NHL salary cap was implemented ahead of the 2005-06 season, with the aim of creating more parity by preventing the richest franchises in the biggest markets from simply outbidding their competitors for top talent.But what if that change was undone and teams were no longer restricted by a spending limit?Here are three ways the NHL landscape would be different - both on and off the ice - if the salary cap once again ceased to exist.Blackhawks extend Stanley Cup window(Photo courtesy: Getty Images)One thing is certain: If there was no salary cap, Stan Bowman's job would be a lot easier.The Chicago Blackhawks general manager has become a master at keeping his club largely intact while staying under the cap, winning three Stanley Cups with the current core.That being said, it would be very interesting to watch Bowman wheel and deal without financial restrictions.Over the years, he's been forced to trade away some high-end talent to fit the Blackhawks under the cap, including Dustin Byfuglien, Andrew Ladd, Brandon Saad, Brian Campbell (who was later reacquired), Patrick Sharp (ditto), Antti Raanta, Niklas Hjalmarsson, and Nick Leddy.Keeping those players may not have guaranteed more Cup wins, but it certainly would have helped. Meanwhile, Blackhawks fans who weren't pleased with the Artemi Panarin trade could have had their cake and eaten it too, as Chicago wouldn't have dealt for Saad if it never had to let him go in the first place.Less focus on analyticsWhether or not you swear by analytics, they're impossible to ignore in this day and age.Prior to the eliminating the cap, advanced stats were seldom discussed - at least among casual fans - while teams simply threw money at players who passed the eye test and excelled in traditional ways. However, with front offices now on equal spending budgets, they've been forced to find any advantage they can, looking beyond the traditional box score for hidden gems who thrive in non-traditional ways.With that in mind, teams are spending more money on the brightest minds in analytics, and are even creating full departments to get ahead in the field. Remember, the salary cap doesn't affect what management can offer to employees off the ice.Maximizing the value of players and finding bargains has become a priority in the salary cap era, instead of simply overpaying for proven assets.Maple Leafs' youth movement never happens(Photo courtesy: Action Images)With Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, and William Nylander now leading the charge in Toronto, it appears the Maple Leafs' lengthy struggle has come to an end.However, with no salary cap, Toronto likely wouldn't have entered a period of darkness to begin with. The team is one of the revenue juggernauts of the NHL, and has the potential to outspend most suitors - just ask Mike Babcock.Prior to the lockout - after which the salary cap was implemented - the Maple Leafs had made the playoffs in six straight seasons, from 1999-2004, reaching the Eastern Conference Final twice.In fact, the 2004 Maple Leafs included Mats Sundin, Alexander Mogilny, Gary Roberts, Joe Nieuwendyk, Brian Leetch, Owen Nolan, Ron Francis, and Ed Belfour, just to name a few. A little on the old side, sure, but impressive nonetheless.Without a spending limit, Toronto would have been able to keep a roster like that largely intact - adding other veterans along the way - instead of finding itself in a downward spiral from 2006 until last season.But there's a bright side, which we're seeing now. While the Leafs would have remained competitive with no cap, it's hard to win the Cup without drafting at least one superstar. Instead, the fall to the basement and the subsequent rebuild has Toronto on track with young, exciting home-grown talents.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Edmonton Oilers just made a large investment in forward Leon Draisaitl. They're now expecting his game to reach new heights, and he is going to have to do so without the game's most electrifying player on his line.Though Draisaitl is a natural center, he spent the bulk of last season playing right wing alongside Connor McDavid. The two phenoms found instant chemistry. In fact, the club's top line of McDavid, Draisaitl, and Patrick Maroon accounted for 35.4 percent of the Oilers' goals last season.The eight-year, $68-million contract the Oilers handed Draisaitl signals that his days of playing on McDavid's wing are over. Though McDavid's $12.5-million cap hit doesn't kick in until 2018-19, it simply doesn't make sense moving forward to pay two players a combined $21 million per season, only to have them play on the same line.Any forward making north of $8 million per season needs to be able to carry his own line in today's salary-cap era, and the Oilers are banking on McDavid and Draisaitl to do just that.Is Draisaitl capable of anchoring his own line?A center needs to be able to make players around him better, and though it was from the wing, Draisaitl displayed he can do just that. Last season he had 16 primary assists at 5-on-5, which would have been the 11th-most helpers among centers, and just one fewer than Sidney Crosby. As a center, Draisaitl will have the puck on his stick more, and could conceivably build on that mark.At just 21 years of age, Draisaitl stands a little over 6-foot-1 and weighs 216 pounds. Though, he plays much bigger. He's strong on the puck and uses a seemingly long reach to his advantage. He may not be a burner, but for a center of his stature, he is an above-average skater.Draisaitl clearly has both the playmaking and physical abilities to play center full time, and won 49 percent of the draws he had last season. His biggest test, however, will come on the defensive side of the puck.In order to find an answer for a surging Ryan Getzlaf in Edmonton's second-round playoff series against the Anaheim Ducks, head coach Todd McLellan inserted Draisaitl back to his natural position of center, and lined him up against Getzlaf as often as he could.It was an awfully small sample size, but Getzlaf only recorded two points in the final three games of the series, compared to the eight points he racked up in the first four games of the series when not matched up against Draisaitl.It's still unclear how he will handle the defensive responsibility that comes with being a center on a full-time basis, especially considering he might be Edmonton's center most capable of playing a shutdown role - but all signs indicate Draisaitl has what it takes.Will this affect McDavid's offensive output?Draisaitl's move to center leaves a gaping hole on McDavid's right wing. There are plenty of options to fill the void, but all come with question marks.The newly acquired Ryan Strome is the most obvious candidate. He set a career high with 50 points back in 2014-15, but the 24-year-old has largely been considered a disappointment since then, even though he spent ample time alongside John Tavares with the Islanders. Nevertheless, the former fifth overall pick still has plenty of potential, and could fulfill it alongside McDavid.Jesse Puljujarvi - the club's fourth overall pick from 2016 - could conceivably make the jump to McDavid's line, but that might be a lot to ask considering he spent most of 2016-17 in the AHL.Otherwise, a veteran, such as Mark Letestu or Jussi Jokinen may be asked to fill the void. Obviously, both of these players have a limited ceiling.McDavid is still undoubtedly the most electric player in the game, but barring one of the aforementioned players stepping up in a big way, he could be hard-pressed to reach the 100-point mark for a second consecutive season.Lineup balanceIf McDavid and Draisaitl are able to carry their own lines and be as productive apart from each other as they were together, Edmonton has a great chance at winning the Stanley Cup.The Oilers' depth down the middle would arguably be the best in the NHL, especially considering Pittsburgh's centers after Crosby and Evgeni Malkin are simply unknown at this point.Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, the forgotten man in the mix, will likely end up centering the Oilers' third line.Third-line duty doesn't sound promising, but with McDavid drawing the attention of top checking lines, and Draisaitl matching up against top scoring lines, this could open the door for the former first overall pick to exploit weaker opponents. This could lead to a strong offensive campaign for the 24-year-old, just one year after his worst season in the show.If the Oilers wind up having three centers firing on all cylinders, they will be the toughest team in the Western Conference to match up against - and that simply isn't possible with McDavid and Draisaitl teaming up on the first line.(Photos courtesy: Action Images)- With h/t to firstlinestats.comCopyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Will Butcher's list of suitors includes the two-time defending Stanley Cup champions.The Pittsburgh Penguins are among a handful of teams that will make presentations to the free-agent defenseman this week, general manager Jim Rutherford confirmed to Sam Werner of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on Wednesday."A player like that's going to have several teams in that same category (of pursuit), but (he's) a Hobey Baker (Award) winner and a good young player," Rutherford said. "We will be in that mix with other teams."Butcher has reportedly already spoken with the Buffalo Sabres, New Jersey Devils, and Vegas Golden Knights.He officially became a free agent Wednesday after opting not to sign with the Colorado Avalanche, who drafted him in 2013.The 22-year-old won the Hobey Baker Award as the top U.S. collegiate hockey player after helping the University of Denver win the national championship this past spring.Pittsburgh signed Hobey Baker finalist Zach Aston-Reese, the NCAA's top scorer this past season, to a two-year, entry-level deal in March.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

John Tavares says he's no longer in a hurry to agree to a contract extension with the New York Islanders."For me, there's really no rush," Tavares told Newsday's Arthur Staple on Wednesday. "I'm trying to determine things, let the process run its course, keep the lines of communication open, keep it all internal and it's been good so far."The Islanders captain said back in April that he'd like to get a new deal done "as soon as possible," and while he is under contract with the Islanders for one more season, he's been eligible for an extension since July 1.Tavares told Staple he's waiting to see how the club's potential bid for a new arena in New York's Belmont Park plays out. The state issued a request for proposals for development of the area on July 30, and while the Islanders are expected to propose building a new facility there, the bids aren't due until late September.Newsday reported back in the spring that the club was likely to offer the star forward an eight-year extension worth upward of $10 million per season, and Tavares essentially confirmed Wednesday that an offer of that length is on the table."The possibility with Belmont and that RFP coming out, there's great potential there," he said. "We'll see where it goes. A lot of those things are out of my hands. Some things I don’t try to worry about them too, too much. I'm just a hockey player. I try to be as best prepared as I can be. It's a big decision obviously because it's eight years of my career, really entering into my prime years and a great opportunity for myself to achieve what I set out to achieve when I was a kid, making it to the NHL, wanting to win a Stanley Cup and wanting to do that with the Islanders."Tavares will become an unrestricted free agent if he's not signed to an extension by next July 1.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Connor McDavid, Auston Matthews, and Sidney Crosby are the faces of the NHL. They also happen to be the front-runners to capture the 2017-18 league MVP award - if you ask Las Vegas oddsmakers, anyway.All three players had exceptional years last season, earning the right to be called Hart Trophy favorites.Crosby is coming off his third Stanley Cup win in nine years, Matthews buried 40 in his rookie campaign, and McDavid led the league in scoring with 100 points. And the list is still plenty impressive below the trio, with more than a few others considered legitimate contenders for league's most prestigious award.Here's how the odds shake down for the 2017-18 Hart winner:Player (Team)Odds to WinConnor McDavid (EDM)3/2Sidney Crosby (PIT)5/2Auston Matthews (TOR)17/2Alex Ovechkin (WSH)9/1Patrick Kane (CHI)14/1Vladimir Tarasenko (STL)15/1Evgeni Malkin (PIT)16/1Carey Price (MTL)20/1John Tavares (NYI)20/1Jamie Benn (DAL)25/1Steven Stamkos (TB)25/1Erik Karlsson (OTT)33/1Nikita Kucherov (TB)33/1Jack Eichel (BUF)50/1Patrik Laine (WPG)50/1Brad Marchand (BOS)50/1Tyler Seguin (DAL)50/1Nicklas Backstrom (WSH)60/1Brent Burns (SJ)60/1Braden Holtby (WSH)60/1Phil Kessel (PIT)60/1Artemi Panarin (CBJ)60/1Joe Pavelski (SJ)60/1(Odds courtesy: Bodog)There's obvious value in laying wagers on guys like Benn, Malkin, and Tarasenko. But, if you ask us, no player outside the top five has a real shot at bringing home the award in 2017-18.Good luck!Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

While Matt Cullen will be coming home, having signed a one-year deal with the Minnesota Wild, deciding to leave the Pittsburgh Penguins was far from easy.The 40-year-old opted to against chasing a third straight Stanley Cup with the Penguins, and Cullen admitted Wednesday it was difficult to call Penguins general manager Jim Rutherford with the news because he owes him a lot, according to Michael Russo of the Star Tribune.In the end Cullen insists it was a family decision, but it was still diffcult."It was not an easy decision. Minnesota is home and a special place for me," Cullen said. "It's not easy to say goodbye."

Matt Cullen has decided to give it another go with his hometown Minnesota Wild.The 40-year-old will return for a 20th season, signing a one-year, $1-million contract with the potential to earn another $700,000 in performance bonuses, the team announced.Cullen has remained a productive player despite his age, tallying 29 goals and 63 points over his last two seasons with the Pittsburgh Penguins.Sources said Cullen was deciding between returning to the Penguins or the Wild, according to Michael Russo of the Star Tribune.While Cullen could've had the chance at a third straight Stanley Cup with the Penguins, he joins the Wild for a second stint. He played three seasons in Minnesota between 2010-11 and 2012-13 when he scored d 33 goals and added 101 points in 193 games.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Edmonton Oilers signed center Leon Draisaitl to an eight-year, $68-million extension Wednesday, the club announced.Draisaitl is coming off an impressive 2016-17 season in which he announced himself as one of the NHL's elite scorers, tallying 29 goals and 48 assists for 77 points - good for eighth in the league. He also showed he can score in the clutch, leading the Oilers in playoff scoring by racking up 16 points in 13 postseason games.At only 21 years old, the German is one of the game's rising stars, and will now be paid as such.Draisaitl's contract carries an average annual value of $8.5 million and will keep him in an Oilers uniform through the 2024-2025 season.The 6-foot-1, 216-pound pivot tied for the team lead with 27 power-play points (three goals, 24 assists) and also registered five game-winning goals, three of which came in overtime.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Alexey Marchenko has indeed returned to the KHL.The former Toronto Maple Leafs defender signed a three-year deal with CSKA Moscow, the KHL announced Wednesday.The news comes after Marchenko's agent confirmed his client would return to Russia after the Maple Leafs placed the 25-year-old on waivers Tuesday.Marchenko played just 11 games with the Maple Leafs after being picked up on waivers in February. Prior to that, he played three seasons with the Detroit Red Wings who drafted him in the seventh round in 2011.Prior to be drafted, Marchenko spent four years with CSKA Moscow, tallying four goals and 11 points in 83 games.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Cross the Tampa Bay Lighting off the list of potential destinations for college free agent Will Butcher.The Lightning are not among the clubs pursuing the 22-year-old defenseman, reports Joe Smith of the Tampa Bay Times.Butcher was originally drafted by the Colorado Avalanche in the fifth round in 2013. After playing out his four years at the University of Denver - capping off his NCAA career by winning the Hobey Baker Award as the top player in college hockey - he elected not to sign with the Avalanche and became an unrestricted free agent.Related: 3 teams that should pursue Will ButcherButcher racked up 28 goals and 103 points in 158 games during his tenure with the Pioneers, who won the Frozen Four in his final season.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Jack Eichel believes the Buffalo Sabres are bound to take a big step forward after last season's disappointment.Despite bringing in Kyle Okposo and Dmitry Kulikov last summer, the Sabres finished with the second-worst record in the Eastern Conference. Eichel insists the Sabres are still confident in themselves and expects this offseason's changes at the top to help."We think we can be really good," Eichel said, according to NHL.com's Dan Rosen. "We think we can be a playoff team. That's what's important. We have to go into training camp with the right mindset, get the season off and running, put our best foot forward."The Sabres fired general manager Tim Murray and head coach Dan Bylsma in April, replacing them with Jason Botterill and former Nashville Predators assistant coach Phil Housley, respectively."We have a new GM, new coaches, so it's a new situation for all of us and we have to look at it with the right mindset," Eichel said. "No bad relationships. No opinions. It's important for a lot of guys who might have been on the wrong foot."At the time of the firing, there were reports that Eichel told management he wouldn't sign an extension if Bylsma remained the team's head coach, though Eichel denied the report.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Last season, NHL viewers were blessed with an extraordinary rookie class. Right from the get-go, 2016 top picks Auston Matthews and Patrik Laine led the way while emblazoning their identities as superstars.While Matthews' 40-goal campaign ultimately won him the top prize, Laine, along will fellow rookies William Nylander, Mitch Marner, Zach Werenski, and Matthew Tkachuk, each put forth seasons worthy of Calder consideration.And although 2017's top draft choices, Nico Hischier (New Jersey) and Nolan Patrick (Philadelphia), will surely garner their fair share of buzz in the Rookie of the Year race, we're going to devote our attention - for now - to five candidates capable of leapfrogging the favorites.Clayton Keller - Arizona CoyotesAfter notching 45 points in 31 games with Boston University last season, Keller played a three-game stint with the Coyotes, recording two assists.The 19-year-old continued his stellar developmental year with Team USA at the World Championship, scoring five goals and adding two assists in eight contests.The ultra-dynamic winger oozes skill, and a full NHL campaign on a seemingly improved Coyotes roster could put the 2016 seventh overall pick firmly on the map.Charlie McAvoy - Boston BruinsAnother Boston University product, McAvoy showed promise on several platforms in his first year as Bruins property.First, the 19-year-old anchored Team USA's blue line at the world juniors, where he played a pivotal role in capturing the gold medal. From there, he virtually assured himself a spot on the Bruins' roster with a promising showing in the first round of the playoffs, during which he averaged an astonishing 26:12 of ice time per night.McAvoy showed incredible poise in his first taste of the pros, and should put voters on notice in his official rookie season.Tyson Jost - Colorado Avalanche Jost earned a six-game stretch with the hapless Avalanche as last season concluded, tallying one goal.The forward also recorded 35 points in 33 games as a rookie with North Dakota in 2016-17, and should play a prominent role in Colorado's offense.Jost possesses legitimate offensive talent and a developing two-way game. He could very well be the centerpiece that helps Joe Sakic and Co. turn things around in Denver.Thomas Chabot - Ottawa SenatorsWhile McAvoy walked away with the gold, Chabot earned MVP honors and the top defenseman award at the 2017 world juniors, leaving Senators supporters salivating at the idea of their prized prospect teaming up with Erik Karlsson for years to come.Chabot, a 2015 first-rounder, has all the makings of an NHL workhorse, and looks to have outgrown the junior level, where he recorded 45 points in 47 games with Saint John last season.Mikhail Sergachev - Tampa Bay LightningAs one of the top defensive prospects in the NHL, Sergachev has a tremendous chance to make an immediate impact on the league should he shine with the Lightning - a legitimate Stanley Cup contender.He was the main piece in Tampa Bay's return for Jonathan Drouin, and a campaign alongside - or even just learning under - All-Star Victor Hedman could easily fast-track his development.(Photos Courtesy: Getty Images)Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The 2016-17 NHL campaign was very peculiar.Two of the league's basement-dwelling clubs from 2016 - the Edmonton Oilers and Toronto Maple Leafs - rocketed up the standings and into the postseason.Meanwhile, on the other side of the coin, many of the league's top talent had downright putrid seasons statistically. Seasons so off it would be a near-guarantee the 2017-18 season will see a rebound.Here are 10 such players who should do just that:Anze KopitarFifty-two points in a season doesn't sound too bad, but considering Kopitar had never tallied fewer than 61 points in a full 82-game season prior to 2017, it's certainly a downer.The Los Angeles Kings captain also scored a career-low 12 goals while posting a career-low shooting percentage. A new coaching staff and team dynamic should give Kopitar the jolt he needs to get back to being the player we know he is.Joe ThorntonThornton scored seven goals last season. Seven! And three of those were empty-netters. Sure he's more of a passer and is getting older, but that's just bizarre.Thornton scored 12 fewer goals and 32 fewer points than in 2016. One big reason is he managed just over one shot per game. If Jumbo Joe can get a little more selfish in his old age he could still get close to the 20-goal mark.Matt DucheneYou'd be hard-pressed to find a single member of the Colorado Avalanche who had a strong 2017.Duchene is no exception. The 26-year-old finished the year with 18 goals and 41 points, after scoring a career-high 30 in 2016. Duchene has the talent to be better and should have the motivation to try to either fix the situation in Colorado or up his value so he can be more easily traded.Andrew LaddLadd only managed four goals in the first 32 games of the 2017 season, but the New York Islanders forward rallied in the second half, finishing with a respectable 23 goals.That said, Ladd still only managed eight assists in 78 games. Prior to that, Ladd hadn't had fewer than 21 assists since 2007-08. So you can bet he'll be better next season.Dylan LarkinAfter a strong rookie season, Larkin failed to impress during his sophomore campaign.After 45 points in his first season, he put up six less goals and 13 fewer points.There's no denying his talent and his speed are among the NHL's best, so Larkin will get it together and be better in 2018.Chris KunitzThe 2016-17 season was the worst of Kunitz's career, with just nine goals and 29 points in 71 games.The 37-year-old is clearly nearing the end of his career, but in the previous two years he still managed 17 goals in each, so one might think he could manage those kind of numbers next season.Perhaps a change of scenery in Tampa will help get him back on track.Bobby RyanRyan tallied almost as many points in the playoffs as he did during the regular season.After just 13 goals and 25 points in 62 games (both career-lows in a full 82-game season) Ryan was arguably the Senators best player in the postseason, putting up 15 points in 19 games.If he can rekindle that playoff scoring prowess, then he's sure to have a great 2018.Patrick SharpSure, Sharp was limited to just 48 games last season, but just eight goals and 10 assists is absurdly low.Sharp ran into some bad luck, connecting on just 5.5 percent of his shots, while the Dallas Stars were just plain bad. Returning to his former team in Chicago with the potential to reunite with Patrick Kane should allow him to rebound.Nick BjugstadBjugstad's brutal season is just one of the reasons why the Florida Panthers took a giant tumble backwards last season.Two seasons after a career-high 24 goals and 43 points, Bjugstad had just seven goals and seven assists in a injury-riddled 2017. He's still young, skilled, and the Panthers look to have sorted out their coaching staff, so expect more than a measly 14 points next season.Anthony DuclairIt's inconceivable that Duclair won't score more than five goals next season. The fact he scored 15 fewer goals last season than in 2016 is outrageous.His shooting percentage dropped over 12 percent from 2016, which is unlikely to happen again. Factor in the addition of Derek Stepan and a healthy Max Domi and it would be unlikely that Duclair doesn't improve next season.(Photos courtesy: Action Images)Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Defenseman Alexey Marchenko has decided to return to his homeland of Russia, his agent, Dan Milstein, confirmed Tuesday.Marchenko hopes to return to the NHL someday in the future, Milstein added.The Toronto Maple Leafs placed the 25-year-old on unconditional waivers Monday for the purpose of a buyout. They claimed Marchenko on waivers from the Detroit Red Wings last February.He played a combined 41 NHL games between the two teams last season, notching one goal and seven assists.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

David Pastrnak isn't going anywhere, according to Boston Bruins general manager Don Sweeney.In light of a report from NHL Network's Brian Lawton suggesting Pastrnak could be traded due to stalled contract negotiations, Sweeney came out and said it's not happening, per Kevin Paul Dupont of the Boston Globe.

Here are the top 250 skaters and goalies ranking in descending order based on their value in 10- or 12-team "banger leagues." A typical banger league consists of the following categories:SkatersGoaliesGoalsWinsAssistsGoals-against averagePlus/minusSave percentagePenalty minutesShutoutsPower-play pointsShots on goalHitsBlocked shotsThe key difference from a banger league and a standard league is the addition of hits and blocked shots. Though two additional categories may seem like a minor difference, it can have a major affect on the value of players.Positional eligibility may vary by fantasy site. Some players may be eligible at multiple positions, but only their primary position is considered here.Top 250Rk.PlayerTeamPos.1Connor McDavidEDMC12Erik KarlssonOTTD13Brent BurnsSJD24Sidney CrosbyPITC25Alex OvechkinWASLW16Victor HedmanTBD37Jamie BennDALLW28Patrick KaneCHIRW19Vladimir TarasenkoSTLRW210Dustin ByfuglienWPGD411Blake WheelerWPGRW312Steven StamkosTBC313Tyler SeguinDALC414Carey PriceMTLG115Evgeni MalkinPITC516Wayne SimmondsPHIRW417Roman JosiNASD518Patrik LaineWPGRW519Auston MatthewsTORC620Matt MurrayPITG221Rasmus RistolainenBUFD622Braden HoltbyWASG323Jack EichelBUFC724Joe PavelskiSJC825Cam TalbotEDMG426P.K. SubbanNASD727Devan DubnykMING528Nikita KucherovTBRW629Nicklas BackstromWASC930Brad MarchandBOSLW331Evander KaneBUFLW432Alex PietrangeloSTLD833Filip ForsbergNASLW534Leon DraisaitlEDMRW735Shea WeberMTLD936John TavaresNYIC1037Tuukka RaskBOSG638Mark GiordanoCGYD1039Ryan GetzlafANAC1140David PastrnakBOSRW841Nazem KadriTORC1242Kevin ShattenkirkNYRD1143Kris LetangPITD1244Max PaciorettyMTLLW645Mark ScheifeleWPGC1346Patric HornqvistPITRW947Corey PerryANARW1048Jake AllenSTLG749Chris KreiderNYRLW750Anders LeeNYILW851William NylanderTORRW1152Colton ParaykoSTLD1353Andrei VasilevskiyTBG854Artemi PanarinCLBLW955Jonathan QuickLAG956Mitch MarnerTORRW1257John KlingbergDALD1458Alexander RadulovDALRW1359Nino NiederreiterMINRW1460Dougie HamiltonCGYD1561Oliver Ekman-LarssonARID1662Corey CrawfordCHIG1063T.J. OshieWASRW1564Jonathan HuberdeauFLALW1065Jeff CarterLAC1466Nikolaj EhlersWPGRW1667Ryan JohansenNASC1568Aleksander BarkovFLAC1669Ryan KeslerANAC1770Jon GibsonANAG1171Duncan KeithCHID1772Milan LucicEDMLW1173Claude GirouxPHIC1874Pekka RinneNASG1275Nick FolignoCLBLW1276Cam AtkinsonCLBRW1777Ben BishopDALG1378Shayne GostisbeherePHID1879Seth JonesCLBD1980Patrice BergeronBOSC1981Anze KopitarLAC2082Johnny GaudreauCGYLW1383Jeff SkinnerCARLW1484John CarlsonWASD2085Torey KrugBOSD2186Frederik AndersenTORG1487Phil KesselPITRW1888Aaron EkbladFLAD2289Zach WerenskiCLBD2390Brayden SchennSTLC2191Taylor HallNJLW1592Sean MonahanCGYC2293Sebastian AhoCARLW1694Ryan McDonaghNYRD2495Evgeny KuznetsovWASC2396Jonathan DrouinMTLLW1797Mikael GranlundMINC2498Martin JonesSJG1599Boone JennerCLBLW18100Brandon DubinskyCLBC25101Patrick MaroonEDMLW19102Charlie CoyleMINRW19103Tanner PearsonLALW20104Scott DarlingCARG16105Nathan MacKinnonCOLC26106James van RiemsdykTORLW21107Justin SchultzPITD25108Mike SmithCGYG17109Kyle PalmieriNJRW20110Logan CoutureSJC27111Justin FaulkCARD26112Jacob TroubaWPGD27113Rickard RakellANALW22114Brandon SaadCHILW23115Viktor ArvidssonNASRW21116Vincent TrocheckFLAC28117Mike HoffmanOTTLW24118Ivan ProvorovPHID28119Henrik LundqvistNYRG18120Craig AndersonOTTG19121Nikita ZaitsevTORD29122Brent SeabrookCHID30123Jakub VoracekPHIRW22124Anthony ManthaDETRW23125Jonathan ToewsCHIC29126Alex GalchenyukMTLC30127Gabriel LandeskogCOLLW25128Robin LehnerBUFG20129Dion PhaneufOTTD31130J.T. MillerNYRC31131Matthew TkachukCGYLW26132Dmitry OrlovWASD32133Eric StaalMINC32134Martin HanzalMINC33135Cory SchneiderNJG21136David BackesBOSRW24137Oscar KlefbomEDMD33138Jaccob SlavinCARD34139Mark StoneOTTRW25140Mats ZuccarelloNYRRW26141Alexander WennbergCLBC34142Adam LarssonEDMD35143Ryan SuterMIND36144Nick RitchieANALW27145Nolan PatrickPHIC35146Radko GudasPHID37147Cam FowlerANAD38148Jake GardinerTORD39149Brian ElliottPHIG22150Thomas GreissNYIG23151Jordan StaalCARC36152Ryan EllisNASD40153Jason SpezzaDALC37154Henrik ZetterbergDETC38155Marc-Edouard VlasicSJD41156Tom WilsonWASRW27157Jake MuzzinLAD42158Matt NiskanenWASD43159Ondrej PalatTBLW28160Jake GuentzelPITLW29161Matt DucheneCOLC39162Patrick MarleauTORLW30163Dustin BrownLARW28164Travis KonecnyPHILW31165Jaden SchwartzSTLLW32166Morgan RiellyTORD44167Keith YandleFLAD45168Leo KomarovTORLW33169James NealVGKRW29170Bryan LittleWPGC40171Tyler ToffoliLARW30172Tyson BarrieCOLD46173Zach PariseMINLW34174Evgeny DadonovFLARW31175Roberto LuongoFLAG24176James ReimerFLAG25177Nico HischierNJC41178Andre BurakovskyWASLW35179Ryan StromeEDMRW32180Marcus JohanssonNJLW36181Conor ShearyPITRW33182Steve MasonWPGG26183Connor HellebuyckWPGG27184Tomas HertlSJLW37185Nate SchmidtVGKD47186Jonathan MarchessaultVGKC42187Jordan EberleNYIRW34188Marcus FolignoMINLW38189Jimmy HowardDETG28190Sami VatanenANAD48191Hampus LindholmANAD49192Matt DumbaMIND49193Charlie McAvoyBOSD51194Alec MartinezLAD52195Kyle OkposoBUFRW35196Antti RaantaARIG29197Vadim ShipachyovVGKC43198Elias LindholmCARC44199Jakob MarkstromVANG30200Semyon VarlamovCOLG31201Josh MansonANAD53202Tyler JohnsonTBC45203Ryan O'ReillyBUFC46204Jakob SilfverbergANARW36205Kyle TurrisOTTC47206Mika ZibanejadNYRC48207Miko RantanenCOLLW39208Adam LowryWPGC49209Marc-Andre FleuryVGKG32210Jared SpurgeonMIND54211Mark BorowieckiOTTD55212Zdeno CharaBOSD56213Shea TheodoreVGKD57214Brendan GallagherMTLRW37215Josh AndersonCLBRW38216Alexander SteenSTLRW39217Bobby RyanOTTRW40218Patrick EavesANARW41219Dylan LarkinDETC50220Viktor RaskCARC51221Antoine RousselDALLW40222Bo HorvatVANC52223Andrej SekeraEDMD58224Julius HonkaDALD59225Paul StastnySTLC53226Daniel SedinVANLW41227Henrik SedinVANC54228Robby FabbriSTLC55229Derek StepanARIC56230Joe ThorntonSJC57231Brandon MontourANAD60232Matt MartinTORLW42233Ryan ReavesPITRW42234Andrew ShawMTLC58235Sam ReinhartBUFC59236Jesse PuljujarviEDMRW43237Richard PanikCHILW43238Kevin FialaNASLW44239Nick SchmaltzCHILW45240Andrew LaddNYILW46241Dylan StromeARIC60242Matthew BarzalNYIC61243Nick BoninoNASC62244David KrejciBOSC63245Patrick SharpCHILW47246Jason ZuckerMINLW48247Luke SchennARID61248Kris RussellEDMD62249Ian ColePITD63250Calvin de HaanNYID64These rankings will be updated throughout the lead-up to the season.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Will Butcher sweepstakes will officially begin Wednesday.The 2017 Hobey Baker Award winner remains property of the Colorado Avalanche, who drafted him 123rd overall in 2013, through to the end of Tuesday, agent Brian Bartlett confirmed.