Look away, Detroit fans. These aren't the Red Wings you grew up on.The Wings, of course, have been the NHL's model franchise for the better part of the last three decades, making the playoffs 25 straight times, and winning four Stanley Cups.But Detroit went 33-36-13 last season, missing the playoffs for the first time since 1988-89. And those expecting the Red Wings to bounce back and return to their old ways next season - or anytime soon, for that matter - should think again.Hockeytown's dry spell has only just begun.The future isn't bright(Photo courtesy: Getty Images)The most crucial aspect of building a successful team in today's salary cap environment is establishing a strong core, paying those players, and then adding complimentary, recyclable pieces around them. The Chicago Blackhawks and Pittsburgh Penguins are prime examples.The Red Wings' core, however, doesn't seem all that promising.The Hockey News' Dominik Luszczyszyn recently ranked Detroit's core 29th out of 30 teams in its "Future Watch" edition (Vegas' roster wasn't announced yet), which involved picking three forwards, two defensemen, and a goalie from each club.Detroit's 2020 core of Anthony Mantha, Dylan Larkin, Evgeny Svechnikov, Danny DeKeyser, and Mike Green - no goalie was chosen - doesn't inspire much confidence in Luszczyszyn."They don't have many impressive defense prospects," Luszczyszyn explained. "There was Xavier Ouellett, Nick Jensen, and Ryan Sproul, but they're not core guys by any means. Green (already 31 and with only one year left on his contract) probably isn't a core guy either. If any of those three become as good as Mike Green they'll be fine."There are as many question marks with the forwards, Luszczyszyn believes, beginning with Larkin, who just turned 21 on July 30."His first 40 games (of his rookie season), he was really good. Then the second half of the season he was almost invisible," Luszczyszyn said. "Then last season, a lot of people said it was a down year, but it was really a continuation of what he was in the second half (of his rookie season)."So you have to wonder, will he be better than that? Or was the first 40 games of his career an aberration? Or can he get back to that level? It's still early in his career I think. He has the speed, he has the right tools, but it's still a little worrying to see that happen to him at such a young age."StatFirst 40 games120 games sinceGPG0.350.217APG0.350.192PPG0.700.408SPG2.832.38+/-+23-40As for the others, Mantha, a big, gangling winger, scored 17 goals in 60 games with the Wings last season, and looks to be a legitimate top-six forward.Svechnikov is Detroit's top prospect. He succeeded in his first AHL season a year ago, but with only two NHL games under his belt, the 19th overall pick from the 2015 draft is far from a finished product.DeKeyser, 27, is making $5 million a season for the next five years, but just because he's being paid like a core player, it doesn't necessarily mean he is one."Two years ago when he got bumped into (a top pairing) role he wasn't good, but he wasn't terrible either," Luszczyszyn said. "But last year was a train wreck, he was legitimately, probably one of the worst defensemen in the league."But was that because he was too high in the lineup, or because his skills have deteriorated? I don't think he deserves the contract he got, and it's a little scary to think he's got five more years at $5 million. He's probably not a first pairing defenseman, he's probably a number three or a number four. Even then, is he a good three or four? I don't know."The good, the bad, and the ugly contracts(Photo courtesy: Action Images)The Red Wings are currently $3 million over the salary cap, and are tied up with many long-term contracts.The following players are signed for at least the next three seasons on non-entry-level deals:PlayerAgeCap hitYears leftHenrik Zetterberg36$6.083M4Tomas Tatar26$5.3M4Frans Nielsen33$5.25M5Justin Abdelkader30$4.25M6Johan Franzen*37$3.95M3Darren Helm30$3.85M4Luke Glendening28$1.8M4Danny DeKeyser27$5M5Jonathan Ericsson33$4.25M3Trevor Daley33$3.16M3*Franzen will be placed on long-term injured reserve, so his contract doesn't count against the salary cap.The Red Wings are also still paying for the buyout of Stephen Weiss - $2.567 million next season, and $1.67 million per year for three seasons thereafter.Making matters worse, Detroit has a league-high 10 players who have some form of no-trade clause: Nielsen, Abdelkader, Helm, Green, DeKeyser, Ericsson, Daley, Jimmy Howard, Niklas Kronwall, and Gustav Nyquist. Both Kronwall and Nyquist have two years remaining on their contract at $4.75 million per year.How the Red Wings plan to get out from under this cap conundrum is unclear, but they're unlikely to be bailed out by a huge spike in the league's salary cap anytime soon."Where the NHL salary cap goes from here is anyone's guess," said Dominik Zrim, a CBA and salary cap analyst at CapFriendly, an independent compiler of NHL contract information."That being said, with (the) ceiling so closely tied to the league's revenue, and based on the actual growth that has been reported in the last few years, all signs point to increases in line with what we've seen since the 2014-15 season."The NHL's salary cap progression since 2014-15:YearSalary CapIncrease from previous year2014-15$69M--2015-16$71.4M3.48%2016-17$73M2.24%2017-18$75M2.74%With an average annual increase of less than 3 percent over the last three seasons, it doesn't seem as though the bulk of Detroit's long-term contracts will ever be deemed palatable.Has Ken Holland lost his mojo?(Photo courtesy: Getty Images)Holland is entering his 20th season as general manager of the Red Wings and his 34th year with the organization. He was the mastermind behind their incredible run of success, most notably making two of the best draft picks of all time: Pavel Datsyuk, 171st overall in 1998, and Zetterberg, 210th overall in 1999.As former amateur scout Grant McCagg sees it, the Wings' incomparable run of winning was no accident, but a little serendipity never hurt."Their success had a lot to do with their amateur scouting," said McCagg, who worked for the Montreal Canadiens from 2008-10. "I don't know all of the names, but obviously Jim Nill (current Dallas Stars general manager) was an integral part of that group."Some of it has to do with luck ... if they really thought Datsyuk and Zetterberg were all that and a bag of chips, they'd have picked them a lot higher."It appears Detroit's luck has run out.Speedy forward Andreas Athanasiou, a fourth-round pick in 2012, has been Detroit's only noteworthy draft pick outside the first round in the 2010s. Obviously there is still time for these players to develop, but during the 2000s, the Red Wings were seemingly plucking a quality NHLer beyond the first round every draft.In 2009, Holland was listed at No. 2 on Sports Illustrated's top GMs/executives (all sports) of the decade. While being the face of a front office leads to high praise when the team succeeds, scrutiny will follow when the team begins to falter. Red Wings fans aren't exactly lined up outside Holland's home with pitchforks, but they clearly aren't happy.Detroit ranked 29th out of 31 teams in a recent Hockey News survey which asked 1,300 participants to grade each team's front office in six categories: roster building, cap management, drafting and developing, trading, free agency, and their overall vision."I think (Holland) had leeway when he started to make these moves," said Luszczyszyn, who spearheaded the study. "Now, three or four years later, I don't think he has that leeway anymore among fans. Maybe he does in the front office, (but) I don't think (fans) are really confident in what he's doing."Can the mess be cleaned up?(Photo courtesy: Action Images)There might be pressure from ownership to attempt to remain competitive given that the Red Wings are moving into a brand new arena this season, but that's often how teams get stuck in a lull of mediocrity."I really just think the answer is as easy as be bad," Luszczyszyn said. "You were good for 26 years, you probably have some leeway. I don't know if it will be a long rebuild or a quick rebuild, but they have the pieces in place where it shouldn't take that long, but you never know with these things right?"The back end is clearly the team's most glaring weakness, but it has proven to be a hard position to address league-wide in recent years."The defense is tough because it doesn't seem like they have anyone coming through the pipeline either," Luszczyszyn said. "Maybe another terrible year, which is likely, will get them a good draft pick, and they can get a stud."As seen with the Colorado Avalanche this past season, finishing with the worst record in the league doesn't necessarily result in a top-three pick. However, it might be their only chance at acquiring a top-pairing defenseman."It's hard to trade for those guys (core defensemen)," explained Luszczyszyn. "I mean, Taylor Hall gets you Adam Larsson, and the Red Wings don't have anyone like Taylor Hall."Unlike most teams that begin a rebuild, Detroit will be in tough trading its current assets for draft picks and prospects, given that so many either have a no-trade clause, a significant cap hit, or are tied up long-term. Some players even come with all three types of baggage.With many roadblocks in the way of a clean rebuild, a league full of parity, and an Atlantic Division stocked with young, talented teams, the Red Wings could be bottom-feeders for a very, very long time - something the organization hasn't endured since the '70s and early '80s.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Buffalo Sabres signed defenseman Nathan Beaulieu to a two-year contract, the team announced Monday. The deal is worth an average annual value of $2.4 million.Beaulieu was acquired from the Montreal Canadiens as a restricted free agent in June in exchange for a third-round draft pick. He was originally drafted by the Canadiens 17th overall in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft.He's coming off a career season of four goals and 24 assists for 28 points, while averaging 19:29 of ice time. He's totaled 60 points in 225 games.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Almost two months since general manager Don Sweeney said the Boston Bruins and David Pastrnak were moving in the right direction toward a long-term deal, the two sides aren't any closer to agreeing on a new contract."We're in a holding pattern," Sweeney said according to Ty Anderson of WEEI."I have not made as much progress as I'd like since the last (update)," Sweeney further disclosed. "But we have plenty of time and the opportunities to continue to talk, and we'll find a way to keep talking."Anderson added the following in terms of the possible gap that exists in negotiations:

Nate Schmidt's agent says his client and the Vegas Golden Knights aren't too far apart in contract negotiations."We're in the same range," Matt Keator told Steve Carp of the Las Vegas Review-Journal on Monday. "It's just a matter of talking and getting a deal done that's fair to both sides."Schmidt is a restricted free agent who has an arbitration hearing scheduled for Thursday.Keator didn't appear to be in a hurry to hammer out a deal with Golden Knights general manager George McPhee."I'm sure we'll talk sometime this week," the agent said. "I talked to George last week and there's no rush. There's still time."Vegas selected Schmidt from the Washington Capitals in the expansion draft last month.He posted only 17 points in 60 games this past season, but he was playing behind a stacked defense corps in D.C., and managed nearly a point per 60 minutes, according to Stats.HockeyAnalysis.com, while playing just 15:28 per game.Schmidt is coming off the two-year, $1.625-million contract he signed with the Capitals in 2015.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Toronto Maple Leafs are for real.Qualifying for the postseason only one year removed from finishing dead last in the NHL standings cements you as such. One of the main reasons for the resurgence, was No. 1 overall pick Auston Matthews.And, if you ask Leafs head coach Mike Babcock, Matthews is just beginning to scratch the surface of his potential."He's a competitive guy and he expects to take a step this year and we do as well," Babcock said Sunday, according to NHL.com's Adam Kimelman."I don't measure guys by points, I measure guys by how they play and how they compete every day and how much better they get in their determination. We're excited to see what he can do. He feels he's a real good player and wants to be one of the best players in the game."Thanks in large part to Matthews, the Leafs are no longer a club that teams steamroll through, a trend that has a lot to do with the No. 1 pick's sound two-way game."He really improved his 200-foot game last year, more and more pace," said Babcock. "He's gotten way better without the puck so he has the puck more. He can play against everybody. He's got a lot of growth options."While Matthews' 40-goal, 69-point season is impressive, it's the rest of Toronto's young roster that has its head coach fired up."Obviously we have good young players," said Babcock. "We have a lot of them. It's kind of a group that's growing up together. But it's one year and one year doesn't make a career."You have to do it again and again and again. We're excited about our opportunities."Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Florida Panthers goaltender Roberto Luongo could go down as one of the best netminders in NHL history to never receive a Stanley Cup ring.Fittingly, Luongo, who is a sensation on social media, was extremely envious when finding out that Steve Bartman would receive a 2016 World Series ring from the Chicago Cubs.

Nino Niederreiter has made a strong case to get more playing time, but he's stopping short of demanding a heavier workload.The Minnesota Wild forward gave a thoughtful, professional answer Monday when asked whether he deserves an increase in ice time after producing a career season that netted him a new five-year contract."I feel like I was ready last year," Niederreiter told reporters, according to Michael Russo of the Star Tribune. "As a player, you feel like you're always ready to play more and get more ice time. But that's the coach's job and I can only control what I can control. I think that's something which I learned early on in my career that too much thinking is not going to do anything good. I've got to do the best I can with the ice time I get. I'm going to prepare myself to get more minutes this year, and if that's the case, then great. And if not, I'll just do whatever I can to be great in the minutes I get."Niederreiter finished third on the Wild with 25 goals and ranked fourth with 57 points despite playing only 15:04 per game last season, a figure that placed him seventh among Minnesota forwards with at least 21 games played.The 24-year-old parlayed his career-best single-season production into a $26.25-million deal that will keep him under contract until 2021-2022, while the new pact does not include a no-trade clause.

Rick Tocchet was hired by the Arizona Coyotes earlier this month to turn around a club that's missed the playoffs in five consecutive seasons - a process that's obviously easier said than done.Related: Tocchet hiring cements Coyotes as early offseason winnersIt's a fact that Tocchet is already trying to relay to his young group of players. "I just tell them to slow down," he said, according to Sarah McLellan of azcentral.com."It’s a process, inch by inch by day. This isn’t an overnight thing, so I think you gotta enjoy the process. It’s gonna hurt. Most of my text messages to most guys are, ‘Winning hurts. It’s gonna hurt. It’s gonna be tough. It’s gonna hurt. But at the end of the day, there’s no better feeling.’ So that’s kind of my motto I try to preach to these kids."Tocchet's 18 NHL seasons spent as a player could certainly serve him well in his new role as a head coach, especially behind a Coyotes bench that features one of the least experienced lineups in the league."There's a partnership in today's game with the player," Tocchet said."Obviously, I’m not going to be out partying with the players - don’t get me wrong. But there’s gotta be a relationship with the player, and you’ll get respect back if you give them respect."He may not be out crushing pints with his new team, but one thing's for sure - Tocchet wants his club to be one of the fastest, most hard-working teams in the league."I told them it’s imperative that they come into camp in great shape because the style we’re going to play, you’re going to have to be able to skate and gotta be relentless and you’re going to have to be on top of the puck," he said."So that’s going to take work."Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Calvin de Haan and the New York Islanders reportedly have quite the gap to bridge.The defenseman is asking for $5 million and the club is offering $1.95 million, Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reports.De Haan has an arbitration hearing scheduled for Wednesday.He was a key part of the Islanders' top four on the blue line this past season, ranking fourth in average ice time on the club among players with at least 50 games played and chipping in 25 points while appearing in all 82 games.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Columbus Blue Jackets signed head coach John Tortorella to a one-year contract extension through the 2018-19 season, the team announced Monday."John Tortorella and his coaching staff have done a terrific job since his arrival nearly two years ago," said Blue Jackets GM Jarmo Kekalainen. "He is one of the top coaches in our game and we are excited about what lies ahead for our club with John as our head coach."Tortorella's new deal keeps him under contract for the next two seasons, and comes on the heels of his second Jack Adams Trophy win. Torts took home the honors for top coach in the league at the 2017 NHL Awards in June.Under his guidance, the Blue Jackets will look to qualify for the postseason for the second straight year.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

American NHL fans will get to see Connor McDavid and Auston Matthews a few times each in the upcoming season.Both young superstars will appear in three games apiece on NBC/NBCSN in 2017-18, the league revealed Monday.The Toronto Maple Leafs will get one game on the main network and two on the cable channel.Day Away Home Network Time (ET)Jan. 24Maple LeafsChicago BlackhawksNBCSN8 p.m.Mar. 3Maple LeafsWashington CapitalsNBC8 p.m.Mar. 5Maple LeafsBuffalo SabresNBCSN7:30 p.m.All three of the Edmonton Oilers' games are scheduled to air on NBCSN.Date Away Home Network Time (ET)Nov. 21OilersSt. Louis BluesNBCSN8 p.m.Jan. 2Los Angeles KingsOilersNBCSN9:30 p.m.Jan. 9OilersNashville PredatorsNBCSN8 p.m.Other interesting U.S. broadcast notes include:

Andrei Markov will spend the next couple of seasons playing in his homeland.The former Montreal Canadiens defenseman signed a two-year contract with Ak Bars Kazan in the KHL, the league announced Monday.

From the NCAA's Division I ranks to a multi-year deal in the NHL, Pittsburgh Penguins newly-signed forward Conor Sheary's path to pro hockey has been far from linear.The undrafted forward spent four seasons playing with the University of Massachusetts-Amherst Minutemen between 2011-14, plying his trade in college rinks in hopes of one day cracking an NHL roster.Skip forward to today, and the 25-year-old winger finally has what he's always wanted: job stability."My career has kind of been a whirlwind," Sheary told Michelle Crechiolo of Pens Inside Scoop. "Just going from three years ago, to think that I'd be signing this contract is something I never would have imagined."I was fortunate enough to pick the Penguins as the team I wanted to play for and they were obviously giving me every opportunity to prove myself, so I'm happy with that."Sheary's new deal comes on the heels of fellow Pens Brian Dumoulin and Justin Schultz signing their new contracts."We're all pretty close friends," Sheary said. "We definitely have congratulated each other. We've said some inside jokes with each other about how much money Schultzy is making or whatever it may be."But it's all in good fun and I'm happy for those guys as well."With two Stanley Cups rings and a 50-plus-point season to his credit, Sheary will now be counted on to contribute to a Penguins club looking to three-peat as champions.Last season, Sheary scored 23 goals and added 30 assists across 61 regular-season games.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Minnesota Wild have signed restricted free-agent forward Nino Niederreiter to a five-year contract worth $26.25 million, the team announced Sunday.That amounts to an average annual valuation of $5.25 million, making Niederreiter the team's third-highest paid forward."Nino has had a big impact on our club during the last four seasons and we're very happy to know that will continue in the future," said general manager Chuck Fletcher. "He's grown into his role as one of the offensive leaders of this group and his shot and net-front presence will continue to play a major role in our team's success."Nino has a great attitude and personality, and we know our fans will be as happy as we are about this news."The two sides were scheduled for an arbitration hearing on Aug. 3.Niederreiter, who will turn 25 prior to the start of this coming season, set career highs in goals (25), assists (32), total points (57), power-play goals (8), power-play assists (6), power-play points (14), and shots on goal (186) in 2016-17.He's entering his fifth season with the Wild after being acquired from the New York Islanders, who selected him fifth overall at the 2010 NHL Draft.Minnesota will now focus attention on Mikael Granlund, who remains an unsigned RFA.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Jim Rutherford is refocusing his center of attention.The Pittsburgh Penguins general manager was able to avoid arbitration with restricted free agents Brian Dumoulin and Conor Sheary, as the latter signed a three-year, $9-million contract Sunday. Now, he'll look to fill a hole at center left open by the departures of Nick Bonino (free agency), Matt Cullen (possible retirement), and Oskar Sundqvist (trade).CapFriendly reveals free-agent options are limited at this point in the summer, and the Penguins have only $3.28 million in available salary cap space heading into next season, meaning Rutherford will be working the phones and further exploring the trade market in the coming days.

The Pittsburgh Penguins inked forward Conor Sheary to a three-year, $9-million contract, the team announced Sunday.Sheary finished the regular season tied for third on the Penguins with 23 goals and ranked fourth with 53 points despite being limited to 61 games.The 25-year-old clicked with Sidney Crosby and Jake Guentzel on Pittsburgh's top line, helping the Penguins win their second consecutive Stanley Cup championship in his second NHL campaign."There was a three or four-week period there (when) Sid and Jake and Conor were really special," Penguins general manager Jim Rutherford told Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. "They were really good together."Sheary was a restricted free agent who had a salary arbitration hearing scheduled for Friday.The Penguins now have $3.28 million in remaining cap space, according to CapFriendly.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Ryan Johansen signed the biggest deal ever handed out on an annual basis by the Nashville Predators on Friday, inking a $64-million contract to spend the next eight seasons in Smashville - a fact that obviously has the soon-to-be 25-year-old fired up.Related: Poll: Did the Predators overpay Ryan Johansen?"This is probably one of the best days of my life right now," said Johansen, according to Robby Stanley of NHL.com. "I'm just so thankful for my family and my brother and friends. They've done everything they can to guide me in the right direction and teach me and learn from."With Johansen's future now secure with the Predators, Nashville and general manager David Poile fill a major need up the middle - a position that is arguably the club's biggest weakness."That's why I was brought here, to be a No. 1 center," Johansen said. "That was my motivation going into the playoffs and throughout the series and putting ourselves in a position to play in the playoffs."Despite only spending a season and a half in Nashville, Johansen was always clear on where he wanted to be."This is where I belong. This is where I want to play. There's no better staff, management, team, group of guys, friends, place to live, city, fans, there's a whole list. There's no better place to be right now."Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Dallas Stars will host the 2018 NHL Draft, the team announced Saturday.

Despite missing half of the 2016-17 regular season and all of the playoffs with a severe neck injury and subsequent surgery, Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Kris Letang is optimistic about playing next campaign.Related: Watch: Terrell Owens breaks Kris Letang's ankles during trainingSo much so, in fact, the oft-injured rearguard expects to be ready for training camp."Obviously, I've had a lot of time to rehab it and get stronger and make sure I was all healed up," Letang said, according to Kaitlyn Kaminski of NHL.com. "It's been pretty good and we're on a path of starting training camp and being fully healthy."Over the course of Letang's 11-year career, the 30-year-old blue-liner has faced numerous serious ailments, including three concussions, a stroke, and multiple broken bones.However, Letang's propensity to spend time in the press box clearly hasn't slowed the Penguins, as Pittsburgh looks to become the first team to three-peat as champions since the 1980-82 New York Islanders.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Bringing on two players who finished last season with a combined goal total of 18 doesn't usually instill a ton of confidence in the team adding those players.But, for Minnesota Wild head coach Bruce Boudreau, that's exactly the case with newly added forwards Marcus Foligno and Tyler Ennis, who were both acquired via trade with the Buffalo Sabres last month.Related: Boudreau: 3 unsigned RFAs are 'glue that's going to hold' Wild together"I think people are going to love Marcus Foligno. He hits a ton. I think he can score. … I think he's going to be a fan favorite and people here are going to love him," Boudreau told Chad Graff of the Twin Cities Pioneer Press.Despite being hampered by injuries throughout his time in the NHL - Ennis has played a full 82-game season only once - Boudreau is especially hyped about the addition of the diminutive centerman."Tyler Ennis, I've seen and talked to and met. I don't want to put pressure on him, but three years ago, he was a great player in this league," said Boudreau. " ... I'm very excited about having him.""In our top-nine forwards, I think we're as strong as anybody in the league."With three key forwards still unsigned, including Foligno and last year's point leader Mikael Granlund, Boudreau's confidence surrounding his forward group seems almost foolhardy. Especially when you consider the fact the Wild failed to produce a single 30-goal scorer a season ago.Boudreau will be looking to qualify for the postseason for a second straight season as Minnesota's bench boss, while the Wild as a franchise have made the playoffs every year since 2013.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

With training camp slowly but surely approaching, four NHL teams remain without captains.Here's a look at the top candidate to lead each team:Arizona Coyotes - Oliver Ekman-LarssonShane Doan was uncermoniously let loose by the Coyotes back in June, opening the door for someone other than the former face of the franchise to don the "C" for the first time since 2003.Enter Oliver Ekman-Larsson, who was drafted sixth overall in 2009 and now stands as the team's longest-serving player.He also happens to be an elite defenseman, and general manager John Chayka has touted Ekman-Larsson as the one who will carry the team moving forward.The decision will ultimately be up to new head coach Rick Tocchet and his staff, but Ekman-Larsson was reported to be in line for the captaincy prior to his hiring.Carolina Hurricanes - Jordan StaalFour players served as alternate captains for the Carolina Hurricanes last season: defenseman Justin Faulk, and forwards Victor Rask, Jeff Skinner and Jordan Staal.The latter, of course, is the brother of former Carolina captain Eric Staal, and is best suited to take up that mantle beginning this season.The 27-year-old, two-way center is under contract through to the end of the 2022-23 season, boasts a wealth of knowledge and experience, and has won a Stanley Cup as a member of the Pittsburgh Penguins (2009).The Hurricanes are an up-and-coming team, and, if all goes according to plan for GM Ron Francis, Jordan could be the second Staal to accept the Cup from commissioner Gary Bettman.Toronto Maple Leafs - Auston MatthewsThe Maple Leafs have been without a captain since Dion Phaneuf was traded to Ottawa in 2016. Like the Hurricanes, Toronto assigned an "A" to four players last season: forwards Tyler Bozak and Leo Komarov, and defensemen Matt Hunwick and Morgan Rielly.Rielly may have had the inside track on being named captain of the historic franchise were it not for Toronto's good fortune of winning the 2016 NHL Draft lottery and laying claim to Auston Matthews.The Scottsdale, Ariz., native dominated in his rookie season, scoring 40 goals and winning the Calder Trophy. Matthews has also been embraced by the fan base, and - with all due respect to fellow rookie phenoms William Nylander and Mitch Marner - it is he for whom the team will be built around.Matthews will turn 20 prior to the start of the regular season, but he'd still be one of the youngest captains in NHL history. His cool demeanor and ability to get the job done suggests he's up to the task.Vegas Golden Knights - James NealMarc-Andre Fleury is being marketed hard by the expansion Golden Knights, but goalies are prohibited from serving as official captains during games, so he can be scratched from the list of candidates.According to team insider Gary Lawless, GM George McPhee may have selected the future captain with the 34th pick in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft, namely defenseman Nic Hague."I think Hague is going to be the Captain of the Vegas Golden Knights at some point in time," Lawless said on the SinBin.vegas podcast. "The way he talks, the way he commands the players around him, his stature. He was the OHL Scholastic Player of the Year last year. He is a really impressive young man."Hague is a few years away yet, and Vegas could choose to rotate alternates until a clear leader emerges, but they'll probably want to sell some jerseys with the "C" right off the bat.James Neal has one year remaining on his contract, but was a big get for the Golden Knights in the expansion draft, and served as an alternate with the Nashville Predators over the past few seasons.He's also one of Vegas' top offensive options, helped the Preds reach the 2017 Cup Final, and is the top candidate on a roster that will remain very much in flux over the next few years.(Photos courtesy: Action Images)Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Arizona Coyotes general manager John Chayka has been one of the busier NHL executives this summer, adding to his roster at almost every position.The key to Arizona's future success, however, lies with a player that has spent his entire career in a Coyotes uniform - assistant captain and No. 1 defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson.Related: Tocchet hiring cements Coyotes as early offseason winners"It's a bit of a reboot here but I think we've got a good core, a young nucleus led by Oliver Ekman-Larsson," Chayka told NHL Tonight on Friday. "He's going to carry us. You only go as far as your top players can bring you."In a few short months, the youngest-ever GM in North American sports history has remade the identity of a hockey club that has languished at the bottom of the NHL standings for the past five seasons.Arguably, the most important piece to Chayka's offseason plan was the acquisition of three-time Cup champion Niklas Hjalmarsson from the Chicago Blackhawks. The 30-year-old veteran will be counted on to play top minutes with fellow Swede Ekman-Larsson."Nik, for us, is a guy that comes in and can be that top-pairing guy with Oliver, and like I said, we are going to go as far he's able to bring us and he's going to kind of push this thing forward," Chayka said."So, he needs support, he needs help, and we think Nik can do that for him."At 26 years old, Ekman-Larsson is one of the top offensive rearguards in the game - registering 30-or-more points in five of his seven seasons in the league - and will be counted on to lead a young Coyotes club looking to make the playoffs for the first time since 2012.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Minnesota Wild have some unfinished business to take care of.With August quickly approaching, restricted free agents Mikael Granlund, Nino Niederreiter, and recently acquired Marcus Foligno remain unsigned, and head coach Bruce Boudreau reiterated the trio's importance to the team's success."They're the glue that's going to hold us together," Boudreau said Friday via the team's website. "All three of those guys had great years last year, so we're looking forward for them to be part of the Wild organization for a lot of years to come."Related: 5 notable remaining restricted free agentsBoudreau acknowledged it's only a matter if time until the players are signed, but appears keen to see pen put to paper."It's a waiting period till at least August 3 and 4," Boudreau added, referring to arbitration dates set for Niederreiter and Granlund, respectively. "Right after they're done, training camp is right around the corner."As an organization, we just want to see what we have and what our team's gonna look like. We think we know what it's going to look like, but until we get all three of those guys signed, we're not 100 percent sure."Niederreiter and Granlund are coming off career years, while Foligno - who came to Minnesota as part of the Marco Scandella trade with Buffalo - recorded 13 goals and 10 assists in 80 games for the Sabres last season.The Wild finished second in the Central Division in 2016-17, but were knocked out of the playoffs in the first round by St. Louis.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

David Poile has locked up his No. 1 center for years to come, and he's feeling good about it.The Nashville Predators general manager announced the signing of Ryan Johansen to an eight-year, $64-million contract Friday, thereby securing the services of a player for whom he gave up star defenseman Seth Jones in early 2016."A year and a half ago, we made a deal with Columbus to pick up Ryan, and I think everyone would agree that was somewhat of ... a turning point in our franchise," Poile said Friday, per the team's website."In (these contract) negotiations, his agent used a line that 'Ryan's a driver of our team,' and I totally concur with that. I really feel in these next eight years, we're going to do really well, and when we do really well, Ryan Johansen's going to be a big, big factor in all of our winning."The Predators, of course, are the reigning Western Conference champions, and their prospects in the Stanley Cup Final would have been greatly boosted had Johansen not suffered a thigh injury in the third round. Prior to being sidelined, the 24-year-old had recorded a team-high 13 points (three goals, 10 assists) in 14 playoff games, arguably his best stretch of play with the club.Nasvhille boasts one of the best defense corps in the NHL, and Johansen's linemates - Viktor Arvidsson and Filip Forsberg - are also signed long term. Altogether, Poile certainly believes this is a group worth betting on."We have our whole core signed up, and for a lot of guys, for a lot of years," Poile said. "I hope we've chosen correctly, and I believe we've chosen correctly."I think our room is a very close room, so I thought it was in my best interests, and in our team's best interests, if I could get the bulk of our team locked up for a long time so they could play together for a long time. So here we go."After the signing, the Predators still have $5,436,667 in projected salary cap space, according to Cap Friendly. Captain Mike Fisher remains unsigned, and is expected to make a decision on his future sometime next week.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Connor McDavid has some pretty devoted fans.Instagram user @kyleghostkeeper, a tattoo artist at FY Ink in Toronto, got a large portrait of the Edmonton Oilers captain inked on his right thigh, which he proudly showed off Thursday. The photo caught the attention of McDavid, who shared it on his own Instagram account:

The San Jose Sharks are thrilled to have Marshawn Lynch back in the Bay Area.To celebrate the running back's first season with the Oakland Raiders, all fans in attendance for the Sharks' Nov. 25 game against the Winnipeg Jets will receive a "Beast Mode" bobblehead.

Ryan Johansen signed his big new contract with the Nashville Predators, but the list of remaining restricted free agents goes 28 deep, according to Cap Friendly.Here's a look at five of the biggest names:Leon DraisaitlOf all the lottery picks made by the Edmonton Oilers over the past decade, Leon Draisaitl is making a strong case to be named second-best.The 21-year-old broke out to the tune of 77 points last season (29 goals, 48 assists), finishing eighth on the NHL's scoring list. He also helped the club clinch a long-awaited playoff spot, leading the Oilers in postseason scoring with six goals and 10 assists in 13 games.Related: Projecting Leon Draisaitl's next contractThe future is bright for this one, and he's soon going to snag a big chunk of Edmonton's $16.8 million in available cap space.David PastrnakDavid Pastrnak recorded 34 goals and 36 assists in 75 games for the Boston Bruins in 2016-17, seven fewer points than Draisaitl in seven fewer games.When deployed alongside Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand, Pastrnak is part of one of the NHL's most dangerous and effective lines. He's not only displayed clear star power, he also has the look of a potential franchise cornerstone winger.Given how the Bruins have handled their young players in recent years - most notably Tyler Seguin and Dougie Hamilton - the club can ill afford to mess around here, and Boston has more than $10 million to work after recently signing fellow RFA Ryan Spooner to a new deal of his own.Related: Projecting David Pastrnak's next contractMikael Granlund, Nino NiederreiterThe Minnesota Wild have two prominent RFAs to deal with in forwards Mikael Granlund and Nino Niederreiter, and, according to a recent report, both are seeking long-term deals that will pay them more than $6 million annually.Working in their favor is that Granlund and Niederreiter are coming off the best seasons of their careers to date, setting themselves apart as core members of a Wild team with hopes of becoming a legit contender.PlayerAgeGamesGoalsAssistsPointsMikael Granlund2581264369Nino Niederreiter2482253257Both players, it should be noted, are scheduled to go to arbitration - Niederreiter on Aug. 3 and Granlund on Aug. 4. The Wild possess almost 16 million in available cap space heading into those meetings.Conor ShearyThis Pittsburgh Penguins winger enters free agency as a two-time Stanley Cup champion, and as a recent linemate of superstar center Sidney Crosby.That plum assignment helped him record 23 goals and 30 assists in 61 games last season, good for a point-per-game average of 0.88, slotting him among the likes of Seguin, Patrik Laine, and John Tavares in that stat category.The Penguins seem to have a knack for turning depth talent into effective contributors, and Sheary is in line for a decent raise thanks to how well he's fit in while pulling top-line duty.Honorable mentions

Andrei Markov hasn't been asked to play in the Olympics, but it doesn't sound like it would take long for him to accept an invite."If I'm going to play well and everything, (if) I'm going to deserve to be part of the Russian team in the Olympics, I will be happy. But it's not my decision," Markov said on a conference call Thursday. "All I can do (is) just play my game, do my best, and hopefully I'm going to be there."While NHLers won't compete in Pyeongchang, the same condition doesn't apply to those in the KHL, leaving open the possibility Markov could appear in his fourth Winter Games. On Thursday, the 38-year-old signed with the KHL's Ak Bars Kazan, effectively ending his 16-season run as a mainstay on the Montreal Canadiens' blue line.Should Markov play for Team Russia, he could be joined by fellow KHLers and former NHL talents in Ilya Kovalchuk, Pavel Datsyuk, and Valeri Nichushkin, among others."It's something special, and it's too bad that NHL (is) not going there, NHL players not going there," Markov added. "Everybody understands it's a business and whatever decision NHL made, it's their decision. But for the athletes, it's a great experience, it's a great feeling, and to represent your country in such a big tournament, it's huge and it's something special."Markov has suited up for the past three Olympic tournaments, with his best finish coming in 2006, when Russia placed fourth. The Russians haven't medaled at the Olympics since capturing the bronze in 2002.In 62 games with the Canadiens last season, Markov netted six goals and 30 assists. Over his career, he skated in 990 contests with Montreal, trailing only Larry Robinson in games played by a Canadiens defenseman.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

With Friday's signing of Ryan Johansen to an eight-year, $64-million deal, the Nashville Predators solidified their roster for next season while still leaving themselves $5.4 million in available cap space for the 2017-18 campaign.However, Johansen's contract is the largest ever handed out by Nashville, so, naturally, the dollar amount over the course of his eight years is under the microscope.Simply put, did the Predators overpay their No. 1 center?Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Ryan Johansen agreed to a new eight-year, $64-million contract with the Nashville Predators on Friday, the team announced.Johansen was a restricted free agent, but according to the centerman, there was never a doubt in his mind about where he wanted to spend his future."There wasn't just one moment, it was an easy decision," Johansen told the media Friday. "I believe there's no better place to play than Nashville right now."He appeared in all 82 regular-season games last campaign and led the Predators with 47 assists. Johansen also performed when it mattered most, notching 13 points in 14 playoff contests before suffering a season-ending thigh injury in the Western Conference Final.The Predators first landed Johansen in a blockbuster trade with the Columbus Blue Jackets that sent defenseman Seth Jones the other way in January 2016.Filip Forsberg, Viktor Arvidsson, and Johansen formed one of the NHL's most productive lines in 2016-17, helping Nashville reach the Stanley Cup Final for the first time in franchise history.Johansen's new contract carries an AAV of $8 million, and leaves the Predators with $5.4 million remaining in cap space for the 2017-18 season. The deal is the biggest contract ever handed out by the Predators.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Thursday's team announcement that unrestricted free-agent defenseman Andrei Markov would not be returning to the club for the 2017-18 season marked the final step of a complete overhaul to the Montreal Canadiens' defense corps since the end of the 2013-14 season.Just four years later, the Canadiens have eight new players signed to one-way contracts at a combined cap hit of $23.96 million, according to Cap Friendly.The one constant behind this defensive carousel remains goaltender Carey Price, freshly signed to an eight-year, $84-million contract extension set to kick in for the 2018-19 season.Here's how the eight men in front of Price are expected to line up this year.LHDRHDKarl AlznerShea WeberDavid SchlemkoJeff PetryJordie BennMark StreitJoe MorrowBrandon DavidsonPetry is the only returning member from the defense corps of just two years ago. Along with Weber, they were the only two defensemen to average at least 20 minutes of ice time per game last season.The pressure on Price will be higher than ever as a result of the defensive turnover and resultant eight-man group.The true test of the trade(Photo courtesy: Action Images)Weber's role will need to increase after leading the team with an average of 25:04 in ice time last season. While he performed well in his first year with the Canadiens, it was the older Markov helping to ease his transition.

At the conclusion of the 2016-17 season, Chris Neil was adamant about wanting to play another season in the NHL, at the time wanting to finish his career with the Ottawa Senators.Fast forward to this summer, and not only have Neil and the Senators parted ways, but the 16-year veteran is still without a job. It's a fact, however, that isn't bothering Neil in the slightest.Related: Report: Chris Neil has multiple NHL offers for next season"I'm confident, because of the chats we've had with teams," Neil said Thursday, according to Don Brennan of Postmedia. "You look at the free-agent players that are out there now, there's a lot of veteran players that are good reliable players, and I'm one of those guys. You can't read too much into it. It's no different than any other year."I'm just kind of sitting back and enjoying the summer, and spending time with my family."Neil is coming off the worst offensive campaign of his career, registering just one goal and three assists across 53 regular-season games last season while playing a diminished role for the Senators - he averaged only 7:34 of ice time.Despite the lackluster performance and not having a professional contract signed for next season, Neil is seemingly at peace with his current position."Everyone's asking, 'Are you stressed?' I'm not stressed at all," he said. "Like I've always said, God has a way for me, and he'll lead me in the right direction."Neil's truculence (2522 career penalty minutes) and playoff experience (95 career postseason games) could have some teams in need of veteran leadership sniffing around with one-year offers.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

James Bisson celebrates the 25th anniversary of the 1992-93 season with a look back at the most memorable moments of the greatest campaign in NHL history. This edition focuses on the Montreal Canadiens, who rode one of the most improbable streaks in history to their 24th Stanley Cup title. Several members of the team agreed to share their memories of that incredible run.After being swept by the Boston Bruins in the second round a year earlier, widespread change was the theme heading into Canadiens training camp. Gone was fiery head coach Pat Burns, who made the trek westward to become the new bench boss of the Toronto Maple Leafs. He was replaced by Jacques Demers, who had last coached in the NHL with Detroit in 1989-90.Gilbert Dionne: Pat was dealing with stress, as I realized later on in my career ... he spent four years in Montreal, faced a lot of pressure there, and things weren't working out, so changes had to be made. So Pat was on his way out and ended up going to Toronto, which back then we thought was our nemesis. The Toronto Maple Leafs, just down the road! (laughs) I'm like, "Wow, Pat's going there?"Stephan LeBeau: I had played the three years prior under Pat Burns. I was playing great hockey, but didn't have a lot of ice time. I'm not saying it was a big battle between me and Pat - it was a battle between the media and Pat Burns regarding my situation. I was a French-Canadian, I was putting up the numbers for the ice time I had, so often the reporters were challenging Pat - not the best thing to do if you don't want to upset him. I struggled to get more ice time, and I felt it was a conflict of who's right in my situation - the reporters or Pat Burns. With Pat, it was step by step. "You're young, take your time, don't rush things." So when Jacques arrived, it was a complete change.Burns and Demers couldn't have been more different. While Burns motivated largely through tough talk, Demers was known best for being a player's coach - and that made an immediate impact on a team whose average age among players who suited up that season was 24.9.Vincent Damphousse: Jacques had a strong message for us. He was a very strong motivator. That was his strength. He was the best coach I ever had in my career. He was able to get the best out of everybody and find a role for everybody. He wasn't an Xs and Os coach or a tactical coach - just a guy who gets you to believe that you're really important, from the first to the last guy.John LeClair: It wasn't about yelling. It was just his approach to things. Burnsie had his own approach and that's how he was successful, but Jacques' was successful in a way where he was positive, and that positive feeling was something that the team really took in and thrived on.Dionne: When Jacques came in, we felt totally refreshed. For me, as a younger player, Pat was kind of harder on the young kids coming in. When Jacques came in he was more open to the rookies and made us feel welcome and want to be part of the team. We had a great coaching staff for that, with (assistants) Jacques Laperriere and Charles Thiffault ... these guys were there to teach us, not to punish us. I really enjoyed it when Jacques showed up and brought some positives to the team and helped us believe in ourselves.LeBeau: Confidence is a key element of success both as teams and individuals; Jacques not only believed in us, he made us feel like we could do it. I don't remember how many exactly, but several players on that team had the best seasons of their career in 1992-93.Demers' impact on the fresh-faced Canadiens was immediate. No longer was the bulk of the ice time reserved for the team's veteran skaters. Everyone got a chance to contribute across all forward lines and defense pairings.Dionne: Back then, everyone was looking for a 50-goal scorer. But we weren't going with one man only to get us 50 goals. Jacques and the coaching staff said, "If we can go with four lines, and maybe limit some of these guys' ice time by a minute or two (per game), something good is going to come out of it." And sure enough, that gave me a great opportunity, getting some second-unit and power-play time, and getting a few goals here and there.LeClair: Any time you get a new coach, there's always that boost of energy. Guys are excited to play for a new guy and show him what they can do. He gave guys different roles, me being one of them. I had a little bit of a bigger role with Jacques there than I did with Pat. You're a little bit more excited to play, and I think we proved that in our game.LeBeau: I don't remember exactly when, but very early in training camp, Jacques brought me in his office and said to me, "Stephane, I know what you've been through, but I really need you this year. And you're going to have a big impact on the hockey team." That was his first message to me, and I walked out of his office, and I was relieved. I was lighter. For once, I felt the trust that my role was going to increase. And it did happen - and that's why I had my best season.Demers wasn't the only new face in town. The Canadiens made two significant moves just prior to the start of the season; they acquired Damphousse from Edmonton for Shayne Corson, Brent Gilchrist, and Vladimir Vujtek, and snagged Brian Bellows from the Minnesota North Stars for Russ Courtnall.While goal prevention was the trademark of the Patrick Roy-led Canadiens, the addition of Damphousse and Bellows - who combined for 68 goals and 96 assists in 1991-92 - was expected to bolster a moribund Montreal offense that ranked 14th in the 22-team league a season earlier.Damphousse: I was traded in August, a week before a training camp. For me to come home and wear that jersey was unbelievable.LeClair: With Bellows, he was a pure goal-scorer. He knew how to put the puck in the net. And obviously Vinny was a big offensive guy, too. Adding those two guys, you hope that you will see some increase. Shayne was more of a two-way player. He could score, but he had more of an all-around game. (Courtnall) was a goal-scorer, but he was streaky. With what we got, we were hoping to get more consistent goal-scoring out of those two guys.Dionne: I think that helped big time; teams were coming in and they were confused, because even if the top line was shut down, we had the second and third lines stepping in and doing the job.Despite the influx of scoring and an emphasis on youth, nobody was picking the Canadiens to go all the way - nobody, that is, except for Demers, who came out prior to the season and proclaimed that Montreal would shock the world and win the Cup.Patrick Roy (as told to Hugo Fontaine of canadiens.com in March 2017): I remember when Jacques came out on the ice for our first practice and said that, we all just looked at each other with these confused expressions and wondered if maybe we hadn't heard him correctly or something.LeBeau: I always think that we were underestimated. No, we weren't the favorite, and I won't argue that we weren't the best team in the league that year, but we were certainly one of the best. We didn't have a Mario Lemieux or a Steve Yzerman offensively, but our team was a quality one - and that's why I think we were underestimated. But it didn't feel like we were young. The way we handled adversity and success made it feel like we were a mature team.Also working in the Habs' favor that season: leadership. Not only did they feature Guy Carbonneau as captain and a host of vocal veterans in Mike Keane, Kirk Muller, and Patrick Roy, but Canadiens players had access to more than a few guys who had played for the Cup before.LeClair: Guy was huge. When you talk about us being a young team, the reason we were able to be successful was because of the leadership we had - and that started with Carbo. The guy doesn't panic, he doesn't change, he's the same temperament no matter the situation, always says the right thing. His leadership on the ice was fabulous. He's the biggest team guy I ever played with. He's one of those guys that everybody loves to play with. I have tremendous respect for the guy.Dionne: We had great support up top with Serge Savard winning Stanley Cups, and with Maurice Richard and Jean Beliveau and Guy Lafleur coming in the dressing room. I would ask them, "What did you guys used to do back in the day?" Communication with the alumni guys was huge for me. It helped me big time. Mario Tremblay worked for a local radio station, and he would come to practice. I would say, "Mario, I'm struggling on the wing here. What's up?" And he would guide me. That worked for me, and I appreciated it.The Canadiens came out on fire, putting together a 13-1-1 stretch from Oct. 17 to Nov. 17 en route to a 14-4-2 start to the year. But an 8-10-2 stretch over the next 20 games quelled much of the enthusiasm over the hot start - and typified the regular season for Montreal, which ran hot and cold for the majority of the campaign.LeClair: I can't speak for everybody, but that was only my second full year in the league. I wasn't by any means a polished pro, and it takes a while to get that consistency in your game. Any pro has ups and downs throughout the year, but the guys who have been in the league a while, theirs are a lot shorter because they know how to handle it and they get out of it a little quicker. I do think being young did (contribute) to a lot of that roller-coaster ride.Dionne: I think sometimes that's what happens with young players, and especially forwards like me. You gotta get goals, gotta get assists, and if you don't, you feel the pressure. I didn't want to go back to Fredericton. People talk, and the media puts pressure on you. And believe it or not, although you all like each other, sometimes when you're with the same players, you get grumpy. You get frustrated. Then you might start blaming others, saying, "I don't get the puck enough. I'm not getting enough playing time. I'm not getting enough power-play minutes." The forwards blame the defense, and the defensemen blame the forwards. And it snowballs.LeBeau: Jacques was always in search of the right move to put us in the right spirits. Sometimes he was hard on us, and sometimes he would flatter us. The strategy depended on the situation. He could feel the mood of a dressing room and adjust accordingly. So sometimes we would be playing well and he would be tough on us, while sometimes we would be in a slump and it was time to release the pressure - and he would do that. Jacques always had a way to hold on to the dressing room.While the Canadiens found themselves in a battle for top spot in the Adams Division with the Boston Bruins and Quebec Nordiques, the Journal de Montreal ran a poll in mid-January asking whether the team should trade Roy, who was having a good-but-not-great season to that point. The result: 57 percent of respondents said yes.It spoke to the immense pressure both media and fans were placing on the Canadiens to go all the way - and the players noticed.Dionne: There was so much stuff being said. You had a dozen reporters for one newspaper. I would drive to the rink with Carbo and we would hear things, and I would always look at him and ask, "Is this true? Is this true?" We had to listen to the radio so Guy was prepared to say something and wouldn't be caught off guard after the game or before the game when he met with the media. I personally said a few things I shouldn't have said, but you can't take it back. Though I wish I could, because I'd probably still be playing. (Iaughs)LeClair: I thought Montreal fans were supposed to be knowledgeable fans, so I don't really understand that. For me, everybody had so much respect for Pat, and we believed in him more than everybody else. There's nobody I trusted back there more than him.LeBeau: The mentality in Montreal has always been to win the Stanley Cup. If you don't win, you failed. Even though we were among the top teams in the league, the fans are demanding. So it wasn't a surprise to see that kind of pressure if we weren't on the top of the pyramid. And of course Patrick was our superstar; he had to make a difference every night. So when things weren't going well, people were complaining or criticizing us more than perhaps other fans would. But that's part of playing in Montreal.Dionne: It was all about team camaraderie - and it wasn't easy back then. We had 10 French guys and nine English guys, and the media kept throwing things at us. We had to stick together.In a precursor to their playoff run, the Canadiens closed the regular season with overtime outcomes in three of their final four games. They won just one of them, finishing with a 48-30-6 mark, good for 102 points and a third-place finish in the competitive Adams. Their first-round foe: The rival Nordiques.Damphousse: Boston had 109 points, Quebec had 104, and we had 102. We had a very tough matchup in the first round, and it was split on who the experts thought was going to win. Quebec had a lot of punch on the attack with Sakic and Sundin, and a lot of young guys ... a lot of talent.Jacques Demers (as told to Hugo Fontaine of canadiens.com in 2013): Just as the playoffs were about to start, I heard the song "Nothing's Gonna Stop us Now" by Starship. I went to my captains, Carbo, Muller, Damphousse, Roy, and Keane, and I asked them what they thought about playing that song before each of our games. Like the song says, "We can build this dream together ... nothing's gonna stop us now." The guys liked the idea.Things got off to a rough start for the Canadiens, who dropped a pair of one-goal decisions in Quebec - including the lone overtime loss they would suffer all postseason. Demers had a major challenge on his hands in trying to keep his young roster from feeling discouraged.LeClair: It wasn't panic at all. Everybody understood that we had to play better, and Jacques was relaying that message, too. He said, "There's a lot more that we can do, this isn't our best, and we need to bring our best."Damphousse: I think we felt a bit down, but at the same time, we still believed in our chances. I remember Jacques having conversations with me at the morning skate, because I didn't really have an impact the first couple of games. He said, "You know we need you, I don't have to tell you. But you need to step it up the way you did during the season."LeBeau: In those two games in Quebec, we were right there in the game. We knew we couldn't drop the third game, but if we win those two home games, we're back in the series. And I believe winning the third game was the key moment that brought us back, because we played two good games in Quebec, we won the third game, and we said, "We're back in the series; we can beat these guys."At that point, the hockey gods took over. Damphousse scored the overtime winner in Game 3, kicking off an incredible stretch that saw the Canadiens win four straight games - two in extra time - to eliminate the Nordiques, then reel off a four-game sweep of the Buffalo Sabres in which three of the games were decided in OT. Indeed, something special was happening with the Habs.Damphousse: Game 3 was the first of our 10 (overtime wins) in a row, and it really started something incredible. I don't think it'll be matched.LeClair: I think when we got into Games 3 and 4 against Buffalo, we could see the bounces are going our way, and you could see there was something special going on with Patrick that was easy to ride with the way that Patrick was going in net.LeBeau: For me, personally, (it felt special) after we beat Buffalo. The first two rounds are pretty tough mentally and physically; you're so far away from your goal and your dream. After you win the second round, now the trophy is within reach. And this is where you start to say, "Hey, there are only four teams left. Anything is possible."The catalysts: a combination of balanced scoring - four different players contributed overtime goals in the first two rounds - and clutch goaltending from the oft-maligned Roy, who was steady, if not spectacular, in the first two rounds of the playoffs. And a little luck didn't hurt.Damphousse: We felt very comfortable playing in tight games. You almost go into a routine in overtime. You get your equipment dried up; you don't know how long it's going to be. Trainers are running left and right. But everybody stayed very calm. Patrick made key saves in all the overtime games, and that made a big impact. Every game was a different guy, different story.LeClair: It's a little calmer. You're not as nervous when you go to overtime when you've had so many in the playoffs and been on the right side of them. But it all comes back to Patrick. He says, "I'm not going to let them score," and everybody respects and believes him. We know they're not going to score. So it wasn't a matter of if, but when.Dionne: We weren't getting nervous during overtime; we had the best goalie in the world. Patrick was so confident in himself, and we were confident in him. All he was asking is for us to score more than two goals. He would promise us and say, "I'm not gonna let more than two goals in, boys. If any." Every player had a job to do, every line had a job to do, and that's what we did. The further we went, the more confident we were in overtime. We were in the locker room and would say, "Who gets this winner, guys? Whose line is going to get it?" It was so much fun.LeBeau: We had a quality team, but it takes some breaks. Boston had had our number in the playoffs, but lost to Buffalo. Break No. 1. And then the Pittsburgh Penguins are upset by the New York Islanders. Break No. 2. That made a big difference; if Pittsburgh wins, we get on a plane and we start the semifinal in Pittsburgh; if the Islanders win, we start the series in Montreal. We were in our hotel on the seventh floor, and the Islanders won in overtime, and we all got out of our room and high-fived. Between Boston and Buffalo, and between Pittsburgh and the Islanders, I think 99 percent of the players would have chosen Buffalo and the Islanders.After riding two more overtime wins to a five-game elimination of the Islanders, the Canadiens found themselves in the Stanley Cup Final against Wayne Gretzky and the Los Angeles Kings, who were coming off a grueling seven-game series against the Toronto Maple Leafs.It didn't appear to affect the Kings, who prevailed 4-1 in Game 1 and held a 2-1 lead late in the third period of Game 2. And it was then that Demers pulled off one of the gutsiest moves in Stanley Cup history, asking for a measurement of Kings defenseman Marty McSorley's stick blade. The decision completely changed the complexion of the series.LeBeau: Back then, it was more common to see teams trying to measure hockey sticks. Just behind the (Montreal Forum) dressing room was a hallway, and this is where we were cutting our sticks. And in between periods, the visiting teams would put the stick racks right there. During the regular season, we had access to those sticks. But during the playoffs, teams weren't putting the stick racks there. So we had to take a guess.LeClair: It was a nervous time. We just didn't play that well in the first game, but we played pretty well in the second game. It wasn't do-or-die, but it was a desperate time; we didn't want to go down 2-0 heading back to their place.Dionne: I'm sitting next to Guy on the bench, and Jacques is speaking in French to Carbo. It's unfortunate, because Marty and I are good friends, but even his backup stick was illegal. So Jacques decided to do it. And Carbo said, "Yes! Do it. Might as well do it now." And once I saw Kerry Fraser using that stick blade measurer at the penalty box ... everyone was so nervous, but I was confident. "That thing's illegal! There's way too much curve."LeBeau: We were targeting (Luc) Robitaille and McSorley. We knew those two guys had illegal sticks. We had players on our side using illegal sticks; Vincent Damphousse played with a huge curve. But they always carried an extra stick, a good stick, just to make sure near the end of the game that, if it was going to get measured, it was going to be legal.Damphousse: It was a turning point for us. We knew there was some guys that had illegal sticks, but to be able to call that was a gutsy move. If you make a mistake, you look a little dumb.LeClair: There's no in-between on that one. You're a genius or an idiot.The rest is Canadiens history. Eric Desjardins ended a lengthy Montreal power-play drought with the tying goal at 18:47, and completed an unlikely hat trick 51 seconds into overtime - Montreal's eighth straight OT triumph.LeClair: We needed that extra advantage, and Eric got us a big goal.Damphousse: Desjardins scored three goals that game, but the second goal was basically because of Jacques' guts.Dionne: Eric Desjardins with a hat trick, plus an overtime goal ... who expects a defenseman to score three goals? It confused everybody.LeClair, who had been under the radar for most of his first two NHL seasons, burst out in a big way in the 1993 playoffs. His virtuoso performance came in Tinseltown, when he potted overtime winners in Games 3 and 4 - contests in which Montreal squandered multi-goal leads - to give the Canadiens a 3-1 stranglehold in the series.LeClair: You're a team, and you want everybody to succeed, from the first guy and the last guy. And when you have everybody in there contributing and pitching in, it just makes everybody feel part of it. For the most part, we played four lines, so everybody was a part of it. Everybody felt happy for everybody, and it made it that much more enjoyable.Dionne: I remember flying back from L.A. after the two big overtime goals from LeClair, and I turn around in my seat and I'm looking at Carbonneau and the guys at the back of the plane, and I ask, "We're not coming back, are we? You think this is it?" I was personally getting tired, and the emotions were running high. I said, "Are we flying back? We're not flying back, are we?" And Carbonneau said, "Just sit down and eat your ice cream and relax." (laughs) Everyone was so calm, but I wasn't. I was excited, and I really didn't want to lose in Montreal. I wanted to win the Cup in Montreal.LeBeau: I was injured. I had a right ankle injury, and then in the semifinal against the Islanders, when I scored that goal in the second overtime, during that game I was hit in the knee and I didn't play Games 3 or 4. I ended up finishing the playoffs on one leg, almost, so my offense wasn't as sharp as the regular season because I wasn't able to skate as well.Despite this, LeBeau - who came into the game with just two goals in 12 postseason games - wound up scoring the biggest goal of the postseason in Game 5 at the Forum. His tally 11:31 into the third period gave the Canadiens a 3-1 lead, and the Kings wouldn't threaten again.LeBeau: That goal was a big one. It was a rush, and if I remember, it was Mike Keane that dropped the puck to me about the top of the circle, and I was able to almost get by myself in front of Hrudey. I lost the puck a little bit but Hrudey lifted his leg a little bit, and I shot it between his legs.LeClair: It was nice. It made the last part of the game a little more enjoyable; you're not holding your stick so tight. But it's a weird feeling knowing you're going to win but still seeing time left; that clock looked like it wasn't ticking.LeBeau: As the playoffs went on, we became invincible. We felt that in the dressing room; I did, anyway. So at 3-1, the way we were playing, the way we were controlling the game, we knew it was going to be very difficult for them to beat us. And we were in complete control after that.Montreal cruised to a 4-1 victory, securing its 24th Stanley Cup in front of a delirious Forum crowd. Roy was named the Conn Smythe Trophy winner for the Canadiens, who, nearly a quarter-century later, remain the last Canadian-based team to win the NHL championship.Guy Carbonneau (as told to Stu Cowan of the Montreal Gazette in 2013): It's everybody's dream if you ask everybody that played hockey, especially in Canada. Here we play hockey in the streets and you dream of scoring the wining goal in the Stanley Cup Final and hoisting the Cup. To be able to do it for me was unbelievable in '86 and even better in '93 because we were able to do it here in Montreal and I was the captain. It was fun. For me, having the chance to win the Cup the second time and the third time (with Dallas in 1999) kind of made me reflect on it. I was able to sit back a little and enjoy it a lot more than I did the first one.Dionne: It was very special, especially for my family. My older brother Marcel had a wonderful career, he's a Hall of Famer and a Top 100 player all time. We looked up to Marcel, we watched him all year, and saw how frustrating it was for him to play in L.A., and how disappointing it was for him to never have a chance to reach the Stanley Cup Final. My late father was so happy, he said to Marcel, "We finally did it! We finally won the Cup!" (laughs) Marcel was in the stands, and I said to him, "Just come on down to the room. We got it." I could tell in the pictures that he was so proud of what I had accomplished with Montreal.LeClair: It's a great memory of mine. Any time you win the Stanley Cup, it's a special memory. I still get a chance to see some of the guys. It was so much fun to go through it with them.Kirk Muller (as told to Hugo Fontaine of canadiens.com in 2013): I remember going to sit with Mike Keane in the Forum stands a few hours after the end of the game. We each sat there with a beer in one hand and a cigar in the other, and we looked out at the empty rink, saying to ourselves: "Oh my God, we just won the Stanley Cup!"LeBeau: Twenty-five years ... I cannot believe it went so fast, but at the same time, it feels like yesterday that I was in the dressing room after that fifth game against L.A. with my teammates, and living my dream. It went so fast, it's unbelievable.Damphousse: A lot of people underestimated our team. But when you look at everybody's career, how they turned out, we had a really solid team. LeClair turned out to be a 50-goal scorer in the league; he had just started his career, he was 22 at the time. Eric Desjardins made the Canadian national team. Patrice Brisebois played 18 years. Mathieu Schneider became one of the best defensemen in the league. We really had a lot of talent - and nobody knew how good we were except for the guys inside. And Jacques really believed in us. He said we were going to shock the hockey world. And we did.Other entries in the series:

James Bisson celebrates the 25th anniversary of the 1992-93 season with a look back at the most memorable moments of the greatest campaign in NHL history. This edition focuses on other highlights from the campaign not covered in previous posts:A lot happened during the 1992-93 NHL season. A lot.So much, in fact, that we couldn't fit it all into five days' worth of posts. So here's a condensed look at 20 other major happenings from that magical campaign, including a few record-setters who deserve their due:

James Bisson celebrates the 25th anniversary of the 1992-93 season with a look back at the most memorable moments of the greatest campaign in NHL history. This edition focuses on Boston Bruins winger Joe Juneau, who put together one of the quietest 100-point rookie seasons ever:Joe Juneau will go down in NHL annals as a capable forward who finished with 572 points over 828 games with six different teams. He didn't win a Stanley Cup, but did play in two finals while reaching the playoffs eight times. All in all, it was a decent career for the native of Pont-Rouge, Quebec.But Juneau is so much more than that.For one, he's an actual rocket scientist - he earned a degree in aeronautical engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute before playing in the NHL, providing him the kind of job security few players have. It's part of the reason why he opted not to join the Bruins immediately following his time with RPI, as he explained to Patrick Cwiklinski of the Hockey News in 2011:

Longtime Montreal Canadiens defenseman Andrei Markov announced he's going home to play in the KHL next season after failing to agree to terms on a new contract with the club, and former teammate P.K. Subban can't believe it."I can't really envision the Montreal Canadiens without Andrei Markov on the blue line. That's No. 1," Subban told Arpon Basu of NHL.com. "Even before I played for the team, I watched him play for the team and be their best defenseman. Even while I was there, I still thought he was our best defenseman, even though a lot of people thought because of what I got paid it was me. You can't really put a price tag on how he plays because he's so smart, the way he sees the ice."Anyone who's played with him knows how good he is."Subban first joined the Canadiens in 2010, quickly endearing himself to local fans during a 14-game playoff stint where he first showed his electrifying abilities.Markov, meanwhile, had anchored the Habs' blue line since 2000-01, and served as a mentor to Subban. On top of quarterbacking the top power-play unit together, the duo seemed to develop a close friendship over the years.Related: Subban pens touching message to Markov from Russian's weddingThe 38-year-old Markov ends his Canadiens career as the second-highest scoring defenseman in club history, racking up 572 points in 990 games.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Add Mike Fisher to the list of players who could be headed to the Olympics.The Nashville Predators captain, who is currently an unrestricted free agent, has been approached to play for his home nation at the 2018 Winter Olympics, Jeff Paterson of TSN 1040 reports.Scott Salmond, vice-president of hockey operations for Hockey Canada, has made contact with Fisher, and he's also held talks with fellow free agents Jarome Iginla and Shane Doan.On Wednesday, Team Canada general manager Sean Burke left open the possibility Iginla and Doan could be a part of the squad.With the NHL sitting out the Olympics in 2018, all three players could be available to head to Pyeongchang if they do not sign an NHL contract beforehand.While NHL players and those on two-way contracts won't take part in the Olympics, Team Canada could choose players on AHL deals, those toiling in European leagues, and unsigned players.Should Fisher join the Olympic team, the 37-year-old will be walking away from a Predators squad that came within two wins of the Stanley Cup last season.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

A face familiar to Jack Eichel will remain in the Buffalo Sabres organization.The club signed Evan Rodrigues to a two-year contract Thursday, the first year of which is a two-way deal and the second of which will be of the one-way variety.Rodrigues collected six points in 30 games for the Sabres last season, while notching another 30 points in 48 contests for the AHL's Rochester Americans.He spent his senior season at Boston University playing with Eichel in the latter's lone NCAA campaign.Buffalo initially signed the undrafted Rodrigues to a two-year, entry-level deal in the spring of 2015, about two months before selecting Eichel second overall.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

If Andrei Markov had his way, he would have concluded his career with the only NHL franchise he's ever known.The veteran defenseman was clearly disappointed he won't be back with the Montreal Canadiens next season."I wanted to stay with the Canadiens for the rest of my career, but it won't happen," Markov said Thursday, hours after the club announced he will not be playing for them in 2017-18. "It's a business."The 38-year-old, who later revealed he's headed to Russia to play in the KHL, said he couldn't imagine donning another NHL sweater."I didn't see myself with any other NHL team. I didn't see myself wearing another jersey," he said, adding, "I knew in my heart that I only wanted to sign in Montreal," according to TSN 690's Amanda Stein.Markov repeatedly claimed Thursday he was willing to sign a one-year contract to stay with the Canadiens, for whom he played for nearly two decades."Those 16 years were a big part of my life," he said. "I will never forget my time here."Markov added he's not closing the door on a reunion with Montreal, but the KHL is his destination for the immediate future.The blue-liner ranks sixth on the Canadiens' all-time games played list with 990, and only Larry Robinson suited up for more (1,202) among defensemen in franchise history.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Former Montreal Canadiens defenseman Andrei Markov will play in the KHL next season, he told reporters Thursday.Markov, a native of Russia, heads home after spending 16 years in the NHL - all with the Canadiens.His 572 points with Montreal are tied for second-most by a defenseman in the franchise's history, but a number of factors - including his reportedly lofty contract demands, the Canadiens' limited cap space, and Mark Bergevin's decision to add four left-handed shooting defensemen this offseason - eventually led the two sides to part ways.It remains unclear which KHL team Markov will join, but considering the 38-year-old is coming off a stellar season, he should have no shortage of options.Markov will now be eligible to represent Team Russia at the 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeongChang, South Korea.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Doug Gilmour was the star of one of the most successful Toronto Maple Leafs franchises of the past 50 years, coming oh-so-close to reaching the 1993 Stanley Cup Final. Nearly 25 years later, I caught up with Gilmour to talk about his memories of the 1992-93 Maple Leafs (Part I can be found here):So you get to the playoffs, and draw a familiar first-round opponent in the Detroit Red Wings. How would you describe that series to those who didn't see it?Roller coaster. Going in there, losing both games, coming back, winning twice, going back there, winning again, coming back and getting our (butts kicked) … and then we go back in there and we're down a couple early, and we fight back. As we got closer to the end of regulation, we needed one goal. And we got it. And everything changed once (Nikolai Borschevsky) scored.Yeah, that series was a roller coaster. After we won that third game, we really started to get a little confidence. Had we lost that game, history would have changed a little bit.Most Leaf fans remember Borschevsky's goal for the sheer magnitude of it. But you guys are fishing for the summer if you don't score the tying goal with 2:43 left in regulation. What do you recall of that play?I was just coming in front of the net, and I believe it deflected off somebody. I got it and went glove side, and it actually went under (Red Wings goaltender Tim Cheveldae's) glove, not over the glove. I was just trying to get it on net. I didn't know if it went in or not. I put my arms up, and obviously it went in.They had a good hockey team over there, and I'm sure going into overtime they had a little more confidence than we did. We were the underdogs, so the expectations weren’t as high going in, but we just got shots on net. Nothing's changed in our game. Crazy things have happened.Next up was the St. Louis Blues, who were getting elite goaltending from Curtis Joseph. What do you do when you're facing a guy who's red-hot?You don't really know. They had a pretty good hockey club over there with (Brett) Hull and (Brendan) Shanahan … you don't have a lot of time to think about this. The next day, you go in and prep your lines - who's going to play against whom, who's on the power play, who's on the penalty kill.I think with the high of winning the Detroit series, we didn't look at St. Louis the same way. We thought Detroit was better. But that was a tough series. It took a lot out of us. I don't think we took them for granted, but we felt that (St. Louis) wasn't as good as Detroit at the time. So we were pretty upbeat that we were gonna beat them.You got off to a good start with that memorable wraparound goal to win Game 1 in double OT. You were behind the net for what seemed like forever - what was going through your mind?I learned from the best, obviously, with Gretzky. That was kind of my place to hide. Nicky was in the high slot, the defensemen were covered up high, and Andreychuk was going back and forth trying to get into a good spot, so in reality, I was waiting for him to get into a good spot and get it to the net. I didn't know I was going to spin, but I did, and as I started to come around, there was that one little opening. I can't explain it. It was just there.That series was so closely contested until Game 7, when you rolled to a 6-0 win. Did you do anything differently, or did the pucks just find ways in?They were just finding ways in. I don't think CuJo was tired, but he could have been tired; he had faced a lot of rubber. There's nothing better than getting a lead, and that was our thing - if we can just get one, and then two, and three. And that's what happened. The game is still hard-hitting now, but it was a war out there against those guys. They had some big bodies and a lot of talent.So next up is Wayne Gretzky and the Los Angeles Kings in the Western Conference Final …I wish I could play that series over. The whole thing. I know we could have beaten them, even with the non-call. Gretzky, he had a horseshoe up his ass in Game 7. We made some mistakes, and we didn't usually make mistakes. But it was still close. You look back at some of the mistakes and the chances we did have where we didn't score - I wish we could go back, even to Game 7, just play that one. I'd love to.No kidding. What a series. It didn't take long for the two teams to get acquainted, as Marty McSorley delivered an open-ice hit on you in Game 1 that led to a lengthy fracas. What did that hit do to change the series?I don't know. Not long after that, I headbutted him. It didn't really change a lot. That first game, it was kind of a wake-up call, the way you feel these guys out. (Wendel Clark) settled the score, too (by locking horns with McSorley in a long and memorable fight immediately following the hit). Who else was going to go out there and say anything to Clarkie now? Nobody.I loved how Burns trying to get at Kings head coach Barry Melrose during the post-hit scuffle brought about Don Cherry's famous description of Melrose as "Billy Ray Cyprus" …(Laughs) That was quite the hairdo. I've had some bad ones, but that might be the worst.Pat was on fire in that moment. What was he like in the locker room after that game? Was he back to normal?Yes. He'll say a couple things after games, but everything happens so quick in the playoffs. Every other day you're playing. He just went back and said, "Here's what we have to do." We just let it go and prepared for the next one. That's all you can do. Burnsy was pretty quiet afterward.I want to talk about what gets overlooked in that memorable Game 6 - Wendel's three-goal explosion.We have a chance to win in their building, and Burnsy's going to switch lines up here and there. Wendel scored a couple, and we pulled the goalie. I had the puck behind the net and I threw it out to him, and if you watch the highlights, I ducked. I knew that puck was coming.That was Wendel. He was going through a lot of pain playing, and he played hard. He was intimidating out there.I cover Gretzky's high-stick non-call on you in my feature on the 1992-93 Leafs, so I won't reopen old wounds here. But did you check out Kerry Fraser's explanation of his decision in the Players' Tribune last year?No.Have you spoken with him much? How is that relationship? Is there one?I've seen him before. It's fine. It's over.The biggest part about it is, there were two other linesmen on the ice that could have lied to him and said, "Yeah, pretend you saw it." Being in the (Great Western) Forum, I think there would have been a riot if Gretzky had been kicked out, so nothing was going to happen. (Gilmour was bleeding, which would have resulted in a five-minute major penalty and a game misconduct for Gretzky.)Again, I keep saying it, but we had Game 7 at home, and we lost. Their best player beat us.I'd like to know how you look back on that season now, nearly 25 years later. Do you think about it much, or does it only come to mind when someone brings it up?It's more when someone brings it up. I think the biggest thing is, when you get traded during a season, you go in and try to make a small impact, but you're new to it. The next year, you come in and you get a full season - and that's what I was looking forward to.Obviously a lot of things went right that year, but I don't rule out the following year. We had a great start, and a good hockey team. We ended up losing to Vancouver, but that team could have been just as good. Obviously there wasn’t anything like the wraparound goal, but it was exciting for us in the room saying, "Here we are again, we've got this chance again." I thought we were better than L.A. in 1993, and I thought we were better than Vancouver.You know what? There were so many little things that year that went on. It was great to get to know Burnsy, to figure out what he was all about. At the end, when we lost, we all went out together - trainers, coaches … we were all a big family. It's a shame that we didn’t win.I know Burnsy won a Cup (in New Jersey), but he came back for a reunion a couple years before he passed; he wanted to be here to see the guys. That's the bond we had. Everybody had a relationship with him. He was a meanie to some guys, but he was also a gentle giant. It was fun. I miss it.Other entries in the series:

After the Montreal Canadiens announced Thursday that Andrei Markov won't return following 16 seasons and 990 games with the club, the veteran free-agent defenseman can now set his sights on finding a new home for the first time in his NHL career.Last season, Markov tallied 36 points in 62 games, recorded a 54 Corsi For percentage, and logged nearly 22 minutes per night.With many teams in the hunt for a legitimate top-four defenseman, Markov shouldn't have trouble landing a contract, as long as he's willing to take a one-year deal.Without further ado, here are three teams that could use the 38-year-old's services:Edmonton OilersBelieve it or not, the 2017-18 season could be Edmonton's best chance to claim the Stanley Cup. Signing there would also be Markov's best shot at winning the title.Connor McDavid's $12.5-million cap hit doesn't begin until 2018-19, so the Oilers currently have $16.8 million in cap space for the coming season. Sure, Leon Draisaitl still needs a new contract, but it's doubtful he'll command north of $10 million.That would mean the Oilers could meet Markov's reported salary demand of $6 million per year. Edmonton wouldn't be able to give him a two-year contract, but at this point in the offseason Markov might have to settle.The Oilers currently have a gaping hole among their top four defensemen, as Andrej Sekera was given a six-to-nine month recovery timeline from a torn ACL suffered in May. Even when he does return, there's no guarantee he's the same player.Markov would solidify the club's second pairing behind Oscar Klefbom and Adam Larsson, allowing youngster Darnell Nurse to remain sheltered on the third unit for another season.Buffalo SabresThe Buffalo Sabres have been on the verge of making the leap for a couple of seasons now. Markov could give them that extra boost to get over the hump.Here is the team's current defenseman projection for 2016-17:LDRDMarco ScandellaRasmus RistolainenJake McCabeZach BogosianJosh GorgesNathan BeaulieuViktor AntipinRistolainen, Scandella, and Bogosian are capable of playing top-four minutes, but the remaining players are not. Signing Markov would push McCabe down to a more fitting role on the third pairing, make Gorges or Beaulieu a reliable seventh defenseman, and give the recently signed Antipin a year to adjust to the North American game with a season in the AHL.San Jose SharksThe San Jose Sharks are still at the tail end of their Stanley Cup window. Joe Thornton is back for another year, and Joe Pavelski, Logan Couture, Brent Burns, Marc-Edouard Vlasic, and Martin Jones are still in their primes.Amazingly, the team has $8.7 million in cap space. It doesn't necessarily need a defenseman, but Markov would certainly be a welcome addition.Here is how San Jose's defense currently projects for next season:LDRDPaul MartinBrent BurnsMarc-Edouard VlasicJustin BraunBrenden DillonDylan DeMeloMarkov could bump the steady but unimpressive 36-year-old Martin down to the third pairing, sending DeMelo to the press box.More importantly, the Sharks' power play ranked 25th in the league a year ago. Markov, a noted specialist with the extra man, would surely help the struggling unit and give the team one last kick at the can.(Photos courtesy: Action Images)(h/t to Cap Friendly)Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It's been 26 days since Edmonton Oilers forward Leon Draisaitl became a restricted free agent and still he remains without a contract.However, since then the Oilers locked up captain Connor McDavid to an eight-year, $100-million contract and as head coach Todd McLellan explains, the deal has eaten a lot of the team's cap space."Obviously with Connor's (contract), Leon's, and some of the players that are coming up, it's become a very tight wallet, if you will," McLellan said, according to NHL.com's Derek Van Diest. "I'm not talking about the dollars that are going out, but just about the cap space. Not only does (general manager) Peter (Chiarelli) have to manage the team that is going on the ice, he has to manage the team that's in the books as well, and that's not going to change for many years."Despite the money predicament that appears to have dragged out negotiations with Draisaitl, McLellan remains confident he'll be back with the club next season and beyond."I'm confident we're going to see Leon in an (Oilers) uniform," McLellan said. "We want him to be there, he wants to be there, and it's just a matter of getting a few things done over the summer."Draisaitl took a dramatic step forward last season, proving he should be a big part of the Oilers for years to come. The 21-year-old posted career highs in all offensive categories with 29 goals and 77 points, while playing in all 82 games. He was also the team's top producer in the playoffs finishing with six goals and 16 points in 13 games.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

James Bisson celebrates the 25th anniversary of the 1992-93 season with a look back at the most memorable moments of the greatest campaign in NHL history. This edition focuses on the San Jose Sharks, who put together one of the worst regular seasons in league history:The 2016-17 Colorado Avalanche had a season to forget, finishing dead last in the NHL with 48 points while boasting a frightful minus-112 goal differential.The 1992-93 San Jose Sharks would have taken that result in a heartbeat.As the curtain raises on the 2017-18 season, we celebrate the 25-year anniversary of what is easily one of the worst campaigns in NHL history. Here are the gory details of what the Sharks accomplished in '92-'93:GPWLTPTSGFGA841171224218414Only the expansion Washington Capitals in 1974-75 (8-67-5) recorded fewer points in a season of at least 80 games, while the first-year Ottawa Senators also finished with 24 points that year, registering one fewer win, one fewer loss, and two more ties. The Sharks' 71 losses are the most in NHL history, while the minus-196 goal differential is second only to the '74-'75 Caps (minus-265).Just how bad was it for a second-year Sharks team that finished with 29 fewer points than the Tampa Bay Lightning, a team that didn't even exist a year earlier? Here's a position-by-position breakdown:GoaltendersAs you can imagine, the goaltending in San Jose wasn't what you would call "upper tier" in 1992-93. Three different players appeared in at least 18 games that season; Arturs Irbe was the only one of the trio to win more than two games. He finished with a 7-26-0 record while leading the team in goals-against average (4.11) and save percentage (.886). Yep, those led the team.Veteran Brian Hayward, a three-time Jennings Trophy winner as Patrick Roy's backup in Montreal, found things much tougher in San Jose; he went 2-14-1 that season, boasting a hideous 5.55 GAA and an .846 save percentage. He allowed five or more goals 10 times, including a nine-goal rout by the Penguins and two eight-goal outings.Option No. 3, the above-pictured Jeff Hackett, made out worst of all. His 2-30-1 record might never be duplicated in NHL history - nor will his 5.28 GAA or .856 percentage in 36 games. Then 24, he went on to become a serviceable netminder in Chicago and Montreal, but his stint with the Sharks didn't do him any favors.DefensemenAs bad as San Jose's goaltending may have been, its defense was equally poor. No one better personified the blue-line struggles than young stay-at-home defenseman Rob Zettler (shown above), who finished the year with what can only be described as a fantasy owner's worst nightmare:GPGAPTS+/-80077-50It took a lot to go without a goal over 80 games in the highest-scoring season in the modern era, but Zettler found a way. He didn't exactly help his cause by firing just 60 shots on goal; in fact, of the six San Jose defensemen to play at least 40 games, Doug Wilson led the way with 110 shots on goal. Wilson was 35 at the time.Three Sharks defensemen finished at a league-worst minus-50 that year: Zettler, Doug Zmolek, and Neil Wilkinson. Jay More was a minus-35 in 73 games, while Wilson was a minus-28 despite playing just 42 games. And in an era when goal-scoring was plentiful, the San Jose defense corps managed just 31 combined goals; Sandis Ozolinsh and Tom Pederson led the way with seven each.ForwardsIt wasn't all doom and gloom up front, where the Sharks produced a 78-point scorer in Kelly Kisio and a 66-point winger in Johan Garpenlov. Kisio represented the Sharks at the All-Star Game in Montreal, while Garpenlov and Rob Gaudreau (23 goals) combined to give the Sharks a pair of 20-goal scorers under the age of 25.But the Sharks simply didn't have enough consistent offensive contributors to keep the team in games. Pat Falloon, taken second overall in 1991, was limited to 41 games due to injury and finished with just 28 points; his former junior linemate, Ray Whitney, would become a reliable option in later years, but was just 20 years old that season and finished with 10 points in 26 games.Not surprisingly, the Sharks' special teams struggled as well. San Jose scored on just 16.1 percent of its power-play opportunities that year, well below the league average of 19.6 percent, while killing just 76.6 percent of opponents' man-advantage chances; the league average was 80.4 percent. Truth be told, there wasn't one thing the '92-'93 Sharks did all that well.What happened next?The debacle of '92-'93 spurred the Sharks' front office to action - and the results were dramatic. San Jose added significant veteran presence the following season, bringing in former KLM linemates Sergei Makarov and Igor Larionov and adding underrated center Todd Elik; those three, along with a much-improved Irbe, helped lead the Sharks to a stunning playoff berth.If that wasn't enough, San Jose shocked the hockey world in the opening round of the postseason, upsetting the top-seeded Detroit Red Wings in seven games. The Sharks came within a Garpenlov crossbar of reaching the Conference Finals, but ultimately squandered a 3-2 series lead and fell to the Toronto Maple Leafs in seven.It didn't take long for San Jose to become a respectable franchise; the team has missed the playoffs just four times since '92-'93 and reached the Stanley Cup Final in 2016. But no matter how well the Sharks perform moving forward, they'll always be the team that lost 71 of 84 games in a single season; not even the 2016-17 edition of the Avalanche can say that.

As Adidas rolls out its new NHL sweaters for the upcoming 2017-18 season, the company has reportedly decided to cut loose Canadian equipment maker CCM Hockey.

Two of the Minnesota Wild's most productive forwards are looking to ink pricey long-term deals with the club.Mikael Granlund and Nino Niederreiter are two of Minnesota's top three remaining restricted free agents (Marcus Foligno being the third), and both are seeking long-term deals that will pay them more than $6 million annually, according to Michael Russo of the Star Tribune."We'll keep plodding along," general Chuck Fletcher said. "Everyone's working hard, we've had good dialogue, but obviously we haven't gotten to the finish line yet. If you look around the league, negotiations tend to go right down to the arbitration day or the day before or the day after the hearing sometimes even."Nothing prods progress more than a deadline."Both players are scheduled to go to arbitration - Niederreiter on Aug. 3 and Granlund on Aug. 4 - but Fletcher is confident the trend of players signing before going in front of a third party will continue."I would expect these would be similar," Fletcher said. "Hopefully we can find a solution on a long-term basis, and if not, we always have the hearing to fall back on and we can revisit it in a year or so."Granlund is coming off a career year that saw him post 26 goals and 69 points in 81 games, while Niederreiter posted his third straight 20-goal season and hit career highs with 25 goals and 57 points.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.