The Nashville Predators signed restricted free-agent forward Austin Watson to a three-year contract with an annual average value of $1.1 million, the team announced Monday.In his first full NHL season, Watson tallied 17 points, 99 penalty minutes, and 143 hits in 77 games while averaging 12:26 minutes of ice time per night.The 25-year-old hasn't quite lived up to his first-round pick billing (he was chosen 18th overall in 2010), but he proved to be a valuable bottom-six forward during Nashville's run to the Stanley Cup Final, tallying nine points and 106 hits (!) in 22 postseason games.Given that the 6-foot-4 Watson has three 20-goal seasons under his belt in the AHL, more offensive contributions at the NHL level could be right around the corner.Ryan Johansen is the last remaining RFA in need of a new contract on David Poile's to-do list, and according to Cap Friendly, the team's longtime general manager has just under $14 million in cap room to play with.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Some team, somewhere has room for Jaromir Jagr, or so the veteran believes.The 45-year-old is an unrestricted free agent, and while he had a slightly down year in 2017 - posting 16 goals and 46 points in 82 games with the Florida Panthers - Jagr still feels he is good enough to earn a spot in the NHL."I don't think I am so bad that I couldn't play there," Jagr said, according to Czech hockey reporter Zdenek Janda of Denik Sport.As he awaits a deal, Jagr continues to keep in shape, skating with club Kladno in his hometown in the Czech Republic.

The Pittsburgh Penguins signed restricted free-agent defenseman Brian Dumoulin to a six-year contract with an average annual value of $4.1 million, the team announced Monday.Dumoulin, who will be 26 years old by the beginning of the coming season, has been an integral part of Pittsburgh's back-to-back Stanley Cup victories. He logged a team-high 21:59 minutes of ice time per game during their most recent playoff run.The 6-foot-4 blue-liner has scored just two career regular season goals and three career playoff goals, but he has proven to be one of the league's better shutdown defensemen, and is now getting paid like one.This contract leaves the Penguins with $6.28 million in cap space, according to Cap Friendly. Forward Conor Sheary is the team's last remaining RFA without a contract.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 deals with the Eric Lindros saga, which ended with the No. 1 overall pick being involved in one of the biggest - and most controversial - trades in professional sports:To get a sense of just how much of an impact the Eric Lindros controversy had on the NHL, imagine if any of these things happened in today's sports fan environment:

The Ottawa Senators signed 35-year-old defenseman Johnny Oduya to a one-year, $1-million contract, the team announced Monday.Oduya could make an additional $1.25 million thanks to games played, time on ice, and playoff bonuses instilled in the contract.

The Winnipeg Jets signed restricted free-agent goaltender Connor Hellebuyck to a one-year, $2.25-million contract, the team announced Monday.Hellebuyck becomes the latest in a growing list of pending RFAs to come to terms on a new contract ahead of their arbitration hearing. Hellebuyck's hearing was scheduled for Aug. 1.The 24-year-old is coming off his first full season in the NHL after splitting the 2016 campaign between the Jets and the American Hockey League. In 56 games, Hellebuyck went 26-19-4 with a .907 save percentage and a 2.89 goals-against average.In 82 career games, Hellebuyck is 39-30-5 with a 2.71 goals-against average and a .910 save percentage.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

As the NHL prepares to blow out the candles on its 100th birthday, it's a fitting time to look back at what is widely considered the greatest season in the history of the league.Just think about all the things that happened that season:

Between injuries to star players, an erratic front office, and long stretches of subpar on-ice play, the Florida Panthers simply couldn't get it going in 2016-17.Just a season prior, the Cats reached new heights, claiming their second-ever division title with a franchise-best 103-point output. Now, eager to put last season's troubles behind them, Panthers defenseman Keith Yandle believes Dale Tallon's return to his role as general manager will help the club get back on track."Having Dale back in charge, I think that was the main thing that got everyone going," Yandle told Dan Rosen of NHL.com earlier in July. "You sense the power over the locker room that Dale can have. It's such a positive thing when you have a guy like Dale Tallon. Everyone respects him and everything he does for the team. Going into the season knowing he has our back, he has the team, and obviously that he hired great coaches too, it's a great thing."Tallon occupied Florida's GM seat from 2010-16, but was bumped up to president of hockey operations as Tom Rowe took over the gig. Rowe also served as Panthers head coach last season after the acrimonious firing of Gerard Gallant just 22 games into the campaign.The optics of the situation weren't good, and early injuries to star forwards Jonathan Huberdeau and Aleksander Barkov quickly stifled Florida's postseason aspirations.Since resuming his duties as GM, Tallon's hired Bob Boughner to his first NHL coaching gig, and lured KHL star Evgeny Dadonov to Florida on a three-year contract. However, after losing both Jonathan Marchessault and Reilly Smith to expansion, as well as Jaromir Jagr and Jussi Jokinen to free agency, Tallon may have some work to do yet.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

One would be inclined to expect the Montreal Canadiens to try to extract full value from goaltender Carey Price, after signing him to an eight-year, $84-million contract extension earlier this offseason.After all, the deal temporarily made Price tied for the league's highest paid player at an annual average value of $10.5 million. He was surpassed by Edmonton Oilers forward Connor McDavid shortly after.According to Steven Nechay of Canadiens.com, the Habs have another strategy in mind which could allow them to get the best out of Price in order to maximize his value to the club."I don't believe your starter can play 65 to 70 games a year anymore. It's too tough - physically and mentally - and that'll catch up with you in the spring, for sure," said Canadiens goaltending coach Stephane Waite.Price's .923 save percentage last season was his worst since 2012-13. He started in 62 games.Here's a breakdown of his starts and save percentage by month.MonthGames StartedSave PercentageOctober5.954November11.944December11.899January11.906February10.912March11.941April3.905The lessening of Price's workload would lead to an increase of usage of backup goaltender Al Montoya."(A) good backup can start 20, 22… even 24 games a year, and give your No. 1 goalie a break while still helping you make the playoffs," said Waite.Montoya made 18 starts last season, posting a save percentage of .912 and goals-against average of 2.67 while recording two shutouts. He posted a record of 8-6-4, earning credit for the Canadiens' playoff berth as the Atlantic Division's top seed."He gives us a chance to win every time he plays, and that's huge when your backup has to start an average of 20 games in today's NHL. We needed him to play at least .500 hockey if we were going to make the playoffs, and that's exactly what he did. He's a very big part of our team," said Waite.The Canadiens re-signed Montoya to a two-year, $2.125-million contract this offseason.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The 2018 Winter Olympics could set the stage for the next Miracle on Ice.The hockey phenomenon, when a ragtag group of U.S. collegiate players captured gold in 1980 in Lake Placid, N.Y., could be the storyline once again when the Olympics heads to Pyeongchang next year."We look at it like we will be able to compete with anybody there," Jim Johannson, USA Hockey's assistant executive director of hockey operations, told Kevin Allen of USA Today. "We are going to be a very competitive team, regardless of who we are playing."While NHLers won't be in Pyeongchang, Olympic squads could include those playing professionally in Europe plus players on minor-pro deals in the AHL.The American team could have a distinct advantage, though, as it could dip into its pool of talent in the U.S. development system, where many up-and-comers have moved through the ranks with the national development program and now play in the NCAA."No other country has that type of player available to them," USA Hockey executive director Pat Kelleher told Allen. "This tournament could highlight each country's depth, and we think we have greater depth than we've ever had."Related: Projecting Team USA's men's hockey roster at the 2018 OlympicsWhile it's not known which players will make up the American squad, Johansson noted USA Hockey could also recruit veteran defensemen playing in Europe to create a team that defends well and is difficult to play against."Most of the dynamic offensive players are in the NHL," Johansson added. "I think it's going to be low-scoring hockey. We are going to try to keep games under control."If the upcoming U.S. edition wins gold in Pyeongchang, they'll be the first American squad to do so since the collegiate talent won it all in 1980. The Americans have medalled twice since, taking home silver in 2002 and 2010.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Mika Zibanejad has set his price tag.The New York Rangers center is looking for a new contract worth $5.35 million a year, while the team has offered $4.1 million annually, according to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.A leg injury limited Zibanejad to 56 games last season, in which he netted 14 goals and 23 assists. It was his first year in New York after he was acquired from the Ottawa Senators last offseason.The 24-year-old is coming off a two-year pact which carried a $2.625-million annual average value.The two sides will need to work quickly to put together a new contract, as an arbitration hearing is set for Tuesday.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

David Poile has done it again.The Nashville Predators general manager signed budding young forward Viktor Arvidsson to a seven-year contract worth $29.75 million. That's an annual cap hit of just $4.25 million.Arivdsson turned 24 years old in April and is coming off a breakout year in which he scored 31 goals, added 30 assists, and was a major reason why the Preds made it all the way to the Stanley Cup Final.There is some risk for Poile and the Predators as they're locking up a player with just one good season under his belt, but by watching Arvidsson play and looking deeper into the numbers, it's clear this is a very calculated risk.Numbers don't lieArvidsson came out of nowhere to score 31 goals last season, but he did so with a shooting percentage of 12.6 percent, which is only slightly above the league average of 10.753 percent for forwards.The speedy forward wasn't one-dimensional either. He scored 22 of his 31 goals at even strength, four on the power-play, and a league-leading five while shorthanded. Having a first-line player who can kill penalties is a huge asset.Speaking of the first line, Arvidsson found great chemistry alongside Ryan Johansen and Filip Forsberg on the team's top unit, but it took him some time to grow into that role.He averaged 17:09 minutes per game last season, but only 15:13 in the first 20 games. He played 18:10 in the final 20 games of the season, which probably provides a better idea of what his ice time will look like next season.On a per 60-minute basis, Arvidsson ranked third among NHL forwards in shot attempts by one's team while said player was on the ice (at five-one-five), trailing only Brad Marchand and Patrice Bergeron. Essentially, if an entire game was played at five-on-five and Arvidsson was on the ice for all 60 minutes, the Predators would have averaged 68.4 shot attempts per game.Sticking with rate stats, Arvidsson also ranked exceptionally well in scoring chances for per 60 minutes (SCF/60), which tracks how many scoring chances a team generated while an individual player was on the ice. Arvidsson ranked 14th among NHL forwards with 32.79 SCF/60. In comparison, Sidney Crosby led the league with 37.96 SCF/60.What all of this means is that Arvidsson's breakout season doesn't appear to be a fluke.Comparable contractsThe good people at Cap Friendly put together a list of contracts that compare to Arvidsson's. Here are some names who matched up:PlayerSigning ageLengthAAVMatch%Victor Rask236$4M89.8Rickard Rakell236$3.887.8Nick Bjugstad226$4.1M86.5Alex Killorn267$4.45M86.3Brendan Gallagher226$3.75M86.0Vincent Trocheck226$4.75M85.8Cody Hodgson236$4.25M84.3Adam Henrique236$4M83.5Sean Couturier226$4.3M80.4Andrew Shaw246$3.9M79.1No player on this list has ever reached the 60-point plateau, and only Rakell and Henrique have scored 30 goals, but both did so with inflated shooting percentages.Predators are sitting prettyThe Predators have just under $15 million in cap space remaining after re-signing Arvidsson. They still have to re-sign restricted free agents Johansen and Austin Watson, but that should still leave them with plenty of wiggle room.More importantly, Arvidsson joins a list of key Predators players who are vastly underpaid. Take a look:PlayerAgeAAVYears remainingFilip Forsberg22$6M5Roman Josi27$4M3Mattias Ekholm27$3.75M5Ryan Ellis26$2.5M2Arvidsson, Forsberg, Josi, Ekholm, and Ellis have a combined cap hit of just $20.5 million. These bargains significantly extend Nashville's window of competing for the Stanley Cup.Give yourself a pat on the back, Mr Poile.(Advanced stats courtesy: Natural Stat Trick)(Photos courtesy: Action Images)Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Viktor Arvidsson's breakout season earned him some long-term security.The Nashville Predators signed the 24-year-old winger to a seven-year, $29.75-million contract Saturday.That works out to an average annual value of $4.25 million for Arvidsson, who tied for the team lead in goals (31) and points (61) this past season.He was a restricted free agent who had a salary arbitration hearing scheduled for Saturday, but the two sides were obviously able to come to terms without resorting to that route.Arvidsson was drafted 112th overall by the Predators in 2014.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Patrick Kane will miss dishing to the bread man.The Chicago Blackhawks blew the roof off earlier in the offseason when they dealt former Calder Trophy winner Artemi Panarin to the Columbus Blue Jackets for former Blackhawk Brandon Saad.It was the Blackhawks' and Stan Bowman's attempt to bulk up and change the complexion of the roster, but Kane will miss the chemistry he and Panarin had developed over the last two seasons."I'd be lying to you if I was sitting up here saying I wasn’t disappointed when it first went down, no doubt about it,’" Kane said, according to Mark Lazerus of the Chicago Sun-Times. ‘‘Artemi's a great kid, someone I got along with really well off the ice and had that chemistry with on the ice. It was just fun to play with him every night. I'll miss him, for sure."With Panarin now out of the picture, the question is who will Kane play with next season and going forward? Early indications are that Saad will reunite with captain Jonathan Toews, but as for Kane, he doesn't seem too worried about who will take Panarin's spot."Who knows what's going to happen?" Kane said. "I could have better chemistry with a guy like (Nick) Schmaltz or better chemistry with someone like (Ryan) Hartman. And I know I played well with (Patrick) Sharp in the past, too. I’m looking forward to the season and the next challenge."Over the last two seasons, Kane has paced the league with 195 points, while Panarin sits seventh with 151 points. So, whoever Kane indeed plays with, there's no denying it won't be the same without Panarin.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Brian Dumoulin is seeking a reported $4.35 million in annual salary via his upcoming arbitration hearing. The Penguins are countering with a much smaller cap hit of $1.95 million, according to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.Dumoulin saw his average time on ice rise by nearly two minutes from the 2016-17 regular season to the playoffs. He was instrumental in anchoring the eventual Stanley Cup champions' defense corps while Kris Letang missed the entire postseason and Justin Schultz missed a portion of the Eastern Conference Final.He finished the playoffs with six points through 25 games, after scoring a lone goal but contributing 14 assists in 70 regular-season games. He finished the season with an even plus-minus rating but a positive Corsi For rating of 50.7 percent.Dumoulin will be expected to play a larger role in 2017-18 with defenseman Trevor Daley joining the Detroit Red Wings in free agency.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The asking prices are in for Austin Watson's next contract.The Nashville Predators forward - who is a restricted free agent - is set to have an arbitration hearing July 24. He's reportedly asking for a one-year, $1.4-million deal from the Predators, while the team is offering a one-year contract at $700,000, according to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.

The Arizona Coyotes have re-signed forward Jordan Martinook to a two-year contract, the team announced Saturday. Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reports the deal is worth an annual average value of $1.8 millionMartinook scored a career-high 11 goals in 2016-17 and finished with 25 points through 77 games after scoring nine goals with 24 points the year prior. Selected in the second round of the 2012 draft, Martinook has typically been used in a defensive role at the NHL level, starting 57.9 percent of his shifts in his own end and posting a Corsi For rating of 47.1 percent.Forward Anthony Duclair is the lone restricted free agent the Coyotes have left to sign.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Detroit Red Wings forward Tomas Tatar can finally take a deep breath.The three-time 20-goal scorer inked a new deal on Thursday, agreeing to a four-year, $21.2-million contract with the only NHL team he's ever known."I really, really wanted to (stay), I love it here," Tatar told Helene St. James of the Detroit Free Press. "I have so many friends, I have (a) great relationship with guys in the locker room. It would be really hard to have a one-year deal and not know what is coming in the future. I am extremely happy to stay. It is (a) big relief."The 26-year old was a restricted free agent, and given that the Wings have finished 24th and 23rd in the league in goals in the last two seasons, respectively, locking up their leading goal-scorer from two of the past three seasons was the obvious decision.Had Tatar and the club not agreed to an extension by the end of the day, an independent arbitrator would have announced a decision on a one-year contract, something Tatar is obviously happy didn't come to fruition."It's really exciting we (found a) way to get a deal done," he said. "It was a little stressful, I was not real happy it went all the way there. I think we were always trying to a find a way to sign a deal without having to wait for (an) arbitrator and I am really glad we did it."One person who might be more ecstatic than Tatar himself? This fan who got a tattoo of Tatar last November:

Clean, clear, and under control.Nolan Patrick had an "abscess/boil" that has been addressed, and he's doing well, the Philadelphia Flyers revealed Friday night.The 18-year-old was held off the ice Thursday due to what the club originally referred to as an infection in his face.Patrick battled through an injury-plagued draft year but took part in the NHL's scouting combine before being selected second overall by the Flyers last month.The Flyers have to be relieved that his latest ailment won't boil over into the regular season.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Patrick Sharp was the second free agent to put pen to paper July 1, and for the former Blackhawk, it was a no-brainer to return to the Windy City."It was an easy decision, to be honest with you," he told Mark Lazerus of the Chicago Sun-Times. "When you spend as much time in the city with the Hawks as I did, and you have the success as a team that we did in those years past, and you also remember the way you got treated as a Chicago Blackhawk - it's a special thing to put on that jersey."Sharp was acquired by the Hawks in 2005, and played in Chicago until he was traded to Dallas after the 2014-15 season. Over 679 regular season games, he scored 239 goals and recorded 511 points.It was during the playoffs that Sharp truly cemented his legacy with the Blackhawks. He was a part of all three of the their recent Stanley Cup-winning teams, scoring 42 goals and adding 38 assists in 117 playoff games.The 35-year-old struggled this past season with the Stars, tallying just 18 points during an injury-riddled 48-game season. Despite the rough year, he was still a hot commodity in a weak free-agent class."I had plenty of options that I was humbled by during the free-agency week," he told Lazerus. "But at the end of the week, it was an easy decision to come home."Sharp won't be the only Blackhawk returning home, as the team also re-acquired Brandon Saad this offseason. This isn't a new trend. Several Blackhawks, including Kris Versteeg, Johnny Oduya, Andrew Ladd, Brian Campbell, and Daniel Carcillo have won a cup with the team only to return for a second stint later on in their careers.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

A veteran defenseman will play in Europe next season.Tom Gilbert signed a contract with the Nuremberg Ice Tigers of the Deutsche Eishockey Liga in Germany, the club announced Friday.The 34-year-old played 18 games for the Los Angeles Kings and five more for the AHL's Ontario Reign before being traded to the Washington Capitals in February.He didn't play a game for the Capitals, but he collected 13 points in 25 regular-season contests and a pair of points in nine playoff games with their AHL affiliate, the Hershey Bears.Gilbert joins an Ice Tigers squad featuring former NHLers Steven Reinprecht, Milan Jurcina, and Colten Teubert.He posted 223 points in 655 career games combined with the Edmonton Oilers, Minnesota Wild, Florida Panthers, Montreal Canadiens, and the Kings.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Ottawa Senators forward Clarke MacArthur was forced to sit out the first six months of the 2016-17 regular season after he suffered yet another concussion during the team's training camp.The extended rest allowed MacArthur to return for the final four games of the season as well as the Senators' extended postseason, which culminated with an Eastern Conference Final Game 7 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins. MacArthur scored three goals along the way, including a tally in a Game 4 loss to the Penguins.With three years at an annual average value of $4.65 million remaining on his contract, the expectation is the four-month offseason rest will be enough to allow the 32-year-old to return for 2017-18, according to Senators' general manager Pierre Dorion.

The Calgary Flames' 2017 first-round pick is officially under contract.Juuso Valimaki, the 16th overall selection in last month's draft, signed his entry-level deal Friday.The 18-year-old Finnish defenseman scored 19 goals and racked up 61 points in 60 regular-season games with the WHL's Tri-City Americans this past season.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Detroit Red Wings re-signed forward Tomas Tatar to a four-year contract, the team announced Friday. Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reported the deal is worth an annual average value of $5.3 million.As with most recently signed contracts, Tatar is set to make the least money during the potential lockout season of 2020-21.

Newly acquired Chicago Blackhawks center Tommy Wingels suffered a fractured foot during his offseason training and will miss six-to-eight weeks, the club announced Friday.Across 73 regular-season games last season split between the San Jose Sharks and the Ottawa Senators, Wingels tallied seven goals and five assists while logging nearly 11 minutes in ice time per game.

New Jersey Devils winger Taylor Hall knows a thing or two about being a first overall NHL draft pick. He was, of course, selected No. 1 by the Edmonton Oilers in the 2010 entry draft.So, it should come as no surprise that Hall is looking forward to playing alongside this year's top pick - newly minted Devils forward Nico Hischier.Related: Devils' Hynes: Hischier will play center, won't be eased in as winger"I watched a few clips from (Devils) development camp and (Hischier) looked great," Hall said Thursday in Toronto, according to Dave McCarthy of NHL.com. "I'm excited to get to camp and play with him. I've heard nothing but good things about him as a player and as a guy. He's a huge addition to our team."Hall and Hischier could form a potentially dangerous top line in New Jersey, especially if recently acquired winger Marcus Johansson rounds out the trio."We've got some good pieces," Hall added. "I don't think the team is done by any means. I think there still might be a couple things they're looking to do."But when you see Nico come along, Brian Boyle come in. The Johansson trade was huge for us, I think he's a great player, so that really gets you excited for camp and excited for the year. You want to play with those guys and see what they're all about, and hopefully we can build on last year."Hischier, Hall, Boyle, and Johansson will all be counted upon to revive a Devils franchise that's been toiling at the bottom of the standings for the past five seasons.In 72 games in 2016-17, Hall tallied 20 goals and 33 assists.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The St. Louis Blues locked down a key piece of their blue line Thursday, inking rearguard Colton Parayko to a five-year, $27.5-million deal with an annual average value of $5.5 million.Related: Blues sign Parayko to 5-year, $27.5M dealThe 24-year-old joins the likes of top-flight D-men Hampus Lindholm, Shayne Gostisbehere, and Morgan Rielly - all of whom make between $4.5 million and $5.5 million a season.

The Ottawa Senators and Ryan Dzingel agreed to a two-year, $3.6-million contract, the team announced Friday.

The St. Louis Blues are banking on the fact that the best is still to come from Colton Parayko.The club locked up the 24-year-old defenseman Thursday, avoiding arbitration by coming to terms on a five-year, $27.5-million contract."We think that he's just starting to scratch the surface on what he's becoming in this league," general manager Doug Armstrong said, according to NHL.com. "He's got two years now of service where he understands the commitment necessary, he understands the league, he understands the players. We just think he has a really strong upside and we're excited to have him for the next five years."Armstrong added, "There's a saying that an NHL defenseman doesn't really define himself until about 250 or 300 games. He's around 160, so there's still some growth there, some definition going into his game, but he's got all the tools to be a very good player over time, and we're excited to have him part of our group."Parayko has amassed 33 and 35 points respectively in his first two seasons in the league while becoming a dominant force on the Blues' back end. If Armstrong is correct about what Parayko will become, that $5.5 million annual average could be a bargain.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Only eight players have scored 30 or more goals in their rookie year since the 2006-07 season, and 18-year-old Panthers forward Owen Tippett has an excellent chance to add his name to that list.The top two picks from the 2017 NHL Draft, Nico Hischier and Nolan Patrick, are two of the favorites to take home the Calder Trophy as the league's top rookie, while players from recent drafts, such as Dylan Strome, Clayton Keller, Kyle Connor, Tyson Jost, Josh Ho-Sang, Charlie McAvoy, Thomas Chabot, and Julius Honka, will also garner heavy preseason consideration.Tippett, however, probably won't get much preseason hype, as he was selected just 10th overall in June's draft by the small-market Florida Panthers.In fact, of all the Calder Trophy winners who won it in the season right after they were drafted, only Jeff Skinner and Sergei Samsonov (both wingers) did so while being taken outside the top five in their respective drafts in the last 37 years.Related: Panthers GM expects top pick Tippett to compete for roster spot this fallTippett, however, has three things going for him that most of the aforementioned rookies don't:1. NHL-ready size and shotOne of the biggest problems most teenagers have when they come into the league is that they need to add 15-20 pounds of muscle. The 6-foot, 203-pound Tippett, on the other hand, is built like a truck.Of the aforementioned Rookie of the Year candidates, Bruins defenseman Charlie McAvoy is the only one listed at 200 pounds or more, according to HockeyDB.(Photo courtesy: Getty Images)His shot is also NHL-ready, meaning it's not only hard and accurate, but he can get it off quickly and it tight spaces, not unlike Patrik Laine of the Winnipeg Jets. This past season, he scored 44 goals in 60 games with the Mississauga Steelheads of the Ontario Hockey League.2. Ideal positionTippett will enter the league as a right-winger, and it's much, much easier to start out as a winger than a centerman or defenseman, as there's less defensive responsibility. This will allow him to focus on what he does best: scoring.Keller, Connor, and Ho-Sang are the only other top rookie candidates who project to play on the wing this coming season.3. Elite potential linematesAs a right-winger with a shoot-first mentality, Tippett is a perfect fit to play alongside Florida's two most talented forwards: center Aleksander Barkov and left-winger Jonathan Huberdeau. Both players are left-handed shots and have a pass-first mentality.Tippett's skating could use some improvement, but if he makes the team and gets to play with Barkov and Huberdeau, there's a very good chance he'll pot 30 goals. In a rookie class that projects to be weaker than those in recent years, that should be enough for him to bring home the Calder Trophy.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Summer in the NHL: Lots of golfing, time spent on the dock, and of course, pingpong.Every July in Toronto, Dominic Moore brings together a large group of toothless, bearded hockey players and members of the hockey community to play some pong and raise money for charity.Thursday night was more of the same for Moore's group of paddled players, as NHLers descended on The Six for some fun and laughs while raising some cash to benefit concussion and rare cancer research. Since 2012, Moore's event has raised $500,000.Here are some of the highlights from Thursday night's action:

By the time training camp rolls around for the 2017-2018 season, Florida Panthers rookie Owen Tippett will only be 18 years old, barely old enough to drive his own car to the rink for practice.However, despite his lack of experience, Tippett will be given the opportunity to make the big club's roster right out of his first-ever NHL training camp."I'm thrilled to sign Owen to his first NHL contract," Panthers general manager Dale Tallon said Wednesday, as reported by NHL.com."Owen is a natural goal scorer with a bright future and he already possesses NHL-ready size and speed. We're looking forward to watching him compete for a spot on our NHL roster at training camp this fall."It will be fresh out of the frying pan into the fire for the Peterborough, Ontario native, as the young winger will be counted on by the Panthers to continue his scoring ways. In 60 regular-season games during the 2016-17 season, Tippett racked up 44 goals and 75 points with the Ontario Hockey League's Mississauga Steelheads.Tippett was drafted by the Panthers with the 10th overall selection in this year's entry draft.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Following a season in which they went from Stanley Cup contenders to missing the playoffs altogether, the Tampa Bay Lightning and general manager Steve Yzerman approached the summer with a long to-do list.But now, after recently inking winger Ondrej Palat to a five-year, $26.5-million contract, that list is essentially complete. Fresh off gaining some long-term security, the 26-year-old forward believes he and his teammates are ready to contend again."It was an experience for us last year because we came from two good (playoff) runs and we thought we were going to make the playoffs just like that, and it didn't happen," Palat told Roger Mooney of The Tampa Bay Times. "In the NHL we have to play good from the beginning of the season, and we have to be good all season long."Last season, Tampa Bay's blistering start was abruptly guided off course in November when captain Steven Stamkos went down with a knee injury, and unable to overcome several ailments to other key players, the Lightning missed the playoffs by a single point.In light of this, Yzerman made a series of moves this offseason. He dealt electric winger Jonathan Drouin to Montreal for Mikhail Sergachev, and brought in veterans Chris Kunitz and Dan Girardi via free agency, decisions which were followed up by extensions for Palat and linemate Tyler Johnson.All in all, Palat believes the new-look Lightning roster will compete."I feel pretty good about the team," Palat said. "I like all the new guys. They're in the league for a while. Great veteran guys, experienced guys. That's what you need to have on your team if you want to win a Cup."Palat's been a key piece in Tampa's recent postseason success, contributing 29 points in 46 playoff games during two lengthy runs that saw the Lightning reach the Stanley Cup Final in 2015, followed by an elimination in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Final a year later.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

When the Edmonton Oilers inked forward Zack Kassian to a three-year deal last month, it did a lot more than just secure their bottom-six forward group.It signified that the 26-year-old has finally turned a page on his battle with alcohol addiction, and in the process revived a career that once looked to be nearing its end, something Kassian credits to Oilers general manager Peter Chiarelli."It doesn’t happen without Peter Chiarelli, who gave me the opportunity," Kassian told Jason Gregor of OilersNation.com."I told him that day I was going to prove to him he made a right decision and today we're sitting here with a new contract. I still feel I need to keep proving myself. It doesn't stop now that I have the new deal. I just need to keep working and proving people right."Despite rarely finding the score sheet, Kassian serves as a key contributor for the Oilers, playing with an exuberant edge while occasionally chipping in with a timely goal, assist, or scrap to fire up his team.In 79 regular-season games last season, Kassian registered seven goals and 17 assists to go along with 201 hits - good for 23rd-most in the NHL.With his foreseeable future now secure in the City of Champions, Kassian realizes that it's time to prove that his battle with alcohol is behind him for good."For me, I made a promise to my family, to the Edmonton organization, and, most importantly, to myself that I wasn't going to drink again, and as soon as I made that decision I feel like that's when everything started climbing back upwards," Kassian said."I feel like if your mindset is you're not going to drink again, you're not going to drink again. You make a tough decision and stick with it. I think that's where I'm at now with it. Obviously, I have a lot to lose, which helps with the team we have in Edmonton."Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Philadelphia Flyers first-round draft selection Nolan Patrick was held off the ice Thursday due to an infection in his face, the club announced.There's no indication on how long the ailment might affect the second overall pick, but it further highlights what's been a difficult year in terms of injuries for Patrick.The 18-year-old was limited to just 33 games in his draft season with the WHL's Brandon Wheat Kings due to two hernias and a leg injury. He missed the Flyers' development camp to recover from abdominal surgery, but the procedure isn't expected to keep him out of September's training camp.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

After some significant offseason retooling - headlined by the drafting of forward Nolan Patrick second overall and the trade of forward Brayden Schenn to the St. Louis Blues for center Jori Lehtera - the Philadelphia Flyers are set to take strides in 2017-18 after finishing seven points behind the Toronto Maple Leafs for the Eastern Conference's second wild-card spot. And much of that progress will be due to their young group of talented defensemen.But first, here's a preview of how Philadelphia's forward lines could look on opening night, courtesy: dailyfaceoff.com.The Flyers ranked 26th last season with a five-on-five shooting percentage of 6.65, while having positive rates in both Corsi For percentage and scoring chance percentage. Offensive leaders Giroux and Voracek were particularly unlucky, shooting well below their career averages. As a result, the Flyers finished tied for 20th with 2.59 goals per game.A progression toward their expected performance along with the continued development of their young talent should help the Flyers gain the 0.6 and 0.8 goals per game they need to match the 2016-17 output of division rivals Washington and Pittsburgh, respectively.And a large portion of the Flyers' offense needs to - and will - come from a young but promising defense corps, led by returnees Shayne Gostisbehere and Ivan Provorov, and infused with up to three rookies playing large roles.(Photo courtesy Getty Images)Gostisbehere takes the reignsGostisbehere had a phenomenal and unexpected 2015-16 rookie season in which he finished second in Calder Trophy and 17th in Norris Trophy voting. He was called up from the AHL part way through the campaign to play 64 NHL games, in which he scored 17 goals and finished fifth on the team with 46 points.His sophomore campaign took a major step backward. Gostisbehere was a shocking healthy scratch on multiple occasions and finished the season with just 39 points in 76 games. Defensive miscues were to blame for a lack of trust from the coaching staff.In truth, Gostisbehere operated at a Corsi For rating of 52.57 percent in 2016-17, with the Flyers recording 52.10 percent of the scoring chances at five-on-five when he was on the ice. Similar to a young and not yet trusted Erik Karlsson, Gostisbehere was used sparingly on the penalty kill, recording just 5:37 of ice time when the Flyers were shorthanded.It's time for the Flyers' coaching staff to accept Gostisbehere's rare lapses in exchange for the offensive production he can provide with increased playing time. He will need to lead the team in average ice time - while playing exclusively at five-on-five and on the power play - in order for the offense to reach its ceiling.(Photo courtesy Action Images)Sanheim will follow Werenski to Calder contentionColumbus Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski followed in the footsteps of Gostistbehere in 2016-17, as an older defender rising to the top of the year's rookie class. Werenski finished third in Calder and 18th in Norris voting one year after being selected eighth overall.The tide could shift back to the Flyers in 2017-18, as 21-year-old Travis Sanheim vies to make the NHL roster three years after being selected 17th overall by the Flyers.Sanheim spent the two seasons after his draft year in the WHL, recording 133 points in 119 games. He was placed in the AHL last season and produced 37 points in 76 games. With coaches praising his quick adaptation to the more defensive league, he's expected to crack the Flyers' opening-night roster.(Photo courtesy Action Images)Out with the old badWith Gostisbehere and Provorov locked into the Flyers' 2017-18 season - and with Sanheim also penciled in - 30-year-old Andrew MacDonald, 26-year-old Brandon Manning, and/or 26-year-old Radko Gudas are expected to fill out the rest of the back end. The trio combined for 53 points last season.MacDonald has played just 189 games over the past three seasons, and he posted a three-year-low Corsi For rating of 48.00 in 2016-17. While he's under contract for the next three campaigns at a cap hit of $5 million, the Flyers are not adverse to cutting ties with sunk money.See: Ilya Bryzgalov and the 10 years remaining on his buyout with an annual payout of $1.64 million.(Photo courtesy Action Images)A pair of 21-year-old defenders in Robert Hagg and Samuel Morin, who each played just one NHL game last season, will also be vying for roster spots as potential replacements for the ineffective MacDonald. Hagg recorded 15 points and a plus-10 rating in 58 AHL games last season, while Morin had 16 points in 74 games.The quintet of Gostisbehere, Provorov, Sanheim, Morin, and Hagg comes in at an average age of 21.2 years old.While unproven on defense, they could provide the push the Flyers' offense will need in order to compete in a very tough Metropolitan Division.(Advanced stats courtesy naturalstattrick.com)Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New Jersey Devils expect Nico Hischier to make an easy transition into the NHL.This year's No. 1 pick in the draft is not only expected to jump into the team's roster as an 18-year-old rookie, but will start at his native position at center and not be eased into the league by playing on the wing, head coach John Hynes said, according to NHL.com's Mike Morreale.Hischier tallied 38 goals and 86 points in 57 games with the Halifax Mooseheads of the QMJHL in his first taste of North American hockey. With Travis Zajac, Pavel Zacha, and Brian Boyle allotted as the club's other three centers, the Devils should be solid down the middle of the ice this season and beyond.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Nashville Predators and Viktor Arvidsson aren't seeing eye to eye.The sides are set to go to arbitration Saturday with the Predators having offered Arvidsson a two-year deal that would pay him $2.75 million in both years, while Arvidsson is seeking a one-year deal worth $4.5 million, according to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.Arvidsson is coming off a career year with 31 goals and 61 points in 80 games - both team highs. Despite quickly proving to be an important part of the Predators roster, Arvidsson hadn't played a full NHL season prior to this year, with a combined eight goals and 16 points in 62 games over the previous two years.The 24-year-old is among four Predators who remain restricted free agents, including Ryan Johansen.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The St. Louis Blues signed defenseman Colton Parayko to a five-year deal with an annual average value of $5.5 million, the team announced Thursday.The $27.5-million contract will keep Parayko with the Blues through the 2021-22 season, buying his first two seasons of unrestricted free agency. The two sides narrowly avoided salary arbitration, where Parayko was reportedly seeking a one-year, $4.85-million deal.This is how the five-year contract reportedly breaks down:

Seventeen of the NHL's 31 head coaches were hired within the past two seasons, but that doesn't mean there is more changeover on the horizon. Murmurings about a coaching change could begin shortly into the 2017-18 season if the following three teams get off to a slow start.Paul Maurice, Winnipeg JetsThe Jets might be the most underachieving team in the league, which could lead to Maurice losing his job.In his first full season as the Winnipeg's bench boss, he led the Jets to 99 points and a playoff berth. Since that 2014-15 campaign, they have gone 75-74-15.These struggles have come in spite of having a talented group up front that features Mark Scheifele, Blake Wheeler, Bryan Little, and Nikolaj Ehlers for the last two seasons, and rookie sensation Patrik Laine this past season.Goal-scoring hasn't been the problem, though, keeping the puck out of the net has. The Jets haven't been able to find an answer in goal, even though the defense in front of the crease - Dustin Byfuglien, Tyler Myers, Toby Enstrom, and Jacob Trouba - is particularly strong.The addition of Steve Mason is an upgrade between the pipes, but will it be enough to save Maurice's job?Jared Bednar, Colorado AvalancheJared Bednar's first season behind an NHL bench didn't exactly go how he drew it up. The Avalanche were the worst team in the salary cap era, posting a record of 22-56-4.Coaches will usually get at least three seasons to prove themselves, but given the magnitude of how bad the Avalanche were last year, Bednar's leash could be shorter than most.Furthermore, Bednar was hired on Aug. 25, 2016, just two weeks after previous coach Patrick Roy resigned. This gave Joe Sakic, the team's executive vice president and general manager, slim pickings when it came to hiring a coach. Had Sakic been able to choose from a longer list of coaches at the beginning of the offseason, he might not have even hired Bednar at all.Bill Peters, Carolina HurricanesPeters has three seasons under his belt as the head coach of the Hurricanes, compiling a record of 101-103-42 with no playoff appearances.The club's mediocrity has largely been accepted because it has been in rebuild mode. However, the Canes possess a deep crop of talented forwards, one of the best defense corps in the league, and now a solution in the crease with the offseason addition of Scott Darling.The acquisition of Justin Williams signifies the team's executive vice president and general manager, Ron Francis, believes this team is ready to win now. If they get off to a 9-10-5 start like they did a season ago, it could cost Peters his job.(Photos courtesy: Action Images)Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Kyle Okposo's NHL brethren were thrilled to see him back on the ice.The Buffalo Sabres winger played his first game Wednesday night since an undisclosed illness forced him to be hospitalized in intensive care, and to miss the final six games of this past season.Okposo played in Da Beauty League, a summer tournament based in Minnesota featuring many NHL players who hail from the state.His RBC squad, which also featured Minnesota Wild forward Zach Parise and Florida Panthers center Nick Bjugstad, was routed by Tria, a team led by Pittsburgh Penguins forward Jake Guentzel and Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Jake Gardiner, but Okposo notched an assist in a 10-3 loss."Obviously seeing a teammate go through something like that and struggle to get healthy is tough," Sabres forward Hudson Fasching told NHL.com's Jessi Pierce postgame. "He's such a good guy and going through a lot with that whole deal, trying to figure out what was wrong. I'm just happy he's healthy and happy for him to get back."Parise echoed those sentiments."Really good (to see him out there)," the Wild forward said. "I've spent a lot of time with him this summer. It sounded like a pretty scary thing to happen, so for him to be out here and skate, it was great. I'm sure for him mentally it feels good but for us as friends, it's really good to see.""I guess this was kind of his return back to the scene and to the public," Parise added. "He didn't play (in Da Beauty League) last year, so I don't think he knew what to expect either, so I think he was pretty surprised with the turnout also."Brock Nelson told Pierce he's also spent time with his former New York Islanders teammate recently and was encouraged by Okposo's progress."It was pretty scary when that news came out (that he was hospitalized), everyone was pretty concerned and wished him the best," Nelson said. "But I've seen him a lot this summer and he seems to be doing well, which is good, and it was good to see him back out there (Wednesday), too."Last month, Sabres general manager Jason Botterill effectively said he expects Okposo to be ready for training camp, and that he looked great both physically and mentally.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Arizona Coyotes are rooting for one of their most high-profile fans following a devastating revelation.Coyotes president and CEO Steve Patterson expressed his support for U.S. Senator John McCain after the Arizona lawmaker's office revealed he was diagnosed with a brain tumor following surgery to remove a blood clot above his left eye.

The Florida Panthers signed 2017 first-round pick Owen Tippett to a three-year entry-level contract, the team announced Wednesday. He was selected 10th overall in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft.The 18-year-old Tippett led the OHL's Mississauga Steelheads with 44 goals and 75 points in 60 regular season games during the 2016-17 campaign. His 44 regular-season goals ranked fourth in the OHL. He went on to contribute 19 points in 20 playoff games.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Buffalo Sabres forward Kyle Okposo will make his return to playing competitive hockey with this summer's Da Beauty League.Okposo was hospitalized in intensive care in early April and missed the culmination of the Sabres' season. He played in a total of 65 games during the 2016-17 season, scoring 19 goals and adding 26 assists. His 45 points tied him for fourth on the team.Reports in mid-June indicated Okposo was expected to be ready for the Sabres' training camp. A return to a trivial summer league bodes well for his 2017-18 outlook in the NHL - and for his personal health.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Artemi Panarin could be the piece that takes the Columbus Blue Jackets to the next level.After wrapping their best season in franchise history, in which they collected 50 wins and 108 points, that success didn't carry over to the postseason, as the Blue Jackets made a quick five-game exit to the Pittsburgh Penguins.Feeling his team needed another weapon in its offensive arsenal, general manager Jarmo Kekalainen made a major move on draft day, dealing Brandon Saad to the Chicago Blackhawks to bring in Panarin."It was about us needing a game-breaking type player," Kekalainen told the team's website. "A scorer. A guy who is a power-play specialist. A guy who can win you the tight games."Panarin, 25, broke into the NHL with the Blackhawks two years ago, capturing the Calder Trophy as the league's top rookie in 2015-16. The Russian reached the 30-goal plateau in both seasons in Chicago, and accumulated 151 points over the two campaigns.Related: Tortorella won't change Panarin's game, plans to play him with WennbergPanarin's ability to produce on the power play was particularly intriguing to Columbus, as he has put up 41 points with the man advantage over his two NHL seasons.The Blue Jackets had one of the league's more productive power-play units last season, but it trailed off toward the latter part of the year, finishing a respectable 12th, with a 19.9 percent efficiency rating."(Panarin) is one of the most explosive players in the league, and definitely very strong on the power play. That's one his biggest strengths," Kekalainen added. "Great shooter. Great one-timer. But he's also got that great one-on-one skill that we were looking for to create offense ... He will be an exciting player for us."Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Newly signed Carolina Hurricanes winger Justin Williams knows a thing or two about taking home a trophy.So, when Williams began packing for his move to the Tar Heel state Wednesday, there were a few items that needed to be packed with a little extra bubble wrap.

While NHLers won't be headed to the Olympics, that won't stop Hockey Canada from getting a look-see at who could wear the Maple Leaf in their stead.Hockey Canada has been in talks with the Russian Ice Hockey Federation and the KHL about holding a series of exhibition games, CEO Tom Renney confirmed to Tim Wharnsby of CBC Sports.With NHL talent being withheld from the upcoming Winter Games in South Korea, the games would be used as an audition for players outside the league to represent their country, primarily Canadians playing pro in European leagues.Related: Projecting the defending champion's 2018 Pyeongchang rosterIn April, Commissioner Gary Bettman announced the NHL would not participate in the 2018 Games held in South Korea.The NHL had previously sent players to past Olympics in Sochi, Vancouver, Turin, Salt Lake City, and Nagano.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Ottawa Senators and Ryan Dzingel have yet to find common ground.Dzingel, a restricted free agent who has filed for salary arbitration, is looking for $1.95 million on a new a deal, nearly double the $1 million being offered by the Senators, Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reports.Dzingel appeared in 81 games with the Senators last season, netting 14 goals and 18 assists. The 25-year-old took home $750,000 in 2016-17, according to Cap Friendly.If the two sides are unable to come to terms, they'll go before an arbitrator, with their case set for Friday.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NHL has a chance to grow the game more than ever before.Speaking Tuesday as part of "GameChangers: Creating the Future of Sports," a conference held by The Paley Center for Media, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman highlighted what a focus on digital means for the future of the NHL."We have a great opportunity to grow in places and in ways that we've never been able to do it before because we're getting more exposure in more places," said Bettman, who has been in the NHL's top job since 1993."Using all of the new opportunities, all of the new platforms, gives us a way to reach fans that we haven't been able to reach before," Bettman added. "If you go back and whether it was the 11 o'clock news or Sportscenter, historically we got less coverage than everybody else."While the NHL has a long-term U.S. television agreement with NBC, in 2015 it signed a digital rights deal with Major League Baseball Advanced Media in an effort to reach an even broader scope of fans."In terms of the size of our audience, not their avidity, but the size has always been impacted by underexposure," Bettman said. "Our footprint is (now) broader than it has ever been."Under Bettman's leadership, the NHL has added several new markets across the United States, growing the hockey road map to Anaheim, Miami, Nashville, Columbus, Minnesota, while other franchises have found new homes in Dallas, Denver, Phoenix, and Raleigh.Next season, the NHL will introduce its newest market, when it welcomes the Vegas Golden Knights as its 31st team.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Kontinental Hockey League is undoubtedly the second-best hockey league on the planet, containing several players who could be successful in the NHL.So, if the KHL put together a team of its best players to face off against the NHL's 31 teams in the 2017-18 season, which players would make the cut, and how would they fare?To answer this, the following parameters should be kept in mind: