Although he only has four NHL games under his belt, Mikhail Sergachev is eager for a fresh start.The 19-year-old defenseman was dealt from the Montreal Canadiens - who drafted him ninth overall in 2016 - to the Tampa Bay Lightning earlier in the offseason in exchange for dynamic winger Jonathan Drouin.While Sergachev was initially shocked to learn he'd be heading south at this stage of his career, it appears he's quickly adapted to his new situation."It's amazing that this team wants me more than Montreal, and they want me to come play in the NHL and they want me to try to help them," Sergachev told Corey Long of NHL.com. "That's why I love this team. Montreal needed Drouin and he's from there, and I think this is the only way Tampa (Bay) would have traded him was for me."They asked for me."The trade was undoubtedly a blockbuster, but at this point, it's impossible to determine which team came away with the better player. Drouin is coming off a career-best season, and Sergachev is widely regarded as one of the top blue line prospects in the NHL.Sergachev has the option to return to the Windsor Spitfires next season should he fail to crack Tampa Bay's roster, but after winning the Memorial Cup in May, he believes he's ready for a new challenge."I have to have a good summer, first of all, I have to be stronger," Sergachev said. "I have to be faster to play in the NHL overall to be successful. But I also played a lot in juniors, two years for me, I think is a lot and in Russia I played one year too."So I played a lot in juniors and I learned a lot from Windsor … so I think I'm ready for the NHL."Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Good things come to those who wait.Andrew Fudge, the Nashville Predators fan who missed out on free tickets to the Stanley Cup Final, received a solid consolation prize Tuesday.Upon learning of his misfortune, the Predators invited Fudge to next season's home opener, when fans will witness the raising of the team's first Western Conference champions banner.Fortunately this time, Fudge had turned on his Twitter notifications."I thought that if I can get to a game next year, if it's not a playoff game, I want to go to game one at home because I want to see the very first banner in team history," Fudge told the Predators' website. "That would be pretty awesome to see it get raised to the rafters."The next season in Smashville kicks off Oct. 10 against the Philadelphia Flyers, and, this time, Fudge will be in attendance.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

There's no place like home for Kevin Shattenkirk.The New Rochelle, N.Y. native was this summer's most coveted free agent, and despite heavy interest from a handful of suitors, he made it a priority to play for his hometown Rangers, turning down more lucrative deals to do so."It's pretty surreal," Shattenkirk, who inked a four-year deal with the Rangers, told reporters Tuesday. "I think I am really privileged to play in the NHL every day. I don't take it for granted, but to have it now with my favorite team, that really hits home."The move to New York marks the third stop in the last five months for Shattenkirk, who was traded from St. Louis to Washington at last year's trade deadline.In joining the Rangers, Shattenkirk sees a chance to win, pointing to the team's mainstay between the pipes in Henrik Lundqvist, his potential blue-line partner in Ryan McDonagh, and an exciting crop of speedy forwards who make up the offensive ranks. But it's the opportunity to win a Stanley Cup as a Blueshirt that excites Shattenkirk most of all."Growing up and seeing, when teams win in New York, how well they're received from the fan base," Shattenkirk explained. "All of the pressure that you have to endure through those moments, if you can bring it home in New York, for me it's something that you can never replicate anywhere else."Among the league's top puck-moving defensemen, Shattenkirk finished last season with 56 points, fourth-most in the NHL. It is Shattenkirk's skill set as an offensive contributor that is sure to help take the Rangers to the next level, and why there was mutual interest this summer in adding his services."It seems like every year (the Rangers) are making the moves to make their team a championship team," Shattenkirk said. "In that respect, it's kind of hard to see what the window is here because every year that I've been in the league (the Rangers) have been capable of winning a Stanley Cup."Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

This time around, Dominic Moore expects things to be different.The journeyman pivot signed a one-year contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs on July 1, marking the second stint of his career with his hometown club. Moore donned the blue and white for 101 games between 2007-2009 - a time when making the playoffs was largely an afterthought for a franchise that perennially occupied the bottom of the league standings.But now, a decade later, the 36-year-old Moore believes he's picked a winner."For me, all things considered, this was a no-brainer. Not just because it's home. More so because it's a great opportunity to join a great team," Moore told Sportsnet's Luke Fox. "I'm happy with how things played out."Moore suited up for the Boston Bruins in 2016-17, and saw firsthand how the Maple Leafs rapidly emerged as a playoff contender in the Eastern Conference."They seem to play the game at a speed that other teams aren't playing. That's a testament to the coaching staff, what they're trying to instill in them on a daily basis. The speed and skill of the team is at an incredible level," Moore said. "Up and down the ice, transitioning both ways. Down and back at lightning speed."It's more than potential right now. I think they've proven what they can do, and hopefully we can build on that."Last season, on the strength of a rookie-led, high-octane offense, Toronto qualified for the playoffs in an 82-game season for the first time since 2004, and along with Moore, the Maple Leafs have brought in veterans Patrick Marleau and Ron Hainsey in hopes of solidifying a roster with growing aspirations of competing for a Stanley Cup.Moore chipped in 25 points for the Bruins in 82 games last season, and is expected to fill the role of fourth-line center and penalty killer under head coach Mike Babcock.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Nashville Predators and forward Pontus Aberg have agreed to a two-year extension, the team announced Tuesday.The deal will see Aberg earn $650,000 over each of the next two campaigns.Aberg made his NHL debut last season, appearing in 15 games. The Swedish forward spent much of the year with the Milwaukee Admirals, the Predators' minor-league affiliate, with whom he tallied 52 points in 56 contests.The 23-year-old made a name for himself during the Predators' run to the Stanley Cup Finals, as he tallied two goals and three assists in 16 appearances, including the game-winner against the Anaheim Ducks in Game 5 of the Western Conference Final.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

North Carolina is known as the birthplace of Pepsi. It's recognized for its amazing barbecue, and applauded for its zealous college basketball fandom.The state is also home to a soon-to-be world-class hockey club.After years in the wilderness, the Carolina Hurricanes have found their footing, slowly but surely developing into an NHL contender.Despite finishing eight points shy of the final playoff seed in the Eastern Conference last season, expectations are rising in Carolina after a solid offseason for general manager Ron Francis and his club.The players Carolina has added improve the team at both ends of the ice. And factoring in the Hurricanes' existing core - which is young and talented - this team won't just be knocking, but could burst through the playoff door after eight seasons on the sidelines.Here's three reasons why:Williams, Kruger bring winning pedigreesThe addition of two veterans with a combined age of 62 doesn't usually get a fan base fired up, but in the case of Marcus Kruger and Justin Williams, Canes supporters probably should be.Last season, Carolina skated one of the youngest, most inexperienced teams in the league.The pair brings a combined total of 227 career playoff games, 110 playoff points, and five Stanley Cups to a Hurricanes side which hasn't qualified for the playoffs since the year Barack Obama was inaugurated.Tangible benefits aside, Kruger and Williams also provide the club's young stars with veteran leadership. Sebastian Aho, Elias Lindholm, Jeff Skinner, and Victor Rask are four core players under the age of 26 who will benefit immensely from playing alongside more experienced teammates.Van Riemsdyk compliments defensive coreTrevor van Riemsdyk's acquisition didn't exactly make front-page sports news in the Tar Heel state, but maybe it should have - especially considering the Hurricanes already have a handful of elite rearguards on their roster.Van Riemsdyk, who has a Stanley Cup ring, joins Jaccob Slavin, Justin Faulk, and former fifth overall pick Noah Hanifin on a blue line that's quickly becoming one of the most talented in the league.Last season, Slavin recorded a career-high 34 points, Faulk buried the second-most goals in the league by a defenseman (17), and Hanifin chipped in 29 points while playing nearly 18 minutes per game in only his second NHL season.The Hurricanes managed a respectable team goals-against average of 2.80 last season, and with Van Riemsdyk's acquisition and the young core of defensemen having another year together, that number stands to decrease in 2017-18.Darling's ready for his close-up Goaltender Cam Ward made a name for himself in 2006 by winning the Conn Smythe Trophy and Stanley Cup in his first year in the league. But the 33-year-old veteran of 12 NHL seasons is not the game-changer he once was.Enter, Scott Darling.The 28-year-old joins the Hurricanes after spending the last three campaigns as the backup to Chicago Blackhawks starter Corey Crawford. Over that span, Darling was one of the most consistent backups in the league.Across 75 career regular-season games, Darling's registered respectable numbers. The former sixth-round pick owns a 39-17-9 record, with four shutouts, a 2.37 goals-against average, and a .923 save percentage, indicating he's ready to be the No. 1 guy.Over the past few seasons, the Blackhawks have been an easier team to play behind than Carolina, but the Canes' blue-liners now arguably trump Chicago's. Whether it's Darling or Ward in the crease, more of the action should be taking place at the opposite end of the ice.(Photos courtesy: Action Images)Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Ottawa Senators hope to fly under the radar once again.After coming one win short of the Stanley Cup Finals last season, it has been a relatively quiet summer in Ottawa, as the Senators appear poised to return with much of last year's successful squad.While the Senators saw a key loss in defenseman Marc Methot, who the team was unable to protect in the expansion draft, few other significant moves have occurred during this offseason.Forward Viktor Stalberg, added at last year's trade deadline, has since signed in Switzerland, while the Senators also walked away from longtime tough customer Chris Neil. When free agency opened July 1, Ottawa made one low-key addition, recruiting former Anaheim Ducks center Nate Thompson."We're very close to being the same roster that we finished the year with," Senators general manager Pierre Dorion told Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Citizen. "We feel we're almost as good a team as we had last year, and last year we were an overtime away from being in the Stanley Cup Finals."While Dorion didn't rule out the possibility of more moves, his roster seems mostly set. According to Cap Friendly, the Senators have just one player left to sign: restricted free agent Ryan Dzingel.The 25-year-old, who chipped in 14 goals and 18 assists for the Senators last season, has filed for salary arbitration, although Dorion appears prepared for that possibility, as a hearing could come July 21."While we'd like to avoid arbitration and (Dzingel's agent) Don Meehan would like to avoid arbitration too, but, at the same time, we understand it's a process," Dorion said in a Monday conference call, according to Garrioch. "If we can't come to an agreement, we'll just go to arbitration Friday at 9 a.m."While Dzingel's future remains up in the air, expect the Senators to take a similar approach to this coming season as they did in 2016-17."I think, if we can continue on the same path we were last year, I think we proved a lot of people wrong," Dorion said. "Not many had us going into the playoffs (last season). This year our goal is the same: get into the playoffs and build upon that."Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The time for talk is over.After years of accumulating high draft picks and developing those talents in the minors, Arizona Coyotes owner Andrew Barroway is ready for his team to step up."We think we have the best young talent, and it's time to stop talking about how great our young talent is and see them produce," Barroway - the new sole owner of the Coyotes - told "NHL Tonight" on Monday. "I think they're ready. Certainly, I can tell you're they're really excited to play for (new head coach Rick) Tocchet. They're thrilled."Related: Barroway committed to Arizona, new arena: 'No exit strategy here'It's been a tough go in the desert in recent seasons, with the Coyotes sitting out the playoffs for five years running. The team's last postseason appearance came in 2012, as a veteran-laden club led by Shane Doan, Mike Smith, and Ray Whitney, among others.But that success didn't carry through to recent campaigns, as the Coyotes haven't cracked the 80-point plateau in any of the past three seasons. The low point came in 2014-15, when the team missed out on generational talents in Connor McDavid and Jack Eichel, but still landed Dylan Strome with the third selection.Strome, a top center with the OHL's Erie Otters, could be among the young players set to break in with the NHL club next season. As many as nine players under 23 could be part of the Coyotes' roster in 2017-18:PlayerPositionAge2016-17 Team2016-17 StatsClayton KellerF/W18Boston U/NCAA21-24-45 Pts in 31 GPJakob ChychrunD19Arizona/NHL7-13-20 Pts in 68 GPDylan StromeC20Erie/OHL22-53-75 Pts in 35 GPChristian FischerRW20Tucson/AHL20-27-47 Pts in 57 GPLawson CrouseLW20Arizona/NHL5-7-12 Pts in 72 GPChristian DvorakC21Arizona/NHL15-18-33 Pts in 78 GPBrendan PerliniLW21Arizona/NHL14-7-21 Pts in 57 GPAnthony DuclairRW21Arizona/NHL5-10-15 Pts in 58 GPMax DomiLW22Arizona/NHL9-29-38 Pts in 59 GPWhile it's unknown if the young mix - coupled with new acquisitions Derek Stepan, Niklas Hjalmarsson, and Antti Raanta, plus a new bench boss in Tocchet - will be enough to guide the Coyotes back to the postseason, it's certainly the goal."It's hard to win the Cup when you don't get into the playoffs," Barroway said. "We've just got to get in first. We'd like to try to get in this year."Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Detroit Red Wings have come up with their number for Tomas Tatar, and according to Sportsnet's Elliote Friedman, that figure is just a bit short of what the winger is asking for.As Friedman reports, Detroit is willing to pay Tatar $4.1 million annually. However, Tatar is seeking $5.3 million per season after leading the offensively challenged Wings in 2016-17 with 25 goals.Last week, it was reported that Tatar's camp was also seeking a seven-year deal, with the Wings unwilling to go past five. The extra two years being sought by the 26-year-old Slovak are somewhat eyebrow-raising, given his failure to live up to initially high expectations coupled with his mediocre offensive output (he's fallen short of the 50-point plateau in each of the last two campaigns).Tatar is a restricted free agent and filed for arbitration July 5.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The St. Louis Blues and defenseman Colton Parayko reportedly have some ground to make up if they want to come to terms on a contract before an arbitration hearing slated for July 20.Parayko is a restricted free agent and is seeking a one-year deal for $4.85 million, while the team is looking to put pen to paper on a two-year contract that would pay him $3.4 million and $3.6 million, according to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.The 24-year-old is coming off a two-year, $1.85-million deal, but in his first two seasons in the league he has quickly become one of the Blues' most dependable defenders.Parayko has posted 33 and 35 points respectively - good enough for third in team scoring among Blues defensemen during that time - while averaging the fourth-most ice time. He also tallied the second-most blocked shots and the third-most takeaways.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

A Thunder Bay, Ontario, native had a surprise guest show up at his lemonade stand over the weekend.Gavin - a young goalie and fan of fellow Thunder Bay native Matt Murray - ran a lemonade stand on Sunday to raise money for Easter Seals and the local Humane Society. And as fate would have it, his hometown hero showed up.

As the sibling of the most famous hockey player on the planet, it's easy to understand if Taylor Crosby is used to being called "Sidney Crosby's sister" from time to time.For that exact reason, we have to give Taylor some props for using her St. Cloud State player bio as an opportunity to poke some fun at her famous older brother and captain of the Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins:

The owner of the Vegas Golden Knights is claiming the expansion club's ticket sales rival that of the Stanley Cup champions and several other legacy franchises."We are number five, six or seven in terms of ticket revenue in the league," Foley said to Mark Ewing of Forbes in a profile published Sunday night."That’s how good Las Vegas has been to us," he added. "Edmonton has more revenue in their brand-new arena. The (New York) Rangers, Toronto (Maple Leafs), Chicago Blackhawks, they’re all ahead of us. (The) Montreal (Canadiens are) right with us. We have more revenue than the (Philadelphia) Flyers, (Pittsburgh) Penguins, (and) the Boston Bruins. Most of our tickets are multi-year. The lower bowl is three to ten years.”The Golden Knights got thousands of ticket commitments before the team had actually been awarded, and long before the construction of T-Mobile Arena was complete."I knew nothing about how to do a ticket drive," Foley said. "We fumbled around with it, and at the end of about 60 days we had 11,000 deposits for season tickets for a team that did not exist to play in an arena that had not been built."The arena was not finished until April of (2016). We have (now) sold 13,500 of the 17,000 seats. We sold all the suites - we held back five suites to bring in guests. All the opera boxes on the third floor are nearly gone. Game-day ticket sales are the most important thing in the NHL because everyone wants to see a game live."The NHL's 31st franchise will begin its inaugural season this fall.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

After failing to receive a qualifying offer from the New York Rangers this offseason, forward Brandon Pirri is set to head overseas and join the ZSC Lions in Switzerland, Larry Brooks of the New York Post reports.However, Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman indicates the 26-year-old is planning to stay in North America.Pirri signed in New York as a free agent last offseason, inking a one-year, $1.1-million contract. In 60 games with the Rangers, he recorded eight goals and 10 assists, but as the season progressed, he often found himself in the press box as a healthy scratch.A second-round pick in 2009, Pirri has struggled to secure an NHL gig throughout his career, playing for the Blackhawks, Panthers, Ducks, and Rangers since 2013-14.Interestingly enough, Pirri will join former Rangers teammate Kevin Klein in Zurich, as the club announced the signing of the recently retired veteran defenseman Friday.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Nashville Predators are rewarding their unexpected postseason contributor.Frederick Gaudreau has agreed to a three-year contract with the Predators, the first two years of which are two-way and the final year of which will become a one-way deal.It carries an NHL salary of $650,000 and an AHL value of $70,000 in each of the first two seasons, and will pay him $700,000 in the third year.The 24-year-old scored the eventual winning goals in Games 3 and 4 of the Stanley Cup Final against the Pittsburgh Penguins, becoming the second player in NHL history and first in 73 years to score each of his first three NHL markers in the championship round.He made his Stanley Cup playoff debut in Game 5 of the Western Conference Final against the Anaheim Ducks after appearing in nine regular-season games for Nashville.Gaudreau was an undrafted free agent who originally signed a two-year pact with the Predators in January 2016.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Always remember to check your Twitter.That was the painful lesson for a fan of the Nashville Predators, who didn't realize he had won a pair of tickets to the Stanley Cup Final until it was too little, too late:

A move to the Tampa Bay Lightning offers a fresh start for Dan Girardi.The veteran blue-liner, whose contract was recently bought out by the New York Rangers, met with the Tampa Bay media Monday, and he wasn't shy in voicing his excitement over joining a club viewed as a perennial contender."I feel really welcomed here and that really meant a lot to me to be able to come to a place where they want me to come play, come help out," Girardi told reporters. "This is a great team here. A lot of success in the past ... This team has a lot of potential. A lot of great, young players."Related: Girardi on Rangers' buyout: 'It hit me pretty hard'Girardi, 33, appeared in 63 games with the Rangers last season, netting four goals and 11 assists. His play in his own zone has drawn the ire of hockey's analytics community, though Girardi chooses to brush off those criticisms."I'm going to do everything I can to help the team win," Girardi said. "That's the type of person I am. I really don't care what anyone else says around the rink. I know the GM, coaches, and players want me here. That's all that matters to me. I might have to win a few people over, but I'm just hoping to prove myself to everybody and just have a good time here."Lightning fans will get their own look at Girardi soon enough, with Tampa Bay set to open the season Oct. 6 against the Florida Panthers.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Ottawa Senators playoff hero Jean-Gabriel Pageau is back in the fold, agreeing to a three-year extension worth $9.3 million, the team announced Monday.Pageau was a restricted free agent who'd filed for arbitration, and had a hearing set for later this month prior to settling with the Senators on Monday.The 24-year-old appeared in all 82 games with the Senators last season, registering 12 goals and 21 assists.The Ottawa native was among the team's top producers in the playoffs, recording 10 points in 19 games, including a four-goal outing against the New York Rangers.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Philadelphia Flyers have signed 2017 second overall pick Nolan Patrick to a three-year, entry-level contract, the team announced Monday.Patrick, a native of Winnipeg, battled a hernia injury last season, but still appeared in 33 games with the WHL's Brandon Wheat Kings. He wrapped the 2016-17 campaign with 20 goals and 26 assists.A year prior, Patrick played in 72 games with Brandon, notching 102 points.In 2014-15, Patrick was awarded the Jim Piggott Memorial Trophy as the WHL's rookie of the year, a season in which he tallied 56 points in 55 games.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Unrestricted free agent and former Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Brian Campbell announced his retirement after 17 seasons in the NHL, the Blackhawks announced on Monday.Campbell played out his final NHL season last year with the Blackhawks, rejoining the club after an initial stint in Chicago between 2008 to 2011. He tallied five goals and 17 points in 80 games.While Campbell's playing career comes to an end, the 38-year-old will remain with the Blackhawks organization. Campbell will join the team's business operations department, where he will work with the team in marketing, community relations, and youth hockey initiatives."I'm excited to transition into the next step in both my professional career and life," Campbell said in a release. "I'm grateful to the countless number of teammates, coaches, team staff and fans that I have crossed paths with throughout my playing career in Chicago, Buffalo, Florida and San Jose. The Blackhawks organization has allowed me to take on this challenge and I’m thankful for this new opportunity."Campbell concludes his playing career with 87 goals and 504 points in 1,082 career games spent between the Buffalo Sabres, San Jose Sharks, Florida Panthers, and Blackhawks.He was part of the 2010 Blackhawks team that captured the Stanley Cup, and was awarded the Lady Byng Trophy in 2012 as the league's most gentlemanly player.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Watching the Coyotes has been the leading cure for Arizona fans' insomnia over the past few years. However, those who relied on the team's dull style of play to fall asleep may need to start looking for new mechanisms, because the Coyotes project to be a more exciting and offensive team than they've ever been before in 2017-18.And it all starts with the coaching change.Out is Dave Tippett, a tactical, defensive-minded coach. He never had a whole lot to work with, but didn't exactly push the envelope when it came to generating offense. Here is how they ranked offensively the past three seasons:SeasonGoalsShotsScoring Chances For2016-1727th28th28th2015-1624th29th26th2014-1529th23rd24th(Scoring chances courtesy: naturalstattrick.com)In fact, during Tippett's eight-year tenure behind the Coyotes' bench, only once did they rank in the top half of the league in goals for.In comes Rick Tocchet, who is fresh off being the assistant coach of the NHL's most dynamic offense over the past two seasons in Pittsburgh. He's hoping to bring the Penguins' creative style of play with him to the desert."I don't want to take the stick out of guys' hands," Tocchet told Sarah McLellan of AZ Central Sports. "We have some creative, young players here. So I want them to be creative. I don't want them to think too much. I want them to play a lot of pressure, a lot of pressure on the opponent."(Photo courtesy: Action Images)The young players Tocchet is likely referring to - Dylan Strome, Max Domi, Christian Dvorak, and Clayton Keller, among others - have plenty of skill and should fit in much better with the new regime.Tocchet reiterated that generating offense won't come at the expense of playing defense."I'm not going to sell the farm," he said. "It's not going to be 3-on-1s all night. That's not going to happen. But I think you have to be calculated, and the one thing with these young guys, they're sponges. They want to learn. They want to learn how to practice. They want to learn how to play."Aside from the coaching change, two offseason acquisitions in particular could jump-start the offense.Veteran Derek Stepan will make players around him better and allow the younger centers on the team to slot down into more fitting roles. Bringing in Niklas Hjalmarsson should stabilize the back end, and theoretically allow his projected defense partner Oliver Ekman-Larsson to join the rush more frequently.While grabbing a playoff spot in the Western Conference will be a challenge, the new-look Coyotes aren't a team fans should sleep on this season.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

John Tortorella is due for a raise in pay.The Columbus Blue Jackets bench boss - who could enter next season on the final year of his contract - should be paid like the league's top coaches."Who just won coach of the year?" Neil Glasberg, who represents Tortorella, told Aaron Portzline of The Columbus Dispatch. "It's not the first time he's won the Jack Adams Trophy, either. He's won a Stanley Cup. The Blue Jackets just had the best season in franchise history, and it's not even close. Yeah, he should be among the top-paid coaches in the league."Glasberg's firm, PBI Sports and Entertainment, which represents several NHL coaches, including Mike Sullivan of the Pittsburgh Penguins and Gerard Gallant of the Vegas Golden Knights, began talks on an extension for Tortorella last month.Portzline speculates that a new deal could see Tortorella earn as much as $3.5 million a season. According to CapFriendly, Toronto's Mike Babcock ($6.25 million), Chicago's Joel Quenneville ($6 million), and Montreal's Claude Julien ($5 million) are among the league's highest-paid coaches. The three combine for five Stanley Cup championships.As Tortorella's agent states, he brings similar accolades to the table, most recently as this season's coach of the year. It was the second time Tortorella laid claim to the trophy, after doing so in 2003-04 with the Tampa Bay Lightning, a season in which he led the Lightning to the Stanley Cup.Tortorella joined the Blue Jackets in 2015, two years after he signed a five-year deal to coach the Vancouver Canucks, who fired him in 2014. The Blue Jackets picked up part of that contract, with the Canucks responsible for making whole the remainder.This season, the Boston native became the first American-born coach to reach 500 wins. Tortorella, 59, now ranks 22nd all time with 530 career NHL victories.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Jonathan Drouin went incognito.The big-ticket addition to the Montreal Canadiens took to his new surroundings over the weekend, doing so undercover as he quizzed Habs' supporters on how the new face would perform this season.But much to Drouin's chagrin, he wasn't totally unrecognizable in the hockey hotbed, with many Canadiens fans picking out their new star.Montreal acquired the Quebec-born Drouin from the Lightning in a June trade that sent up-and-coming defenseman Mikhail Sergachev to Tampa Bay.A former QMJHL star, Drouin spent parts of the last three seasons with the Lightning after a three-year run with the Halifax Mooseheads. He scored 105 points in 49 games with the Mooseheads in 2012-13, en route to being selected third overall in that year's draft.Drouin tallied a career-high 53 points in 73 games with the Lightning last season, and if he can meet some of the lofty projections set out by the locals he met, Drouin will be off to a great start in Montreal.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Georges Laraque knows a thing or two about dropping the gloves.The former NHL enforcer, who suited up for 695 career games, including an eight-year run with the Edmonton Oilers, still sees value in pugilists, despite resistance from the analytics crowd.While the hockey fighter is a dying breed, the current Oilers squad, including right-winger Zack Kassian and power forward Milan Lucic, doesn't lack toughness. As Laraque sees it, it's these types of skaters whose aggression and intimidating nature allow skilled players to be at their best."Why do you think (Connor) McDavid got 100 points this year? Do you see how much room he's getting?" Laraque told Bob Stauffer of 630 CHED, according to David Staples of the Edmonton Journal. "Yes, there's a little bit of stuff there and there sometimes, but most of the time he was healthy because of that presence."That wasn't the case during McDavid's rookie season, when he was limited to 45 games following a hit by Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Brandon Manning. McDavid suffered a broken clavicle on the play and missed the next 37 games.But it's not just about the fisticuffs, Laraque continued."(The Oilers) had enough toughness that prevent guys to take liberties with those guys," Laraque said. "When (teams) go to Edmonton, with Darnell Nurse, Lucic, (Patrick) Maroon, all those guys there, people don't want to take liberties with those kids because there's a lot of guys (who) can answer the bell."And we're not even talking about fighting here. We're talking about a presence that prevents guys from taking cheap shots because they know there would be retribution if they did so."There's no denying McDavid made the most of his space this season, as he wrapped his sophomore campaign with 30 goals and 70 assists to take home the Hart Trophy as NHL MVP and the Art Ross Trophy as top scorer.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Justin Schultz had an eventful day with the Stanley Cup.Schultz's first stop Saturday was a hospital where he visited children in his hometown of Kelowna, British Columbia:

The Vegas Golden Knights have signed first-round picks Cody Glass, Nick Suzuki, and Erik Brannstrom to three-year, entry-level contracts, the team announced Saturday.Glass was Vegas' first-ever draft at sixth overall. The 6-foot-2 center spent last season with the Portland Winterhawks of the Western Hockey League, recording 32 goals and 94 points in 69 games.Suzuki was then taken at No. 13. The 5-foot-11 center had 45 goals and 96 points with the Owen Sound Attack of the Ontario Hockey League.With their final first-round pick, the Knights took Swedish defenseman Erik Brannstrom. The 5-foot-9 blue-liner tallied six points in 35 games while playing with HV71 Jonkoping of the Swedish Hockey League - the top professional league in the nation.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New Jersey Devils signed first overall pick Nico Hischier to the maximum three-year, entry-level contract with an average annual value of $925,000, the team announced Saturday.Hischier became the first Swiss-born player to be taken first overall when the Devils selected him over Nolan Patrick in June's entry draft. The 6-foot-1, 176-pound center scored 38 goals and had 86 points in 57 games with the Halifax Mooseheads of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League last season.For a full draft profile and scouting report on Hischier, click here.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Vegas Golden Knights signed restricted free agents Griffin Reinhart and Brendan Leipsic to two-year contracts, the team announced Saturday.Reinhart's deal comes with an average annual value of $800,000, while Leipsic will have an AAV of $650,000.Reinhart, 23, was scooped up by Vegas from the Edmonton Oilers in the expansion draft. The hulking 6-foot-4 defenseman was taken fourth overall by the New York Islanders in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft, but hasn't lived up to the hype thus far in his career. Appearing in just 37 NHL games, Reinhart has just two points, 28 giveaways, and two takeaways.Leipsic might be the complete opposite of Reinhart.The diminutive 5-foot-9 winger was a third-round selection by the Nashville Predators in the very same 2012 draft. He was taken by Vegas in the expansion draft from the Toronto Maple Leafs after racking up 51 points in 49 AHL games a season ago. He has just six games of NHL experience, coming in 2015-16 with Toronto, in which he picked up a goal and two helpers.Leipsic has a chance of making Vegas' initial roster out of training camp, but Reinhart could be in tough considering the abundance of defensemen general manager George McPhee took in the expansion draft.With Reinhart and Leipsic signed, smooth-skating RFA defenseman Nate Schmidt remains the only unsigned player on the Golden Knights' roster.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

P.K. Subban was in pretty, pretty, pretty good company in Los Angeles on Friday night.The Nashville Predators defenseman, who was in town for the ESPYs and Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Sports Awards, dined with "Seinfeld" and "Curb Your Enthusiasm" creator Larry David, Los Angeles Clippers head coach Doc Rivers, Los Angeles Lakers owner Jeanie Buss, and former NHL player and current New York Islanders scout Chris O'Sullivan.

Phil Kessel is seemingly okay with being the subject of trade speculation."(Trades) happen all of the time. I've been traded before and if I get traded again, it is what it is," the Pittsburgh Penguins winger told TSN on Friday. "It's a business. You've got to look at it like that. If I'm somewhere else, I'll play hard for them."Kessel's name surfaced in the rumor mill after Pittsburgh Post-Gazette columnist Ron Cook floated the possibility the Penguins could look to deal the winger, particularly in light of former assistant coach Rick Tocchet being named bench boss of the Arizona Coyotes.Kessel and Tocchet had a close relationship. When Tocchet was believed to be in the running to become the next coach of the Buffalo Sabres, Kessel told Mike Harrington of The Buffalo News, "He is my favorite assistant coach of all time I've ever played for. He understands what it's like to play the game, to be a player, He just gets it."He makes it fun. He'd make that transition easily. If he gets that opportunity there, it would be unbelievable for him. I don't want to see him go, right? Because he's a great guy and a great coach."While Tocchet is off to the desert, the possibility of Kessel joining him seems remote, with a source telling Craig Morgan of Arizona Sports there is "nothing" to the speculation linking Kessel to the Coyotes.Earlier Friday, Penguins general manager Jim Rutherford mostly ruled out the possibility of a Kessel trade, stating, "I don't want to sit here and say that a certain player's not going to get traded at some point in his career. I mean, Phil already did. But that's not something that I foresee happening right now."Should Kessel be dealt, it will be the third trade of his relatively short career. In 2009, the Boston Bruins flipped Kessel to the Toronto Maple Leafs. Less than six years later, Kessel was on the move again, this time to the Penguins.Kessel appeared in all 82 games with the Penguins this season, putting up 23 goals and 47 assists. The high-flying winger was once again invaluable in the playoffs, playing a key role as the Penguins won their second straight Stanley Cup. Over the past two postseasons, only Evgeni Malkin and Sidney Crosby (both 46) have recorded more playoff points than Kessel's 45.Kessel, 29, has five years remaining on his contract, carrying a $6.8-million salary cap hit. And if Kessel is on the move, he'll have some say on where he's going, as his pact includes an eight-team trade list, per CapFriendly.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Fans of the Bruins and Celtics know that when their team signs a contract with a player, that agreement must be followed to the letter of the law.But when it comes to state-approved arena projects, there isn't a players' association tasked with keeping an eye on the proceedings. If local bureaucrats drop the ball on oversight, and the arena's owner ignores their own commitment, who's going to hold them accountable?As Bruins and TD Garden owner Jeremy Jacobs learned, the answer is teenagers.A group of high school students in Boston stumbled upon inconsistencies between the promises made by Jacobs' Delaware North group back in 1993 and what has actually been delivered to date, the Boston Globe's Milton J. Valencia reports.As part of the bid to have the $160-million arena project that would become TD Garden approved by the state, Jacobs' ownership group agreed to host three events per year at the new arena to help raise funds for Boston's recreational services. The students discovered that no such events have taken place since TD Garden, then known as FleetCenter, opened in September 1995.The amateur investigation grew out of the students' keen interest in raising funds for a proposed $21.5-million community recreation center project, one that would service neighborhoods with high levels of at-risk youth.It isn't clear whether any restitution will come from the discovery of the Garden's unfulfilled fundraising obligations, but state officials are reportedly reviewing "strategies going forward" after being alerted of the students' findings.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Joe Pavelski: world-class athlete.The San Jose Sharks captain put his athletic prowess on display Friday, showing off his skills with not only a club but a basketball as well at the American Century Championship, a celebrity golf tournament held in Nevada.

The Arizona Coyotes aren't ready to make a major commitment to Anthony Duclair.Duclair, 21, is a restricted free agent in need of a new contract. But those negotiations couldn't come at a worse time for the young winger, who struggled in his second full NHL season, netting just 15 points in 58 games.It was a steep decline for the Quebec-born forward, who a year earlier starred alongside fellow Coyotes freshman Max Domi as he notched 20 goals and 24 assists in 81 games to finish seventh in NHL rookie scoring."It's going to be a one- or two-year deal," Coyotes general manager John Chayka told AZ Central's Sarah McLellan. "That's where we're at. We've talked. We understand where each other's at."Unable to find the back of the net as often in 2016-17, Duclair was served with a short demotion to the AHL. But his scoring touch couldn't make up for his lost confidence, as he came away with just one goal (plus seven assists) through 16 contests with the Coyotes' minor-league affiliate.While with the big club, former coach Dave Tippett challenged Duclair to re-establish himself as an NHL player. "We want him to play to his potential," Tippett said in March. "He set a standard for his play last year that he has to get back to. For whatever reason, he hasn't come close to that this year."The veteran bench boss scratched Duclair for six contests last season, but there will now be a different voice calling the shots after Arizona announced the hiring of new head coach Rick Tocchet this week.The Coyotes still see a lot in the scoring winger they acquired from the New York Rangers at the 2015 deadline, as Chayka told McLellan: "I like 'Duke' as a player a lot, as a person a lot, but he had a rough year. I think it's more just about getting him back on the horse, getting him going. For both the team and the player, short-term is the best."But that doesn't mean a shorter contract couldn't be beneficial to Duclair, who is coming off his entry-level deal, as an improved 2017-18 campaign could see him cash in during an upcoming offseason.Duclair is one of two Coyotes roster players who remain restricted free agents, along with fellow forward Jordan Martinook, who tallied 25 points in 77 games last season. The 24-year-old received a qualifying offer from the club but has since filed for salary arbitration, with his hearing set for July 26.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Dallas Stars have arguably the most talented group of forwards in the NHL, and they could get a significant boost to that unit as early as next year.Valeri Nichushkin is expected to return to the Stars for the 2018-19 season, his agent Mark Gandler told Mike Heika of The Dallas Morning News.Nichushkin - the 10th overall pick in the 2013 draft - spent three seasons with the Stars, but returned home to play in the KHL last season, and will do so again for the 2017-18 campaign."Val is under contract with CSKA (Moscow) for another year. Based on the current NHL-KHL agreement, Val may not sign with Dallas until the '18-'19 season," Gandler explained to Heika. "I know that Dallas was watching Val in the KHL and playing for the Russian National team. They are happy with his progress and expect him back in a year. Val, too, plans to come back to Dallas after his contract with CSKA expires."(Photo courtesy: Action Images)Nichushkin showed flashes of brilliance as an 18-year-old rookie with the Stars. The 6-foot-4 winger potted 14 goals, added 20 assists, had only eight penalty minutes, and accumulated a plus-20 rating.The next two seasons were a bit of a struggle, though. He played only eight games in 2014-15 due to injury, and scored just nine goals in 2015-16. With CSKA Moscow last season, he tallied 11 goals and 24 points in 36 games.Stars general manager Jim Nill is content with the agreement, citing that another year overseas could be best for the 22-year-old's development."It's good for him," Nill said. "He has the opportunity to play a lot of minutes, he has the opportunity to possibly play for the national team, possibly play in the Olympics. This can be a very big season for him."If Nichushkin does indeed return to the NHL in 2018-19, he would be a restricted free agent and Dallas would own his rights. He would be placed into the mix of a forward group already featuring Jamie Benn, Tyler Seguin, Jason Spezza, Alexander Radulov, Martin Hanzal, and Radek Faksa.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

All was right again for Curtis Lazar.Following a deal to the Calgary Flames at last year's trade deadline, the former junior star was seemingly back to his old self as the talented winger who had made a name for himself before arriving in the NHL."I saw my potential come back in Calgary. I was carrying the puck, skating well, being physical," Lazar told Jason Gregor of TSN 1260. "I felt happy again."It was a stark contrast from the player who was a part of the Ottawa Senators for parts of the last three seasons. Lazar made his NHL debut with the Senators in 2014-15, putting up 15 points in 67 games.But it was in 2016-17 when Lazar's game went off track, as he was limited to a single point through 33 games. He even struggled following a demotion to the AHL, registering just four points in 13 games.In 2013-14, his final year in junior, Lazar was a key cog in leading the WHL's Edmonton Oil Kings to its first Memorial Cup championship. Through 58 regular-season contests, Lazar netted 76 points. He put up another 22 points in the playoffs.Lazar then added to his trophy case by taking home a gold medal with Team Canada at the 2015 world juniors. He scored nine points in the tournament, including five goals to tie Max Domi and Sam Reinhart for the team lead.But the same success which Lazar enjoyed in junior didn't follow him to the Senators, the club which selected him 17th overall in 2013. And after three years, Ottawa had seemingly seen enough, deciding to move on from Lazar when he was shipped to Calgary.Team GP G A P P/GP TOIFlames41230.7511:46Senators330110.038:48At the time of the trade, Flames general manager Brad Treliving stated, "We're not making this bet based on what he's doing today - we think there is significant upside."So far, the wager has worked out perfectly for Calgary, as Lazar collected a goal and two assists in four games with the Flames and seemed to rediscover the style that made him a junior standout."The skill set I had in junior kind of got washed away playing fewer minutes and games (in Ottawa)," Lazar added. "Muscle memory comes back and I feel it now."On Friday, Lazar was rewarded for his quick turnaround with the Flames, as he inked a two-year extension with his new club.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Los Angeles Kings have re-signed forward Jonny Brodzinski to a two-year contract with an average annual value of $650,000 at the NHL level, the team announced Friday. The first year of the deal is a two-way contract, while the second year is one-way.Brodzinski, 24, played in six games with the Kings last year, but he undoubtedly left his mark on the analytics community.Stat (all at even strength)DescriptionNumberLeague AverageCorsi For %Percentage of shots attempted by own team while player was on the ice61.550Scoring Chances For %Percentage of scoring chances generated by own team while player was on the ice64.0650Offensive Zone Start %Percentage of offensive zone faceoffs that took place while player was on the ice45.750On-ice Shooting %Shooting percentage by own team while player was on the ice6.79.1Scoring chance stats courtesy Natural Stat Trick, others courtesy Hockey Reference.What the numbers above are saying is that while Brodzinski was on the ice, the Kings had the puck a lot, generated plenty of scoring chances, and limited the opposition's scoring chances. They did this despite starting more possessions in the defensive zone rather than the offensive zone.Brodzinski may have only had two points in his six-game stint, but that was largely due to a below average on-ice shooting percentage, and the fact that he only played 12:17 minutes per night.A fifth-round selection of the Kings in the 2013 NHL Entry Draft, Brodzinski has been an offensive force at every level thus far in his career.SeasonTeamLeagueGPGAP2012-13St. Cloud StateNCAA422211332013-14St. Cloud StateNCAA382120412014-15St. Cloud StateNCAA402117382015-16Ontario ReignAHL651513282016-17Ontario ReignAHL59272249The Ham Lake, Minn., native is expected to compete for a regular role with the Kings this coming season.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Tampa Bay Lightning re-signed restricted free-agent forward Ondrej Palat to a five-year, $26.5-million contract, the team announced Friday.With the deal, the Lightning and Palat avoided their arbitration hearing, which was scheduled for July 25. Tampa has now locked up all of its pending free agents, with $3.25 million in cap space still available.

R.J. Umberger is hoping to resume his hockey career with the Dallas Stars.The veteran forward, who did not play during the 2016-17 season, has agreed to a professional tryout offer with the Stars, the team confirmed.Umberger last skated in the NHL in 2016, when he spent two seasons with the Philadelphia Flyers after a six-year run with the Columbus Blue Jackets.In his final season in Philadelphia, Umberger posted two goals and nine assists in 39 games. The Flyers elected to buy out the final year of his contract last June.Should Umberger sign with the Stars, he'll be reunited with bench boss Ken Hitchcock, who coached Umberger in both Philadelphia and Columbus.Umberger has appeared in 779 career games and has recorded 180 goals and 212 assists.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

A new arena situated on the right side of town is the final piece of the puzzle for the Arizona Coyotes.That's the stance of Coyotes' owner Andrew Barroway, who spoke with Craig Morgan of Arizona Sports in a wide-ranging interview Friday, touching on several topics on a team that has had arguably hockey's busiest offseason.Barroway, who assumed full ownership of the Coyotes in June, reiterated his commitment to the Arizona market, noting a new arena is the next big step for the franchise."I made the decision to expand my ownership in the Coyotes for a few reasons," Barroway said. "First, I love this team, I love hockey and I love being here in the Valley. I am a homeowner here. I voted here. We're committed to Arizona long-term. This is where we want to be."We're not relocating and I have no exit strategy here. My son would never forgive me. He (Jake) is transferring to the University of Michigan to study sports management and the plan is, when he is old enough, he'll be the future governor (of the team). I'm not flipping it. This is a family enterprise."Barroway was on hand Thursday for a press conference introducing new head coach Rick Tocchet, as well as Steve Patterson, who the club appointed as president and CEO. Patterson is a familiar name to Arizona sports fans, as he was previously the athletic director at Arizona State University, most recently in 2013.Patterson's past experience with stadium projects, including the construction of NRG Stadium, home of the NFL's Houston Texans, and the redevelopment of Portland's Moda Center, the home court of the NBA's Trail Blazers, will be a key resource as the Coyotes continue to work toward a new arena. This expertise, in addition to his ties to the Valley of the Sun, makes Patterson a key hire for the Coyotes."Steve has the combined skills and experience and local contacts to help go about it," Barroway said. "Going forward on stadium stuff, we'll do everything aggressively and privately and when we have a firm deal to announce, we'll announce it."I think people want to know when it's a done deal. They don't need to live through the daily drama of it. There's no benefit to discussing it publicly until you have something to report. You're not going to get any false timelines from us, but trust me, I get up in the morning thinking about a new stadium and I go to sleep thinking about a new stadium."The Coyotes certainly have the support of the NHL, particularly commissioner Gary Bettman, who according to Barroway described Arizona as a "home run" hockey market if a new stadium can come to fruition.The Coyotes are in search of a new arena after the city of Glendale voted to end the team's long-term lease agreement at Gila River Arena, where it'll continue to play on a year-to-year basis.The Coyotes hope to have a new arena in the East Valley, closer to most of the team's fan base and corporate sponsors. Past proposals have included a site on the campus of Arizona State, and reportedly a shared facility with the NBA's Suns in downtown Phoenix. The two clubs previously shared an arena prior to the Coyotes' move to Glendale in 2003.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Filip Chytil has officially signed with the New York Rangers, the team announced Friday.The Rangers selected Chytil 21st in this year's draft. The forward spent last season with Zlin of the Czech Extraliga, recording eight points in 38 games.He later represented the Czech Republic at the under-18s, netting five points in five games.Chytil's signing comes one day after New York agreed to terms with forward Lias Andersson, who was selected seventh overall this year.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Carolina Hurricanes have signed 2017 first-round pick Martin Necas to a three-year, entry-level contract, the team announced Friday.The Hurricanes selected Necas with the 12th overall pick in this year's draft.The center appeared in 41 games last season with Kometa Brno of the Czech Extraliga, netting seven goals and eight assists.Necas also skated in five games with the Czech Republic at the world juniors, where he recorded a goal and two assists.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Calgary Flames have signed forward Curtis Lazar to a two-year extension worth $950,000 per season, the team announced Friday.The Flames acquired Lazar from the Ottawa Senators at last year's trade deadline, parting with defenseman Jyrki Jokipakka and a second-round pick in this summer's draft.Lazar was a first-round pick by the Senators in 2013, but struggled to gain footing with the organization. He appeared in 33 games with Ottawa last season, tallying a single point. Following his trade to the Flames, Lazar notched a goal and two assists in four games.Lazar won the Memorial Cup with the Edmonton Oil Kings in 2014, and a year later, was a part of Team Canada's gold-medal squad at the world juniors.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Nikita Gusev won't be suiting up in the NHL anytime soon, as the 25-year-old winger re-signed with SKA St. Petersburg of the KHL on Friday, according to the club.

Phil Kessel knows a thing or two about what it's like to play in the intense hockey market that is Toronto.So when the former Maple Leaf and current Penguin returned to the Big Smoke for his offseason workouts with fellow Leaf alum Gary Roberts, Kessel was quick to offer advice to a much-improved Toronto club that will face much higher expectations next season."It's always tougher the second year. There's a little more pressure," Kessel told TSN.ca this week. "They got good players there and you never know what happens, but, tough league ..."Every year is different. You never know who's going to make the playoffs - even the best teams might miss the playoffs."The Maple Leafs experienced a complete 180 over the past two seasons. After finishing dead last in 2016, they made the playoffs a year later and took the Presidents' Trophy-winning Washington Capitals to six games - five of which were decided by sudden-death overtime.With success comes the pressure to sustain it. Maple Leafs fans are aware of their talented young squad's potential, and expectations in Toronto are higher than they've been since Doug Gilmour rocked the "C." But opposing NHL clubs have taken notice too.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Nashville Predators will celebrate their 20th anniversary with a fancy new commemorative logo.

Rick Tocchet has been head coach of the Arizona Coyotes for less than 72 hours, but he knows from personal experience just how badly their fans want a winning club.So when Tocchet addressed the media Thursday for the first time as the Desert Dogs' bench boss, he said Arizona - which isn't generally considered a hockey town - is willing and ready to support its team.Related: 3 takeaways from the Coyotes' introductory press conference"This is an underrated hockey market," Tocchet said, according to Jerry Brown of NHL.com. "I've seen a lot of old friends from when I used to live here and they are starving for a winner. Then you take the commitment by the new front office and ownership to a new start … you mix all that in together and it was an easy choice for me to come back."Tocchet will be counted on to revive a Coyotes club that's missed the playoffs for five consecutive seasons, and 11 out of the last 14. Unsurprisingly, Arizona's attendance has also been poor, consistently ranking among the bottom three teams in the NHL.Support was significantly higher during Tocchet's playing days in the desert - Arizona averaged over 15,000 fans per game from 1997-2000 - something the 53-year-old remembers fondly."We had a good, smart, competitive team that played a fast style and that's what this fan base wants," Tocchet said. "We had offensive players with skill and the fans really connected. When we played downtown (at America West Arena) and the building was electric, we had a good advantage."If Tocchet can manage to turn around the Coyotes, perhaps Arizona fans will connect with them all over again.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Jim Rutherford is tapping the brakes on any trade speculation surrounding Phil Kessel.The seeds of that conjecture were planted by local columnists in recent days, most notably Ron Cook of the Post-Gazette. Cook suggested the Penguins could look to ship Kessel out of town in light of the departure of Rick Tocchet, with whom the winger had a close relationship.But in an interview on 93.7 The Fan on Thursday, the Penguins general manager affirmed Kessel's significance to a team coming off back-to-back Stanley Cup wins."Phil Kessel's an important part of the Penguins," Rutherford said, according to Jonathan Bombulie of TribLive. "He gets a lot of points. He scores big goals. He sets up big goals. The more impact players that you have, like we have, the better chance you have of winning. ..."I don't want to sit here and say that a certain player's not going to get traded at some point in his career. I mean, Phil already did. But that's not something that I foresee happening right now."Rutherford did qualify his assessment of Kessel by pointing to an apparent lack of consistency."It may not be on a regular basis, but it may come at a certain time in a series or whatnot, just like it did against Ottawa," Rutherford said. "Kessel came up with the big goal in that 1-0 game (in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference finals)."In two seasons since being acquired from the Toronto Maple Leafs, Kessel has averaged 0.79 points per game during the regular season, and contributed 18 goals and 27 assists in 49 postseason appearances. Those 45 playoff points put him one behind both Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin over the same span.According to Cap Friendly, Kessel has five years remaining on a contract that carries an $8-million annual salary cap hit, $1.2 million of which was retained by the Maple Leafs. His deal also contains a modified no-trade and no-movement clauses that allows him to submit a list of eight teams he'd move to should he agree to be traded.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.