The New Jersey Devils believe they are a good fit for Alexander Kerfoot.A fifth-round pick by the Devils in 2012, Kerfoot has spent the past four years with Harvard University, where he tallied 16 goals and 29 assists in 36 games to tie for the team scoring lead this past season.But the NCAA forward has yet to put pen to paper with the Devils, and given that he can become an unrestricted free agent on Aug. 15, Kerfoot now has more than one path forward."I hope Alex signs with us," Devils general manager Ray Shero told Chris Ryan of NJ.com. "He knows that. Would love to have him. I think what we're doing, he'd fit in the way he'd play. The speed he brings, the hockey sense, would love to have him. But I don't control that. He does."Free agency certainly isn't unfamiliar to Kerfoot, as it was the route chosen by his former Harvard teammate, Jimmy Vesey, a Nashville Predators draft pick who signed with the New York Rangers last offseason.Vesey was the 2016 Hobey Baker winner, presented to the NCAA's top hockey player. Kerfoot was a finalist this year, with the Hobey Baker ultimately going to defenseman Will Butcher, a Colorado Avalanche prospect who has already informed the team there is no need to "rush" into a contract.As for Kerfoot, the Devils remain hopeful that he will sign on the dotted line, believing their organization provides a good opportunity for the college star."If it's meant to be, great, we'd love to have him," Shero added. "Nothing's changed on my part. He has a greater look at what we have now."It's been an exciting offseason in New Jersey no doubt. Most recently, the Devils added Marcus Johansson in a deal with the Washington Capitals, just weeks after the team selected Swiss scorer Nico Hischier with the first pick in this year's draft.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Washington Capitals are hoping to tap into depth scoring on the cheap.The club recently signed forward Devante Smith-Pelly to a one-year, two-way deal worth $650,000 at the NHL level in the hopes that the 42nd overall pick from the 2010 draft will deliver on all that made him a once-tantalizing prospect."I think there's some untapped potential," general manager Brian MacLellan said Monday following the signing, according to J.J. Regan of CSN Mid-Atlantic. "I think maybe conditioning played a factor in some of it. I think we're going to work with him to see if we can get a little bit of that back and create a player that we can use."Smith-Pelly was made available after the final year of his previous contract was bought out by the New Jersey Devils. The Capitals, who handed sizable extensions to T.J. Oshie and Evgeny Kuznetsov, scooped him up with a view to filling out their bottom six."I think for us, we're looking for ways on the bottom end of our lineup to add cheaper players or develop cheaper players because of the (Kuznetsov) signing and the (Oshie) signing," MacLellan said. "So we're going to have to be more creative on the fourth line."Smith-Pelly has never played in more than 54 games in a single NHL season, registering 33 goals and 44 assists in 266 appearances to date.He did, however, score 27 goals in 55 AHL games back in 2013-14, a sign of what's possible if he puts it all together.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Antti Raanta is moving from understudy to starring role, and he believes he's ready for the spotlight.The 28-year-old goaltender spent the past four seasons with the Chicago Blackhawks and New York Rangers after signing with the former as an undrafted free agent in 2013. He's now set to rise to the rank of starting netminder after being acquired by the Arizona Coyotes earlier this offseason, and owes a debt of gratitude to those he previously backed up."I have been privileged to play behind Corey Crawford in Chicago and Henrik Lundqvist in New York, and working with great goalie coaches in Chicago and New York," Raanta said, per Dave Vest on the team's website. "It's been kind of like a step-by-step process for me. Last year, I kind of felt that my game was finding the right way and my confidence level was going better and better all the time. I felt like I was giving the team the chance to win every night."Indeed, Raanta's play was a boon for the Rangers, and his numbers actually outshined "The King," albeit in fewer games.PlayerGamesRecordShutoutsSave %Henrik Lundqvist5731-20-42.910Antti Raanta3016-8-24.922Lundqvist, of course, remains one of the best in the game for a reason, and Raanta knows he has a ways to go before reaching that level."There's lots of games to play, but you have to find the right way to handle your emotions and your work ethic. Hopefully I've learned something from Henrik's work ethic and hopefully I can be, one day, as good as him."Raanta is essentially penciled in as the Coyotes' No. 1 netminder next season, with Louis Domingue set to challenge him for starts."There's going to be other goalies and there's going to be a battle for the No. 1 spot (in Arizona), but I feel my game is going in the right direction … and I feel like I'm ready to take one more step and be playing more and get the No. 1 spot."For his NHL career, Raanta has posted a record of 78-47-23 with eight shutouts and a save percentage of .917.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Chris Kunitz is officially a leading candidate for hockey dad of the year.The former Pittsburgh Penguins winger is enjoying his day with the Stanley Cup, and kicked things off by filling it with milk so his kids could enjoy a most memorable bowl of cereal.

After months of speculation, Ilya Kovalchuk nixed any buzz of a possible return to the NHL next season, opting to sign a one-year contract to stay with St. Petersburg SKA of the KHL.Whether the 34-year-old sniper actually had suitors in North America isn't exactly clear, but he told St. Petersburg's official team website that the NHL opting out of the 2018 Olympics in Pyeongchang was one the main factors he decided to stay home.Kovalchuk has suited up in Russia for each of the last three winter games, but hasn't enjoyed much success with his countrymen, failing to medal in each event. However, Russia's freedom to dip into KHL rosters could make them an early favorite for next year's tournament.In 2016-17, Kovalchuk finished second in the KHL scoring race with 78 points in 60 games, en route to capturing the Gagarin Cup as league champions.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Carey Price is making bank.The Montreal Canadiens netminder will become the highest-paid puck stopper in NHL history thanks to his recently-signed mega extension.The deal is worth $84 million over eight years, with $70 million paid out in signing bonuses. That means Price will receive eight one-time payments every July 1 over the life of the contract, including $13-million checks when Canada Day arrives in 2018 and 2019. He'll also earn another $2 million in salary over each of those first two seasons.Price will earn $7 million in salary on the final year of his existing pact. His new contract begins in 2018-19 and expires in the summer of 2026. Here is the full breakdown, as per CapFriendly:Season Cap Hit Salary Signing Bonus2018-19$10.5M$15M$13M2019-20$10.5M$15M$13M2020-21$10.5M$9.75M$8.75M2021-22$10.5M$13M$11M2022-23$10.5M$7.75M$6.75M2023-24$10.5M$8.5M$6.5M2024-25$10.5M$7.5M$5.5M2025-26$10.5M$7.5M$5.5Beginning in 2018-19, Price will earn double the salary of the NHL's next highest-paid netminder, as the New York Rangers' Henrik Lundqvist will take home $7.5 million. Here's how the top-five highest-paid goalies will stack up:GoalieSalaryCap HitPrice$15M$10.5MLundqvist$7.5M$8.5MTuukka Rask$7M$7MJonathan Quick$7M$5.8MPekka Rinne$7M$7MFrom a historical perspective, Price's new deal also tops the goaltending legends, as he'll see more money than the top-three all-time winningest goalies:GoalieWinsStanley CupsHighest Salary Career EarningsMartin Brodeur6913$6.89M (2002 and 2003)$73.1MPatrick Roy5514$8.5M (2002 and 2003)$56.8MEd Belfour4841$7M (2004)$50M(Figures as per NHL Salary History Database)Price, 29, appeared in 62 games with the Canadiens last season, posting a 37-20-5 record with a .923 save percentage.In 2014-15, he took home four major awards, including the William Jennings, the Ted Lindsay Award, the Vezina Trophy as the league's top goaltender, and the Hart Trophy as the NHL MVP.Last season, Price passed Ken Dryden for third all time in Canadiens' franchise wins. He now stands at 270 victories and could leapfrog both Roy (289) and Jacques Plante (314) as soon as next season.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Oh no you don't, Evgeni.Over the past week-and-a-half, Pittsburgh Penguins forward Evgeni Malkin has been sharing some classic career highlights via Twitter.Sunday was no exception as the Russian star shared a shootout effort in which he beat then-Vancouver Canucks goaltender Roberto Luongo with a nifty deke.

The Tampa Bay Lightning, St. Louis Blues, and Detroit Red Wings have less than two weeks to come to terms with some key players before the decision may be made for them.That's when the likes of Tyler Johnson, Colton Parayko, and Tomas Tatar are scheduled to take their cases before an arbitrator, with the three hearings set for July 20.The three are among the 27 players set to go before arbitration this summer. Thirty players filed by Wednesday's deadline, but three cases have already reached a resolution.That includes Montreal Canadiens forward Alex Galchenyuk, New York Rangers winger Jesper Fast, and Buffalo Sabres forward Johan Larsson. All three players received substantial raises above their qualifying offers:PlayerQualifying Offer2017-18 AAVGalchenyuk$3.1M$4.9MFast$1M$1.85MLarsson$997.5K$1.475MTeams and players can continue to negotiate in the days leading up to the hearing, and in the following deliberation period before a verdict is announced.That was the case last offseason, when Colorado Avalanche defenseman Tyson Barrie was the lone player to reach the hearing stage of the 25 NHLers who filed for arbitration. However, Barrie and the Avalanche later agreed to a four-year extension before a verdict was announced.Here is the full schedule of hearings:PlayerTeamDateTyler JohnsonLightningJuly 20Colton ParaykoBluesJuly 20Tomas TatarRed WingsJuly 20Michael ChaputCanucksJuly 21Ryan DzingelSenatorsJuly 21Viktor ArvidssonPredatorsJuly 22Micheal FerlandFlamesJuly 22Brian DumoulinPenguinsJuly 24Austin WatsonPredatorsJuly 24Joey LaLeggiaOilersJuly 25Ondrej PalatLightningJuly 25Mika ZibanejadRangersJuly 25Jordan MartinookCoyotesJuly 26Ryan SpoonerBruinsJuly 26Robin LehnerSabresJuly 27Marek MazanecPredatorsJuly 27Jean-Gabriel PageauSenatorsJuly 28Matt NietoAvalancheJuly 31Reid BoucherCanucksAug. 1Connor HellebuyckJetsAug. 1Calvin de HaanIslandersAug. 2Kevin GravelKingsAug. 2Nino NiederreiterWildAug. 3Nate SchmidtGolden KnightsAug. 3Nathan BeaulieuSabresAug. 4Mikael GranlundWildAug. 4Conor ShearyPenguinsAug. 4Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Nearly a week after his agent stated that Ilya Kovalchuk would remain in the KHL, the Russian sniper signed a one-year deal with St. Petersburg SKA, the league announced.Heading into the offseason it looked as though the former New Jersey Devil and Atlanta Thrasher would be making a return to the NHL, but after the Devils - who hold the 34-year-old's rights - were unable to agree on a contract or potential trade, Kovalchuk decided to sign with the team that he has spent the past four seasons with.Luckily for Kovalchuk, the Devils hold his rights for just one more season, meaning after playing out the 2017-18 campaign with St. Petersburg SKA, he will become an unrestricted free agent and will be able to sign wherever he likes.Last season, Kovalchuk tallied a KHL career-high 32 goals and 78 points in 60 games.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Before he can build on last season's breakout campaign, Boston Bruins winger David Pastrnak is in need of a new contract.Pastrnak exploded for 70 points in 75 games in 2016-17 as his entry-level contract reached its expiration date, and the 21-year-old restricted free agent is set to cash in. However, Bruins general manager Don Sweeney revealed, despite ongoing negotiations with Pastrnak's representatives, there's no timetable as to when a new deal might be struck.In early June, Sweeney said the two sides are moving in the right direction on a long-term deal.Related: Projecting David Pastrnak's next contractPastrnak ranked second on the Bruins in goals (34) and points, trailing all-star Brad Marchand in both categories. Marchand inked an eight-year deal last offseason that nets him $6.125 million annually - the third-highest sum among Bruins skaters, behind Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci.Because of these team-friendly contracts, Pastrnak's value could take a hit, as a young player earning more than core veteran teammates isn't commonplace in the NHL. Still, Pastrnak built quite a case for himself, trailing only Leon Draisaitl - who is set to break the bank in Edmonton - in production among all pending RFA's last season.Per CapFriendly, the Bruins have nearly $13 million in cap space to bang out a deal with Pastrnak before the puck drops in October.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Tomas Tatar clearly isn't interested in signing a one-year deal.The Detroit Red Wings forward, who filed for salary arbitration earlier this week, says if it gets to that point, it would likely be the last contract he signs with the club.Tatar provided some insight into his ongoing negotiations to Slovakian publication Novy Cas on Saturday. Here's an excerpt, as translated by Kukla's Korner, which later appeared in The Detroit News and The Athletic Detroit:

The Carolina Hurricanes are one of the NHL's most intriguing teams, featuring exciting up-and-comers like Sebastian Aho, Teuvo Teravainen, and Noah Hanifin.But despite its young stable, Carolina has yet to translate its talent into on-ice success, finishing with just 87 points last season to push the NHL's longest active playoff drought to eight years.The Hurricanes struggled mightily within their own division last season, stumbling to an 11-15-4 showing against Metropolitan foes. None of last year's 16 playoff participants had a losing record against their own division, so it's no surprise the Hurricanes were once again left watching from the sidelines."If you look at our record last year, we had a .500 or better record against every division in the league except the Metropolitan," Hurricanes general manager Ron Francis told NHL Network Radio on Friday. "Last year, it was one tough division to be a part of. It's not going to get any easier."Four teams in the Metropolitan Division finished with more than 100 points last season, including the Presidents' Trophy-winning Washington Capitals and the repeat Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins. Carolina finished seventh in the division, ahead of only the New Jersey Devils.But the Hurricanes have made a handful of key additions this offseason that could soon see playoff hockey return to Raleigh for the first time since 2008. To kick off the summer, Carolina acquired netminder Scott Darling from the Blackhawks, then added his former Chicago teammates Trevor van Riemsdyk and Marcus Kruger after they first found their way to the Vegas Golden Knights. The club also reunited with free agent Justin Williams, who was a part of Carolina's Cup-winning squad in 2006."I think the learning experience of last year, coupled with the players we brought in this year, everybody understands just how important those games (against our division) are," Francis added. "We can take a step forward and find our way inside the playoffs and not on the outside looking in next year."Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Buffalo Sabres are bringing back a relatively young depth forward.Johan Larsson agreed to a two-year, $2.95-million contract with the club Saturday.The 24-year-old posted 11 points in 36 games this past season before missing the final 46 contests with a wrist injury.He was a restricted free agent who carried a cap hit of $950,000 in 2016-17.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Just like Semyon Varlamov, Cory Schneider is reuniting with an old mentor.The New Jersey Devils named Roland Melanson their new goaltending coach Saturday, adding that Chris Terreri - who occupied the role for the past two seasons - will stay with the organization in a capacity that has yet to be determined.Melanson spent six seasons as the Vancouver Canucks goalie coach beginning in 2010-11. Schneider played under his tutelage until the netminder was traded to the Devils in 2013.New Jersey general manager Ray Shero thanked the Canucks and specifically Vancouver's president of hockey operations, Trevor Linden, for allowing Melanson to join the Devils.The Colorado Avalanche hired Jussi Parkkila, who tutored Varlamov during the netminder's early days in the KHL, as their goalie coach Friday.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Dallas Stars have locked up first-round pick Miro Heiskanen to a three-year entry-level contract, the club announced Saturday.Heiskanen was chosen third overall by the Stars in June's draft after Central Scouting ranked him fourth among eligible European skaters, and tops among defenseman.The 17-year-old suited up for HIFK of the Finnish Elite League last season, recording 10 points in 37 games. He also represented Finland at the world juniors and the U-18 World Junior Championship, where he was named the top blue-liner at the tournament.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Good night, Nashville. There will be no encore.The Predators' longtime anthem singer, Dennis K. Morgan, says the team hasn't asked him to return to his role and he wouldn't accept an invitation anyway after being replaced by a slew of country stars this spring."No one has contacted me from the Predators," Morgan told The Andrew Walker Show on Sportsnet 590 The FAN on Friday. "My contract expired last Friday, and I assume I'm done, in fact I know I am, because even in the unlikely event I was invited back, I don't want to have an association with the organization any longer just because of this."He first expressed his disappointment with the club back in May, as the Predators were in the midst of a playoff run that culminated in the franchise's first-ever trip to the Stanley Cup Final.During this time, the club summoned several big-name acts to handle anthem duties, including Carrie Underwood, Luke Bryan, Trisha Yearwood and Kelly Clarkson, thereby upstaging Morgan, who lamented being replaced by A-listers - particularly "the captain's wife."Morgan insisted Friday he's not interested in taking aim at the organization and just wanted to tell his side of the story, while letting other teams know that he's available for hire."I'm not trying to drag the Preds' name through the mud like mine has been dragged through the mud," he said. "I just want a chance to clear my own name (and) let people know I'm not the evil, arrogant jerk I've been portrayed as, and (I'd) love to fill in for teams elsewhere in the NHL if they have an anthem singer who can't make it one night."Morgan performed the anthems at Bridgestone Arena more than 185 times over the years, according to The Tennessean's Kirk A. Bado.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It was a reunion of former Montreal Canadiens defensemen at Andrei Markov's wedding in Russia on Friday.P.K. Subban was in attendance, and posted a photo of himself, Alexei Emelin, and Markov with his wife on Instagram, offering a heartfelt message to the groom, with whom he played for several seasons in Montreal.

The Colorado Avalanche are taking Semyon Varlamov back to his roots in announcing the hiring of Jussi Parkkila as goaltending coach.According to the Avs, Parkkila - who spent the past 12 seasons coaching in various leagues across Europe - began his pro coaching career with Yaroslavl Lokomotiv (KHL) in 2007-08, where he tutored Varlamov.Back in May, Colorado fired goalie coach Francois Allaire, who had been with the team since 2012. Varlamov has been dealing with groin issues in recent years and registered a career-low .898 save percentage through 24 appearances last season.The Avalanche concurrently announced the hiring of Ray Bennett as an assistant coach. He had been with the St. Louis Blues in the same capacity for the past 10 seasons.Goaltending will be key to any turnaround for head coach Jared Bednar's club next season, and Varlamov will be counted on to return to peak form. A familiar face might just help toward that end.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Dan Girardi was expecting to be back with the New York Rangers next season.Instead, with three years left on a contract that carried a salary-cap hit of $5.5 million, Girardi was bought out by the Blueshirts on June 14, allowing him to sign with the Tampa Bay Lightning as an unrestricted free agent on July 1.He's happy where he landed, but it took some time to come to grips with the Rangers' decision."I gotta say I was surprised," Girardi told Jim Cerny of Sporting News on Friday. "Obviously, it's a (salary) cap era and my contract did not help, but at the end of the day, after a decent year and good playoffs and the (exit) meetings, I just started working out, preparing for next season. When I first heard the news it was disappointing and it hit me pretty hard, but that's part of the game these days."Girardi appeared in 788 regular-season games and an additional 122 playoff games since signing with the Rangers as an undrafted free agent in 2006.But New York was looking to free up cap space and get younger, according to Cerny. The veteran defenseman inked a two-year, $6-million contract with Tampa Bay, and Girardi said he's ready to move on with his new club."I have no hard feelings towards the Rangers. They gave me a great chance to play for 11 years, and as time went on, it's helped me to heal a little bit - it's not the end of the world," he said."Once other teams started showing interest, I was like, 'OK here we go, turn the page, start a new chapter.' And now I feel really good about the season coming up."Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Regardless of who the defending champion is, no one - not even Tom Brady - is going to pass up a chance to touch the Stanley Cup.

Toronto Maple Leafs prospect Timothy Liljegren is beginning to understand his place at the team's development camp.The Swedish defender - who the Maple Leafs nabbed with the 17th overall pick in last month's draft - was on hand Friday to speak to the media sporting a new Lou Lamoriello-approved hair cut, and gave some insight into his perceived timeline with the club.

Ron Hextall is impressed with Nolan Patrick's work ethic and tolerance for pain.The Philadelphia Flyers general manager was aware the young forward underwent sports hernia surgery days prior to the June 23 NHL Entry Draft, and chose to select Patrick second overall nonetheless.Patrick is unable to skate at the team's development camp, which began Friday, but - much to Hextall's satisfaction - has pledged to stay in the area in hopes of getting up to speed for training camp in September."He's committed himself to staying down here (for most of the summer), which I think is terrific," Hextall said, per Dave Isaac of the Courier-Post. "Obviously the doctors here, (Flyers director of sports medicine) Jimmy McCrossin's got a lot of experience in terms of rehabbing, so we’re happy he's in good hands and under our umbrella."Patrick was dealing with the hernia and was also hit with a leg injury late last season, but still managed to register 46 points in 33 games for the WHL's Brandon Wheat Kings.Based on his description of the affliction, he clearly wasn't playing at peak form."It’s mostly a sharp pain in skating," he said. "That was the main thing that bothered me. My skating couldn’t get to where it needed to be and you get tired quickly. It’s tough to explain but it’s a sharp shooting pain in your lower stomach. I had it on both sides for a while there. I got one side fixed and then was having issues on that side again."Patrick is expected to be back to 100 percent later in the summer, and should challenge for an opening night roster spot with the NHL club.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Jussi Jokinen is set to provide the Edmonton Oilers with great value both on and off the ice.The Finnish forward signed a one-year, $1.1-million contract with the club Friday, and will be expected to contribute at both ends of the ice, as he has over the course of his career.More than that, Jokinen will be called upon to mentor Jesse Puljujarvi, Edmonton's fourth overall pick in 2016, who played for Finnish Elite League club Karpat - a team Jokinen owns in part - before coming to North America.It's a role he's already embracing."I'm there any time (Puljujarvi) needs something," Jokinen said, per Chris Wescott on the team's website. "I think he'll be a great player for the Oilers for a long time. He's a young guy and it's not easy to come into the League but I'll do everything I can to help him grow as a player and person."It's the kind of relationship Jokinen benefited from when he broke into the NHL."I remember when I was a young guy I came to the Dallas Stars and Jere Lehtinen was my roommate my first year I was able to learn from him what you have to do to be an NHL player," he said. "I learned how you have to train, how you have to play and carry yourself and stuff like that so I learned a lot from him."Jokinen is averaging 0.61 points per game since 2005, and consistently boasts positive possession numbers, making him a tremendous low-risk, high-reward signing for the Oilers.Even if he remains for only one season, his impact could be lasting should he indeed impart some important lessons on young Puljujarvi, who registered one goal and seven assists in 28 games for the Oilers last season.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Minnesota Wild fans will have to wait at least three more years to see budding young prospect Kirill Kaprizov take the ice in the NHL.The Russian forward has agreed to stay in the KHL for three more seasons, the president of CSKA Moscow announced.Kaprizov, 20, was only a fifth-round pick by the Wild in the 2015 draft, but he is coming off an impressive season, potting 20 goals and adding 22 assists in 49 games with Ufa Salavat Yulayev of the KHL.In fact, at 19, Kaprizov set a KHL record for most points in a season by a teenager, surpassing the old mark set by Evgeny Kuznetsov.It was quite a year for Kaprizov. Not only did he set a KHL record, but he was also Russia's captain at the 2017 World Junior Hockey Championship, leading the tournament with nine goals and tying for the tournament lead with 12 points while taking home Forward of the Tournament honors. Here's a look at some of his handiwork:They say good things come to those who wait, and it appears the Wild have a good thing coming, as long as they're willing to be patient.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Todd Nelson likely won't be the next head coach of the Arizona Coyotes, but he might just know who will be.The former Edmonton Oilers bench boss and current head coach of the AHL's Grand Rapids Griffins told reporters Friday that he interviewed with the Coyotes last week but believes they're going with someone else who has ties to Arizona, according to Helene St. James of the Detroit Free Press.The Coyotes reportedly got permission from the Detroit Red Wings (the Griffins' parent club) to interview Nelson last week.Nelson, who led Grand Rapids to the 2016-17 Calder Cup championship, last worked in the NHL as the Oilers' interim head coach following the firing of Dallas Eakins in 2014-15.Arizona and longtime head coach Dave Tippett agreed to part ways in late June, citing philosophical differences.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Going from the Presidents' Trophy winner to the last-place team in the Metropolitan Division might not be easy for some players, but Marcus Johansson is making the best of it."I don't mind being an underdog," the former Washington Capitals forward said Friday in his first media availability as a member of the New Jersey Devils. "We can surprise some people."Washington traded Johansson to New Jersey last week for second- and third-round selections in 2018, a move that freed up more than $4.5 million for the cap-crunched Capitals.The Devils' offensive firepower pales in comparison to that of the Capitals, but Johansson believes New Jersey has a talented group."The depth we have is good," he said. "Once we put it together as a team, it’s going to be a real strength."New Jersey is building around the likes of Taylor Hall and Kyle Palmieri, as well as 20-year-old center Pavel Zacha and Nico Hischier, the No. 1 overall pick in June's draft.The team's core also includes longer-tenured players such as Adam Henrique and Travis Zajac.Additionally, the Devils signed veteran forward Brian Boyle to a two-year deal on July 1.It's unclear where Johansson will slot in, given that he's capable of playing all three forward spots, but he's flexible.“I’m open for whatever comes my way when I get there," he said.The Devils' youth movement, including Zacha and Hischier, wasn't lost on Johansson either."It's awesome," Johansson said. "There's going to be a lot of hunger. We're going to be a strong and fast team."He'll be looking to prove that his career-high 24 goals and 58 points with the Capitals this past season can be duplicated elsewhere.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Edmonton Oilers signed unrestricted free-agent forward Jussi Jokinen to a one-year contract, the team announced.It's worth $1.1 million, and it includes a limited no-trade clause, giving him the right to submit a list of three teams to which he can't be dealt, according to CapFriendly.Jokinen is coming off a rough year in which he tallied just 28 points in 69 games with the Florida Panthers, which led the team to buy him out after season's end. However, the veteran forward is just one season removed from a 60-point campaign.Assuming the Oilers allow Leon Draisaitl to play his natural position of center full time this season, Jokinen will likely be blessed with some skilled linemates.It's unlikely he'd get an initial chance to play alongside Connor McDavid, but lining up beside either Draisaitl or Ryan Nugent-Hopkins seems like a real possibility. He is capable of playing both left wing and right wing, giving Todd McLellan some flexibility in his lineup.The Oilers will be the sixth team of the Finnish forward's NHL career.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Kevin Klein is calling it a career.The New York Rangers announced the defenseman's retirement Friday morning.A prepared statement from the longtime blue-liner followed shortly thereafter.

Former highly touted prospect Mikhail Grigorenko is headed overseas to play at home in the KHL, the league announced.Grigorenko, who's just 23 years old, was chosen 12th overall in the 2012 NHL Draft by the Buffalo Sabres. At the time, he was considered a steal. NHL.com ranked him as the second-best forward heading in, and few mock drafts had him landing outside the top five.Here's what The Athletic's James Mirtle, who at the time was working for the Globe and Mail, wrote about Grigorenko pre-draft:

It wasn't just the Texas lifestyle that drew free agents to the Dallas Stars.So too did Ben Bishop, the Stars' new netminder who was acquired from the Los Angeles Kings earlier this offseason and later signed a six-year extension with his new club."When we were talking to all of these free agents during the interview period, (Ben's) name always came up," Stars general manager Jim Nill told "NHL Tonight" on Wednesday. "He's a quality guy. He's got a great resume and I think that's a big part in what enticed a lot of these players to want to join us."The veteran goaltender split last season between the Kings and Tampa Bay Lightning, where in recent seasons he established himself as one of the NHL's top netminders. In 2015-16, he appeared in 61 games, producing 35 wins and a .926 save percentage to finish as a Vezina Trophy finalist.The Stars hope Bishop can replicate that play in his new surroundings. It's undoubtedly a big upgrade for Dallas, which struggled to keep pucks out of its own net last season, as the tandem of Kari Lehtonen and Antti Niemi owned an NHL-worst combined save percentage of .893.Niemi has since moved on, with the Stars buying out the final year of his contract, leaving Lehtonen to hold down the second-string duties behind Bishop.Dallas has talents like Tyler Seguin, Jamie Benn, and John Klingberg, but it's Bishop's addition in the crease which Nill believes was the catalyst for Dallas' offseason makeover."Ben was a big pickup for us," Nill added. "He was probably the one that started this turnaround for us this signing season. We made the trade for him and he showed the commitment to want to be here."In addition to Bishop, the Stars also dipped into free agency to add shutdown center Martin Hanzal on a three-year deal, while former Montreal Canadiens winger Alexander Radulov was recruited on a five-year pact. The possibility exists he could complete one of the league's most intriguing trios with Seguin and Benn.After finishing with just 79 points last season, the potential exists for a big bounce-back in Dallas, with Bishop sure to play a major role in the upswing.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Dallas Stars re-signed forward Brett Ritchie to a two-year, $3.5-million contract Thursday, the team announced.The 24-year-old - who was a restricted free agent - earned a promotion after signing a one-year, $875,000 deal last year."Brett is a big, physical presence who also possesses the ability to score," general manager Jim Nill said in a release. "We feel that he has just scratched the surface in regards to his ability and that he will continue to elevate his game."Ritchie is coming off his first full season with the Stars since first being drafted in the second round back in 2011. He posted 16 goals and 24 points in 78 games.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Jaromir Jagr is still unsigned. Yes, he's 45 years old, but he's still a very effective forward who's capable of playing a second-line role.Jagr's point total dipped from 66 in 2015-16 to 46 a season ago, but that was largely due to his linemates in Florida, Aleksander Barkov and Jonathan Huberdeau, missing a combined 72 games. In fact, Jagr was still analytically better than the average second-line winger:(Graph courtesy: ownthepuck.blogspot.ca)Jagr is still arguably the league's best puck protector. He's 6-foot-3 and as strong as an ox, uses an abnormally long stick, has soft hands, and is obviously one of the smartest players of all time. His ability to protect the puck and generate shots was evidenced by his 55.4 Corsi For percentage last season, second only to Barkov among Panthers skaters.Sure, Jagr isn't exactly a burner on the ice, but considering he'll only demand a one-year contract with a modest cap hit, he'd be a very valuable asset for the following five teams (lineup projections with Jagr included):Edmonton OilersLWCRWMaroonMcDavidStromeLucicDraisaitlJagrCaggiulaNugent-HopkinsPuljujarviSlepyshevLetestuKassianSlotting Leon Draisaitl at center makes the Oilers a much better, deeper, and more balanced team, but in doing so they desperately need another top-six winger.It'd be tough for Jagr to keep up with Connor McDavid's pace, but his ability to cycle down low would mesh well with the big bodies of Draisaitl and Milan Lucic. His ability to maintain possession could also work well with Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, who's often a liability when the opposition has control of the puck.Nashville PredatorsLWCRWForsbergJohansenArvidssonFialaBoninoJagrHartnellJarnkrokSmithAbergSissonsWatsonThe Predators' top line was great last season, but the team's in need of some secondary scoring, especially since James Neal was plucked by Vegas in the expansion draft.Wouldn't Nashville's die-hard, passionate fan base just adore Jagr?Montreal CanadiensLWCRWPaciorettyPlekanecJagrDrouinGalchenyukGallagherByronDanaultShawLehkonenMitchellHemskyThe Canadiens are in win-now mode and need help scoring goals. Jagr would add a nice kick to their offense, and maybe help his fellow countryman Tomas Plekanec rediscover his offensive touch.St. Louis BluesLWCRWSchwartzStastnyTarasenkoSteenSchennJagrFabbriSobotkaBennettPaajarviBrodziakJaskinNote: Center Patrik Berglund is out until December and therefore wasn't included in this lineup projection.As you can see, the Blues are deep at left wing, but have very few natural right wingers with offensive ability outside of Vladimir Tarasenko. Jagr would slot in nicely on the club's second line and prove to be a nice bargain for the cap-crunched team.Columbus Blue JacketsLWCRWPanarinWennbergJagrFolignoDubinskyAtkinsonMilanoJennerBjorkstrandCalvertSedlakAndersonColumbus' biggest need is down the middle, but considering the scarce center market why not upgrade down the wing to help out?Cam Atkinson is obviously superior to Jagr at this point, but the veteran could mesh well with Artemi Panarin (right-handed shot), who became accustomed to playing with a left-handed-shooting right winger alongside Patrick Kane in Chicago. Obviously, Jagr is not Kane, but he has the ability to hold the puck and create space for his linemates, theoretically allowing Panarin to set up for his one-timer.Plus, if Jagr signed with Columbus, he'd only be two teams shy (Hurricanes and Islanders) of suiting up for every club in the Metropolitan Division during his career. What a feat that would be.(Photos courtesy: Action Images)Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Florida Panthers have secured a key penalty killer for the foreseeable future.Mark Pysyk agreed to a three-year contract with the club Thursday, and the deal carries an annual cap hit of about $2.73 million, according to CapFriendly.The 25-year-old defenseman was a restricted free agent.He led all Panthers in shorthanded ice time and played all 82 games this past season, chipping in 17 points.Florida opted to protect Pysyk and fellow blue-liner Alex Petrovic over 30-goal scorer Jonathan Marchessault in the expansion draft, and the forward was subsequently selected by the Vegas Golden Knights.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Montreal Canadiens locked up a big piece of their core Wednesday, with the signing of Alex Galchenyuk to a three-year contract extension worth a reported $4.9 million per season.On Thursday, Galchenyuk had a chance to speak to the Montreal media, sharing his thoughts on his new contract.Related: Canadiens, Galchenyuk sign 3-year extension"I'm really happy with the deal," Galchenyuk said. "I love the team, I love the fans, I love the city. ... I know I can bring a lot to the team. We're all hungry and we all want to get to the top."Perhaps the part Galchenyuk is most looking forward to is forming a potentially formidable scoring threat with newly acquired forward Jonathan Drouin, as both players possess elite-level scoring talent."I was really excited when we added Drouin," said Galchenyuk. "Having a chance to play with a skilled forward like that is always a plus."Last season, Galchenyuk, 23, put up 44 points in 61 games during a campaign hampered by knee injuries.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Nick Bonino may have missed out on his chance to play in a Stanley Cup Final game at Bridgestone Arena last month because of a broken leg, but that didn't stop him from taking in the raucous crowd that Nashville has become famous for.The Predators' newest addition was candid about his desire to be in Nashville on Thursday."Nashville was my No. 1 the whole way," Bonino told reporters, according to Colton Pouncy of The Tennessean. "Very happy and fortunate to get a deal done."Over the course of the Predators' impressive playoff run, Bridgestone Arena quickly turned into the jam spot of the NHL postseason. There were parties in the street, smash cars at the gates, and, let's not forget, catfish.All of that was not lost on Bonino. "The noise at Bridgestone Arena for Game 4 was almost enough to make my leg 'not broken,'" he said.Bonino added that his wife visited Nashville for Game 6 and "couldn't hear herself think."Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Washington Capitals have re-signed restricted free-agent goaltender Philipp Grubauer to a one-year contract worth $1.5 million, the team announced.Grubauer, 25, is arguably one of the league's best backup netminders. He posted a .926 save percentage and a 2.04 goals-against average in 24 games last season.For his career, all of which has been spent in D.C., the Germany native owns a .923 SV% and a 2.25 GAA in 66 games.While $1.5 million isn't much, every penny counts given the cap crunch Washington is in. After this re-signing, the club has just over $4 million in cap space, according to Cap Friendly, but it could still use one or two forwards and another two or three defensemen.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Toronto Maple Leafs have quickly proven over the last year they can score in bunches, finishing the 2016-17 campaign with the fifth-most goals scored in the NHL at 250. The only problem is they can also allow goals in bunches.So when the Leafs reached an agreement Wednesday to ink forward Zach Hyman to a four-year, $9-million contract extension, it became clear that the team is in excellent position to address a blue line that allowed the ninth-most goals in the league last season at 234.Related: Maple Leafs sign Zach Hyman to 4-year, $9M extensionThe bottom line is that Toronto needs a top-four defenseman, and with Hyman now being a Leaf for at least the next four seasons, moving one of the club's talented forwards on an expiring deal could bring in the D-man it's been looking for.Two names that have been heavily mentioned in trade talks are Josh Leivo and James van Riemsdyk.Both players are on expiring contracts, and the Leafs have a core group of talented offensive players, making Van Riemsdyk and Leivo largely expendable.There's no doubt that the pair brings an offensive upside - especially JVR, who has 55-plus points in three of his last four seasons - which should have teams sniffing around.Considering we already know that Van Riemsdyk was previously dangled in the Leafs' attempt to acquire Travis Hamonic from the New York Islanders, and that Hyman is now locked down, the potential to move him before training camp starts is very high.The 28-year-old has spent the last five seasons in blue and white after being dealt to Toronto from the Philadelphia Flyers and has put up strong offensive numbers.But that doesn't change the fact that his trade value would help the club more than his 25-30 goals a season. The Leafs did just add a perennial 30-goal man in Patrick Marleau, after all.Related: Maple Leafs sign Patrick Marleau to 3-year dealAnd sure, Jake Gardiner, Nikita Zaitsev, and Morgan Rielly all have top-four potential and are emerging as elite-level offensive defensemen who combined for 106 points last season, but they are not ready to carry the team on their own.Adding Ron Hainsey to the defensive mix provides a stabilizing element for the trio that could potentially serve as a successful band-aid solution for next season, or maybe the year after.But Leafs general manager Lou Lamoriello is playing the long game, and Hainsey, while serviceable, isn't the guy Toronto needs on its blue line moving forward - especially if his defensive partner is one of Martin Marincin, Alexey Marchenko, or Connor Carrick.Don't forget, Hainsey just played in the first playoffs of his 14-year career last season with the Pittsburgh Penguins, so his track record doesn't exactly have Leafs fans lining up to get his name stitched on their jerseys.Despite performing admirably on a battered Pens back end, the 36-year-old journeyman defenseman isn't the answer Toronto is searching for.So where, you ask, are they to find this savior to resurrect one of the most storied franchises in pro sports? The answer isn't clear at the moment, but a good start would be to cast JVR or Leivo - or maybe even Leo Komarov - back out into the open market and see what kind of bites they get.At the end of the day, it's as simple as this: The Leafs are loaded up front and have holes on the back end. Moving a forward for a D-man just makes way too much sense.(Photos courtesy: Action Images)Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Former Tampa Bay Lightning and Montreal Canadiens defenseman Nikita Nesterov is returning to the KHL, according to his agent Dan Milstein.Nesterov, 24, split last season between the Bolts and Habs, recording 17 points in 48 games. The Canadiens did not give him a qualifying offer after the season ended. Prior to the 2016-17 campaign, the Russian had logged 84 games with Tampa Bay from 2014-16.Before coming over to North America, Nesterov was a member of Traktor Chelyabinsk of the KHL. It's possible he could return there, but there also appears to be a few open spots on Dynamo Moscow's back end.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Just three days after Montreal Canadiens goaltender Carey Price signed an extension that tied him with Chicago Blackhawks duo Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane for the league's highest annual average value, 20-year-old Connor McDavid outdid them all Wednesday.The Edmonton Oilers locked up the forward's services with an extension that carries an AAV of $12.5 million for eight years. While that's a big leap from the $10.5 million that previously topped the NHL, here are three strong candidates to challenge McDavid's record extension by this time next year.Potential challengers will of course need to combat potential changes to the NHL's salary cap, which is currently set at a ceiling of $75 million for the 2017-18 season.Jack Eichel, Sabres(Photo courtesy: Getty Images)Current contract: 3 years, $925,000 AAV (ELC)His case: No. 2 overall pick in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft, second to McDavid. Compiled 113 points over 142 games but boosted his point-per-game pace to 0.934 in 2016-17, good for 14th among qualified skaters.While McDavid has Leon Draisaitl to help him out, he also has to share the Oilers' available cap space with his co-star. The Buffalo Sabres' current highest-paid player is Ryan O'Reilly, who's secured at a cap hit of $7.5 million through the end of the 2022-23 season. The third-highest-paid player is forward Kyle Okposo, who is earning $6 million per season.Eichel's camp will make the case that he is more valuable to the Sabres than McDavid is to the Oilers, since there's an even greater drop-off between Eichel and the Sabres' No. 2 and No. 3 stars.The Sabres already demonstrated a willingness to axe an experienced head coach and general manager to keep Eichel content. Face-of-the-franchise stars don't come around often, and the Sabres had to wait a long time to find one like Eichel. They won't be keen to search for another one when his three-year entry-level contract is up.Expected contract: 8 years, $13 million AAVErik Karlsson, Senators(Photo courtesy: Action Images)Current contract: 6 years, $6.5 million AAVHis case: Two-time Norris Trophy winner and runner-up for the award in each of the past two seasons. Averaged 0.820 points per game over 556 career regular-season games and collected 37 points in 48 career playoff games. Led the Ottawa Senators in points in each of the past four seasons.The entire NHL became aware of Karlsson's excellent defensive play during the 2017 Stanley Cup Playoffs. His play without the puck improved under new head coach Guy Boucher in 2016-17, as he ranked second in the league in blocked shots.Karlsson has two years remaining on his current contract at a $6.5 million cap hit - a tremendous bargain - and he'll be just 29 years old when it ends. The Senators have just one defenseman, one goalie, and four forwards signed for the 2019-20 season. Expect Karlsson to be signed to his impending mega-extension so the team can fill out the rest of the roster around its commitment to the captain.The Senators may also be motivated to pay Karlsson back for taking a discount on his previous deal. They didn't do that for his mentor, longtime captain Daniel Alfredsson - and it's a mistake they likely don't want to repeat.Expected contract: 8 years, $15 million AAVAuston Matthews, Maple Leafs(Photo courtesy: Action Images)Current contract: 3 years, $925,000 AAV (ELC)His case: First overall pick in 2016 NHL Entry Draft. Scored 40 goals and helped the Toronto Maple Leafs make the playoffs in his first season in the league.Selecting Matthews with the first overall pick signaled the next and most important step in what was expected to be a continued rebuild for the Maple Leafs. After he led them to a surprising playoff berth - and a surprisingly hard-fought series against the Washington Capitals - the Maple Leafs sped up their rebuild by signing 37-year-old Patrick Marleau to a three-year, $18.75-million contract. The early play of Matthews has hockey fans in Toronto clamoring for Stanley Cup contention as early as next season.The biggest hindrance to Matthews' impending payday (likely to arrive next summer) is the fact he shares the limelight and credit with fellow sophomore-to-be Mitch Marner, while William Nylander needs a new contract after the 2017-18 season. Nylander's extension will set an early guideline for what Matthews could command, though the latter outproduced his senior teammate by 18 goals and eight points this past season.The Leafs have just one goalie, two defensemen, and five forwards signed beyond the end of Matthews' entry-level deal. Matthews may have to defer some of what he's worth for Toronto to keep its promising young core together, meaning he'll probably fall just short of McDavid's mark.Expected contract: 8 years, $11.5 million AAVThe current collective bargaining agreement runs through the 2021-22 NHL season, though both the league and NHLPA can opt out after the 2019-20 season.McDavid's record deal and some of the provisions within - such as his $86-million signing bonus - have fans and experts speculating CBA changes may be inevitable.Count Eichel, Karlsson, and Matthews among those likely to vote against any potential lockout.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It's not by happenstance that Ron Francis is loading up on former Chicago Blackhawks.So far this offseason, the Carolina Hurricanes general manager has added Scott Darling, Trevor van Riemsdyk, and Marcus Kruger to the roster, all of whom were part of Stanley Cup-winning teams in Chicago.Francis also reeled in Justin Williams - a three-time winner of hockey's greatest prize - via free agency,It's all part of the plan to end the string of losing seasons in Carolina, which hasn't been to the playoffs since 2009."I don't think you can ever have enough guys in your room with playoff experience and, more importantly, playoff success," Francis said Wednesday while introducing Kruger, a two-time champion with Chicago who was acquired via the Vegas Golden Knights."We have a very young team trying to find their way. We think the guys we picked up this summer not only are very good hockey players but very good people and proven winners. We think that's invaluable in our locker room."Kruger joins a Hurricanes team that boasts fellow Swedes Elias Lindholm, Victor Rask, and Joakim Nordstrom, with whom he recently won gold at the 2017 World Championship.In Carolina, he'll be expected to win faceoffs, kill penalties, and chip in offensively, as he's done over the course of his career.Fine by him."You always want to do as much as you can to help the team out," Kruger said. "I certainly want to take a step and get better and better. I'm going to go there, do my best and take the opportunity that's given."Kruger added: "I got a real good feeling about everything. I'm happy and excited to be a part of this organization."Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Toronto Maple Leafs re-signed forward Zach Hyman to a four-year extension worth a total of $9 million, the team announced Wednesday.The contract will pay Hyman $2 million in 2017-18 and 2018-19, and $2.5 million in 2019-20 and 2020-21, coming in at an annual average value of $2.25 million.The move puts the Maple Leafs nearly $4 million above the $75-million salary cap for next season at $78.929 million.Hyman was used in a variety of different roles last season, but his most common linemates at five-on-five were Auston Matthews and William Nylander. He scored 10 goals and added 18 assists while playing 82 games and averaging 16:42 of ice time.A fifth-round pick of the Florida Panthers in the 2010 draft, Hyman broke into the NHL as a 23-year-old in the 2015-16 season, playing 16 games and finishing with four goals and six points.He was mostly the third offensive choice on the Maple Leafs' unofficial top line, and finished the season with 156 shots on goal but a horribly unlucky shooting percentage of just 6.4. Defensively responsible, Hyman owns a Corsi For rating of 52.5 over his two seasons, though he's started a staggering 61.6 percent of his shifts in the offensive zone.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It's Alex Galchenyuk versus Jonathan Drouin, as the two forwards will battle it out for the job as top center with the Montreal Canadiens next season.While there was some uncertainty that Galchenyuk would be back in the fold, the restricted free agent agreed to a three-year extension with the Canadiens on Wednesday.He'll have a few new teammates in Montreal, most notably Drouin, after the Canadiens acquired the Quebec-born forward from the Tampa Bay Lightning in June.In their relatively short NHL careers, Galchenyuk and Drouin have both split time between the wing and the dot, and the similarities don't end there. Both players are former third overall picks, with the Lightning drafting Drouin in that spot in 2013, one year after the Canadiens did the same with Galchenyuk.So far, Drouin has appeared in 164 games, notching 29 goals and 66 assists. As for Galchenyuk, who made the jump to the NHL in 2012-13, he's skated in more than double that amount of contests, with 336 under his belt. He's recorded 89 goals and 115 assists in that time.Galchenyuk scored a career-high 30 goals in 2015-16, while Drouin's best year came last season with the Lightning when he tallied 53 points, good for third on the team.Still, despite their respective offensive successes, both players have failed to grab a hold of the center position at the NHL level, with both struggling mightily in the faceoff circle.Drouin did not become a regular center until last season, and he won just 96 of his 220 draws, or just under 44 percent. As for Galchenyuk, he's taken nearly 1,400 faceoffs combined over the past two seasons, but his 2016-17 finish fell more than five points from the previous campaign, as he slid to 42.7 percent.Galchenyuk appeared in 61 games last season, and was off to a torrid start with former Canadiens coach Michel Therrien regularly using him as a center. Prior to suffering a knee injury in early December, he'd recorded 23 points in 25 games. However, upon his return, new bench boss Claude Julien used Galchenyuk more often as a winger.Drouin was in search of a fresh start of his own. While he appeared to have mended fences in Tampa Bay, the Lightning were ready to move on from a player who originally requested a trade in January 2016.So, what do you say? Does the job as the top center for hockey's most historic franchise belong to Galchenyuk, or should he shift to the side in favor of the new face in Drouin?Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Tampa Bay Lightning re-signed defenseman Jake Dotchin to a two-year, one-way contract worth $1.625 million on Wednesday.That works out to an average annual value of $812,500.Dotchin recorded 11 assists in 35 games for the Lightning last season, his first at the NHL level since being drafted 161st overall in 2012. He ranked fourth among Lightning defensemen in average ice time with 18:25 per contest.He also helped the AHL's Syracuse Crunch reach the Calder Cup Finals, contributing six assists in 19 playoff games.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Montreal Canadiens signed forward Alex Galchenyuk to a three-year extension through the 2019-20 season, the team announced Wednesday.The deal is reportedly worth $4.9 million per year, according to Renaud Lavoie of TVA Sports.Galchenyuk scored 17 goals and added 27 assists in 61 games last season, after posting 30 goals and 26 helpers in 2015-16.He also missed a stretch of 18 games through December and January this past season after suffering a knee injury. Prior to the ailment, he'd registered 23 points in 25 games.The Canadiens drafted Galchenyuk third overall in 2012.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Restricted free agents eligible for salary arbitration had to file by Wednesday's deadline, and 30 players opted to do so, the NHLPA announced:

Connor McDavid was unwavering in his commitment to stay with the Edmonton Oilers for the long haul.That was the message delivered by general manager Peter Chiarelli upon announcing the eight-year, $100-million contract extension signed by the NHL's reigning MVP and high-scorer, a deal that will keep him in Edmonton for the next nine seasons.At the same time, however, it's clear McDavid didn't push for the maximum possible value on the deal, allowing Chiarelli a better chance to build a winning team around the superstar captain."I compare this magnitude of contract to a partnership," Chiarelli said at a press conference Wednesday. "In order for a partnership to work, both sides have to benefit. They have to share in the success together. Conversely, they have to share in the challenges together also."This may be one of the largest contracts ever given in the NHL, but I assure you, it easily could have been a lot higher in value and shorter in term. Building a team to win the Stanley Cup was a constant discussion point in this negotiation."In an ensuing interview with Sportsnet's Gene Principe, McDavid stopped short of saying he left money on the table, but he did echo Chiarelli's desire to win."It's hard to say you can make more than $100 million, that's a lot of money. Ultimately, you want to have a good team, you want to be competitive, and you want to make sure that there is a little bit of wiggle room."Could there have been a chance to take ... whatever, it doesn't matter how we got here. It's important that we have a good team and I think we'll be able to do that."Theoretically, McDavid could have commanded $15 million per season on his new deal, as the maximum allowable salary cap hit is 20% of the ceiling, currently set at $75 million. A report on June 28 suggested McDavid was set to sign an eight-year deal in the ballpark of $13.25 million per season, meaning his actual contract came in at $750,000 under that number on an annual basis.In the end, it's a deal both sides are happy with, and even more so if a Cup or two is won over the next nine years.Next up on Chiarelli's to-do list is a contract extension for restricted free agent Leon Draisaitl, which also won't come cheap.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.