Ilya Kovalchuk appears to have his eyes set on a few new hockey homes.In order for Kovalchuk to return to the NHL, he first has to sign a deal with the New Jersey Devils, the club that holds his rights following his retirement in 2013.It's a step that could happen as of 12 p.m. ET on Saturday, and would likely be followed by a trade in order to get Kovalchuk to his preferred destination.Three of the teams on Kovalchuk's wish list are believed to be the New York Rangers, Columbus Blue Jackets, and Toronto Maple Leafs, according to TSN's Pierre LeBrun.Nothing appears to be imminent, however.

The Winnipeg Jets are on the cusp of adding a former Calder Trophy-winning goalie to their crease.The Jets have reportedly reached a deal with goaltender Steve Mason, according to Jeff Hamilton of the Winnipeg Free Press. The deal, of course, can't be made official until 12 p.m. ET.Mason, 29, took home rookie of the year honors in the 2008-09 season with the Columbus Blue Jackets, recording a league-high 10 shutouts.His career has been full of ups and downs since then, but he owns a respectable lifetime .911 save percentage and a 2.68 goals-against average.Mason spent parts of the last five seasons with the Philadelphia Flyers and will compete for starts with 24-year-old Connor Hellebuyck in Winnipeg.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Dallas Stars appear set to add depth down the middle.The club is expected to sign center Martin Hanzal when the free-agency window opens later Saturday, according to TSN's Bob McKenzie.The Stars do have Tyler Seguin, Jason Spezza, and Radek Faksa down the middle, but, as Mike Heika of the Morning News adds, Spezza could be shifted to right wing to make room for Hanzal.Hanzal, a capable two-way center, is coming off a five-year deal worth $15.5 million signed with Arizona in 2012. He was traded to Minnesota last season in hopes of boosting a long playoff run, and is averaging 0.52 points per game over the course of his career.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

There appears to be a reunion in the Windy City.Patrick Sharp is on the verge of signing a deal with the Chicago Blackhawks, according to Mark Lazerus of the Chicago Sun-Times.The contract, which can't be official until 12 p.m. ET, is expected to come with a cap hit of $1 million, Lazerus added.TSN's Bob McKenzie also reported that Sharp was returning to Chicago, even though it's only a verbal commitment at this point.Sharp spent 10 years with the Blackhawks, putting up 511 points in 679 games and winning three Stanley Cups. He spent the past two seasons as a member of the Dallas Stars, scoring just eight goals in an injury-riddled 2016-17 campaign.The hope would certainly be that reuniting Sharp, 35, with some of his old linemates will help jump-start the veteran to a bounce-back season.He'll be added to a long list of players who left Chicago after being on one of its Cup-winning teams over the past decade, only to eventually return. The most recent example is Brandon Saad, who was traded from Columbus in exchange for Artemi Panarin about a week ago.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Steve Werier was relieved of his duties as assistant general manager of the Florida Panthers, according to TSN's Bob McKenzie. The move is believed to have been made prior to the expansion draft on June 21.It's another stage in a seemingly ongoing shakeup in the Panthers' front office over the past couple of years.After one year serving solely as president of hockey operations, Dale Tallon was handed back the GM title April 10 in place of Tom Rowe, who had also coached the team last season. Werier and Eric Joyce remained on as assistants, with the former apparently having since been let go.Former NHL defensemen Chris Pronger and Bryan McCabe have been added to the front-office staff since the expansion draft.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Nashville Predators rearguard Ryan Ellis has undergone knee surgery, the team announced Friday.Ellis is coming off a career year in which he registered 16 goals and 38 points in 71 regular-season games, while also playing a key role in Nashville's Stanley Cup run where he racked up 13 points in 22 contests.This past season was a coming out party for the 26-year-old former first-round pick of general manager David Poile. Despite the timing of the surgery, Poile is hopeful that Ellis will be ready in time for training camp.Ellis suffered an undisclosed injury during Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Florida Panthers and winger Evgeny Dadonov agreed to a three-year deal Friday that carries an annual average value of $4 million, according to TSN's Bob McKenzie.Dadonov had been previously rumored to be following in the footsteps of countryman Vadim Shipachyov and heading to Vegas, but instead will be plying his trade with the team that drafted him 71st overall in 2007.The 28-year-old spent the last five seasons in the KHL, most recently racking up 30 goals and 66 points for SKA St. Petersburg - good enough for fifth in league scoring.Dadonov last suited up in the NHL during the 2011-12 season, registering three points in 15 games for the Panthers.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Florida Panthers are finalizing a one-year contract extension for defenseman Alex Petrovic worth approximately $1.8 million, TSN's Bob McKenzie reports.Petrovic played out the final year of a two-year, $2.1 million contract in 2016-17, and was slated for restricted free agency at season's end.In just 49 games last season, Petrovic, 25, notched one goal and 13 assists, averaging 18:09 per game.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Montreal Canadiens and Andrei Markov have hit a wall in their ongoing contract negotiations, and it appears the veteran defenseman will test the market as an unrestricted free agent, reports Sportsnet's Eric Engels.Markov reportedly requested a two-year contract worth $12 million earlier in June, and is eligible to sign anywhere he chooses come July 1.The 38-year-old has spent 16 seasons with the Canadiens since being drafted 162nd overall in 1998. While he's stated his desire to remain with the Habs, his demands might be too steep for Marc Bergevin. The general manager needs to make a choice on Alexander Radulov, as well as craft a new contract for RFA Alex Galchenyuk, while negotiations loom involving an extension for all-world netminder Carey Price.

When the New York Rangers dealt netminder Antti Raanta and forward Derek Stepan to the Arizona Coyotes last week, it did two things.It helped alleviate some of the club's salary cap issues, as Stepan has four years remaining on his deal with a $6.5-million annual cap hit, but it also opened up a glaring hole in the blue paint behind aging starter Henrik Lundqvist.According to TSN's Darren Dreger, New York has had ongoing discussions with 29-year-old goalie Ondrej Pavelec to address that need.Related: Rangers trade Stepan, Raanta to Coyotes for No. 7 pickPavelec has spent his entire 10-year career in the Atlanta/Winnipeg organization and is coming off an injury-riddled season in which he split time between the AHL and NHL, only suiting up for eight games with the Jets.In 379 career contests, Pavelec owns a record of 152-158-47 to go along with 17 shutouts and a 2.87 goals-against average.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Over the past two seasons, few duos have been as dangerous as Patrick Kane and Artemi Panarin, as the two terrorized opposing defensemen with a chemistry that not many teammates in the NHL could match.That chemistry translated to off the ice, as well.So when Panarin was dealt last week to the Columbus Blue Jackets in exchange for former Blackhawk Brandon Saad, it's understandable that Kane was caught slightly off guard."My first reaction was pretty emotional," Kane said Friday on Sportsnet's The FAN 590. " ... It’s too bad that we didn’t have that success in the playoffs to build on that even more, but as time goes on you understand the trade, and obviously we got a hell of a player back in (Brandon) Saad, and he’s gonna bring a lot to our lineup as well."Success in the playoffs, no. But, the pair did kill it in the regular season.Over 162 regular-season games, Panarin racked up 61 goals (Kane assisted 45 of them) and 90 helpers. Over that same span, Kane put in his two best offensive seasons, registering 80 goals and 195 points to go along with a Hart Trophy.In only two years in Chicago, Panarin was able to elevate Kane's game and cement himself as one of the most dangerous offensive players in the NHL. A fact that isn't lost on No. 88."Me and Artemi are very close. I mean, not only on the ice but off the ice as well," Kane said. "We like to kind of goof around with each other and I think he’s a great kid."He’s gonna have a great future. And, you know, sad to see him go, no doubt."Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Since being named Buffalo Sabres general manager in May, Jason Botterill has been a busy man.Botterill left his gig with the Pittsburgh Penguins to take over the Sabres from Tim Murray, and has already made a significant impact with his new club. He closed the deal on a one-year contract with Russian defenseman Viktor Antipin, and acquired Nathan Beaulieu, Marco Scandella and Jason Pominville via trades. Not to mention, Botterill navigated the Sabres through the expansion and entry drafts earlier this month.However, with all that in tow, one important - but not yet urgent - task remains: an extension for franchise cornerstone Jack Eichel.Eichel has one year remaining on his entry-level deal, but can begin negotiating a new contract July 1, and Botterill believes conversations with the 20-year-old's agent, Peter Fish, are headed in the right direction."Our conversations over the last month or so with Peter Fish have gone very well," Botterill told John Vogl of The Buffalo News. "It's a situation of understating we've had a lot going on in the organization, but we've clearly told Peter we understand how important Jack is to our organization here moving forward."When the time is right, I'm sure we'll be able to get a deal done."Last season, Eichel led the Sabres with 24 goals and 57 points, despite playing just 61 games. While he might not earn the reported $13 million his draft partner Connor McDavid will, Eichel is a superstar and will surely be rewarded handsomely for an impressive two-year chapter to begin his NHL career.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Calgary Flames have re-signed defenseman Michael Stone to a three-year contract with an average annual value of $3.5 million, the team announced Friday.Stone, 27, was acquired by the Flames prior to the 2017 trade deadline from the Arizona Coyotes. Between the two teams, he tallied 15 points in 64 games with a 43.5 Corsi For rating while averaging 19:49 minutes per night.This move comes about a week after the Flames traded for defenseman Travis Hamonic from the New York Islanders, giving them one of the deepest blue lines in the league.With Mark Giordano, Dougie Hamilton, T.J. Brodie, and Hamonic already in the fold, Stone will be one of the highest-paid bottom-pairing defensemen in the league.In fact, the Flames are the only team with five blue-liners making $3.5 million or more against the cap.

The Philadelphia Flyers and their fans will have to wait to see top prospect Nolan Patrick take to the ice.Patrick, who was drafted second overall at the NHL Entry Draft on June 23, will not be participating in the on-ice portion of next week's development camp, general manager Ron Hextall announced Friday.The young forward underwent abdominal surgery on June 13th in relation to an injury he dealt with this past junior season. He will be able to resume full activity in four-to-six weeks.Patrick was cleared to participate in off-ice testing at the NHL Combine in late May. He was limited to 33 games last season with the Brandon Wheat Kings due to a sports hernia followed by a separate leg injury.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

There is seemingly always a market for a veteran, gritty, bottom-six forward who can still put the puck in the net from time to time.Unsurprisingly, five or six teams have expressed interest in the services of winger Scott Hartnell, according to Aaron Portzline of The Columbus Dispatch.Portzline added that Hartnell wants to sign with a contender, which comes as no surprise considering the 35-year-old has never won a Stanley Cup.Hartnell was bought out by the Blue Jackets on Thursday, but it likely wasn't because he was seen as a black hole on the ice. He still scored 13 goals and totaled 37 points while averaging only 12:04 minutes per night. He just may have been deemed unworthy of the $4.75 million he was scheduled to make through 2018-19.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

After five years in the NHL, it's time to acknowledge Nail Yakupov for what he is and quit awarding him opportunities in search of an untapped ceiling.An extremely weak 2017 free-agent class has again shone a light on him. With very few available offensive difference-makers, Yakupov's name recognition has undoubtedly drawn the attention of teams looking to bolster their scoring with the hope this is the year he finally reaches his potential.With the Edmonton Oilers giving up on their 2012 No. 1 overall selection after just four seasons, Yakupov went on to post just nine points in 40 games with the St. Louis Blues over the course of the 2016-17 campaign.His career totals now sit at 53 goals, 67 assists, and 120 points in 292 games.While many NHL players have had prolonged careers having posted much lower numbers, the statistics through Yakupov's first five NHL seasons are doing just enough to keep afloat his perceived promise as a No. 1 draft selection. Last season was a bottoming-out campaign for a player who had a career single-season-best total of 33 points in 81 games back in 2014-15.The Blues gave Yakupov a career-low 10:39 of ice time per game last season, dropping his career rate to just 14:09. He has a career Corsi For percentage of 46.8 and an on-ice team shooting percentage of just 7.4 at 5-on-5. He has started 58.7 percent of shifts over his career in the offensive zone, but he and his linemates continuously get driven back to the defensive end where he is a replacement-level player.<a href='http://ownthepuck.blogspot.ca/'><img alt='Story 1 ' src='http://public.tableau.com/static/images/QN/QNR32687C/1_rss.png' style='border: none' /></a> Yakupov's inability to succeed on offense has consistently brought attention to his ineffectiveness on defense. He hasn't been able to help out at either end of the rink throughout his career, removing him from consideration for both top- and bottom-six roles.But Yakupov's story is not new. After all, there have been a slew of other high draft picks who were awarded opportunity after opportunity - by several different NHL teams - yet they could never live up to their hype.PlayerDraft Pos.Career GPCareer PointsTeamsNikita FilatovNo. 653142Peter MuellerNo. 82971603Jack SkilleNo. 7368845Patrik StefanNo. 14551882Alexandre DaigleNo. 16163276Each of the above players had their own reasons and unique situations leading to their disappointments, but each one was continuously given "one last shot." No two NHL players are alike, but this list of players - each one having a high profile - can serve as a warning sign for Yakupov and others like him who'll follow.The high draft selection will always serve as a bargaining chip for Yakupov's camp in contract negotiations, but they're meetings NHL teams need to stop making.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Pending unrestricted free-agent forward Patrick Marleau has a two-year offer to return to the San Jose Sharks, according to TSN's Darren Dreger.Dreger adds Marleau plans to weigh the offer with other free-agent inquisitions and consult with his family throughout the process.Marleau will turn 38 years old ahead of the 2017-18 campaign. He scored 27 goals and finished with 46 points over a full 82 games in his 19th season. It was his highest goal total since 2013-14, largely due to a 14.2 shooting percentage.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Columbus Blue Jackets and Nashville Predators have tabled trade offers for Matt Duchene, while other teams continue to call Colorado Avalanche president and general manager Joe Sakic in regards to the forward, TSN's Darren Dreger reports.At this point, Dreger adds, Sakic remains in waiting mode in hopes of the best possible offer.Duchene is believed to have been on the trade block for quite some time as the Avalanche look to turn the page on an abysmal 2016-17. He's even gone on record saying there's a good chance something happens on that front this summer.Since being drafted third overall in 2009, Duchene has averaged 0.73 points per game.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

One of the best names in hockey will be in search of a new home this offseason.The Calgary Flames have placed forward Lance Bouma and defenseman Ryan Murphy on waivers for the purpose of a buyout, the team announced.Bouma, 27, had logged 304 games with the Flames, scoring 27 goals, but just three this past year. He was scheduled to make $2.2 million next season, but the Flames will be on the hook for a cap hit of $666,667 this coming season, and $766,667 in 2018-19 instead, per Cap Friendly.Murphy, 24, was the 12th overall pick in the 2011 NHL Draft by the Carolina Hurricanes, but has obviously failed to live up to the high expectations, tallying just 37 points in 151 NHL games. He was acquired by the Flames on Thursday in the Eddie Lack trade.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Winnipeg Jets placed defenseman Mark Stuart on waivers Friday and plan to buy out the final year of his four-year, $10.5-million contract, according to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.The 33-year-old Stuart spent the last six seasons with the Jets, after moving over with the Atlanta Thrashers organization, for whom he played half a season. Stuart posted a total of 53 points in 390 games for the Thrashers and Jets. He has a career total of 93 points in 673 games, including time spent with the Boston Bruins for the first five-and-a-half years of his career.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

And just like that, the Bruins have nothing left from the infamous Tyler Seguin trade.The club has placed forward Jimmy Hayes on waivers for the purpose of a buyout, the team announced Friday.Hayes wasn't directly a part of the trade, but he was dealt from Florida to Boston in exchange for Reilly Smith, who was one of the prospects who came back from Dallas in the megadeal.Here's a full summary of the pieces Boston acquired from Dallas:PlayerDepartureLoui ErikssonLeft as a free agent (VAN)Joe MorrowNot extended qualifying offerReilly SmithTraded to FLA for HayesMatt FraserClaimed off waivers by EDM; now playing in EuropeWith the buyout, the Bruins will be on the hook for a cap hit of $566,667 over the next two campaigns, per Cap Friendly. Hayes was originally scheduled to make $2.3 million next season.The towering 6-foot-6 winger recorded just five points in 58 games in 2016-17.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Blame David Poile and the Nashville Predators.The Preds made it to the Stanley Cup Final on the foundation of a strong defense corps. It hasn't gone unnoticed by the other 30 NHL teams, and is already causing a rippling effect throughout the league.The Calgary Flames, for example, have tried to mimic Nashville's core-four, adding Travis Hamonic to a unit already featuring Mark Giordano, Dougie Hamilton, and T.J. Brodie. It cost the Flames dearly, though - one first-round pick and two second-round picks.One day before Hamonic was traded, the Edmonton Oilers re-signed Kris Russell to a four-year extension worth $16 million. Earlier this week, rearguard Brendan Smith re-upped with the New York Rangers to a reported four-year, $17.4-million contract.Russell and Smith are both second-pairing defensemen at best. Here is how they match up to similar style D-men who signed for comparable money four-to-seven years ago:PlayerAgeYear SignedTermAAV (Cap%)ATOIPS/82Russell3020174Y$4M (5.3%)21:133.7Smith2820174Y$4.35M (5.8%)19:153.7Dennis Seidenberg2820104Y$3.25M (5.5%)22:556.6Marc-Edouard Vlasic2620125Y$4.25M (6.1%)23:095.9Carl Gunnarsson2620133Y$3.15M (5.6%)21:176.0Niklas Hjalmarsson2620135Y$4.1 (6.3%)20:545.7Legend:

The Florida Panthers will reportedly place Jussi Jokinen on waivers for the purpose of a contract buyout, according to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.Jokinen had one year and $4 million remaining on his contract. In order to buy him out, the Panthers will carry a salary cap hit of $1.33 million over the next two seasons.The reported move will see $2.66 million cleared off the books for the upcoming season, per Cap Friendly.Jokinen registered 11 goals and 17 assists in 69 games last season. He'll now become an unrestricted free agent.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New Jersey Devils have placed forward Michael Cammalleri on waivers for the purposes of a buyout, the team announced Friday.Cammalleri spent the last three seasons with the Devils, playing a total of 171 games, scoring 51 goals and totaling 111 points. He had completed the first two years of a five-year, $25-million contract signed prior to the 2014-15 NHL campaign.The 35-year-old has suited up for four teams over his career, posting a total of 613 points in 840 regular season games. Cammalleri hasn't played in the postseason since 2010-11, when he was a member of the Montreal Canadiens. He has 32 points in 37 playoff contests.The Devils also plan to buy out forward Devante Smith-Pelly. Smith-Pelly was going to be due $1.3 million for the 2017-18 campaign, the final year of a two-year, $2.6-million contract he signed prior to last season. He had scored a total of just 22 points in 71 games with the Devils.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Free-Agent Signing Period

Apparently there are teams unafraid of bringing in a 40-year-old right winger.Four teams have contacted Terry Bross, the agent for pending unrestricted free agent Shane Doan, reports Arizona Sports' Craig Morgan.Morgan added that a Doan decision won't come quickly. The longtime Coyote will take his time and evaluate all the offers and possible roles he would be playing.Doan has spent his entire 21-year career with the Jets/Coyotes franchise, but wasn't offered a new contract from Arizona. He scored 28 goals in 2015-16, but that total plummeted to six this past season.Doan is likely looking for a chance to win his first Stanley Cup, so an offer from a contending team would certainly peak his interest the most.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Minnesota Wild have traded defenseman Marco Scandella and forward Jason Pominville to the Buffalo Sabres in exchange for forwards Tyler Ennis and Marcus Foligno, the clubs announced Friday.Minnesota also receives a 2018 third-round pick while sending a fourth-rounder in 2018 to Buffalo.The Sabres have clear needs on the blue line, and will have Scandella under contract for the next three seasons at a salary cap hit of $4 million. Pominville, who was drafted by the Sabres and played in Buffalo for several seasons, has two years remaining on his deal and carries a cap hit of $5.6 million.On the other side of things, Foligno is a restricted free agent while Ennis is signed through 2018-19 with a cap hit of $4.6 million.No money is being retained in the deal, according to Michael Russo of the Star-Tribune.Scandella is the centerpiece of the deal, and new general manager Jason Botterrill adds a very capable left-handed shot to the blue line.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Blue Jackets bought out the final two years of Scott Hartnell's contract Thursday, and the veteran winger isn't leaving Columbus with any hard feelings."I think it was mutually beneficial for us to part ways," Hartnell told Aaron Portzline of The Dispatch. "They’re going in a different way, they’re going younger, and they have some young studs coming up. They wanted to go that direction."I can’t say a bad thing about Columbus. It’s probably a city I’ll come back to after hockey. It’s such good living. People are great. I made some really good friends outside of hockey, too."The 35-year-old found himself scratched by head coach John Tortorella at different points last season, and can now explore his options for a better fit as an unrestricted free agent.Despite his positive feelings about the city and the organization, Hartnell admits being bought out is indeed a bit of a tough pill to swallow."It’s heartbreaking, a little bit," he said. "It’s new territory for me, but you have to move on."Hartnell spent three seasons in Columbus, recording 64 goals and 82 assists in 234 regular-season games.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Washington Capitals have re-signed pending restricted free-agent defenseman Dmitry Orlov to a six-year, $30.6-million contract, the team announced Friday.The average annual value of Orlov's contract will be $5.1 million. Here is a more detailed breakdown of the contract:

No good deed goes unpunished.The adage held true when the Ottawa Senators seemingly gave a just reward to goaltender Andrew Hammond after his spectacular run as a replacement for injured goaltenders Craig Anderson and Robin Lehner in the second half of the 2014-15 NHL season. Hammond went 20-1-2 in 23 starts and earned the Senators a berth into the Stanley Cup Playoffs.The three-year contract worth $4.05 million immediately handed to Hammond seemed fair following his miraculous run. His play with the Senators that season overshadowed the fact he was an undrafted goalie who had posted a save percentage of just .898 through 25 games with the AHL's Binghamton Senators and just had his first taste of NHL success.Since signing his extension, Hammond has posted a .906 SV% and a 2.83 goals-against average over 25 NHL games in two years. The contract is set to expire at the end of the 2017-18 campaign; one which he is expected to spend with the AHL's Belleville Senators if he remains with the Senators organization.(Photo courtesy: Action Images)So it's fair for the three-year, $7.2-million contract awarded by the Senators to Mike Condon, the savior of the team's 2016-17 season during Anderson's personal leaves, to cause some alarm. It's a seemingly just reward for his play, which saw him start a franchise-record 27 consecutive games and post five shutouts while helping Ottawa make the postseason.But in the salary cap era of the NHL and the business of winning, contracts can't be handed out based on feel-good stories. Condon is still a 27-year-old undrafted goaltender who came over from the Pittsburgh Penguins in a November trade, marking his third team in two years. He entered the 2016-17 season with a career save percentage of just .903 through 55 games.In getting a head start on free agency and re-signing Condon, the Senators failed to see what the offseason market value will be for career backup goaltenders. Instead, they rewarded a goalie with no precedent for high-quality play based on a small sample size of success and an organization-wide feeling of gratitude.The same thing they did just two years prior.(Photo courtesy: Action Images)When the Senators re-signed Hammond, his role was known to be set as the backup to Anderson. He had demonstrated an ability to play well for a prolonged stretch of games, but it was a task the club hoped he wouldn't be handed again.With Condon, the Senators made an early bet on his level of play sustaining beyond Anderson's potential upcoming departure.Hammond's and Anderson's contracts are set to expire in the summer of 2018, which means Condon is the lone NHL-experienced goaltender signed beyond the upcoming season. His salary increases in each of the three years, as he'll be due $3 million for the 2019-20 season, though he'll have a cap hit of a more reasonable $2.4 million.Here's a look at goalies with contracts similar to Condon's:NameTeamCap Hit (millions)Cam WardCAR$3.3Martin JonesSJ$3.0Eddie LackCGY$2.75Michal NeuvirthPHI$2.5Mike CondonOTT$2.4John GibsonANA$2.3Andrew HammondOTT$1.35Should Condon have more success during the 2017-18 campaign and the Senators choose to move on from a then-37-year-old Anderson after the final year of his current deal, Condon will provide Ottawa with one of the best-value starting goaltenders in the NHL.Or, he'll follow Hammond's path, struggle as a backup, force the Senators to re-sign an aging Anderson or find a suitable alternative as a starting goaltender, and reduce the team's cap space and available internal budget for the next two seasons.The former is a big ask for a goaltender who has just one quality 40-game sample of NHL netminding.Cap concerns aren't an immediate issue for the Senators, as they have a projected $11.33 million in cap space for 2017-18, with restricted free-agent forward Jean-Gabriel Pageau the summer's top priority. The issue could come in 2019-20 when Condon is due the largest share of his contract and when captain Erik Karlsson is set to become a free agent.(Photo courtesy: Getty Images)Condon demonstrated the ability to serve as a top-tier backup capable of handling starting duties for a large share of an 82-game season for the Sens. He looked every bit the part of an NHL goaltender while endearing himself to management, players, and the entire fan base. He, along with Anderson, was one the season's top feeling-inducing stories.But so was Hammond.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

After reportedly being targeted by as many as 10 teams ahead of free agency, winger Justin Williams is believed to have narrowed his list to three or four potential new hockey homes.Williams, who spent the past two seasons with the Capitals, is primarily looking for a chance to win his fourth Stanley Cup after failing to do so in Washington."We've had a significant amount of interest and we're trying to narrow it down as far as the teams that Justin is interested in," Williams' agent, Thane Campbell, said Wednesday, per Tom Gulitti of NHL.com. "Justin's focus is on finding the right fit for him and a team that has a chance to win a Cup in his mind."Here are three teams that could foot that bill.Montreal CanadiensWith Alexander Radulov likely asking for more than what the Canadiens are willing to pay on a long-term deal, Williams represents a fair replacement.He's older, but will come in cheaper and on a shorter term, while also proving to the players and its fans that the Canadiens remain serious about winning.Here's a head-to-head comparison based on 2016-17 totals.PlayerGamesGoalsAssistsPointsShotsJustin Williams80242448167Alexander Radulov76183654147And again, Williams has three Cups and a Conn Smythe Trophy to his name. If the Canadiens are serious about contending, Williams is a must add.Dallas StarsStars general manager Jim Nill has already boosted his team's chances with the additions of Ben Bishop in net and Marc Methot on the blue line, but there's work to do up front.Despite not making the playoffs last season, the Stars are attempting to assert themselves as legitimate Stanley Cup contenders over the next couple of seasons, and have cap space to fill out the roster before Tyler Seguin needs a big raise in 2019.Enter Williams, who would fill a huge hole on the right side, with only Adam Cracknell currently under contract at that position heading into next season.Florida PanthersThe Panthers are another team looking to rebound following a playoff miss, and Williams would be a great fit on an up-and-coming club with aspirations of competing for a Cup over the next few years.Florida finished first in the Atlantic two seasons ago, but that division isn't getting any less competitive, and the Panthers need to replace the scoring of Reilly Smith and Jonathan Marchessault, both of whom were recently lost to Vegas.There are still questions in regards to whether Jaromir Jagr will return to the fold, but either way, Williams' scoring touch and veteran experience would serve as a great complement to the team's young and ultra-talented forward corps.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Let the frenzy begin.As the calendar turns to July, hundreds of free agents will be in search of new deals, while the NHL's 31 general managers will spend their bosses' money, be it out of want or necessity.It's time, then, to pull out our crystal ball and see what will happen in free agency beginning July 1.Devil of a deal for ShattenkirkThe New Jersey Devils have a star winger in Taylor Hall, an elite goalie in Cory Schneider, and blue-chip prospects down the middle in Nico Hischier and Pavel Zacha. They also have a boatload of salary cap space and glaring holes on the blue line.Enter Kevin Shattenkirk, arguably the biggest name in free agency this summer.There will be plenty of suitors, but GM Ray Shero can outbid them all and offer Shattenkirk the opportunity to play close to his New York-area hometown.Only defensemen Andy Greene and Ben Lovejoy are signed past 2017-18, and Shattenkirk would be a nice and necessary building block on the blue line to complement talent elsewhere on the roster.Radulov is 'one and done' in MontrealAlexander Radulov returned to the NHL by way of the Montreal Canadiens, but priced himself out of "La Belle Province" by fitting in so well.Out of the league since 2012 following a brief and failed return to Nashville, Radulov left the KHL and signed a one-year deal with the Canadiens last summer. He went on to record 18 goals and 36 assists in 76 regular-season games, with an additional two goals and five assists in six playoff appearances.Now, Montreal won't be able to afford to keep him.

The Philadelphia Flyers have signed forward Jordan Weal to a two-year contract extension, the team announced Thursday.The deal carries a cap hit of $1.75 million, according to TSN's Pierre LeBrun.Weal drew significant interest in the lead-up to free agency, as the 25-year-old reportedly met with the Montreal Canadiens, Toronto Maple Leafs, and Vancouver Canucks, among other potential suitors.The Los Angeles Kings drafted Weal in the third round in 2010. He was dealt to the Flyers in 2016 as part of the trade that sent Vincent Lecavalier to Los Angeles.Weal split last season between the Flyers and the AHL's Lehigh Valley Phantoms. He netted 12 points in 23 games with the Flyers after scoring 47 points in 43 contests with the Phantoms.Weal led the Flyers in a host of key categories last season, including a team-best 2.19 points per 60 minutes, 1.46 goals per 60, shooting percentage (18.42 percent), and a 55.96 Corsi For rating.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Calgary Flames have acquired goaltender Eddie Lack, defensive prospect Ryan Murphy, and a 2019 seventh-round pick from the Carolina Hurricanes in exchange for defenseman Keegan Kanzig and a 2019 sixth-rounder, the teams announced Thursday night.Carolina will retain 50 percent of Lack's salary in the deal, according to TSN's Pierre LeBrun.Murphy was drafted 12th overall by the Hurricanes in 2011, but has struggled to make much of an impact at the NHL level, spending time in the AHL in each of the past five seasons.Kanzig, meanwhile, was a third-round pick of the Flames in 2013, and has yet to play a game in the NHL.After trading for Mike Smith earlier in the offseason, Lack will likely serve as a backup for the Flames. Last season, the 29-year-old posted a 8-7-3 record with a 2.64 goals-against average and .902 save percentage. He's evidently been ruled the odd man out from a Carolina crease that now features Scott Darling and Cam Ward.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Pending unrestricted free agent Patrick Sharp has been contacted by nine teams as he looks for a new contract on July 1, TSN's Bob McKenzie reports.Sharp endured a trying season with the Dallas Stars in 2016-17, as two separate concussions and a season-ending hip surgery limited him to just 48 games.Ultimately, Sharp's misfortune eliminated any leverage he might hold against potential suitors for a lucrative contract, but there's reason to believe the 35-year-old still has something left in the tank, health permitting.While he notched just 18 points last season, Sharp has eclipsed the 30-goal mark four times in his career, topping 20 tallies on three different occasions. He's also a three-time Stanley Cup champion, and could potentially fill a need on several rosters to bolster an attack.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Anton Thun knows his soft rock.The agent for Steve Mason made reference to a certain chart-topper when asked about his client's future by Sam Carchidi of the Philadelphia Inquirer.Carchidi asked Thun via email Thursday if Mason was still considering the Philadelphia Flyers or if that ship had sailed.“Google Christopher Cross’ greatest hits," the agent reportedly replied.One of Cross' most successful tunes was 1980's "Sailing," off his eponymous debut album.Thun implied Mason's days as a Flyer were numbered a couple of weeks ago when he told Carchidi the club didn't enter into contract talks with the pending unrestricted free-agent goaltender, adding that the agent and player were moving on.A couple of days later, Flyers GM Ron Hextall told the Courier-Post's Dave Issac that Mason was still an option for Philadelphia.The Winnipeg Jets have reached out to Mason's camp, as the Winnipeg Sun's Ken Wiebe reported Wednesday.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Need some goal scoring? Call Jaromir Jagr.The future Hall of Famer took to Twitter on Thursday with a little self-deprecating humor, poking fun at the apparent lack of interest in his services:

Trevor Daley's tenure with the Pittsburgh Penguins appears to be drawing to a close.The veteran defenseman has whittled his list of destinations down to two or three teams and the Penguins aren't one of them, an industry source told Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.Earlier Thursday, TSN's Pierre LeBrun reported the Boston Bruins and Detroit Red Wings were contenders for the pending unrestricted free agent's services.Daley helped Pittsburgh win back-to-back Stanley Cup championships and spent parts of the last two seasons with the Penguins after being acquired from the Chicago Blackhawks for Rob Scuderi in December 2015.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Legendary Edmonton Oilers enforcer Dave Semenko died of cancer Thursday at the age of 59, and the player he was most responsible for protecting, Wayne Gretzky, released a heartfelt statement mourning the passing of his longtime friend.From the Oilers' official website:

Justin Williams' destination is reportedly coming into focus.The veteran forward has trimmed his list down to three or four teams and the Washington Capitals don't appear to be on it, according to TSN's Darren Dreger.Williams is being targeted by no fewer than 10 clubs including a few "top-level" squads, as Dreger reported earlier Thursday.He's a pending unrestricted free agent who carried a $3.25-million cap hit this past season.The 35-year-old spent the last two seasons with the Capitals after playing parts of seven campaigns with the Los Angeles Kings that were punctuated by Stanley Cup championships in 2012 and 2014.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Kris Versteeg and the Calgary Flames have agreed to a one-year extension worth $1.75 million, the team announced Thursday.Versteeg played for the Flames on a one-year, $950,000 deal last season after attending Edmonton's training camp on a professional tryout.He registered 15 goals and 22 assists in 69 games, adding a goal and three assists in the postseason.Back in April, Versteeg said, "If I'm sitting in Switzerland in September, my agent is getting fired," so it appears that job is safe for now.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Toronto Maple Leafs are among a long list of teams that have reached out to pending unrestricted free agent Joe Thornton, according to TSN's Pierre LeBrun.The Los Angeles Kings and Nashville Predators are two other teams who have reportedly expressed interested in Jumbo Joe.Related: Report: Kings have been in contact with ThorntonThornton, 37, could very well go down as the best player in NHL history to never win a Stanley Cup, so he is likely looking for a team that gives him the best chance to win.The Leafs aren't as far off as some think.With the core of Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, and William Nylander all on entry-level contracts, the Leafs have a rare window of competing for a Stanley Cup while their best players are making pennies.When the Chicago Blackhawks won the Stanley Cup in 2010, Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews had a combined cap hit of $1.725 million. When the Pittsburgh Penguins made the finals in 2008, both Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin each had a cap hit of less than $1 million.Thornton, a native of St. Thomas, Ontario (about two hours from Toronto), would join Matthews, Nazem Kadri, and Tyler Bozak, to give the Leafs arguably the best center depth in the NHL.More importantly, Thornton would provide substantial veteran leadership for one of the youngest teams in the league.Thornton had a down season by his standards in 2016-17, recording just seven goals and 50 points.Nonetheless, the familiarity between the future Hall of Famer and Leafs head coach Mike Babcock could help the two sides come to an agreement. Thornton played under Babcock for Team Canada at the 1997 World Junior Championships, the 2010 Winter Olympics, and the 2016 World Cup of Hockey.(Photo courtesy: Action Images)As for the Predators, they just came up two wins short of a Stanley Cup. They have an obvious need down the middle. After Ryan Johansen, their center depth consists of Calle Jarnkrok and Colton Sissons - both fine players, but neither should be playing in a top-six role.Thornton would not only fill a positional need in Nashville, but a leadership and offensive need as well. Team captain Mike Fisher,a pending UFA, could potentially retire, and James Neal was scooped up by Vegas in the expansion draft.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Columbus Blue Jackets have bought out the final two years of Scott Hartnell's contract, general manager Jarmo Kekalainen announced Thursday."On behalf of our organization, I want to thank Scott for his contributions to the Blue Jackets over the past three seasons and wish him well in the future," said Kekalainen. "Moves like this are never easy, but with our current organizational depth at the position it is something we believe is in the best interest of our club moving forward."Here's a look at the financial breakdown of the buyout, per Cap Friendly.SeasonCostCap Hit2017-18$1.25M$1.5M2018-19$1.25M$3M2019-20$1.25M$1.25M2020-21$1.25M$1.25M

EAST MEADOW, N.Y. - As training camp opened for the New York Islanders last September, Josh Ho-Sang tweeted a picture of 22 alarm clocks with a simple message. "I made it," the winger's post read - a self-aware callback to the year before, when Ho-Sang was late for the first day of camp and immediately sent back to the Ontario Hockey League.When dealing with off-ice issues, there are two ways to go: a player can either play the "that's not who I am" card, or he can own mistakes and move forward in a positive way. Ho-Sang, the No. 28 pick in the 2014 draft, has taken the path of positivity, and after making it to the NHL in March and notching 10 points in 21 games, he's carrying the lessons of his early experience into what could and should be a long and fruitful pro career."You learn every game," Ho-Sang said Wednesday at the Islanders' development camp. "I think I only played two teams twice, so I'm playing all these NHL teams for the first time, and all these players on some star-studded teams. For me, it's about getting used to that - looking across the ice and seeing Patrick Kane, Tyler Seguin, Sidney Crosby. I enjoy playing against those guys. I thrive on that, being able to compare yourself against the best players in the world. ... If you're not the best player, you always need to do something differently. If you're not Connor McDavid, putting up 100 points, leading his team to the playoffs for the first time in a long time, you need to improve. And even he's trying to get better. I don't think you can stop."Ho-Sang turned 21 in January, a week after McDavid's 20th birthday. At the moment, McDavid has a 148-10 advantage in career points at the NHL level, not to mention the Hart Trophy. To compare the two would appear ludicrous, but for Ho-Sang, it makes sense. He was willing to take the kind of heat that comes with wearing 66, a number all but out of circulation in the NHL since Mario Lemieux retired. Of course he's going to see getting to McDavid's level as an achievable goal.The difference between cockiness and confidence is the acknowledgment of the hard work needed to climb to such a plateau. The former is a weakness, and one that led Ho-Sang to develop a reputation as, to be completely fair about it, a kid. The latter is not only an asset, but a requisite for turning dreams into reality."I believe in myself," Ho-Sang said. "I don't think I need to say much more than that. If I ever get there, and people ask, 'Did you think you could get there?' I would say yes. But he's a ways away, an elite talent. But it's always fun to have someone to chase. For him, he only has to chase himself right now."The first step on Ho-Sang's chase is getting through a full NHL season. Having already been through the drama of that first training camp, of his jersey number, of clashes with Hockey Canada earlier on, of simply being a hockey player willing to speak his mind, that may well be small potatoes. The McDavids of the world are the only ones who don't suffer through growing pains. Ho-Sang has had his."Oh, God, yeah, it helps," said Islanders coach Doug Weight. "I think it's important to go through and learn from it. Just the example of having a couple of bad games, and some bad things happening, and then refocusing, practicing hard, and coming out ready to play well is a sign of that maturing road that he's going down."That maturing can be seen publicly on Ho-Sang's Twitter account. After the self-deprecating clock picture, Ho-Sang had only two tweets: a repost of a Photoshop of Michael Dal Colle on Conor McGregor's head after Dal Colle's first fight, and a video clip of a Matt Finn goal. In June, his Twitter feed has become a source of, every few days, motivation and positivity (plus a couple of shoutouts to his mom and a clip of himself in a video game trailer).On June 10, Ho-Sang tweeted, "Everything you want to ask of life cannot be given by anyone but yourself, so don't ask period, go get it," then two days later, "Our weaknesses are what make us human, our will to transcend those obstacles is what makes us truly strong #beyourownsuperhero."If that doesn't explain where he is, and what his outlook is, as he approaches that first full NHL season, he's more than happy to expound on it."I just think it's something you have to carry with you, especially in a sport where people are watching you and constantly trying to judge you for what you do in a game or in a minute or based on a day," Ho-Sang said. "I think it's important to remind yourself of who you are, and I think it's important to stay grounded in terms of understanding there is more going on outside yourself. You may have personal problems, and you may have things going on, on a regular basis, but as long as you can put your head down and keep fighting through those, try to find the bright side, more often than not, I find that will help you maintain your happiness."(Photos courtesy: Action Images)Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

As hockey fans sift through poorly translated rumors and vague reports out of Russia surrounding free-agent forward Ilya Kovalchuk, a much-less renowned former NHL player has made his intentions for the 2017-18 hockey season fully known.

The process of clearing cap space for the looming monster contracts of Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl is well underway.The Edmonton Oilers have placed forward Benoit Pouliot on unconditional waivers for the purpose of a contract buyout, the team announced.Pouliot, 30, tallied just 14 points in 67 games for the Oilers in 2016-17 and comes with a cap hit of $4 million per year over the next two seasons.It's highly unlikely any team would claim Pouliot on waivers, so the impending buyout will cost the Oilers $1.33 million in cap space per year through the 2020-21 season, per Cap Friendly.

After back-to-back years of deep playoff runs for the Tampa Bay Lightning, the team suffered a setback in 2016-17 by missing the playoffs for the first time in four seasons. And though the team is laden with talent, general manager Steve Yzerman refuses to overlook last season due to previous success."We're in a different spot today than a year ago. Because a year ago, we were coming off Game 7 of the conference final, and that was coming off reaching the Stanley Cup final," Yzerman said, according to Tom Jones of the Tampa Bay Times. "This year we didn't make the playoffs. So let's take a step back here and let's not talk about going for it here in June when we just missed the playoffs."It's a very reserved mentality for the man in charge of a team that finished the 2016-17 regular season with 94 points, the same amount as the Western Conference champion Nashville Predators, but one point shy of the amount needed to qualify for the Eastern Conference's second season.Yzerman isn't letting himself, his players, or the team's fan base rest on past laurels, however, viewing last season as a disappointment, and refusing to blame the lost campaign on the knee injury which limited captain Steven Stamkos to just 17 games."We're a better team with Stamkos, obviously. ..."We definitely can look at areas where we need to improve with the players we did have on the ice,'' Yzerman added.The Lightning's overhaul began with the passing of the torch between goaltenders Ben Bishop (traded to the Los Angeles Kings and now with the Dallas Stars) and new starter Andrei Vasilevskiy at the 2016-17 trade deadline. It continued with the offseason's first big splash when forward Jonathan Drouin was dealt to the Montreal Canadiens in exchange for defensive prospect Mikhail Sergachev.Yzerman isn't done his summer work and remains focused on making the Lightning a contender again in 2017-18 and for the long term, saying "I think it's going to be good for a long time.''While the Predators may have demonstrated once again that teams need only to qualify for the postseason by the slimmest of margins in order to have a shot at lifting the Stanley Cup, Yzerman seems intent on not leaving the fate of his team in the hands of the competition."Should have been there, but we weren't,'' Yzerman said.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Boston Bruins and Detroit Red Wings are interested in adding some championship pedigree to their blue line, as both teams have expressed interest in pending unrestricted free agent defenseman Trevor Daley, according to TSN's Pierre LeBrun.Daley, 33, has won back-to-back Stanley Cups as a member of the Pittsburgh Penguins. This past season, he registered 19 points in 56 games with a 46.1 Corsi For percentage while averaging 20:23 minutes per night. He added five points in 21 playoff games.In Boston, Daley would help stabilize the left side of the Bruins' defense corps. Torey Krug is entering his prime, but Zdeno Chara is 40 years old and is on the last year of his contract. Their right side is deep with youngsters Charlie McAvoy and Brandon Carlo and veterans Kevan Miller and Adam McQuaid.In Detroit, Daley would add to an aging defense unit featuring 31-year-old Mike Green, 36-year-old Niklas Kronwall, and 33-year-old Jonathan Ericsson. Danny DeKeyser, 27, is also locked up for five years with a cap hit of $5 million per season.Daley had a cap hit of $3.3 million per year in his previous deal, but could potentially see a raise given that comparable D-men Brendan Smith and Kris Russell have recently signed contracts worth $4 million or more per season.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Edmonton Oilers have announced that team legend Dave Semenko died "after a short, but courageous battle with cancer."From the team: