The Carolina Hurricanes have re-signed forward Derek Ryan to a one-year contract worth $1.425 million, general manager Ron Francis announced Monday."Derek proved he belonged in the NHL last season," Francis said. "He brings skill and versatility to our lineup and sets an example for our younger players with his character and determination off the ice."The 30-year-old registered career highs in goals (11), assists (18), and points (29) last season, and was a finalist for the Masterton Trophy, awarded to the player who best exemplifies qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to the game.Ryan was not drafted by an NHL club, and didn't crack the league until 2015 after signing with the Hurricanes as a free agent. Immediately prior to that, he was named MVP of the Swedish Hockey League (SHL) in 2014-15.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

After being selected first overall by the New Jersey Devils at the NHL Entry Draft, there's no one better to talk to than the franchise's all-time leader in goals, assists, and points.That's the opportunity that was presented to Nico Hischier, who dined with Patrik Elias on Sunday.

Brayden Schenn didn't see it coming.The forward says he was caught off guard when he found out he'd been traded by the Philadelphia Flyers to the St. Louis Blues on Friday night during the first round of the NHL draft.“I was shocked,” Schenn told Sam Carchidi of the Philadelphia Inquirer on Sunday. “I wasn’t really paying attention to picks 10 to 20, and then I got a text from my agent saying St. Louis was involved (in talks with the Flyers), but really nothing was imminent."Less than a minute later, general manager Ron Hextall called him to let him know he'd been dealt."And, boom, it happened,” Schenn said. “I just talked to (Hextall) quickly.”The Flyers traded the 25-year-old for forward Jori Lehtera, the 27th overall pick (which they used to nab Morgan Frost), and a conditional first-rounder in 2018.Schenn hit the 25-goal mark in each of the last two seasons, notching 26 in 2015-16, and Philadelphia will certainly miss his offensive contributions, considering only Wayne Simmonds scored more than Schenn did for the Flyers this past season.Related: Hextall insists Flyers 'absolutely not' rebuilding despite draft movesSchenn could get a chance to move back to his natural position with his new club."They told me they’ll give me an opportunity at center, so I’m excited,” he said. “They have a lot of skilled forwards there, obviously, in (Vladimir) Tarasenko, (Jaden) Schwartz and (Alex) Steen. The list goes on and on. They obviously have a great team and I’m looking forward to it. It’s a great opportunity. I’ve been looking forward to playing center for the past little while, and if I get a chance to do that in St. Louis, I’m going to take it and run with it.”Schenn had nothing but praise for the Flyers organization and the city of Philadelphia, but he's looking forward to playing for the Blues.“I have mixed emotions,” he said. “I spent six years in Philly and had an awesome time there. Great teammates and a great organization. But I’m excited to go to St. Louis and get a great opportunity.”Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Brian Boyle isn't ruling out a reunion in Florida.The veteran forward and pending unrestricted free agent says he's open to the possibility of rejoining the Tampa Bay Lightning."We love Tampa," Boyle told Joe Smith of the Tampa Bay Times. "If Tampa wanted to work out a deal, that's definitely a huge option for us. That's something that I've kind of always thought about. I haven't closed the door on anything."The Lightning traded Boyle to the Toronto Maple Leafs for center Byron Froese and a second-round pick in February."I understand the part of the game - that makes sense to me," Boyle said Sunday. "I could definitely understand why things were done the way they were done, the situation the team was in, with the cap. You have to roll with it, it's going to happen. It's not a personal thing, can't take it personally."Boyle played 21 regular-season games for the Leafs down the stretch and suited up for all six tightly contested first-round playoff games against the Washington Capitals."That was a blast," Boyle said. "We had a pretty fun couple of weeks in the playoffs, wish it was a little bit longer. (Leafs) fans were a blast, jumping on board. They deserve to have a good team there, the support and passion they have for the game. They have some really good young players, they're in a good spot."The 32-year-old told Smith that a few teams have already reached out to him about his future, reiterating that the Lightning would have a shot if they're interested."I had a great time there," Boyle said. "Everybody in that organization treated me unbelievable. It was a blast to be part of it. Getting traded sucks. At the time, it's always kind of a change. When the season ended, I'm a free agent, and I've kind of been here before in this position. And I've been fortunate to enjoy every place that I've played. (Tampa) is a great place to be, great place to start a family. And, honestly, we'll see what they say. You want to be wanted. That's the other part."Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Anaheim Ducks made a move to shore up their blue line Sunday, signing rearguard Korbinian Holzer to a two-year contract extension, according to Renaud Lavoie of TVA Sports.Holzer, 29, only suited up in 32 contests last season for Anaheim, registering seven points, 71 hits, and 34 blocked shots while averaging 13:31 in ice time.The former fourth-round pick of the Toronto Maple Leafs plays a bottom-pairing role on a Ducks squad littered with talent on the back end, providing some depth for Randy Carlyle's club.Prior to the extension, Holzer was slated to become an unrestricted free agent July 1.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Let the Kevin Shattenkirk sweepstakes begin.The Tampa Bay Lightning were among a slew of clubs to check in on the soon-to-be unrestricted free-agent defenseman Sunday, sources told Joe Smith of the Tampa Bay Times.Shattenkirk is the biggest prize in a relatively weak free-agent class this summer, but it's no surprise that he reportedly has plenty of suitors, given his steady offensive contributions and power-play prowess.Still, it's interesting to see the Lightning potentially involved, even in a preliminary capacity.Tampa Bay was the Eastern Conference club that nearly landed Shattenkirk in a seven-year, $42-million sign-and-trade agreement back in January before he turned it down, according to Smith and as the St. Louis Post-Dispatch's Jeremy Rutherford believed at the time.The window for teams to contact pending UFAs officially opened Sunday.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NHL Entry Draft is a rite of passage for the game's future stars.An opportunity to experience a moment of a lifetime with family, friends, and of course, throngs of hockey executives eager to find their next impact player or diamond in the rough.It's also an excellent opportunity for these kids to show off their impressive hairstyles before prolonged helmet head and old age sets in.Here are the five best flows from the 2017 NHL Entry Draft.Nico Hischier The top pick in this year's draft also has some top-notch flow. If Hischier takes as much care with the puck as he does with his hair, the New Jersey Devils got themselves a good one.Drake RymshaFirst of all, the sheer amount of product it takes to keep this look together is impressive enough to make the list. Pulling the whole thing off, however, makes Rymsha's selection a slam dunk.

NHL draft weekend came and went without the Minnesota Wild making a deal for one of their five defensemen.It was a big surprise to much of the league, including head coach Bruce Boudreau, who texted someone from the draft floor on Friday night saying: "Is no one making any moves?" according to Michael Russo of the Star Tribune.Many had defenseman Marco Scandella pegged as the most likely candidate to be moved, but as we speak, he remains with the club. All that aside, Boudreau is still under the impression general manager Chuck Fletcher will pull something off by the time the 2017-18 season kicks off."Something's going to happen. I just don't know what it is," Boudreau said. "Chuck's playing his cards close to his vest. But I've got to believe something will happen. Whether it happens today or in a month from now, I don't think he's in a hurry unless he gets what he wants to get."Until then, Boudreau and Wild fans will have to wait. However, July 1 is quickly approaching and while the Wild aren't expected to be in on many of the top fish in free agency, the club is looking to fill out its fourth line and are hoping to acquire a backup goaltender."(Alex Stalock's) going to have to earn it," Fletcher said. "He put himself on the radar last year, but by the same token, we want to foster competition."Luckily for the Wild, the team finished with the second-best record in the Western Conference and their lone losses in the expansion draft were Erik Haula and Alex Tuch, meaning much of the same roster should be in tact to compete for a better playoff result next season.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The 2017 Hockey Hall of Fame class will be announced on Monday.Similar to the class of 2016, there aren't many slam dunks to earn the prestigious honor this season. Despite two likely shoo-ins, we could see another yet year where names that have been passed over finally get their shot at hockey's greatest recognition.With that, here are five candidates who could potentially be named to the 2017 class:Daniel Alfredsson(Photo courtesy: Action Images)Alfredsson never won a Stanley Cup, never led the league in scoring, and might never have been revered as the best player at any time during his playing days, but he certainly cemented himself among the league's best.The longtime Ottawa Senators captain became the face of the franchise and concluded his career with 444 goals and 1,157 points and added another 100 points in 124 career playoff games. He ranks second among all Swedish-born players in both goals and points behind only Mats Sundin.He earned a gold medal at the 2006 Olympic Games, a silver in 2014, captured the Calder Trophy in 1996, and ranks 51st on the NHL's all-time points list.Teemu SelanneWayne Gretzky might have brought hockey to California, but Selanne helped to keep it there.The former Anaheim Ducks captain played for an incredible 21 years, making a big splash when he entered the scene as a Winnipeg Jet by scoring an NHL-record 76 goals and 132 points as a rookie in 1993.His 1,457 points rank 15th on the all-time points list, while his 684 goals are the 11th most all time.He has a Stanley Cup, a Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy, and a Calder Trophy to his name. He's earned four Olympic medals and is the all-time leader in Olympic scoring.He's a lock.Dave AndreychukMuch like Alfedsson, Dave Andreychuk was never considered the best of his generation.In fact, Andreychuk's inclusion into the Hall of Fame has been debated hard over the last few years for that very reason. However, despite the backlash, there is no denying the longtime Buffalo Sabre's stats.Andreychuk's 640 career goals rank 14th all time and are the most of any player besides Selanne not already in the Hall of Fame. His 274 career power-play goals are the most all time. Meanwhile, he's played the seventh-most games in NHL history, earning 1,338 career points.In 2004 he helped lead the Tampa Bay Lightning to their first-ever Stanley Cup, earning his first and only Cup ring.Mark Recchi(Photo courtesy: Getty Images)Mark Recchi's career shares similarities to Andreychuk's.Recchi ranks 12th all time with 1,533 career points - the most of any player not already in the Hall of Fame. Meanwhile, his 577 goals are the 20th most in NHL history.Recchi played the majority of his career with the Philadelphia Flyers and Montreal Canadiens, but won Stanley Cups with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 1991, the Carolina Hurricanes in 2006, and the Boston Bruins in 2011. He has also served as a development coach with the Penguins for their last two Cup wins.He never won any major awards, but played the fifth-most games all time and certainly deserves consideration.Alexander MogilnyWhile Alexander Mogilny still ranks as one of the best Russian players to ever play the game, his inclusion in the Hockey Hall of Fame should also be on the merits of what he meant to Russian players.In 1989 Mogilny became the first-ever Soviet hockey player to defect from the country, secretly leaving to play for the Sabres who had drafted him in the fifth round in 1988.Once in the league, Mogilny became one of the most dynamic scorers. In the 1992-93 season, he tallied 76 goals and 127 points in 77 games. His 76 goals tied him with Selanne for the league lead, but this was six years before the Rocket Richard trophy came to exist.In all, he played 990 games over 16 seasons, tallying 473 goals and 1,032 points, both good enough for third spot among all Russian players behind Sergei Fedorov and Alex Ovechkin.In 2000 he won his lone Stanley Cup with the New Jersey Devils, earning him a spot in the Triple Gold Club (Olympic gold medal, World Championship gold medal, and Stanley Cup).Honorable MentionJeremy RoenickJust imagine the speech Jeremy Roenick would make if he was finally inducted into the Hall of Fame.The outspoken personality - who now lends his talents to NBC - should also get some consideration after a solid NHL career that spanned 19 years. Roenick never earned a Cup or any major awards, but was consistent, tallying 513 goals and 1,216 points in 1,363 games.He ranks fourth all time among American skaters in goals and points and earned a silver medal at both the 1991 Canada Cup and the 2002 Winter Olympics.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

While we won't be able to read the outcome of the 2017 entry draft for at least three years, this year's draft class will realize great value in its later rounds. After all, 2015 Art Ross winner Jamie Benn didn't hear his name called until the fifth round, future Hall of Famer Pavel Datsyuk was still on the board in Round 6, and Pekka Rinne was chosen in a round that no longer exists.For now, here are three late picks to keep an eye on from the 2017 NHL Draft:Jason RobertsonDrafted: Round 2, 39th overall, by the Dallas StarsIn the top third of the second round, the Stars added Kingston forward Jason Robertson, a scoring winger with a big frame who uses his size to generate offensive chances. It's this style of play that likens Robertson to Toronto Maple Leafs winger James van Riemsdyk, according to Last Word on Sports.While skating deficiencies may be the reason for Robertson's draft-day slide, there is still a lot to like, and no doubt the Stars believe they can cash in on a player who tallied 81 points in 68 games last season to lead the Frontenacs in scoring.Robertson placed 14th among North American skaters, as ranked by NHL Central Scouting, a significant climb from his 34th slot in the midterms. He will lace up for his third season with Kingston in 2017-18.Ivan LodniaDrafted: Round 3, 85th overall, by the Minnesota WildThe Wild nabbed a modern winger in Ivan Lodnia of the Erie Otters. While undersized, Lodnia's playing style does not reflect his lesser stature, as scouts beam about the American-born winger's knack for maneuvering through the opposition.A shifty playmaker, Lodnia boasts exceptional skating and high-end hockey sense, abilities that helped him notch 56 points in 66 games in his first OHL season with the Otters. Lodnia continued to impress at the Memorial Cup, adding three points in five games, and then three goals and an assist in four contests with Team USA at the under-18s.Lodnia placed 36th among North Americans skaters in the final rankings by NHL Central Scouting, a slight uptick from his finish at the midterms. He is expected to return to the Otters next season.Matthew StromeDrafted: Round 4, 106th overall, by the Philadelphia FlyersHockey bloodlines run deep with the Stromes, with brothers Ryan and Dylan both high picks by the New York Islanders and Arizona Coyotes, respectively, in recent years. Matthew is the latest Strome brother to come along.But unlike his brothers, both selected inside the top five, the Flyers called on Matthew in the middle of the fourth round, a steep fall from a year ago when the early projections saw him as first-rounder. Scouts point to a slow stride that could hold him back from making it to the next level, but that doesn't mean his game isn't without its strengths.Already 6-foot-3, Strome is excellent down low, using his size to protect the puck. Coupled with high-end hockey IQ, it is this ability that helped Strome collect 62 points in 66 games with the Hamilton Bulldogs, where he will return next season for his third OHL campaign.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The 2017 NHL Draft has come and gone, and all 31 teams are exiting Chicago with varying degrees of satisfaction in regards to their respective hauls

Jason Botterill is reportedly giving one of his old coworkers a significant role within his new organization.Randy Sexton will be leaving the Pittsburgh Penguins to join the Buffalo Sabres as assistant general manager, according to TSN's Bob McKenzie.Sexton will also serve as GM of the Sabres' AHL affiliate, the Rochester Americans.He's been with the Penguins since 2010, becoming the team's sole amateur scouting director in 2015. Botterill worked with the Penguins for nearly a decade beginning in 2007 before being hired as Sabres GM last month.Sexton has NHL GM experience of his own, having previously occupied that position with both the Ottawa Senators and the Florida Panthers.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The 2017 NHL Draft has come and gone, and all 31 teams are exiting Chicago with varying degrees of satisfaction in regards to their respective hauls.

Ron Hextall doesn't want to use the R-word.The Philadelphia Flyers general manager admitted to the Courier-Post's Dave Isaac on Saturday that his club is "methodically getting younger," but refused to classify it as rebuilding."Yeah, we're getting younger. A rebuild, absolutely not," Hextall said from the NHL Draft in Chicago.After taking Nolan Patrick second overall Friday night, the Flyers traded 25-goal scorer Brayden Schenn to the St. Louis Blues for Jori Lehtera and a pair of picks, using the 2017 selection on center Morgan Frost at No. 27.The Flyers had the 11th-youngest roster in the league this past season at 27.006 years of age, according to NHL Numbers, and they'll once again be complementing their veteran core with a bit of a youth movement next season."We have young players," Hextall said Saturday. "At some point here we have to open up opportunity. We'll let them play when we feel they're ready to play. Unlike what people think about our philosophy, we do not want to hold players back. When they're ready to take that next step we'll allow them to take that next step. In saying that, we feel like we've got some young players who, if they're not ready they're close.”Travis Konecny showed flashes of skill in his rookie season, and the 2017-18 Flyers will also likely feature 23-year-old college free-agent signing Michael Vecchione as well as 19-year-old defenseman Ivan Provorov and 23-year-old blue-liner Shayne Gostisbehere.The biggest concern for Philadelphia, though, will be compensating for the loss of Schenn's offense. Patrick should be able to contribute relatively soon, but head coach Dave Hakstol said the top prospect's teammates might have to raise their games, too."It's a lot (to make up), but I think that's where some of it has to come from," Hakstol said. "Some of the quality minutes that Brayden Schenn has been in, not necessarily all, some of those minutes could go to young players. Not only a couple guys that may be new to the roster this year but a guy like Travis Konecny, guys like that that can benefit from more minutes in more situations."Call it a rebuild, a refresh, or whatever R-word is more applicable, but only Wayne Simmonds scored more goals for Philadelphia than Schenn did in 2016-17, so the Flyers are going to need to match that lost production somehow.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The 2017 NHL Draft has come and gone, and all 31 teams will exit Chicago with varying degrees of satisfaction regarding their respective hauls.

Ryan Reaves didn't believe it at first.Upon hearing rumblings that he was being traded by the St. Louis Blues during Friday's first round of the NHL draft, the forward took to Twitter to check the scuttlebutt.What he saw initially convinced him it was much ado about nothing."First thing I saw was, 'It sounds like Reaves is going for a first-rounder,'" he told Jeremy Rutherford of the Post-Dispatch. "I was like 'OK, obviously that's a bunch of garbage.'"There was truth to those tweets, however, as the Pittsburgh Penguins acquired Reaves and the 51st overall pick from the Blues in exchange for forward Oskar Sundqvist and the 31st and final pick in the opening round.The Penguins thought it was necessary to add some toughness to the back-to-back Stanley Cup champion roster.

The 2017 NHL Draft has come and gone, and all 31 teams are exiting Chicago with varying degrees of satisfaction in regards to their respective hauls.

Don't even bother. Especially you, Joe Sakic.As the NHL draft wrapped Saturday, Nashville Predators general manager David Poile had a message for his fellow GMs while focus shifts to the trade and free-agent markets."We will not be touching our defense in the near future here," Poile said, according to The Tennessean's Adam Vingan.With Colorado Avalanche forward Matt Duchene expected to eventually be on the move after a nightmare season in Denver, and Nashville boasting an embarrassment of riches on its blue line, there's been speculation that Poile could work something out with Avalanche GM Sakic. To wit:

The Toronto Maple Leafs drafted a hulking defenseman in Eemeli Rasanen on Saturday, taking the Finn in the second round at No. 59.Rasanen models his game after countryman Rasmus Ristolainen, according to The Athletic's James Mirtle. Ristolainen is a cornerstone on Toronto rival Buffalo's blue line.If you thought Ristolainen's tall at 6-foot-4, Rasanen's got him by three inches. Only 18, he'll be adding to his 208-pound frame, no doubt. And the kid's confident, too, believing he can play in the NHL in a year or two.Rasanen had six goals and 39 points in 66 games with Kingston in the OHL last season, his first in North America after coming over from Finland.He's a right-handed shot who can quarterback a power play and move the puck, but the biggest knock to his game is his skating, which must improve.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Ottawa Senators are receiving calls about the availability of defenseman Dion Phaneuf, but if it's up to general manager Pierre Dorion, No. 2 will remain in the Canadian capital."We'd like to keep Dion," Dorion said, according to Sportsnet's Chris Johnston. "But you have to look at all options."It was reported Friday that Ottawa was trying to move the 32-year-old, and TSN's Darren Dreger added Saturday that there's interest from outside of Phaneuf's list of teams he's willing to accept a trade to.Ottawa did ask Phaneuf to waive his no-move clause for the expansion draft, but the defender refused, as was his right. However, Dorion said that despite that, the team and defender are on good terms.

Michael Stone could still be part of the Calgary Flames' plans.The veteran blue-liner is a pending unrestricted free agent, but the Flames aren't ruling out Stone's return, with general manager Brad Treliving telling TSN's Frank Seravalli he'd like to find a way to keep Stone in the fold.Stone's future in Calgary may have come into question following the team's acquisition of Travis Hamonic from the New York Islanders on Saturday. The trade sets Calgary up with a top-4 of Hamonic, T.J. Brodie, Dougie Hamilton, and captain Mark Giordano.Should he reach free agency, Stone is among the top right-handed defensemen available alongside Kevin Shattenkirk, Dennis Wideman, and Cody Franson.Stone was originally acquired from the Arizona Coyotes at last year's trade deadline, a deal that returned a third-round pick to the Coyotes. Arizona will also receive a fifth-rounder in 2018 if Stone re-signs in Calgary.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Andrei Markov would like to remain with the Montreal Canadiens, but there's a catch.The 38-year-old defenseman has played his entire 16-year career with the Canadiens, and while he would like to stick with the club, he is seeking a two-year contract, according to TVA Sports' Renaud Lavoie.Markov will become an unrestricted free agent July 1 and is coming off a three-year deal that paid him an average of $5.75 million per season.Of course the biggest knock against Markov is his age. A two-year contract would mean he plays until he's 40. However, despite his age, Markov still managed 36 points in 62 games this campaign, which in a full 82-game campaign averages out to 47 points, good enough for 13th among all defensemen this season.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Calgary Flames are going for it.On the second day of the NHL Entry Draft in Chicago, general manager Brad Treliving sent picks to be cashed in as early as next year to the New York Islanders in exchange for defenseman Travis Hamonic.The Islanders receive a 2018 first-round pick, a second-round selection in 2018, and a second-rounder in either 2019 or 2020, while the Flames also receive a fourth-round pick in 2019 or 2020.A seemingly heavy price to pay, but one that demonstrates Calgary's belief that it can contend for the Stanley Cup over the next few seasons. All it has to do is look to the reigning Western Conference champion Nashville Predators as a reference point.Fab 4With the addition of Hamonic, the Flames now boast a top-four that arguably stacks up against any other group around the NHL, including the formidable Music City quartet that recently propelled the Predators to the Cup Final.PredatorsFlamesRoman JosiMark GiordanoP.K. SubbanT.J. BrodieRyan EllisDougie HamiltonMattias EkholmTravis Hamonic

Lindy Ruff is headed to Manhattan.The veteran bench boss will be named an assistant coach with the New York Rangers, reports Larry Brooks of the New York Post.Ruff spent the past four seasons as head coach of the Dallas Stars, posting a 131-85-30 record. His contract was not renewed at the end of this season.Prior to joining the Stars, Ruff spent 15 seasons behind the bench of the Buffalo Sabres, leading them to the Stanley Cup Final in 1999.Ruff ranks fifth all time with 736 career victories.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New York Islanders have traded defenseman Travis Hamonic to the Calgary Flames, the Flames confirmed Saturday morning.In return, the Islanders receive a 2018 first-round pick, a second-round pick in 2018, and a second-round pick in either 2019 or 2020. Meanwhile, the Flames also receive a fourth-round selection in 2019 or 2020.Here are the conditions on the picks, as laid out by TSN's Bob McKenzie:

Shifting sands in the desert prompted Dave Tippett to walk away from the Arizona Coyotes.After eight seasons, the club and head coach mutually agreed to end their relationship, citing philosophical differences. Tippett expanded on that Friday, pointing to recent and profound changes made by the Coyotes."It’s been a long go here trying to keep things going, and now with the change of ownership again - or change of direction again - the instability of the rink and stuff, it just seemed like the right time for them and for me," Tippett said, per Sarah McLellan of azcentral sports. "There’s nothing I could put my finger on. Just time for a change."Andrew Barroway - a Philadelphia-based hedge fund manager - became the sole owner of the Coyotes on June 12 after buying out the club's minority owners. That led to the trade of goaltender Mike Smith and a parting of ways with longtime captain Shane Doan, all of which also weighed heavily on Tippett."You feel it’s time for a change," Tippett continued. "I feel like I needed a change now. Seemed like the right time with ownership changing and Doaner and Smitty - not that those are excuses. But just a lot of things built up and just time to try something new."Tippett will take some time to relax and be with family, but expects to be back behind a bench at some point."Oh yeah," he said. "I’ll keep coaching."Tippett won the Jack Adams Award in 2010 and coached the Coyotes to the Western Conference Finals in 2012.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Philadelphia Flyers drafted winger Isaac Ratcliffe with the 35th pick in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft on Saturday.This pick originally belonged to the Arizona Coyotes, but the Flyers swapped a few of their selections in order to move up.

Nico Hischier and Nolan Patrick appear to have developed a feeling of mutual respect through the NHL Entry Draft process.After months of speculation as to who would be selected first overall, it was Hischier who became the newest member of the New Jersey Devils, while Nolan Patrick fell to the Philadelphia Flyers with the second pick.Patrick had been viewed as the consensus top prospect at the beginning of last season, but certainly wasn't holding a grudge against Hischier, according to the Swiss forward, who looks forward to facing off against Patrick on the ice."It would be good to play against Nolan in the future," Hischier said Friday, per Adam Kimelman of NHL.com. "He's a great guy. When I was picked, he congratulated me and was a really classy guy. I appreciated that. Not a lot of guys would do that."For his part, Patrick seems fine with Philly."I didn't know where I was going to go, but I kind of had a feeling I was going to end up in Philly, and that's a place I'd be really excited if I had a chance to go there," Patrick said.Both players are on Metropolitan Division teams, meaning they could be seeing a lot of each other.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Kailer Yamamoto is not short on confidence.The Edmonton Oilers used the 22nd overall pick to select the 5-foot-8, 148-pound forward from the WHL's Spokane Chiefs, but don't let his size fool you.In meeting with Yamamoto in advance of the draft, Chiarelli asked why the Oilers should draft him, and was quite impressed with the bold response."That’s a standard question you ask, and I’ve never really heard this answer," Chiarelli said, per Mark Spector of Sportsnet. "He said, 'Because (if you don’t) I’m going to come back and haunt you.' He’s a pretty confident kid, and he backs it up with his play."

The first round of the NHL draft featured a slightly unexpected opening selection, a lack of fireworks in the middle, and a trio of late deals.The New Jersey Devils took Nico Hischier over Nolan Patrick with the first overall pick, but no genuine drama came until the opening round was about to conclude.Here are the winners and losers on the first day and night of the 2017 draft festivities in Chicago:WinnersSt. Louis BluesThe Blues were clearly the biggest winners, and it wasn't particularly close.St. Louis landed 25-goal scorer Brayden Schenn from the Philadelphia Flyers for Jori Lehtera, the 27th overall pick that became Morgan Frost, and a conditional first-rounder next year.The Blues also dealt grinder Ryan Reaves and the 51st pick to the Pittsburgh Penguins for Oskar Sundqvist and the 31st selection, which they used to take Klim Kostin, the top-ranked European skater coming into the draft.Not only that, but they made a smooth pick by taking Rob(ert) Thomas 20th overall.Toronto Maple LeafsMark Hunter worked his magic yet again.The Leafs assistant general manager and resident draft guru nabbed promising Swedish defenseman Timothy Liljegren at No. 17, telling Sportsnet's Chris Johnston afterwards that he "would have been shocked" last year to hear Liljegren would be taken in that spot in 2017.Toronto's historical success in first round is well documented - most notably with Mitch Marner and William Nylander - but Hunter's latest pick earned universal praise in its own right.FinlandIt was a good night to be a Finnish draft prospect.A record six Finns were taken in the first round, according to Sportsnet, including third overall choice Miro Heiskanen and 30th pick Eeli Tolvanen.Heiskanen was the only one to go in the top 10, but Finland accounted for four defensemen and two wingers in the first 31 selections.Nashville PredatorsWhen you're a Stanley Cup finalist, you're not typically going to have a high pick, and the Predators were stuck with the penultimate choice in Round 1, but that didn't stop GM of the Year David Poile from making his mark.Nashville went for Tolvanen, who ESPN's Corey Pronman called "the steal of the first round," according to The Tennessean's Adam Vingan.LosersPittsburgh PenguinsThe two-time defending champions came into the night holding the final pick of the opening round, but GM Jim Rutherford decided to package it with Sundqvist to get his hands on Reaves, a physical winger who hit career highs with seven goals and 13 points to go along with his 104 penalty minutes this season.If Kostin turns into the dynamic scorer some believe he will be, this one's going to look even worse on Rutherford than it already does.Colorado AvalancheIn a bit of trade deadline deja vu, Matt Duchene didn't go anywhere on the first night of this draft.The Avalanche were happy to take Cale Makar fourth overall, but Joe Sakic missed an opportunity to move into the top two for Hischier or Patrick despite boasting one of the league's biggest trade chips.Duchene could certainly be moved later Friday night or on Saturday when the draft resumes, but Colorado's reluctance to pull the trigger on a trade at the top of the draft might be a decision the Avalanche brass comes to regret.Detroit Red WingsKen Holland is clearly not used to picking this high.Michael Rasmussen wasn't a brutal selection at No. 9, but the Red Wings had better options on the board, arguably including Gabriel Vilardi, who went to the Los Angeles Kings two picks later.Detroit hasn't picked in the top 10 since 1991, but that doesn't excuse a choice that could have been better.(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Not only is the kid supremely talented on the ice, it appears he's got some marketing chops, too.Nico Hischier, after being drafted first overall by the New Jersey Devils on Friday night in Chicago, was basically left speechless after becoming the first Swiss player to go No. 1."I love to hockey," Hischier said in an interview with NBCSN, which you can watch at Yahoo Sports.Who wouldn't buy a T-shirt with "I love to hockey" on it?Hischier said he had no idea if he'd be selected first, and Devils general manager Ray Shero held his cards tight all the way to the end."I asked Ray maybe 10 minutes before he picked and he still wouldn't tell me," Philaelphia Flyers GM Ron Hextall said, according to NHL.com's Adam Kimelman. "I give him credit. That's what he should have done. He kept it quiet right to the bitter end. Honestly I didn't have an expectation one way or the other. We liked both players."That other player Hextall's referencing is Nolan Patrick, who went to Philly at No. 2.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Dallas Stars expect to have one fewer goaltender on their roster come next week.Following the first-round selection of goalie Jake Oettinger on Friday night, general manager Jim Nill said he expects to rid the club of a player at the position, but wouldn't confirm if that would come via trade or buyout, according to Sportsnet's Chris Johnston.The Stars' goaltender depth chart is quite full at the moment. Back in May, the club acquired Ben Bishop from the Los Angeles Kings before signing him to a six-year contract.Then on Friday night, the Stars made a trade with the Chicago Blackhawks to move up three spots and select Oettinger out of Boston University. Oettnger entered the draft as the top-ranked goaltender in North America, according to NHL Central Scouting.Nill's claim likely means one of Kari Lehtonen or Antti Niemi will be moved out. This past season, Niemi and Lehtonen had the second- and fourth-worst save percentages among goalies who played at least 25 games, and the worst and ninth-worst goals-against averages, respectively.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The St. Louis Blues drafted Klim Kostin 31st overall Friday night after acquiring the pick from the Pittsburgh Penguins.Klim KostinPosition: Left Wing/Center

The Pittsburgh Penguins added some toughness on their quest to a third straight Stanley Cup title.The Penguins acquired forward Ryan Reaves and the 51st overall pick from the St. Louis Blues in exchange for forward Oskar Sundqvist and the 31st pick, the Blues announced.St. Louis selected Russian forward Klim Kostin at No. 31.Related: Blues nab Klim Kostin with final pick in 1st roundThe Penguins were reportedly eager to add some toughness to protect the likes of Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Phil Kessel. Reaves has racked up 695 penalty minutes and 1,324 hits across 419 career NHL games.In doing so, they passed up a chance to acquire some high-end skill.By all reports, Kostin has elite offensive upside. He was the No. 1-ranked European skater by NHL Central Scouting heading into the draft, but was limited to just eight games for Moscow Dynamo in the KHL this season due to a shoulder injury.He stands 6-foot-3 and is considered a mobile power forward who plays a physical game. In addition to his size, he's a strong skater with good speed and possesses a high hockey IQ.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Philadelphia Flyers traded forward Brayden Schenn to the St. Louis Blues for the 27th overall pick in this year's draft, center Jori Lehtera, and a conditional first-round pick in 2018.

The Dallas Stars traded the 29th overall selection and the 70th pick in the draft to the Chicago Blackhawks for the 26th pick, which it used to select goaltender Jake Oettinger on Friday night.Jake OettingerPosition: Goalie

The Calgary Flames added one of the most touted defensemen in the draft, selecting Juuso Valimaki 16th overall Friday at the NHL Entry Draft.Juuso ValimakiPosition: Defense

The New York Rangers selected forward Lias Andersson with the seventh overall pick in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft on Friday.Lias AnderssonPosition: Center

The Vegas Golden Knights selected forward Cody Glass with the 6th overall pick in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft on Friday.Cody GlassPosition: Center

The Vancouver Canucks selected forward Elias Pettersson with the fifth overall pick in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft on Friday.Elias PetterssonPosition: Center

The Anaheim Ducks signed forward Patrick Eaves to a three-year contract, the team announced Friday.

The Dallas Stars selected defenseman Miro Heiskanen with the third overall pick in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft on Friday.Miro HeiskanenPosition: Defense

The Philadelphia Flyers selected Nolan Patrick with the second overall pick in the NHL draft on Friday night.Nolan PatrickPosition: Center

The New Jersey Devils selected forward Nico Hischier with the first overall pick in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft on Friday.Nico HischierPosition: Center

While the expansion draft has passed, that doesn't mean Ottawa Senators defenseman Dion Phaneuf is staying put.The Senators are still trying to move Phaneuf, according to TSN's Darren Dreger, and one source told the insider there is "some interest" from teams that Phaneuf would accept a trade to.The 32-year-old can submit a list of 12 teams that he can be traded to, according to Cap Friendly.Phaneuf was the talk of the Senators last week after he refused to waive his no-trade clause, which would have allowed the team to protect Marc Methot instead. Methot was ultimately selected by the Vegas Golden Knights in the expansion draft.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.