If it ain't broke don't fix it. That's the approach Columbus Blue Jackets head coach John Tortorella plans to take with his club's newest acquisition, Artemi Panarin.The former Chicago Blackhawks forward tallied 30 and 31 goals in his first two seasons in the league, and Tortorella said he doesn't plan to tinker with what has made him such a dynamic player in his short time, according to NHL.com's Dan Rosen.The coach also noted he plans to play him alongside Alexander Wennberg.With Panarin being among the game's better trigger men and Wennberg having led the Blue Jackets with 46 assists, the duo could be a perfect match.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Washington Capitals have re-signed right winger T.J. Oshie to an eight-year, $46-million contract extension, the team announced Friday.Oshie is coming off an impressive season in which he registered a career-high 33 goals and finished with his second-highest point total at 56.General manager Brian MacLellan completed Oshie's deal just hours ahead of the entry draft and in the process removed one of the biggest free-agent names from the market."T.J. is an invaluable member of our team and we felt it was imperative for us to re-sign him in a competitive free-agent market," said MacLellan. "T.J. is a highly competitive player with a tremendous skill set; he epitomizes the kind of player our team must have in order for us to continue to put ourselves in a position to compete in this League."Oshie was set to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1, but with his new deal, he becomes a cornerstone of the Capitals' franchise for the foreseeable future.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Three shocking blockbuster deals were made on the day of the 2017 NHL Entry Draft, an event that essentially serves as the new trade deadline. And after key players swap teams, fans and media members alike will argue, "who won this trade?" for a long time.The following grades will either settle the debate once and for all, or simply stir the pot even more.Blackhawks trade Panarin to Blue Jackets for SaadBlackhawks: C

Brandon Saad is back where it all began.The 24-year-old was traded by the Columbus Blue Jackets to the Chicago Blackhawks as part of a deal that saw Artemi Panarin sent the other way.Saad rejoins the club that drafted him in the second round in 2011 and where he played his first three full years in the league before the team was forced to reluctantly deal him away two years ago."It was a tough move a couple of years ago to have to make that trade," general manager Stan Bowman said, according to CSN Chicago's Tracey Myers. "Today my conversation had a much different tone."We always hoped to get him back here at some point."Meanwhile, Saad admits that the feeling was mutual, though he never envisioned it happening so quickly."Definitely a thought in my mind of possibly ending up in Chicago (again)." Saad said.Of course Saad is looking forward to possibly being reunited with Jonathan Toews."He's been a great friend. Getting that chance to play back with him, he's an incredible player," Saad said of Toews. "Someone I had early success with early in my career. To be reunited will definitely be fun to get that opportunity."In four years spent with the Blackhawks, Saad tallied 52 goals and 126 points in 208 games while adding another 37 points in 72 playoff games.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

All in a morning's work.Arizona Coyotes general manager John Chayka got a jump on draft day by making a pair of trades that addressed a trio of needs, namely at center, on defense, and in net.First, the Coyotes acquired defenseman Niklas Hjalmarsson from the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for blue-liner Connor Murphy and forward Laurent Dauphin.Shortly thereafter, Arizona reeled in center Derek Stepan and goaltender Antti Raanta from the New York Rangers in exchange for the seventh overall pick in this year's draft and defenseman Anthony DeAngelo.Here's what Chayka had to say about his new players:On Hjalmarsson:

We all remember the intense buildup to last season's NHL trade deadline - and the wave of disappointment that swept over us when few impact deals were made before the pencils-down moment on the afternoon of March 1.Imagine, then, the elation at seeing so many big names changing places in the days - even hours - prior to the opening night of the NHL draft Friday. Entering the day, teams had combined to make 15 deals involving 22 players, 19 draft picks, and four sets of "expansion draft considerations" tied to the creation of the Vegas Golden Knights' inaugural roster.And the best was yet to come.Friday saw the Arizona Coyotes acquire forward Derek Stepan and goaltender Antti Raanta from the New York Rangers and defenseman Niklas Hjalmarsson from the Chicago Blackhawks. The Columbus Blue Jackets snagged talented forward Artemi Panarin from Chicago in a deal that sends Brandon Saad back to the Windy City.So what happened?There has always been activity leading into the draft, but how did that window overtake the in-season trade deadline as the time that makes the majority of NHL fans gasp in amazement? Here are three of the biggest reasons why:Salary Cap FlexibilityIn season, teams are required to fit within the salary cap window. For the buyers, that means making space for any players acquired that might put the team over the cap. For the sellers, it means staying above the cap floor.But since teams have until the start of a new season to get their cap situation in order, there is generally much more flexibility with regard to player movement. And in some cases, teams are forced to address their cap problems this way, primarily by shuffling the decks, shipping out players with big impending price tags for substitutes with lower salaries and friendly term.The Blackhawks are a perfect example of this. While Panarin and Saad both make $6 million per year, Saad's deal extends four more years, while Panarin's contract expires at the end of the 2018-19 season - and if he continues on his current trajectory, it's easy to see him making $7 million or more in his new pact.Now that teams have a firm grasp on the nuances of the salary cap, look for the offseason to feature many more transactions than in years past.Greater ParityOver the past decade, the NHL standings have tightened up considerably, to the point where it isn't unusual to see a team finish out of the postseason one year and challenge for a top-3 spot in the conference the next. And when it comes to the trade deadline, that level of parity means fewer sellers.Only teams that are truly out of the postseason picture can be considered strong candidates to make significant roster moves at the deadline - and even then, those moves have to fit within today's cap confines. What you're more likely to see are a flurry of minor moves as teams look to address weaknesses without compromising the fluidity of their rosters.While that parity doesn't exactly disappear in the offseason, there is less pressure on the league's 30 front offices to not make a colossal mistake. After all, even if an offseason deal doesn't work out, a team still has plenty of time to fix it. So, what better time to swing for the fences than just after the end of the previous season?Draft Picks as CurrencyDraft picks have always been one of the key drivers of NHL trades, but they take on added importance in the days leading into the draft. This is particularly true once the official draft order is set; once the value of a team's picks has been established, it makes it much easier for both the pick seller and the pick buyer to come to an accord.We saw this take shape last year, when the Coyotes agreed to take on the contract of departed Red Wings forward Pavel Datsyuk and was given Detroit's first-round pick (16th overall) as the sweetener. Arizona used that pick on defenseman Jakob Chychrun, who became a valuable member of the Coyotes' blue line and has a minuscule cap hit through 2019.As non-contending teams continue to lean on young core players under cap-friendly deals, expect to see the value of a first-round pick increase even more. But don't think for a minute that those picks won't be dealt. Whether it's to land a marquee forward, or to get rid of a cap-shredding contract, teams will always dangle first-rounders on draft night - and get eager takers.(Photos courtesy: Action Images)Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

After eight years in the desert, Dave Tippett is out as coach of the Arizona Coyotes. The team announced the move late Thursday, adding the search for the next bench boss will begin immediately.Here are five resumes, each offering something unique, that could come across the desk of general manager John Chayka:Todd NelsonFresh off a Calder Cup win with the Grand Rapids Griffins, the Coyotes would be wise to consider Todd Nelson.The 48-year-old had his first go-around in the NHL with the Edmonton Oilers in 2014-15, lasting 46 games before getting the ax. Since his departure, he's spent two seasons with Grand Rapids, bringing his total to seven years as an AHL head coach after a five-year run with Oklahoma City.Nelson's resume also shows three years as an NHL assistant, including a year with the Oilers and two seasons with the Atlanta Thrashers. He also guided the Muskegon Fury to back-to-back championships in 2004 and 2005 in the now-defunct United Hockey League.Lindy Ruff(Photo courtesy: Action Images)If Tippett is known for a tight, defensive structure, the Coyotes could reach for the other end of the spectrum with Lindy Ruff, a veteran bench boss who can unleash his team's offensive arsenal.Dumped by the Dallas Stars after a four-year run, few available coaches bring experience comparable to Ruff, who ranks fifth all time with 736 victories to his name. Prior to taking his talents to Texas, Ruff was behind the Buffalo Sabres' bench for 15 seasons, a tenure which included a trip to the Stanley Cup Finals in 1999.While the Stars' problems last season came from their blue line and in keeping pucks out of their own net, Dallas never had a problem generating offense under Ruff. His most impressive offensive campaign came in 2015-16, when the Stars led the NHL with 267 goals.Jim PlayfairThe quickest move could be to shift Tippett's duties to Jim Playfair, who did not follow the head coach through the exit door. Playfair has served as Coyotes associate coach for the past six seasons.Such a move could give Arizona a leg up in training camp, with Playfair already familiar with the current roster. The 53-year-old has been responsible for the Coyotes' defensive core, playing a key role in the development of Oliver Ekman-Larsson, the recently departed Connor Murphy, and last season's rookie blue-liner Jakob Chychrun.Prior to joining the Coyotes in 2011, Playfair spent 11 years with the Calgary Flames organization, including five seasons as the AHL coach, five campaigns as an NHL assistant, and as the Flames head coach in 2006-07, in which the team lost in Round 1 of the playoffs.Willie Desjardins(Photo courtesy: Getty Images)Willie Desjardins brings a wealth of experience in working with young players across different leagues.Prior to his three years with the Vancouver Canucks, in which he was relieved following the 2016-17 season, Desjardins spent nine seasons with the WHL's Medicine Hat Tigers, capturing the Ed Chynoweth Cup in 2004 and 2007.Three years later, Desjardins joined the Stars as an associate coach before being moved to the AHL head coaching position in 2012. In his second season with the AHL's Texas Stars, Desjardins posted a 48-18-10 record en route to a Calder Cup championship. In all, Desjardins would bring no shortage of winning pedigree to the Coyotes.Dallas EakinsChayka has built his career on analytics, and there is no doubt he could have lengthy discussions about the topic with Dallas Eakins, a fellow supporter of advanced statistics."When you talk to people in hockey, and even fans, there's such a divide. You're either for these analytics or you're against them," Eakins told ESPN in 2015. "For the life of me, I can't wrap my head around why the analytics guys hate the old-school guys and the old-school guys hate the analytics. Why wouldn't you look at (advanced stats)? I don't understand why you would not at least look at them."After a disastrous and short-lived tenure as coach of the Oilers, in which Eakins secured 36 wins in 113 games, he has rebuilt himself as the bench boss of the AHL's San Diego Gulls, the minor-league affiliate of the Anaheim Ducks. Eakins has played a key role in the development of the Ducks' young defensemen, namely Brandon Montour and Shea Theodore, who was recently claimed by the Vegas Golden Knights.Flames coach Glen Gulutzan, who at 40 was named coach of the Stars, can certainly relate to Eakins. Gulutzan lasted two seasons in Dallas before resurfacing as Flames bench boss this season. It was a solid campaign for Gulutzan, who finished sixth in coach of the year voting. Eakins, who spent four games during his playing days with the Coyotes, could see a similar revival.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Edmonton Oilers have locked up defenseman Kris Russell, re-signing the veteran blue-liner to a four-year extension, the team announced Friday.The deal is worth $16 million, meaning Russell will carry a $4-million cap hit, according to TSN's Pierre LeBrun.Russell, 31, originally joined the Oilers as a free agent last October. He appeared in 68 games in 2016-17, recording one goal and 12 assists.The signing comes one day after Edmonton traded forward Jordan Eberle to the New York Islanders in exchange for forward Ryan Strome.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Arizona Coyotes are making moves.The Coyotes have acquired center Derek Stepan and goaltender Antti Raanta from the New York Rangers on Friday in exchange for the seventh overall pick in this year's draft and defenseman Anthony DeAngelo.It was the Coyotes' second blockbuster deal Friday after acquiring Niklas Hjalmarsson from the Chicago Blackhawks.Stepan, 27, steps in as the No. 1 center in Arizona, where he will lead a depth chart that includes Christian Dvorak and Dylan Strome. Stepan has four years remaining on his contract, carrying a cap hit of $6.5 million.Stepan's contract has a no-trade clause that kicks in July 1. He scored 55 points in 81 games last season.Raanta arrives in Arizona as the go-to goalie after the Coyotes recently dealt Mike Smith to the Calgary Flames. The Finnish netminder secured a 16-8-2 record and .922 save percentage in 30 games last season.DeAngelo, 21, made his NHL debut with the Coyotes this season, recording 14 points in 39 games. He was originally acquired from the Tampa Bay Lightning last June. The Lightning drafted DeAngelo with the 19th pick in 2014.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Chicago Blackhawks and Columbus Blue Jackets have agreed on a trade Friday that sends Artemi Panarin to Columbus in exchange for Brandon Saad.The Blackhawks also receive goaltender Anton Forsberg and a fifth-round pick in 2018, while Columbus gets forward Tyler Motte and a 2017 sixth-round pick."There is a cost to adding a player like Artemi, as well as a very good NHL prospect in Tyler Motte, but we believe this is a very good move for our team," said Blue Jackets general manager Jarmo Kekalainen.It's a homecoming of sorts for Saad, who was traded by Chicago to Columbus in 2015 following the Blackhawks' latest Stanley Cup win in 2015. The forward quickly signed a five-year, $30-million contract with the Blue Jackets.Meanwhile, Panarin stepped into Chicago's lineup, won the 2016 Calder Trophy, and signed a two-year, $12-million extension that kicks in next season.PlayerAgeGamesGoalsAssistsPointsPanarin251626190151Saad241605551106Saad's regarded as more of a two-way player and may be used as a replacement of sorts for Marian Hossa.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Los Angeles Kings have bought out the contract of defenseman Matt Greene, the club announced Friday.Greene had been with the Kings for nine seasons and helped the club win two Stanley Cups (2012, 2014)."Matt has made incredible contributions to our hockey club and we are very grateful for everything he has done since joining our organization including his outstanding leadership," said Kings president Luc Robitaille."Upon his arrival to Los Angeles he played a significant role in helping change the culture of the Kings and his contributions to our two Stanley Cups in particular is immeasurable."Greene had one year remaining on his player contract, and the buyout will result in a cap charge of approximately $833,333 for the 2017-18 and 2018-19 seasons.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Arizona Coyotes have acquired defenseman Niklas Hjalmarsson from the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for defenseman Connor Murphy and forward Laurent Dauphin, the teams announced Friday.Hjalmarsson, 30, appeared in 73 games last season, registered five goals and 12 assists. He has two years remaining on his contract that carries a $4.1-million cap hit.The move to Arizona could see Hjalmarsson play on the same defensive pairing with fellow Swedish blue-liner Oliver Ekman-Larsson.Murphy, 24, was a first-round pick by the Coyotes in 2011, making his NHL debut two years later. He scored two goals and 15 assists in 77 games with Arizona last season. Murphy is signed until 2022 and has a $3.85-million cap charge.Dauphin split last season between the Coyotes and the AHL's Tucson Roadrunners. He scored three points in 24 games with Arizona, plus 28 points in 38 games with Tucson.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Florida Panthers have made an addition to head coach Bob Boughner's staff.Former New York Islanders bench boss Jack Capuano was named associate coach Friday. He's expected to focus on defense and the penalty kill, TSN's Darren Dreger adds."I am thrilled to welcome Jack to our coaching staff," said Boughner, who was hired June 12. "He is a knowledgeable and experienced voice to have behind our bench that will work well with our young players."During a tenure that spanned parts of seven seasons, Capuano coached the Islanders to a regular-season record of 227-192-64 and advanced to the postseason three times.He was fired by the club in January, months after defeating the Panthers in the first round of the 2016 Stanley Cup Playoffs."I am extremely excited to join the Florida Panthers organization," Capuano said. "My familiarity with the Panthers has grown a lot throughout the past few years and I'm eager to work with such a young, talented group of players."Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

I recently attended the NHL Awards in Las Vegas. It was my first time, mostly due to a lack of talent as a player, and I have to say I was blown away by how electric it was to be there.Grant Fuhr, Mark Messier, Mario Lemieux, Wayne Gretzky ... the list of legends goes on and on. Some of the greatest players to ever play the game, along with today’s stars, all converged in one venue for a special night.This was a special year as the expansion draft definitely added to the atmosphere. It was great to see history being made; I felt like I was at a fantasy draft party on steroids. Cheers and groans greeted owner Bill Foley and general manager George McPhee as they announced their picks on stage.The loudest cheers were saved for goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury, and rightfully so - as an expansion team they’re going to need him.After the show, I was impressed with how Fleury and Edmonton Oilers megastar Connor McDavid handled themselves with the media. They are professional and polite - true gentlemen of the game.During the media scrum, I asked McDavid what he was going to work on over the summer. Without hesitation, he said he wanted to become stronger, faster, work on his wrist shot, and get better on faceoffs. Impressive, given he had just cleaned house at the NHL awards - and even shut out Sidney Crosby.The NHL Awards were a huge hit, and it's clear Las Vegas is ready to go big.(Photo courtesy: Action Images)On the flip side of desert hockey, what’s going on with the Arizona Coyotes is mind boggling. The most recent head-scratcher: the Coyotes relieving Dave Tippett of his head coaching duties. It was reportedly mutual, but at the moment, the Coyotes are looking an awful lot like a scrap yard, stripping down parts and getting ready to sell.Right now, Arizona currently lacks:

To say Ryan Strome has come to terms with being traded to the Edmonton Oilers would appear to be an understatement.The former New York Islanders forward certainly didn't try to contain his enthusiasm when asked about the move, which saw winger Jordan Eberle heading the other way."Super excited, honestly, I was at a loss for words," Strome said Thursday, according to Robert Tychkowski of the Edmonton Sun. "Other than the emotional aspect of missing some teammates, I couldn't be more excited for the opportunity. Obviously there are a lot of great things going on Edmonton. ... I feel like I have a jump in my step coming here."Related: Strome-Eberle swap is a win-win for Oilers, IslandersStrome, who found out about the trade while en route to Chicago for the entry draft, especially took notice of the Oilers during this year's playoffs."I remember sitting in my basement watching the playoffs and I was like, holy, these guys are good players," he said. "Connor (McDavid) and Leon (Draisaitl), the way they distribute the puck and the way they can skate, their skill is just exceptional."Obviously there's a lot of opportunity there. I'm going to come in and do my best and add to what's going on there because there are a lot of good things."Strome was selected fifth overall by the Islanders in 2011. His most productive season came back in 2014-15, when he registered 17 goals and 33 assists in 81 games, all career highs.The Oilers shed Eberle's salary in the move with a view to signing McDavid and Draisaitl to long-term extensions, and in the hopes that Strome's best years are ahead of him.Strome is attending the draft because his youngest brother, Matthew, is set to be selected. His other younger brother, Dylan, was one of McDavid's Erie Otters teammates in the OHL.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NHL Entry Draft is upon us, and this year's event has the potential to be one of the more memorable in recent years.Not due to the draft class, though, as this year's crop of prospects is far from the most prestigious.What will set this year's event apart are teams willing to make bold moves in order to move up or down in the selection process and improve their chances of winning next season or in the long term.The introduction of an expansion franchise to the mix also has the potential to spice things up.Here are five predictions for this year's draft.Nolan Patrick goes 1st"With the first pick in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft, the New Jersey Devils proudly select center Nolan Patrick from the WHL's Brandon Wheat Kings."Expect general manager Ray Shero to deliver some iteration of that sentence to kick off the evening, despite some projections that Nico Hischier - who will be selected second by the Philadelphia Flyers - would jump into the top spot.Patrick's stock took a hit due to injury issues this past season, but he's just what the Devils need and will make an immediate impact.Stars will trade 3rd overall pickJim Nill is already on record as saying he'd trade the third overall pick for an established player, and with the Stars looking for upgrades on the blue line, don't be surprised if the Dallas GM tries to work out a deal with the Vegas Golden Knights, who went defense-heavy in Wednesday's expansion draft.Yes, two highly touted defensemen in Cale Makar and Miro Heiskanen will be available, but the Stars - who also hold the 29th overall pick - are looking to win sooner than later, and need a shut-down player like Marc Methot, for example.Vegas has three first-round picks, one of which would likely return to Dallas in such a move.Coyotes will work to flip the scriptOver the course of the past week, the Arizona Coyotes have traded starting goalie Mike Smith, and parted ways not only with the face of the franchise, Shane Doan, but also longtime head coach Dave Tippett.Some more positive gains (not to mention public relations) are needed, and we expect GM John Chayka to use that newfound salary cap space and his two first-round picks to pull off something big in order to turn the tide.The Coyotes are believed to be very interested in Derek Stepan of the New York Rangers, and packaging Antti Raanta in that deal would fill some big holes on Arizona's roster.Duchene will be dealtDrafts are made better when a blockbuster trade is involved, and the Colorado Avalanche will oblige by dealing Matt Duchene.It's a move that's been expected, even by Duchene himself, who said after this past season's trade deadline "there's a good chance something will happen" over the summer.Colorado's coming off a truly abysmal season, and changes are needed. Don't rule out a move to New York, even after the Islanders acquired Jordan Eberle on Thursday.

Andrew Barroway is wasting little time.The new sole owner of the Arizona Coyotes continued his organizational housecleaning late Thursday, announcing the club has parted ways with head coach Dave Tippett.Tippett's exit is the latest storyline to come out of the desert since Barroway gained complete ownership of the Coyotes on June 12 in a deal that saw the Philadelphia hedge fund manager buy out his former minority partners, including Anthony LeBlanc and Gary Drummond.LeBlanc and Drummond played double duty with the Coyotes, as CEO and president of hockey operations, respectively. Six days ago, Barroway announced neither would retain his post.As for Tippett, who joined the Coyotes in 2009, his tenure in Arizona ends after an eight-year run. The veteran bench boss guided the Coyotes to the playoffs in his initial three seasons, including a trip to the Western Conference Final in 2012, the team's last postseason appearance.Last April, following the firing of general manager Don Maloney, the Coyotes signed Tippett to a five-year extension, a move which also saw him take on the role of vice-president of hockey operations, while analytics guru John Chayka was promoted to GM to work alongside Tippett.Those plans changed Thursday with the ouster of Tippett, who had four years remaining on his contract owing $4 million per season, according to Cap Friendly. As part of the separation, Tippett walked away from the Coyotes with a $3-million buyout in hand, reports Sportnset's John Shannon.Tippett's departure comes six days after the Coyotes dealt starting goalie Mike Smith to the Calgary Flames, a move that reportedly did not sit well with the coach, Craig Morgan of Arizona Sports reports.Nor did the handling of Shane Doan's future with the club, after the Coyotes announced they would not re-sign their longtime captain. Doan, 40, chipped in just six goals last season and will need to explore free agency if he wishes to continue his career. But it won't be with the Coyotes, a franchise he has been a part of since the original Winnipeg Jets drafted him in 1995.With Smith, Doan, and Tippett out, times are changing in Arizona as Barroway puts his stamp on the team.More moves could be around the corner. Round 1 of the entry draft is Friday in Chicago, and early reports indicate Arizona could be a big part of the action. Last week, the Coyotes were connected to New York Rangers center Derek Stepan.Arizona has a deep prospect pool, plus two first-rounders in its arsenal, so the ammo is there for the Coyotes to make their next big move.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

2017 NHL Entry Draft

The Arizona Coyotes and head coach Dave Tippett have mutually agreed to part ways, the team announced Thursday."On behalf of the entire Coyotes organization, I would like to sincerely thank Tip for all of his hard work and the many contributions he made to our organization," team owner Andrew Barroway said. "Tip is a man of high character and we are very grateful for his leadership during his tenure as our head coach. Ultimately, we have some philosophical differences on how to build our team. Therefore we mutually agreed that it is in everyone's best interest to have a coaching change in order to move our franchise forward."Barroway bought out the Coyotes' minority owners to become the sole owner of the club earlier in June.Tippett, 55, took over the Coyotes' bench in 2009-10, and since led Arizona to a 282-257-83 overall record and three playoff berths in eight seasons.Although Tippett had four years remaining on his deal as head coach and vice president of hockey operations, Craig Morgan of AZ Sports reports the breakup was a structured buyout.The Coyotes placed 28th overall in 2016-17, but the timing of the split is strange, to say the least, with the entry draft scheduled for Friday - in which Arizona will select seventh overall - and free agency around the corner.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

LAS VEGAS (AP) Vegas Golden Knights owner Bill Foley has repeatedly said he wants to win the Stanley Cup within the first six years of his new team's existence.After Vegas came away with a jackpot from the expansion draft, Foley's franchise goalie is even bolder.''Let's do it earlier,'' Marc-Andre Fleury said Thursday. ''Why wait six years? I don't know where I'll be in six years. Right away our goal has to be to get good, to improve and to go out there.''Vegas shouldn't start blocking off the Strip for the parade just yet, but Sin City's new team is holding a remarkable hand after general manager George McPhee's 37-player haul from the expansion draft and several subsequent trades.Nashville general manager David Poile is among many hockey observers who think the Golden Knights have the ingredients for the most competitive expansion team in league history. From Fleury on out, Vegas already has a solid NHL roster with a sturdy blue line and four lines of capable forwards.What they don't have is the game-changing playmakers and goal-scorers that separate decent teams from great ones, but they've got a plan for that, too: Vegas will add even more top-shelf talent Friday in the draft in Chicago, where McPhee holds three first-round picks, including the sixth overall.The players who have already arrived in Vegas realize that although they're starting over, they aren't starting from scratch.''They put a great group together,'' said forward Reid Duke, who became the Golden Knights' first player when he signed as a free agent in March. ''You never really know what to expect, but they made some big splashes. Got a lot of good players, a lot of good picks. It's nice to see that they are not only building for right now, but the future, too. They've got some smart guys up there, and they know exactly what they are doing.''McPhee continued his moves Thursday, swinging two trades to add draft picks in place of claimed players who might not have made the Golden Knights' roster. Vegas shipped defenseman Trevor van Riemsdyk and a seventh-round pick next year to Carolina for Pittsburgh's second-round pick this year, and then traded David Schlemko to Montreal for a fifth-round pick in 2019.After Foley paid $500 million to the league as an expansion fee, the Golden Knights were given favorable franchise-building terms explicitly designed to give them a better chance to be competitive more quickly than the new teams of the previous 25 years.Instead of forcing Vegas fans to watch several years of plodding franchise-building, the NHL wants the Golden Knights to be decent from the start.Can they be the best expansion team ever? It's quite possible.The NHL added nine franchises between 1991 and 2001, and no team did better than the Florida Panthers, who went 33-34-17 and racked up an expansion team-record 83 points in the 1993-94 season. The NHL still had ties in 1994, so teams didn't pick up extra points through shootout wins.All but four teams in the Western Conference recorded more than 83 points last season. An 84-point season would have put the Golden Knights in sixth place in an eight-team Pacific Division last season, ahead of Arizona and Vancouver.The Golden Knights aren't ready to make any predictions yet, but once they get together in Vegas for the first time under coach Gerard Gallant, they'll start to figure out just how good they can be.That transition to the desert will be easier for some Golden Knights: Deryk Engelland has lived in Las Vegas in the offseason for a decade.''We'll get our numbers out there for guys to reach out if they need anything, if it's a place to crash, to see outside the Strip and come look for places (to live) or whatnot,'' Engelland said. ''Definitely ready for that part of it.''The milestones will keep coming for the Golden Knights throughout the summer while they build toward the first game in franchise history in Dallas on Oct. 6, followed by their home debut Oct. 10 against the Coyotes.Vegas' first player development camp starts Tuesday.''It's a different situation for everybody in here to come into a team where there is no team,'' said defenseman Jason Garrison, claimed from Tampa Bay. ''It's the first team. You just want to establish a friendship and a culture right away, and it starts right now and leads into training camp and continues forward to the first game.''---Follow AP Hockey Writer Greg Beacham on Twitter: www.twitter.com/gregbeacham---More AP NHL: https://apnews.com/tag/NHLhockeyCopyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

One day after selecting an initial roster, Vegas Golden Knights general manager George McPhee manufactured two trades, sending David Schlemko to the Montreal Canadiens and Trevor van Riemsdyk to the Carolina Hurricanes.Many expected a flurry of deals once the league-wide trade freeze lifted Thursday morning, and while the wheeling and dealing was subtle to start, McPhee insisted Vegas has more in store."We have to move some contracts," McPhee told TSN's Pierre LeBrun.With a variety of teams looking to shore up their blue lines, it's expected Vegas will continue to trade defenseman after selecting 15 at the expansion draft Wednesday night.However, LeBrun added that McPhee isn't interested in selling young assets such as Nate Schmidt and Shea Theodore, whom he plucked from the Washington Capitals and Anaheim Ducks, respectively.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NHL's coach's challenge was in the limelight during the playoffs, perhaps most notably in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final when Nashville's Filip Forsberg was deemed offside on P.K. Subban's series-opening goal after a challenge from Pittsburgh head coach Mike Sullivan.The league is apparently looking into ways to reduce the number of coach's challenges.Colin Campbell, the NHL's Executive Vice President and Director of Hockey Operations, said that the league is considering assessing a minor penalty for an incorrect coach's challenge of an offside, according to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman."If you're going to challenge, you better be sure," he told TSN's Frank Seravalli.The proposal will need to be reviewed by the board of governors and competition committee, but it would undoubtedly make coaches more timid when contemplating the use of their challenge. With fewer challenges used, games would move faster - even if it's a matter of shaving off a couple minutes here and there.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

With many of Vegas' expansion-draft selections being leaked by reporters hours before the announcement, there weren't a ton of surprises among the roster picks. However, with an abundance of side deals, three storylines in particular shocked the hockey world.Pittsburgh forcing Vegas to take FleuryMarc-Andre Fleury is coming off one of the worst seasons of his career, but he's still without a doubt a top-30 goaltender. Despite this, Pittsburgh had to offer Vegas a second-round draft pick just so the Golden Knights would take on his contract, which has two years remaining at $5.75 million per season.The surprising part was that Pittsburgh couldn't find a trade partner for Fleury. Not even Philadelphia or Winnipeg.Both teams desperately need a goaltender, and while Philadelphia is a division and state rival, Winnipeg would have made sense. If Pittsburgh was willing to give up a 2020 second-rounder to get rid of Fleury's contract, it likely would have taken just about anything in return.Fleury does have a no-trade clause, allowing him to block a trade to 12 NHL teams. He was willing to waive it for Vegas, but it's unclear if he would have done the same for Philadelphia or Winnipeg.Otherwise, the Jets either have a lot of faith in Connor Hellebuyck, or didn't want to pay Fleury for two more seasons. Both are questionable reasons, to say the least.Vegas passing on Matt DumbaThe Golden Knights made a side deal with the Wild to pass on exposed defenseman Matt Dumba. Instead, they ended up with center Erik Haula from the expansion draft and prospect Alex Tuch via trade.Haula is seemingly a third-line center at best, and Tuch, the 18th overall pick in 2014, is unproven, having played just six NHL games.Dumba, on the other hand, was the seventh overall pick in 2012, is only 22 years old, has 228 games of NHL experience, is coming off a career year, and is a right-handed-shooting defenseman, which so many teams covet.Dumba could have been a legitimate top-four defenseman for Vegas to build around. Or, they could have selected him in the expansion draft and then traded him to a team in desperate need of a right-handed-shooting defenseman, such as the Toronto Maple Leafs, and received a package a lot more valuable than Haula and Tuch.Florida giving up a 30-goal scorer to shed Smith's contractReilly Smith's contract is bad. He's owed $5 million per year through the 2021-22 season, and is coming off a campaign in which he only scored 15 goals and registered 37 points.However, Smith is just 26, and scored 25 goals and added 25 assists the year prior, when Florida wasn't hampered with a number of key injuries.Nonetheless, Florida was so desperate to move this contract it was willing to give up on a goldmine in Jonathan Marchessault. The 26-year-old scored 30 goals last season and is scheduled to make just $750K next season.This was a huge win for Vegas.(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Missing hockey yet? We are too, and upon the NHL announcing the complete 2017-18 schedule Thursday afternoon, we picked seven games you can already start looking forward to.Crosby visits McDavid - Oct. 24This one speaks for itself, doesn't it?The world's best player versus his presumed successor for that title is something we should cherish while we can, and with only two meetings each season, it's appointment viewing for hardcore hockeyheads.Senators, Canadiens head outdoors - Dec. 16Division rivals Ottawa and Montreal will head outdoors in the nation's capital for the NHL 100 Classic to celebrate the league's centennial season.Leafs-Capitals at Naval Academy - March 3(Photo Courtesy: Action Images)After a wildly entertaining six-game series in the opening round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, the Maple Leafs and Capitals will renew hostilities at the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md.Golden Knights home opener - Oct. 10After two games on the road to begin their inaugural NHL season, the Vegas Golden Knights will head home to host the Arizona Coyotes for the club's first home game at T-Mobile Arena.Rumor has it the city of Las Vegas knows how to throw a party, and you can bet the Golden Knights will kick things off properly.Stanley Cup rematch - Oct. 7It won't take long for the Nashville Predators to catch a glimpse of the Pittsburgh Penguins' new Stanley Cup banner.In just their second home game of the season, the Pens will host the Preds, who they defeated in six games to win their second consecutive Stanley Cup in June.Fleury heads home - Feb. 6(Photo Courtesy: Getty Images)After 13 seasons with the club that drafted him first overall, Marc-Andre Fleury will play in Pittsburgh as a visitor for the very first time in early February.Fleury was asked by the Penguins to waive his no-movement clause in order to become available for Vegas, and the Golden Knights officially plucked the 32-year-old Wednesday night."Flower" was adored by Penguins supporters and his teammates throughout his time in the Steel City, and his return is sure to be an emotional one.Leafs in Vegas - Dec. 31Speaking of parties in Vegas, the Golden Knights will face a marquee opponent to ring in 2018, as the Maple Leafs are in town on New Year's Eve for their first game in Sin City.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Alexander Radulov appears to be looking for Dr. Evil money.Radulov, who will turn 31 on July 5, asked the Canadiens for a six-year deal at $7 million per season, TSN's Pierre LeBrun reports.It's difficult to imagine Montreal, or any team, paying a good but not great winger $7 million per season long term as they head into their mid-30s.In his first season back from the KHL, Radulov scored 18 goals and tallied 54 points in 76 games with the Habs. Again, good, but not great.In comparison, when the Habs traded for Jonathan Drouin, they inked him to a six-year deal worth $5.5 million per year. He had 53 points in 73 games last season and is just 22 years old.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Edmonton Oilers general manager Peter Chiarelli isn't letting star forward Leon Draisaitl go anywhere.He said the Oilers will match "any offer" if a team signs Draisaitl - a restricted free agent - to what he termed a "predatory offer sheet," according to Sportsnet's Chris Johnston.The reason for Chiarelli's terminology is that signing an RFA to an offer sheet generally goes against the "GM code," especially when it comes to a player of Draisaitl's caliber - in that case, it's basically an unwritten rule.The German forward had 29 goals and 77 points this past season, and added 16 points in 13 playoff games. At just 21 years old, he's already basically to Connor McDavid what Evgeni Malkin is to Sidney Crosby; if McDavid is Batman, Draisaitl is Robin.If a GM does sign Draisaitl to a massive offer sheet, Chiarelli will clearly match it. However, if the offer is big enough, it could handcuff the Oilers and limit their cap flexibility going forward.From the outside, signing Draisaitl seems like a legitimate strategy for a divisional rival, but those general managers know that what goes around comes around. If a GM does this, he needs to prepare for the same thing whenever one of his own star players becomes an RFA.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It's not a deal either the Edmonton Oilers or the New York Islanders envisioned making when they drafted Jordan Eberle and Ryan Strome, respectively, but years later it was a deal each team needed to make.The clubs exchanged former first-round selections on Thursday, and while the deal might appear skewed in the Islanders' favor, digging a little deeper it's clear that this trade was one that aids both clubs in different ways.For IslandersThe benefit for the Islanders is simple: Eberle is an upgrade offensively over Strome. In fact, their totals over the last three seasons show that it's pretty black-and-white between the two.PlayerGames PlayedGoalsPointsPoints Per GameEberle232691610.69Strome221381080.49Eberle should help boost the Islanders' scoring, which was already solid, ranking 10th during the regular season with 2.91 goals per game. It also helps to better spread out the offense across two lines, with budding prospect Josh Ho-Sang able to man the second line alongside Anthony Beauvillier, giving the Islanders a solid two-way punch.Related: Newest Islander Eberle excited to play with TavaresMost importantly, though, the trade reunites both Eberle and Jonathan Tavares, who are sure to play together after serving as linemates with Team Canada at the 2009 World Junior Hockey Championship. In fact, the two connected for arguably the most famous goal in the tournament's history, which is still very much engraved in the minds of Canadians everywhere.The two reportedly still remain in touch, so chemistry shouldn't be an issue. And if reports are true that the Islanders are still in the running to acquire Matt Duchene from the Colorado Avalanche, they might be on the verge of assembling something very special.For OilersThey might be getting the slightly less offensively gifted forward in the deal, but the Oilers have bigger fish to fry, which appears to have been the biggest motivator for Peter Chiarelli to pull the trigger on this deal.Starting July 1, it is believed the Oilers will begin the process of locking up both Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl - who becomes a restricted free agent - long term. It's not outrageous to think Draisaitl could command anywhere from $6-8 million per season, while McDavid can essentially set his price at whatever he wants.So, if the Oilers want to lock those two up - and they would be stupid not to - they're going to need a lot of money to do so.Thursday's trade allowed the Oilers to shed $3.5 million in salary, giving them slightly less than $24 million heading into next season, when Draisaitl's next contract will kick in (McDavid has one year left on his entry-level deal).Chiarelli also feels that a change of scenery could help reignite Strome's offensive flare, according to TSN 1260's Jason Gregor, which would also bode very well for the Oilers.So, while the deal might seem one-sided off the hop, maybe it's just what both Chiarelli and Garth Snow needed to do in order to give their respective teams a boost next season.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Jordan Eberle and John Tavares will have the opportunity to create magic together once again.Eberle was dealt to the New York Islanders in a one-for-one deal that sent Ryan Strome back to the Edmonton Oilers on Thursday. For Eberle, he leaves the only team he's ever played for. Though, getting the chance to play alongside the Islanders captain is something the 27-year-old is already thrilled about."John Tavares is a generational player," Eberle said. "I'm excited for the opportunity to play with him and hopefully bring success to the Islanders."Back in 2009, Eberle and Tavares suited up as linemates for Team Canada at the world juniors and connected for Eberle's iconic goal against Russia in the dying seconds of the semifinals to send the game to overtime. The two would later score the lone shootout goals to send Canada to the gold-medal game.Years later the two remain in contact and, as Eberle notes, even train together with other members of the Islanders in the offseason."The Islanders are a team where I know a lot of the guys," Eberle said. "I've trained with Thomas Hickey, John Tavares, Andrew Ladd, and (Travis) Hamonic."After tallying his lowest goal total in a full 82-game season since his rookie campaign, maybe playing alongside Tavares is just what Eberle needs to get his numbers back up to the 30-goal range.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Mark your calendars.The NHL unveiled the full schedule for the 2017-18 season on Thursday, one day after the 31 teams announced their home openers for the coming campaign.Here are some games to watch out for:

The Montreal Canadiens acquired defenseman David Schlemko from the Vegas Golden Knights in exchange for a fifth-round pick in 2019, the team announced Thursday.The Golden Knights claimed Schlemko from the San Jose Sharks in Wednesday's expansion draft.He spent one season with the Sharks after previous campaigns with the New Jersey Devils, Calgary Flames, Dallas Stars, and Arizona Coyotes.The 30-year-old has appeared in 360 career games and registered 17 goals and 70 assists. He signed as an undrafted free agent with the Coyotes in 2007.Schlemko has three years remaining on his contract, carrying a $2.1-million cap hit.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Vegas Golden Knights have flipped their first player.Vegas traded defenseman Trevor van Riemsdyk and a seventh-round draft pick in 2018 to the Carolina Hurricanes in exchange for a second-round selection in Friday's draft, the Hurricanes announced.The second-rounder is the 62nd overall selection in Friday's draft and was originally acquired by the Hurricanes from the Pittsburgh Penguins as part of the Ron Hainsey trade.Van Riemsdyk was the Golden Knights' selection from the Blackhawks at Wednesday night's expansion draft. The 25-year-old tallied five goals and 16 points in 58 games with Chicago this season.With the deal, the Golden Knights now possess six picks in the first two rounds of this year's draft.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Edmonton Oilers have traded forward Jordan Eberle to the New York Islanders in exchange for forward Ryan Strome, the Oilers announced Thursday.Eberle appeared in all 82 games with the Oilers last season, registering 20 goals and 31 assists. Through 13 playoff contests, the 27-year-old was limited to just two points.Strome - selected fifth overall by the Islanders in 2011 - skated in 69 games last season, finishing with 13 goals and 17 assists.The move is somewhat of salary cap deal for the Oilers. Eberle was slated to earn $6 million over the next two seasons, while Strome is signed through 2017-18 at $2.5 million.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

One day after the Vegas Golden Knights officially selected their roster, it's time to start looking toward the future.The team is now in place, but reports suggest that many of the men selected on Wednesday night might not ever take the ice with the Golden Knights as more trades are expected.Nevertheless, the Golden Knights have done well to stock their cupboard of valuable pieces - pieces that could be around for some time and prove to be the backbone of the franchise.Here are five players who should be part of the Golden Knights' core in the coming years:Jonathan Marchessault(Photo courtesy: Action Images)Arguably the biggest surprise when protected lists were unveiled was that the Florida Panthers left Jonathan Marchessault exposed.It turns out the move was in conjunction with a trade with the Golden Knights that saw the expansion team take on Reilly Smith and his five-year, $25-million contract. Nevertheless, the Golden Knights were able to snag the Panthers' top goal scorer this season.Marchessault paced his club with 30 goals and added 21 assists in his first full season in the league. To make things even better, the 26-year-old is making just $750,000 this season.If he can continue to develop and produce like he did this season, then there's no question Marchessault could turn out to be the steal of the expansion draft.Vadim ShipachyovThe second player to officially join Vegas' NHL squad could turn out to be among their best.Back in early May, the Golden Knights landed a big fish by inking Russian forward Vadim Shipachyov to a two-year deal. He joins the team not as a rookie but as a seasoned 30-year-old who finished third in KHL scoring last year with 26 goals and 76 points in 50 games.He also recently represented his country at the World Championship where he posted 13 points in 10 games. He has impeccable vision and a strong release. He could serve as a great set-up man for a sniper such as James Neal and a strong presence on the power play.Look out.Shea Theodore(Photo courtesy: Action Images)While the Golden Knights might not have nabbed Sami Vatanen or Josh Manson from the Anaheim Ducks, they were still able to grab a bright, puck-moving defenseman.In Shea Theodore, the Golden Knights get a former first-round pick who has been on the cusp of becoming a full-timer in the NHL but has had the misfortune of being cast aside due to a deep Ducks defensive corps.Theodore might have dropped on the Ducks' totem pole, but he still holds much value. For one, Theodore is still just 21 years of age, meaning he still has much more maturing and developing to come. He towers at 6-foot-2, has a strong shot, and solid vision.This season he finished with 20 points in 26 games in the AHL, while chipping in nine points in 34 games with the Ducks. He also finished second in defensemen scoring on the Ducks during the postseason, finishing with eight points in 14 games - just one point back of Cam Fowler.With some regular playing time, Theodore could emerge as a solid first- or second-pairing D-man.Tomas NosekTomas Nosek was a bit of a surprising pick by the Golden Knights given that many believed the club would hop on the chance to pluck goaltender Petr Mrazek.However, one thing is quite certain: George McPhee is a smart man and clearly saw something very special in Nosek.Since coming over from the Czech Republic three years ago, the 24-year-old has spent the majority of his time fermenting in the American Hockey League, but he looks to be hitting another level.He posted 15 goals and 41 points in 51 games during the regular season and led the Grand Rapids Griffins in playoff scoring - finishing third overall - with 10 goals and 22 points in 19 games.He has a strong shot and is hard on the puck and was believed to be among the best prospects in Detroit's system. If it all works out, Nosek could end up being more valuable than Mrazek.Marc-Andre Fleury(Photo courtesy: Getty Images)The success of the Golden Knights next season and going forward could solely rest in the hands of Marc-Andre Fleury.The Golden Knights made Fleury the face of the franchise on Wednesday night, bringing him out on stage with their second-last selection. The deal to nab Fleury was reportedly made back in March, according to TSN's Pierre LeBrun, meaning he has long been in Vegas' plans.It's also clear to see that by electing not to grab fellow netminders Mrazek, Philipp Grubauer, or Antti Raanta, the Golden Knights don't expect too much of a goaltending carousel.Fleury is back to being the No. 1 again after having his net stolen from Matt Murray, and unless his play drastically tails off, he should remain in that position for the foreseeable future.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Full marks to Vegas Golden Knights general manager George McPhee.The leader of the NHL's newest outfit had 72 hours to pore over lists of available players and piece together his club's initial roster. In the end, several key hits were among his final tally, like Jonathan Marchessault, Marc Methot, and Marc-Andre Fleury.But at the mercy of his fellow managers, who offered up various payments for McPhee to steer clear of certain players, the Golden Knights' chose instead to collect additional draft choices. In doing so, it could prove to be a costly move for the new club, which ultimately left some valuable players on the table.That list includes Anaheim Ducks defenseman Sami Vatanen, as well as a pair of top-notch blue-liners the Minnesota Wild made available, particularly Matt Dumba.Alternatively, McPhee took on the expensive Clayton Stoner from the Ducks, receiving up-and-coming defenseman Shea Theodore for his trouble. For the Wild, they offered up 2014 first-rounder Alex Tuch, plus restricted free-agent center Erik Haula, to keep the Golden Knights' attention away from Dumba, Marco Scandella, and veteran pivot Eric Staal.Theodore and Tuch, the top payments of the side deals, may turn out to be better than what the Golden Knights could have selected. But in the here and now, Vatanen and Dumba hold supreme for Vegas. Even more so if they were chosen to be traded.It stands to reason that even if the Golden Knights did not see the 26-year-old Vatanen or the 22-year-old Dumba as part of their future, they may have received greater payment by dealing either player in a subsequent trade.Look at the recent history. The Tampa Bay Lightning moved a star winger in Jonathan Drouin to get their hands on defenseman Mikhail Sergachev, a top pick in last year's draft who boasts plenty of potential but who has all of four games of NHL experience.Or even last year, in the much-discussed deal where the Edmonton Oilers flipped former first overall pick Taylor Hall to the New Jersey Devils to acquire top-four defender Adam Larsson.As the Oilers and Lightning learned, top defensemen come at a premium. But the odds are the Golden Knights missed their chance to cash in. If only Vatanen and Dumba had been drafted.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Among two of the game's biggest criticisms will be on the table when all 31 general managers convene on Thursday afternoon in Chicago.The league's GMs will meet to discuss a number of topics and among them are a potential new standard for slashing and possibly making changes to the coach's challenges of offside calls, according to TSN's Pierre LeBrun.Slashing has become a hot-button topic of late due to the perceived increase in the amount of slashes, especially to players' extremities such as hands. Meanwhile, offside reviews have come under great scrutiny for many reasons, including the fact that calls are coming down to mere fractions of millimeters in some cases.The meeting will take place at 5 p.m. ET.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The St. Louis Blues are hoping to be picking higher than their current spot at 20th overall in Friday's draft.General manager Doug Armstrong spoke to stlouisblues.com where he was adamant the team is open and hopeful of swinging a deal to improve its placement in the draft."We are considering moving up," Armstrong said, according to NHL.com's Chris Pinkert. "We've talked to some teams that are in an area where they think they might want to move back and grab either two first-round picks or one of our firsts and our second-round pick, depending on how far we move up."There are a couple of players we have our eye on."The Blues have two first-round picks, the 20th overall selection as well as the 28th pick, which was acquired from the Washington Capitals in the Kevin Shattenkirk trade.Looking at this year's draft, Armstrong believes the field isn't as strong as in years past, but remains confident that there will still be quality players to be had."(This draft) doesn't have the (Sidney) Crosby, (Alex) Ovechkin or (Auston) Mathews-type players at the top end, but we're still excited," Armstrong said. "It doesn't look like it has the depth of Robby Fabbri's draft where you might get a guy to fit in your top six. But that being said, someone is going to outperform the draft, they always do. It could be someone in the late first round or the fourth round."There's going to be a great player coming from this draft, and our job is trying to find one of them."Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Chris Pronger is taking his talents to Sunrise.The former NHL defenseman has been named the Florida Panthers senior advisor to the president of hockey operations, the club announced Thursday.The role will see Pronger work alongside Dale Tallon, general manager and president of hockey operations."One of the most dominant defensemen of his era, Chris' winning resume and wealth of hockey knowledge will be a great asset to our hockey club," Tallon said in a statement.Pronger, 42, skated in nearly 1,200 career games with the Hartford Whalers, St. Louis Blues, Edmonton Oilers, Anaheim Ducks, and Philadelphia Flyers, where he finished his career in 2012.In 1999-00, while with the Blues, Pronger was awarded the Norris Trophy as the league's top defenseman, as well as the Hart Trophy, as NHL MVP. Pronger won the Stanley Cup with the Ducks in 2007. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2015.Pronger joins the Panthers after spending the past three seasons with the NHL Department of Player Safety.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Could the Vegas Golden Knights' next wave come at the entry draft?After piecing together their initial roster in Wednesday's expansion pool, and accumulating a boatload of extra draft picks in the process, the Golden Knights could be primed for an even bigger splash come Friday.Already owning the sixth overall pick, the Golden Knights added two more first-rounders in expansion-draft side deals with the New York Islanders and Columbus Blue Jackets. A subsequent deal saw the Blue Jackets' pick flipped to the Winnipeg Jets for their first selection.In all, Vegas holds three cards in Round 1, when the Golden Knights are poised to pick sixth, 13th, and 15th. But how long those pieces remain property of the Golden Knights remains the question.Could the picks be packaged together to boost the Golden Knights into the top two picks, where the highly-touted Nico Hischier and Nolan Patrick project to be taken?The scenario could be even more plausible if the New Jersey Devils choose Hischier first overall, as most of the recent draft talk believes the Swiss skater is a shoo-in for first. That would then make Patrick free for the taking at the second slot, currently held by the Philadelphia Flyers.But cue up a call from the Golden Knights, where the appeal of a top pick - one that could immediately fill a role with the club - would add even more dazzle to the NHL's newest entry.Some within the Golden Knights' organization already need little introduction to Patrick, particularly assistant general manager Kelly McCrimmon - the owner and former coach and GM of the WHL's Brandon Wheat Kings - where Patrick spent his developmental seasons.With Brandon, McCrimmon was behind the bench when Patrick, all of 17 years old, put together a 102-point campaign in 2015-16. He then followed up that performance with 30 points in 21 playoff contests, the top billing in the WHL."With respect to Nolan Patrick," McCrimmon told Michael Traikos of the National Post in January. "If he was drafted last year, I think he would be held in similar regard to the top players."Never a bad day when you're compared to the likes of Auston Matthews or Patrik Laine, last June's top two selections who combined for 76 goals this season. On Wednesday, Matthews took home rookie of the year honors.As for the Golden Knights, they'd surely love a flashy freshman to call their own. A top center in Patrick would also be a key piece to build around, and as GM George McPhee has stated, the Golden Knights will be built from within.No doubt Patrick could be an ace for Vegas.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Vegas Golden Knights have a roster.Weeks of endless speculation and mock drafts came to an end Wednesday night as the Golden Knights unveiled their team during the NHL Awards.Related: 3 takeaways from the Golden Knights' initial rosterMarc-Andre Fleury and James Neal are the early headliners of the team and give Vegas fans names to gravitate toward. Some more trades, the entry draft, and free agency are still to come before the team finally takes the ice, but with the core now in place, we ask: how many games will the Golden Knights win next season?Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Vegas Golden Knights selected a lot of defensemen on Wednesday night. Including trades and expansion picks, they ended up with 15 blue-liners, to be exact.Golden Knights general manager George McPhee is a smart man. He knows that several teams around the league are looking for quality defensemen who can play top-four minutes, and now he has a surplus of them he can dangle on the trade market.He will certainly move some of these rearguards almost immediately, or he may end up waiting until the 2018 trade deadline. Others could wind up being a part of Vegas' long-term future.Who will go?

The NHL's 31st team is ready to play hockey.The Vegas Golden Knights' expansion draft roster was unveiled Wednesday night, ending months of speculation as to the look of the league's newest team.Here are head coach Gerard Gallant's players, broken down alphabetically by position:Forwards

The 2016-17 NHL season is officially over.The league handed out its annual hardware Wednesday night, and here's a rundown of who won what:Hart Trophy: Connor McDavidThe kid's alright.McDavid scored an awards hat trick Wednesday (he officially collected his Art Ross Trophy as the league's leading scorer), capping off his stellar night by winning the Hart Trophy as NHL MVP. He's 20 years old.Vezina Trophy: Sergei BobrovskyBobrovsky won his second career Vezina Trophy, punctuating a remarkable season for both the 28-year-old and his Columbus Blue Jackets. The goaltender was emotional in victory, noting his return from groin injuries that threatened to derail his career for good.James Norris Trophy: Brent BurnsBurns has his Norris Trophy. The San Jose Sharks defenseman edged Erik Karlsson for the award, his first, after posting career highs across the board.Calder Memorial Trophy: Auston MatthewsFor the first time in basically forever, a member of the Maple Leafs won an NHL award, with Matthews declared the league's top rookie. He scored 40 goals and Toronto made the playoffs.Bill Masterton Trophy: Craig AndersonAnderson had one hell of a year. His wife Nicholle was diagnosed with cancer in the fall, resulting in the goaltender taking multiple leaves of absence from the Ottawa Senators. The club rallied around its goaltender and his wife, though, and the Sens' deep run into the playoffs was one of the more special stories of the season.Even better, Nicholle was in attendance in Las Vegas on Wednesday night, cancer-free.Frank J. Selke Trophy: Patrice BergeronBergeron won his fourth Selke Trophy on Wednesday, tying legend Bob Gainey for the most all time. Bergeron took the honor for the third time in four years. It's his until it isn't.Jack Adams Award: John TortorellaThe man affectionately known as "Torts" won his second career Jack Adams Trophy, and he deflected praise thrown his way, saying he was glad his Blue Jackets were recognized for their incredible regular season.Ted Lindsay Award: McDavidMcDavid's peers know he's the man. The Oilers captain took home most outstanding honors, as voted by the NHLPA.NHL GM of the Year Award: David PoilePoile's Nashville Predators fell two wins shy of the Stanley Cup, but the general manager was rewarded for how far his team has come.Lady Byng Trophy: Johnny GaudreauCalgary Flames superstar Gaudreau took home his first NHL trophy, the Lady Byng. He finished fourth in voting last season.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Vegas Golden Knights clearly aren't done dealing, but that doesn't mean their first real semblance of a roster can't be debated and dissected.Related: Fleury, Methot, Neal headline Golden Knights' expansion draft rosterThere's sure to be more roster movement when the NHL's trade freeze lifts Thursday morning, but at least the Golden Knights now have a foundation in place, and it's an intriguing group.Here are a few quick thoughts about the first edition of the league's newest expansion franchise:So many defensemen(Photo courtesy: Getty Images)Maybe it is possible to have too many blue-liners.The Golden Knights possess nearly as many defensemen (15) as they do forwards (19) following Wednesday night's roster reveal.Some notable names comprise the Vegas defense corps, including Marc Methot, Colin Miller, Nate Schmidt, Shea Theodore, and Brayden McNabb.There are also plenty of rearguards with deficiencies in one area or another, such as Alexei Emelin, Deryk Engelland, Clayton Stoner, and Luca Sbisa.One thing's for sure, though. With more than a dozen D-men in the fold, and considering only so many of them can be sent down to the AHL, this position is where general manager George McPhee will likely look to deal from in the coming days and weeks.There is some talent up front(Photo courtesy: Action Images)Expansion teams don't often get their hands on 30-goal scorers right away, but one of the NHL's worst-kept secrets was confirmed Wednesday night when the Golden Knights took Jonathan Marchessault from the Florida Panthers in the expansion draft.Vegas also landed James Neal from the Nashville Predators, who weren't able to come up with an adequate side deal to keep the nine-time 20-goal producer from being plucked.David Perron was also nabbed from the St. Louis Blues, and he's coming off an 18-goal season in which he played all 82 games.That's not a bad top line for a team starting from scratch.Getting center Erik Haula and prospect Alex Tuch - a first-round pick in 2014 - in a trade with the Minnesota Wild also gives the Golden Knights some forward depth with upside.Trading for Gusev was a risk worth taking(Photo courtesy: Action Images)One of the more underrated moves made by McPhee was the acquisition of Nikita Gusev from the Tampa Bay Lightning.The 24-year-old forward prospect was unsigned by the Lightning, but he's worth the gamble for the Golden Knights, who also boast his countryman and former SKA St. Petersburg teammate, Vadim Shipachyov.Gusev scored 24 goals in the KHL this past season, and the two Russians lit up the World Championship this spring, combining for 27 points in 10 games.His agent, Dan Milstein, told Stephen Whyno of The Associated Press that his client has no immediate plans to sign in the NHL, but the Golden Knights could be fun to watch if Gusev is swayed into coming to North America and can duplicate that success with Shipachyov in the NHL.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Marc-Andre Fleury may have spent his entire 13-year NHL career with the Pittsburgh Penguins, but that doesn't mean he's just going to roll over the first time the Pens face off against his new club, the Vegas Golden Knights.Following Wednesday's NHL Award ceremony, the Flower made it very clear how he feels about playing his former club next season.

Wednesday night may have been dominated by the news coming out of Las Vegas surrounding the NHL Expansion Draft and the league's end-of-season awards, but before the night was finished, there were still a couple more accolades to be handed out.The NHL announced it's first- and second-team All-Stars following the completion of the awards ceremony, honoring the best player at each position as voted on by the Professional Hockey Writers Association:First Team

In conjunction with the NHL Awards and the expansion draft, the NHL announced its All-Rookie team for 2016-17 on Wednesday, and this season's star-studded class is well represented.Player (Position)TeamGA PAuston Matthews (F)Maple Leafs402969Patrik Laine (F)Jets362864Mitch Marner (F)Maple Leafs194261Zach Werenski (D)Blue Jackets113647Brady Skjei (D)Rangers53439Player (Position) Team Record GAA Sv% SOMatt Murray (G)Penguins32-10-42.41.9234Matthews claimed the Calder Trophy as rookie of the year earlier in the night, beating out fellow nominees Laine and Werenski.Murray, meanwhile, was a no-brainer between the pipes, as the sensational Pittsburgh netminder backstopped the Penguins to the second-best record in the NHL and yet another Stanley Cup.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Vegas keeps stockpiling the quality draft picks.The Golden Knights acquired the Blue Jackets' first-round, 24th-overall pick (in a side deal for taking on David Clarkson's contract) in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft, but then flipped the pick in exchange for the Winnipeg Jets' first-round, 13th-overall pick (in a side deal for not selecting Toby Enstrom in the expansion draft.)Clarkson still has three years remaining on his deal with an annual cap hit of $5.25 million. He isn't likely to play in the NHL again due to a back injury, so he will likely be stashed on long-term injured reserve.For clarity, instead of choosing 13th overall, the Jets will now select 24th overall on Friday night.As a refresher, here is a list of the draft picks Vegas currently holds for the 2017 draft:RoundPicks13 (own + Jets + Islanders)22 (own + Lightning)314152 (own + Bruins)62 (own + Sabres)71In total, the Golden Knights hold 12 picks (and counting) in the draft, highlighted by the sixth overall pick of their own, Winnipeg's 13th overall pick, and the New York Islanders' 15th overall pick. That's how you begin a rebuild.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Columbus Blue Jackets anted up for some expansion draft protection and salary cap relief.The Vegas Golden Knights acquired Columbus’ 2017 first-round draft pick (24th overall), Columbus’ 2019 second-round draft pick, and forward David Clarkson as part of Wednesday's selection process.Vegas then flipped the 24th overall pick to Winnipeg for the Jets' first-round pick at the 2017 NHL Draft (13th overall) and third-round pick in 2019.Vegas concurrently selected forward William Karlsson, who had been exposed by the Blue Jackets.Columbus received some salary cap relief in the deal, and avoided losing the likes of Josh Anderson, Matt Calvert, Joonas Korpisalo, Jack Johnson, or David Savard in the expansion draft.Clarkson, who missed all of 2016-17 due to injury and isn't expected to resume his career, remains under contract for three more seasons with a cap hit of $5.25 million.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Connor McDavid had himself a night.The Edmonton Oilers captain captured the Hart Trophy as the league's most valuable player Wednesday at the NHL Awards, earning the honor over Pittsburgh Penguins forward Sidney Crosby and Columbus Blue Jackets netminder Sergei Bobrovsky.Here's the vote breakdown, which shows McDavid won convincingly: