After a couple seasons of reportedly shopping forward Jonathan Drouin with varying degrees of desperation, Tampa Bay Lightning general manager Steve Yzerman finally found an adequate match in the Montreal Canadiens and defensive prospect Mikhail Sergachev. Yzerman explained why the search took this long to complete.

The Vancouver Canucks have signed defenseman Erik Gudbranson to a one-year contract worth $3.5 million, the team announced.Gudbranson, who was a pending restricted free agent, endured an injury-riddled first season in Vancouver, playing just 30 games.The Canucks dealt forward Jared McCann, a second-round pick, and a fourth-round pick to the Florida Panthers in exchange for Gudbranson and a fifth-rounder on May 25, 2016."Erik is a big, strong, physical defender who I know feels has a lot to prove and has worked diligently in his injury rehab," said the club's general manager Jim Benning. "He has leadership qualities that will be important for our young team and we are excited to see him healthy and back on the blue line next season."There's no questioning Gudbranson's size and physicality. He is listed at 6-foot-5, 220 pounds and has 820 hits in 339 NHL games split between the Canucks and Panthers, who drafted him with the third overall pick back in 2010.Given that Benning gave up a former first-round pick in McCann, plus the two other draft picks, he clearly views Gudbranson as part of the solution during Vancouver's rebuild.Gudbranson, however, has failed to establish himself as a legitimate top-four defenseman so far in his career. He has posted a minus-63 rating and a 48.6 Corsi For percentage in five seasons.However, he is still just 25, and defensemen usually take much longer to develop than forwards. He will get a chance to log big minutes on Vancouver's blue line come next season and prove his worth.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Montreal Canadiens made the first big move of the 2017 offseason in acquiring forward Jonathan Drouin from the Tampa Bay Lightning for defensive prospect Mikhail Sergachev.Drouin is currently a restricted free agent, but Canadiens general manager Marc Bergevin is already in the process of signing his team's new star forward. Taking on a player deemed a spare part by Lightning general manager Steve Yzerman has given the Canadiens some excess of their own.

For Montreal Canadiens general manager Marc Bergevin, redemption is spelled "Jonathan Drouin."Bergevin pulled off another June blockbuster Thursday, acquiring 22-year-old Drouin in a massive trade with the Lightning, sending prized defensive prospect Mikhail Sergachev to Tampa Bay. Conditional picks are involved as well, with the Lightning set to receive a second-round pick in 2018 for a sixth-round pick if Sergachev plays 40 games for Tampa Bay next season.Welcome homeThe immediate reaction: This is a big win for Montreal. Drouin's young, with 164 regular-season games and 23 playoff contests already under his belt. He's coming off his most productive season on the heels of his coming-out party in the 2016 playoffs, which ended a tumultuous season that saw his trade request from Tampa Bay go public, eventually leading to his suspension by the club after he failed to report to the AHL.The parties made nice, but that's all in the past now, as Drouin, a restricted free agent July 1, is set to sign long term with the team he grew up adoring. He's finally where he truly wants to be, and Montreal has its young, dynamic - and French! - star to build around.Think of it this way: P.K. Subban and Sergachev for Shea Weber and Drouin. That makes it a little easier to swallow, right?Offense neededMontreal averaged 2.72 goals per game this past season, which ranked 15th in the league. Average. But not good enough.The Canadiens had only two players score 20 goals or more during the regular season, and one of them was Paul Byron, who'd never scored more than 11 before this past campaign. Only two Habs broke 50 points - Max Pacioretty and Alex Radulov, who is an unrestricted free agent in a couple of weeks.In the playoffs, the Canadiens managed only 11 goals in six games in their first-round loss to the New York Rangers. Yes, Henrik Lundqvist is both an obscenely talented goaltender and stupidly handsome, but Pacioretty - who had only one assist in the series - and Co. needed help. They got it in Drouin.Give to getSergachev, drafted ninth overall last year, is thought to have a bright future. He's been a force on defense for the OHL's Windsor Spitfires, posting back-to-back seasons of 57 and 43 points. He'll be 19 on June 25. He could turn out to be very, very good.

Jonathan Drouin grew up about a two-hour drive northwest of the Bell Centre - home of the Montreal Canadiens - in Sainte-Agathe-des-Monts, Quebec, and the 22-year-old couldn't be more ecstatic he's heading home."His words to me when I told him he was traded was, 'This is my dream come true. This is my childhood dream,'" agent Allan Walsh said of Drouin, according to Chris Nichols of FanRag Sports.Drouin infamously requested a trade out of Tampa Bay during the 2015-16 season. Though the two sides had appeared to patch things up, there's no question playing for his boyhood team was always at the top of his wishlist.Montreal fans are likely just as excited. The Canadiens haven't had a francophone player of this stature since goaltender Jose Theodore in the early-to-mid-2000s. Before that brief stint of greatness, you'd have to look back to when Vincent Damphousse and Patrick Roy anchored the Habs back in the '90s.Expectations will certainly be high for the former third overall pick, but, if he performs up to par, there's no doubt he'll be beloved by one of the NHL's most passionate fan bases.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Buffalo Sabres officially introduced new head coach Phil Housely at a press conference Thursday afternoon. Plenty has been made of how he turned Nashville's defensive unit into the class of the league, especially the top four of Roman Josi, Mattias Ekholm, Ryan Ellis, and P.K. Subban.One can argue those four defensemen were great players prior to Housley's tutelage, especially Subban, who won the Norris Trophy for the 2012-13 season as a member of the Montreal Canadiens. However, Housley thinks his one year of experience coaching the media darling that is Subban will help him handle Buffalo's biggest star in forward Jack Eichel.

Beyond the buzz of Jonathan Drouin's blockbuster arrival in Montreal lie some not-so-glamorous contract negotiations between the 22-year-old winger and his new general manager Marc Bergevin.Drouin, acquired by the Canadiens on Thursday in exchange for prospect Mikhail Sergachev and conditional picks, is a restricted free agent, and talks regarding a new deal are already underway, reports TSN's Bob McKenzie.Related: Projecting Jonathan Drouin's next contractDrouin wrapped up his entry-level contract this past season, registering a career-high 53 points in 73 games. Based on his production and potential, it's feasible to think he could fetch something in the range of $5-6 million annually.er CapFriendly, Montreal has $22.5 million in cap space to work with this offseason, with choices to make on RFAs Drouin, Alex Galchenyuk, Nathan Beaulieu, and Nikita Nesterov, as well as unrestricted free agents Alexander Radulov, Andrei Markov, Dwight King, and Brian Flynn.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Phil Housley won't initially have anything close to the defensive talent he had in Nashville, but it's up to Jason Botterill to give his new head coach a capable group to work with on the Buffalo Sabres' back end.The general manager will no doubt look to bolster the club's defense for Housley, who was hired Thursday after spending four seasons turning the Predators' defense into a juggernaut.Nashville ranked in the top two in the NHL in goals by defensemen in all of those campaigns and placed in the league's top half in fewest goals allowed in each of the last three.The Predators had at least one player finish in the top five in Norris Trophy voting in three straight seasons from 2013-14 to 2015-16, and Nashville's defense corps rose to an entirely new level this season, carrying the club to Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final.Housley - one of the best offensive defensemen of all time - helped mold the Predators rearguards into one of the most productive groups in the NHL for a sustained period of time.Buffalo's defense, on the other hand, was an obvious weak spot in 2016-17 beyond the encouraging development of Rasmus Ristolainen.(Photo courtesy: Action Images)The 22-year-old was counted on to almost single-handedly provide the offense for the Sabres from the blue line, and he collected 45 points in 79 games while logging an average of 26:28 in ice time.Only Dustin Byfuglien, Drew Doughty, Ryan Suter, and Erik Karlsson played more than Ristolainen, which is a testament to the trust former head coach Dan Bylsma showed in him, but it was also a sign that he needed help.The Sabres struggled in many facets as a team this season, but the lack of offense generated from the back end was a genuine concern.After Ristolainen, only one defenseman - Jake McCabe - produced at least 20 points, and Buffalo's seven most frequently used D-men managed only 114 points in 444 combined games played. Yes, there were injuries, but the Sabres' defense corps were lousy at generating scoring chances.Housley is the perfect coach to address that problem, but like Ristolainen, he won't be able to overhaul it by himself.Botterill won't have many options on the free-agent market besides a big-ticket blue-liner like Kevin Shattenkirk, so he'll have to get a little creative to help improve the Sabres' biggest area of need.As for Housley, he has an obvious area of expertise, but he'll do more than just help the defense. He's a proven winner who should help players at all positions get better, and his wealth of experience should help Jack Eichel continue to grow up front.The Sabres' forward group is deep and versatile. Buffalo's defense needs the most work, and it's in good hands with Housley now, but he'll only be able to do so much without the right pieces in place.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Marc Bergevin made yet another massive splash.The Montreal Canadiens acquired forward Jonathan Drouin and a conditional 2018 sixth-round pick from the Tampa Bay Lightning in exchange for prospect Mikhail Sergachev and a conditional second-round pick in 2018, the team announced Thursday.Related: Big win in Montreal: Bergevin redeems himself by landing DrouinTSN's Pierre LeBrun clarified the conditions here:

It's a secret no more.All-world Los Angeles Kings defenseman Drew Doughty, from beautiful London, Ontario, is spending some time in Toronto this month, and he joined the folks at TSN's "Leafs Lunch" on Thursday for a chat. Naturally, the topic of playing at home came up, to which Doughty had a most interesting response.Asked about the up-and-coming kids in the blue and white, Doughty said most players from the Southern Ontario secretly harbor a desire to suit up for the Toronto Maple Leafs, while also detailing why it's not such a tantalizing proposition."I think of all us Southern Ontario players, we secretly want to play for the Leafs. You know, we all have that kind of soft spot," Doughty said. "Honestly, I hated the Leafs when I was a kid. I absolutely hated them, always cheered against them. I was on my dad's team, he was a Montreal Canadiens fan, but I watched every Leaf game, and, so, I secretly love the Leafs."I think that, yeah, we'd all want to play here especially with the team the way they're getting better and stuff like that, but I think it always comes down to how hard it would be to live in a city being that big of a celebrity," he added. "I'm spoiled In L.A., where I walk anywhere I want and not one person's going to recognize me."If you say I did for some reason play for the Leafs I don't know if I could get used to that or not. I think that's the problem, why guys don't sign here."Two takeaways from Doughty's remarks:

The Pittsburgh Penguins had one final task to complete Thursday to conclude their championship season: locker clean out.Along with the housekeeping, several Penguins players met with the media for their season-ending interviews, and appropriately, netminder Marc-Andre Fleury was the center of attention, faced with questions on his imminent departure from the only NHL club he's ever known."It's been such a long time," said an emotional Fleury, according to Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. "I've met a lot of good people. It feels like home to me."Fleury was drafted first overall by the Penguins in 2003, and recently revealed he waived his no-movement clause in February, a decision he declared was the "right thing to help the team."

The Buffalo Sabres have their man.Phil Housley has been hired as the Sabres' next head coach, replacing the fired Dan Bylsma.Housley met with Sabres general manager Jason Botterill in Nashville on Monday, TSN's Darren Dreger reported earlier Thursday.He spent the last four seasons as an assistant coach with the Nashville Predators, helping mold their defense corps into arguably the best in the NHL.The Hockey Hall of Famer also has a wealth of experience with USA Hockey, guiding the U.S. junior squad to a gold medal in 2013.Housley was one of the most productive blue-liners to ever play the game, retiring with the fourth-most points by a defenseman in NHL history (1,232) and the sixth-most games played (1,495) at the position.He played eight seasons for the Sabres from 1982-83 to 1989-90 after Buffalo selected him sixth overall in 1982.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The list of Pittsburgh Penguins injuries was larger than it initially seemed.Matt Murray revealed he tore his hamstring in the pregame warmup before the Penguins' playoff opener against the Columbus Blue Jackets, according to Sam Werner of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Murray returned in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Final, carrying the Penguins the rest of the way and helping them win the Stanley Cup for the second straight season.Carl Hagelin broke a fibula in a regular-season game against the Winnipeg Jets and it never fully healed, the forward told reporters Thursday, per NHL.com's Wes Crosby.Hagelin won't need surgery, just "a little rest."Justin Schultz said he suffered a broken rib in the Eastern Conference Final against the Ottawa Senators, according to the Post-Gazette's Jason Mackey.Brian Dumoulin injured his hand in the first round and said it didn't seem to heal at all, via the Post-Gazette's Sean Gentille.Nick Bonino already revealed he broke a tibia that he battled through in the Stanley Cup Final. He added Thursday that he also had a break in his left ankle and that the bone cracked all the way though.On the morning after winning the Cup, Ian Cole said he played through a broken hand and broken ribs sustained in the Penguins' second-round series against the Washington Capitals.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Chris Kunitz isn't looking for a change of scenery.The Pittsburgh Penguins winger, scheduled for unrestricted free agency July 1, said he hasn't considered retiring since winning his fourth Stanley Cup on Sunday, and hopes to remain with the club he's represented for the last nine seasons.

Corey Hirsch is a former NHL goaltender who spent parts of seven seasons with the New York Rangers, Vancouver Canucks, Washington Capitals, and Dallas Stars.Belated congratulations to the Stanley Cup-champion Pittsburgh Penguins. Nashville put up a great fight, but in the end the Predators couldn't overcome one thing: Pekka Rinne's struggles at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh.Let's be honest, if it wasn't for Rinne, Nashville isn't even in the final. But Rinne lost all three games in Pittsburgh - and statistically, his numbers were awful. He finished the series 0-3 with a .756 save percentage and a 5.39 GAA at PPG Paints Arena.Rinne's numbers in Pittsburgh during the regular season were just as bad. Zero wins, three losses, an inflated 4.59 GAA, and an .880 save percentage.Ouch.Ask any current or former player and they will tell you they have that one arena where they just didn't play well in. Try as we did to reverse the curse, nine out of 10 times, it ended in disaster. None of us knew why. Was it the atmosphere? The ice? The boards? The distractions? Or just pure voodoo?Maybe it would have helped for Nashville to have sacrificed a rubber chicken. A real chicken. A bucket of KFC. Anything.Personally, Edmonton was my problem rink. The ice was hard and fast, and it seemed like the players even shot the puck harder.I was with Dallas when Dave Tippett gave me a start in Edmonton on March 15, 2003 in what I knew would be my last chance to get back into the NHL. Sure enough, in the third period, I threw a pass off the shin pads of my defenseman, Derian Hatcher. Shawn Horcoff scored in the empty net while I stood in the corner.Rexall Place had finished me off.I asked some of my goaltending fraternity brothers where they struggled most:(Photo courtesy: Getty Images)Sean Burke (NHL playing career - 1987-2007)"Toronto was a nightmare. It was my hometown and I had so many distractions. I couldn't get into my normal routine. It became a mental thing, somehow it always fell apart. Nothing worse than spending a thousand dollars on tickets, and getting pulled in the first period. The only live game my grandmother came to I got kicked out for fighting."Bill Ranford (NHL playing career - 1985-2000)"San Jose and Colorado. We would take the commercial milk-run flights and spend a full day in the airports, then play like crap the next night."Olaf Kolzig (NHL playing career - 1989-2009)"Pittsburgh, in the old Igloo, (Mario) Lemieux, (Jaromir) Jagr, (Ron) Francis, (Alexei) Kovalev ... enough said."Jamie McLennan (NHL playing career - 1991-2008)"Detroit. I hated the feel of the rink and the boards. I always had a tough time reading the bounces, plus they always had great teams that were really tough in front of the net."It’s not limited to just goalies - skaters have their problem rinks, too.Scott Mellanby (NHL playing career - 1986-2007)"For me, I always found Calgary a place where I struggled, I don't know why. I had a couple good games there, but when you play 20 years, odds are you will play well at least once there."So don't feel bad, Pekka. We all have that one arena. I'm just sorry yours happened to be home to the team you faced in the Stanley Cup Final.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

June is an incredibly busy month for the NHL, but that doesn't mean we can't look ahead to what's coming. Free agency begins at 12 p.m. ET on July 1, and we ranked the top 80 unrestricted free agents in a seven-post series (links below) ahead of the madness.Here are the top 10 UFAs on the market this summer:10. Patrick Eaves (F)Age on Oct. 1: 33

Rick Tocchet doesn't appear to be a candidate for the Buffalo Sabres' head coaching job, after all.The Pittsburgh Penguins assistant coach has not yet been contacted by the Sabres about the vacant position, TSN's Darren Dreger reports.Tocchet was thought to be on Sabres general manager Jason Botterill's list of head coaching candidates due to the new GM's history with the Penguins and Pittsburgh's recent success.The former NHL forward insisted earlier this month that he hadn't been contacted by anybody for vacant head coaching jobs, of which there were two at the time, including the Florida Panthers position that went to Bob Boughner.Dreger reported earlier Thursday that the Sabres are now expected to decide on their new bench boss before Monday, which advanced the previous timeline of early next week.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Francois Beauchemin's days in Colorado are over.The Avalanche are buying out the final season of the veteran defenseman's contract.Beauchemin was originally on the books for $4.5 million in 2017-18, in what was to be the third season of the three-year pact he signed as a free agent on July 1, 2015.The move wasn't financially motivated, because that amount will count against the cap regardless.

It will be Teuvo Time for at least a couple more seasons in Raleigh.The Carolina Hurricanes signed Teuvo Teravainen to a two-year, $5.72-million contract extension Thursday.Teravainen was a pending restricted free agent who set career highs in goals (15), assists (27), and points this season.The 22-year-old was acquired by the Hurricanes nearly one year ago to the day - on June 16, 2016 - in a trade with the Chicago Blackhawks.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Dion Phaneuf's name is reportedly popping up in discussions about potential deals.There is trade interest in the Ottawa Senators defenseman, but the club would likely have to take a contract or cash in return, according to TSN's Darren Dreger.Phaneuf has four years remaining at an annual cap hit of $7 million. The 32-year-old also has a modified no-movement clause, which allows him to provide a list of 12 teams to which he'll accept a trade.

The Buffalo Sabres are reportedly on the verge of naming their next head coach.A decision on Dan Bylsma's successor is expected before Monday, according to TSN's Darren Dreger.That slightly advances the timeline established by Sabres general manager Jason Botterill two days ago, when he told The Associated Press he hoped to decide by early next week.The Sabres were reportedly waiting until the end of the Stanley Cup Final to interview Nashville Predators assistant coach Phil Housley for the head coaching position.Buffalo has already interviewed several other candidates, including Craig Berube and Bob Boughner, before the latter was named head coach of the Florida Panthers.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

With the NHL offseason now underway, we're looking at what's in store for each club in the coming months.2016-17 Grade: A+ (Duh)The NHL belongs to the Pittsburgh Penguins.The Penguins' rise from bankruptcy to dynasty has been on the backs of forwards Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin. The two cornerstones have remained elite anchors despite injuries to defenseman Kris Letang and turnover at nearly all other positions.Just as goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury began to crumble in the 2017 postseason, Matt Murray returned from injury at precisely the right time to carry Pittsburgh past the Ottawa Senators in the Eastern Conference finals and win his second Stanley Cup while still being considered an NHL rookie.Young forwards Conor Sheary and Jake Guentzel did not look at all out of place on the wings of the top line beside Crosby. Defenseman Justin Schultz ensured he will no longer need to accept one-year contracts, as he emerged as one of the league's top defenders through the regular season and playoffs.Free AgentsGeneral manager Jim Rutherford heads into his fourth offseason in charge of retooling the Penguins' roster. The biggest key for Rutherford this offseason may be setting up his team for next summer, with just five forwards and two defensemen currently under contract for the 2018-19 season.Letang's return from injury will serve as Pittsburgh's biggest offseason move, as they re-add one of the top defenders in the league.Pittsburgh's perennial dominance has afforded the team the luxury of signing players at discounted prices in recent years, but the allegiances of Sheary and Schultz will be put to the test with big paydays ahead.Player (Position)2017-18 StatusAge2016-17 Cap Hit2016-17 PointsMatt Cullen (F)UFA40$1.0M31Nick Bonino (F)UFA29$1.9M37Josh Archibald (F)RFA24$659K3Chris Kunitz (F)UFA37$3.85M29Conor Sheary (F)RFA25$668K53Oskar Sundqvist (F)RFA23$701K0Trevor Daley (D)UFA33$3.3M19Ron Hainsey (D)UFA36$2.83M17Brian Dumoulin (D)RFA25$800K15Justin Schultz (D)RFA26$1.4M51Mark Streit (D)UFA39$5.25M27Chad Ruhwedel (D)UFA27$575K10Matt Cullen's future remains undecided, but retirement seems the likely resolution. Veteran defenders Ron Hainsey and Mark Streit may also elect to call it a career and go out as champions.The Penguins are projected to have nearly $13 million in cap space, with 16 players signed. Sheary, Guentzel, and Schultz are all due significant raises, while Nick Bonino could command more than a third-liner's salary. Look for Pittsburgh to fill any roster holes with a fresh crop of veterans looking to serve as complements to the championship roster.2017 Draft PicksThe addition of the Vegas Golden Knights forces the Penguins into draft slot No. 31 to close the first round. They didn't have a first-round pick last year as a result of the Phil Kessel trade. It's safe to say Rutherford and Co. are more than happy with the results of that decision. They also went without a first-round pick in 2015 as a result of acquiring David Perron from the St. Louis Blues. They've made just two first-round selections since 2012, taking Olli Maatta and Kasperi Kapanen (who was part of the Kessel trade).Maatta is the only first-round pick the Penguins have retained since taking Crosby No. 1 overall in the 2005 entry draft.RoundPicks1120314052 (from OTT)6171Pittsburgh is just one pick shy of a full assortment, as they recouped a bonus fifth-round pick by trading Mike Condon to the Senators.Summer Priorities1. Get rid of FleuryMoving Fleury will allow Pittsburgh to save $5.75 million against the salary cap. He has already waived his no-movement clause, so protecting him won't be an issue, and no team needs $9.5 million invested in goaltending.Tristan Jarry is already signed at a cap hit of $630,833 on the final year of his entry-level contract. He made just one NHL start in 2016-17, but he posted a .925 save percentage through 45 AHL games. He should be capable of handling backup duties. Should Murray get hurt or Jarry prove to not be ready, backup goalies are always available through trade.2. Fill out the defense with multi-year contractsLetang and Matta are both signed through the end of the 2021-22 NHL season, but 28-year-old Ian Cole is the only other defender signed for 2017-18. Both Brian Dumoulin and Schultz are set to enter restricted free agency and are due dramatic raises following excellent postseasons where they ranked first and fourth on the team in average ice time.Both D-men could command cap hits of $6 million on multi-year deals, eating up most of the team's cap room, even with Fleury presumably coming off the books. Alongside Letang and Maatta, Dumoulin and Schultz would certainly give the Penguins one of the best defensive units for the next several seasons.Pittsburgh is likely out of the realm of possibility for free-agent Kevin Shattenkirk, but the Pens could look to land the likes of Michael Del Zotto or Johnny Oduya on two-to-four-year deals.3. Add center depthEven if Cullen were to return for the 2017-18 season, it would be for nothing more than a penalty-killing role on the fourth line. Bonino is likely to seek a top-six role - and the accompanying paycheck - elsewhere.The free-agent center market isn't overly appealing, but Martin Hanzal is coming off a very disappointing year and could be available for a short-term prove-it deal. If not, Pittsburgh could attempt to find this year's version of Bonino by trading for a young and struggling center with offensive potential.2017-18 OutlookIt's a fool's errand to predict the downfall of Pittsburgh's dynasty. The team will always be competitive for as long as Crosby and Malkin remain paired together.With Sheary and Guentzel helping to make the team a bit younger up front, they again have the luxury of adding a few Cup-chasing veterans. Full years will be needed from Murray and Letang, as defensive depth projects to be the biggest difference between next year's roster and this one.COL | VAN | NJD | ARI | BUF

The Nashville Predators may be in need of a new captain.Current team leader Mike Fisher is set to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1, and the 37-year-old isn't set on returning to the ice next season."Right now, I haven't really gotten to that place (to make a decision)," Fisher said, according to Brooks Bratten on the team's website. "I want to separate myself from the game, and honestly, the biggest factor is prayer and figuring out what's next and what God wants. So I'll just try to figure that out, and that's the biggest factor, really."Coming oh so close to winning the Stanley Cup will certainly be a factor, as the Predators will likely be back in full force next season.Greater than that, though, are the bonds formed along the way, and walking away from that would be a big deal to Fisher."I love playing the game, I love being around the guys; that to me is more important than winning a Cup," he said. "This year was the best year I've had as far as fun and being around just a great group of guys and a city that came together. There's so many positives."According to Bratten, Predators general manager David Poile has stated he'll have Fisher on his team as long as the center wants to keep playing, meaning the ball is in the player's court.Fisher recorded four assists and 34 shots in 20 games during Nashville's run to the Cup Final.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Washington Capitals acquired forward Tyler Graovac from the Minnesota Wild in exchange for a fifth-round draft pick in 2018, the team announced Wednesday.The move is likely a ploy by the Capitals so they can make Graovac unprotected at the expansion draft and in turn protect forward Lars Eller from being plucked by the Vegas Golden Knights, according to Isabelle Khurshudyan of the Washington Post.

David Poile is setting his priorities straight.Nashville's longtime GM said he'll begin contract negotiations with pending restricted free agents Ryan Johansen and Viktor Arvidsson next week, according to NHL.com's Robby Stanley."We have contracts to do," Poile said. "The most notable are Ryan Johansen and Viktor Arvidsson. Both are restricted free agents (on July 1). We will meet with... both have the same agent. We'll meet with them in Chicago (at the 2017 NHL Draft) to start that process next week."If Poile can't re-sign Johansen or Arvidsson by July 1, other teams can extend an offer sheet that Nashville will have the opportunity to match, but it is a very rare occurrence.The trio of Johansen, Arvidsson, and Filip Forsberg found great chemistry as the team's top line - which was known as the "JOFA" line - this past season. Johansen and Arvidsson tied for the team lead in points with 61.Considering both forwards are just 24 years old, it would make sense to lock them up to long-term deals. If that were the case, Nashville's core - comprised of the "JOFA" line, their big four on D, and Pekka Rinne in net - would all be under contract for at least the next two seasons, therefore extending the team's Stanley Cup window.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Toronto Maple Leafs forward Mitch Marner caught some flak on social media for wearing ripped jorts to throw out the first pitch at Tuesday's game between the Blue Jays and Tampa Bay Rays.Teammate Auston Matthews approved of the look, though, and came to Marner's defense on Twitter:

Marc-Andre Fleury is a team player in every sense of the term.On Monday, reports surfaced that Fleury agreed to waive his no-movement clause back in February, which will allow the Pittsburgh Penguins to protect Matt Murray in the expansion draft. It's a bold move for Fleury, but, as he explains, it was the right thing to do for the team."The team came forward to me and asked ... it gave them more (flexibility) for the future, for the summer, so they weren't scrambling to trade me," he said, according to Dave Molinari of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette."I thought it was the right thing to help the team, to stay with the team and finish the season here and have a chance to play for the Cup again."That strategy certainly paid off for Fleury, as four months later he won his third career Stanley Cup, winning nine games en route.With the business side of things in the rear-view mirror, the wait is now on to see where exactly Fleury ends up. While he could be in line to be selected by the Golden Knights, common wisdom would suggest the Penguins will do their best to trade him so they can recoup assets instead of losing him for nothing."I've heard my name out there, a lot," Fleury said. "But I don't know. I guess we'll find out soon."Wherever he ends up, he's simply hoping he can start - an opportunity that was largely lost after Murray stole his job during last year's Cup run."I still love the game," he said. "I still love to play. Hopefully, if I can still do that ... it will be appreciated."Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It appears Steve Mason will be tending goal elsewhere for the 2017-18 season.The Flyers apparently aren't interested in re-signing the former Calder Trophy winner, his agent Anton Thun told Sam Carchidi of The Philadelphia Inquirer."In all honesty, he would have hoped the Flyers would have been interested enough to enter into contract negotiations with him right now, but they didn’t, so you move on," Thun said. "That’s business."Mason, 29, will leave the City of Brotherly Love with the third-most wins in Flyers history with 104, trailing only the team's current general manager Ron Hextall (240) and Hall of Famer Bernie Parent (232).If there's one word to describe his tenure in Philadelphia's crease, it's probably "inconsistent."In total, he leaves with a .918 save percentage and a 2.47 goals-against average in 221 starts with the Flyers, but his seasons were often full of extreme highs and lows, and he was never able to put a stranglehold on the starting job.Hextall instead opted to extend fellow goaltender Michal Neuvirth to a two-year contract back in March. Neuvirth has a .911 save percentage and a 2.50 GAA in 53 career starts with the Flyers.Thun, of course, backed his client."If I was running the team, I'd sign Steve Mason, but of course I'm biased," he said. "They made a decision to sign Michal Neuvirth, which was their choice. I think it probably surprised a bunch of people, but, again, that's the Flyers' choice, and we just have to react to that."(Photo courtesy: Action Images)At this point in his career, Mason appears to be your classic "tweener": too good to be a pure backup, but not good enough be a true No. 1. Regardless, there will be work for a very serviceable NHL netminder, especially with two more goaltender spots up for grabs in the league with Vegas entering the fold."At the end of the day, there's a goalie marketplace out there, and I think there will be significant opportunities out there for Steve," Thun said.As for the Flyers, they certainly can't be content with Neuvirth and Anthony Stolarz, who has just four NHL starts under his belt, as their goaltending tandem heading into the season.Look for them to be one of the many teams in play for a goaltender via trade. It's hard to imagine they'd make a deal with divisional rival Pittsburgh for Marc-Andre Fleury, but Arizona's Mike Smith seems like a good fit as a stop gap.If the Flyers can't find a viable trade partner, they will have to turn to the list of free-agent goalies headlined by Ryan Miller, Brian Elliott, Jonathan Bernier, and Mike Condon. Yikes.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Dan Girardi will be greatly missed by the face of the New York Rangers.That would be franchise goaltender Henrik Lundqvist, who took to Instagram on Wednesday to bid farewell to the defenseman in light of the team's announcement that Girardi's contract will be bought out.

Ottawa Senators defenseman Erik Karlsson underwent surgery to repair torn tendons in his left foot on Wednesday and is expected to miss four months while he recovers, the team announced."Erik underwent surgery earlier today in Charlotte, N.C, to repair torn tendons in his left foot," general manager Pierre Dorion said in a statement. "The tears, which occurred during this year's Stanley Cup Playoffs, were found during an MRI as part of an extensive medical evaluation following the season."Related: Karlsson receives Conn Smythe vote despite not reaching finalsFollowing the Senators' first-round series against the Boston Bruins, Karlsson admitted to playing with two hairline fractures in his heel, an injury he is believed to have played with for the duration of the postseason.As for next campaign, the team is hopeful that Karlsson's expected four-month recovery will allow him to be healthy for the start of the 2017-18 season.Karlsson led all defenseman in scoring in the playoffs with 18 points in 19 games, while finishing sixth overall in the postseason scoring race.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

They call him "Playoff Bert."In order for the Detroit Red Wings to return to the playoffs anytime soon, recent draft picks are going to have to pan out in a big way. And one that's made a formidable impression at the AHL level is Tyler Bertuzzi, who was named Calder Cup Playoffs MVP after helping the Grand Rapids Griffins capture the league championship Tuesday.

Shane Doan has officially played for just one organization in his 21-year career, making him one of nine players in NHL history to do so.A free agent on July 1, Doan could be interested in extending his run."He hasn't made a final decision, but I think he's leaning toward playing one more year; I think he's going to play," Doan's agent Terry Bross said, according to Craig Morgan of ArizonaSports.com. "His body feels good, he loves the game, and he loves the players."Doan spent his rookie season with the original rendition of the Winnipeg Jets in 1995-96 and has since spent 20 years with the Phoenix and Arizona Coyotes. He has served as the team's captain since 2003, making him the current longest-tenured taker of ceremonial faceoffs in the league. His seven franchise records include goals, assists, and points.In many ways, the 2016-17 season was the worst of Doan's career. He scored just six goals in 74 games, after potting 28 in 72 games a year ago. He finished the season with 27 points, his lowest full-season total since 1998-99. His average 15:03 of ice time per game was his lowest since the '98-'99 season.Doan plans on speaking more with his family before making a decision, according to Bross. The free-agent-to-be would then need to meet with Coyotes general manager John Chayka in order to see if he still fits in with the team's plans.Doan's decision is expected prior to the NHL Draft over the weekend of June 23-24, when Arizona will look to inject even more young talent into their roster.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Chris Neil has only ever called one NHL city home.The 16-year veteran has played all of his 1,026 games in an Ottawa Senators uniform, but that number won't hit 1,027. That's because Neil and the Senators agreed to go their separate ways on Wednesday, with the gritty forward now looking elsewhere for employment."They had a meeting with him and told him, ‘We don’t think you’re going to be happy with this role,'" Neil’s agent, Todd Reynolds, told Postmedia."Neil said, ‘Yeah, I don’t think I would be either and it’s probably not what I’d like to endure for a year.’ (They agreed), 'Let’s just mutually go our separate ways here and see if something better is out there for you where they’re going to give you eight, nine, or 10 minutes a night possibly.'"Neil suited up for just 53 games last season, while tallying four points to go along with 63 penalty minutes.Despite his lack of influence on the stat sheet, Neil was a fan favorite in Ottawa, endearing himself to the Senators faithful with his aggressive, team-first style.The rugged winger finishes his time as a Senator with 2,522 career penalty minutes - good for top spot on Ottawa's all-time list.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

He rides hot dogs, he occasionally snaps on his teammates, and ... he signs babies.Pittsburgh Penguins forward Phil Kessel really can do it all, stopping to sign a young Penguins fan Wednesday at the Pens' Stanley Cup victory parade.

The Pittsburgh Penguins' Stanley Cup victory parade and rally drew an estimated 650,000 people downtown. Not bad for a city that, officially, has only 305,000 residents.The crowd estimate by city public works and public safety officials makes it the largest parade, by far, to turn out for any of the Penguins' five championships. Last year's parade drew about 400,000 people - the most up to that point - and officials predicted as many as 500,000 might turn out to celebrate the team's back-to-back championships.This year's parade was different than last year's in that it ended at Point State Park, where a stage was set up so the team and coaches could address the fans.Sunny weather and temperatures in the mid-80s helped the turnout.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Wednesday marked the fifth time since 1991 that the city of Pittsburgh held a Stanley Cup parade to celebrate its champion Penguins.Autographs were signed, beers were enjoyed, and of course, Sidney Crosby and his shiny silver friend were in attendance.Here is a selection of 10 great pictures from Wednesday's festivities:

Dan Girardi has played his last game as a New York Ranger.The club will buy out the veteran defenseman's contract, ending his 11-year tenure in New York.Girardi had a modified no-movement clause, meaning the Rangers would have needed to protect him in the upcoming expansion draft.The 33-year-old intends to continue his NHL career and will be looking at his options as an unrestricted free agent as soon as his buyout is complete, according to Sportsnet's Chris Johnston.Girardi originally carried a $5.5-million cap hit over each of the next three seasons, but will now be on the books for the next six years at a lower annual rate.Season Buyout Cap Hit2017-18$2.61M2018-19$3.61M2019-20$3.61M2020-21$1.11M2021-22$1.11M2022-23$1.11M(Courtesy: CapFriendly)The Rangers can buy Girardi out as soon as the buyout period opens Thursday, because having a no-movement clause means he won't have to be placed on waivers beforehand."I poured my heart and soul into this team for the past 11 seasons and I enjoyed every minute of it," Girardi said in a statement Wednesday. "I want to acknowledge that the Rangers are a first-class organization (which has) always treated our players in a first-class fashion. My family and I are most grateful for the way we have been treated during our stay in New York."Girardi ranks ninth on the Rangers' all-time games played list (788), having chipped in 184 assists and 230 points.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Nashville Predators winger James Neal only managed to score once during his last 10 games of the 2017 Stanley Cup Playoffs, but there was apparently a good reason for it.Related: Offseason Outlook: Smashville's ready for its close-upAccording to the team, Neal broke his hand during Game 1 of the conference finals against the Anaheim Ducks, but managed to play through the pain and even scored the game-winning goal in overtime of that very same contest.Neal would go on to play in the Predators' final 11 games, finishing the postseason with six goals and three assists.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

June is an incredibly busy month for the NHL, but that doesn't mean we can't look ahead to what's coming. Free agency begins at 12 p.m. ET on July 1, and we're ranking the top 80 unrestricted free agents in a seven-post series ahead of the madness.As we count down the UFA market from 20th to 11th, this veteran group ranks near the best of what may be available this summer:20. Mike Condon (G)Age on Oct. 1: 27

They'll be playing in the Buffalo Bills' building, so it's only natural that Team USA's jerseys will have a football feel.The governing body for American hockey revealed the sweaters its world junior squad will don for the first-ever outdoor game in tournament history at New Era Field in Buffalo on Dec. 29.

Ray Shero isn't completely ruling out trading the first overall pick, but he's leaning toward keeping it."I've gotten calls asking if there's interest moving down and other calls where it's been more specific and it's something to think about," the New Jersey Devils general manager told NHL.com's Mike Morreale. "But I haven't called them back. The idea is we'll probably be picking, but we're open to a lot of things."Shero doesn't have a specific price in mind for a potential deal."What would it get me to trade the No. 1 pick outright? I couldn't even tell you," he said. "It hasn't been done that much, but if we did do something like that it would be pretty apparent it was the right thing to do. You have to be ready for all different scenarios in moving up or down, and in this case down."Nolan Patrick topped Central Scouting's final rankings for North American skaters, but either he or Nico Hischier could conceivably be selected first."I think Nico is a little better skater; they both are good defensively," Devils director of amateur scouting Paul Castron said."Patrick has the size edge and both are so smart. It's all projection for us and we stress that in all our meetings. No matter what round we're picking, the guy that scores 90 points and the guy that scores 60 points must be looked at separately because there are a lot of factors that come into play. Some guys get more ice time and it's no different than in the NHL. The guys with the most points are usually the guys that get the most power-play time."We'll find out what the Devils do with the top pick when the draft begins June 23 in Chicago.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Florida Panthers general manager Dale Tallon announced Wednesday that former NHL defenseman Bryan McCabe has been promoted to the position of director of player personnel.McCabe has worked in the Panthers' organization over the past five years, most recently holding the title of director of player development.The 42-year-old suited up for six NHL franchises over the course of his 16-year career, including three seasons in Florida between 2008-11 when he served as the team's sixth captain in franchise history.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Toronto Maple Leafs super rookie Mitch Marner was on hand Tuesday at Rogers Centre to throw out the first pitch prior to the contest between the Blue Jays and Tampa Bay Rays.Although it was a hot day in The Six, his selection of shorts had some people chiming in on social media.

With the NHL offseason now underway, we're looking at what's in store for each club in the coming months.2016-17 Grade: A-Take a bow, Nashville. You truly were the feel-good story of the NHL year.Although the Predators backed into the playoffs, losing five of their last seven regular-season games and finishing eighth in the Western Conference, their postseason run put the league on notice.Nashville proved playoff seedings are really just numbers on a page, knocking out the powerhouse Chicago Blackhawks in the first round with an impressive four-game sweep en route to the Stanley Cup Final - and we all know what happened there.Free AgentsOnce the dust settles on Nashville's playoff run, general manager David Poile's busy summer kicks off with the expansion and entry drafts.Not only will Poile have to decide what players to protect, which should be interesting due to how well his entire roster played during the playoffs, a hefty list of talented free agents requires his attention.Ryan Johansen and Viktor Arvidsson highlight the group.Player (Position)2017-18 StatusAge2016-17 Cap Hit2016-17 PointsMike Fisher (F)UFA37$4.4M42Vernon Fiddler (F)UFA37$1.25M4P.A. Parenteau (F)UFA34$1.25M28Harry Zolnierczyk (F)UFA29$575K4Yannick Weber (D)UFA28$575K8Brad Hunt (D)UFA28$600K6Austin Watson (F)RFA25$575K17Frederick Gaudreau (F)RFA24$595K1Ryan Johansen (F)RFA24$4M61Pontus Aberg (F)RFA23$780K2Viktor Arvidsson (F)RFA24$631K61Nashville is currently stacked in net with Pekka Rinne and Juuse Saros firmly entrenched in the No. 1 and No. 2 spots, respectively, so retaining third-stringer Marek Mazanec would strictly be a depth move.Goalie2017-18 StatusAge2016-17 Cap Hit2016-17 SV%Marek MazanecRFA25$575K.8392017 Draft PicksSelecting 30th in the first round would represent a challenge for most GMs, but Poile has a proven knack for finding diamonds in the rough - Rinne was drafted in the eighth round.RoundPicks112131405161 (From NYR)71The Preds may also be inclined to move their first-rounder in some kind of package deal to address one of their needs listed below.Summer Priorities (Photos courtesy: Action Images)1. Re-sign Johansen and ArvidssonNashville's top scorers from the 2016-17 campaign are in line for significant raises this summer.Not only did Johansen and Arvidsson lead the team in goals, assists, and points, but they're key cogs in Peter Laviolette's speed-first approach and contribute on special teams, too - Arvidsson led the league in shorthanded goals with five.Johansen and Arvidsson make the Preds tick. Replacing either of them now would be a mistake that Poile will surely avoid.2. Leave Neal unprotected, or trade himJames Neal is coming off his worst offensive showing in three seasons.He's also 29 years old, and if his regular-season performance - 23 goals and 18 assists - is any indication of what he has left in the tank, the Preds would be wise to move on from the streaky scorer and go with a younger, cheaper option like Calle Jarnkrok.Both players are candidates for Poile's expansion-list chopping block, and if Neal is left unprotected and goes unselected, he may be moved to the trade block.3. Land a top-six centerAfter Johansen, Nashville's roster is a bit sketchy up the middle.Credit is due to guys like Mike Fisher, Colton Sissons, and Jarnkrok for their efforts, but realistically, those players just don't have the talent the Predators need to take the club over the top.Free-agent centers Martin Hanzal and Sam Gagner could fill that void nicely.2017-18 OutlookThis is the section that usually says your team's future looks bright - and yes, get the shades ready, because the potential for sustained success in Nashville is downright dazzling.The Predators arguably tout the best defensive core in the game, and they have P.K. Subban, Roman Josi, Mattias Ekholm, and Ryan Ellis all locked down for at least the next two seasons.Playoff puck will be back on Broadway in 2018. Ready the catfish accordingly.COL | VAN | NJD | ARI | BUF

Evgeni Malkin is one of the greatest players ever, yet still seemingly underrated and underappreciated by the hockey world.Sidney Crosby was awarded this year's Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP. There's no question he was deserving, but the award easily could have gone to Malkin. He had 10 goals and a playoff-leading 28 points in 25 games.In fact, Malkin's career playoff numbers are downright absurd. His 157 playoff points are the 26th-most all time, and his 1.054 points per game in the postseason ranks 21st. Oh, and he's just 30 years old and is playing in one of the lowest-scoring eras in NHL history.Malkin doesn't just wait until the playoffs to elevate his game, though.Malkin also sits 14th all time in regular-season points per game, ahead of players such as Pat LaFontaine, Steve Yzerman, and Eric Lindros.However, when it comes to era-adjusted points per game, which is arguably the best tool to compare players from different eras, Malkin is truly among the game's elite:PlayerGPAdj. PtsAdj. PPG1. Mario Lemieux91515401.682. Wayne Gretzky148724751.663. Sidney Crosby78211431.464. Peter Forsberg7089771.385. Bobby Orr6578781.346. Evgeni Malkin7069281.317. Alex Ovechkin90311591.288. Eric Lindros7609421.249. Gordie Howe176721901.2410. Joe Sakic137816791.22Statistically, Malkin is clearly one of the best ever, and he also has the hardware to back it up, having won a Calder Trophy, two Art Ross Trophies, a Conn Smythe Award, a Hart Trophy, a Lester B. Pearson Award, and now three Stanley Cups.So, why doesn't he get more credit?Though there are certainly many reasons, two stand out:Sid's sidekick(Photo courtesy: Getty Images)The duo of Crosby and Malkin is the biggest reason why the Penguins have three Stanley Cups in the past decade. How many Cups would Crosby have without Malkin? How many would Malkin have without Crosby? The answer to both: probably none.Regardless of both of their contributions, Malkin has seemingly lived in Crosby's shadow his entire career. Crosby was a No. 1 overall pick, debuted in the NHL first, won a Hart Trophy first, and is the team's captain.Crosby quickly became the face of the league after debuting, while Malkin had to overcome a language barrier early in his career, and was seen in interviews far less often than his All-World counterpart, which brings us to reason No. 2:From Russia, but no love(Photo courtesy: Action Images)If Malkin was born in Canada and Crosby was born in Russia, how would their careers be different?Would Malkin be the one with two Olympic golds and a World Cup? Would he have been the "face" of the league? Would he have ended up being Pittsburgh's captain? Would he have been taken ahead of Alex Ovechkin in the 2004 NHL Draft and never even became a Penguin at all? It's an alternate universe that we can only imagine.Regardless, anyone who believes that being from Russia doesn't affect Malkin's position in the hierarchy of the game's stars is ignorant.Legacy(Photo courtesy: Action Images)Malkin's absence from the NHL100 list was a flat-out joke. He's arguably among the 20 greatest players of all time - maybe even cracking the top 10 when all is said and done. Remember, he is still just 30 years old.Even at 6-foot-3, he still gets lost in Crosby's shadow, as well as amidst the slew of great North American players in the NHL today. Fans of the game sometimes need to be reminded how truly great Malkin is, and how we shouldn't take a generational player like him for granted.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Though Nashville Predators fans are still mourning their Stanley Cup Final loss, the team's No. 1 center, Ryan Johansen, offered some good news Tuesday.Johansen's ahead of schedule in his recovery from emergency thigh surgery and expects he'll be able to resume skating in a couple of weeks, he told Robby Stanley of NHL.com.The forward underwent the operation following an overtime loss in Game 4 of the Western Conference Final against the Anaheim Ducks.Johansen was diagnosed with acute compartment syndrome, which, in severe cases, can be limb- and life-threatening.In his first full season in a Predators uniform, Johansen recorded 14 goals and 61 points in 82 games. Before his injury, he had 13 points in 14 playoff games.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

P.K. Subban says he wasn't hushed by the Nashville Predators.The Predators defenseman became the talk of the series with his promise to win Game 3 against the Pittsburgh Penguins, his on-ice wrestling match with Sidney Crosby, and the whole Listerine fiasco, but then he mysteriously went silent, not talking to the media for three days ahead of Game 6.Related: Subban's mysterious silence raises questionsHis absence had many speculating that the former Norris Trophy winner was held back by the team. On Tuesday, Subban cleared the air, telling reporters we wasn't restricted from talking to the media ahead of Game 6, according to Joe Rexrode of The Tennessean.He added that he simply forgot about his media appearance.