Sidney Crosby says the Pittsburgh Penguins aren't using P.K. Subban's Game 3 guarantee as bulletin-board material."Nobody has really talked about it, to be honest," Crosby told reporters Friday. "I think we know that this time of year, there's no shortage of motivation. I think going into this situation, we expect their best game. We expect a desperate team. It's not something we've discussed. I think at this point you're motivated enough. We know we've got to be ready for tomorrow."Subban guaranteed his Nashville Predators would win Game 3 after a 4-1 loss in Game 2 on Wednesday night, doubling down on the statement Friday by saying he feels even more confident about a win after a night of rest.Crosby and the Penguins won the first two games of the championship round, but he says there are still areas in which he can improve."I've got to win more faceoffs," he said Friday. "That will go a long way for our possession. ... It comes down to execution. We have to be patient."Crosby was 10-for-29 in the faceoff circle in Game 2 after going 16-for-27 in Game 1.Game 3 goes Saturday night as the series shifts to Tennessee.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Jim Montgomery is pulling out of the race.The University of Denver coach has removed his name from consideration to become the next head coach of the Florida Panthers, Montgomery told The Denver Post on Friday.Montgomery had a second interview with the Panthers last month but has decided to remain with Denver, which he led to the NCAA championship this season. The 47-year-old has spent the past three seasons with Denver."My family and I are very happy here," Montgomery told Mike Chambers of the Post.Montgomery's NHL playing career concluded in 2002 after stints with St. Louis, Philadelphia, Montreal, San Jose, and Dallas.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Stomp your feet or plug your ears; either reaction would be totally justifiable upon hearing the latest hockey-related ditty from Billy Ray Cyrus.In advance of Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final - the first ever to be hosted by the Nashville Predators - the country music star has penned a song called "Bring the Stanley Cup to Tennessee."Based on the fact the Predators find themselves in an 0-2 hole at the hands of the Pittsburgh Penguins, they may want to blast Miley Cyrus' "The Climb" in the locker room instead.- With h/t to Rolling StoneCopyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Boston Bruins appear ready to lock up David Pastrnak.On the heels of a breakout season, the young winger is set to become a restricted free agent, but general manager Don Sweeney - who's attending the NHL's draft combine in Buffalo - appears hopeful in regards to mutually agreeing upon a long-term deal.

Predators defenseman P.K. Subban is excited about taking the ice in Nashville for Saturday's Game 3."I think it'll be one of the best sports atmospheres, definitely in NHL history," he said Friday, according to Greg Wyshynski of Yahoo! Sports.Bridgestone Arena should be electric as Nashville hosts its first Stanley Cup Final game ever. Tickets have been going for absurd amounts of money - some for more than $10,000, while seats in the nosebleeds will set you back more than $1,000.Subban has also guaranteed the "Smashville" crowd a win.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Grand Rapids Griffins weren't the only big winners Saturday at Van Andel Arena.During the second intermission of the Griffins' 4-2 win over the San Jose Barracuda, which secured their ticket to the Calder Cup Finals, the Zamboni driver took a few laps around with his girlfriend by his side before stopping at center ice and proposing.This is the second proposal at Van Andel Arena in recent months. In March, a woman popped the question to her boyfriend while on the kiss cam.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Pittsburgh Penguins forward Nick Bonino will be a game-time decision for Saturday's Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final, head coach Mike Sullivan announced Friday.Bonino is day to day with a lower-body injury that came in Game 2 which is believed to have been the result of blocking a P.K. Subban one-timer.

Carl Hagelin isn't a fan of being sidelined during the Stanley Cup Final.The Pittsburgh Penguins forward, who's been scratched from the first two games of the championship series against the Nashville Predators, admitted to being upset about the situation, but doesn't want to make an issue out of it.

Philadelphia Flyers general manager Ron Hextall expects his club to be on the podium when the second overall selection is made at this year's draft.Speaking at the NHL Combine on Friday, Hextall admitted that the team is listening to calls regarding the No. 2 pick, but that he expects to keep it."I've said this a couple times, but we'll listen," Hextall said, according to NHL.com's Adam Kimelman. "I'm not doing my job if I don't listen. You never know what's going to come along. As I said initially, I don't anticipate trading the pick but you never know what comes along. You gotta be open to making your franchise better. If something comes along that makes us better we'll consider it. But I do anticipate making the pick."The Flyers finished the season with the 12th-worst record in the NHL, but were gifted the second overall selection at the draft lottery.The pick will be the team's highest since 2007 when the club drafted current Toronto Maple Leafs forward James van Riemsdyk second overall.With Nolan Patrick as the consensus No. 1 pick in this year's draft, it's looking more and more likely that the Flyers will end up plucking Halifax Mooseheads forward Nico Hischier.That is unless someone is able to sweep Hextall off his feet.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

In this week's roundtable, we're looking ahead to the Vegas Golden Knights - the 31st NHL franchise, which will officially have a team in three weeks. And if it were up to us, Jaromir Jagr, Kevin Shattenkirk, and Marc-Andre Fleury would be on it.Jaromir JagrSean O'Leary: This one is likely up to No. 68 himself, but what better place for one of the most popular players in the NHL than the entertainment capital of the world?Jagr is an unrestricted free agent, and probably doesn't fit in Florida's protection plans. Should he choose to sign a new contract - as he's indicated several times he'd like to - Vegas would be a terrific destination for the ageless wonder.(Photo courtesy: Action Images)The 45-year-old is coming off a 46-point season with the Florida Panthers that moved him into second on the all-time scoring list.A player of his stature would provide entertainment value at the very least. Jagr has never shied away from the bright lights that come with stardom, and his fun-loving attitude could be a perfect match for Sin City.Kevin Shattenkirk(Photo courtesy: Getty Images)Josh Gold-Smith: The Golden Knights are surely looking to make a splash, and what better way to do that than by signing one of the biggest fish on the free-agent market?Shattenkirk will come with a hefty price tag, and he's likely to be more interested in playing for a contender - probably on the East Coast - than an expansion franchise, but Vegas should make a run at him nonetheless.The consistently productive 28-year-old would give Vegas both a proven power-play quarterback and a player with plenty of playoff experience.Shattenkirk could anchor the blue line for years, and given the parity we've seen in the NHL recently, it's not inconceivable that he could be a key cog on a team that quickly becomes competitive.The opportunity to play for an established Cup hopeful is one thing, but the Golden Knights should sell him on having a chance to lead a young club while helping it become a contender in one of America's most exciting cities.Marc-Andre Fleury(Photo courtesy: Action Images)Flip Livingstone: Marc-Andre Fleury's career as a member of the Pittsburgh Penguins will likely come to an end with 375 career regular-season wins, 44 shutouts, and, most importantly, two - maybe three - Stanley Cup rings.Sure, he plays on the same squad as Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, but regardless, Fleury's a proven goaltender with a winning pedigree - two characteristics the Golden Knights need in their man between the pipes.Ryan Miller and Mike Condon have also been mentioned as potential options in goal for Vegas, but neither is as playoff-tested or decorated as the Flower.Stats and track record aside, Fleury can still play at an elite level - he proved that in the playoffs. He'll turn 33 in late November and would offer the Golden Knights the kind of stability in the crease that most expansion teams can only long for.Fleury's a perfect fit on the strip, and would immediately put Vegas on the hockey map.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

On Wednesday, Maple Leafs general manager Lou Lamoriello said naming a captain "isn't something in the forefront" and that he "would not be surprised if we did not have a captain next year."No Maple Leaf has donned the "C" since Dion Phaneuf's departure midway through the 2015-16 season.Nothing has been said by the team about who will be the 19th captain in Maple Leafs history, but all signs point toward phenom Auston Matthews. Head coach Mike Babcock has hinted that it would be Matthews, and recently gushed over the type of person he is off the ice in a sit-down interview with TSN's Darren Dreger.Aside from the fact that Babcock has alluded to Matthews being fit to wear the "C," it doesn't take a brain surgeon to figure out that he's the obvious choice.Matthews has already shown that he can lead on the ice, displaying an impressive two-way game in his rookie campaign, scoring 40 goals and leading all Leafs forwards in ice time. He also displayed a calm demeanor when handling the unforgiving Toronto media, carrying himself as someone mature beyond his years.Knowing Matthews is Toronto's eventual captain, some fans and media members alike may wonder, "why delay the inevitable?"(Photo courtesy: Action Images)Lamoriello has very strict guidelines when it comes to protecting his rookies. Ever wonder why James van Riemsdyk, Morgan Rielly, Jake Gardiner, or Nazem Kadri seemingly did every single in-game interview last season, even though Matthews, Mitch Marner, and William Nylander were far more interesting subjects? That's because Lamoriello preferred to shelter the first-year players.In his sophomore season, Matthews will be on the same level playing field as everyone else when it comes to how often he can be interviewed. Given how polarizing of a figure he is as the Leafs' first No. 1 overall pick since Wendel Clark, and how successful he was in his rookie year, he is going to have microphones and recorders in his face as much as possible.Matthews should experience a full year of answering questions before, during, and after games before he is given the captaincy.People will argue, "Connor McDavid was named captain his second year." Yes, but you can't even begin to compare the Toronto media market with Edmonton. Being the captain of the Maple Leafs is equivalent to being the quarterback of the Dallas Cowboys, or the face of the New York Yankees.Imagine he were given the "C" this coming season - his first with full exposure to the media - and he went without a goal through the first 10 games, while the Leafs stumbled to a 3-7 start? The press would eat the young American alive.Expectations are high for the Maple Leafs this season, and while there's no question Matthews is the right man for the job, there's simply no harm, no foul in delaying his captaincy for another season.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Pittsburgh Penguins are well on their way to a back-to-back Stanley Cup wins.By prevailing in the opening two games of the final against the Nashville Predators, the odds of finishing the job for the second year in a row are ever in their favor.Here's a look at a few numbers to back that up:50: Since the final went to the best-of-seven format in 1939, 50 teams have taken a 2-0 series lead.5: Number of teams in that time to win the Cup after dropping the opening two games. That gives the Predators only a 10 percent chance of making a comeback.But wait, there's more.37: Of those 50 teams, 37 Cup finalists built a 2-0 series lead at home.34: Teams that have gone on to win the Cup after taking a 2-0 series lead at home. This increases Pittsburgh's chances of winning to 92 percent.(Photo courtesy: Getty Images)3: Of the 45 teams that have won the Cup after taking a 2-0 series lead, the list includes the last three: the Los Angeles Kings (2012, 2014) and last year's Penguins.However, a few other numbers suggest there's some hope for the Predators.2: On two occasions in the past eight years, a team has lost the first two games of the final on the road and went on to win the Cup. The Penguins pulled off the feat against the Detroit Red Wings in 2009, and the Boston Bruins did it against the Vancouver Canucks in 2011.7-1: Nashville's record on home ice this postseason.64-39: The difference in shots for and against in favor of the Predators over the first two games of the series.One number in particular must change in order for the Predators to have any chance..778: Pekka Rinne's save percentage in the Cup Final. If neither he nor Juuse Saros (if called upon) can drastically improve that stat, this series could be over in the fewest number of games necessary.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

P.K. Subban stands by his claim that the Nashville Predators will take care of business on home ice.Following a Game 2 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins that put his team in an 0-2 series hole in the Stanley Cup Final, Subban came right out and said, "we're going to win the next game, and then we'll see what happens from there."He slept on it, and still feels the same way."I feel even more confident now that I've had a night of rest," Subban declared Thursday, per Nick Cotsonika of NHL.com. "There's no question. We're going to win the next game, and then we'll move forward."The Predators have gone 7-1 at home in the playoffs, and the Bridgestone Arena crowd should give the team a boost."You would think ... leaving Pittsburgh without a win, that might shake the confidence," coach Peter Laviolette said. "I can tell you that it doesn't. I just met with the guys. I can see it in their eyes."Game 3 is set for Saturday at 8 p.m. ET.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

With the offseason underway for a number of teams and the remainder to join them in a few weeks, we're looking at what's in store for each club in the coming months.2016-17 Grade: B+The Wild set a franchise record with 106 points during the regular season. A milestone like this would usually lead to an A grade, but being upset by the St. Louis Blues in the first round of the playoffs brings it down a notch. Even though they largely outplayed the Blues, wrapping up such a great season with only one playoff win leaves a bitter taste.Free AgentsUnfortunately for the Wild, they have some key names that will need new contracts this summer, specifically on the RFA side:Player (Position)2017-18 StatusAge2016-17 Cap Hit'16-17 Points/SV%Jordan Schroeder (RW)RFA26$600K13Martin Hanzal (C)UFA30$3.1M39Ryan White (C)UFA29$1M16Mikael Granlund (RW)RFA25$3M69Erik Haula (C)RFA26$1M26Nino Niederreiter (RW)RFA24$2.67M57Nate Prosser (D)UFA31$625K7Christian Folin (D)RFA26$725K8Victor Bartley (D)UFA29$650K0Darcy Kuemper (G)UFA27$1.55M.9022017 Draft PicksThe Wild have six picks in the upcoming NHL Entry Draft, though none in the first two rounds.RoundPicks10203142 (Own+Coyotes)516171(Photo courtesy: Action Images)Summer Priorities1. Lock up Mikael GranlundA full-time move to the wing paid huge dividends for Granlund, and will likely result in a nice contract this offseason. He set career highs with 26 goals, 43 assists, a plus-23 rating, and 177 shots on goal. It took some time for the former ninth overall pick to develop, but he has finally arrived.The 25-year-old is highly skilled and should only continue to get better. The Wild need to ensure that he is a part of their future moving forward. The only problem is, it will cost a pretty penny.2. Re-sign Nino NiederreiterWhile locking up Granlund should remain priority No. 1, extending Niederreiter shouldn't be too far behind. Niederreiter's breakout season wasn't as extreme, but he too set career highs in goals (25), assists (32), plus/minus (+17), and shots on goal (186).Niederreiter can not only produce offensively, but he plays a rugged style of game. The 6-foot-2, 211-pound winger has recorded at least 120 hits in each of the past five seasons.Niederreiter is only 24 years old and should continue to progress at a steady rate. He's a versatile player who can skate in the top six, but can also be used as a checker on the third line if needed. Locking him up to a four- or five-year deal shouldn't cost an absurd amount, either.3. Get rid of Jason Pominville somehowPominville has averaged 14 goals and 45.6 points per season over the last three years. The 34-year-old has a cap hit of $5.6 million for the next two seasons.It's hard to imagine any team wanting Pominville given his waning production and his expensive contract. The only team that might be willing to take a chance on the veteran would be the Vegas Golden Knights, but it's unlikely Pominville would waive his no-movement clause to go to a team not ready to compete.Even if Pominville were to allow the move Vegas, Minnesota would need to sweeten to the deal by giving up a prospect or a draft pick.If the Wild can't find a suitor for Pominville (even if they retain some salary), buying him out is the most logical solution. Here is how Pominville's buyout would be spread out, according to Cap Friendly.SeasonBuyout Cap Hit2017-18$4.35M2018-19$1.85M2019-20$1.25M2020-21$1.25MAs you can see, the first year is a bit of a tough pill to swallow, but it's smooth sailing afterwards. Buying him out as soon as possible is ideal. Teams have to submit their protection lists for the expansion draft by June 17. If the Wild doesn't buy him out before then, they could risk losing a player such as Jason Zucker to Vegas.2017-18 OutlookMinnesota's 2016-17 season was no fluke. The Wild are a team with insurmountable depth both up front and on the back end. Plus, they have a great goaltender in Devan Dubnyk.The Wild can't even be totally blamed for getting ousted in the first round by the Blues. Their expected goals for per 60 minutes at 5-on-5 in the series was 2.47, while their expected goals against per 60 minutes was just 1.58. They simply ran into a red-hot goalie in Jake Allen. The Wild averaged 36.4 shots per game in the playoffs, but Allen's save percentage was an absurd .956.If they stay healthy, the Wild could very well contend for first in the Western Conference once again.Offseason Outlook SeriesCOL | VAN | NJD | ARI | BUF

A former NHL head coach is officially a free agent.Paul MacLean will not return as assistant coach of the Anaheim Ducks next season in what the club described as a mutual decision following the expiration of his contract.The 59-year-old had been a Ducks assistant since joining former Anaheim bench boss Bruce Boudreau's staff in June 2015.MacLean spent three-plus seasons as head coach of the Ottawa Senators from 2011-14. He won the Jack Adams Award in 2013, but was fired in December 2014 after the Senators started 11-11-5.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The fact that Ryan Johansen has been forced to watch his club from the sidelines hasn't been as hard as he expected.The Nashville Predators center was ruled out for the remainder of the playoffs following Game 4 of the Western Conference Final after undergoing surgery for acute compartment syndrome.Since then, the 24-year-old has watched his club win two games to knock out the Anaheim Ducks, but subsequently drop two games to the Pittsburgh Penguins in the Cup Final.The Predators surely miss having Johansen in the lineup, but the star forward admits it's been easy to watch his team from afar simply because they have fared so well in his absence."Watching the game, obviously I really want to be out there, just being a part of the team and stuff," Johansen said during a press conference on Thursday.

The New York Islanders are one summer away from a massive rebuild. The moves they make in the summer of '17 and the results based off those moves will decide the direction of the coming roster overhaul.The Isles are coming off their fifth season without a playoff appearance in captain John Tavares' eight-year career. In the three occasions they qualified for the postseason, they couldn't make it out of the second round.Islanders head coach Doug Weight stressed Thursday how committed Tavares is to winning, and winning often."Ultimately for him, that's his goal, and if it has to be somewhere else, I think it would be," Weight told Sirius XM NHL Network Radio.The Islanders are heading into a pivotal offseason with an estimated $2 million in cap space, and defenseman Calvin De Haan listed as a restricted free agent. In the final year of Tavares' contract, they'll start almost the exact same roster that went 41-29-12 and missed the playoffs by a single point in 2016-17.In order to convince their star he can win his desired "multiple Stanley Cups" in New York, they'll need to show a commitment to winning with little wiggle room under the projected $73-million salary cap. Any significant alterations to their roster will have to occur via trade.Whether it's with the Islanders or a new team, Tavares will see himself as the centerpiece of a much different roster in two years.Should he ultimately elect to stay in The Big Apple, he'd join the nine players currently under contract for the 2018-19 season.Player16/17 GPPointsA. Ladd7831A. Lee8152C. Clutterbuck6620C. Cizikas5925A. Beauvillier6624J. Boychuk6623N. Leddy8146T. Hamonic4914T. Greiss51.913 SV%(Courtesy: CapFriendly.com)These nine players account for an estimated cap hit of $35,684,643, leaving the team roughly $37 million in salary room, assuming a $73-million cap.Here's a look at some ways the Islanders can turn themselves into a perennial winner and show Tavares they're as committed to his future as they want him to be to theirs:Get OvechkinWashington Capitals general manager Brian MacLellan mentioned earlier this week that while he's not actively seeking out a trade partner with maligned forward Alex Ovechkin, he would accept a "hockey deal." Ovechkin's massive cap hit makes him a tough fit for New York, but the team could put together a competitive package of similar overall salaries. For example:To New York: Ovechkin ($9.54 millions through 2020/21)To Washington: F Ryan Strome ($2.5 million for 2017/18), D Nick Leddy ($5.5 million through 2021/22), F Joshua Ho-Sang ($863,333 through 2018/19), D Ryan Pulock ($853,333 for 2017/18)The four pieces coming back in exchange for the declining Ovechkin could interest the Capitals. The NHL salaries are similar, leaving New York with just a little fine tuning to be in compliance with the cap. It weakens the Islanders' long-term outlook, but with so much freedom just one more year away, they might be able to bring Batman back with a new and improved Robin, and worry about the rest of the supporting cast when the time comes.Get a head start on the 2018-19 free-agent classAnother difficult path Islanders GM Garth Snow can take to show his commitment to Tavares is acquiring players with just one year left on their contracts and re-signing them prior to the team's 2018-19 rebuild. This move would help the team be competitive as soon as next year, while also bolstering its long-term outlook.Columbus Blue Jackets forward Cam Atkinson represents the best of the forwards expected to be available next summer. He's owed $3.5 million in real salary and in cap hit for 2017-18, and is coming off a career-best 62-point campaign. The Blue Jackets have more than $20 million in projected cap space for 2018-19, and Atkinson quickly became their top offensive star, making him a very tough get. Snow may be forced into overpaying both in trade assets and salary.Nothing they give up, though, would be as detrimental as Tavares leaving for free.(Photos courtesy: Action Images)Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Tampa Bay's gain is Pyeongchang's loss.After revealing plans for the Lightning to host the 2018 All-Star Game and associated festivities earlier this week, NHL commissioner Gary Bettman attended a press conference Thursday in Tampa Bay, where he snuffed out any lasting hope that NHL players would participate in the 2018 Winter Olympics."No possibility," Bettman said, per Joe Smith of the Tampa Bay Times. "I think we've been about as clear on this subject as we can."I know there's a lot of people saying, the National Ice Hockey Federation, the IOC, even the players association, 'Oh no, this can still happen.' No it can't. We'll be here, looking forward to being here, and the Olympics should not be a concern."The league didn't hold All-Star Games in the three past Olympic years (2014, 2010, 2006) due to already compressed schedules that allowed NHL players to travel to Sochi, Vancouver, and Turin.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Facilitating Ilya Kovalchuk's NHL return isn't at the top of New Jersey Devils general manager Ray Shero's to-do list quite yet.The Russian forward is interested in returning to North America following a four-year KHL hiatus, but - pending the approval of all 31 owners - can only do so via the Devils, either as a member of the team or by way of a sign-and-trade.Related: 5 logical destinations for Ilya KovalchukShero, for his part, remains in wait-and-see mode."Kovalchuk kind of drives the bus on this in terms of talking to teams or where he could want to play," he said Thursday, per Mike Morreale of NHL.com."I can't go out calling teams because that's a waste of my time. He's going to tell (us) where he wants to play and in the end, if that does work out and it's not the Devils, then I've got to see if that makes sense for us to do that."Despite Kovalchuk's contract being terminated in 2013 upon taking on voluntary retirement, New Jersey retains his NHL rights until he turns 35 on April 15, 2018.Kovalchuk is fresh off his second Gagarin Cup win as a member of SKA Saint Petersburg, for whom he's been playing the past four seasons.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Nashville Predators head coach Peter Laviolette was given two specific opportunities to address Pekka Rinne's status following a Game 2 loss in which the goaltender was pulled, but didn't come outright and say if he plans to go right back to a player largely responsible for getting his team to the Stanley Cup Final in the first place.Instead, Laviolette pointed to how good Rinne has been for the Predators through the regular season and playoffs, calling his play both "terrific" and "excellent" while adding the team as a whole can do better.Again, an endorsement, but one that left the door open ever so slightly for speculation to arise as to whether Laviolette would be willing to turn to rookie Juuse Saros for Game 3.First, a look at Rinne's numbers round-by-round to show how steep a drop they've taken in the championship round.RoundOpponentShots AgainstSavesSave %1Blackhawks126123.9762Blues162151.9323Ducks186172.9254Penguins3628.778Let's be clear about one thing: there was no way Rinne was going to replicate the success he had against Chicago or even St. Louis, with his numbers against Anaheim falling more in line with his career regular season save percentage of .917. But what's happened to date against Pittsburgh has been nothing short of catastrophic, leaving Nashville with zero margin for error.And turning to Saros at this point would be just that: an error in judgement.For one thing, Nashville has yet to play a Final game at home, where Rinne has been nothing short of brilliant:

Sidney Crosby's autograph is now permanently inked onto the arm of one Pittsburgh Penguins fan.Rebecca Raetz and her husband, Austin, drove from Illinois to PPG Paints Arena to watch the Penguins defeat the Nashville Predators in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final on Monday, and stuck around afterward in the hopes of getting an autograph or two. She ended up getting Crosby to sign her arm and promised him she would have it tattooed as soon as she got home.Crosby seemed skeptical."I don't know if he believed me," Raetz told KDKA-TV. "He was like, 'Okay ...'"Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

They say a series is never lost until you lose on home ice. While this has proven incorrect countless times, the adage does suggest it's far too early to rule out the Nashville Predators, since they haven't played the franchise's first Stanley Cup Final game at Bridgestone Arena.As the Western Conference's bottom seed, Nashville hasn't had official home-ice advantage at any stage of the playoffs. Yet, the Predators have gotten this far, in part, due to tremendous play in Music City. They've lost just one game on home ice - a 3-2 overtime loss to the Anaheim Ducks in Game 4 of the Western Conference Final - and outscored their three opponents 25-13 in eight games.Here's how the Predators, currently in a 2-0 hole, can get back into the series:Assemble - and use - the top line(Photo courtesy: Getty Images)Nashville was dealt the unfortunate hand of losing No. 1 center Ryan Johansen to an emergency thigh surgery between Games 4 and 5 of Round 3. Head coach Peter Laviolette has been relying on a committee approach to replace him. Defense-first center Mike Fisher returned from injury to lead the team with 20:47 of ice time in Game 1, but he's 36 years old and seven seasons removed from a career-best 53-point campaign.Filip Forsberg topped the forward corps with 18:41 of ice time in Game 2. While he was rightfully the team leader, he still didn't play nearly enough, and James Neal's ice time fell from 19:43 in Game 1 to 15:24 on Wednesday night.As the Predators get home ice and the advantage of final change, they need to load up a top line featuring two of Forsberg, Neal, and Viktor Arvidsson - a trio that combined for 85 regular-season goals - with either Pontus Aberg or Colton Sissons playing the pivot at even strength.Keep shutting down Sid and Geno when it counts(Photo courtesy: Getty Images)Coming into the series, there was a lot of talk about how Nashville's elite top-four defensemen would fare against two of the league's top centers, Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin. Through two games, it's difficult to not give the advantage here to the Predators.Crosby picked up two assists on the Penguins' first two goals in the series opener, registering three shots on goal of his own. He was held without a point in Game 2, recording just a single SOG in 19:54 of ice time.Malkin has a goal in each game - the opener on the power play in Game 1 and the fourth marker in Game 2 - but that means he's scored on both of his SOG in the series.Nashville has been able to contain both Penguins stars during the most important sequences and when the games have been closest. While Crosby and Malkin are the type of talents who can ride ridiculously efficient shooting percentages, goaltender Pekka Rinne needs to make some key stops on the tough shots. He was the one who entered the series as the odds-on favorite for the Conn Smythe Trophy, after all.Bring out the starsPop music sensation and bandwagon-jumper extraordinaire Justin Bieber has pledged his temporary allegiance to the Penguins. For the Predators to get back into the series in terms of sheer wattage, they'll need to continue attracting music superstars to Bridgestone Arena. With a pair of front-row tickets for Game 3 going for more than $10,000 on Stubhub before taxes and fees, this could take care of itself.Alan Jackson has already committed to playing a free show at the Stanley Cup Final party in advance of Saturday's game. The Predators can't stop there. Ms. Underwood needs to call in some favors and get the likes of Willie Nelson, Dolly Parton, Garth Brooks, and Luke Bryan sitting in Bridgestone Arena's marquee seats in order to form a Care Bears-like squad and defeat the Penguins and the evil wizard No Heart ... er, Biebs.In the meantime, the team's most famous fan hasn't lost hope.

The Florida Panthers have signed Henrik Haapala to a two-year entry-level contract worth an annual average cap hit of $832,500, according to Renaud Lavoie of TVA Sports.Haapala turned 23 years old this past February and has spent the last five seasons with Tappara Tampere of the SM-liiga, Finland's top league, after going undrafted to the NHL.He broke out in 2016-17, scoring 15 goals and adding 45 assists for a total of 60 points in just 51 regular season games. He led the league in both assists and points. Haapala went on to add two goals and seven assists in 16 playoff games.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Former tough customer Shawn Thornton is moving into a far less violent role with the Florida Panthers.Thornton was named the team's vice president of business operations and will work closely with president Matthew Caldwell and chief of staff Sean McCaffrey, the team announced Thursday."Shawn's work ethic, enthusiasm, and passion for the Panthers organization is second to none," Caldwell said in the announcement. "We are thrilled to welcome him to our executive team and know that he will bring the same level of professionalism, experience, and leadership to the business side of our organization as he did in the locker room."Thornton played the final three seasons of his 14-year NHL career with the Panthers where he posted four goals, 10 points, and 197 penalty minutes in 146 games, but is now prepared to take on a different challenge."It's a humbling day for me and I'm excited to begin the next chapter of my career in hockey," said Thornton. "The business side of operating an NHL team has always fascinated me. I have had the privilege of learning from and working with a number of first-class individuals, leaders, and organizations during the course of my playing career and I look forward to applying some of those lessons in my new role. My family and I are very grateful that we'll be able to continue to be a part of the Panthers family and the south Florida community."Over his NHL career, the 39-year-old played in 705 games, tallying 42 goals, 102 points, and a staggering 1,103 penalty minutes, while capturing the Stanley Cup in 2007 as a member of the Anaheim Ducks and again in 2011 with the Boston Bruins.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

A little taste of home may be just what the Nashville Predators need to get back into their Stanley Cup Final series with the Pittsburgh Penguins.The old sports adage is a playoff series isn't truly in jeopardy until a team drops a game at home, and immediately following a Game 2 loss, defenseman P.K. Subban said it's his team's turn to take care of business."Right away the focus shifts to, 'We don't lose in our building,'" Subban told reporters, per Sportsnet. "So we're going back home, we're going to win the next game, and then we'll see what happens from there."Despite the two losses, the Predators have largely been driving possession and hold a 64-39 advantage in shots, but Subban wasn't willing to dwell on what went wrong both contests."Our focus is our next game, and that's it," Subban reiterated. "We're getting ready for the next game; we win that one and then we move forward."Game 3 is set for Saturday, and Nashville will play host to its first Cup Final contest.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NHL draft provides very few guarantees, and the Pittsburgh Penguins are learning afresh that it's just as important to luck out in later rounds as it is to cash in on the surefire lottery picks.With 12 goals in 21 games, forward Jake Guentzel - a native of Omaha, Nebraska, who was drafted 77th overall in 2013 - leads the 2017 Stanley Cup Playoffs in scoring, and by a wide margin over his all-world teammates.Evgeni Malkin (second overall in 2004) sits in a tie for second with nine goals, while Sidney Crosby (first overall in 2005) has a share of the fourth-highest total with seven.Related: Guentzel sets playoff goals, points record by American-born rookieA quick look back at the 2013 draft reveals that Pittsburgh didn't originally own the third-round pick used on Guentzel. In fact, the Penguins were the fourth team to lay claim to it.Here's a quick look at how it came into their possession:June 27, 2011: The Minnesota Wild sent a 2013 third-round pick to the Philadelphia Flyers in exchange for forward Darroll Powe.Feb. 16, 2012: Philadelphia flipped the pick, as well as a 2012 second-round selection acquired from the Los Angeles Kings, to the Dallas Stars for defenseman Nicklas Grossman.March 24, 2013: Dallas traded a conditional third-round pick and forward Brenden Morrow to Pittsburgh for defenseman Joe Morrow and a fifth-round pick in 2013. The Stars also possessed a third-round pick by way of the Edmonton Oilers, and therefore placed a condition on the trade with Pittsburgh whereby the Penguins would receive the lower of the two selections. Minnesota finished with a better record than Edmonton that season, hence the Wild pick being assigned to Pittsburgh.Catch all that?And so, when Pittsburgh was called upon to make the pick, a forward from the USHL's Sioux City Musketeers became property of the Penguins.From there, Guentzel spent three seasons at the University of Nebraska-Omaha, developing his game in his hometown and registering 40 goals and 79 assists in 108 NCAA games.He signed his entry-level deal with the Penguins in 2016, and made an immediate impact upon being called up this past regular season, scoring two goals on his first two shots in his NHL debut, capped by a memorable reaction from his family.After his latest playoff goal, he's on the brink of scoring 50 in his first full season as a pro.TeamGamesGoalsWilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (AHL)3321Pittsburgh Penguins (Reg. Season)4016Pittsburgh Penguins (Playoffs)2112TOTAL9449Guentzel has emerged as an unlikely Conn Smythe Trophy candidate as playoff MVP, and, with the next draft only a few weeks away, he's serving as a reminder for the other 30 teams that championships are often won by mining gold on the second day of the annual event.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Matt Murray is a train that keeps on rolling.The Pittsburgh Penguins netminder collected his fifth win of the postseason Wednesday night, helping his club take a commanding two-games-to-none lead over the Nashville Predators as the series shifts back to Tennessee.With the victory, Murray reached 20 playoff wins in the third-fewest games of any goalie in NHL history. He completed the feat in 28 games between this spring and last, while Bill Durnan did so in 26 games across four playoff runs from 1944-47, and Patrick Roy got there in 27 games spread across three postseasons.

With the offseason underway for most teams and the remainder to join them in a few weeks, we're looking at what's in store for each club in the coming months.2016-17 Grade: BAfter a first-round, Game 7 loss to the Nashville Predators in 2016, Anaheim Ducks general manager Bob Murray invoked a seemingly desperate measure in firing head coach Bruce Boudreau and replacing him with Randy Carlyle, who led the club to a Stanley Cup win in 2007.The end result was another playoff series loss to the Predators, albeit this time in the Western Conference Final and with significant injury issues to boot: two big scorers - Rickard Rakell and Patrick Eaves - and No. 1 goalie John Gibson were all sidelined due to injury to finish the postseason, while defensemen Sami Vatanen and Hampus Lindholm both require offseason shoulder surgery after playing through torn labrums.Murray faced a barrage of criticism for bringing Carlyle back into the mix, but, to his credit, the veteran bench boss was able to adapt to a younger, faster game, bringing the team close to a berth in the final.There's several questions moving forward, but 2016-17 has to be seen as a success for the Ducks, despite falling short of the ultimate goal.Free agentsThe Ducks will be in the market for a new backup goalie if unable to re-sign either one of their two free agents at the position, while the most notable forward looking for a new deal will be trade deadline acquisition Patrick Eaves.Player (Position)2017-18 StatusAge2016-17 Cap Hit'16-17 PointsNate Thompson (F)UFA32$1.6M2Patrick Eaves (F)UFA33$1M51Sam Carrick (F)UFA25$5750000Nicolas Kerdiles (F)RFA23$9250000Korbinian Holzer (D)UFA29$7000007Player (Position)2017-18 StatusAge2016-17 Cap Hit'16-17 Save %Jonathan Bernier (G)UFA28$4.15M.915Jhonas Enroth (G)UFA28$750000.8722017 draft picksAnaheim's first-round pick is owned by the Dallas Stars thanks to the aforementioned Eaves trade.The Ducks will also be able to call it a day after the fifth round, pending any picks acquired through further wheeling and dealing.RoundPicks1022 (Own + Sharks)3141516070Summer priorities1. Figure out expansion protectionOf all 30 teams faced with decisions on who to expose in the upcoming expansion draft, the Ducks face arguably the toughest.As a refresher, teams can protect one goalie and either seven forwards and three defensemen, or any combination of eight skaters. Any player with a no-movement clause cannot be exposed, however, unless he agrees to do so.That Kevin Bieksa has a NMC on his deal may cause havoc for the Ducks, seeing as Anaheim will no doubt be reticent to expose one of Hampus Lindholm, Sami Vatanen, or Cam Fowler.Protecting all four defensemen, coupled with the fact Ryan Getzlaf, Corey Perry, and Ryan Kesler can't be moved, would likely mean exposing Jakob Silfverberg up front, which seems unimaginable.In short, Murray has his work cut out for him here.2. Explore all trade possibilitiesThe Ducks are absolutely loaded on the blue line, with Josh Manson, Brandon Montour, or Shea Theodore (all exempt from expansion protection, by the way) waiting in the wings to take on big roles behind the four players mentioned above.All three will become restricted free agents next summer, and with Fowler eligible to hit unrestricted free agency at the same time, there simply won't be enough cash to go around.Literally every NHL team is looking to upgrade at this position, giving Anaheim plenty of leverage to pull off a significant trade, ideally for a high-end young forward.3. Improve goaltending depthThe Ducks remain bullish on Gibson's stock as a No. 1 goalie, but the fact he was injured to finish the postseason and Jonathan Bernier was unable to pick up the slack may have cost the team a shot at the Cup.Both Bernier and Jhonas Enroth will be UFAs this summer, and there's not much to speak of at this position in the pipeline. As such, drafting a goalie and signing a capable backup are musts on Murray's summer to-do list.2017-18 OutlookWhile there's somewhat of a youth movement happening in Anaheim, the core of the team remains built around Ryan Getzlaf, Corey Perry, and Ryan Kesler, all of whom are on the brink of exiting their peak years, despite carrying heavy cap hits for the foreseeable future.There are only so many opportunities to get the job done, and Anaheim's window won't remain open forever. In order for 2017-18 to be a success, nothing short of a final appearance will suffice.This will be a tricky offseason to navigate, but if Murray can push all the right buttons, he may just be able to serve up the right mix for a winning recipe.Offseason Outlook SeriesCOL | VAN | NJD | ARI | BUF

With emotions reaching a boiling point, unlikely combatants P.K. Subban and Evgeni Malkin (sort of) engaged in a fight during the third period of Game 2 Wednesday night.Pittsburgh had exploded for three goals to start the third period, and after a heated exchange behind the goal, Subban and Malkin dropped the gloves, which the Predators defenseman claims started because of some foreign smack talk."He spoke a little Russian. I played with a few Russians. I didn't like what he said," Subban told reporters following the game, according to TSN's Frank Seravalli.Malkin, who unleashed a laser wrist shot to provide Pittsburgh's fourth goal, said the scrap was nothing personal.

PITTSBURGH - The Pittsburgh Penguins kept Pekka Rinne plenty busy this time.Too busy for Rinne and the rest of the Nashville Predators to keep up with the surging defending Stanley Cup champions.Jake Guentzel, Scott Wilson and Evgeni Malkin scored 3:18 apart early in the third period as the Penguins chased Rinne and pulled away for a 4-1 victory in Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final on Wednesday night. The Penguins lead the best-of-seven series 2-0. Game 3 is Saturday night in Nashville in what amounts to a last stand for the Predators and their suddenly very average-looking goalie.The 22-year-old Guentzel finished with two goals to give him an NHL-high 12 during the playoffs, the second-most by a rookie in postseason history. His 19 playoff points are the most by an American-born first-year player and he'll have at least two more cracks at adding to that total.If the Predators don't get it together back home in ''Smashville,'' it might only be two.Matt Murray played spectacularly at times through the first two periods, buying his teammates enough time to find their footing and get to Rinne. Murray finished with 37 saves in all as he helped move the Penguins to within two victories of becoming the first team to go back-to-back since the Detroit Red Wings in 1998.Pontus Aberg scored the lone goal for the Predators, who were once again undone by a sudden barrage from the NHL's highest-scoring team.In Game 1, the Penguins pushed three goals by Rinne in a span of 4:11 in the first period to build a 3-0 lead. The Predators rallied to tie before Guentzel's go-ahead goal with 3:17 remaining put the Penguins ahead to stay.This time, Pittsburgh's flurry came a little bit later. And it was once again led by the baby-faced son of a coach who has no problem shouldering the responsibility of playing alongside star Sidney Crosby.The game was tied at 1 at the start of the third period when Guentzel jumped on a rebound 10 seconds into the period to put Pittsburgh ahead. Wilson was credited with his third of the playoffs just over 3 minutes later when a centering pass caromed off Nashville's Vernon Fiddler and by Rinne.Malkin added his ninth of the playoffs and second of the series just 15 seconds later and Rinne was skating to the bench in favor of backup Juuse Saros after stopping 21 of 25 shots. Rinne fell to 0-5-0 in five career starts in Pittsburgh and he has never beaten the Penguins anywhere as a starter.The Penguins vowed to put more pressure on Rinne than they managed in their 5-3 victory in Game 1, a win they managed despite going 37 minutes without throwing a single puck Rinne's way and none in the second period, the first time that's happened in a Cup Final since the NHL started tracking shots in 1957.The Penguins matched their entire shot total from the opener (12) by the end of the first period but still found themselves trying to keep up with the Predators. The Stanley Cup newbies were disappointed but not dismayed by their Game 1 loss, pointing to the way they carried play for long stretches as tangible proof they weren't just happy to be here.The result was the kind of up-and-down play that showcased the speed on both sides and included more than a dash of antagonism, particularly early.Nashville's Matt Irwin drilled Pittsburgh's Matt Cullen from behind into the boards in the first period, a hit that left the 40-year-old Cullen headed down the runway for a quick check but didn't result in a penalty. Minutes later, Penguins forward Chris Kunitz became tangled up with P.K. Subban and ended up cross-checking Subban in the head, part of a sequence that saw Malkin go off for hooking. Malkin and Subban even ended up fighting in the third period when things got out of hand.It was a scene hard to imagine through the first two taut and chippy periods.The 23-year-old Aberg beat Pittsburgh defenseman Olli Maatta to a puck in the Penguins zone, passed it through Maatta to himself and then patiently drew Murray out of the net before flipping it by the sprawled goaltender.The Penguins, as they've done when pressed throughout the postseason, responded almost immediately.Guentzel, who snapped an eight-game goalless drought when he pumped the winner by Rinne with 3:17 left in the series opener, tied it later in the period. The 5-foot-11 rookie planted himself at the post and jabbed a backhand rebound to tie it.Pittsburgh stayed in it thanks to Murray and when Pittsburgh returned to the ice for the start of the third they, as coach Mike Sullivan is fond of saying, ''got to their game.''A style that now has the Penguins two victories away from history.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Jake Guentzel, so hot right now. If you haven't already, spare a second and Google him.Now that we're on the same page, take in the fact that the Pittsburgh Penguins wunderkind stole the show once again Wednesday night, registering two goals in the Penguins' 4-1 dismantling of the Nashville Predators.Guentzel's 11th and 12th tallies of the postseason moved him into some elite company, again. The 22-year-old Omaha, Neb., native now ranks second all-time in goals by a rookie in a single postseason, according to NHL Public Relations.However, the winger's decimation of the rookie record book didn't finish there, as Guentzel's 19 playoff points are also record setting.

It was more of an extended hug than a fight, but Evgeni Malkin and P.K. Subban did their best to fire up their respective squads Wednesday night.The Pittsburgh Penguins forward and the Nashville Predators defenseman got up close and personal after a stoppage with the Penguins leading by three late in the third period in Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final.Malkin landed a blow to Subban's face while the two were being separated, and the Nashville blue-liner got some punches in near the end, but the prolonged hug is how people will remember this one.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Nashville Predators opted to pull netminder Pekka Rinne early in the third period of Game 2 on Wednesday night, after allowing three goals in the first 3:28 of the final frame, creating a 4-1 deficit.Rinne was replaced by Juuse Saros, who's making his first-ever postseason appearance.The 34-year-old Rinne entered Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final with sterling postseason numbers - a 1.83 goals against average and .934 save percentage in 17 games.However, after allowing four goals on 11 shots in Game 1, the troubles continued for Rinne versus the Penguins, as goals from Jake Guentzel, Scott Wilson, and Evgeni Malkin ultimately chased him from the contest.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Pontus Aberg made Olli Maatta look foolish early in Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final.The Nashville Predators winger blew past the Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman and slipped the puck over goaltender Matt Murray to open the scoring Wednesday night.It was Aberg's second goal of the playoffs, and his first since scoring the winner in Game 5 of the Western Conference Final against the Anaheim Ducks.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Stanley Cup Final has been a hot topic this week, but a lot of that chatter has to do with some fishy business.Wednesday was more of the same before Game 2 in Pittsburgh, with a local restaurant offering up a very unique dinner special.

Cal Petersen's college days are over.The Notre Dame goaltender will forego his final year of eligibility with the intention of signing an NHL contract this summer, the school announced on his behalf Wednesday.Petersen was a fifth-round pick of the Buffalo Sabres in 2013, and they'll now have 30 days to sign him, unless he opts to pursue a deal with another club.The 22-year-old was one of five finalists for the 2017 Mike Richter Award given annually to the nation's top NCAA netminder.He went 23-12-5 with a 2.22 GAA, a .926 save percentage, and six shutouts in 40 games in his junior season for the Irish.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Top prospect Nolan Patrick has been fully cleared to participate in all tests this weekend at the NHL Combine, he confirmed Wednesday to Mike Morreale of NHL.com.Patrick was limited to 33 games this season with the Brandon Wheat Kings, ailed by sports hernia surgery and a later injury to his leg.Related: Nolan Patrick unfazed by injuries possibly affecting draft stockDespite the shortened season, Patrick managed 20 goals and 26 assists, and finished atop the NHL's Central Scouting final rankings.All eyes will be focused on Patrick over the course of the combine, particularly the New Jersey Devils, which won the right to select first overall in April's draft lottery.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Marc Savard knows a thing or two about getting your bell rung.The former NHLer suffered six concussions during his 14-season career, and was forced to retire in 2011 due to his history of head injuries.So when Savard spoke Wednesday about headshots and how the league should be addressing them, people took notice. Especially when the two-time former All-Star invoked the league's biggest name."As I sit here and I think back to the (Sidney) Crosby situation with (Matt) Niskanen - I know it doesn’t look deliberate but it’s still a headshot and I think there needs to be a suspension no matter what whether it’s deliberate or not," Savard said Wednesday, according to Sportsnet's Mike Johnston."You still hit the head whether you meant to or not."Savard also argued that the NHL needs to be making a stronger statement with the number of games handed down for headshot suspensions, sending a clearer message to players that hits to the head won't be tolerated."There needs to be time served for that just so players are even more aware so no matter what it’s an area you can’t hit," said Savard. "It needs to start at, I don’t know, seven games. It needs to get up in the big numbers right away so it’s that clear."Seven games may be a tad extreme, especially for first-time offenders, but Savard may be on to something with his desire for stiffer suspensions.The NHL has come a long way in terms of player safety over the last decade, but it can still do a better job of protecting its players from serious injury. Implementing mandatory suspensions would go a long way to ensuring that the best players on the planet spend the most possible time on the ice.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Buckle up, because we're in for a busy June.Not only are Games 3-7 of the Stanley Cup Final scheduled over the first two weeks of the month (5-7 if necessary, of course), the addition of the Vegas Golden Knights will throw a few wrinkles into what's already a fairly active month on the offseason calendar.Here's a look at key dates in June, with a hat tip to Cap Friendly:June 1, 5 pm ET: Teams lose rights of certain unsigned drafted players.

Justin Bieber appears to have hopped on the Pittsburgh Penguins' bandwagon.The Canadian pop star shared a photo of himself wearing a Penguins jersey Wednesday ahead of Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final.

Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Lou Lamoriello suggested Wednesday the team may forego naming a captain for the 2017-18 season."Right now that isn't something in the forefront," Lamoriello told TSN's Pierre LeBrun. "I think we had tremendous leadership this year with a lot of young players."The Maple Leafs improved dramatically in 2016-17 after finishing last in the league the year prior. Auston Matthews, the 2016 No. 1 overall pick, led the way with 40 goals and 69 points in his rookie season, and many expected him to be the heir to the team's "C." Lamoriello, however, insists there's no rush to change a system which led the team to a surprising playoff berth."I would not be surprised if we did not have a captain next year."Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Columbus Blue Jackets and Vancouver Canucks have tied up a loose end.Columbus will send this year's second-round pick - No. 55 overall - to Vancouver as compensation for hiring Tortorella in October 2015, the Blue Jackets announced Wednesday.The Blue Jackets had to cough up either this year's pick or a second-rounder in 2018 as a condition for hiring the former Canucks bench boss.The practice of offering compensatory picks for coaches and executives from other teams was eliminated Jan. 1, 2016.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

All charges filed against a Nashville Predators fan who tossed a dead catfish onto the ice in Pittsburgh during Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final will be dropped, Allegheny County district attorney Stephen Zappala announced Wednesday."Having reviewed the affidavit involving Mr. (Jacob) Waddell as well as the television coverage of the incident, District Attorney Zappala has made the determination that the actions of Mr. Waddell do not rise to the level of criminal charges," spokesman Mike Manko said in a statement Wednesday, per the Pittsburgh Post Gazette."As such, the three charges filed against Mr. Waddell will be withdrawn in a timely manner."Waddell was charged with disorderly conduct, possessing an instrument of a crime, and disrupting a meeting after devising and executing an elaborate plan to sneak the fish into Game 1.At the end of the day, however, the Pittsburgh-area judicial system appears to have bigger fish to fry.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Buffalo general manager Jason Botterill has reportedly interviewed San Jose Sharks assistant coach Bob Boughner for the Sabres' vacant head coaching position, according to Pierre LeBrun of TSN.Mike Harrington of the Buffalo News adds that Buffalo is most interested in Nashville assistant Phil Housley, who won't be available for an interview until after the Predators' championship series with the Pittsburgh Penguins.Boughner is also believed to be in the running for the Florida Panthers' job.Hired by the Sharks in 2015, he helped San Jose reach the Stanley Cup Final last year. Prior to that, he won two Memorial Cups as head coach of the Ontario Hockey League's Windsor Spitfires - a team he also partly owns - in 2009 and 2010.Boughner also served as an assistant with the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2010-11, and had stints as bench boss in Windsor from 2006-10 and 2011-15 sandwiching that previous NHL experience.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Jordan Eberle has the support of Edmonton Oilers general manager Peter Chiarelli, despite being held without a goal in 13 playoff games this spring.Eberle was called out by head coach Todd McLellan for not doing enough during the Oilers' playoff run, but Chiarelli is willing to cut the winger some slack."(He's) a very good offensive player and (I'm) happy to have him on our team," Chiarelli told TSN's Pierre LeBrun.Futher to that, Chiarelli believes Eberle's playoff performance was unfairly characterized, and he doesn't feel the need to defend the player in the face of that.Still, the GM did take some time to expand."I think outside of two players he probably had the most positive touches of the puck on our team," Chiarelli said. "I really don't feel the need to defend him, he didn't have a great playoffs - he didn't have a good playoffs - but he did a lot of things that we expected of him. He just didn't have the offence that we expected him to have in the playoffs. What he does, he creates space with his touches and I thought he played well."Eberle made 507 regular-season appearances with the Oilers before finally getting a taste of the postseason, averaging 27 goals per every 82 games during that time. Chiarelli compared Eberle's playoff debut to that of Pavel Datsyuk, who registered three goals and six points in 21 games back in 2002. The difference here, though, is that Eberle is 27, whereas Datsyuk was only 22 at that time.Eberle remains under contract with the Oilers for two more seasons at a cap hit of $6 million annually.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Philadelphia Flyers signed Oskar Lindblom, their fifth-round pick from the 2014 NHL Entry Draft, on Tuesday.

Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Justin Schultz has been the lone spark plug on the team's blue line, but he's been playing hurt and that's a big problem if the reigning Stanley Cup champions want to repeat.Schultz suffered an upper-body injury early in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Final against the Ottawa Senators. He only played 3:40 in that contest, and went on to miss Games 3, 4, 5, and 6 before returning to action in Game 7.Having Schultz back in the lineup for Game 7 is a major reason why the Pens came out victorious, as he recorded a goal and an assist in the do-or-die game. Even though Pittsburgh got dominated in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final against the Nashville Predators, he played a big part in its win, assisting on Jake Guentzel's game-winning goal.Despite his return these past two games, it's clear that Schultz isn't playing at even close to 100 percent health. Otherwise, he would be getting more ice time. Take a look:GameIce timePIT D rankGame 1 SCF16:036th mostGame 7 ECF24:166th mostGame 1 ECF25:26MostGame 7 ECSF21:453rd mostGame 6 ECSF22:13MostHe's seen the fewest minutes of any Penguins defenseman since returning to the lineup, clearly indicating that he isn't quite right. He saw more minutes than any Pens blue-liner in two of the three games prior to his injury.The Penguins were able to mitigate Schultz's absence in the Eastern Conference Final because the Senators sit back and play the 1-3-1, and they don't bring a heavy forecheck like the Predators do.Schultz's best qualities as a defenseman are his skating, passing, and ability to move to the puck out of his own zone. The last part is key, because without Kris Letang in the lineup, Schultz is Pittsburgh's only above-average puck-mover on the back end.Dmitri Filipovic of Sportsnet tallied the following information from Game 1:DefensemanExit attemptsExitsPossession ExitsPossession%Schultz109550.0Olli Maatta1311538.46Trevor Daley98222.2Ian Cole75114.29Brian Dumoulin87112.5Ron Hainsey6600.00As you can see, aside from Schultz, the Penguins' defense had no problems simply getting the puck out of the zone, but rarely did Pittsburgh posses the puck once it was outside the blue line. That's because these five D-men are all defensive-minded, and don't have the ability to make crisp breakout passes with forecheckers breathing down their neck.Here's an example of Hainsey making a poor decision as the last man back:

Before Pekka Rinne earned five All-Star nods and became the favorite to win the Conn Smythe Trophy as a member of the Nashville Predators, he was a backup with Karpat of Finland's SM-liiga.Alumni of those 2004 and 2005 SM-liiga champion teams have reconvened for an annual getaway every June for more than 10 years, according to Tal Pinchevsky of The New York Times, but Rinne will be absent this time around as he looks to backstop his team to a Stanley Cup.Former Karpat teammate and ex-NHL goaltender Niklas Backstrom spoke to the absence of his longtime friend and former protege."We are happy for him but also sad," he said, "because we are going to go there and he won't make the trip this year. But there's something much better."The group plans to incorporate Rinne into the weekend's festivities, with Backstrom saying, "It will be fun to be together with the guys and watch the game."Another former teammate, Florida Panthers forward Jussi Jokinen, said he'll miss his "loyal friend," but Backstrom knows there's nowhere else Rinne would rather be as the calendar turns to June."I can't even remember a day that he wasn't happy being at the rink."Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.