The Stanley Cup. She's tough to win.Ask Alex Ovechkin. And Roberto Luongo. And all of the San Jose Sharks.And with that, we present the all Stanley Cup-less team, comprised of active NHLers who have yet to - and may never - win it all.ForwardsLWCRWAlex OvechkinJoe ThorntonJarome IginlaZach PariseHenrik SedinDaniel SedinPatrick MarleauJoe PavelskiShane DoanLogan CoutureNicklas BackstromJason SpezzaClaude GirouxRyan KeslerMike FisherNotes:

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: C+It was another disappointing campaign for the Montreal Canadiens, but in an entirely different way than 2015-16.The Canadiens cruised to the Atlantic Division title, occupying first place almost from start to finish, but the New York Rangers brought an abrupt end to their season, dispatching Montreal in six games the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.This time, it wasn't a significant injury to Carey Price that derailed the Canadiens, but rather a shift in roster construction philosophy, a subsequent series of questionable moves, and the failure to address a glaring need.General manager Marc Bergevin was roasted for trading P.K. Subban to the Nashville Predators for Shea Weber last June, and the criticism didn't cease over the balance of the season.Bergevin made no bones about his desire to add more "grit" to Montreal's lineup - trading for Andrew Shaw at the draft and signing him to a six-year contract, then adding the likes of Steve Ott and Dwight King at the deadline - but that strategy clearly backfired.(Courtesy: Action Images)Though coach Michel Therrien was fired in February, the return of Claude Julien didn't make much of a difference this spring.Price had another stellar season, but the Canadiens once again relied too heavily on their all-world goaltender and neglected to address their real issues.Free AgentsTwo key forwards and an aging defenseman are among the players needing new deals.Player (Position)2017-18 StatusAge'16'-17 Cap Hit ($M)'16-'17 PointsAlexander Radulov (F)UFA305.7554Andrei Markov (D)UFA385.7536Alex Galchenyuk (F)RFA232.844Dwight King (F)UFA271.9516Nathan Beaulieu (D)RFA24128Brian Flynn (F)UFA280.9510Steve Ott (F)UFA340.87Nikita Nesterov (D)RFA240.72517Andreas Martinsen (F)UFA260.6472017 Draft PicksThe Canadiens got second-rounders in this and next year's draft from the Washington Capitals in the Lars Eller trade, and gave up three mid-to-late-round selections in deals for Jordie Benn, Nikita Nesterov, and 2016 seventh-rounder Arvid Henrikson.RoundPick Total11 (25th overall)223140516070Summer priorities1. Get the Price deal doneHe isn't eligible for free agency until July 1, 2018, but Price's reps and the team can start discussing a contract extension one year before that, and both sides say they're interested in getting it done.Take those comments as you will, but it would be shocking if a long-term agreement isn't reached after the negotiating window opens, and locking up Price is clearly the Canadiens' top priority.Montreal doesn't absolutely need to sign him by the end of the summer, but Bergevin can't be too comfortable with the thought of entering the final season of Price's contract with uncertainty about the future looming over his franchise netminder.2. Ditto for Radulov and GalchenyukOnce Price is taken care of, Bergevin will have to shift his attention to a couple of key forwards.Alexander Radulov ranked third on the club in goals (18), first in assists (36), and second in points in his first season back in North America after four years in the KHL, and he scored the overtime winner in Game 2 against the Rangers.He proved to be one of the best big-money offseason signings last summer, and the Canadiens should bring him back if they can work out a reasonable short-term deal for the UFA, who'll turn 31 on July 5.Alex Galchenyuk could also be in for a sticky negotiation process, but his status as an RFA gives the Canadiens a slight advantage.The 23-year-old has been jerked around between center and the wing throughout his tenure in Montreal, so his position will surely be a focal point in the talks. His point production increased on a per-game basis despite the fact he missed almost a quarter of the regular season with a knee injury.Bergevin signed Galchenyuk to a bridge deal a couple of years ago, so the player's camp likely won't want to go that route again.3. Add secondary scoringThe movement toward a more gritty roster clearly didn't work. What the Canadiens actually need is more offense.Max Pacioretty led the club and finished in the top 10 in the NHL with 35 goals, but Paul Byron (with 22) was Montreal's second-most productive scorer, and the Canadiens finished 15th in the league this past season with 2.72 per game.Pacioretty's output represented about 16 percent of the Canadiens' goal total in the regular season, and Byron was the only other player to score at least 20, so that needs to be addressed in the offseason in free agency or via trade.2017-18 OutlookExpectations are always sky high in Montreal, but the Canadiens obviously can't afford to have another first-round exit next spring.Though the window to win a championship isn't necessarily closing, especially if Price is signed long term, the club has an aging defense corps led by 38-year-old UFA Andrei Markov and Weber, who'll be 32 in August. Pacioretty will soon be two years away from hitting the free-agent market himself.Montreal needs to advance to the second round next season, and the Canadiens should have their sights set on a return to the Eastern Conference Final, which they last reached in 2014.But a deep postseason run won't likely happen unless they do what they need to do this summer.Offseason Outlook SeriesCOL | VAN | NJD | ARI | BUF

Washington Capitals general manager Brian MacLellan addressed his club's future Tuesday, and, inevitably, the notion of trading superstar Alex Ovechkin was brought up on the heels of yet another second-round exit from the playoffs.MacLellan said a trade involving his captain could possibly come to fruition down the road if a "legitimate hockey deal" materialized, but dealing Ovechkin isn't the direction the organization wants to work toward at this point.Typically, a so-called hockey deal is a trade involving players only, a la P.K. Subban for Shea Weber.For fun, with speculation running rampant, let's take a look at what type of trade the Capitals could orchestrate for the best player in franchise history.The FactorsBy the beginning of the 2017-18 season, Ovechkin will be 32 years old, and carrying a cap hit of $9,538,462 until 2021. He owns a modified no-trade clause, meaning Ovechkin could submit a list of 10 teams he wouldn't accept a trade to. There goes a third of the market.History Says...Trading Ovechkin would undoubtedly be one of the most colossal deals of all time. We're talking Wayne Gretzky big.Of course, Gretzky was traded out of Edmonton in 1988 for two players, three first-round picks, and cash. Based on today's development-emphasized NHL, it's hard to imagine any team shelling out three first-rounders like chips at a low-stakes poker table.In 1992, after Eric Lindros refused to play for the Quebec Nordiques, Philadelphia dealt six players (Peter Forsberg and Ron Hextall among them), two first-round picks, and cash for Lindros alone. Safe to say the league has changed.With that in mind, some of the biggest one-for-one deals have occurred recently. Subban-for-Weber has, and will continue to, benefited Nashville more than Montreal. The other deal from that fateful summer day, Adam Larsson for Taylor Hall, ignited much debate, but the Oilers could afford to move on from their gifted winger, thanks to the Connor McDavid factor.Seth Jones for Ryan Johansen is an example of a good deal for both teams, with franchise players exchanged to fill respective needs. However, Ovechkin is a generational talent, and hauling in a player with equal or better value is likely impossible for the Capitals.The ComparablesHow many current players are truly comparable to Ovechkin? The short answer is, well, none.12 seasons into his career, Ovechkin's racked up 558 goals and 1,035 points in 921 games. His 0.606 goals per game rate is the sixth-highest in NHL history, and he's singlehandedly rejuvenated Washington's hockey market as the face of the organization since arriving in 2005-06.Since 2013, Ovechkin leads all forwards in goals per 60 minutes at 1.77, and below are five players who have somewhat matched the Russian sniper's production in the same time period.Steven Stamkos

While the current Stanley Cup Final is only one game old, odds for next year's champions have already been released.The Pittsburgh Penguins, which are in their second consecutive final, are the favorites, but the Vegas Golden Knights, the NHL's 31st franchise, are officially in the mix, opening with 200-1 odds for their inaugural season.Here's the entire list:TeamOddsPenguins8-1Lightning10-1Capitals10-1Oilers10-1Blackhawks12-1Canadiens14-1Maple Leafs14-1Rangers14-1Wild14-1Predators14-1Stars14-1Ducks14-1Blue Jackets20-1Sharks20-1Kings20-1Senators30-1Bruins30-1Blues30-1Flames30-1Panthers40-1Islanders40-1Flyers40-1Jets40-1Sabres60-1Hurricanes60-1Red Wings100-1Devils100-1Avalanche100-1Coyotes100-1Canucks100-1Golden Knights200-1Apart from Vegas, perhaps the biggest takeaways are the strong odds for the Oilers and Maple Leafs, which both soared up the standings in 2016-17 led by youngsters Connor McDavid and Auston Matthews.(Odds Courtesy: Westgate Superbook)Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Jacob Waddell, the Nashville Predators fan who launched a catfish onto the ice surface at Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final on Monday night, revealed his master plan for sneaking it into PPG Paints Arena, and boy, it's something.Waddell has been charged with possessing an instrument of crime, disorderly conduct, and disrupting a meeting, but Tuesday he explained to Sean Gentille of The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette how he managed to get it done.Waddell proclaimed himself to be "a dumb redneck with a bad idea," and his complete itinerary for the stunt included:

Former NHL defenseman Scott Stevens has resigned from his position as an assistant coach with the Minnesota Wild.Wild general manager Chuck Fletcher said Stevens made the decision so he can spend more time with his family.Stevens was hired on June 7, 2016 as an assistant to head coach Bruce Boudreau and resigns after just one season with the team."We thank Scott for the hard work and dedication he provided our team this past season," Fletcher said in a statement posted on the team's official website.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New York Islanders have hired 16-year NHL veteran Scott Gomez as an assistant coach, the team announced.Gomez, 37, played with seven teams during his NHL career, but ironically, never for the Islanders. The bulk of his success came during his early days with the New Jersey Devils, when he recorded 450 points in 548 games from the 1999-2000 season through 2006-07. He registered a career-high 84 points during the 2005-06 campaign.Gomez then famously signed a seven-year, $51.5-million contract with the New York Rangers after his time in New Jersey, but largely failed to meet lofty expectations during his time in the Big Apple. He then had stops in Montreal, San Jose, and Florida, before returning to New Jersey and finishing with stints in St. Louis and Ottawa.Gomez and Isles head coach Doug Weight were never teammates in the NHL, but both represented USA at the 2005 World Cup and the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy."Scott brings an immense amount of hockey knowledge to our coaching staff," Weight said. "His offensive instincts, expertise on the power play, and the way he could control the game with his skating and smarts, are all key elements that we want implemented into our group."He played in the league as recently as the 2015-16 season so he can relate to today's NHL player in an effort to bring out the best in each member of the team."The Islanders are also reportedly set to add Kelly Buchberger to their coaching staff, according to Arthur Staple of Newsday Sports. After hiring Luke Richardson a couple of weeks ago - and should the Buchberger signing become official - New York will have four different coaches on its staff with over 1,000 NHL games played.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Washington Capitals general manager Brian MacLellan didn't completely shut the door Tuesday when asked about the potential of trading the face of his franchise, Alex Ovechkin.MacLellan said he's not ready to trade him, but "maybe" if a hockey deal came about, according to Isabelle Khurshudyan of the Washington Post.The unofficial definition of a "hockey deal" is a straight up player(s)-for-player(s) deal to make both teams better immediately, in each GMs respective opinion. The Ryan Johansen for Seth Jones blockbuster is a great example.What a hockey deal isn't is a salary cap dump, or dealing a star player away for an abundance of prospects.Here is the full statement from MacLellan:

While hockey fans have been loving the wild speculation of a dramatic shakeup to the Washington Capitals' roster, general manager Brian MacLellan has a much more realistic focus.MacLellan said Tuesday the team plans to focus on a group of restricted free agents, including forwards Evgeny Kuznetsov, Andre Burakovsky, and Brett Connolly, defensemen Dmitry Orlov and Nate Schmidt, and goaltender Philipp Grubauer, according to Stephen Whyno of the Associated Press.MacLellan is open to long-term deals for Kuznetsov and Orlov, while he expects to give Connolly a qualifying offer, reports Isabelle Khurshudyan of the Washington Post.As for the team's fifth-leading scorer, T.J. Oshie, the Capitals may not have total control:

Ottawa Senators forward Derick Brassard will have surgery on a torn labrum in his right shoulder and is expected to be out four-to-five months, general manager Pierre Dorion announced.The news comes after Dorion revealed in Monday's press conference that 14 players had played through various injuries during the playoffs."After undergoing tests following the team's playoff series against Pittsburgh it was determined that Derick suffered a torn labrum in his right shoulder that will require surgery to repair," Dorion said in a release. "The procedure will take place in the near future, with the expected recovery time for this type of injury being four to five months. We are hopeful that Derick will be ready for the start of the 2017-18 regular season."The 29-year-old is coming off his first season with the Senators after being acquired from the New York Rangers in exchange for forward Mika Zibanejad. He posted 14 goals and 39 points in 81 regular-season games and another four goals and 11 points in 19 playoff games.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Columbus Blue Jackets center Brandon Dubinsky underwent successful wrist surgery Monday, the team announced.His recovery time is three months, which means he should be ready to go for the 2017-18 season.Dubinsky had 12 goals and 29 assists in 80 games, hitting 40 or more points for the third time in his last four seasons. He added a goal and an assist in five games in the playoffs.The 31-year-old is under contract through 2020-21 at a $5.85-million cap hit.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

An early playoff exit will not cost Barry Trotz his job.Washington Capitals general manager Brian MacLellan held his year-end press conference on Tuesday where he addressed the job security of his head coach, noting that the team will not make any coaching personnel changes, according to Isabelle Khurshudyan of The Washington Post.Despite insisting that Trotz's job is safe for now, MacLellan also noted that the two sides have not discussed a contract extension.The 54-year-old is coming off his second season as the Capitals' head coach, leading the club to a Presidents' Trophy victory in both campaigns. However, despite Trotz's back-to-back regular-season successes in Washington, the Capitals have bowed out in the second round of the playoffs to the Pittsburgh Penguins.Next season will be Trotz's final year of his contract.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Boston Bruins weren't oh so quiet Tuesday in announcing a three-year, entry-level contract with forward Anders Bjork.The 20-year-old is coming off his third season at the University of Notre Dame where he set career highs in all offensive categories, finishing with 21 goals, 31 assists, and 52 points in 39 games.Bjork was named a Hobey Baker Finalist this season and helped guide his club to an appearance in the Frozen Four.He was originally drafted by the Bruins in the fifth round, 146th overall in 2014.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

One Nashville Predators fan's moment of glory will come at a price.Jacob Waddell, the fan who threw a catfish on the ice during Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final on Monday night in Pittsburgh, has been charged for his actions, according to 1020 KDKA Morning News anchor Paul Rasmussen.Related: Pittsburgh fish market won't sell catfish to Tennessee customersWaddell is charged with possession of an instrument of a crime, disorderly conduct, and disrupting a meeting, according to Rasmussen.Furthermore, Rasmussen notes that police say Waddell bought the catfish in Tennessee, vacuumed sealed it, put it in his compression shorts, and then took it out inside a bathroom in the arena before chucking it onto the ice. Shortly after that Waddell was escorted out of PPG Paints Arena by security.Hope it was worth it.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Predators goaltender Pekka Rinne had by far his worst game of the postseason in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final, allowing four goals on just 11 shots. His team played well in front of him, but he didn't make the big saves when they needed him to. Don't expect that to happen again in Game 2.The Preds have now lost five games in the playoffs. After each of the previous four losses, Rinne bounced back with a sensational performance.GameResultSV/SASV%Game 2 @ STLL17/20.850Game 3 vs. STLW22/23.957Game 5 @. STLL30/32.938Game 6 vs. STLW23/24.958Game 2 @ ANAL22/26.846Game 3 vs. ANAW19/20.950Game 4 vs. ANAOTL34/37.919Game 5 @ ANAW32/33.970Every time fans begin to doubt Rinne, he responds with a spectacular outing. Overall, he has stopped 96-of-100 shots after a loss this postseason for a save percentage of .960.Unsurprisingly, head coach Peter Laviolette didn't express any sort of doubt in his veteran netminder after his shaky performance."We have no question about Peks in net ..." Laviolette told Predators communications and content coordinator Brooks Bratten. "He'll be the backbone of this team."Rinne will get a chance to bounce back in Game 2 on Wednesday night.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

P.K. Subban and John Scott are putting the former enforcer's comments to rest.An ESPN "E:60" profile on the Nashville Predators defenseman that ran over the weekend included an interview with Scott in which he said Subban was "a piece of garbage" on the ice.The fallout from the comment pushed Scott to go on Montreal radio Monday to clear the air. He said the comments weren't personal, were at least a year-and-a-half old, and came prior to Scott ever meeting Subban.Subban responded to Scott's comments on Twitter on Tuesday, putting an end to the perceived animosity.

They might not be everyone's cup of tea - cough, cough Brian Burke - but offer sheets, though rare, are always intriguing.Whether it's because the potential price is too high, the crop of players isn't great, or the timing is just not right, offer sheets have become an unusual sight. However, this offseason might allow for something special.Edmonton Oilers general manager Peter Chiarelli is about to become a very busy man - he's probably already in the midst of some heavy lifting.Connor McDavid will be eligible to sign a contract extension July 1, and Chiarelli has already indicated he hopes to get that hammered out quickly. Then there's Leon Draisaitl, who could be an even bigger priority because he becomes a restricted free agent July 1 - and sending an offer sheet his way might not be a terrible idea.What should Draisaitl cost you?Before getting into why that move makes sense, it's important to hammer out just what kind of contract offer Draisaitl should get.Based on the current offer-sheet compensation model - which can be viewed in Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman's latest 30 Thoughts column - a deal with an average annual value in the $7,851,948 million-$9,814,935 million tier could work nicely. To be more precise, an offer with an annual average of $9 million makes sense.That means the compensation would be two first-round picks, a second, and a third.Related: Projecting Leon Draisaitl's next contractRight away it sounds like a lot for a player that has fewer than 200 regular season games under his belt, but that's not a bad trade-off for getting Draisaitl, who appears well on his way to becoming an elite center. He amassed 29 goals and 77 points in just his second full season in the league, and led the Oilers in scoring in the playoffs with 16 points in 13 games.Weaker draft classThis draft class isn't nearly as strong as it has been in previous years, especially the last two. Nolan Patrick and Nico Hischier project to be solid NHL forwards, but not on the same scale as, say, McDavid or Auston Matthews. After Patrick and Hischier, the draft appears to be a bit of a crapshoot, with no one really knowing who will slot where.That means the prospect of signing an offer sheet that would force you to give up two first-round draft picks, including one this year, doesn't appear to be a big loss, especially if it lands Draisaitl.An offer sheet could really hurt the OilersHeading into next season, the Oilers currently have just over $19 million in cap space. That's without Draisaitl signed. Zack Kassian, Jujhar Khaira, and Griffin Reinhart will all be restricted free agents, and David Desharnais, Matt Hendricks, Tyler Pitlick, Eric Gryba, and Kris Russell are set to become unrestricted free agents.As far as the UFAs go, it seems likely that at least Desharnais, Hendricks, and Gryba won't return. Factoring in the RFAs and any other signings the Oilers may need to make to fill out their roster, Edmonton doesn't have a ton of wiggle room.A projected offer sheet of $9 million would eat up nearly half of the Oilers' money - money they need to at least sign one more forward and one more defenseman.Looking past next season, things get even worse as more of the team's contracts come off the books and more RFAs and UFAs enter the equation.Most important is McDavid, who could certainly command upward of $10 million per season. Patrick Maroon will become a UFA, while Anton Slepyshev, Drake Caggiula, and Darnell Nurse will all become RFAs.In fact, here are the only Oilers currently signed through the 2018-19 season:PlayerPosition'18-19 Cap HitJordan EberleF$6MMilan LucicF$6MRyan Nugent-HopkinsF$6MBenoit PouliotF$4MAndrej SekeraD$5.5MOscar KlefbomD$4.167MAdam LarssonD$4.167MCam TalbotG$4.167MThese eight players will make a total of $40 million, leaving roughly $33 million in cap space. Factoring in McDavid's $10 million and Draisaitl at $9 million, that would leave $14 million to fill out six more forward positions, three more defense spots, and find a backup goalie. That's without any replacements. It appears near impossible.Off the hop, the Carolina Hurricanes and even the Montreal Canadiens stand out as clubs who could have some interest in an offer sheet. Both lack a true No. 1 center, and each team has among the most cap room available of all 31 franchises.Offer sheets may be rare, but sometimes, the right player does come around at the right time. This year, that player is Draisaitl.(Photos courtesy: Action Images)Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

With his late-game heroics in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final on Monday night, Pittsburgh Penguins forward Jake Guentzel took one more step toward writing his name in the record books.The 22-year-old scored on the Penguins' first shot in 37 minutes late in the third period, and in doing so picked up his playoff-leading 10th goal.Related - Watch: Guentzel's winner snaps Penguins' historically long shot droughtWith the tally, Guentzel is just one goal back of Jeremy Roenick for the most postseason goals by an American-born rookie in NHL history.That's not all.His 17 points are also just one shy of both Roenick and Joe Mullen for the American rookie record. Meanwhile, his four game-winning goals during the playoffs already have him in a tie for the NHL rookie record with former Colorado Avalanche forward Chris Drury and Montreal Canadiens forward Claude Lemieux.With four more goals and four more points, Guentzel can also tie the all-time rookie playoff record of 14 goals and 21 points set by Dino Ciccarelli back in 1980-81 with the Minnesota North Stars.The kid is doing alright.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Warning: Video contains coarse language

Let's be honest, how many hockey fans had heard of Colton Sissons before the playoffs?The 2012 second-round pick recorded only eight goals and two assists in 58 games for the Nashville Predators this regular season, but he's become a household name during his team's unlikely postseason run.In 17 playoff games, Sissons has surpassed his regular season point total with an impressive 11 points (six goals, five assists), highlighted by a hat trick in Nashville's series-clinching win over the Ducks in the Western Conference Final.The center will need to continue to play at a high level with Ryan Johansen out in order for the Predators to win the Stanley Cup.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Pittsburgh Penguins finished with the NHL's second-best record, so common sense would have you believe they'd be rewarded with weaker playoff opponents given their strong regular season.However, with the NHL's strange divisional playoff seeding, Pittsburgh had to face the NHL's fourth-best team (Columbus) in the first round, and the NHL's top-seeded team (Washington) in the second round in order to advance to the conference finals.On the other hand, Ottawa, who finished 12th in league standings, faced the 13th-seeded Bruins in Round 1 and the ninth-seeded Rangers in Round 2, where they still somehow had home-ice advantage.This left many people in the hockey universe hoping the NHL would revert back to it's previous format, where the conference's top seed would face the eighth seed, the second seed would face the seventh seed, and so on. It doesn't appear this will be happening, though."Obviously this was a unique year with a lot of strong teams in one division," said NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly, according to Chris Johnston from Sportsnet. "That doesn't happen every year and I think to pick kind of one unique year and to scrap a whole system based on that is probably a little bit short-sighted. Let's see what the future brings."Daly was referring is the Metro Division which finished with the first-, second-, fourth-, and ninth-ranked teams in league standings.One of those teams, the fourth-ranked Blue Jackets, got pretty shafted by facing the defending champs on the road in Round 1. It was the best season in franchise history, but they were ousted in just five games."I don't think it was designed for this," Blue Jackets general manager Jarmo Kekalainen said in March. "I don't think it was intended for this to happen."Even players have chimed in about their opinions on the format."It's stupid. It's the stupidest thing ever," Capitals forward Daniel Winnik said. "It doesn't work. It doesn't make any sense."Daly and the NHL appear to be content with their playoff seeding format, so it would likely take multiple debacles like this season in order for them to revert to the previous system.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Getting last-minute tickets to Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final in Nashville is going to set you back a bit.The first-ever Cup Final game at Bridgestone Arena is sold out through the Predators' official website, but secondary ticket service StubHub is selling a select number of seats for over $10,000 each after fees. However, the cheapest tickets - up in the 300 level of the arena - are selling for $1,032 each.As for Game 2 in Pittsburgh, resale tickets can be purchased on the Penguins' official site for as low as $240.Of course, you could always take in the game from the comfort of your own home as well.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 set 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: A+The Edmonton Oilers took a huge step forward this season. The club reached the postseason for the first time in 11 years, and came within a single win of advancing to the Western Conference Final.Connor McDavid won the NHL scoring title, while Leon Draisaitl looks to be the Evgeni Malkin to McDavid's Sidney Crosby. Cam Talbot was stellar despite a heavy workload, and, for once, Oilers fans aren't concerned about the draft lottery results.Free agentsThere are a couple of notable names here, but Draisaitl and, to a lesser extent, Kris Russell are the priorities.Player (Position)2017-18 StatusAge2016-17 Cap Hit'16-17 PointsDavid DesharnaisUFA30$2.8M14Matt HendricksUFA35$1.85M7Zack KassianRFA26$1.5M24Leon DraisaitlRFA21$925K77Jujhar KhairaRFA22$875K1Iiro PakarinenRFA25$725K4Tyler PitlickUFA25$725K11Kris RussellUFA30$3.1M13Eric GrybaUFA29$950K6Griffin ReinhartRFA23$863 3330Andrew FerenceUFA38$3.25M0Anton LanderRFA26$987K42017 draft picksRoundPicks112032 (Own+Blues)4152 (Own+Canucks)6171Summer prioritiesSign Draisaitl to a long-term dealDraisaitl just had his coming out party. He was a force all season, but especially in the playoffs, leading the team in scoring with 16 points. It would be wise for Peter Chiarelli to lock up the restricted free agent long term before his value goes up.Related: Projecting Leon Draisaitl's next contractThe market for his services has quietly been set, with the likes of Johnny Gaudreau, Nathan MacKinnon, and Mark Scheifele all inking deals recently in the ballpark of six-to-eight years at an annual salary of $6 million to $7 million.Draisaitl could be better than each of those players, so getting him inked to a deal like that could end up being a bargain down the road.Ink McDavid to long-term extension (duh)Unlike the Draisaitl contract, this one will likely include very little negotiation. McDavid is already one of the best players in the league. You're going to have to pay a near-max dollar amount for him, but he's proven through less than two full seasons in the league that he's totally worth it.McDavid is eligible for an extension July 1. Lock him up and reap the benefits - there's not much else to it.Get Puljujarvi NHL readyThe Oilers appeared to get a steal in last year's draft after the Columbus Blue Jackets surprised some by selecting Pierre-Luc Dubois third overall. It had been widely projected that pick would be used to select Jesse Puljujarvi.The Oilers jumped on the chance to take the skilled winger, and the move appeared to be an instant win when the 18-year-old scored in his first career NHL game.However, inconsistency followed, and he shortly landed in the AHL. There, he showed more promise, tallying 12 goals and 28 points in 39 games. There's no doubt Puljujarvi has the skill and potential to be great, and if he can take a step forward next season, the Oilers will have another tool and more willingness to trade one of their other forwards, such as Eberle or Nugent-Hopkins.2017-18 OutlookThe Oilers made a dramatic jump this season. They finished with 33 more points than the previous season and were one win back of the Pacific-leading Anaheim Ducks.McDavid won the scoring title and Talbot proved he can handle the responsibilities of a No. 1 netminder. Then there's Draisaitl, and the improved defense core.The Oilers finally played like the team many envisioned for so long. Their days of missing the playoffs appear to be in the rear-view mirror for now, and they should be expected to challenge for a division title and perhaps the Cup next season.A few minor tweaks could go a long way, but even without that, Edmonton should be in a good position to compete with the league's best for years to come.Offseason Outlook SeriesCOL | VAN | NJD | ARI | BUF

Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final has come and gone, and yet, most of the hockey world is wondering what the heck just happened.The Pittsburgh Penguins beat the Nashville Predators 5-3, but this was no ordinary contest.The GoodPredators' DefenseWhile observers sit back and mock the Penguins for failing to muster a shot for 37 minutes, why not dish out some credit to the Predators' defense?By now, we all know Nashville's strength is its blue line, and they stifled the playoffs' best offense unlike we've ever seen, allowing just 12 shots in the loss.P.K. Subban in particular was dominant. In his first Cup Final game, Subban logged 22 minutes, and was on the ice for a team-leading 17 of Nashville's 36 even strength shot attempts. He even scored a goal ... kind of. We'll get to that.Entertainment valueWhile the second period was a 20-minute snoozefest, there was no shortage of talking points to take away from this one.This pretty much sums it up:

It was a record-setting night for the Pittsburgh Penguins and not in a good way.After firing home three goals in the first period of the Stanley Cup Final opener against the Nashville Predators, the middle frame was a stark contrast for Sidney Crosby and Co.The Penguins were held without a shot in the second period, while the Predators peppered netminder Matt Murray with 10 pucks. Despite the difference, the Penguins held a 3-1 lead at the second intermission.It was a franchise low mark for the Penguins, who prior to Monday had not gone an entire period of a playoff match without a shot on goal. It was also the first time a team has been held without a shot in a period of the Finals since the NHL began tracking the stat in 1957-58.The streak lasted exactly 37 minutes before Jake Guentzel put a shot on Pekka Rinne and scored. It was the first shot since Nick Bonino scored with 17 seconds remaining in the first period.Interestingly enough, it wasn't the first time this postseason where a team was held without a shot through a period. In Round 1 action between the Ottawa Senators and Boston Bruins, the Bruins failed to put a puck on net during the second period of the series opener. The Bruins went 24:49 before finally getting a shot in the third frame.Earlier this season, the Vancouver Canucks set a modern-day record when it took them more than 28 minutes to register their first shot in a game against the Arizona Coyotes.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Pittsburgh Penguins were due for a shot on goal, and Jake Guentzel certainly gave them one.Guentzel scored the eventual game-winning goal late in the third period, beating Nashville Predators goaltender Pekka Rinne with 3:17 remaining to give the Penguins a 4-3 lead en route to a 5-3 victory in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final on Monday night.It was Pittsburgh's first shot on goal in exactly 37 minutes, snapping a drought that included the first shot-less period by a team in a Cup Final since the league started tracking the statistic in the 1957-58 season.Speaking of droughts, Guentzel's winner was his first goal since Game 6 of the Penguins' second-round series against the Washington Capitals.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Gary Bettman brushed off Jim Rutherford's concern over treatment of his captain before Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final.The NHL commissioner was asked Monday about comments made by the Pittsburgh Penguins general manager on the eve of the championship round. Rutherford implied Sunday that Crosby and Pittsburgh's other stars are being pushed around without adequate consequences and that he might have to add some beef to the roster to protect them.Bettman responded Monday, prefacing his reply by saying he thinks "the world" of Rutherford personally and professionally, but adding that the timing of the Penguins GM's remarks was a bit strange."The timing of what he said, to me, seems a little odd," the commissioner said, via the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. "That's something you do in a GM meeting, not the night before - or the day of - (Game 1 of) the Stanley Cup Final. Maybe he's trying to tweak the officials a little bit, but in the final analysis, we don't want our players getting hurt."Bettman also pointed out that the Penguins have drawn criticism from other teams for the way they've played."I think it's fair to say that all of the teams that have been in the playoffs have been very physical," he said. "There are a couple of people who have complained from other teams about some of the things Pittsburgh players have done. Some of that goes in the category of gamesmanship. Some of that goes to the fact we need to be vigilant as a league to make sure players are not unnecessarily and inappropriately hurt. As I said, that is something we continue to monitor and will. Having said that, I take all of the concerns from all of our players, all of our clubs and all of our owners very seriously on this issue.”Rutherford's comments largely fell on deaf ears until Bettman was questioned about them Monday before the opening game of the Cup Final.“I hear year after year how the league and everyone loves how the Penguins play,” Rutherford told Ken Campbell of The Hockey News on Sunday. "(Everyone says) ‘They play pure hockey and they skate.’ Well, now it’s going to have to change and I feel bad about it, but it’s the only way we can do it. We’re going to have to get one or two guys…and some of these games that should be just good hockey games will turn into a s--- show. We’ll go right back to where we were in the '70s and it’s really a shame.”Rutherford wasn't done there.“The league has got to fix it,” the GM said. “In other leagues, they protect star players. In basketball, they don’t let their top players get abused. And in our league, well the thing I keep hearing is, ‘That’s hockey. That’s hockey,’ No, it’s not.”Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Well, that was anticlimactic.P.K. Subban thought he'd scored the opening goal in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final on Monday night, but a coach's challenge from Mike Sullivan of the Pittsburgh Penguins ultimately nullified it when Nashville Predators forward Filip Forsberg was deemed offside upon entering the zone.The NHL determined Forsberg preceded the puck into the attacking zone and didn't have possession or control of it before crossing the blue line.It was an extremely close play, and the challenge drew plenty of derision on social media, so it's time to have your say. Should it have counted?Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

He scored a goal, but then he didn't.Nashville Predators defenseman P.K. Subban opened the scoring in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final, wiring a point shot past Pittsburgh Penguins netminder Matt Murray.But the score was soon reset to zero after a challenge by Penguins bench boss Mike Sullivan, who charged that Predators winger Filip Forsberg was offside on the play, proved successful.

Gary Bettman isn't planning on NHL players going rogue.The commissioner remained steadfast in his insistence that the NHL will not participate in the 2018 Olympic Games when asked about it at his annual Stanley Cup Final news conference before Game 1 on Monday night, adding that he doesn't envision players disregarding the league's stance."We have an expectation that none of our players are going," Bettman told reporters, according to CSN Mid-Atlantic's Tarik El-Bashir, adding, "There's no reason to pick that fight right now."Washington Capitals star Alex Ovechkin is among several players who've stated they plan to go to Pyeongchang, South Korea for the tournament regardless of the NHL's official stance on participation.Pyeongchang organizers have expressed a desire to re-open talks since the league announced in early April that it will not formally take part in the Games, but Bettman insisted Monday that it's no longer up for discussion."It is not and has not been," the commissioner said when asked if it's an open issue, according to Sportsnet's Chris Johnston.Monday's revelation that Tampa Bay will host the 2018 All-Star Game would also seem to put the Olympic chatter to bed.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Darren Raddysh is ready to put pen to paper.The 21-year-old Erie Otters defenseman wrapped up his junior career Sunday as his team fell to the Windsor Spitfires in the Memorial Cup final.While the loss ended his season on a low note, it was an overall impressive campaign for the Ontario Hockey League overager, who was recognized this season with the Max Kaminsky Trophy as the OHL's defenseman of the year.Finishing the year with 81 points in 62 games, Raddysh ranked third in Otters scoring, while his offensive production from the point led all OHL defensemen.That sort of ability could help the undrafted Raddysh draw interest from NHL suitors. Scouts were no doubt on hand to take in his performance at the Memorial Cup, where he led all defensemen with three goals and five assists in five games. It was a continuation of Raddysh's play throughout the OHL playoffs, where he recorded 22 points in as many contests.Still, the fact the high-flying Raddysh has not yet become property of an NHL squad is a curiosity to his coach, Kris Knoblauch."He's had a great playoff run and it's hard watching it because here's a guy that has done pretty much everything he can do and he hasn't gotten that contract," the Otters bench boss told Jim Parker of the Windsor Star.Raddysh, whose brother Taylor plays wing for the Otters and was drafted by the Tampa Bay Lightning last year, is taking it all in stride, notably after previous camp tryouts with the Los Angeles Kings and San Jose Sharks left him on the outside of the NHL.With the season now behind him and his future still unclear, Raddysh is out to realize his NHL dream."I take not getting drafted and roll with it," Raddysh told Kyle Cicerella of The Hamilton Spectator. "I look at this year like another draft year."Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

NHL commissioner Gary Bettman and deputy commissioner Bill Daly announced Monday that next season's salary cap is expected to remain flat, depending on whether the NHLPA exercises its five percent growth escalator.The salary cap for the 2016-17 season was set at $73 million, and Daly said it would grow to "$77 million and change" if the inflator is used by players.Growing the cap also grows players' escrow, which has been an ongoing problem when it comes to collective bargaining between the NHL and NHLPA.Daly said the NHL and its players will meet next week to discuss whether the escalator will be used.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Vegas Golden Knights will have a little more time on the clock than initially expected to pick their inaugural squad.The incoming expansion franchise will now be given 72 hours to review the list of players its fellow NHL teams have made available to it prior to announcing its selections on June 21. It is a one-day increase from the original 48-hour window.NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly announced the change as part of the annual Stanley Cup Final address on Monday.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Tampa Bay Lightning will host the All-Star Game in 2018, NHL commissioner Gary Bettman announced Monday.It will be the second time the franchise has hosted the annual festivities, and the first time since 1999.The format will once again include a 3-on-3 tournament, as well as the All-Star Skills Competition.All-Star weekend will take place at Amalie Arena on January 27 and 28, 2018.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

John Scott simply wants the mean tweets to stop.The former NHL enforcer and All-Star Game MVP (yes, that's still weird to write) was the talk of the hockey world Sunday when he was featured in an "E:60" profile on P.K. Subban in which he called the star defenseman "a piece of garbage" when he's on the ice.On Monday, Scott was on TSN Montreal 690 to clarify his comments, which it turns out were at least a year-and-a-half old.Scott's not backing down from what he said, but he wants everyone to know they're about Subban as a hockey player and not as a person."I honestly hated everyone I played against, so it's not anything personal against P.K.," Scott said. "I hadn't met him at that time, and now that I've met him I actually like the guy, he's a good guy off the ice. On the ice, you know, I don't like him, and that's just all there is to it, I'm not going to back down from that comment. I didn't like playing against him, I didn't like some of his antics he did. You're allowed to not like people, it's not always rainbows and butterflies. Everyone, I hope, just please stop mean-tweeting me."The conversation then went to Subban's perceived reputation, which Scott shined a light on."He's a world-class talent and one of the best defensemen in the league and he's a fun guy and he's perceived as having a good time on the ice and as an opposing player sometimes when you're losing 5-1 to that team and he's still whooping it up and doing the high-fives and all the celebrations, it gets under your skin and that's going to happen, especially when he's such a talented player," Scott said. "So, you know, the guys on the other team don't really like that when he's doing it in your barn or at their barn and they're having a great time and you're struggling and losing."I'm sure I wouldn't call him a piece of garbage to his face, he's a nice guy," Scott added. "I met him a few times now, so, you know, it's just on the ice, he does some stuff that gets under your skin."Tough, but fair. And, let's face it, the majority of Scott's NHL career was spent watching from the bench, so you can imagine why a guy like Subban drove him batty.The topic of Subban as a marketing tool for the game was then discussed, and Scott lamented the fact the NHL hasn't done enough to market the larger-than-life personality known as P.K."He's like an untapped resource," Scott said. "He has such a good personality and sense of humor, and he's so outgoing and to have that in your wings ... and he wants to do it, too, he's not saying no to opportunities, he jumps at everything that comes his way."(The NHL has) definitely dropped the ball in that because he could just sell this game all over the country, and he just crosses all borders when it comes to marketing standpoints. He can go to all different neighborhoods and all different communities and everybody loves him - but except for me, apparently. He's such an untapped resource, they need to use him more."Amen, Mr. Scott.Subban will be front and center when the puck drops on Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final on Monday night in Pittsburgh, along with that Sidney Crosby guy, as two of the game's biggest stars - and they couldn't be more different, could they? - square off for the sport's ultimate prize.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

I remember the first time I watched P.K. Subban play.It was a few years ago, and I was in Belleville scouting a goalie for the Canadian national junior team. Subban was playing for the Bulls at the time and was on our radar as a bubble player.Subban stood out every time he was on the ice. He would have the puck, lose the puck, get it back, fall down, get up, and then make a great pass to score a goal. He was exciting, mesmerizing, and scary as hell all at the same time. Good or bad, something was always going to happen around P.K. I ended up watching him instead of the goalie.Sound familiar?P.K. is the same guy off the ice as he is on it, and the NHL needs more players like him. Subban helps sell the game. The NHL is supposed to be fun, and watching a hockey game is supposed to be the fans' escape from the pressures of real life.Hockey players are athletes, but what can get lost in all this is the fact they're also entertainers. People pay to watch them play and entertain - and Subban delivers on and off the ice, whereas most of the NHL doesn't.There have been a few before him; Jeremy Roenick comes to mind. But, as my friend Tyson Nash says, Subban's charity work is what is most mind-blowing. The positive energy and goodwill he provides the community is astounding.(Photo courtesy: Action Images)Of course, this type of spotlight also attracts haters. P.K. has high energy, is larger than life, and has never met a camera he didn't like. The Subban train never stops, and even his teammates can sometimes tire of the attention he draws. This, in my personal opinion, is one of the reasons P.K. was traded away from the Montreal Canadiens.Some of the league's old guard isn't pleased with him, because he goes against an idea they worked hard to protect: that no one was bigger than the team. A lot of this conservativeness is carried over from the early years of the NHL.I was once told by Hall of Fame forward Dave Taylor (of the famed Triple Crown Line) that everyone wanted to be the Montreal Canadiens. They were gentlemen, always dressed well, wouldn't say a word, and would even shake your hand after kicking your ass.We still need the quiet gentlemen in our game, no question. They're the foundation on which the game was built. However, if you're tired of the same hockey player interviews with cliches delivered in a monotone voice, then put your hand up. I immediately change the channel every time a player is interviewed and I hear the same old rhetoric.Whether you like it or not, it's time to climb aboard the P.K. Subban train. It's not stopping - and the NHL is better for it.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Ottawa Senators were labeled coach killers in recent years, after cycling through seven bench bosses in 12 seasons since Jacques Martin's eight-and-a-half-year reign ended in April 2004. They may have finally found their long-term fit in Guy Boucher, but at the very least, he seems to have found his fit with them.“When you get a new coach you never know how it’s going to connect and this is the first time I’ve seen a guy come and collect a stick from everybody," winger Bobby Ryan said, according to Postmedia's Bruce Garrioch.Boucher asked for sticks from each player so he could remember his first Senators team, which formed a very strong bond over the past nine months. The club took the defending champion Pittsburgh Penguins to double overtime in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Final. It was a trying season on a personal level for a number of Senators, including Craig Anderson, whose wife was diagnosed with cancer, and Clarke MacArthur, whose career was thought to be in jeopardy due to concussions.Ottawa hired Boucher in May 2016, marking his return to an NHL bench more than four years after being fired by the Tampa Bay Lightning. One year later, Boucher brought the team to within a goal of the franchise's second Stanley Cup Final berth. The Senators went 38-35-9 and fell short of the playoffs one year ago, under then-head coach Dave Cameron.Ottawa's prolonged postseason run came much to the chagrin of many hockey fans and the media, who labelled the Senators "boring." The alleged slow play was a product of Boucher's strong defensive system, one that was fully embraced by the aforementioned Ryan.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It might be a weaker draft class, but that doesn't mean clubs wouldn't like their swing at the first overall pick.New Jersey Devils general manager Ray Shero sat down for a one-on-one interview with TSN's Pierre LeBrun and said he's already received calls on the No. 1 selection, according to LeBrun.After finishing the regular season with the fifth-worst record in the league, the Devils shocked the hockey world by jumping up to grab the top selection at the draft lottery.Nolan Patrick of the Brandon Wheat Kings (Western Hockey League) is the top-ranked prospect entering the draft, according to NHL Central Scouting, though No. 2-rated Nico Hischier of the Halifax Mooseheads (Quebec Major Junior Hockey League) is also highly coveted.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

And then there were two.The Pittsburgh Penguins host the Nashville Predators in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final on Monday night. Excited? You should be.theScore's NHL editors make their Stanley Cup and Conn Smythe Trophy predictions below.Stanley Cup FinalPenguins vs. PredatorsEditor PickJosh Gold-SmithPenguinsCraig HagermanPredatorsFlip LivingstonePenguinsEsten McLarenPredatorsIan McLarenPredatorsSean O'LearyPenguinsSonny SachdevaPenguinsNavin VaswaniPenguinsCory WilkinsPredatorsJosh WegmanPenguins

Contract negotiations between the Ottawa Senators and goaltender Mike Condon's camp of haven't gone smoothly.General manager Pierre Dorion spoke at the team's end-of-year press conference Monday and he didn't shy away, saying talks with Condon's agent "haven't been very good," according to TSN's Brent Wallace.Dorion will meet with Condon's agent this week to make an offer."If he doesn't like our offer he can just say no," Dorion said, according to Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun.If things don't pan out, Dorion said he could bring back netminder Andrew Hammond, according to Wallace. Hammond played just six games with the club this season putting up an ugly 4.08 goals-against average and a .837 save percentage.Condon played a pivotal role with the Senators this season after being acquired from the Pittsburgh Penguins following Nicholle Anderson's cancer diagnosis.Playing in 41 games during Craig Anderson's absences from the team, Condon went 19-14-6 with a 2.48 GAA, .914 save percentage, and five shutouts.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It was widely known that Senators defenseman Erik Karlsson was playing with two hairline fractures in his left heel, but during Ottawa's end-of-season press conference, general manager Pierre Dorion said Karlsson was playing with muscle damage in his ankle in addition to the foot issue, according to TSN's Ian Mendes.This makes it even more remarkable that Karlsson played as well as he did during the postseason. In 19 games, he recorded two goals and 16 assists with a plus-13 rating while averaging over 28 minutes per night.While Karlsson was certainly Ottawa's best player during their postseason, their second best player, goaltender Craig Anderson, was also battling injuries of his own. Dorion said Anderson's back was in "terrible shape" during the second round against the Rangers, per Mendes.Karlsson and Anderson weren't the only two to be battling injuries, though. Dorion announced the following injuries at the presser:PlayerPositionInjuryMark BorowieckiDhigh ankle sprainAlex BurrowsFhigh ankle sprainCody CeciDfinger broken several timesZack SmithFabdominalDion PhaneufDwristViktor StalbergFabdominalChris NeilFsprained handTom PyattFankleDerick BrassardFshoulderFredrik ClaessonDbackMarc MethotDfingerMark StoneFlegRyan DzingelFwristClarke MacArthurFneckThe toughness of hockey players should never be brought into question.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Pittsburgh Penguins forward Patric Hornqvist will return to the lineup Monday for Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final against the Nashville Predators, head coach Mike Sullivan announced after the team's morning skate.The 30-year-old was expected to be a game-time decision after Sullivan stated as such Sunday saying he was "definitely encouraged" by Hornqvist's progress.Hornqvist hasn't suited up since Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Final against the Ottawa Senators, but on Sunday he was practicing alongside Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Phil Kessel, and Justin Schultz on the team's top power-play unit.The veteran forward will be a key cog in breaking through the Predators elite defense corps, while his offensive contributions will go a long way as well.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Penguins forward Jake Guentzel (undisclosed) will be a game-time decision for Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final against the Nashville Predators, according to Dan Rosen of NHL.com.There hasn't been any word of an injury for Guentzel, so it's possible his game-time decision could be the result of being a healthy scratch since Patric Hornqvist (upper body) is set to return to the lineup. Hornqvist hasn't played since Game 1 of the conference finals.Guentzel was a hero for the Penguins during the first two rounds, scoring nine goals - including three game-winners - and totaling 14 points in 12 games. However, he was virtually invisible in the conference finals, picking up just two assists in seven games against the Senators.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It's time.The Stanley Cup Final is upon us, with the puck dropping on Game 1 between the Penguins and Nashville Predators on Monday at 8 p.m. ET in Pittsburgh.Below, cast your vote on which team you believe will raise the most brilliant trophy in pro sports, and then check out theScore's Stanley Cup Final preview content.Previewing the series

Erie Otters goaltender Troy Timpano got a little carried away on Sunday night.Following his team's 4-3 loss to the Windsor Spitfires in the Memorial Cup final, the 19-year-old hurled his stick at a cameraman who was capturing shots of the defeated Otters bench.Obviously realizing what he'd done, Timpano penned an apology for the incident after the game."I'd like to apologize for my postgame incident with the cameraman passing by our bench," Timpano posted on his Twitter feed. "My emotions got the better of me and I regret my reaction towards the camera. Certainly, not in my character to do something like this. Again, my sincere apologies."Timpano is coming off his fourth year in the league and remains eligible to return to the Otters next season, where the quest to capture the Memorial Cup will begin again.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-One would think a 102-point regular season would be worth more than a wildcard postseason berth, but that wasn't the case for the Rangers in 2016-17.Ironically, New York's path through the Eastern Conference playoffs benefited from lower seeding, but a six-game elimination at the hands of the underdog Ottawa Senators in the second round wrapped the Rangers' campaign in disappointment, as they closed out another season with failed Stanley Cup aspirations.The Rangers employed a high-powered offense and had Henrik Lundqvist in goal, but, going forward, their aging D corps - which was ultimately New York's undoing when it counted - clouds the legitimacy and longevity of their championship window.Free AgentsOnly Mika Zibanejad's contract is pressing, but New York has several contracts to depth forwards to address.Player (Position)2017-18 StatusAge2016-17 Cap Hit2016-17 Points Brandon Pirri (F)RFA26$925K18Matt Puempel (F)RFA24$900K9Mika Zibanejad (F)RFA24$2.625M37Jesper Fast (F)RFA25$950K21Tanner Glass (F)UFA33$1.45M2Oscar Lindberg (F)RFA25$650K20Adam Clendening (D)RFA24$600K11Brendan Smith (D)UFA28$2.75M9 (4 with Rangers)Magnus Hellberg played just two games for the Rangers last season, spending the majority of his season with the AHL's Hartford Wolf Pack.Player (Position)2017-18 StatusAge2016-17 Cap Hit'16-17 SV%Magnus Hellberg (G)UFA26$625K.9292017 Draft PicksFor the first time since 2012, New York possesses a first-round pick. However, they'll have to wait until round four to make another selection, barring a trade.RoundPicks1141 (From FLA)5161 (From VAN)71Summer Priorities 1. Sign ZibanejadZibanejad's first season on Broadway was limited to 56 games due do a broken fibula suffered in November, but the 24-year-old Swede managed 37 points, and added nine more in 12 postseason contests.Acquired last summer from the Senators for Derick Brassard and a seventh-round pick, Zibanejad proved he's worthy of being a top-six center in the NHL, and is due a raise. A player of his caliber (0.61 points per game over his last three seasons) can feasibly fetch around $4 million in today's market, and that's certainly a reasonable cap hit given his production.Zibanejad missing 26 games may have saved the Rangers some money this summer, but rewarding one of their top offensive players appropriately is a must.2. Buyout Dan Girardi or Marc Staal(Photo Courtesy: Getty Images)It isn't going to be easy, but the Rangers need to move on from one of their veteran blue-liners to free up cap space, and ultimately ice a better roster.Both Girardi and Staal own no-movement clauses, meaning exposure to Vegas is out of the picture. If general manager Jeff Gorton could actually find a suitor for either of their egregious contracts, the player would have to be willing to waive their NMC in order to facilitate a trade.The only other option is a buyout, and while it would be a tough pill to swallow for cap purposes, both Girardi (33) and Staal (30) have seen a steady decline in productivity. The duo looked out of place and slow in the postseason, and the stay-at-home style that earned them both long-term contracts is working its way out of the sport.Buying out Girardi would cost the Rangers a portion of his cap hit on the books as dead money for six seasons, while Staal's exit would cost New York for eight years. Biting the bullet might be the only way to upgrade.3. Trade big offensive name for top defensemanShould Gorton go ahead and execute the idea above, the next step should be orchestrating a deal to bring in a top-four defender at the cost of a prominent forward, which could greatly help the balance of his roster.You get what you give, and the Rangers have some bait to dangle to teams looking to improve up front, namely Rick Nash and Derek Stepan.Nash might not be the 40-goal man he used to be, but he's fully capable of filling a top six role on the wing. He'd have to waive a no-trade clause, and his $7.8-million cap hit might scare some teams away, but with only one season left on his contract, a match could be out there.Stepan, meanwhile, has four more seasons on his current deal, owning a cap hit of $6.5 million with a no-trade clause. The 26-year-old pivot has a career points per game of 0.7 and routinely matches up against the opposition's top lines. There's always a market for that type of player.2017-18 OutlookThe bottom line, frankly, for the Rangers is simple: they're good, but not quite good enough.However, improving the blue line with younger, more mobile bodies - even at the expense of a top attacker - is a worthwhile risk if New York plans on accomplishing more than winning just one playoff round in 2017-18.It will take roster tinkering, but if executed properly, the Rangers can definitely compete in the East, and take a few more shots at earning a Stanley Cup with Lundqvist still in the picture.Offseason Outlook SeriesCOL | VAN | NJD | ARI | BUF

The NHL is a copycat league, and you can count on 28 front offices directing their attention to the Nashville Predators and Pittsburgh Penguins over the course of the next few weeks, attempting to replicate the clubs' models of success.In that sense, it's ironic that despite the Preds and Pens - at this point, at least - having rosters built with completely different blueprints, the first team to four wins will define what it takes to build a winner in today's league.New to the dance, Nashville has reached this point on the strength of an impenetrable blue line, with a recently depleted forward corps missing the services of No. 1 center Ryan Johansen.Pittsburgh, on the other hand, has consistently iced a beleaguered blue line throughout the postseason, but it's yet to become a factor, thanks to two of the best centerman the NHL has ever seen, and a deadly supporting cast.With polar opposites competing for the same prize, this Stanley Cup Final could be an all-timer, featuring a compelling storyline or personality at every turn.Legacies(Photo courtesy: Action Images)Believe it or not, Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin alike can transcend into another stratosphere if Pittsburgh repeats as champion.Crosby's legacy, already one of the greatest of all time, can be further burnished with back-to-back Cups. In the salary cap era, a feat of that stature can't go unnoticed. And while you might be sick of his dominance, and craving a new winner, remember the scene when, just weeks ago, an ill-timed cross check from Matt Niskanen had the collective hockey world anxiously wondering when he'd take the ice again.Then there's Malkin, No. 87's partner through it all. The duo, now 30 and 29 years of age and eight years removed from their first triumph, are one-two in the playoff scoring race. Together, they have a chance to do something the Mario Lemieux and Jaromir Jagr-led Penguins never did: capture a third ring.If Pittsburgh wins, you can count on Crosby or Malkin capturing the Conn Smythe, which would mark the second for either player. Only Wayne Gretzky, Lemieux, Bobby Orr, Bernie Parent, and Patrick Roy have accomplished that.Reputations are built in the playoffs, and we're witnessing two of the best ever take another chance to reach the pinnacle of the sport. Enjoy it.Faces of the NHL(Photo courtesy: Getty Images)While Crosby's long held the title of the NHL's best player, P.K. Subban is about to take the sport's biggest stage - something the league should rightfully exploit.Subban has all the characteristics to become the face of the NHL: relentless charisma, an honest approach, and otherworldly talent. The 28-year-old rearguard works in a platoon to make the Preds' D corps the best in the league, and after being shipped out of Montreal for reasons supposedly unknown, winning a title would be the perfect way to cap a hectic year.For a league that struggles to market its stars, the NHL, in its 100th year, has a chance to showcase the game at its very best, featuring its very best players.If watching Crosby, Malkin, and Subban, among others, occupy the same rink to compete for the Stanley Cup doesn't draw you in, hockey probably isn't for you.Teams of destiny(Photo courtesy: Getty Images)Both the Predators' and Penguins' 2016-17 stories feature much more than star power.After slowly escaping the perils of a weak market, Nashville, led by general manager David Poile, has given the city hockey fever over the years, and the team reached new heights this spring.Poile, in the Predators organization since its inception, has built a perennial contender in Music City, and his resume speaks for itself. Less than a year after letting go of Seth Jones for Johansen, he traded his captain for Subban.This is a club that's gotten this far as an eight-seed, sweeping away the Chicago Blackhawks, suffocating the St. Louis Blues, and clawing past the Anaheim Ducks. The Preds have Cinderella charm and juggernaut talent, and, based on how they're built, it looks like this is just the beginning.The Penguins, meanwhile, are the favorites, loaded with experience. But they've shown there's more than one route to sustained success.The team lost top defenseman Kris Letang for the playoffs, then starting netminder Matt Murray prior to Game 1 of the first round.Pitted against the Presidents' Trophy-winning Capitals in Round 2, the Penguins got it done, then in Game 7 double overtime against the Senators, they, like always, found a way.The Predators-Penguins final has all the makings of a classic. Whether it's Pittsburgh's unstoppable offense meeting Nashville's immovable defense, the cementing of a dynasty versus the birth of a new one, or simply the showcasing of the world's best players, this series could be one for the ages.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Phil Kessel is usually a man of few words.Not much changed Sunday at media day in Pittsburgh, but the talented Penguins winger did offer up the nugget of the day, chiming in on a situation he knows all too well."I know what he's going through and what he dealt with," Kessel said of Nashville Predators defenseman P.K. Subban, according to Michael Traikos of Postmedia. "Obviously he wants to win really bad because he got, I'd say, the shaft in Montreal a little bit.""That's how it goes. So you want to prove people wrong. I know what he's feeling like."Kessel is a former Toronto Maple Leafs castoff from two seasons ago, and most would say he was harshly and unfairly criticized for the failures of a team riddled with issues, both on the ice and in the front office. Subban felt similar backlash after the Montreal Canadiens missed the 2016 playoffs, as he was promptly dealt out of town to Nashville for Shea Weber.However, the situations surrounding both players' departures were very different.Subban was moved - among other reasons - due to Montreal wanting to change its identity and become stronger defensively on the back end, whereas Kessel was a casualty of Brendan Shanahan's rebuild in Toronto, a club looking to shed veterans and salary.Either way, both players are clearly using their checkered pasts as motivation to put their new respective clubs over the top, and so far, it seems to be working.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.