The streak is finally over.Oscar Klefbom got the Edmonton Oilers on the board early in their playoff-opening game against the San Jose Sharks, beating netminder Martin Jones with a five-hole goal at 6:44.Prior to Wednesday, the last Oiler to score in the postseason was Fernando Pisani, who did so on June 19, 2006.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

There was no easing 19-year-old Charlie McAvoy into the Boston Bruins' lineup.Pressed into playoff duty after late-season injuries to defensemen Torey Krug and Brandon Carlo, McAvoy logged 24:11 of ice time in a Game 1 win over the Ottawa Senators, second only to Zdeno Chara (25:32) among all players.The extra minutes came not only on the power play, but also in the absence of Colin Miller, who was forced to leave Game 1 with an injury of his own.McAvoy certainly didn't seem to mind:

The mic has been dropped.After the team held the Boston Bruins to zero shots on goal during the second period of Game 1, the Ottawa Senators' social media took to Twitter to throw some shade.

MONTREAL - Tanner Glass scored in the first period and Henrik Lundqvist made 31 saves to help the New York Rangers beat the Montreal Canadiens 2-0 on Wednesday night in Game 1 of their first-round playoff series.Game 2 of the best-of-seven series is Friday night at Bell Centre.Michael Grabner added an empty-net goal with 1:10 left to play.Montreal outshot New York 16-5 in the first period, but couldn't beat Lundqvist.The Canadiens are looking to a avenge a six-game loss in the first round to New York in 2014, a series in which Carey Price was injured in the opening game on a hit from Chris Kreider. This time, Kreider pulled up when barreling toward Price in the first period.Fired up by 1960s pop star Ginette Reno's national anthem, the Canadiens were all over New York in the opening period, but it was the Rangers who struck first 9:50 on only their third shot.Montreal's Tomas Plekanec won a draw in his own zone, but fourth-line winger Glass pounced on it and lifted a backhand from the slot over Price's shoulder.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Held without a single shot in the second period, the Boston Bruins' sticks came alive when it mattered most.With the score tied at one late in the third period, winger Brad Marchand made good on a rebound opportunity after Ottawa Senators goalie Craig Anderson made a huge save on the initial shot by Patrice Bergeron.Overall, Ottawa out-shot Boston 27-25, with both Anderson and Tuukka Rask putting in stellar efforts.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

San Jose Sharks forward Joe Thornton will not play in Game 1 against the Edmonton Oilers, as he remains day to day with a lower-body injury.On Tuesday, Thornton was hopeful he'd be ready for the opening game of the series. He missed the final three games of the regular season as he dealt with the ailment.Thornton scored seven goals and added 43 assists this season.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Boston Bruins may have lost another defenseman to injury.Already playing Game 1 without Torey Krug and Brandon Carlo, Colin Miller was forced to leave after being on the receiving end of a knee-on-knee hit from Ottawa Senators defenseman Mark Borowiecki.

The Ottawa Senators made franchise history during Game 1 of their series with the Boston Bruins.The Senators held the Bruins without a single shot on goal over the course of the second period, marking a first for the team in a playoff game.For the Bruins, this was not a first.

The defending Stanley Cup champions aren't feeling rusty.Pittsburgh Penguins forward Bryan Rust opened the scoring in Game 1 against the Columbus Blue Jackets, doing so 1:15 into the middle frame.Rust drew the tally after walking into the Columbus zone and wiring a kicked pass courtesy of Phil Kessel by netminder Sergei Bobrovsky.Rust's goal came on just the fourth shot on net for the Penguins.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Bobby Ryan came to play.Coming off a regular season in which he recorded career-low numbers, the Ottawa Senators' highest-paid forward proved his worth during the second period of Game 1 by getting the better of the Boston Bruins defense and goalie Tuukka Rask on this incredible individual effort.Ryan managed only 13 goals in 62 regular-season games.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Golden Knights appear to have found their coach.A press conference has been scheduled for noon Thursday, where the NHL's 31st franchise is expected to name Gerard Gallant as head coach, according to Steve Carp of the Las Vegas Review-Journal.Carp added Golden Knights owner Bill Foley would not confirm the hiring of Gallant, but it's widely believed the former Florida Panthers bench boss is indeed the man for the job.

Just as everyone predicted.The first player to score in the 2017 Stanley Cup Playoffs is none other than Tanner Glass of the New York Rangers, who roofed the puck on Carey Price with a wicked backhand off the faceoff.Glass entered the playoffs with one goal in his previous 60 postseason appearances.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Pittsburgh Penguins called on Marc-Andre Fleury in Game 1 against the Columbus Blue Jackets after starter Matt Murray suffered a lower-body injury in the pregame warmup.

Boston Bruins center David Krejci was announced as a late scratch from Game 1 against the Ottawa Senators.Krejci, who did not practice Monday but was still expected to suit up, is listed as having an upper-body injury, per the team.In 82 games this season, Krejci recorded 23 goals and 31 assists while playing a second-line center role. He was replaced in the lineup by rookie Sean Kuraly.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Will he or won't he return?The status of Buffalo Sabres coach Dan Bylsma remains up in the air after general manager Tim Murray failed to provide a ringing endorsement of his bench boss at Wednesday's season-ending press conference."He's the coach today like I'm the GM today," Murray told Mike Harrington of The Buffalo News. "I haven't had any thoughts of firing him up to this point. The reason I always say today is because something could happen tomorrow."Despite Bylsma being only two years into a five-year pact, there are murmurs the Sabres could make a change behind the bench. That discussion kicked into overdrive Sunday, when the Dallas Stars fired Lindy Ruff.Ruff previously coached the Sabres for 15 seasons and his availability could cut short Bylsma's tenure in Western New York.The Sabres had a disappointing second season under Bylsma, finishing with 78 points, three fewer than the previous campaign. The coach could reason star center Jack Eichel was lost for a quarter of the year after suffering a high-ankle sprain in training camp, but in the end the Sabres failed to make progress where it matters.This season marks six straight years of a playoff-less spring in Buffalo, the league's longest active drought behind only the Carolina Hurricanes, who have gone eight years without seeing the postseason.On Wednesday, Murray lamented the team's poor puck possession, adding it's up to him to add more speed and skill to the lineup. But is the Sabres' biggest issue behind the bench?"Players have legitimate gripes about the coach," said Murray, who conducted exit interviews with the players at the beginning of the week. "I think players have some legitimate gripes about the way our team is built and that's me. And I think players have some gripes that aren't legitimate and are excuses. Again, we're all to blame."Murray will meet with Bylsma and team owner Terry Pegula next week, where it's believed the coach's fate with the club could be decided.If the Sabres are to make a change - and if they want to give Bylsma a fair shot at open positions in NHL circles - they'll need to act quick.Reports indicate the Stars will soon scoop up Ken Hitchcock, while the Florida Panthers, Los Angeles Kings, Vancouver Canucks, and incoming Vegas Golden Knights also need to appoint a head coach.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Leave it to Scott Hartnell to fuel the fire.In advance of Game 1 of an opening-round series between his Columbus Blue Jackets and the Pittsburgh Penguins, the veteran winger was asked whether the opposing team had matured since he last saw them in the playoffs as a member of the Philadelphia Flyers.His response, singling out Sidney Crosby, was a backhanded compliment at best."Maybe Sid," Hartnell said, per Sam Werner of the Post-Gazette. "He's not whining all the time."Hartnell, who was traded by the Flyers to Columbus in 2014, is set to suit up in his first playoff game as a member of the Blue Jackets. He brings 91 postseason appearances to the table, and recorded two goals and three assists in the six-game series victory for Philadelphia over Pittsburgh in 2012.Clearly, old rivalries die hard.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

That looks familiar.The Arizona Coyotes took to Twitter on Wednesday, jabbing the NBA's Minnesota Timberwolves after the club unveiled a new logo that looks awfully similar to the design worn by the desert hockey club.

We might have another Jimmy Vesey situation on our hands.Colorado Avalanche draft pick Will Butcher - who is coming off a Hobey Baker win as the best player in NCAA hockey and a Frozen Four victory with the Denver Pioneers - is in no rush to sign his entry-level contract, he told Mike Chambers of the Denver Post."I told him (Joe Sakic) I didn’t want an offer yet," Butcher, who met with Sakic on Tuesday, said. "I wanted to sit with him, talk with him about my year, what they’re thinking, what their philosophy is going to be. My parents are coming in this weekend for the banquet, and I want to talk to my parents before they offer me anything."The news comes after Sakic told the Denver Post that he wanted to present Butcher with a contract after the Frozen Four tournament wrapped up.Butcher is hoping to keep his options open and for now just wants to gather information from the Avalanche."He (Sakic) came in and gave me his whole spiel about changes in the program, going younger and everything like that. I told him I’d get back in touch with him," Butcher said. "I’m weighing all my options right now. I want to take my time. I don’t have anything to rush into right now. I’m not going to play anywhere right now. So I might as well take my time."Last season, Predators draft pick Vesey elected to not sign in Nashville and instead become a free agent. He ultimately agreed to a deal with the New York Rangers - also upon winning the Hobey Baker Award.The Avalanche have until Aug. 15 to sign Butcher to a contract before he hits free agency.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Boston Bruins defensman Charlie McAvoy will make his NHL debut on center stage Wednesday, as the coveted blue-line prospect will suit up for Game 1 versus the Ottawa Senators, head coach Bruce Cassidy confirmed.

The Los Angeles Kings made a somewhat surprising move this week, announcing the club was going in a different direction with the firings of head coach Darryl Sutter and general manager Dean Lombardi.Firing Sutter means that one of the most successful head coaches of the past decade is now available for hire - just what the Vegas Golden Knights were hoping for, right?The expansion franchise has been mum on its pending hire, after it was reported back in January that Vegas was accelerating its search with an aim toward finding a coach before the regular season concluded.However, here we are, which is no closer to knowing who will be leading the team's inaugural roster.It could be a case of mulling over a few options, but the more likely reason for this is that George McPhee and company expected exactly what's transpired over the past week - more big names becoming available.Related - Report: Stars to hire Hitchcock as head coachThe Dallas Stars made it known that Lindy Ruff isn't coming back, Willie Desjardins was canned by the Vancouver Canucks, and Jack Capuano and Gerard Gallant both remain available after being shown the door earlier in the season.It gives the team a pick of a pretty fine litter.All that considered, let's get back to Sutter, who as it stands looks to be the best option for the Golden Knights.Even before a roster is assembled, it's safe to project that the team will have a hard time competing with the elite franchises of the league. With that in mind, it's clear Vegas is going to need a coach who can get the best out of very little.Related: Vegas Golden Knights' expansion mock rosterSutter would be perfect for this. The straight shooter of a coach has become renowned for deploying a smothering defensive system that can win championships, as we saw in 2012 and 2014He also - for the mathematicians out there - still had his Kings lead the league in Corsi-for this season, a notable achievement for a club that finished eight points out of the final wild-card spot in the West and 25th in goals scored. In fact, Los Angeles' 55.71 percent mark since the 2011-12 season also leads the league.This year didn't work out for Sutter for a few reasons: First, Jonathan Quick was injured most of the year; second, Jeff Carter was the only player who could score; third, that Dean Lombardi gave Sutter very little to work with. Despite that, he remains a top-notch coach.Sutter's odd, quirky sense of humor and the fact that Vegas is just a four hour drive from Los Angeles should also provide Golden Knights fans with a coach they're familiar with - something that matters more for an expansion franchise.McPhee appears to have played the market perfectly, and even before he makes his decision he deserves a tip of the cap for that. The Golden Knights are doing everything in their power to make sure the club is set for success in the future.The next step in that plan is to hire Sutter.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Follow theScore's fantasy feed on Twitter (@theScoreFantasy) for the latest news, features and more. And download Squad Up, theScore's free-to-win-money sports game.The fantasy hockey playoffs bring not only nightly excitement on television without the need of having to worry about the Colorado Avalanche or Arizona Coyotes erroneously popping up on your screen, but they also provide an extra reason to get mad at your friends and work colleagues via playoff pools.Whether it be a box pool, a draft format, or freely choosing your own collection of a set amount of players, all pools follow the same general principals.DO: Be rightIt might be difficult to resist the temptation to be wrong, but this point is the biggest of all. Take it from someone with years of experience with being wrong in playoff pools (and in other ways). Winning a playoff format requires having more players from the champions of each conference than anyone else involved in the pool. Start with a bracket, pick the winner of each matchup, and load up on the players from your hypothetical Stanley Cup Final.DON'T: ShareSharing is caring - unless you care about winning. In the real world, not all the star players play for the same team (a total of just 56 players suited up for the Pittsburgh Penguins and Chicago Blackhawks this season). This will cause participants unwilling to follow the first DO to pick only star players and be left with guys on five or more teams. The more concentrated your fantasy roster is on the real-life champion, the better your chances of success.(Photo courtesy: Getty Images)DO: Play to winPlaying to win means coming up with a strategy and a roster no one else in your pool will have. This requires selecting some less obvious names who will be a a factor for the eventual Stanley Cup-winning team. Look for third-line players who also see time on the power play, or defensive role players who are likely to see plenty of ice time at the ends of games and in overtime.DON'T: Be loyalUnless you're part of the rapidly growing fan bases of the Penguins and/or Blackhawks, chances are your team won't win the Stanley Cup, even with an unlikely (or overdue) playoff appearance. Unlike a sea captain, you don't need to go down with the ship. Playoff pools are the time for bandwagon jumping, even if it means pledging temporary allegiance to a long-time rival.DO: Take risksIt's not easy (or logical) to select third or fourth liners who struggled to hit 30 points in the regular season over a 80-point star. These decisions are gut-wrenching hours before the postseason starts, but can result in a nice bank account boost once Lord Stanley's mug is passed around. Look to maximize the number of games played by your team as a whole. The stats will follow.(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Nikita Zaitsev will not play in Game 1 against the Washington Capitals on Thursday, head coach Mike Babcock confirmed, according to ESPN's Pierre LeBrun.The 25-year-old was forced from Toronto's final regular-season game against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Sunday, and has not participated in practice over the past two days.It's tough news for the Maple Leafs, as Zaitsev finished second on the team behind Jake Gardiner in points by a defenseman with 36 in 82 games.Zaitsev's absence means Martin Marincin will fill in on the Maple Leafs' blue line, reports TSN's Mark Masters.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Columbus Blue Jackets will have their prized rookie back in the lineup for Game 1 against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Wednesday night.Zach Werenski - who had missed the team's final four games of the regular season with an upper-body injury - will play in Game 1, head coach John Tortorella announced, according to NHL.com's Dan Rosen.Werenski had an outstanding rookie campaign, leading all Blue Jackets defenseman and rookie blue-liners with 47 points in 78 games.Of course, this is all to say that Wednesday will be Werenski's first NHL playoff game of his career.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Pittsburgh Penguins will start Matt Murray in Game 1 versus the Columbus Blue Jackets on Wednesday night, head coach Mike Sullivan announced.

The first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs begins Wednesday night, and your favorite sports app's NHL editors have made their opening-round picks. Remember: We can predict the future. It's one of the perks of working at theScore.Shall we?Eastern ConferenceCanadiens vs. RangersEditorPickCraig HagermanMTLFlip LivingstoneNYRSean O'LearyMTLSonny SachdevaMTLNavin VaswaniNYRCory WilkinsNYRJosh WegmanMTLJosh Gold-SmithMTLIan McLarenMTL

Follow theScore's fantasy feed on Twitter (@theScoreFantasy) for the latest news, features and more. And download Squad Up, theScore's free-to-win-money sports game.Here is a look at the Squad Up daily NHL fantasy picture for Wednesday, April 12 (all advanced statistics courtesy of Corsica.Hockey and apply to 5v5 situations):Dynamic Duos

Sidney Crosby led more than just the NHL's goals race this season. He's the league's No. 1 jersey seller, too.The NHL announced its top sellers Wednesday, and to no surprise, No. 87 is at the top, followed by Blackhawks teammates Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews.The rest of the list, full of the usual suspects, is as follows:PlayerTeamSidney CrosbyPenguinsPatrick KaneBlackhawksJonathan ToewsBlackhawksAuston MatthewsMaple LeafsHenrik LundqvistRangersConnor McDavidOilersAlex OvechkinCapitalsVladimir TarasenkoBluesClaude GirouxFlyersRyan McDonaghRangersPatrice BergeronBruinsShayne GostisbehereFlyersZach PariseWildCarey PriceCanadiensEvgeni MalkinPenguinsJohn TavaresIslandersDylan LarkinRed WingsSteven StamkosLightningKris LetangPenguinsHenrik ZetterbergRed WingsCopyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

This one could get ugly.Even before the Anaheim Ducks and Calgary Flames take the ice for Game 1, the teams are already at each other's throats after Mark Giordano's questionable knee-on-knee hit on Ducks defenseman Cam Fowler in last week's contest.Related - Flames' Treliving: Ducks' comments on Giordano are 'asinine'The hit has the Ducks upset, and rightfully so, as they're now without their top blue-liner for anywhere from one to five weeks."I think there’s a lot of hate there," Ducks defenseman Josh Manson - who fought Giordano after the hit - said last week, according to the Associated Press. “Our guys had to do something. Hockey is a fast game, and things happen. It’s unfortunate. Hopefully Cam is all right, but it’s tough."Heading into the series, the Ducks appear to have the advantage after owning the season series. They went 4-1-0 in five games, outscoring the Flames 17-14.We can expect a bloodbath, but here's what else the series should see:Players to watchMatthew TkachukMatthew Tkachuk's play is built for the playoffs.The 19-year-old can contribute offensively - he tallied 48 points in his first campaign - and he'll back up that play by bringing physicality and tenacity to the ice regardless of his age.He proved against the Los Angeles Kings two weeks ago that he isn't afraid and won't back down from anyone, and that's exactly the mentality a young team needs going into the postseason.The Ducks are a heavy squad, but one thing appears certain: Tkachuk will not be pushed around.Rickard RakellRickard Rakell had one of the NHL's premier breakout seasons in 2016-17.After tallying 29 goals over his first 165 games in the league, the 23-year-old went off for 33 in 71 contests - good enough to lead all Ducks players.He's been the club's most dynamic forward, but still has much to prove. Despite his recent offensive outburst, Rakell's career playoff numbers are nothing to brag about. He has just three goals and five points in 27 career postseason matches.Those numbers will need to improve if the Ducks intend on reaching the second round.Weakest linksFlames can't win in AnaheimIt's been well-documented that Calgary can't win in Anaheim.The Flames' 3-1 loss to the Ducks at Honda Center on April 5 pushed the club's regular-season losing streak in Anaheim to 25 games, dating back to Jan. 19, 2004.The Flames have had slightly better luck in the postseason, but not much. After winning their first-ever playoff game against the Ducks at home in 2006, Anaheim has won the last five meetings.The Ducks have home ice in the first round so it's quite simple - if the Flames can't win at least one game in Anaheim, they're toast.Missing FowlerNine different Ducks defenders contributed to the 35 goals scored by the team's back end this season, while Fowler notched 11 of them.It's quite clear that he's the team's most lethal option on the blue line, and unfortunately - due to the injury mentioned above - he'll be M.I.A. for the Ducks, at least to begin the series.The 25-year-old leaves a huge hole, but with it comes the chance for someone to rise to the occasion. One worthy option is Sami Vatanen.After setting a career high with 38 points last season, Vatanen managed only 24 this time around, including just three goals. He's been solid in the postseason, however, with 16 points in 28 career games. That production would be greatly welcomed by the Ducks.PredictionThe Ducks have all the makings of a Stanley Cup contender.They have a strong offense, a goaltender who can steal games, and both the size and ruggedness to go toe-to-toe with anyone. For that reason, it's hard to picture a less experienced Flames team taking four games from them.As mentioned above, the Flames cannot - for whatever reason - win in Anaheim, and that's something they'll need to do. Unfortunately for them, the Ducks have been nearly as dominant in Calgary.The Ducks have gone 6-3-1 over their last 10 games in Calgary, dating back to 2014. The Flames have certainly enjoyed a strong season, but they may have been matched up against their kryptonite in Round 1.(Photos courtesy: Action Images)Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

We made it, folks. The NHL playoffs are upon us.With an 82-game schedule now in the books, the fun begins Wednesday night, with a full slate of five first-round games.As you prepare to spend the next eight weeks glued to your television, take a look at the top storylines in the race for the Stanley Cup.1. Canada's backFollowing a disappointing no-show last season, five Canadian teams qualified for the playoffs this time around, each with something to prove.Edmonton ended an 11-year drought, while Toronto defied all odds to qualify with a rookie-laden roster. Montreal has a revenge date with the Rangers, while Ottawa and Calgary quietly had terrific seasons.This should be fun.2. The kids vs. the favoritesThe Maple Leafs put together a stellar month of March to secure their first playoff berth in an 82-game season since 2004. Their reward? Facing the best team in hockey.The Capitals' season is just beginning; anything short of a Stanley Cup will be considered a failure for the Presidents' Trophy winners, and an early matchup with the up-and-coming Leafs makes for arguably the most compelling opening round series.3. McDavid & Co. He put a ribbon on the Art Ross in reaching 100 points, he's the odds-on favorite to win MVP, and now he gets to taste the Stanley Cup playoffs for the first time. Sit back, relax, and let's see how far captain Connor can carry the Oilers.4. New faces, new placesRemarkably, seven of the 16 head coaches in the tournament are in their first year on the job with their respective clubs.

The Dallas Stars will hire Ken Hitchcock to fill the club's head coach vacancy, according to multiple reports.The club announced recently Lindy Ruff wouldn't return next season after a disappointing campaign, and general manager Jim Nill has apparently acted quickly upon searching for an experienced replacement.Hitchcock was let go by the St. Louis Blues in February after five-plus seasons behind the bench, and previously stated he'd retire at the conclusion of the 2016-17 schedule.The 65-year-old ranks fourth on the all-time coaching wins list (781) - just one victory behind the legendary Al Arbour. He spent seven seasons with the Stars to begin his NHL coaching career, winning the Stanley Cup with the club in 1999.After winning the Central Division in 2015-16, the Stars followed up with a turbulent 79-point season, and Hitchcock will be tasked with transforming the talented, defensively deficient team back into a contender.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Doug Weight will retain his role as head coach of the New York Islanders, the club announced Wednesday.Weight had been serving as the team's interim head coach after Jack Capuano was fired back on Jan. 17."Doug has earned this opportunity from the tremendous work he has put in over the past five seasons in our front office and especially from the time he took over as interim head coach earlier this season," president and general manager Garth Snow said in a release. "His leadership and experiences from both playing and behind the bench are valuable intangibles that not every coach can translate into a winning formula. He's gained the trust and respect from our entire team, making him the best choice to become head coach."Weight's transition into coaching was nothing short of extraordinary. Under his guidance, the Islanders went an incredible 24-12-4 down the stretch, ultimately missing out on the postseason by a single point.Prior to being named interim head coach, he served as the club's assistant GM - a position he'll continue to hold as head coach."I'm honored to be named head coach of such an historic franchise with one of the most passionate fan bases in the NHL," Weight said. "There is a deep history of winning with the Islanders and I look forward to doing everything in my power to return to the playoffs and have success."In his stint as a player with the Islanders, Weight recorded 13 goals and 64 points in 107 games.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

All the pressure is on the Washington Capitals.For the first time since 2013 and only the second time since the 2004-05 NHL season was lost to a lockout, the Toronto Maple Leafs are back in the postseason.One year after finishing 30th out of 30, and only in head coach Mike Babcock's second season of eight behind the Toronto bench, the Maple Leafs rode their rookies to an improbable 95-point season and a date with the Presidents' Trophy winners. It's all gravy from here.Toronto isn't favored. It can't be. Especially when it's Stanley Cup or bust in D.C., with T.J. Oshie, Justin Williams, Daniel Winnik, Karl Alzner, and rental Kevin Shattenkirk set for unrestricted free agency on July 1.Here are three things you need to know about the series:Only 1 team can defendBoth these teams can score. Only one of them can defend, and you can probably guess which one.Capitals (Rank)StatisticMaple Leafs (Rank)3.18 (3rd)Goals Per Game3.05 (5th)2.16 (1st)Goals Against Per Game2.85 (22nd)23.1% (T-3rd)Power Play23.8% (2nd)83.8% (7th)Penalty Kill82.5% (10th)28.3 (4th)Shots Against32.6 (28th).922 (1st)Save Percentage.912 (T-12th)51.81% (4th)Corsi50.40 (13th)Both teams can fill the net, each boasting five guys with 20 or more goals. The teams are also closer than expected on special teams. But you can see where Washington has the advantage - possession, shots against, and in goal.Goals are harder to come by in the playoffs, as the checking and defense ramps up, and Auston Matthews, William Nylander, Mitch Marner, and Connor Brown are going to learn that awfully quickly.The majority of the game is played at even strength, and there aren't many teams better at five-on-five than Barry Trotz's squad.Holtby lives for the springSince 2012, when Braden Holtby burst onto the scene in Washington with a monumentally impressive playoff run, there's been no better goalie in the postseason.And the sample size isn't small.Here are the best playoff goalies since 2012, with a minimum of 20 postseason games played:Rank Goalie Playoffs GP SV%1Holtby46.9372Tuukka Rask34.9363Craig Anderson21.9334Ben Bishop36.9275Henrik Lundqvist81.9276Jonathan Quick69.9257Matt Murray21.9238Martin Jones26.9239Corey Crawford75.91910Martin Brodeur24.91711Brian Elliott33.91712Frederik Andersen28.916With all due respect to Frederik Andersen, he's nowhere near Holtby's level.Massive advantage Washington, not only against Toronto, but against anyone in the Eastern Conference.Young Leafs must learn lessonsIt's always said about young teams: They must learn to lose before they win.And you get the feeling Toronto is going to very much regret losing its regular-season finale to Columbus, blowing a 2-0 lead and an opportunity to play Ottawa and not the Capitals in the first round.Regardless, Toronto's at the dance, that's what counts, and it appears it will be the first of many playoff appearances for this Maple Leafs squad. And as Babcock said, his club's in for a rude awakening as to what playoff hockey entails, no matter what he tells his group before Game 1."They're not going to believe me," he said. And he's probably right.The Maple Leafs may take their lumps in this series - it could be over quickly.But you get the feeling that even if Toronto goes down, if it can force the series to six or seven games, the Maple Leafs will look back on this playoff appearance as one that sets the stage for an eventual deep - and potential Stanley Cup - run.(Photos courtesy: Action Images)Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Follow theScore's fantasy feed on Twitter (@theScoreFantasy) for the latest news, features and more. And download Squad Up, theScore's free-to-win-money sports game.With the end of the NHL season drawing to a close, it's time to hand out some end of season awards. theScore's fantasy department wants YOU, the readers and fantasy players, to vote and decide the winner of each award. When voting, value players relative to standard league scoring:SkatersGoaliesGoalsWinsAssistsSV%+/-GAAPPPShutoutsPIMsSOGCriteria: The Fantasy Rookie of the Year award should be handed out to the rookie who offered the most value in fantasy circles. Positional eligibility/scarcity, statistical versatility and consistent production should all be factored in.Nominee: C Auston Matthews, Toronto Maple LeafsGA+/-PPPPIMSOG402922114279The case: Matthews set the bar high by scoring four goals in his first game, but he didn't disappoint in the following 81 games. He is the only player in the league to record a shot on goal in every single game his team played this season. With four goals in each month of the season, he deserves two check marks for consistency. The only knock on Matthews is center is the deepest position in fantasy.Nominee: LW/RW Patrik Laine, Winnipeg JetsGA+/-PPPPIMSOG362871426204The case: Laine's stats closely resemble Matthews', despite missing nine games due to injury. His duel-winger eligibility provides managers with outstanding lineup flexibility. He faded slightly down the stretch, but he otherwise provided consistent scoring production - large in part due to an Ovechkin-like one-timer.Nominee: G Matt Murray, Pittsburgh PenguinsWSV%GAASO32.9232.414The case: Some forget Murray is still considered a rookie for the 2016-17 season, after backstopping the Penguins to a Stanley Cup title last year. He opened the season in a timeshare with Marc-Andre Fleury, but he played his way into the starting role. He hasn't started as many games as other elite goaltenders, but he was great in all four fantasy categories.(Photos courtesy Action Images)Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Steve Mason wants to be the clear-cut guy.The Flyers goalie and pending unrestricted free agent would return to Philadelphia, but he's no longer interested in sharing the net."It doesn't work," Mason said of goaltending platoons, writes the Courier-Post's Dave Isaac. "It's shown throughout the league that it doesn't work. Tampa got rid of their situation (with Ben Bishop and Andrei Vasilevskiy). St. Louis got rid of their situation (with Jake Allen and Brian Elliott). It's got nothing to do with (Michal Neuvirth) and I as people. I've got no issue with Neuvy. It just doesn't work for the goaltending position."Problem is, Flyers general manager Ron Hextall disagrees. He's already signed Neuvirth to a two-year, $5-million extension, clouding Mason's future with the team.Goalie Season Starts SV%Mason2016-1754.9082015-1653.918Neuvirth2016-1724.8912015-1629.924Both goalies were good in season one together, and both were awful this time around.Thanks to Neuvirth's contract, it's expected he'll be protected in the coming expansion draft.As for Mason, Hextall told him the club has things to work through before making any decision, but that he's "not closing the door" on Mason's return.Mason will be 29 in late May and has a .911 save percentage in 446 career starts in the NHL. If he doesn't end up back in Philly, he'll find work elsewhere, but he may not find the starting job he covets.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Dean Lombardi made a lot of mistakes. From costly contract commitments to ugly and public disputes with two former Kings, a series of unfortunate events led to the dismissal of the former Los Angeles general manager Monday.The good news is Lombardi's resume is decorated with countless positives. Named to the Kings' top job in 2006, Lombardi took a perennial middle-of-the-pack club to the league's penthouse, built on savvy selections at the draft tables and rounded out with deft deals from talking trade.A short history: With the Kings, Lombardi drafted a core of Drew Doughty, Alec Martinez, Tyler Toffoli, and Tanner Pearson. He also selected Wayne Simmonds and Brayden Schenn, later dealing both for Mike Richards, who helped lead the Kings to their first Stanley Cup in 2012.Lombardi's strength - pushing a team into the winner's circle - is his best asset, and it's an attractive one that rival clubs may desire in their own front office with the accomplished executive now available. Five GMs should be weary of Lombardi's future path:Doug Armstrong(Photo courtesy: Action Images)St. Louis Blues | Tenure: 7 Seasons | Playoff Series Record: 3-5No club has disappointed when it matters most like the Blues. On the job since the summer of 2010, Armstrong has assembled a core that has been one of the league's top teams in the regular season but one that continually comes up short in the spring.St. Louis has seen just three playoff series wins under Armstrong, with two of those coming a year ago. That followed three straight early exits in the playoffs where the Blues were dumped in the opening round, despite finishing as either the top or second-best club in their division in the regular season.The Blues lost some key pieces a year ago when Armstrong gambled and lost on captain David Backes and forward Troy Brouwer, though he cashed in at this year's deadline, trading defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk before losing another valuable asset for no return.Still, enough pieces are there, as the Blues have a veteran core that can win in the playoffs, from Vladimir Tarasenko, to Alex Steen, and Alex Pietrangelo. They just may not have the right architect, and the best candidate to finally bring a winner to St. Louis could be Lombardi.Bob Murray(Photo courtesy: Getty Images)Anaheim Ducks | Tenure: 9 Seasons | Playoff Series Record: 4-7The Ducks won the Cup in 2007, but the team's success in the postseason in the decade that's followed hasn't been as evident.Despite winning four straight division banners - and a fifth this season, with playoff results to be determined - Anaheim's ability to win in the regular season hasn't translated to the playoffs, at least under Murray.The GM has just four wins in 11 series, and the playoff results have been a mixed bag since 2010: two misses, three first round exits, and one trip each to the second and third rounds.If things go south again this spring, could the Ducks call on Lombardi? The Orange County team boasts a roster similar to squads that saw Lombardi win it all on two occasions with the crosstown Kings, counting Ryan Getzlaf, Corey Perry, and Ryan Kesler among those players who fit Lombardi's mold.Garth Snow(Photo courtesy: Getty Images)New York Islanders | Tenure: 11 Seasons | Playoff Series Record: 1-4The Islanders GM is one of the league's longest tenured - only the top guns in Nashville, Detroit, and San Jose have been afforded more time - but Snow doesn't have the track record to match his time at the controls.There's already discussion of the Islanders adding a president role to their front office, and whether Lombardi would fit that description or simply fill Snow's shoes is a decision for ownership to determine.Figure this: The Islanders hired Snow in the same year Lombardi joined the Kings. Lombardi has two Stanley Cup rings to show for his work. The Islanders manager, meanwhile, ran a five-year playoff drought and has a single playoff series win through his 11-year run.To note, Lombardi would have his work cut out for him in joining the Islanders, as the club has several heavy contracts on the books, from Andrew Ladd, to Cal Clutterbuck, and Casey Cizikas, while captain John Tavares' future with the organization remains up in the air.Don Sweeney(Photo courtesy: Getty Images)Boston Bruins | Tenure: 2 Seasons | Playoff Series Record: 0-0The Bruins manager has only been on the job for two years, with his second season finishing far better than his first.Boston punched its ticket to this year's postseason after back-to-back playoff misses, with Sweeney's decisions righting the ship. His best move came in deciding to cut loose longtime coach Claude Julien. He was replaced with AHL bench boss Bruce Cassidy, whose 18-8-1 record got the Bruins back into the postseason.The hitch comes with the availability of Lombardi, a Massachusetts native who may have the right ideas to take the Bruins to the next level. With Cassidy already on an interim deal, and Sweeney holding a short track record, the opportunity could arise for the Bruins to clean house and add Lombardi, even more so should the team flop in the postseason.Boston has a host of up-and-comers, from Charlie McAvoy, to Jakub Zboril, and Zach Senyshyn, not to mention the young players already on the roster in David Pastrnak and Brandon Carlo to serve as the building blocks for the next winning core in Boston.Doug Wilson(Photo courtesy: Action Images)San Jose Sharks | Tenure: 13 Seasons | Playoff Series Record: 13-11The NHL's third-longest standing GM, Wilson is another manager who has seen success in the regular season but hasn't been able to realize the same results in the playoffs.Despite 10 straight playoff appearances, the Sharks have regularly underwhelmed in the postseason. San Jose advanced to the Stanley Cup Finals a year ago, but previous trips always left more to be desired.The Sharks ice a veteran group that can compete for a championship, as evidenced from last year's run to the Finals. But it's an aging core, from Joe Thornton, to Brent Burns, and Joe Pavelski, among others, and time is running out for the squad to win it all.Is Lombardi the missing piece needed to push the Sharks to victory? Interestingly enough, a move to San Jose would mark a return to the Silicon Valley for Lombardi, who served as GM of the Sharks from 1996 to 2003. He selected forward Patrick Marleau second overall in 1997, who remains with the Sharks today.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The 82-game NHL regular season is in the books, and that means it's time to look at those who put the most rubber on the net, and how they fared in the process.Here's a look at the top-10 shooters by volume in 2016-17, and they all have one thing in common: they score a lot.All SkatersRankSkaterPositionShotsGoals1Brent BurnsD320292Alex OvechkinF313333Patrice BergeronF302214Tyler SeguinF301265Patrick KaneF292346Vladimir TarasenkoF286397Jeff SkinnerF281378Auston MatthewsF279409Max PaciorettyF2683510David PastrnakF26234Takeaways:

It was a night of bad news for Michal Neuvirth.When the Philadelphia Flyers netminder collapsed during an April 1 contest against the New Jersey Devils, he suffered a concussion as a result of the fall, according to Sam Carchidi of The Philadelphia Inquirer.The incident occurred early in the first period against the Devils. Neuvirth left the ice on a stretcher and was taken to a Philadelphia hospital. The team later stated Neuvirth collapsed after dealing with an illness earlier in the day.Neuvirth did not appear in any games following the incident.The Flyers signed Neuvirth to a two-year extension in March, a contract that kicks in at the beginning of next season.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Cross your fingers.The NHL will hold the Draft Lottery on April 29, with the results announced during coverage of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.Drawings will be held for the top three selections.The Colorado Avalanche hold the greatest odds to win the first overall pick after finishing last place with 48 points:TeamOddsAvalanche18.0%Canucks12.1%Golden Knights10.3%Coyotes10.3%Devils8.5%Sabres7.6%Red Wings6.7%Stars5.8%Panthers5.4%Kings4.5%Hurricanes3.2%Jets2.7%Flyers2.2%Lightning1.8%Islanders0.9%The expansion Vegas Golden Knights will enter the lottery holding the same odds as the third-worst club, the Arizona Coyotes.The team who wins the top spot will have the right to make the first pick in the draft. Earlier Tuesday, NHL Central Scouting released its final rankings for the draft.Brandon Wheat Kings center Nolan Patrick was ranked as the top available player, followed by Halifax forward Nico Hischier.Patrick had an injury-riddled season with the Wheat Kings, but still finished with 46 points in 33 games. Hischier appeared in 57 games with the Mooseheads, tallying 38 goals and 48 assists.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It's a new era in Hollywood.The Los Angeles Kings made a major shakeup Monday, firing general manager Dean Lombardi and head coach Darryl Sutter after they failed to qualify for the playoffs for the second time in three seasons.The dismissals came after Lombardi and Sutter led the Kings to Stanley Cup wins in 2012 and 2014. Assistant GM Rob Blake will replace Lombardi, while the team will begin the search for its next head coach."We are all grateful for what Dean and Darryl did for the organization. We are all forever indebted to them," AEG president Dan Beckerman told Helene Elliott of the Los Angeles Times on Tuesday.Beckerman noted that the change was made in order to move the organization forward."This business is about success and we have not met our goals the last three years," Beckerman added. "We need to be competing for championships every year."Related: Nightmare cap situation means there's no easy way to fix the KingsThe shakeup also saw Luc Robitaille named as president of hockey operations. He was previously charged with the top job on the business side of the operations."We believe this team has the core in place to compete for the Stanley Cup," Robitaille said on Tuesday. "It's about creating an expectation that when you wear the Kings jersey, it represents something special."Robitaille appeared in 1,077 games with the Kings between 1986 and 2006. He sits second all-time in franchise scoring with 1,154 points, behind only Marcel Dionne.Whether the organization makes more changes remains unknown, with Blake noting the team has not yet made a decision on assistant coaches John Stevens and Davis Payne.The team will also have a decision to make on Mike Futa, the vice-president of hockey operations. Futa is seen as a rising executive whose name has circulated open GM spots in recent seasons."Mike has been tremendous and we're going to sit with him over the next couple days," Blake said. "I'm going to lean on him."One change will seemingly come to the team's offensive ranks, as Blake noted, "We don't score. There needs to be some emphasis on how to do that."Only two Kings skaters finished north of the 20-goal plateau this season - Jeff Carter at 32 and Tanner Pearson with 24 tallies. League wide, Los Angeles finished sixth-worst in goal production, scoring just 201 times over 82 games.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Detroit Red Wings forward Tomas Tatar will use the offseason to rehab from shoulder surgery.Red Wings general manager Ken Holland announced Tuesday that Tatar will need the next four-to-six months to rehab following the procedure, according to Ted Kulfan of The Detroit News.That timeline should have him ready for Red Wings training camp in the fall. Detroit will not compete in this year's playoffs after missing the postseason for the first time since 1990.Tatar appeared in all 82 games this season, leading the team with 25 goals.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Tampa Bay Lightning bench boss Jon Cooper has been chosen to lead Team Canada at the upcoming World Championship, Hockey Canada announced Tuesday.Philadelphia Flyers coach Dave Hakstol and former Florida Panthers coach Gerald Gallant were named assistants, alongside veteran bench boss Dave King. King was an associate coach with Canada at the 2016 Spengler Cup and last appeared behind an NHL bench in 2011 with the Arizona Coyotes."Canada has tremendous depth in both its player and coaching pool, and we are fortunate to welcome a blend of experience and new faces to our program for this year's IIHF World Championship," Hockey Canada president Tom Renney said in a statement.Earlier this month, the Flyers' Ron Hextall was chosen as the general manager for Team Canada.Canada's first game of the tournament comes May 5 against the Czech Republic.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It was a step in the right direction for Joe Thornton on Tuesday.After practice, Thornton said he was confident he'd be ready to play in Wednesday's playoff opener against the Edmonton Oilers, but added he was still day to day with a lower-body injury.Thornton missed the club's final three regular-season games after being forced from April 2's contest against the Vancouver Canucks.The 37-year-old saw a dramatic dip in production this season. After posting 19 goals and 82 points last season, he managed just seven and 50, respectively. Nevertheless, Thornton and his 156 career playoff games will be relied on heavily if the team is to make another run at a Stanley Cup.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Panthers goaltender Roberto Luongo has never been accused of having a poor sense humor.When asked about possibly being exposed in the upcoming NHL expansion draft, Luongo didn't seem too concerned."I'm old as dirt, they won't want me," said the 38-year-old goaltender, according to Harvey Filakov of the Sun Sentinel.Luongo is coming off a season in which he posted a .915 save percentage and a 2.68 goals-against average. The GAA was his highest since 2005-06 - his last season in his first stint with Florida.Despite his pedigree, it's possible the Panthers could expose him in the expansion draft in order to protect James Reimer. Given his $4.53-million cap hit through 2021-22 (his age 42 season), the Vegas Golden Knights may opt to pass on him if he does wind up getting exposed.Filakov added that Luongo admitted he was concerned his hip injury - which held him out of action for the last 19 games of the regular season - could be chronic, but is also confident he can return to his elite self next year.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Red Wings forward Dylan Larkin will be heading overseas to represent Team USA at the IIHF World Hockey Championship, according to Ansar Khan of MLive.com.Khan also reported that goaltender Petr Mrazek will be heading to the worlds to represent Team Czech Republic.Both Larkin and Mrazek endured rough seasons in 2016-17 after showing great promise the year prior.Larkin's point total fell from 45 to 32 and his plus/minus dipped from plus-11 to minus-28. Despite his sophomore slump, his electric speed will create mismatches for opponents on the big ice. He will attempt to help the United Sates end a World Championship gold medal drought that dates back to 1960.After posting a .921 save percentage and a 2.33 goals-against average in 2015-16, Mrazek looked like he was poised to take the reins as Detroit's starting goaltender, but was outplayed by veteran Jimmy Howard all season long.The tournament is set to begin on May 5.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Only one thing would have made Taylor Hall's first season in New Jersey better: If his team was actually good.Hall spoke to reporters on Tuesday and was blunt when asked about his first year as a member of the Devils.

The Pacific Division's second-seeded Edmonton Oilers take on the Pacific's third-seeded San Jose Sharks in a classic battle of youth versus experience. It will also mark Oilers head coach Todd McLellan facing his former team.The Oilers are in the playoffs for the first time since they lost the Stanley Cup Final in 2005-06. Outside of Milan Lucic, the roster has very little postseason experience. The Oilers won the season series 3-2, taking the final three games.The Sharks will be looking to head back to the Stanley Cup Final after losing in the dance to Pittsburgh last season. The Sharks faded down the stretch, going 4-9 in the final 13 games. The roster is littered with postseason experience.Players to watchOilers: Cam TalbotEveryone will be watching Connor McDavid in this series, regardless of whether he's the player to watch.Talbot provided the Oilers with stable goaltending for the first time since Dwayne Roloson did more than a decade ago. He was fantastic, actually, posting a 2.39 goals-against average and a .919 save percentage and leading the league with 42 wins. The concern with Talbot is that he played a league-high 73 games this year - seven more than the next goalie.In fact, since the 2007-08 season there have only 25 instances in which a goaltender played 70-plus regular-season games. In only five of those instances did the goalie's team make it past the first round of the playoffs. Four of those teams were eliminated in Round 2. The fifth team was eliminated in the Conference Finals.It will be interesting to see if Talbot can avoid fatigue in the early going.Sharks: Logan CoutureCouture will have the toughest task of any player in the series: shutting down McDavid.It's nearly impossible to actually shut down the league's most electrifying player, but if Couture is able to at least contain McDavid, the Sharks have a great chance at winning the series.During the regular season, McDavid tallied four goals and four assists in five games against the Sharks. However, Couture wasn't present for the final two meetings, where McDavid picked two points in each contest.Still, four points in three games is far from shutting down McDavid. He will have to be better if the Sharks are going to come out on top.Weakest linksOilers: Scoring depthMcDavid scored or got an assist on 41 percent of Edmonton's goals this year, while Leon Draisaitl was in on 31.6 percent of Edmonton's goals. If Edmonton is going to win this series, the second line of left winger Lucic, center Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, and right winger Jordan Eberle is going to have to produce.This trio combined for a modest 144 points this season - not bad for a second line - but they will need to provide secondary scoring to take the burden (somewhat) off McDavid's shoulders.Sharks: SpeedAs mentioned, the Sharks are a veteran team. Five of their top six point producers are over the age of 30, including Joe Thornton, 37, Patrick Marleau, 37, and Joel Ward, 36. Even on the back end, Paul Martin is 35.As is the case with older teams, the Sharks aren't the quickest bunch. The speed of the Oilers, specifically McDavid, could prove to be a handful.PredictionMcDavid and the Oilers will prove to be too much to handle for the aging Sharks. The more pressure they have on the Sharks in the offensive zone, the more penalties they will draw. This is a recipe for success considering they own the league's fifth-best power play.Furthermore, not only are the Sharks getting up there in age, but they are also banged up. Both of Joe Thornton's legs will need to be broken to keep him out of action, but it doesn't appear he'll be at 100 percent - or even close to it - thanks to a lower-body injury. He missed the last three games of the regular season.In addition to Thornton, the aforementioned Couture is dealing with a mouth injury. Those are two very key players for San Jose and both are listed as day-to-day.San Jose's experience should help them win at least a couple games, but Edmonton should be able to take this one in six games.(Photos courtesy: Action Images)Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

There are currently five head coaching vacancies in the NHL. The following list ranks each vacancy from most attractive to least attractive. The criteria is largely made up of the talent and age of the roster, but management stability and location were also factored in.Top dog: Florida PanthersThe Panthers have two things every coach covets: A true No. 1 center and a franchise defenseman. Aleksander Barkov and Aaron Ekblad are legitimate organization cornerstones - and they're both just 21 years old.In addition to Barkov and Ekblad, Vincent Trocheck and Nick Bjugstad provide nice depth down the middle, while Jonathan Huberdeau and Jonathan Marchessault provide solid top-six talent.There is some work to be done on the back end behind Ekblad, and there are question marks between the pipes with the aging Roberto Luongo and his massive contract, but the young core will be appetizing enough for any head coach.In addition to the roster, Dale Tallon was just reinstated as the club's general manager. Knowing there won't be turnover in the front office anytime soon is a big deal when it comes to recruiting a coach. Oh, and who wouldn't want to live in sunny Florida, where there is very little market pressure?(Photo courtesy: Action Images)Second fiddle: Dallas StarsThe dynamic duo of Tyler Seguin and Jamie Benn makes the Stars gig a very appealing one. Few teams ice such a prolific offensive tandem.The team also boasts some young players with upside, such as defensemen John Klingberg, Esa Lindell, and Julius Honka and forwards Devin Shore, Radek Faksa, and Remi Elie.There is a glaring weakness between the pipes, but both Kari Lehtonen and Antti Niemi will come off the books after the 2017-18 season.(Photo courtesy: Getty Images)Middle of the pack: Los Angeles KingsAny coach would be thrilled to coach one of the best defenseman in the game, Drew Doughty, who is still just 27. That will be the major selling point for coaches considering the Kings' gig.In addition to Doughty, the Kings have what many would consider two first-line caliber centers in Jeff Carter and Anze Kopitar, though the latter certainly didn't play like one this past season.Even though Jonathan Quick is on the wrong side of 30, he is still one of the best goaltenders in the NHL.On the negative side, the team is on the hook for some very bad contracts. Rob Blake in charge as the new GM indicates stability for the head coach, but it also means a rebuild could be on the horizon.(Photo courtesy: Getty Images)Bad, but not the worst: Vancouver CanucksThe Canucks have been in semi-rebuilding mode for a few years now. They do have some young talent on the roster, but nothing earth-shattering. Bo Horvat is a nice player, but he doesn't project to be the type of center you can build your entire team around.The club's best prospect is goaltender Thatcher Demko, who should be NHL-ready within the next few seasons.One of the negatives of taking the Vancouver job is dealing with media pressure in a hockey-crazed market. It's not Toronto- or Montreal-type crazy, but it's up there.(Photo courtesy: @SinBinVegas/Twitter)Last and definitely least: Vegas Golden KnightsThe least appealing has to be the Golden Knights. Coaching an expansion team is never easy. With the exception of Jacques Lemaire in Minnesota, most inaugural head coaches of expansion teams don't last more than three or four seasons.Vegas can be a great city to live in for the right person, but's hard to take a job with an organization whose only current player is Reid Duke.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Ken Holland's job with the Detroit Red Wings is safe.Owner Chris Ilitch gave Holland a vote of confidence Tuesday, praising him for his work with the club."He is an excellent general manager and executive," Ilitch told reporters, according to Helene St. James of the Detroit Free Press. "We have a lot of confidence in him in the future."Holland has served as the club's GM since 1997, helping the Red Wings capture three Stanley Cups - most recently during the 2007-08 season.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Twitter legend and AHL hockey player Paul Bissonnette was at it again Tuesday.