To be clear, there's no "replacing" Patrice Bergeron. What he brought to the Boston Bruins on and off the ice over the last 19 seasons simply cannot be replicated.Bergeron, who retired on Tuesday, is arguably the best defensive forward of all time, owning an NHL-record six Selke Trophies. He was also stellar offensively right until the end of his illustrious career, producing 27 goals and 31 assists in 78 games last season.The Bruins now have a gaping hole down the middle of their lineup. And with David Krejci - the longtime unsung No. 2 center - mulling his future as well, the Bruins could be without two lineup staples they've boasted for nearly two decades.Boston's management certainly knew this day would come - and prepared accordingly. The current projected 1-2-3 punch down the middle of Pavel Zacha, Charlie Coyle, and free-agent signing Morgan Geekie is nothing to scoff at, and it's a trio the team may be content with. But it leaves much to be desired for a team coming off a historic campaign that still has Stanley Cup aspirations - even if 2022-23 was likely their best shot.But there are question marks with all three players. Zacha, the No. 6 pick in 2015 by the New Jersey Devils, is just 26 years old and clearly has the most upside of the bunch. His first season in Boston was a career year (21 goals, 57 points) after an underwhelming seven-year run in New Jersey. But it came while playing the wing, which may be the position he's best suited for. Going from second-line wing to first-line center is a huge ask.Coyle is a stellar two-way player but, while Krejci spent the 2021-22 season in Czechia, he proved that he's ideally suited for a third-line center role. That's not to say he can't function as a 2C, but, at 31 years old, he's yet to prove he can do so effectively.Geekie, meanwhile, has lots of room to grow. But his career high in points is 28 and the 25-year-old was non-tendered by the Seattle Kraken this offseason.There are certainly obstacles to finding a center to fill the void left by Bergeron (and potentially, Krejci), but it's not impossible. For one, Boston only has about $6 million in cap space and two restricted free agents in Jeremy Swayman and Trent Frederic still without new contracts. Secondly, the Bruins don't own their first-, second-, and third-round picks in the upcoming draft, and their farm system is among the worst in the NHL.But there are still ways to pull off a deal. The Bruins should be willing to dangle 2021 first-round pick Fabian Lysell, or even Frederic and Swayman, for the right return. Boston could also dip into its 2025 and 2026 draft picks. As far as clearing cap room, the club should consider defenseman Derek Forbort and his $3-million cap hit expendable if it means landing an impact center.Without further ado, here are five centers the Bruins should be targeting via trade:Elias Lindholm, Flames Ronald Martinez / Getty Images Sport / GettyContract: 1 year, $4.85M

Patrice Bergeron is walking away from the NHL with his head held high."It was always important for me to be a good example and lead that way on and off the ice. ... I think the one thing I'll definitely say is I left everything out there," he said during a press conference on Wednesday. "I have no regrets on anything, and I gave my all."Bergeron decided to hang up his skates Tuesday and leaves behind an illustrious legacy that features six Selke Trophy wins and a Stanley Cup championship.Despite the fact that there was no perceptible slippage in his performance ahead of what would've been his 20th NHL season, Bergeron reiterated that he "just knew it was time" to step away, adding that he was getting bogged down by pregame preparation."I felt good on the ice, felt good skating, felt good making plays and whatnot," he said. "I felt like the game was still slowing down when I had the puck, and it's not like I felt like I had no time and space. ... It was more the preparation. It was taking a lot longer now. I couldn't just put the equipment on and jump on the ice."He added, "I didn't necessarily need to leave on top of my game, but I am glad I am."Bergeron, 38, put up 27 goals and 58 points in 78 games in his final NHL campaign, playing on a one-year pact with a team-friendly $2.5-million cap hit.The Quebec native conceded that he entered the 2022-23 season with the knowledge that it'd likely be his last."There wasn't a particular moment (that made me retire), he said. "I think it was over time that it kind of came to me as the year and the summer went on. ... I was trying to let the dust settle and see, like, is there a part of me that is going to want to come back?"It was never really the case."Now, Bergeron is looking forward to spending time with his family and getting some rest following his 19-season career."Hockey brings you a lot of pressure and stress. ... So, it will be a nice change to just be able to be the Uber driver for the family for a little bit and just relax and that's it," he said.Bergeron's departure leaves a big hole in Beantown's roster and locker room, but the beloved former captain is certain the Bruins and their tight-knit team culture will do just fine without him."I know these guys will be great. ... They're in great hands with all of these guys in leadership," he said. "Like I said, it wasn't me (who built the culture), it was also (my teammates) and the guys before me like (Zdeno Chara) and the rest of that crew."Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Matt Murray's injury woes continue.The beleaguered goaltender is out indefinitely and will be placed on long-term injured reserve prior to the start of the 2023-24 campaign, the Toronto Maple Leafs announced Wednesday.Murray was limited to 26 appearances this past season, posting a 14-8-2 record to go along with a .903 save percentage and 3.01 goals against average. The 29-year-old spent time on the shelf due to adductor, ankle, and head injuries.Ailments similarly marred Murray's two-year stint with the Senators, and he struggled to make a positive impression when healthy. He registered a sub-.900 save percentage in 47 total outings in Ottawa.Murray helped the Pittsburgh Penguins win back-to-back Stanley Cup championships in 2016 and 2017, going 22-9 with a .928 clip and 1.95 goals against average across both runs.A report earlier in July indicated the Maple Leafs were looking to offload Murray, who's on their books for one more season on a $4.687-million price tag.Outside of a trade, Toronto's backup plan was to reportedly buy Murray out after the club gained a second buyout window due to Ilya Samsonov going to salary arbitration. However, that option is no longer feasible because teams can't buy out an injured player, according to CapFriendly.If Toronto could buy Murray out, he'd cost $687,500 against the cap in 2023-24 and $2 million in 2024-25.The Maple Leafs will likely run a tandem of Samsonov and Joseph Woll in the new campaign. Samsonov was awarded a one-year, $3.55-million deal in arbitration Sunday.Even with Murray on long-term injured reserve, Toronto is still approximately $2.1 million over the cap.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Carolina Hurricanes celebrated Sebastian Aho's 26th birthday Wednesday by signing the star center to an eight-year extension with a cap hit of $9.75 million.Aho has one year remaining on his current deal with an average annual value of $8.46 million and was slated to become an unrestricted free agent next summer.The talented Finn paced the Hurricanes with 36 goals this past season while ranking second on the team with 67 points in 75 contests. He has eclipsed the 30-goal mark four times in his career."Sebastian has developed into one of the best two-way centers in hockey," general manager Don Waddell wrote in a statement. "He's a tremendous leader on and off the ice who sets a great example for our younger players. We're grateful that he's decided to stay in Carolina for the foreseeable future."The Hurricanes selected Aho in the second round of the 2015 NHL Draft. Though he's only entering his eighth NHL season, Aho already ranks fifth in franchise history in both goals (218) and points (468) while skating in 520 career games.Aho's latest extension comes with a lot less drama and excitement than his last contract. In July 2019, the Montreal Canadiens tendered a five-year, $42.27-million offer sheet to the then-restricted free agent. Aho signed it, and the Hurricanes matched it less than a week later to keep him in Raleigh.A strong overall player, Aho added a team-leading three shorthanded tallies and nine game-winners in 2022-23.Aho has also racked up 58 points (23 goals, 35 assists) in 63 playoff games.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Columbus Blue Jackets raised some eyebrows when they brought in Mike Babcock as their new head coach earlier this offseason, but defenseman Zach Werenski is confident the hard-nosed bench boss has left his controversial reputation behind him."I think that's out the window," Werenski said in a recent interview with NHL.com's Craig Merz. "I don't think guys have any second guesses on it. I think guys are really excited, actually, it seems from talking with the guys that have met with him already."Everyone kind of came away fired up and ready to go so that's important, right?"Babcock hasn't coached in the NHL since he was fired by the Toronto Maple Leafs in November 2019. The team was mired in a six-game winless streak at the time, but allegations of a toxic workplace also came to light.Shortly after the veteran coach's departure, star forward Mitch Marner confirmed that, during his rookie season, Babcock made him rank his teammates according to their work ethic and proceeded to share that list with the players.In December 2019, former Detroit Red Wings forward Johan Franzen called Babcock a "bully" and "the worst person I have ever met." Franzen's former teammate, Chris Chelios, said Babcock "verbally assaulted" Franzen during the 2012 playoffs, causing him to have a "nervous breakdown."Babcock also drew criticism for scratching Mike Modano in what would have been his 1,500th NHL game in 2011, and for sitting Jason Spezza during the Maple Leafs' season opener against the Ottawa Senators - Spezza's former team - in 2019.Despite his checkered past, Babcock conceded that his time away from the NHL was beneficial to him and his tactics."Change in all of us takes time," Babcock said during his introductory presser in July, per The Associated Press. "I think what this has done is given me a chance to get outside my body and have a look and see what I'm doing and understand you needed to change, you needed to grow."Werenski said he recently visited Babcock in Michigan, where they had a "good conversation.""We talked about myself and what he expects out of me, the team," Werenski told Merz. "I got to know him a little bit, and you know, I left impressed. That kind of fired me up. I think from that point on I just want to get to training camp to get the season going."Werenski hasn't played since Nov. 10, when he sustained a shoulder injury that required season-ending surgery. The Jackets' No. 1 blue-liner reported that his shoulder is "all good" now.Babcock is the only head coach in the "Triple Gold Club" after winning the Stanley Cup (2008), the World Championship (2004), and a gold medal at the Olympics (2010, 2014).He is replacing Brad Larsen, who was fired in April after the Blue Jackets missed the playoffs for the third straight season.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Chicago Blackhawks chairman Rocky Wirtz died suddenly at the age of 70 on Tuesday, the team announced.He died at NorthShore Evanston Hospital near Chicago after a brief illness while surrounded by his wife and four children, according to a statement by the Wirtz Corporation, per Ben Pope of the Chicago Sun Times.Wirtz inherited the team from his father, Bill, in 2007. He oversaw Stanley Cup championships in 2010, 2013, and 2015."Our hearts are very heavy today," Danny Wirtz, Rocky's son and the team's CEO, said in a statement. "Our dad was a passionate businessman committed to making Chicago a great place to live, work, and visit, but his true love was for his family and his close friends."NHL commissioner Gary Bettman offered his condolences."Rocky's focus on connecting with the club's fans and improving the team's performance on the ice rekindled Chicago fans' love affair with their hockey team and built a modern dynasty," Bettman said."On a personal level, Rocky was a dear friend whose counsel I consistently sought. He was a highly respected member of the Executive Committee of the League's Board of Governors whose wisdom and camaraderie were valued by his fellow owners."Despite the team's on-ice success under his watch, Wirtz has been heavily criticized over the last couple of years upon learning how the Blackhawks failed to act on the alleged sexual assault of prospect Kyle Beach by video coach Brad Aldrich during the team's Cup run in 2010. Wirtz notably berated reporters for asking about Beach during a town hall event in 2022.The Blackhawks have been owned by a member of the Wirtz family since 1954.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Tony DeAngelo explained the reason for his dismissal from the Philadelphia Flyers and his rift with head coach John Tortorella."Obviously the coach and I wound up not fitting together, I guess that would be the main reason for leaving the team and being a free agent again," DeAngelo told reporters on Tuesday.DeAngelo signed a one-year deal to rejoin the Carolina Hurricanes on Monday - nine days after he was bought out by the Flyers following a single season in Philadelphia. It marked the second time in three years he was bought out after the New York Rangers parted ways with him in the same fashion in 2021 following his altercation with teammate Alexandar Georgiev.However, DeAngelo feels his checkered past is behind him."I've been bought out again which is disappointing, but there were different factors that led to that a little bit," he said. "As far as controversy I feel like that's all in the past. I guess there was some controversy this year you could call it, just not being on the same page as the head coach. But there was no personal feelings, nothing personal happened or something big happened to lead to anything, it was kind of just a mutual disagreement on a bunch of things that I won't get into."Tortorella said in February that the team needed to work with DeAngelo on his defensive game and that Carolina masked his own-zone struggles better than Philadelphia could. DeAngelo was also a healthy scratch for the final five games of the 2022-23 regular season, which the defenseman called "ridiculous."DeAngelo produced a respectable 42 points in 70 games with the Flyers, but his minus-15.1 defensive goals above replacement was the worst among all NHL skaters. Evolving-HockeyDeAngelo, who hails from Sewell, New Jersey, said it was a "dream" to play for his hometown Flyers, but he's happy to be back in Carolina, where he enjoyed arguably his best season with 51 points in 64 contests in 2021-22. Partnering up with Jaccob Slavin, one of the better defensive defensemen in the league, helped DeAngelo flourish offensively. Evolving-Hockey.comPlaying with Slavin again is no guarantee, though. Brent Burns' acquisition effectively replaced DeAngelo last offseason, and he thrived alongside Slavin. If the Hurricanes hang on to Brett Pesce - who the team might reportedly trade if they can't agree to an extension - then DeAngelo is likely set for a third-pairing role alongside either Brady Skjei or newcomer Dmitry Orlov.DeAngelo credited his strong relationship with head coach Rod Brind'Amour as a reason for rejoining Carolina."The way I got along with Rod is more than I got along with any other coach I've played for in my career," DeAngelo said. "But that's the kind of guy he is and I feel like we were a just good match for one another, so just looking forward to getting back in that situation."Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Boston Bruins legend Patrice Bergeron is calling it a career after 19 seasons in the NHL, the veteran center announced Tuesday."It wasn't a decision that I came to lightly," he wrote in a statement. "But after listening to my body and talking with my family, I know in my heart that this is the right time to step away from playing the game I love."Bergeron, who just celebrated his 38th birthday Monday, added that it was important to leave the NHL on his own terms. He retires as the game's top two-way center. He captured his league-leading sixth Frank J. Selke Trophy as the NHL's premier defensive forward in June after posting 27 goals and 58 points in 78 matchups this past season.The future Hall of Famer was a finalist for the Selke Trophy for 12 straight seasons and consistently dominated the voting for the award.

Following an almost picture-perfect first season with the Florida Panthers, star forward Matthew Tkachuk is hungry for more."I'm sitting here saying how everything went great for me, and it was easy, but also at the back of my mind, knowing that we were so close," he said Tuesday during an appearance on Sportsnet 590 The FAN. "Just continuing our goal of finishing the job is what is on our mind next year."The Calgary Flames traded Tkachuk to Florida on July 22 last year in exchange for a package including Jonathan Huberdeau and MacKenzie Weegar.It's been a whirlwind 12 months for the Cardiac Cats, who shocked the hockey world with their Cinderella run to the Stanley Cup Final this spring. Tkachuk was key to their success, leading the Panthers with 11 goals - including four game-winners - and 24 points in 20 games.That dazzling performance wasn't surprising given Tkachuk's dominance during the regular season, when he hit the 40-goal mark for the second straight campaign and potted a career-high 109 points in 79 contests.He was named a finalist for the Hart Trophy in honor of his efforts and was widely considered a front-runner for the Conn Smythe Trophy heading into the Stanley Cup Final."The playoffs was probably one of my favorite times of my entire life, just being around Fort Lauderdale and just seeing the buzz in the whole city," he said.He added, "Our goal this coming year is probably (to) have a better start to the season than we had and just try to get back to the playoffs and try to do it again."The Panthers struggled with consistency over the 2022-23 campaign and only made the playoffs by one point over the Pittsburgh Penguins. Despite Florida's underdog status, it upset the behemoth Boston Bruins in the opening round before beating the Toronto Maple Leafs in the second round and handily sweeping the Carolina Hurricanes in the conference finals.The Vegas Golden Knights ended up dashing the Panthers' dreams in five games to lift the Stanley Cup for the first time in franchise history.Tkachuk said he has high expectations for goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky, who was arguably an equally important factor in Florida's postseason success as the forward."We're just super lucky to have him, and I can't wait to see him next year," Tkachuk said. "I think he's going to continue right where he left off and do that from the start, and it's gonna be great for us."Tkachuk was hampered by a broken sternum against the Golden Knights, but he said he's "feeling a lot better" during his offseason recovery.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Florida Panthers signed forward Eetu Luostarinen to a three-year extension beginning with the 2024-25 campaign, the team announced Tuesday.Luostarinen, 24, has one season remaining on his current pact with a cap hit of $1.5 million. He could've become a restricted free agent next summer.His new deal carries an average annual value of $3 million, reports Daily Faceoff's Frank Seravalli.He posted a career-high 17 goals and 43 points while skating in all 82 contests for the Panthers this past season. He added five points in 16 playoff games during Florida's run to the Stanley Cup Final."Eetu is a dynamic two-way center whose speed and strength allow him to excel on any line," general manager Bill Zito wrote in a statement."His consistency and dependability are a great asset to our forward group, and we are excited about what he can continue to bring to our lineup in the coming seasons."Selected by the Carolina Hurricanes in the second round of the 2017 NHL Draft, Luostarinen has 29 goals and 78 points in 212 career games.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Coyotes general manager Bill Armstrong is pleased with Andre Tourigny's work over the past two seasons in the desert and would like to sign the head coach to a new deal as Arizona eyes the next stage of its rebuild."He has got the players to buy into what he's doing," Armstrong said in a recent interview with NHL.com's Jon Lane. "He's got the players to buy into the culture, and he's got the players to buy in to compete every single night here in the desert."Tourigny has one season left on his current pact and has amassed a 53-90-21 record since taking over in 2021-22. This is his first gig as an NHL head coach, but he helped pilot Canada to a gold medal at the 2023 IIHF World Championship from behind the bench.Armstrong has been impressed by the relationships Tourigny has built with his players."One of the things that I love about him and the reason that we have the ability to re-sign him and move into Phase 2 (of the rebuild) with him is because he doesn't leave a scar with the players," Armstrong said. "He has the players' best interests at heart, and he's firm."He added, "They know that he likes them behind the scenes, and I think they feel that love, and it enables him to get the most out of the player without leaving a scar."The Coyotes have finished among the 10 worst teams in the standings in each of the past two seasons, but they did enjoy some marginal improvements during Tourigny's second year at the helm:SeasonRecordPointsFinishGF/GPGA/GP2021-2225-50-757 (.348)31st2.513.772022-2328-40-1470 (.427)27th2.743.60Tourigny, meanwhile, isn't focused on his contract status and is instead dialed in on bringing the Coyotes closer to the playoffs."We want to play meaningful games," Tourigny said. "We want to improve our performance from last year. The only way we will do that is focusing on what can control and our performance daily and not looking ahead."When you lift your eyes to too high, you trip on the next obstacle. For us, it will be (about keeping) our eyes on the road."The Coyotes last made the playoffs in 2020, when they beat the Nashville Predators in the qualifying round before falling to the Colorado Avalanche.Prior to that appearance, Arizona hadn't booked its place in the postseason since 2011-12.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Tony DeAngelo is finally rejoining the Carolina Hurricanes.The Hurricanes signed DeAngelo to a one-year, $1.675-million contract, the team announced Monday. DeAngelo was bought out by the Philadelphia Flyers and became an unrestricted free agent on July 15.DeAngelo was expected to be traded to the Hurricanes in June, but the transaction fell through. That deal included the Flyers retaining 50% of DeAngelo's $5-million cap hit.The 27-year-old defenseman returns to Carolina just one season after being traded by the Hurricanes for three draft picks. DeAngelo tallied 11 goals and 42 points in 70 contests with the Flyers after scoring 10 goals and 51 points in 64 games with Carolina the year prior.DeAngelo's tenure in Philadelphia was tumultuous. He was scratched for the final five games of the season, and head coach John Tortorella publicly criticized his defensive game in February.His 93 points over the past two seasons rank 27th among blue-liners. At the other end of the rink, DeAngelo's minus-15.1 defensive goals above replacement ranked worst league-wide in 2022-23, according to Evolving-Hockey.In 2021, DeAngelo was bought out by the New York Rangers after a skirmish with former teammate Alexandar Georgiev. He was drafted 19th overall by the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2014.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Dallas Stars signed general manager Jim Nill to a two-year contract extension through the 2025-26 season, the team announced Monday.Nill was named General Manager of the Year at the draft in June. The 65-year-old has been at the helm of the Stars for 10 seasons and is the longest-serving GM in franchise history."Jim has proven himself to be one of the best general managers in the NHL," Stars owner Tom Gaglardi said. "He has meticulously built a team through free agency, trades, and the NHL draft that's among the best in the league while also ensuring that the Stars are championship contenders for years to come."Dallas has made the postseason six times in Nill's tenure, reaching the conference finals in 2020 and 2023. The Stars lost the Stanley Cup Final to the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2020."I'm fortunate to have an incredible team of individuals alongside me that have worked tirelessly behind the scenes to help build our team into what it is today," Nill said. "I'm excited to continue my work in developing a winning culture and reaching our shared goal of winning the Stanley Cup."Prior to joining the Stars, Nill spent 19 seasons with the Detroit Red Wings as a director of player development and assistant GM, where he won four Stanley Cups. His front-office career began in 1991 as a pro scout with the Ottawa Senators after a 524-game NHL career as a player.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Norris Trophy winner Erik Karlsson shed light on his possible landing spot.The 33-year-old confirmed to Adam Johansson from Swedish outlet Expressen that he's spoken with the Carolina Hurricanes, Pittsburgh Penguins, Seattle Kraken, and Toronto Maple Leafs, among other teams.Karlsson, who's seeking a trade from the San Jose Sharks, has already spoken about his interest in joining a contending team. He tallied a career-high 25 goals and 101 points in 82 games during a resurgent campaign last season. Karlsson also led the Sharks in scoring and captured his third Norris Trophy.The Hurricanes, Kraken, Maple Leafs, and Penguins have been the primary teams reportedly interested in Karlsson. The Athletic's Rob Rossi reported in July that Pittsburgh's Sidney Crosby and Kris Letang endorsed Kyle Dubas' pursuit of Karlsson."I just want the best chance to get to the best team," Karlsson said, according to TSN's translation of his interview in Swedish.Complicating a trade is Karlsson's massive $11.5-million cap hit, full no-move clause, and four years remaining on his contract.Only the Anaheim Ducks and Chicago Blackhawks could bring in Karlsson's full salary without a subsequent move to clear cap space, according to CapFriendly's projections. Of the teams Karlsson confirmed he's spoken with, the Hurricanes have the most room to work with at just $2.5 million.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

An arbitrator awarded Chicago Blackhawks forward Philipp Kurashev a two-year deal worth $2.25 million annually, the club announced Sunday.Kurashev, whose hearing took place Thursday, was a restricted free agent with arbitration rights.The Swiss forward of Russian descent collected nine goals and 16 assists over 70 games in 2022-23, his third season with the Blackhawks. His average ice time rose by over four minutes this past campaign, from 12:51 in 2021-22 to 17:25.Chicago drafted Kurashev, who'll turn 24 around the time the new season begins on Oct. 12, with the 120th overall pick in 2018. He's represented Switzerland eight times on the international stage, taking part in three World Championships and two World Junior Championships.The Blackhawks still have plenty of cap space even after acquiring Taylor Hall ($6-million cap hit) and Nick Foligno ($4 million) in a trade with the Boston Bruins on June 27 and signing Corey Perry for one season ($4 million) three days later. Unlike Foligno and Perry, Hall is on the books through 2024-25.Chicago added the veterans after winning the draft lottery and selecting Connor Bedard first overall.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Ilya Samsonov was awarded a one-year contract worth $3.55 million in arbitration, the team announced Sunday.Samsonov, 26, played 42 games with the Maple Leafs in 2022-23, posting a .919 save percentage and a 2.33 goals-against average. In the postseason, he had a .898 SV% in nine appearances before going down with an injury in Game 3 against the Florida Panthers.The Russian had a cap hit of $1.8 million last season after the Washington Capitals didn't tender him a qualifying offer.Samsonov will be an unrestricted free agent at the expiration of the contract next summer.The Maple Leafs filed at $2.4 million, while Samsonov was at $4.9 million, according to Friedman. The arbitrator's award is $100,000 less than the middle of the two filings.Samsonov has played 131 games in the NHL with a career save percentage of .908. He was drafted 22nd overall by the Capitals in 2015 and played three seasons in Washington.Toronto has goaltenders Matt Murray ($4.6875-million cap hit) and Joseph Woll ($766,667) already on one-way contracts.The Maple Leafs will have a second buyout window that opens Wednesday. Players eligible to be bought out by Toronto must have been on the team's roster prior to the trade deadline and have a cap hit of $4 million or more, per CapFriendly.The ruling leaves the Maple Leafs $6.75 million over the cap, according to CapFriendly. The projection includes Jake Muzzin's $5.625-million cap hit on long-term injured reserve.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Seattle Kraken signed defenseman Vince Dunn to a four-year contract carrying an average annual value of $7.35 million, the club announced Friday.Dunn, who was a restricted free agent, had a salary arbitration hearing scheduled for Monday. His previous cap hit was $4 million.The 26-year-old had a breakout campaign in 2022-23, tallying 14 goals and 64 points in 81 games to rank 10th league-wide among defensemen in both offensive categories. Dunn's previous career high in points was 35, accomplished in 2018-19 with the St. Louis Blues and 2021-22 as a member of the Kraken.The Mississauga, Ontario-born rearguard led Seattle in assists (50), plus-minus (plus-28), and average ice time (23:40) last season.Dunn scored one goal and seven points in the postseason and placed second among Kraken skaters in ice time behind his partner Adam Larsson.Seattle passed on Vladimir Tarasenko to claim Dunn from the Blues in the 2021 expansion draft. He played four seasons for St. Louis after the club drafted him 56th overall in 2015, winning the Stanley Cup as a depth blue-liner in 2019.Dunn has accrued 53 goals and 201 points in 421 career games.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Carolina Hurricanes appear to be on the verge of locking up their superstar center Sebastian Aho."We're working on it, getting close," Hurricanes general manager Don Waddell said Thursday, according to NHL.com's Tom Gulitti. "Not there yet, but we are talking on a regular basis, almost daily, so I'm hoping that we can get this to the finish line here in the next week or so."Aho is one of several notable players who have been eligible for extensions since July 1, including Auston Matthews, Steven Stamkos, Devon Toews, and Connor Hellebuyck. The Fin is entering the final season of a five-year, $42.3-million contract.Aho has been an offensive catalyst for the Canes, leading the team in goals for six consecutive years. He also led the club in points for five straight years until Martin Necas surpassed him this season. Aho produced 36 goals and 67 points in 75 games in 2022-23. He's also added 23 goals and 58 points in 63 career playoff contests."Those players are hard to replace," Waddell said. "Let's just face it, they are."Aho, who turns 26 on Wednesday, is already Carolina's highest-paid player, but he's due for a sizeable raise from his $8.46-million cap hit.Evolving-Hockey projects Aho's next contract will be an eight-year deal worth $10.46 million annually. That would be the league's 11th-highest cap hit in 2024-25, although Matthews is sure to surpass that total. Aho's proven to be worthy - he's one of the game's best all-around players. Evolving-HockeyBut while getting Aho locked up is the priority, Waddell is still looking for ways to improve his team for the upcoming campaign. That includes regular contact with Vladimir Tarasenko - arguably the top remaining unrestricted free agent. However, the salary cap presents an obstacle."Continue to talk to the player and his agent," Waddell said. "The cap is the issue for a lot of us. The cap went up $1 million (to $83.5 million). That's why there's been so little movement around the league this summer and there's still some pretty good players that are sitting out there because there's not enough money in the system right now to go around everybody."The Hurricanes are also reportedly one of the two primary trade suitors for reigning Norris Trophy winner Erik Karlsson.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New Pittsburgh Penguins president of hockey operations Kyle Dubas seems to have his eye on one of this summer's biggest trade targets, and he has the backing of two of his most important players to get a deal done.Franchise icons Sidney Crosby and Kris Letang have given their stamps of approval for the Penguins to acquire San Jose Sharks defenseman Erik Karlsson, reports The Athletic's Rob Rossi.The Penguins and the Carolina Hurricanes have emerged as the primary suitors for Karlsson, and both teams have been granted permission to speak directly to him, per Rossi. Karlsson has made it abundantly clear that he would like to be moved to a contender as he enters his 15th season in the NHL.Dubas more or less confirmed his interest in the star blue-liner on July 1."When there's a player like that who becomes available, especially with a core group (like this), I think it's incumbent on me to reach out and see if there's a fit for us," he said, according to The Athletic's Josh Yohe. "That's the way I viewed that entire situation."Yohe previously reported that the Penguins were "extremely close" to landing Karlsson during Canada Day's free-agent frenzy. Dubas had a busy day regardless, extending netminder Tristan Jarry and bringing in Ryan Graves, Lars Eller, Matt Nieto, Noel Acciari, and Alex Nedeljkovic.The Penguins are currently a little under $2.3 million over the cap, according to CapFriendly. Karlsson comes with a hefty price tag, carrying a cap hit of $11.5 million for the next four seasons. Sharks general manager Mike Grier said in June the Sharks likely wouldn't be willing to retain 50% of his salary, according to team beat writer Curtis Pashelka.If Pittsburgh brings the Swede into the fold, Letang would remain the Penguins' No. 1 defenseman and would be willing to change his role on the top power-play unit to allow Karlsson to quarterback it, per Rossi.Karlsson has been firmly entrenched in the rumor mill since November when Grier revealed he'd be open to offers for the stud rearguard.The 33-year-old is a hot commodity after he erupted for 101 points while skating in all 82 games for the first time since 2015-16 this past season. He won the Norris Trophy for the third time in his career as a result of his resurgent performance.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Vegas Golden Knights avoided arbitration with restricted free-agent forward Brett Howden by inking him to a two-year pact with an average annual value of $1.9 million, the team announced Wednesday.Howden's hearing was set for July 24. He potted six goals and seven assists in 54 regular-season games this past season - his second with Vegas.The 25-year-old added five tallies and 10 points in 22 playoff contests to help the Golden Knights win the Stanley Cup.Howden amassed 31 goals and 51 helpers in 279 NHL games spent with the New York Rangers and Golden Knights.Vegas acquired him from the Rangers in July 2021 in exchange for defenseman Nick DeSimone and a 2022 fourth-round pick.The Tampa Bay Lightning selected Howden 27th overall in the 2016 NHL Draft.The Golden Knights also penned Pavel Dorofeyev - their sole remaining restricted free agent - to a one-year pact worth $825,000 on Wednesday.After those signings, Vegas is approximately $4.15 million over the cap, but the Knights will be cap compliant if goaltender Robin Lehner and his $5-million cap hit are on long-term injured reserve to start the campaign.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Winnipeg Jets signed restricted free-agent forward Gabriel Vilardi to a two-year pact with an average annual value of $3.4375 million, the team announced Wednesday.His arbitration hearing was set for July 28. The Jets acquired Vilardi from the Kings as part of the trade that sent Pierre-Luc Dubois to Los Angeles in late June.Vilardi netted a career-high 23 goals and 41 points in 63 contests this past campaign while tying Adrian Kempe for the most game-winning goals on the Kings with six.The 23-year-old chipped in with two tallies and two assists in five games during Los Angeles' first-round clash against the Edmonton Oilers.Prior to getting traded up north, Vilardi had spent his entire four-year NHL career in Los Angeles, accumulating 41 goals and 37 helpers in 152 contests. The Kings selected him 11th overall in the 2017 NHL Draft.Vilardi will be a restricted free agent again when his new pact expires.The Jets have just under $3.8 million in cap space after inking Vilardi, according to CapFriendly. Winnipeg still has restricted free agents Rasmus Kupari - who was also included in the Dubois swap - and Logan Stanley to deal with.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New Jersey Devils bolstered their forward depth by inking Tomas Nosek to a one-year deal worth $1 million, the team announced Wednesday.Nosek totaled seven goals and 11 assists in 66 games as a member of the Boston Bruins this past season. He hit the open market after playing out the final campaign of a two-year, $3.5-million pact that he signed with Beantown in 2021.Nosek has been in the playoffs the last six seasons. Prior to joining the Bruins, he spent four campaigns with the Vegas Golden Knights and was a member of the team during its inaugural season in 2017-18.The 30-year-old has amassed 42 goals and 59 assists in 398 career regular-season games spent with the Detroit Red Wings, Golden Knights, and Bruins.Nosek has 14 points in 52 postseason matchups.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Seattle Kraken signed head coach Dave Hakstol to an extension through the 2025-26 campaign, the team announced Wednesday."We believe we are heading in the right direction with Dave as our head coach, and it was important to show that confidence with this contract extension," general manager Ron Francis said in a statement. "Dave and his staff have done a great job of creating a close-knit, team-first mindset in our locker room, and their work ethic helps set the tone for our team."Hakstol has been behind the Kraken's bench since their inaugural season in 2021-22. Seattle saw vast improvements in virtually every category during its second campaign:SeasonRecordPointsP%GF/GPGA/GP2021-2227-49-660.3662.603.462022-2346-28-8100.6103.523.07Hakstol piloted Seattle to its first playoff berth this past season, claiming the first wild-card spot in the Western Conference. The Kraken squared off against the Colorado Avalanche in the first round and dispatched the defending Stanley Cup champions in seven games.The 54-year-old was nominated for the Jack Adams Award as the league's top bench boss in recognition of Seattle's improvements under his direction, but he lost to Boston Bruins head coach Jim Montgomery.Seattle signed Francis to an extension through the 2026-27 season in May.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Toronto Maple Leafs and restricted free agent Ilya Samsonov are $2.5 million apart in arbitration filings with the goalie's hearing set for Friday, reports Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.Samsonov apparently came in at $4.9 million, while the Maple Leafs filed at $2.4 million, but the sides can still come to an agreement prior to the arbitration hearing.The 26-year-old signed a one-year, $1.8-million deal with Toronto as an unrestricted free agent last summer. He hit the open market after the Washington Capitals opted not to tender him a qualifying offer.Samsonov enjoyed a career year with the Maple Leafs this past season while claiming the starting job, posting a .919 save percentage and 2.33 goals against average to go along with a 27-10-5 record.He was also solid during Toronto's first-round matchup against the Tampa Bay Lightning, posting a .900 save percentage in six outings to help the Leafs win their first playoff series since 2004.Friedman said he doesn't think Toronto wanted to pursue a long-term pact with Samsonov during an appearance on NHL Network on Tuesday night.Arbitration awards can be one or two years in length, but Samsonov would only be entitled to a one-year term since he is eligible for unrestricted free agency in 2024, according to CapFriendly.In addition, if Samsonov's awarded salary surpasses the benchmark of $4,538,958, the Maple Leafs would be able to walk away, which would make the Russian an unrestricted free agent.Toronto is currently $8.8 million over the cap, but that figure can drop to $3.2 million if defenseman Jake Muzzin goes on long-term injured reserve.The Maple Leafs are reportedly looking to offload the oft-injured Matt Murray, who carries a cap hit just under $4.69 million for one more season.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Ottawa Senators parted ways with assistant general manager Trent Mann on Wednesday."We're thankful for Trent's contributions to the Senators and wish him the best going forward," general manager Pierre Dorion said in a brief statement announcing the decision.Mann joined the organization in 2010 as a part-time amateur scout and began working with the team on a full-time basis in 2014. He was promoted to chief amateur scout in 2016 and was named assistant GM last summer.His older brother, Troy, was fired from his post as head coach of the Senators' AHL affiliate in February after he reportedly gave some of the team's pre-scouting material to another NHL club.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Adopting an in-season tournament isn't currently on the NHL's to-do list.The NBA recently unveiled its plans for a European-style competition for its upcoming 2023-24 campaign. It will include all 30 teams and count in the standings until the championship game. The winners will be rewarded the NBA Cup, and players on the prevailing squad will receive $500,000."No consideration being given to in-season tournaments," deputy commissioner Bill Daly told ESPN's Greg Wyshynski.Marty Walsh, executive director of the NHL Players Association, said there hasn't been any discussions about tournaments among players to this point, but he isn't necessarily against the idea."I think it's worth looking at anything that's out there," Walsh said. "I tell players all the time, even if you have an idea that you think is kind of off the wall a little bit, just run it by me. You never know what turns into a brilliant idea."Last December, the NHL reportedly discussed expanding the regular-season schedule from 82 to 84 games while shortening training camp and the preseason. Commissioner Gary Bettman has also repeatedly voiced his disinterest in altering the NHL's 16-team playoff format despite other North American leagues expanding their respective postseason fields in recent years.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Warning: Story contains coarse languageAlex Galchenyuk is entering the NHL/NHLPA player assistance program after he was arrested last week, he said in a statement posted to social media on Tuesday.The 11-year NHL veteran also issued an apology to police for his "deeply disrespectful and despicable behavior," according to ESPN's Emily Kaplan.The Arizona Coyotes terminated Galchenyuk's contract Thursday - 12 days after signing him as a free agent - after learning he was arrested for a hit-and-run incident in Scottsdale, Arizona, on July 9.Galchenyuk was arrested on several charges, including private property hit-and-run, disorderly conduct, failure to obey, resisting arrest, and threatening or intimidating. No injuries resulted from the hit-and-run, only property damage.Police say Galchenyuk used racial slurs toward an officer and threatened to have two officers killed. He cited connections in Moscow while stating, "I'm gonna chop you, your wife, your daughter ... one phone call, and you're all dead, your whole family, your bloodline is dead," police said in the report.Galchenyuk was born in the United States to Belarusian parents and spent much of his childhood in Russia.In a letter sent to the Scottsdale Police Department obtained by ESPN, Galchenyuk wrote that "they did not deserve that outburst" and that he was "sorry for the pain it had caused."Galchenyuk wrote:

The Toronto Maple Leafs hired Derek Clancey as assistant general manager of player personnel, the team announced Tuesday.Clancey had served as assistant GM of the Canucks since December 2021, overseeing Vancouver's professional and amateur scouting staff.The Pittsburgh Penguins hired Clancey as a pro scout in 2007, and he remained with the organization for 14 seasons, winning three Stanley Cup championships with the franchise (2009, 2016, 2017).He was promoted to Pittsburgh's director of player personnel in 2019.Clancey is the fifth assistant GM on the Maple Leafs' staff, joining Brandon Pridham, Dr. Hayley Wickenheiser (player development), Ryan Hardy (minor league operations), and Darryl Metcalf (hockey research and development).Running the show is Brad Treliving, who replaced Kyle Dubas in late May following a nine-year stint with the Calgary Flames."We are excited to add Derek to our hockey operations department," Treliving said. "I feel Derek is one of the premier talent evaluators in our game. He is a three-time Stanley Cup champion and will play a big role as we continue our goal of building a championship team."Treliving also brought in former NHLer Shane Doan as a special adviser to the GM in June.Prior to joining the Canucks, Clancey served as a pro scout for the Flames to start the 2021-22 season while Treliving was GM.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Denis Malgin is heading home.The former Colorado Avalanche and Toronto Maple Leafs forward is signing a five-year contract with the Swiss National League's ZSC Lions, the team announced Tuesday.Malgin produced 13 goals and eight assists in 65 contests split between the Maple Leafs and Avalanche last season. He failed to record a point in seven playoff games with Colorado.The 26-year-old also added six points in six games with Switzerland at the World Championship.Malgin has proven to be a star overseas. Over his last two campaigns in Switzerland from 2020-22, he recorded 40 goals and 54 assists in 93 games.The 5-foot-9 forward has totaled 41 goals and 40 assists in 257 career NHL games.The Florida Panthers drafted him in the fourth round in 2015.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Former NHL goaltender Miikka Kiprusoff will see his number raised to the rafters of the Scotiabank Saddledome when the Calgary Flames retire his No. 34 in a ceremony March 2, the team announced Tuesday."I loved my time in Calgary," Kiprusoff said. "The fans are amazing, and it's a wonderful place to live and play. Hockey really means something here, and I was proud to wear the Flaming C and call Calgary my home for nine years."I would like to thank the Flames ownership, the organization, and the fans for my time in Calgary and for this tremendous honor."Kiprusoff played for the Flames from 2003 up until his retirement in 2013. He's the franchise leader in games played by a netminder (576), wins (305), shutouts (41), save percentage (.913), and goals against average (2.46).Kiprusoff also registered 45 wins during the 2008-09 campaign, the most by a Flames goalie in a single season.The Finn took home the Vezina Trophy in 2006 and was named a finalist for the Hart Trophy as the league's Most Valuable Player. He posted a 42-20-11 record to go along with a .923 save percentage, 2.07 goals against average, and 10 shutouts in 2005-06.Kiprusoff will join Jarome Iginla, Lanny McDonald, and Mike Vernon as the only Flames to have their numbers retired."To have my name and number hanging next to those great Flames players, and especially my friend and legendary goalie Mike Vernon, is truly a highlight of my career," Kiprusoff said.Kiprusoff, 46, was selected in the fifth round of the 1995 NHL Draft by the San Jose Sharks. The Flames acquired him from the Sharks in November 2003 in exchange for a 2005 second-round pick, which San Jose used to draft Marc-Edouard Vlasic.Calgary made the playoffs five times during Kiprusoff's tenure and lost to the Tampa Bay Lightning in the 2004 Stanley Cup Finals.Overall, Kiprusoff owns a career .912 save percentage and 2.49 goals against average in 623 regular-season appearances.The Flames will take on the Pittsburgh Penguins on March 2 at 10 p.m. ET.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The San Jose Sharks denied claims by former forward Martin Kaut that a coach from the club's AHL affiliate pressured him to fight opponents."Let us be unequivocally clear that no such direction was ever given or insinuated by the members of the Sharks or Barracuda coaching or hockey staffs," the Sharks said in a statement obtained by Sheng Peng of San Jose Hockey Now.Kaut left the Sharks organization this offseason to sign in his native Czechia. In an interview with Czech news outlet iDNES, he said one of his AHL coaches picked an opponent each game for him to fight. Kaut claimed when he refused, the coach said that's why he isn't in the NHL."One time, he pointed to (Calgary Wranglers forward) Adam Klapka," Kaut said. "Wow, the kid's 230 pounds, 6-foot-8, and I'm supposed to fight him? My countryman on top of it? Hell no."Kaut endured numerous injuries after the Colorado Avalanche drafted him 16th overall in 2018."I've had three concussions and injured my shoulder twice," Kaut said. "If I fought the guys they picked for me, I'd go down and still get hurt. He made me fight anyway, it really bothered me."I would have fought for any good reason, no question. When the game's sold out, it escalates, or when you're defending a teammate. But to fight someone just for the sake of it? I'm supposed to be on the ice to score goals."Colorado traded Kaut to San Jose in January. He suited up in nine games for the Sharks and 19 contests in the minors. He's made 56 career NHL appearances and notched 11 points.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Colorado Avalanche signed restricted free-agent forward Ross Colton to a four-year contract, the team announced Monday.Financial terms weren't officially disclosed, but Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reports the contract features a $4-million average annual value.Colton had an arbitration hearing scheduled for July 27. The Avalanche acquired him from the Tampa Bay Lighting in late June for a second-round pick and promptly gave him a significant raise, as he earned $1.125 million annually on his previous deal."Ross is a hardworking two-way center with a championship pedigree," general manager Chris MacFarland said. "He has physicality to his game, is ultracompetitive, and his versatility will make him a valuable addition to our lineup in a lot of ways."The Bolts selected Colton in the fourth round of the 2016 draft. He broke into the NHL during the 2020-21 season and scored the Stanley Cup-clinching goal in his debut campaign.The soon-to-be 27-year-old has registered 83 points in 190 career games, including 16 goals and 16 assists this past season.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New York Islanders re-signed restricted free-agent forward Oliver Wahlstrom to a one-year deal, the team announced Monday.Wahlstrom agreed to his qualifying offer, a source told The Athletic's Kevin Kurz. His qualifying offer was worth $874,125, per CapFriendly.The 23-year-old winger recorded seven goals and nine assists in 35 games with the Islanders last season. He missed the second half of the season with a lower-body injury.Wahlstrom has tallied 61 points in 161 career NHL games across parts of four seasons. He showed plenty of promise during the 2020-21 campaign when he potted 12 goals in 44 contests.The Islanders selected Wahlstrom 11th overall at the 2018 NHL Draft.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Arizona Coyotes aren't hesitating to put pressure on forward Dylan Guenther."We have huge expectations for Dylan," Coyotes head coach Andre Tourigny said, according to NHL.com's Alan Robinson. "He will be a leader on the team, and a leader of our young generation. We believe he already has our DNA. We want him to be an example for the other guys, the way he conducts himself in the gym, the lunch room, the therapy room, in every meeting, on the ice."Guenther was selected ninth overall by the Coyotes in the 2021 NHL Draft. Arizona acquired the pick in the trade that sent Oliver Ekman-Larsson to the Vancouver Canucks.The 20-year-old winger is coming off a highly eventful 2022-23 campaign during which he spent 33 games with the Coyotes and recorded 15 points. The Edmonton native helped Canada win gold at the world juniors, tallying seven goals and three assists in seven games, including the OT winner in the final against Czechia. He also notched 57 points in 39 combined regular season and playoff games with the WHL's Seattle Thunderbirds, who lost in the Memorial Cup Final.Guenther believes the experience of playing with multiple teams throughout a season will help his development in the end. However, he's focused on solidifying himself as a full-time NHL player in Arizona next season."Absolutely, I want to be here," Guenther said. "I think playing in all those different leagues, all those different situations, playing with and against so many different players, so many good players ... it was a lot. It was different, but busy is good."Coyotes general manager Bill Armstrong is counting on Guenther to make strides in his game for 2023-24."You'll really see his game get to the next level (now)," Armstrong said. "It's an exciting time for him. You're going to see a lot of growth in him. He's one of those kids that can win in the championships and he doesn't give up much. He's a pretty exciting kid."The Coyotes improved up front with the additions of Jason Zucker, Alexander Kerfoot, and Nick Bjugstad, but there's still room for Guenther to carve out a featured role for himself.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The St. Louis Blues dodged the arbitration process with forward Alexey Toropchenko, agreeing to a two-year deal worth $1.25 million per season, the team announced Sunday.Toropchenko was a restricted free agent and had an arbitration hearing scheduled for Thursday.The 6-foot-6, 220-pound Russian collected 10 goals and nine assists over 69 games in a bottom-six role with the Blues this past season. He added one tally and two helpers in five contests with their AHL affiliate, the Springfield Thunderbirds.Toropchenko has played parts of two campaigns with St. Louis, the club that drafted him 113th overall in 2017.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Arizona Coyotes officially secured Matias Maccelli's services for three more seasons on Monday.The pact carries an average annual value of $3.425 million, according to Craig Morgan of PHNX Sports.Maccelli was a restricted free agent coming off the three-year, entry-level contract he signed with the club in April 2020."He is a highly skilled forward with great hockey sense and playmaking ability," general manager Bill Armstrong said in a release announcing the signing. "He had an outstanding rookie season and is a big part of our core group of players. We are excited to have him back."Maccelli finished fourth in Calder Trophy voting this past season after leading all rookies with 38 assists and ranking second in the class with 49 points despite playing only 64 games and averaging just 15:41 of ice time for the lackluster Coyotes.The Finnish-American winger, who'll turn 23 in October, also placed second among his rookie peers in even-strength points with 36.Maccelli debuted with the Coyotes in 2021-22, posting one goal and five assists over 23 contests. He excelled with their AHL affiliate, the Tucson Roadrunners, notching 14 tallies and 43 helpers across 47 games during that campaign.Arizona drafted Maccelli 98th overall in 2019.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Connor Bedard celebrated his 18th birthday in style by agreeing to terms on a three-year, entry-level pact with the Chicago Blackhawks on Monday.The Blackhawks selected Bedard with the first overall pick at the 2023 NHL Draft. The deal carries a cap hit of $950,000 with an additional $3.5 million available in performance bonuses, thus bringing up the average annual value to $4.45 million, according to CapFriendly."Signing Connor is a huge step in building a new foundation for our organization," general manager Kyle Davidson said in a release announcing the signing. "We're excited to see him grow and play a large role in pushing our team forward for many years to come."Bedard is widely considered to be a world-breaking talent on the same wavelength as fellow No. 1 picks Sidney Crosby and Connor McDavid. He paced the CHL in goals (71), points (143), and points per game (2.51) in 57 regular-season contests as a member of the WHL's Regina Pats this past season.In honor of his efforts, Bedard won the CHL's Top Prospect Award, Top Scorer Award, and David Branch Player of the Year Award, becoming the first player to win all three in the same campaign.The North Vancouver native was also tabbed the inaugural IIHF Male Player of the Year in June after he potted nine goals and 14 assists in seven games at the 2023 World Junior Championship.Bedard is the Blackhawks' second No. 1 pick in franchise history, joining Patrick Kane, who was taken first in 2007.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Winnipeg Jets avoided arbitration with restricted free-agent forward Morgan Barron on a two-year pact with an average annual value of $1.35 million, the team announced Monday.Barron's arbitration hearing was set for August 2. He wrapped up a three-year pact with a cap hit of $925,000 this past campaign.The 24-year-old set new career highs with eight goals and 21 points while appearing in 70 games for the Jets in 2022-23. He also made his playoff debut this spring, appearing in all five contests against the Vegas Golden Knights.Barron was injured in Game 1 against the eventual Stanley Cup champions after taking a skate to the face, but he was able to return to the game after receiving more than 75 stitches.The New York Rangers selected Barron in the sixth round of the 2017 NHL Draft. The Jets acquired Barron at the 2022 trade deadline as part of the package that sent Andrew Copp to the Big Apple.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Ryan O'Reilly doesn't see his Nashville Predators taking another step backward next season."I think, as a group, we have great leadership," O'Reilly told reporters Thursday. "We have great young pieces. Why can't we contend? Why can't we? It's a long year, but it's (about) preparing in the summer and doing things the right way. Then, we get into camp and we start to build a foundation and keep adding to it."The Predators signed the veteran center - who was an unrestricted free agent - to a four-year contract carrying an average annual value of $4.5 million on July 1. O'Reilly looks forward to joining a club he found difficult to match up with throughout his career."This team, over the years of playing against them, it is a tough team to play against," he said. "That's something I want to add on top of. I want to be difficult for whoever we're playing against and build it from there."O'Reilly served as the Blues' captain for the last three campaigns - until they traded him to the Toronto Maple Leafs as part of a three-team swap in February. The Ontario-born pivot produced four goals and seven assists in 13 regular-season games with the Leafs before adding three tallies and six helpers in 11 playoff contests.The 32-year-old spent four-plus campaigns with the Blues, winning the Conn Smythe Trophy in 2019 as he led St. Louis to its first Stanley Cup championship. He also won the Selke Trophy that season as the NHL's top defensive forward.O'Reilly, who's long been one of the game's most reliable two-way players, joins a franchise that's at a crossroads. The Predators still boast the likes of superstar blue-liner Roman Josi, all-world goaltender Juuse Saros, and potent playmaker Filip Forsberg. But they missed the playoffs last season, haven't advanced to the second round since 2017-18, and haven't gotten beyond that stage since reaching the Cup Final one campaign prior.Barry Trotz is now Nashville's general manager, taking over for the retired David Poile. The Preds also have a new man behind the bench, as Trotz hired ex-Florida Panthers head coach Andrew Brunette to replace John Hynes.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Minnesota Wild and restricted free agent Brandon Duhaime avoided arbitration and agreed on a one-year, $1.1-million contract, the team announced.Duhaime's arbitration hearing was scheduled for July 20. His previous deal paid him $750,000 annually over the past two seasons.The 26-year-old posted 10 points in 51 games this past season and averaged 10:45 per contest. Duhaime was a fourth-round pick of the Wild in 2016, and he broke into the NHL during the 2021-22 campaign.The Wild are left with approximately $7 million in cap space to sign fellow RFAs Filip Gustavsson and Calen Addison after Duhaime's new deal, according to Cap Friendly.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Tampa Bay Lightning are bringing Tanner Jeannot back on a two-year contract with an average annual value of $2.665 million, the club announced Saturday.Jeannot was a restricted free agent with arbitration rights and had a hearing scheduled for July 24. He's coming off a two-year pact with an $800,000 cap hit.The Lightning acquired the winger in a controversial trade with the Nashville Predators five days before this past season's deadline. Tampa Bay gave up five draft picks, including a top-10 protected 2025 first-rounder, and defenseman Cal Foote, receiving only Jeannot in return.The 26-year-old impressed with the Preds as a rookie in 2021-22. He produced 24 goals and 17 assists (collecting all but three tallies and one helper at even strength) while amassing 318 hits (second-most in the NHL) and 64 blocked shots. And he did it while averaging just under 16 minutes of ice time over 81 contests.Jeannot led all rookies in goals and hits but finished seventh in Calder Trophy voting.However, his 19.4% shooting rate in that campaign signalled looming offensive regression - and it arrived in 2022-23. Jeannot registered only five goals and nine assists across 56 games with Nashville before the trade, and just one tally and three helpers over 20 games with the Bolts. His shooting rate plummeted to 5.6% on the season.Jeannot did continue to offer his usual contributions at the other end of the ice, racking up a combined 290 hits (sixth-most in the league) and 62 blocked shots in 76 contests with the two squads. But he did so while his average ice time dwindled by around one minute with Nashville and then by three more minutes to a mere 11:55 with Tampa.The Predators signed Jeannot to a three-year, entry-level contract as an undrafted free agent in April 2018.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Tristan Jarry is focused on proving the five-year, $26.8-million bet the Pittsburgh Penguins placed on him this summer is a worthwhile one.Jarry was arguably the top free-agent goalie available this offseason, and new president of hockey operations Kyle Dubas rewarded him handsomely with a deal that many viewed as risky due to Jarry's injury history."Obviously, signing a long-term deal, you want to be able to perform and you want to be able to do everything in your power to be able to perform," Jarry told NHL.com's Wes Crosby. "That's what this summer has been about, just being able to be healthy and push myself every day, get stronger, and just get better."I think that's something that I really want to do and really want to strive for this year, come back the best version of myself. I think that will do nothing but help the team."Limited to 47 games in 2022-23, Jarry posted 24 wins along with a .909 save percentage and 2.90 goals against average. He admitted he played while not fully healthy as the Penguins unsuccessfully battled for a postseason berth."Whenever you do anything when you're not 100%, it's tough to do," Jarry said. "It's tough to go out and be your best when you have things that are bothering you every day. It's very frustrating. I was very frustrated a lot of times this season. I wasn't performing and wasn't playing up to the standards that I want to."Pittsburgh failed to qualify for the playoffs for the first time in 16 years this past season, prompting the firings of former president Brian Burke and general manager Ron Hextall. After bringing in Dubas, the Penguins signed Noel Acciari, Ryan Graves, and Lars Eller to retool the roster.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Tony DeAngelo is now an unrestricted free agent after passing through unconditional waivers, according to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.The Philadelphia Flyers placed DeAngelo on waivers for the purpose of a buyout Friday. He had one season remaining on his contract at a cap hit of $5 million.The Flyers reportedly almost traded DeAngelo back to the Carolina Hurricanes earlier this offseason, but the deal fell apart. DeAngelo suited up for the Canes for the 2021-22 campaign, then signed a two-year contract with Philadelphia last summer.His stay in the City of Brotherly Love was rocky at best. Head coach John Tortorella scratched him on numerous occasions and DeAngelo said it was "ridiculous" that he wasn't in the lineup for the final five games of the season. He was also suspended two games in March for spearing Corey Perry.The blue-liner managed 42 points in 70 contests while averaging over 22 minutes per night for the seventh-place Flyers.The New York Rangers also bought out DeAngelo in 2021. His stint in the Big Apple became untenable after a skirmish with teammate Alexandar Georgiev.DeAngelo was drafted 19th overall by the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2014. His NHL career began with the Arizona Coyotes in 2016-17 before he was traded to New York.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

A stagnant salary cap and lack of star power hampered this summer's free-agent frenzy, but a loaded class of 2024 has us looking forward to the NHL's next offseason already.The cap is expected to jump significantly for the first time since the pandemic dramatically altered the league's financial landscape, and a deep group of star players could make for an unforgettable signing period. Below, we present a list of the top players currently scheduled to hit the open market, fully aware that extensions for most of the stars will likely ruin the fun.Players are sorted in each positional section based on their current cap hits.ForwardsAuston MatthewsCurrent cap hit: $11.6M

A hectic start to his tenure with the Calgary Flames is nothing Nazem Kadri can't handle.After a roller-coaster season in which they failed to make the playoffs, the Flames have replaced general manager Brad Treliving and head coach Darryl Sutter, while Tyler Toffoli - who's already been traded - and Noah Hanifin declared they weren't interested in signing extensions. All that isn't enough to throw Kadri off considering he started his NHL career with the Toronto Maple Leafs."I played in Toronto for 10 years. I can shrug things off pretty easily," Kadri told Sportsnet 960. "It's a non-issue. I like looking back on seasons and reflecting on seasons, pointing out certain things that I feel I've got to improve on and it keeps me motivated throughout the summer. In terms of hanging onto that, I don't think that's really a problem for any of us. I think we're just going to approach it with a clean slate next year."Kadri joined Calgary on a seven-year, $49-million contract last August after the club traded Matthew Tkachuk and lost Johnny Gaudreau in free agency. Kadri took a step back offensively, mustering 24 goals and 32 assists in 82 games for the Flames after registering a career-high 87 points with the Colorado Avalanche the year prior.Calgary's 19th-ranked offense often sputtered under Sutter last season, and Kadri is hopeful new bench boss Ryan Huska can reignite the Flames' attack."I've got faith in Husk," Kadri said. "I've talked to him several times one-on-one since the news broke. I really like where his head's at. I think he's a smart guy. He's got some coaching experience ... (is) familiar with the franchise and the players surrounding the organization, so that's a huge help to find somebody in house like that who already knows what's going on. ..."At the end of the day, defense is going to win you a championship, but it's a modern NHL offensive game that everyone has to adapt to, and I think he's going to look to be creative."The Flames missed out on the second wild-card spot in the Western Conference by two points this past season.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Alex Galchenyuk's third stint in the desert is over before it even started.The Arizona Coyotes announced Thursday that they are placing the journeyman forward on unconditional waivers for the purpose of terminating his contract.Galchenyuk was arrested July 9 on several charges including private property hit and run, disorderly conduct, failure to obey, resisting arrest, and threatening or intimidating, Scottsdale police confirmed to The Athletic's Katie Strang.No injuries resulted from the hit and run, only property damage, police told Strang. Galchenyuk was booked into city jail Sunday and released Monday on his own recognizance, a jail official said. He was arraigned Monday, per court records accessed by Strang.Arizona signed Galchenyuk to a one-year, two-way deal as a free agent July 1. The contract carried a $775,000 cap hit in the NHL and $225,000 in the AHL. The club released the following statement on Friday:

Canadians held their breath when a blocked shot sailed straight to Diana Matheson in the waning moments of an Olympic thriller. Stifled for 91 minutes, Canada edged France for the bronze medal in London in 2012 because Matheson one-timed the ball into a gaping net.Matheson earned 206 caps in Canada's midfield without ever playing professionally at home. No domestic league sprung up to house her Canadian soccer generation, the first one to ascend podiums and exhilarate fans nationwide.Filling that gap drives her in retirement. Matheson is spearheading the creation of an eight-team loop to uplift Canadian talent and capitalize on women's sports' newfound popularity."I think I've made a career out of recognizing opportunities and going after them," Matheson said in a recent interview. "When people give me half a shot, I'm willing to take it."Women's sports are booming globally. Salaries have risen and viewership is skyrocketing across a range of leagues on and beyond the pitch. Close to a million people tuned into the National Women's Soccer League's 2022 final. The WNBA's latest season opener was the most viewed game on cable in 24 years. ESPN's broadcast of the LSU-Iowa college hoops championship clash in April attracted 9.9 million viewers, obliterating the tournament record.Visibility fuels buzz. More games are being televised nationally or streamed online. Citing this as a driver, 25% of United States sports fans surveyed by the National Research Group in 2022 said their consumption of women's sports rose over the past year. Viewership was up for 39% of Gen Z fans, the youngest and most enthused demographic in the survey.Diana Matheson celebrates Canada's bronze-medal victory at the London Olympics. Steve Russell / Toronto Star / Getty ImagesThe ground is shifting in Canada. Matheson, an NWSL alumna, is aiming to launch the country's first top-flight soccer league. Canadian franchises will compete in women's hockey's newest pro circuit when that league debuts early in 2024. Toronto is on the shortlist for WNBA expansion and filled the Raptors' arena to capacity for a women's preseason contest this spring.Constrained by sexist attitudes and underfunded for decades, the Canadian women's sports market now brims with potential. Proponents say the time has come to actualize it. Investors who pony up to keep teams afloat in the coming years could help shape the industry's direction, enhance its profile, and profit as it matures."There are audience attendance records and viewership records and rights-fees records. All of these things are being broken every week across so many sports and leagues and teams," said Allison Sandmeyer-Graves, CEO of the advocacy association Canadian Women and Sport."All of those speak to the business value of women's professional sport," she said. "We believe (Canada has) the talent. The fan base is there and it's growing. Let's give them a place to play and something to cheer for."The glow-upSouth of the border, Matheson's former league is shining in its 11th season.Compared to last year, attendance across the NWSL's dozen markets was up 48% at the current campaign's halfway mark. The salary cap rose 25% this year to $1.375 million per team. That rivals the WNBA's $1.42-million ceiling, though soccer rosters are considerably larger.Christine Sinclair's Portland Thorns won the NWSL title last season. Ira L. Black / Getty ImagesMatheson has helmed Project 8 - the business organizing the Canadian league - on a full-time basis since last summer. Named after her jersey number, Project 8 announced that Vancouver, Calgary, and Toronto will field franchises when play kicks off in 2025.The league plans to add two more clubs out west - Edmonton, Saskatoon, and Winnipeg are candidates - and three in the east, possibly split between Ontario, Quebec, and the Maritimes. Under the proposed schedule format, a club would face all seven of its opponents four times between April and November. The entire league would fly to one site twice per regular season to stage several interconference matchups at a time, reducing cross-country travel.Matheson wants every game to stream live and for some to air on linear channels, broadening the league's potential audience."This has to look like a professional product when it shows up on people's screens," Matheson said. "That's been one of the problems in women's sport. Underinvested in. If it doesn't have the production quality, it undermines the on-field quality. We want to get that right."On the court, the WNBA is making strides at 27 years old.Ratings for the regular season hit a 14-year high in 2022. The 2023 WNBA Draft drew more eyeballs - an average of 572,000 viewers watched it on ESPN - than any edition since 2004, when Diana Taurasi was selected first overall. The WNBA expanded its national TV reach this season by airing Friday night games on Ion Television. The league is set to sign a rich media rights deal once its ESPN contract, which pays $33 million in 2025, expires that year.Players rake in more money than ever: The minimum salary this season, as guaranteed by the WNBA's 2020 collective bargaining agreement, is $62,285. Including Taurasi, six stars are signed at or just below the supermax rate of $234,936, per Spotrac. They also increasingly travel in comfort. The league now foots the bill for teams to fly charter on trips that involve back-to-backs and to all playoff games.Bridget Carleton speaks to the crowd at the WNBA's Toronto preseason game in May. Vaughn Ridley / NBA / Getty ImagesExpanding beyond 12 teams is the inevitable next step. Stable but static, the WNBA hasn't added or folded a franchise since the late 2000s. Creating two squads in the next few years - which commissioner Cathy Engelbert has signaled is the plan - would alleviate the league's jobs crisis. Since WNBA rosters are capped at 12 players, teams have waived dozens of recent draft picks before their rookie seasons tipped off.About 20 cities have expressed interest in landing a franchise, Engelbert recently told Sports Business Journal's Austin Karp. Toronto was one of six aspirants Engelbert named.Around 2008, Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment rejected the WNBA's pitch to form and operate a Toronto team, former MLSE president and CEO Richard Peddie told Sportsnet's Michael Grange. But a separate group, New Media Sports and Entertainment, began laying the groundwork for a Toronto bid in 2019, the year the Raptors' stirring postseason run delivered an NBA championship.By population and NBA attendance, Toronto is one of basketball's biggest and most energetic markets. Fans snapped up every ticket available to the Chicago Sky-Minnesota Lynx exhibition matchup at Scotiabank Arena in May.

Mitch Marner used rather vivid imagery to describe what the Toronto Maple Leafs' new forward additions - Ryan Reaves, Tyler Bertuzzi, and Max Domi - will bring to the lineup."All three of those guys can play with snot, piss, and vinegar," Marner said Thursday, according to Sportsnet's Luke Fox, before praising new general manager Brad Treliving for the signings."So, I think he's done a good job of what he said that he wants to bring in - and he's done it ... (They're) three guys that aren't afraid to get in people's faces and down and dirty, and at the same time bring a lot of pace to our game, can do a lot of things around the net, (and) add a lot of different qualities to your team."And they all have that grittiness. Obviously, what Ryan does, it's going to make people not really want to get down and dirty too much with our team."Treliving inked Reaves to a three-year deal worth $1.35 million annually on July 1, in addition to signing veteran defenseman John Klingberg to a one-year, $4.15-million pact. The next day, the Toronto GM landed Bertuzzi and Domi on one-year contracts worth $5.5 million and $3 million, respectively.The Maple Leafs also added some depth up front by bringing in Dylan Gambrell on a one-year agreement for the league minimum ($775,000) on July 3.Toronto ranked 23rd in hits this past season. However, that was partly because the club ranked ninth in goals per game, 12th in shots per contest, boasted the NHL's second-best power play, and sat seventh in expected goals for percentage at five-on-five, according to Natural Stat Trick.Bertuzzi had a history of contributing offensively before a wrist injury limited him to 50 games with the Detroit Red Wings and Boston Bruins in 2022-23. He racked up 30 goals and 32 assists over only 68 contests with the Wings in 2021-22 and produced consecutive 21-goal seasons earlier in his career.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Unrestricted free agent Patrick Kane is not in any hurry to choose his next destination.Kane is one of the top remaining UFAs, but his situation is unique: He underwent hip resurfacing surgery June 1 and was given a four-to-six-month recovery timeline. If Kane requires the full six months, he could miss the first quarter of the 2023-24 campaign.So it's possible Kane may wait to sign until he's fully healthy. His agent, Pat Brisson, has no issues playing the waiting game."There's no rush. This is one I'm very comfortable with. I'm very calm," Brisson told ESPN's Greg Wyshynski. "You could offer me a one-year deal or a two-year deal right now at $7 million or so. I don't even know if I want to entertain it, because it's not what he needs. We'll see, at the right time, how he feels, where he's at, and then we'll take it from there."Brisson added that teams have called with interest in his client.Kane, who will turn 35 in November, recorded 21 goals and 36 assists across 73 games between the Chicago Blackhawks and New York Rangers last season. While he's only one year removed from a 92-point campaign, there are questions about how he'll perform after the surgery.His rehab appears to be going well, though.

Alex Galchenyuk's third stint in the desert is over before it even started.The Arizona Coyotes announced Thursday that they are placing the journeyman forward on unconditional waivers for the purpose of terminating his contract.The NHL is reviewing the matter, according to PHNX Sports' Craig Morgan.The Coyotes discovered an "off-ice situation" regarding Galchenyuk that was previously unknown to the team, a source told ESPN's Greg Wyshynski.Arizona signed Galchenyuk to a one-year, two-way deal as a free agent July 1. The contract carried a $775,000 cap hit in the NHL and $225,000 in the AHL. He'll once again be an unrestricted free agent if he clears waivers.Galchenyuk spent the 2018-19 and 2021-22 seasons with the Coyotes. Arizona initially acquired him in the 2018 trade that sent Max Domi to the Montreal Canadiens. He joined the organization again as a free agent in 2021.The 29-year-old failed to record a point in 11 contests with the Colorado Avalanche last season. He spent the rest of the campaign with the AHL's Colorado Eagles, registering 42 points in as many games.Galchenyuk showed plenty of promise during his early years with the Canadiens after the club drafted him third overall in 2012. His best season came in 2015-16 as a 21-year-old when he accrued 30 goals and 26 assists. He hasn't reached 25 points in a campaign since he collected 41 with the Coyotes in 2018-19.He's also had brief, unsuccessful stints with the Pittsburgh Penguins, Minnesota Wild, Ottawa Senators, and Toronto Maple Leafs over the last four years.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.