Much has been made of this summer's relatively weak crop of unrestricted free agents, but regardless of the lack of star power, there are two key points to remember about the 2023 open market.First, everyone has to sign somewhere no matter the perceived talent level. Second, a free-agent frenzy without a headliner available won't stop hockey fans from debating the merits of each team's signings deep into the dog days of summer. We might as well embrace it.Below, we take a crack at predicting where this year's most notable free agents may end up. The order of each player's appearance on the list is based on our 2023 UFA rankings, and for the sake of excitement, we picked new homes for each entry while limiting suitors to three, even though several players are likely to have more.Dmitry OrlovAge: 31

It was Nov. 3, 2004, about two months into the NHL lockout, and forward Darby Hendrickson was taping his hockey stick before a game in Minsk, Belarus, almost 5,000 miles from home.Hendrickson, a Minnesota native and veteran of nine NHL seasons, had been recruited by an old Minnesota Wild teammate to suit up for a Latvian side called Riga 2000. That teammate, local icon Sergei Zholtok, was now urging him to pay attention to how a local team was practicing.At the glass, Zholtok gushed over how clubs from that region of the world ran practices. He and Hendrickson chatted for a while about the finer details of the sport they loved - as they often did. At one point, Zholtok turned to Hendrickson and said, "You're going to be a coach one day.""We'll see," Hendrickson replied.Sergei Zholtok during the 2003-04 season. Bruce Bennett / Getty ImagesA few hours later, Zholtok was fighting for his life. The 31-year-old collapsed outside the Riga 2000 dressing room after pulling himself from the game during the third period. While players and coaches filed into the room, Hendrickson stayed by Zholtok's side in the hallway.Zholtok had missed seven Wild games the year prior due to an irregular heartbeat diagnosis, but he'd been cleared to return to action. Hendrickson accompanied his teammate to the hospital during that first health scare.Now, as someone retrieved Hendrickson's cell phone from the team bus so he could relay information from the Wild's team doctor, paramedics were trying to revive Zholtok with chest compressions.Zholtok soon took his last breath. An autopsy revealed the father of two died of heart failure."You walk into the arena with your friend, but you don't walk out without him," Hendrickson recalled in a recent interview."It was devastating to lose him. It was really, really hard."Darby Hendrickson coaching the Wild. Bruce Kluckhohn / Getty ImagesIt turns out Zholtok was right about Hendrickson being coach material; he's been an assistant with the Wild since 2010. Nearly 19 years later, Hendrickson says he still thinks about his friend every day. Thursday will be an especially reflective moment: Hendrickson and his wife Dana's third of four kids, Beckett, is set to be picked by an NHL team sometime on Day 2 of the draft, which is being held in Nashville, the last NHL city Zholtok called home.Beckett Hendrickson, born seven months and 21 days after Zholtok's death, has two middle names. One is George - a popular first name on Dana's side of the family. The other is Sergei - after his dad's late friend."You lose someone special to you, then you gain your son," Darby said. "There's definitely a connection between the two, with what happened over such a short period.""It's an honor," Beckett said of the name, before adding: "You try to carry on the legacy."Beckett Hendrickson battles for the puck. Eurasia Sport Images / Getty ImagesBeckett's middle name isn't so much a tribute to Zholtok's 258 points in 588 games for the Wild, Predators, Boston Bruins, Ottawa Senators, Montreal Canadiens, and Edmonton Oilers. It honors the person who connected with his dad on a deep, personal level; somebody who truly loved his family, his friends, his country, and his sport; somebody who was seemingly always optimistic."Sergei was awesome," Darby said of the man teammates jokingly nicknamed the "Latvian Lover." "You talk to anyone who played with him and you'll find out quickly that everyone loved him. He had contagious energy. He wasn't selfish. He was a good teammate. So passionate."Darby and Zholtok carpooled to and from the rink and gym during their three years together on the Wild. The stint overseas solidified rumors: Zholtok was a soccer-level celebrity in Latvia."My dad tells me about how much people looked up to Sergei in Latvia," Beckett said. "They'd be walking through the streets together and it was like he was the mayor. People are yelling, 'Sergei!' 'Sergei!'"Beckett's middle name might come up in conversation if he's flashing a piece of ID at the doctor's office or airport. But that's about it. Over the years, though, he's heard stories about Zholtok. He walks past a framed white "Zholtok 33" Wild jersey in the basement of the family's home in Minnetonka, Minnesota. There was once a tribute at the family's property a few hours north, too.The last time Zholtok visited the Hendrickson cabin, he forgot his wet underwear in the sauna - and they weren't moved for a decade. "'Why would you have a pair of Calvin Klein boxers right there?'" Darby said, imitating guests. "We'd say, 'Well, they're Sergei's.' We had fun with that."A tribute to Zholtok in the Wild dressing room. Handout Darby was a pallbearer at the funeral. He grieved alongside Zholtok's loved ones, including his wife, Anna, and the couple's boys, Edgar and Nikita, who were 14 and 4. The Hendricksons also helped the other family organize its finances. During those last days abroad in 2004, Darby felt a "great peace," and upon returning home, he kept leaning on his Christian faith and support from his own family."Maybe it's Sergei who tapped me on the shoulder and said, 'I'm glad you're here.' I really don't know," he said. "But there was just this weird, strange peace at the end of my time there."Zholtok, a right-handed center with a bullet of a shot, remains a legend in the small but mighty hockey nation of Latvia. He's second all time in points and fourth in games played among the country's NHLers, according to the database Quant Hockey. The now-defunct Riga 2000 franchise, which claimed the Latvian Hockey League title in 2004-05, retired Zholtok's No. 33, while a Riga high school was posthumously named in his honor in 2005.Both of Zholtok's kids are doing well, Darby says. He's always kept up with the family - "I'd want the same from him, so that's what I've tried to do" - and even attended Nikita's wedding in May. Darby hopes to one day return to Riga to visit Zholtok's gravesite with his wife and kids."The everyday love Sergei had for the game, you want Beckett to have part of that. If he does, he's got a chance to be very successful," Darby said of his son, a 6-foot-1 forward for the USHL's Sioux Falls Stampede who's committed to the University of Minnesota for the 2024-25 season.Losing his friend and teammate was horrible. Seeing Zholtok go the way he did was traumatic. It's something that will stay with Darby - and by association, Beckett - for a very long time."Sergei left our world as Beckett was coming in," Darby said. "He will be honored forever."Darby Hendrickson poses with a portrait of Sergei Zholtok at Nikita Zholtok's wedding. Handout John Matisz is theScore's senior NHL writer. Follow John on Twitter (@MatiszJohn) or contact him via email (john.matisz@thescore.com).Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Edmonton Oilers superstar Connor McDavid won the Hart Trophy and the Ted Lindsay Award on Monday on the heels of an otherworldly 2022-23 season.The Hart is given out to the most valuable player as voted on by the Professional Hockey Writers Association, while the Ted Lindsay is awarded to the most outstanding player as judged by the players' association.McDavid edged David Pastrnak of the Boston Bruins and Matthew Tkachuk of the Florida Panthers for the Hart. Pastrnak and San Jose Sharks defenseman Erik Karlsson were the other nominees for the Ted Lindsay.This marks McDavid's third MVP and fourth Ted Lindsay in his eight-year career. He was one first-place vote shy of winning the Hart unanimously. McDavid earned his fifth Art Ross this season as the league's top point producer (153), and he also nabbed his first Maurice "Rocket" Richard for leading the goal-scoring race (64). The 26-year-old was the first player to break the 150-point barrier since Mario Lemieux in 1995-96. In addition, McDavid's 2022-23 point total ranks 15th in league history.Wayne Gretzky (nine times), Lemieux (four times), and Steve Yzerman (155 in 1988-89) are the only players to have ever produced more than McDavid's output this past season.McDavid's 64 goals matched Mike Bossy's 1981-82 mark for 25th all time. He became the 22nd player in league history to hit the 60-goal plateau and the fourth to do so since 1996, joining Auston Matthews (2022), Steven Stamkos (2012), and Alexander Ovechkin (2008).The Oilers captain also led all skaters this season in goals above replacement (31.7) and wins above replacement (5.4), according to Evolving Hockey.McDavid's exploits led Edmonton to 109 points, good for second in the Western Conference and the franchise's highest total since 1985-86. Playoff totals aren't factored into MVP voting, but McDavid carried his dominance into the spring with 20 points in 12 postseason games before the Oilers were eliminated in Round 2.McDavid has said on numerous occasions that a Stanley Cup would mean much more to him than further individual awards."When you're young and you're coming into the league, you're so excited to play in the NHL and to win a Hart Trophy and an Art Ross," McDavid told NHL.com's Derek Van Diest before earning any hardware Monday."It's exciting when you're younger, and it still is, but at this point in my career, it's not the be-all-end-all."Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NHL announced its All-Star and All-Rookie teams for the 2022-23 season following the completion of the league's awards show on Monday night.1st All-Star teamPositionPlayerTeamLWJason RobertsonDALCConnor McDavidEDMRWDavid PastrnakBOSDErik KarlssonSJDAdam FoxNYRGLinus UllmarkBOSMcDavid (Hart Trophy, Ted Lindsay Award, Art Ross Trophy, Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy), Karlsson (Norris Trophy), and Ullmark (Vezina Trophy) all took home major hardware during the awards show. Pastrnak was the runner-up for the Hart, while Fox was the runner-up for the Norris. Robertson finished fourth in Hart voting after a 46-goal, 109-point campaign.2nd All-Star teamPositionPlayerTeamLWArtemi PanarinNYRCLeon DraisaitlEDMRWMatthew TkachukFLADHampus LindholmBOSDCale MakarCOLGIlya SorokinNYITkachuk and Draisaitl each received some Hart voting love, finishing third and seventh, respectively. Makar and Lindholm finished third and fourth, respectively, in Norris voting. Sorokin actually finished ahead of Ullmark in Hart voting but was the runner-up to him for the Vezina after carrying the Islanders to the postseason.All-Rookie teamPositionPlayerTeamFMatty BeniersSEAFWyatt JohnstonDALFMatias MaccelliARIDOwen PowerBUFDJake SandersonOTTGStuart SkinnerEDMBeniers took home the Calder Trophy. Skinner, Power, Maccelli, Johnston, and Sanderson followed Beniers in voting for the NHL's top rookie.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Kris Letang was named the winner of the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy, awarded to the NHL player "who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to hockey."Letang suffered the second stroke of his career in November but miraculously returned to the Pens' lineup less than two weeks later. The 36-year-old led all Penguins skaters in average ice time (24:51) and led the club's defensemen with 41 points in 64 games.Letang spoke further about the meaning of winning the award.

San Jose Sharks rearguard Erik Karlsson took home his third career Norris Trophy as the league's top defenseman for his stellar 2022-23 campaign.New York Rangers blue-liner Adam Fox and Colorado Avalanche star Cale Makar were the other two finalists.The Professional Hockey Writers Association votes on the award. Here are the full results: NHL Public RelationsKarlsson, 33, led all defensemen with 25 goals and 101 points in 82 contests while averaging 25:37 minutes of ice time per game. He is the first blue-liner to eclipse the 100-point mark since Brian Leetch in 1991-92.The Swede ranked fourth in the league with 74 points at even strength, trailing only Connor McDavid, David Pastrnak, and Nathan MacKinnon. Karlsson also placed fourth among all rearguards in wins above replacement (3.1) and goals above replacement (18.3).San Jose struggled mightily whenever Karlsson wasn't on the ice. Opponents outscored the Sharks 124-72 in the almost 2,326 minutes when their star defenseman was on the bench at five-on-five this campaign.Karlsson previously won the Norris Trophy in 2012 and 2015. He is the ninth defenseman to win the award at least three times, joining Doug Harvey, Pierre Pilote, Bobby Orr, Denis Potvin, Paul Coffey, Ray Bourque, Chris Chelios, and Nicklas Lidstrom.Fox, 25, ranked eighth among all blue-liners with 72 points (12 goals, 60 assists) in 82 matchups while tying Carolina Hurricanes rearguard Jaccob Slavin for the most takeaways (88). Fox took home the Norris Trophy in 2021.Makar, 24, was his typically impressive self despite an injury-ridded campaign. He contributed 66 points (17 goals, 49 assists) in 60 contests while leading the league in average ice time (26:23). Makar won the hardware in 2022.(Analytics sources: Natural Stat Trick, Evolving Hockey)Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Boston Bruins bench boss Jim Montgomery won the Jack Adams Award as the NHL's coach of the year after guiding his club to a historic regular season in 2022-23.The Bruins established new NHL benchmarks for points (135) and wins (65) in a single season in what was Montgomery's first year in Boston. A two-way powerhouse, Boston scored the second-most goals and allowed the fewest. The team boasted the No. 1 ranked penalty kill and the 12th-best power play.The Bruins were upset in the first round of the playoffs by the Florida Panthers, but the award is determined at the end of the regular season by a poll among the NHL Broadcasters' Association.Montgomery was previously the head coach of the Dallas Stars before he was fired in 2019 for unprofessional conduct. He checked himself into rehab for alcohol abuse less than a month after his dismissal."For those who struggle out there, you can change, you can affect change within yourself, and it doesn't happen alone," Montgomery said during his acceptance speech. "You need a team. You need a community."Lindy Ruff of the New Jersey Devils and Dave Hakstol of the Seattle Kraken were the two other finalists. The Devils snapped a four-year postseason drought and set a new franchise record for points (112). The Kraken, meanwhile, made the playoffs for the first time ever in their second season.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Calgary Flames veteran Mikael Backlund won the 2023 King Clancy Memorial Trophy on Monday.The award is given to the player who "best exemplifies leadership qualities on and off the ice and has made a noteworthy humanitarian contribution in his community."Backlund edged New York Islanders captain Anders Lee and Edmonton Oilers defenseman Darnell Nurse to earn the honor.All 32 teams nominated a player for the award. Finalists were chosen by an executive committee led by commissioner Gary Bettman and deputy commissioner Bill Daly.Backlund is an ambassador for the ALS Society of Alberta, Kids Cancer Care, and Special Olympics Calgary, among other initiatives."I've always been inspired by people who help others that struggle," Backlund said. "I am aware that I have been given the opportunity to live a privileged life and know that a small gesture from me can mean the world to other people."Backlund has spent his entire career with the Flames after being drafted 24th overall in 2007.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Boston Bruins captain Patrice Bergeron won his sixth career Frank J. Selke Trophy as the league's top defensive forward.The award is voted on annually by members of the Professional Hockey Writers Association at the end of the regular season and is presented "to the forward who best excels in the defensive aspects of the game."Bergeron took home the coveted honor for a record fifth time last season. This victory marks the second time he's captured the award in back-to-back campaigns.He received all but nine first-place votes. One voter left him off the ballot entirely. NHL Public RelationsToronto Maple Leafs winger Mitch Marner and New Jersey Devils forward Nico Hischier were the other finalists.Bergeron was again a fantastic two-way force for the Bruins in his 19th NHL season. The 37-year-old potted 58 points (27 goals, 31 assists) in 78 contests and averaged 17:24 of ice time per game as the Bruins' top center. Bergeron won 61.1% of his faceoffs while taking the second-most draws in the league (1,706).The veteran posted some of the top underlying numbers among all players to see at least 500 minutes at five-on-five: The Bruins controlled 63.2% of the expected goals, 62.7% of the scoring chances, and 60.4% of the shots while outscoring opponents 46-18 with Bergeron on the ice.Bergeron also had 38 takeaways compared to just 21 giveaways and ranked fourth among all NHL forwards in defensive goals above replacement (6.5).Marner led all skaters with 104 takeaways while averaging the fifth-most ice time (21:17) out of all forwards. He also averaged the most shorthanded time per game (2:17) out of the three finalists while leading the Maple Leafs with 99 points in 80 games.Hischier paced the Devils with 64 takeaways and ranked second on the team with 80 points (31 goals, 49 assists) in 81 outings while leading New Jersey forwards in shorthanded ice time per game (2:06).Marner and Hischier were both first-time nominees for the Selke Trophy.(Analytics sources: Natural Stat Trick, Evolving Hockey)Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Boston Bruins netminder Linus Ullmark is the 2023 winner of the Vezina Trophy as the NHL's top goaltender.New York Islanders star Ilya Sorokin and Winnipeg Jets veteran Connor Hellebuyck were the other finalists. The general managers of all 32 NHL teams vote on the honor at the end of the regular season.Ullmark won by a significant margin, earning 22 first-place votes. Ullmark backstopped the Bruins to their record-breaking Presidents' Trophy-winning season, posting a dazzling 40-6-1 record. The 29-year-old topped all goaltenders to make at least three starts in save percentage (.938) and goals against average (1.89).A first-time finalist and winner of the Vezina Trophy, Ullmark also led all netminders in goals saved above average (46.69) while ranking third in goals saved above expected (38.21), goals above replacement (45.4), and wins above replacement (7.7).Ullmark took the league by storm in February when he became the first goalie to score a goal since Pekka Rinne in 2020.Sorokin led all goaltenders with six shutouts and was one of seven netminders to make over 60 appearances this season, emerging with a 31-22-7 record. The 27-year-old was key to the Islanders' playoff push, backstopping the squad with a .924 save percentage while ranking first in goals saved above expected (51.36) and second in goals saved above average (36.23), wins above replacement (8.4), and goals above replacement (49.4).Hellebuyck started a league-leading 64 contests and registered a .920 save percentage and 2.49 goals against average while facing the third-most shots (1,964). The 30-year-old placed fourth in goals saved above average (30.11) and goals saved above expected (33.62) and posted a 37-25-2 record.New York Rangers stud Igor Shesterkin won the Vezina Trophy last season.(Analytics sources: Natural Stat Trick, Evolving Hockey)Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Seattle Kraken center Matty Beniers won the Calder Trophy as the NHL's best rookie in 2023.Edmonton Oilers goalie Stuart Skinner and Buffalo Sabres defenseman Owen Power were the other finalists. Here are the full voting results: NHL Public RelationsBeniers dazzled as the Kraken's top-line center in his first full NHL campaign.The 20-year-old topped the class with 57 points - eight clear of Arizona Coyotes standout Matias Maccelli in second place - and his 24 goals tied Dallas Stars forward Wyatt Johnston for the rookie lead. The Seattle star's 46 points at even strength also led all rookies.Beniers averaged the fourth most ice time per contest (17:06) among all Kraken forwards, trailing just Yanni Gourde, Jaden Schwartz, and Alex Wennberg.Those minutes were impactful for Seattle, which outscored opponents 63-41 with Beniers on the ice at five-on-five while controlling 52.7% of the shots and 52.5% of the expected goals.Beniers also topped all rookies in goals above replacement (16) and wins above replacement (2.7), and he helped the Kraken make the playoffs for the first time in franchise history.Skinner effectively wrestled the starting job away from Jack Campbell in Edmonton. The 24-year-old put up a 29-14-5 record to go along with a .914 save percentage and 2.75 goals against average while saving 18.4 goals above expected and 13.12 goals above average at all strengths.Power saw the most ice time per contest (23:48) out of all the rookies this campaign. The 20-year-old also led all first-year blue-liners with 31 assists and 35 points in 79 games.The Professional Hockey Writers Association votes on the Calder Trophy at the end of the regular season. Detroit Red Wings defenseman Moritz Seider took home the hardware last June.(Analytics sources: Natural Stat Trick, Evolving-Hockey)Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Tampa Bay Lightning captain Steven Stamkos won the Mark Messier Leadership Award on Monday.The honor has been given annually since 2007 to "the player who exemplifies great leadership qualities to his team on and off the ice during the regular season." Fans and NHL team personnel suggest nominees, but Messier selects the winner.Stamkos racked up 84 points in 81 games this past season. He hit a pair of momentous milestones with his 500th career goal and 1,000th career point.The 33-year-old has supported the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Tampa Bay for much of his tenure since being drafted first overall in 2008, donating hundreds of thousands of dollars through different initiatives.Stamkos was named Lightning captain in 2014.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Los Angeles Kings captain Anze Kopitar was awarded the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy for the second time in his career, beating out New Jersey Devils phenom Jack Hughes and Tampa Bay Lightning star Brayden Point.The award is given "to the player adjudged to have exhibited the best type of sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct combined with a high standard of playing ability."Kopitar, who previously won the award in 2016, led the Kings with 74 points this season and recorded only four penalty minutes. The 35-year-old has worn the "C" in Los Angeles for the last seven seasons.The Slovenian star is a likely future Hall of Famer. He's also won two Stanley Cups, two Selke Trophies, and a Mark Messier Leadership Award.Meanwhile, Hughes led the Devils with 99 points this season and picked up only six penalty minutes, and Point notched 95 points and just seven penalty minutes.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Chicago Blackhawks acquired forwards Taylor Hall and Nick Foligno from the Boston Bruins for defensemen Ian Mitchell and Alec Regula, the teams announced Monday.Hall has two seasons remaining at a $6-million cap hit. The 2018 Hart Trophy winner tallied 36 points in 61 games last season while playing 15:56 per game, the lowest scoring rate and ice time of his career.The 31-year-old scored 20 goals and 61 points in the first season of the four-year contract he signed with the Bruins in 2021-22. Chicago wasn't on his 16-team no-trade list, according to TSN's Chris Johnston, meaning Boston didn't have to seek his permission for the trade.Foligno is a pending unrestricted free agent. The 35-year-old had a bounce-back season in Boston, scoring 10 goals and 26 points in 60 contests. He had a $3.8-million cap hit last season, and the Blackhawks are hopeful to sign the veteran, according to TSN's Darren Dreger.Mitchell spent the majority of the campaign in the NHL with Chicago, playing 35 games and registering eight points. He totaled 16 points in 82 career contests over a three-year span. The 24-year-old right-shot blue-liner played his freshman season at the University of Denver under Bruins head coach Jim Montgomery.Regula scored 21 points in 51 AHL games this past season. The 22-year-old played 22 NHL games over a three-year span, tallying one goal. The right-shot defenseman is listed at 6-foot-4 and was originally drafted by the Detroit Red Wings.Both Mitchell and Regula are pending restricted free agents and will require waivers in the fall.The Bruins were in desperate need of cap space entering the offseason. Boston had less than $5 million to work with on a roster of 15 players, per CapFriendly.Hall gives the Blackhawks a prime candidate to feature alongside presumptive No. 1 pick Connor Bedard. The 17-year-old phenom tallied 71 goals and 143 points in the WHL with the Regina Pats this season.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Pekka Rinne is back with the Nashville Predators.The team hired the franchise legend as a European development coach and scout Monday.Rinne spent his entire 15-season NHL career with the Predators. He captured the Vezina Trophy in 2018 and holds every major franchise mark among goaltenders with Nashville. He retired in July 2021.The 40-year-old will work alongside Predators goaltending coach Ben Vanderklok to oversee goaltenders in the organization, including prospects overseas. He'll also scout European-based goalies for the franchise. Rinne will be based in Finland but will travel to Nashville and Milwaukee to attend team camps.Nashville retired his No. 35 in February 2022, making him the first player in Predators history to receive the honor. The team unveiled his statue at Bridgestone Arena in March.Rinne was Finland's goaltending coach at the 2023 world junior, and he was a special alumni advisor with the Predators last season.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Many of the top potential unrestricted free agents in this year's class appear likely to remain or at least strongly consider remaining with their current teams. Some of them would be wise to do so, but re-signing wouldn't be the best course of action for all of them.There's very little drama when it comes to notable pending UFAs like Patrice Bergeron, Jonathan Toews, and David Krejci, who will likely either return to the clubs they've played with for the duration of their careers or hang up their skates. Even many of other names near the top of the list like Tyler Bertuzzi, Ryan O'Reilly, Alex Killorn, and Adin Hill seem destined to re-up with their clubs.That being said, there are some players for whom a change of scenery would clearly be preferable. Here's a handful of soon-to-be UFAs who should try to relocate.Jonathan Drouin Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyPerhaps no NHLer is in more dire need of a fresh start than Drouin. The playmaking forward's Montreal Canadiens tenure was doomed from the get-go due to the lofty expectations that accompanied being acquired for promising defenseman Mikhail Sergachev, who ultimately blossomed into a reliable top-four blue-liner and helped the Tampa Bay Lightning win back-to-back Stanley Cups. Drouin also dealt with the pressure of being a Quebec-born player suiting up for the Habs.His trajectory after the trade has been repeatedly disrupted by injuries. Drouin was limited to 58 games this past season and played only 34 in the previous one. The 28-year-old frequently showed what he could do when healthy despite often playing center when he's more comfortable on the wing. While Drouin scored only 10 goals combined over the last three campaigns, he did collect 27 assists during his abbreviated 2022-23 season - his sixth with Montreal - for nearly half a helper per contest.There's certainly risk involved in signing a player like Drouin who's sustained numerous injuries, and he may have to settle for a shorter-term, "prove it" deal as a result. But it's abundantly clear Drouin and the Canadiens should part ways.Laurent Brossoit Bruce Bennett / Getty Images Sport / GettyYes, that's Brossoit lifting the Cup earlier this month, but it was Adin Hill who grabbed the No. 1 job and ran with it after Brossoit got hurt in the second round of the playoffs. Brossoit impressed down the stretch of the regular season, and while that was only an 11-game sample, his .927 save percentage and subsequent experience starting the Vegas Golden Knights' first eight games of their championship run will likely inspire some teams to call his agent.The Golden Knights have a crowded and uncertain goaltending depth chart, with Robin Lehner's future still murky, talented rookie Logan Thompson recovering from an injury of his own, and the fact that Hill, Brossoit, and Jonathan Quick are all pending UFAs. Still, Vegas appears focused on getting Hill re-signed. If that happens, it seems unlikely Brossoit will be able to carve out the bulk of the workload.So unless he's interested in serving as a backup yet again or even returning to the AHL in the defending champions' organization, Brossoit could look to parlay his late-season success and brief playoff experience into a contract with a team that will give him consistent starts.Erik Gustafsson Derek Cain / Getty Images Sport / GettyGustafsson played a much less significant role with the Toronto Maple Leafs than he did with the Washington Capitals, as the Leafs clearly acquired him for defensive depth ahead of the playoffs.The journeyman blue-liner was in the midst of a productive season when the Capitals traded him to the Maple Leafs in late February. Gustafsson posted 38 points, including seven goals, in 61 games with Washington while averaging 20:22 of ice time. He collected four assists in nine contests with Toronto following the swap but played just 15:45 per game. His underlying numbers also declined.The Leafs have other pending UFAs on the back end - namely Luke Schenn and Justin Holl - but they're right-handed, whereas Gustafsson is a lefty. Toronto is set on the left side with Morgan Rielly, T.J. Brodie, and Jake McCabe, so Gustafsson would be hard-pressed to regularly crack the lineup unless he plays where he's not most comfortable.The Swede has shown some offensive skill over several seasons and could ride his performance with the Capitals to a new deal outside Toronto where he can get more playing time.James van Riemsdyk Derek Cain / Getty Images Sport / GettyThe Philadelphia Flyers and new general manager Daniel Briere appear to be on the verge of initiating an all-out rebuild, having traded Ivan Provorov in early June before attempting to move Kevin Hayes and Tony DeAngelo in separate deals that hit snags over the weekend.It's safe to say Van Riemsdyk wouldn't be thrilled to be part of a team that's torn down. If it gets to that point, the 34-year-old should look to join a contender.The American winger isn't the player he once was and definitely shouldn't expect a cap hit anywhere near the $7 million he has on his expiring contract. But Van Riemsdyk drove possession on a bad Flyers team this past season, so he still has something to offer potential suitors in additon to his experience and occasional flashes of his old scoring touch.Kevin Shattenkirk Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyShattenkirk is in a similar situation to Van Riemsdyk, though the veteran defenseman does have a Stanley Cup ring from his season with the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2019-20. Just like JVR, the Anaheim Ducks blue-liner is also 34 years old, and Shattenkirk has spent the last three campaigns with the rebuilding Anaheim Ducks.The Ducks have some promising youngsters and could eventually contend again down the road, but that's not likely to happen next season. Shattenkirk won't break the bank as a free agent as his game has also predictably declined with age. But while he might have at least a third-pairing role virtually locked up on a not-so-deep Anaheim squad, he should test the UFA waters if he wants to play for a winner.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The 2023 NHL Draft begins Wednesday, so theScore's Kyle Cushman, Nick Faris, John Matisz, and Josh Wegman projected all 32 first-round picks. Our first mock, published after the lottery in May, can be viewed here.Connor Bedard, C, Regina (WHL)Drafting Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane in successive years springboarded the Blackhawks to three championships. The arrival of Bedard, a deadeye shooter and hockey genius, makes the franchise relevant again, even though Chicago's current roster is brutal by design. Bedard's ready to light up NHL goalies, but the team should still be bad enough to select a star sidekick in 2024.Adam Fantilli, C, Michigan (NCAA)If Bedard's a grand slam for Chicago, Fantilli's a home run for Anaheim. A first overall pick most other years, the power forward combines an advanced skill set (high-end skating, stickhandling, shooting) with enticing physical attributes (6-foot-2, 195 pounds). Scouts also rave about the Hobey Baker Award winner's compete level and strong character. The Ducks are surely considering Leo Carlsson, but Fantilli's ultimately the right choice.Leo Carlsson, C, Orebro (SHL)Carlsson cemented his status as the third-best player in the class after a quality showing at the World Championship (three goals and two assists in eight games). The Blue Jackets desperately need a franchise center, and the 6-foot-3 Swede - who models his game after Anze Kopitar, Evgeni Malkin, and Aleksander Barkov - could be just that.Will Smith, C, USNTDP U-18Though the Sharks are tempted by Russian Matvei Michkov with their longer timeline back to relevancy, they ultimately decide to go with a future first-line center in Smith. On the heels of a monstrous season with the U.S. national program, Smith solidified his top-five position at the under-18 worlds in April with a whopping 20 points in only seven games. The highly creative, offensive pivot is headed to Boston College in the fall.David Reinbacher, D, Kloten (Swiss National League)Defensemen are always drafted early: The last time none were taken within the first five picks was in 2003. The opportunity to land Reinbacher, the best blue-liner in this cohort, dissuades the Canadiens from drafting Michkov. Reinbacher shoots right, moves the puck cleanly, plays a complete defensive game, and has shouldered big minutes in Switzerland's top pro division.Ryan Leonard, RW, USNTDP U-18The Coyotes opt to avoid uncertainty, passing on the wild card that is Michkov. In Leonard, Arizona gets the closest thing in the class to Matthew Tkachuk. The Massachusetts native and Boston College commit is a dogged forechecker with fantastic hockey sense and a wicked shot. Leonard projects to be a play-driving winger in the NHL - an archetype the Coyotes could use.Matvei Michkov, RW, Sochi (KHL)The Flyers aren't about to let Michkov fall any further. Sure, there are concerns about his signability, as the 18-year-old's KHL contract runs through the 2025-26 season. But Philadelphia's just beginning its teardown/rebuild under new general manager Daniel Briere. They're likely willing to wait a few years if it means one day having a dynamic offensive weapon like Michkov.Dalibor Dvorsky, C, AIK (Allsvenskan)Don't be fooled by the narrative around Dvorsky's perceived high floor and low ceiling - there's actually plenty of offensive upside in the prospect. He's been a dominant player against his peers and a leader with Slovakia on the international stage at a young age. The Capitals will be ecstatic to add an exciting center to their pipeline with the club's first top-10 pick since 2007.Zach Benson, LW, Winnipeg (WHL)Because Benson is 5-foot-9 and not explosively fast, there's a slight chance he could tumble to the Red Wings at No. 17. Enamored with what he does well, Detroit opts to nab him ASAP instead. A battler with an active stick and elite vision, Benson's a legitimate difference-maker in all three zones. Except for Bedard, no draft prospect in the Canadian Hockey League topped his 98 points in 60 games.Nate Danielson, C, Brandon (WHL)The Blues are thrilled to snag Danielson, who fits the mold of a "typical St. Louis Blue." He's a relatively big, 200-foot player with wheels and versatility in his game. Danielson's responsible, wins faceoffs, protects the puck well, and is equipped with pretty good puck skills. St. Louis is the only team with three first-round selections, so going with a high-floor player here makes sense.Tom Willander, D, Rogle (J20)The Canucks selected Axel Sandin Pellikka in our last mock, but they're tapping a different right-shot Swedish defenseman this time around. Willander's stock has been on the rise of late. He isn't as dynamic offensively as Sandin Pellikka, but he's bigger (6-foot-1), superior defensively, and one of the best skaters in the draft.Axel Sandin Pellikka, D, Skelleftea (SHL)After landing Leonard at No. 6, the Coyotes address a glaring need for high-end potential on the back end with Sandin Pellikka. The Skelleftea product has played significant minutes for Sweden at the U18s and world juniors as a puck-mover and power-play quarterback. Arizona needs blue-liners who can get the puck to its forwards of the future, and Sandin Pellikka fits the bill.Colby Barlow, LW, Owen Sound (OHL)Tickling twine is Barlow's forte. The OHL's fifth-leading goal scorer potted 46 in 59 games. Barlow, who kills penalties and is lauded for his stickhandling and competitiveness, netted 12 game-winners to pace the entire CHL. He becomes the seventh forward Buffalo has drafted in Round 1 since 2019, joining the likes of Dylan Cozens, Jack Quinn, and Matthew Savoie.Oliver Moore, C, USNTDP U-18Moore is a perfect first pick for new executive Kyle Dubas. Hailed as the best skater in the class, the 5-foot-11, 195-pounder is relentless on both the forecheck and backcheck and is armed with a quick release and good hockey sense. In other words, Moore should mesh well with longtime coach Mike Sullivan's system in Pittsburgh. First, though, he's off to the University of Minnesota.Brayden Yager, C, Moose Jaw (WHL)There are several enticing wingers in the Predators' prospect pipeline but very few centers. There's no guarantee the 5-foot-11, 170-pound Yager sticks down the middle, yet his speed and high motor give him a fighting chance. His defining trait is his wicked shot, which will play at any forward position.Matthew Wood, RW, UConn (NCAA)New GM Craig Conroy made it clear in his introductory press conference that he's looking for players who want to be in Calgary. After the departures of Johnny Gaudreau and Matthew Tkachuk last summer and given the impending exodus of the remaining core, selecting Wood - who has only three years until he can elect free agency - may seem bold on the surface. Despite playing in the NCAA, the UConn product is from nearby Lethbridge, seemingly mitigating any potential concerns about whether he would sign with the Flames. His package of size and skill is too tantalizing to pass up at No. 16.Dmitri Simashev, D, Yaroslavl (MHL)The Red Wings' corps of mobile, imposing young defensemen expands to include the 6-foot-4 Simashev, who drew into 18 KHL games in his draft year. Fleet of foot and physical when needed, Simashev is the fourth player taken at his position. Detroit will be pleased if he eventually slots in behind Simon Edvinsson on the left side.Gabe Perreault, LW, USNTDP U-18The Jets select the best player available. Perreault set a record for most points in a single season by a U.S. national program player in his draft year, with an eye-popping 132 in 63 total games. The son of former NHLer Yanic and brother to Ducks prospect Jacob, Perreault gets high marks in the hockey IQ and playmaking categories. He can finish his own scoring chances as well.Samuel Honzek, LW, Vancouver (WHL)Honzek is another gem to come out of the rapidly improving Slovak development system. A rangy, competitive, 6-foot-4 winger with good speed and two-way ability, he could be the ultimate complement to Bedard one day.Quentin Musty, LW, Sudbury (OHL)Musty is among the most enticing high-upside swings in the back half of the opening round thanks to his immense skill and power forward frame. The New York native was on pace for 100 OHL points this past season before getting injured in January. The Kraken are quite familiar with Musty's game, seeing as he manned the opposite wing of Seattle prospect David Goyette.Eduard Sale, LW, Brno (Czech Extraliga)Headlined by Marco Rossi, Brock Faber, and Jesper Wallstedt, the Wild's prospect pool is superbly talented and well-rounded. They get deeper on the wing by adding Czechia's top 18-year-old. The 6-foot-2 Sale shines and coasts in spurts, but at his best, he can strain defenses as a shooter, dangler, speedster, or passer through tight windows.Oliver Bonk, D, London (OHL)Bonk, a fairly safe choice here, complements the Flyers' bet on Michkov. He's a right-shot blue-liner with offensive skills, an active stick, and a strong gap. The son of longtime NHLer Radek is a projected top-four NHL defenseman.Riley Heidt, C, Prince George (WHL)Heidt is a polarizing prospect, but there's no denying his ceiling. His incredible hands and vision allowed him to tear up the WHL with 72 assists this season, tying Bedard for the league lead. Nice value for New York.Andrew Cristall, LW, Kelowna (WHL)Incoming GM Barry Trotz wants his scouting staff to take swings on high-end talent, and nobody fits that description quite like Cristall at this stage of the first round. Only outscored on a per-game basis by Bedard among CHLers in the class, Cristall is arguably the most divisive prospect this year with his immense offensive potential but lackluster skating and small frame. The Preds prove Trotz's statement of intent was no bluff with this upside swing.Daniil But, LW, Yaroslavl (MHL)Nifty with the puck for a 6-foot-5 behemoth, But is a natural finisher who beats goalies from distance. He netted 35 goals in 81 games over the past two Russian junior seasons. But skated in 15 KHL contests in 2022-23, suggesting he could compete against men for most or all of next year.Mikhail Gulyayev, D, Omskie (MHL)Gulyayev is a smart, undersized defenseman who put up 25 points in 22 games in Russia's top junior league. He's a menace in transition thanks to his advanced skating and puck skills. The main reason Gulyayev is still around at No. 24: his size. However, the Sharks gladly scoop him up to pair with Smith.Calum Ritchie, C, Oshawa (OHL)The Avalanche really need a long-term second-line center behind Nathan MacKinnon. While this pick doesn't fill that void immediately, it gives Colorado someone in the pipeline who could eventually be that guy. The 6-foot-2 Ritchie has all the tools to be a top-six pivot, he just lacks the necessary consistency at times. At No. 27, rolling the dice on someone with his upside is a worthwhile gamble.Otto Stenberg, LW, Frolunda (SHL)Stenberg revitalized his stock with a terrific U18s, matching William Nylander's single-tournament scoring record for a Swede. After an underwhelming season in the Frolunda system, the hope is that his underage campaign and international results are the true Stenberg, not the player who was outscored by two other draft-eligible skaters on his U20 team. Possessing an exhilarating shot, Stenberg makes for a mighty fine first pick of the Brad Treliving era, even if Toronto's new GM isn't involved in the selection process.Lukas Dragicevic, D, Tri-City (WHL)The Blues' first-round haul is balanced. They add a center in Danielson, a winger in But, and a right-handed defenseman in Dragicevic, the playmaker who compiled a 27-game point streak in the WHL. Dragicevic's puck poise and prowess as a power-play quarterback are worth betting on in this range.Gavin Brindley, RW, Michigan (NCAA)Brindley has "future Carolina Hurricane" written all over him. The Florida native is a speedy forechecker whose compete level is off the charts. Brindley had a great first year in the NCAA, collecting 38 points in 41 games while playing against older and bigger competition (he's 5-foot-8, 168 pounds).David Edstrom, C, Frolunda (SHL)It might be tough for the Canadiens to pass up QMJHL product Ethan Gauthier here, but Edstrom is one of the few pure centers in this draft. He doesn't dazzle offensively, but he's 6-foot-3 and skates very well, putting him in the mold of a two-way pivot such as the Wild's Joel Eriksson Ek.Bradly Nadeau, LW, Penticton (BCHL)A two-time BCHL champion, Nadeau has one of the best shots in the class. He tallied 62 goals in 71 games across the regular season and playoffs, capturing the league and postseason MVP awards in the process. The University of Maine commit is a boom-or-bust swing. He's a worthwhile pick for Vegas, which has only one prospect taken in the first round in the pipeline.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

San Jose Sharks defenseman Erik Karlsson doesn't want to end his career without winning a Stanley Cup and is hopeful he'll be traded to a contender this summer."I've played with too many guys throughout my career that are amazing players and should be winners and should have won that never did," Karlsson said Sunday, per NHL.com's Dan Rosen. "I don't want to be that guy. I want to win. That's not to say that I'm going to win. I want an opportunity to win."If that opportunity is not in San Jose right now within my timeline, then that's just the unfortunate part of business."Karlsson enjoyed a resurgent 2022-23 campaign in which he suited up for all 82 games for the first time since 2015-16. He netted 25 goals and 101 points, becoming the first blue-liner to hit the century mark since Brian Leetch in 1991-92.Thanks to his efforts, Karlsson is in line to win his third career Norris Trophy as the league's top defenseman at the 2023 NHL Awards on Monday.Karlsson said he thinks plenty of teams would like to acquire his services but acknowledged that few squads could pull it off. The 33-year-old has four seasons left on his deal and carries a hefty $11.5-million cap hit.Though the ball is largely in Karlsson's court because of his no-move clause, he said he doesn't have his heart set on a particular team."You just have to make the playoffs, and you have a chance to win," he said. "Look at Florida. They shouldn't have made the playoffs. They did, and they went to the Cup Final. They beat Boston. We all thought Boston was going to win. There are no guarantees, I just want a chance."Karlsson hasn't appeared in a playoff game since 2019. The Sharks have missed the postseason in each of the last four campaigns."I'm the best when you need to be the best. But if I don't have the chance to get to the place where you need to play the big games, then I might as well not do it," he said, according to Sportsnet's Luke Fox."I could go through 82 games a year and be good, but I want to play when (it) matters."Karlsson was also named a first-time finalist for the Ted Lindsay Award in May, which goes to the "most outstanding player" as voted on by members of the National Hockey League Players' Association.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Los Angeles Kings could be on the verge of landing Winnipeg Jets forward Pierre-Luc Dubois, as the Western Conference clubs are engaged in talks about a trade involving the coveted player, reports the Winnipeg Free Press' Mike McIntyre.The Jets' return package is believed to include Kings forwards Gabriel Vilardi and Alex Iafallo. A pending restricted free agent, Vilardi netted a career-high 23 goals and 18 helpers in 63 games this season, while Iafallo chipped in with 36 points in 59 contests.Dubois is a pending restricted free agent with arbitration rights who can become a UFA next summer. It was reported in early June that his agent, Pat Brisson, told the Jets that Dubois wasn't interested in inking an extension with Winnipeg and Brisson wanted to work with the Central Division squad on facilitating a trade.Two weeks later, the Kings reportedly joined the Montreal Canadiens and other teams in the pursuit of Dubois.The Kings don't have much financial wiggle room at the moment, with approximately $9 million in cap space, four pending RFAs of their own, and a key pending UFA in goaltender Joonas Korpisalo, according to CapFriendly. Dealing Vilardi would account for one of Los Angeles' RFAs, while Iafallo carries a $4-million cap hit.Dubois' desire to exit Winnipeg has been among the worst-kept secrets in the NHL for some time. Almost one year ago to the day, he reportedly informed the Jets he planned to test free agency in 2024.The 6-foot-4, 214-pound skater, who plays at both center and left wing, is coming off a one-year, $6-million pact he agreed to with the Jets last July. Dubois is believed to be seeking an annual salary in the $9-million range, per McIntyre.Dubois collected 27 goals and 36 assists over 73 contests with Winnipeg this past season, finishing with career highs in goals per game, assists per game, and points per game. Dubois averaged 18:27 of ice time in 2022-23, his second-best season-long workload after he averaged 18:55 in 2021-22.He played part of one season and then two more full ones with the Jets after the Columbus Blue Jackets traded him to Winnipeg five games into the 2021 campaign. Dubois spent his first three in full with the Jackets, who drafted him third overall in 2016.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Arizona Coyotes re-upped goaltender Connor Ingram on a three-year pact, the team announced Sunday.Ingram was a pending restricted free agent. His pact carries an average annual value of $1.95 million, reports Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.He appeared in 27 games for the Coyotes this season, posting a 6-13-8 record to go along with a .907 save percentage and 3.37 goals against average."We are very pleased to sign Connor to an extension," general manager Bill Armstrong said. "Connor is a good young goaltender who played well for us last season. He and Karel Vejmelka provided us with a strong goaltending tandem. We look forward to having him back between the pipes."Arizona claimed the 26-year-old off waivers from the Nashville Predators prior to its first game of the 2022-23 campaign.The Tampa Bay Lightning drafted Ingram 88th overall in 2016. Three years later, the Predators acquired him from the Bolts in exchange for a 2021 seventh-rounder.Ingram owns a .905 save percentage and 3.40 goals against average in 30 career NHL outings. He appeared in four playoff games for the Predators in 2022, memorably making 49 saves in his first-ever postseason start against the Colorado Avalanche.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Carolina Hurricanes signed captain Jordan Staal to a four-year contract extension worth $2.9 million per season, the team announced Sunday.Staal was due for unrestricted free agency July 1 upon the expiry of the 10-year, $60-million pact he signed with the Canes in 2012.The new deal has a full no-move clause for the first three seasons and a full no-trade clause for the final year."Jordan embodies what it means to be a Hurricane," Carolina's general manager Don Waddell said in a statement. "His leadership has been an integral part of our success, and the impact he has made on our organization cannot be overstated. We could not be more excited to sign him for four more years."The 34-year-old has been a two-way force throughout his tenure in Raleigh, racking up 397 points in 742 contests while earning Selke Trophy votes in eight different campaigns. He's worn the "C" in Carolina for five seasons.Staal also racked up 32 points in 63 playoff games with the Hurricanes. The franchise qualified for the postseason in five consecutive years, reaching the Eastern Conference Final twice.Carolina had just over $24 million in financial wiggle room for the upcoming offseason before Staal's extension, according to Cap Friendly.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Nobody expected Erik Karlsson to put together the season he did in 2022-23 - except perhaps Karlsson himself.Entering the campaign, Karlsson's four-year tenure in San Jose had been mired by injuries. He played in only 211 of 290 regular-season games with the Sharks and was about to enter his age-32 season, when NHL careers typically begin to start going downhill, especially for those with a lengthy injury history.Instead, Karlsson shocked the hockey world, racking up 101 points despite playing on a team that finished 29th in the standings. He became only the sixth defenseman to ever reach the century mark in points in a season - and the first since Brian Leetch accomplished the feat in 1991-92. At 32, Karlsson was the oldest to do it.So, it's essentially guaranteed: Karlsson, heavily favored, will win the Norris Trophy for the third time in his career at the NHL Awards on Monday night. He previously won the award in 2012 and 2015 as an Ottawa Senator and finished as the runner-up in 2016 and 2017.Karlsson is slated to become only the ninth defenseman to ever win the award at least three times. The other eight - Doug Harvey, Pierre Pilote, Bobby Orr, Denis Potvin, Paul Coffey, Ray Bourque, Chris Chelios, and Nicklas Lidstrom - are all in the Hall of Fame.Throughout his time battling injuries, Karlsson says he never doubted he'd be able to regain his Norris-caliber form. But he also admitted winning the trophy this time around would be extra special."I think this one would probably mean the most," Karlsson told theScore in a phone interview in May. "It's been a while. I'm a little bit older now. I pause and reflect a little more than maybe I did in the past. It would be great, obviously something that I would like to happen. I'm happy where I'm at right now, whether I win or not. I feel good right now so I'll take that over a trophy. But it would be a nice thing to have in the cabinet at home."Feeling 100% physically is a major reason why Karlsson was able to put together his historical season. He was finally healthy enough to play a full 82 games - his first time doing so since 2015-16 - and did so without limitations faced in past years."I feel good again," Karlsson said. "I feel like I can do all the things that I want to do - on and off the ice, physically. Running into some major injuries for a while is not healthy."He added: "Anytime you have a major injury, it takes some time to adjust. You have to find a new normal. It had taken me a while to get back to that feeling again."A clean bill of health allowed Karlsson to fly up and down the ice again, reminiscent of his younger Senators years. But with 14 years of NHL experience accumulated, he's also wiser than he's ever been. And that combination was perfect, leading to one of the greatest seasons by a defenseman in the last 30 years.It was a treat for spectators to watch, but to truly get an understanding of Karlsson's brilliance, we spoke to a few of his defense partners from over the years who've been fortunate enough to have a front-row view of his game.'Confidence and swagger on and off the ice' Jonathan Kozub / National Hockey League / GettyKarlsson's on-ice exploits and overall excellence make headlines, but his leadership and intangibles are arguably as important to making him and those around him better.Karlsson wore the 'C' during his final four seasons with Ottawa and he's been an assistant captain throughout much of his Sharks tenure. While driven and focused on the ice, he's described as a fun personality in the dressing room."He carries that confidence and swagger both on and off the ice," said Mario Ferraro, who's been a teammate and on-and-off-again defense partner of Karlsson over the last four seasons."He likes to be a little more loose in the locker room and I think that's really good for groups to lighten things up a little bit at times. He's a funny guy to be around, but when it comes time to get out there and put on a show, he's obviously very dialed in, so he knows when and when not to be serious, and when and when not to be a little looser. So he finds that fine line and it obviously works for him."Karlsson has also become a mentor for younger players."He leads by example and the elite plays he makes on the ice. When he does be verbal, it's constructive feedback," Ferraro, 24, said. "As a younger guy from my experience, he's always helping me out with little pointers on how I can put myself in a better position on the blue line to get a shot off or ways to improve my game."Playing with Karlsson isn't necessarily easy, though. Sure, he's like a quarterback or a point guard in that he always wants the puck and breakouts typically run through him, but playing with a future Hall of Famer can be a pressure-packed situation for an inexperienced partner.Take Jaycob Megna, for example. He bounced around between the AHL and short stints in the NHL from 2017-21 until he solidified a full-time role on the Sharks in 2021-22. In 2022-23, he was Karlsson's primary defense partner until he was shipped to Seattle prior to the trade deadline."It's obviously a pretty cool thing," Megna said about first playing with Karlsson. "But at the same time, now I really have to make sure I'm doing what I should be doing. You can catch yourself just watching some of the stuff he does while you're on the ice with him. It was exciting, but at the same time it was a big responsibility."Brenden Dillon, meanwhile, is no stranger to the top-pairing superstar spotlight. In addition to being Karlsson's primary partner in 2018-19, Dillon spent significant time with Brent Burns during their years together in San Jose, and with John Carlson in Washington during a two-year stint with the Capitals from 2020-21.Yet even as a 12-year NHL veteran, Dillon marvels at Karlsson's competitiveness."He was a guy who wanted to get better, and a guy who demanded a lot. I think that something that brought the best out of the rest of his teammates was (us) wanting to get to that level," Dillon said. "You see how much he cares about winning, cares about making the right play, or the best play, and that's infectious. When you're as good of a player as he is, and you're just a gamer night in and night out, that spreads throughout your room, for sure."'So gifted' Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyIntangibles are important, but they only take players so far. At the end of the day, you have to be monumentally skilled to be one of the all-time greats, and Karlsson is.The Swede, who turned 33 in late May, still has all the physical tools. He remains an excellent skater, even though groin and foot injuries have robbed him of some of his younger explosiveness. He's also got the softest hands, which allow him to dance around opponents, and a deadly accurate shot, which helped him pot a career-high 25 goals last season."He's just a guy that is so gifted," Dillon said. "Such an unbelievable player."And according to his past partners, it's Karlsson's hockey sense and on-ice vision that truly put him a notch above the rest."There are very, very few defensemen in the league (who) have vision like Erik does," Ferraro said. "He's able to find open plays that you can't even see when you watch the play afterwards on the replay."Walter Gretzky used to tell Wayne: "Skate where the puck's going, not where it's been." The Great One stands alone, one of one, but there's no doubt Karlsson has a similar sense of anticipation that only the all-timers possess."Just his ability to see the next play before it happens," Dillon said. "Before he would even get a pass D-to-D from me, or from one of the forwards, or on the breakout, he basically knew where the five guys on the other team were. It's not like he was watching a bunch of video - that was the way he thought the game. That was normal for him."Gretzky failed when he tried his hand at coaching the Coyotes from 2005-09. After all, it must've been difficult to teach things that came so naturally to him.The same might apply to Karlsson. Megna believes it may be tough at times for Karlsson to fathom why his peers can't think the game on the same level he does."It's not that nobody else can make that play or execute it - it's that not many other guys would see it," Megna said. "I think that's probably his greatest asset. For him, at times, it's probably frustrating that guys don't see certain things that he sees. It's just the nature of the beast, I'm sure."There's a few other guys in the league that can do things like that, but there's not many, and especially from the back end. I don't know if I've ever seen somebody execute at the level that he did this past year."Making 'em look silly Kavin Mistry / National Hockey League / GettyCoincidentally, two of Megna's six regular-season games with the Kraken came against the Sharks. So, while he experienced the luxury of playing with Karlsson for 48 games in 2022-23, he also learned how difficult it is to defend him."He's a guy you can't 'just be physical with' - that's not going to work, he's too good of a skater," Megna said. "You don't want to run at him to try and take away his time and space - he can make guys look pretty silly. So it's more of a contain sort of thing. (If) you take care of him to try and limit his chances, most nights you would do a pretty good job of shutting the team down."Dillon, a Winnipeg Jet over the last two seasons, has had his fair share of battles against Karlsson, too."Everything ran through him. He's similar to a guy like (Connor) McDavid. He's similar to these top-end players where you really have to queue on them - the MacKinnons and what not," Dillon said. "Ultimately, they're such a big part of their teams that if you can shut them down, you're going to have a better chance to win the game, for sure.Regardless of the game plan, Karlsson will get his offensive chances. He's one of the best defensemen in the best league in the world, after all."His vision and ability to read off of you, I think those are the ultimate compliments (on his game)," Dillon said.'I want to win' Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyDespite Karlsson's 2022-23 heroics, he was unable to will the Sharks out of the NHL's basement. And as San Jose continues its rebuild, there's plenty of speculation Karlsson could be moved.Trading Karlsson isn't easy. He carries an $11.5-million cap hit, has a full no-movement clause for the next four seasons, and the cap ceiling has barely risen since the pandemic.The Sharks were unable to facilitate a move during the season, but Karlsson and the club are reportedly aligned on finding a trade partner this summer.San Jose was able to trade Burns last offseason, and he thrived in Carolina. Karlsson, who spoke to theScore during the conference finals, said he was happy for Burns and rooting for him during the playoffs. But he also honestly expressed a little bit of jealousy."Selfishly you'd like that opportunity yourself, as well," Karlsson said. "I want to win. I feel like I have what it takes to play on a winning team, on a championship team. That's always going to be my ultimate goal, to do that on a yearly basis moving forward."Karlsson last played in the postseason in 2019. Wherever he lands, he remains a generational player, and one who's ideally competing when the stakes are highest.There's plenty left in the tank. Karlsson left no doubt about that.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Carolina Hurricanes' deal to reacquire defenseman Tony DeAngelo from the Philadelphia Flyers hit a snag Saturday night that still needs to be resolved, reports TSN's Pierre LeBrun.The Flyers were going to retain 50% of DeAngelo's $5-million cap hit and would've received a prospect in return, LeBrun initially reported Saturday. The two clubs were originally expected to finalize the swap Sunday.DeAngelo spent the 2021-22 campaign in Carolina and put up 10 goals and 51 points in 64 games. He played out the bulk of that season paired with Jaccob Slavin. The Hurricanes controlled 67.2% of the goals and 60.3% of the expected goals with the duo on the ice at five-on-five, according to Evolving Hockey.Carolina traded DeAngelo and a 2022 seventh-rounder to the Flyers last July in exchange for a 2024 second-round pick, a 2023 third-round selection, and a 2022 fourth-rounder. He was a pending restricted free agent at the time and signed a two-year, $10-million extension with Philadelphia shortly thereafter.DeAngelo led all Philadelphia defensemen with 42 points in 70 games this campaign, but the 27-year-old was also a team-worst minus-27 while averaging 22 minutes of ice time per contest. His minus-15.1 defensive goals above replacement was also the worst mark among all NHL skaters in 2022-23.Flyers head coach John Tortorella scratched DeAngelo for the last five games of the season. DeAngelo said he respected the veteran bench boss but called the decision "ridiculous."Tortorella said in February that the Flyers needed to work with DeAngelo on his defensive game, adding that his struggles in his own zone stuck out more in Philadelphia than in Carolina.The Hurricanes may have been seeking an insurance policy for Brett Pesce's possible exit with the proposed DeAngelo trade. Carolina will reportedly trade Pesce this offseason if the two sides can't agree on an extension. The 28-year-old can become an unrestricted free agent next summer and is eligible to sign an extension on July 1.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

NHL teams will yet again be scouring the free-agent bargain bin as the salary cap rises just $1 million for the second consecutive year.Whether it's competitive squads looking to round out their roster, clubs on the outside of the playoff picture hoping to unearth a hidden gem, or rebuilding teams identifying players they could flip at the trade deadline, the market for inexpensive NHLers never dries up.Last season, the Washington Capitals landed Marcus Johansson, Erik Gustafsson, and Sonny Milano for a combined $2.65 million. All three are expected to get notable raises on their next contracts.Daniel Sprong didn't sign until October and became the second-most cost-effective scorer in the league not on an entry-level contract.The Florida Panthers went all the way to the Stanley Cup Final with a lineup filled with numerous cheap depth players, including Nick Cousins, Eric and Marc Staal, and Colin White.Here are nine of the most intriguing players from the 2023 unrestricted free-agent class that are projected to sign for less than $2.5 million, per Evolving Hockey.Pius Suter Darcy Finley / National Hockey League / GettyGPGAATOI2022-23 Cap HitProjected Contract79141014:04$3.25M$2.237M x 2yearsSuter scored at the lowest rate and played the fewest minutes of his three-year NHL career last season. Despite the dip in production, he remained an effective even-strength presence for the Detroit Red Wings and was among the league's best penalty killers.His 13.1 expected goals above replacement in 2022-23 is the fifth most among free-agent forwards, and the highest mark by one projected to sign for less than $2.5 million.Suter hasn't reached the playoffs yet, but he's posted positive on-ice Corsi, expected goals, and actual-goal results relative to his teammates in each of his three seasons.Detroit limited opponents to 6.06 expected goals per 60 when Suter was on the penalty kill. That's the eighth-lowest mark among forwards that played at least 100 shorthanded minutes last season.On the younger side for an unrestricted free agent, the 27-year-old Suter is an excellent candidate to become an impactful bottom-six forward on a cheap deal for a contending team.Potential fits: Hurricanes, Penguins, Maple LeafsConnor Brown Claus Andersen / Getty Images Sport / GettyGPGAATOI2022-23 Cap HitProjected Contract40016:46$3.6M$2.06M x 1 yearBrown almost feels like a forgotten player. After all, he only made four goalless appearances last season after tearing his ACL.Brown is likely not on this list without that injury. Coming off of a three-year deal that had a $3.6-million cap hit, his next contract is one of this summer's more difficult projections. Is there a team still willing to give him a multi-season commitment around the same price point, or does Brown opt to take a short-term contract to rehabilitate his value?In three seasons with the Ottawa Senators, Brown averaged top-line minutes and was an effective offensive winger that chipped in on both special teams. If his injury does drive down his cap hit, he'll make a team very happy in 2023-24.Potential fits: Oilers, Jets, LightningJonathan Drouin Minas Panagiotakis / Getty Images Sport / GettyGPGAATOI2022-23 Cap HitProjected Contract5822714:54$5.5M$1.517M x 1 yearA change of scenery is exactly what Drouin needs to revitalize his career.There's no denying Drouin's talent, particularly as a playmaker, but his recent lack of goal-scoring leaves a lot to be desired. He's managed just 17 goals in 163 games since the start of the 2019-20 season, a rate worse than the likes of Curtis Lazar, Adam Erne, and Chris Tierney.Drouin's time in Montreal was turbulent. He was shoehorned into an ill-fitting position, and he failed to meet the lofty expectations put on him based on his place of birth and how he was acquired.Moving on from that situation will allow Drouin to start fresh. There's upside on a short-term "prove-it" deal for the 28-year-old if he's used in a sheltered, offensive role.A reunion with Halifax Mooseheads teammate Nathan MacKinnon would certainly be fun.Potential fits: Blackhawks, Avalanche, PanthersEvgenii Dadonov Glenn James / National Hockey League / GettyGPGAATOI2022-23 Cap HitProjected Contract7372614:43$5M$1.447M x 1 yearA positive end to Dadonov's season with the Dallas Stars helped his stock.The 34-year-old tallied seven goals and 25 points in 39 total games across the end of the regular season and playoffs, far exceeding his 18 points across 50 contests with Montreal.Aside from this past season with the Canadiens and a 2020-21 stint with a young Ottawa Senators squad, Dadonov has consistently produced since returning to the NHL in 2017-18.An inexpensive deal makes a lot of sense for talented teams looking to round out their depth up front with an effective complementary scorer.Potential fits: Bruins, Avalanche, WildMatthew Phillips Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyGPGA2022-23 Cap HitProjected Contract66*3640$750K$775K x 1 yearNote: Stats are from AHL games.The most attractive Group 6 UFA of the year may be Phillips.A player becomes this type of free agent if they're 25 years old, have completed three or more professional seasons, and have played fewer than 80 NHL games. As a result, Phillips enters unrestricted free agency early on the heels of another splendid offensive season in the AHL.The diminutive winger scored over 30 goals for the second straight season, setting career highs with 36 tallies and 76 points.Despite his prowess with Calgary's AHL affiliate, Phillips has only played three NHL games. He never played more than 10 minutes this past season.Whether the 5-foot-7 winger sinks or swims in the NHL remains to be seen, but Phillips is at least deserving of a chance to show what he's got in the big leagues.Potential fits: Bruins, Blackhawks, JetsConnor Mackey Norm Hall / National Hockey League / GettyGPGAATOI2022-23 Cap HitProjected Contract303414:03$913K$783Kx 1 yearAnother Group 6 UFA, Mackey finished the season in the Coyotes' top four and featured in a similar role for the United States at the World Championships.Though he's likely not a second-pairing blue-liner on a contending team, Mackey showed enough promise as a 6-foot-2 defenseman to warrant further NHL minutes.Signed as an undrafted free agent in 2020, Mackey posted good results in two AHL campaigns before 2022-23 but was unable to break into the Flames' deep defense group. A trade deadline move to Arizona saw him get a chance to play regular NHL minutes for the first time.In a free-agent class full of older, uninspiring defensemen, Mackey could draw more interest than anticipated with his positive end to the previous campaign.Potential fits: Panthers, Kings, CapitalsLucas Carlsson Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyGPGA2022-23 Cap HitProjected Contract61*2034$800K$780Kx 1 yearNote: Stats are from AHL games.There's no free-agent defenseman that ticks the "low-risk, high-reward" box quite like Carlsson.The soon-to-be 26-year-old blue-liner had a breakout offensive campaign in the AHL, scoring 20 goals and 54 points in 61 games. Despite being a Group 6 UFA, he has a fair bit of NHL experience.Carlsson played 40 games with the Panthers in 2021-22 and has logged 60 total games across parts of four seasons. He recorded nine points in that stint with Florida and posted positive underlying metrics in the process.If his upside isn't enough, Carlsson can also chip in as a part-time goaltender.

The Philadelphia Flyers and St. Louis Blues are ironing out the details on a trade that would send forward Kevin Hayes and defenseman Travis Sanheim to the Gateway City, according to The Athletic's Jeremy Rutherford and Charlie O'Connor.The Flyers would retain a significant percentage of Hayes' $7.14-million cap hit in the deal, the report states. He's under contract through 2026.St. Louis planned to trade a defenseman and a first-round pick to Philadelphia, but the unnamed blue-liner refused to waive his no-trade clause.Colton Parayko, Nick Leddy, and Justin Faulk weren't asked to waive their respective clauses, according to Rutherford and O'Connor. Torey Krug is the only other Blues defender with full trade protection. Philadelphia isn't on Marco Scandella's seven-team no-trade list.The Blues have three first-round picks in this year's draft as a result of dealing Vladimir Tarasenko and Ryan O'Reilly at the trade deadline.Hayes has been rumored to be on the trade block for months as the Flyers embark on what seems to be a full-scale rebuild. In April, the 31-year-old said he was comfortable with a change of scenery.Hayes joined the Flyers from the Winnipeg Jets in 2019 and promptly signed a seven-year, $50-million contract. He's produced 157 points across four seasons in the City of Brotherly Love, including 54 in 2022-23.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Los Angeles Kings traded defenseman Sean Durzi to the Arizona Coyotes in exchange for a 2024 second-round pick, the teams announced Saturday.Durzi, 24, has one year remaining on his current pact and carries a $1.7-million cap hit. He can become a restricted free agent once it expires.The second-round pick heading to Los Angeles originally belonged to the Montreal Canadiens, but the Coyotes acquired it from Montreal in the Christian Dvorak trade in September 2021."Sean is a reliable two-way defenseman who has good vision and contributes offensively," Coyotes general manager Bill Armstrong said. "He will be a very good addition to our blue line, and we look forward to having him on our roster this season."Durzi potted a career-high nine goals and 38 points in 72 games this campaign - his second in the NHL - while averaging just under 20 minutes of ice time per contest. He registered 16 points on the power play.Originally selected by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the second round of the 2018 NHL Draft, Durzi has 65 points in 136 career regular-season games, as well as two goals and two assists in 13 playoff contests.The Kings acquired him from the Maple Leafs in January 2019 as part of the package for veteran blue-liner Jake Muzzin.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Colorado Avalanche acquired forward Ryan Johansen from the Nashville Predators for pending unrestricted free agent forward Alex Galchenyuk, the teams announced Saturday.Nashville is retaining 50% of Johansen's $8-million cap hit. He has two years remaining on his contract.Johansen accrued 12 goals and 28 points in 55 games last season. He didn't play after being cut on the leg by a skate Feb. 21. The 30-year-old is one campaign removed from scoring 26 goals and 63 points."Ryan is a talented, veteran center who helps our top six," Avalanche general manager Chris MacFarland said in a statement. "He gives us size in the middle of the ice and brings leadership and experience to our roster. We look forward to adding him to our team."Johanson is expected to slide into the Avalanche's second-line center role. Colorado lost Nazem Kadri in free agency last summer and struggled to fill the 87-point void he left. Pending unrestricted free agent J.T. Compher registered 17 goals and 52 points as Colorado's primary second-line center in 2022-23.Galchenyuk played 11 games with the Avalanche, failing to record a point. In 42 contests with their AHL affiliate, he tallied 16 goals and 42 points.If the Predators don't sign the 29-year-old before July 1, Nashville will lose Galchenyuk's rights and he'll become an unrestricted free agent.Galchenyuk has now been traded six times. He's played for seven teams over the past six seasons.Nashville is already retaining $250,000 on Mattias Ekholm's contract following his trade to the Edmonton Oilers in February. The club has one retention slot available for the next two seasons.The Avalanche now have just under $16 million in cap space, which includes the expected LTIR designation for captain Gabriel Landeskog, per CapFriendly. The Predators have $19.5 million available entering the offseason.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

We'll be the first to admit: The 2023 unrestricted free-agent class is thin.If you want someone to blame, point your finger at Nathan MacKinnon, David Pastrnak, Dylan Larkin, and Bo Horvat, who stripped the market of its star power by signing extensions with their current squads within the past nine months.Luckily for us, a potentially red-hot trade market and some 2024 UFAs can make this summer extremely interesting, as squads will have to get more creative to make major improvements to their teams.Here are five of the most intriguing squads heading into the free-agency period on July 1.Winnipeg Jets This summer may very well belong to wayward Winnipeg.July 1 isn't a big day for the Jets in the sense that they'll be landing some big fish on the UFA market, but the early days of the offseason can mark a significant turning point for the organization.Franchise mainstays Blake Wheeler, Mark Scheifele, and Connor Hellebuyck are set to become UFAs in 2024 and are all eligible to sign extensions on July 1. The problem is, none of them seem particularly interested in doing that. Oh, and pending restricted free agent Pierre-Luc Dubois has made it abundantly clear (again) that he wants to get the hell out of dodge. Andy Devlin / National Hockey League / GettyFor those keeping track at home, that's four key players who might've already played their last game in a Jets jersey. General manager Kevin Cheveldayoff isn't too keen on a rebuild, meaning the Jets will have to retool on the fly, but that's hard to do when you're potentially staring down three major holes in the lineup. No disrespect to Wheeler, but Dubois, Scheifele, and perennial Vezina Trophy candidate Hellebuyck are the major players here.Luckily for Cheveldayoff, this UFA class isn't particularly strong, so he should be able to fetch a boatload for this disgruntled faction of his core. In terms of Scheifele and Hellebuyck (the former has a 10-team no-move clause, while the latter has no such protection), ripping off the Band-Aid now would benefit Winnipeg a lot more than losing them for nothing a year from now.Get the right players back in a trade and fill out the rest with some UFA signings (with no internal successor for Hellebuyck in sight, Cheveldayoff would likely have to knock on some free agents' doors), and maybe the Jets can survive a summer exodus bruised but not broken.Pittsburgh PenguinsThe Penguins should be spitting nails this offseason after an inconsistent, frustrating 2022-23 campaign that saw them miss the playoffs for the first time in 17 years.The guy tasked with righting the ship is new president of hockey operations Kyle Dubas, who's currently serving as Pittsburgh's interim general manager. Vitor Munhoz / National Hockey League / GettyThe Penguins are the oldest team in the league, so getting faster and younger will be on Dubas' priority list. One way to do that would be to dump Jeff Carter ($3.125 million, one year until UFA) and Mikael Granlund ($5 million, two years until UFA), whose contracts are an eyesore for a squad that'll be looking to build a competent bottom six. However, Carter carries a full no-movement clause, and a buyout would be ineffective since the Penguins would still have to pay out his full salary because he's on a 35-plus contract.It'd take some wizardry, but it'd definitely be worth the Penguins' while if Dubas can pull it off. It'd free up more cap space for some fresh blood, not to mention the fact that underrated winger Jake Guentzel has one more year on his deal and is eligible to sign an extension on July 1.Another pressing issue for Dubas: Is pending UFA goaltender Tristan Jarry the guy? Hellebuyck's potential availability as a replacement should certainly grab Dubas' attention, but the Penguins might find it difficult to compete with other suitors who boast flashier prospect pools. If the price is too high to swing a trade, why not make a pitch for Stanley Cup champion Adin Hill on the free-agent market?Dubas may be inheriting a bunch of question marks, but one thing is for certain: Futility can't be an option, as Pittsburgh's aging-yet-ageless core of Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Kris Letang gets closer to "Last Dance" territory with each passing season.Toronto Maple LeafsLet's check in with Dubas' ex, shall we?Look, the 2023-24 Maple Leafs are going to look a lot different than the squad that just won the franchise's first playoff series since 2004. It might not be the earth-shattering changes that some fans have been craving, but new general manager Brad Treliving will have to transform Toronto's supporting cast. Andrew Francis Wallace / Toronto Star / GettyThe Maple Leafs have 13 pending UFAs who saw NHL action this season. Four of them - Alex Kerfoot, Michael Bunting, David Kampf, and Justin Holl - have played key roles on the team for multiple campaigns. Others - like Noel Acciari, Ryan O'Reilly, and Luke Schenn - impressed after being brought in around the trade deadline.There are too many spots to fill by just promoting from within, so Treliving will have to spend some money to fill in the gaps. Could J.T. Compher be a fit, or has his strong 2022-23 campaign priced him out of the Leafs' range? Is Toronto interested in bringing back O'Reilly, or will he be more inclined to go to the highest bidder in a thin market? Kampf has been a reliable soldier for two campaigns, and a reunion wouldn't break the bank, but he'd fetch more money elsewhere. Treliving has $9.143 million to work with, but some of that will have to go to pending RFA goalie Ilya Samsonov.Despite those question marks, how Treliving handles the core four forwards - Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, William Nylander, and John Tavares - will define his first summer in Toronto. Matthews and Nylander each have one year remaining on their current pacts and are eligible to sign extensions on July 1, with the former being labeled as a "priority" by Treliving.Prior to Treliving's hiring, president Brendan Shanahan reportedly informed the foursome that they likely won't be moved. Even if Treliving wanted to make a major shakeup, any departure from the core group will get a lot trickier come Canada Day. Matthews' and Marner's full no-move clauses kick in on July 1, while Nylander will submit a 10-team no-trade list.Boston BruinsThe Bruins have caught our eye for a couple of reasons, but let's start with the most obvious: Patrice Bergeron.Just like last season, the soon-to-be-six-time Selke Trophy winner's NHL future is in doubt. He staved off retirement last summer by signing a one-year, $2.5-million pact, but whether he's going to put pen to paper again is still up in the air. Bergeron has previously stated that he won't play anywhere else, so it'll be Boston or bust. Maddie Meyer / Getty Images Sport / GettyIt isn't like Bergeron can't handle the NHL anymore, either. The 37-year-old put up 27 goals and 58 points in 78 games while logging typically stellar underlying numbers (Boston outscored teams 46-18 with him on the ice at five-on-five - insanity).David Krejci, 37, is in a similar boat. He contributed with an impressive 40 assists and 56 points in 70 games during his return to the NHL after a year overseas, but he also hasn't decided if he's hanging up his skates yet.The Bruins will be in an interesting spot if they both retire, seeing as they'd be out both of their top-six centers. Unfortunately for them, there's a dearth of suitable replacements available on the free-agent market. O'Reilly might be closest to fitting the bill, but he slotted in as a third-line center in Toronto and is already 32 years old, so a long-term pact could get dicey. The Bruins will be competitive no matter what, but the best outcome here would be if Bergeron and Krejci opted to stick around in Beantown.Now for problem No. 2: The Bruins currently have 15 active roster players under contract and only $4.937 million to fill out the rest. That isn't ideal. That wouldn't even be enough to retain pending UFA Tyler Bertuzzi, who was a great fit in Boston. Money is going to have to be moved out to put together a full lineup. Does Taylor Hall get traded? How about Jeremy Swayman? There are plenty of decisions to come for general manager Don Sweeney.Colorado AvalancheAfter finding out that captain Gabriel Landeskog would miss the entire 2023-24 season in May, Avalanche general manager Chris MacFarland acknowledged that his absence "potentially opens up avenues that weren't available to us this past season" in free agency.Colorado technically has just over $8.5 million at its disposal after acquiring Ryan Johansen, but they will have an extra $7 million to work with since Landeskog will be placed on long-term injured reserve to start the new campaign. Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettySo, what could those potential avenues look like? Colorado has plenty of holes to fill, seeing as it only has seven forwards, five defensemen, and two goalies on its active roster currently under contract. Some cash will have to go to pending RFAs Alex Newhook and Bowen Byram, but they're projected to combine for a $5.526-million cap hit, so there's still some room there. Bringing back pending UFA Evan Rodrigues also wouldn't break the bank.Luckily for the Avs, they're an attractive destination for free agents. They won the Stanley Cup in 2022 and, despite a litany of injuries, finished in first place in the Central Division this season. This particular market also suits Colorado, which doesn't need a game-breaker.Another facet to consider: It wouldn't be ideal for Colorado to get bogged down in a pricey, long-term pact for a UFA. That could get sticky real quick if Landeskog is healthy for 2024-25. The team is also going to be paying MacKinnon $12.6 million starting this season, and it has an extension for Devon Toews (2024 UFA) to think about. Those parameters might bar a reunion with Compher, who filled in well as the Avalanche's second-line center this season and could fetch upwards of $5 million on his next pact.So, why not get funky with it and bring in a veteran like O'Reilly or Patrick Kane on a short-term deal? O'Reilly, in particular, would be neat, seeing as he played the first six seasons of his career in Colorado and could certainly go for a little redemption in Denver. He'd also fill a position of need as a center, while his leadership could soften the blow of another Landeskog-less season.(Salary source: CapFriendly)

Budding superstars whose names were called in the 2003 NHL Draft strode to the stage in Nashville to shake hands with Gary Bettman and soak in the pageantry of the event.Marc Methot, the No. 168 overall pick, was asleep in Ottawa when the Columbus Blue Jackets phoned his house. His mother nudged him awake after 9 a.m. that Sunday morning. Demoralized by his slide, Methot heard he was the first player taken in the sixth round."Even then, I wasn't happy," Methot recalled recently. "I was so competitive. Seeing a lot of those names picked ahead of me, I was pissed off. Inevitably, it propelled me forward. The motivation that I used, having to prove people wrong from that point on, honestly was one of the big driving aspects of me making the jump to the NHL."Columbus nailed the pick. Raw and physically immature at 18 years old, Methot evolved into a shutdown defenseman and 13-year NHLer. He beat the odds - the vast majority of late-round selections don't sniff the NHL - and was a solid player in a transcendent class.The 2003 draft produced 16 1,000-game skaters, six 400-goal snipers, eight NHL captains, and a dozen participants in the epic Canada-United States 2010 Olympic final. The cohort's award winners include Corey Perry (Hart and Rocket Richard Trophies), Marc-Andre Fleury (Vezina), Brent Burns (Norris), and Patrice Bergeron (five Selkes, plus seven additional nominations).Eight of the top-45 picks - Perry, Fleury, Burns, Bergeron, Eric Staal, Ryan Suter, Jeff Carter, and Zach Parise - remain in the league two decades later. The same goes for Joe Pavelski (pick No. 205), Jaroslav Halak (No. 271), and Brian Elliott (No. 291, the second-last selection). Per CapFriendly, Pavelski and those two goaltenders have combined to earn about $140 million in career salary despite generating minimal draft buzz.Their durability spotlights the class' depth. Including Methot, 15 players chosen in the fifth round or beyond played more than 500 games. Seven became productive contributors by way of Rounds 8 and 9, which the NHL abolished in 2005.Their journeys provide the roadmap for how to make it as an unheralded prospect. Today's late bloomers could take inspiration from them when the draft returns to Nashville next week.Viewers marvel at Connor Bedard's gifts and ludicrous junior production. Media coverage focuses on a few dozen of his peers - the class of 2023's surefire and potential first-rounders. Scores of players will be drafted at later stages without eliciting fanfare, as was the case in 2003.What was it like to fly below the radar in that loaded draft? What skill enhancements or stylistic adjustments helped certain late-rounders achieve NHL longevity? How was luck on their side, and how did they create their own luck en route to realizing the dream?Joe Pavelski in May. Christopher Mast / NHL / Getty ImagesFive members of the '03 class shared memories and wisdom with theScore."I look at the draft as the first step. The work starts after that," said Lee Stempniak, the fifth-round selection who broke into the league with the St. Louis Blues and appeared in 911 games."You'd be foolish to say that a first-round pick doesn't get more opportunities than later-round picks or undrafted guys. But at the end of the day, you need to be able to play."Use doubts as fuelStempniak was a 20-year-old sophomore at Dartmouth in 2003. Passed over in two previous drafts, he got the chance to impress scouts who showed up to watch his star linemate, eventual first-round pick Hugh Jessiman. A Blues official phoned Stempniak at school that June 22 to welcome him to the organization."It was pretty anticlimactic," Stempniak said. "But it was cool nonetheless."Recollections of being selected vary by the prospect. United States Hockey League All-Star Drew Miller found out he went in Round 6 when his dad read the news online. The Pittsburgh Penguins' chief scout left a voice message for ninth-rounder Matt Moulson while the Cornell freshman was out practicing lacrosse, his summer sport.Nate Thompson in 2022. Mitchell Leff / Getty ImagesThe events of the day frustrated Nate Thompson, another sixth-rounder who attended the draft in person. Thompson's stock slipped after his Western Hockey League season admittedly was underwhelming. He recalls his agent mentioning that some NHL evaluators thought he'd top out as a decent minor leaguer."I've always had a chip on my shoulder when I play," said Thompson, who skated in 844 games. "If I made the NHL and I could stick, I knew I could make myself valuable enough to be a player that teams would want."Every late-rounder has shortcomings to neutralize or doubts to squelch. Moulson, cut from Triple-A youth teams in the Toronto area at age 16, heard forever that his skating wasn't NHL-caliber. Miller hails from an NHL family - goalie Ryan Miller is his older brother, and cousins Kelly, Kevin, and Kip were longtime pros - but was slight as a teenager. He had to learn how to sidestep hits merely "to survive on the ice."Shy and overshadowed by barrel-chested peers in the Ontario Hockey League, Methot pored over the results of the draft for motivation. Seeing certain defensemen taken earlier than him provided fuel."Maybe it was a little shortsighted at the time, but I was thinking, 'I'm better than this guy. I'm better than this guy,'" Methot said.He focused on personal progression, doing what he could to gradually raise his game as touted players plateaued."Even as a 15-year-old, I was writing myself little sticky notes above my bedroom door. Goals, what to achieve in the offseason, where I wanted to see myself," Methot said."My parents never told me to do that. That was something that came to me, and I was by no means an exceptional player. It goes to show the drive needed to make that next step."Continuously improveA winding pathway to the pros supplies ample time for skill development. Over four seasons at Dartmouth, Stempniak shouldered major minutes and was encouraged to take chances in head coach Bob Gaudet's unrestrictive offensive system."I got to play in a lot of big situations, make some mistakes, learn from those mistakes, and have a confidence with the puck that's really hard to get once it's taken away from you," Stempniak said.Like Methot, Miller, and Thompson, Moulson refined his skill set over several American Hockey League seasons. He signed with the Los Angeles Kings instead of Pittsburgh out of college and benefited from the tutelage of Mike O'Connell, the Kings' director of player development who walked him through video clips in the Manchester Monarchs' dressing room.Matt Moulson in 2010. Mike Stobe / NHL / Getty ImagesMoulson studied Monarchs practice tape and footage of each of his shifts. O'Connell emphasized that Moulson, a prolific shooter and net-front scorer, had attributes that could offset his clunky skating at the next level."I remember him telling me to watch Andrew Brunette, who also wasn't a great skater but had a lot of success in the NHL," Moulson said. "I used to watch game after game of Colorado when (Brunette) was with them."I realized I had other assets that could be valuable in the NHL."Adjustments made in the minors can springboard a player up the ranks. Feisty and slippery, Miller found ways to gain body position on big defenders to be able to crash the opposing crease.An adept skater and puck-mover at 6-foot-4, Methot lacked an aggressive streak that could've hastened his rise. However, the game got easier for him as he grinded in the gym to add strength and stayed disciplined year-round."I never drank much. I wasn't a big fan of going out with the guys all the time and getting loaded," Methot said. "I was a bit of a hermit. Hyperfocused on my diet, on training, on playing good hockey games. I wasn't just content playing in the American league. I think that's a mindset a lot of the NHL guys have."Marc Methot in 2008. Christian Petersen / Getty ImagesThey also commit to being students of the sport. When Stempniak joined the Blues, head coach Mike Kitchen schooled him on certain nuances, urging him to work after practice on redirecting pucks and one-timing them to the far post. Assistant coach Curt Fraser drilled Stempniak on cutbacks and passes to the point.Stempniak became a reliable depth scorer. Coveting what he brought, playoff contenders dealt for him at four different trade deadlines."If you put in the time, you can make gains," Stempniak said. "The game is all about those marginal gains that ultimately make you a better player."Luck outNHL careers take shape when talent, drive, and luck intersect. Guys who make it capitalize on fortunate breaks and fleeting chances to shine. When Methot's London Knights won the 2005 Memorial Cup during the NHL lockout year, his overtime goal to beat Sidney Crosby's Rimouski Oceanic in the round robin enhanced his stature as a prospect.Moulson, a newcomer to the New York Islanders in September 2009, was in the lineup for an exhibition game in Calgary when Dion Phaneuf crushed and injured Kyle Okposo with an open-ice hit. The ensuing fracas led to ejections. When the dust settled, Moulson ascended to the power play and scored twice on recent Vezina winner Miikka Kiprusoff.Two Islanders forwards, Sean Bergenheim and Doug Weight, nursed groin injuries during that training camp. Seeking an offensive spark, head coach Scott Gordon elevated Moulson to John Tavares' wing. They clicked instantly. Moulson, the breakout star of that preseason, stuck with New York on a two-way contract and proceeded to pot 30 goals in three straight seasons."All these things in my life and all these things in the hockey world were perfectly aligned," Moulson said. "I finally got my chance, and I was not ready to let go of it."Being cut can be a watershed moment. The Islanders waived Thompson in the midst of Moulson's star turn in 2009-2010. That the Tampa Bay Lightning claimed him bought time for Thompson to establish a niche as a heart-and-soul center and ace faceoff taker.Drew Miller in 2016. Jeff Vinnick / NHL / Getty ImagesTampa Bay waived Miller that same season just as injuries struck the Detroit Red Wings. Miller's defensive aptitude and willingness to grind helped him remain with that franchise for eight years.Timing is everything, Stempniak said. Rather than languish in the minors for long, he debuted with the Blues following his college graduation and the NHL lockout. Laden with expensive veterans, St. Louis plugged players with cheap contracts into the lineup to squeeze under the salary cap.St. Louis summoned Stempniak from the AHL during a mid-year losing skid. He promptly scored in three straight games, exhibiting his NHL readiness. Stempniak's role increased, he withstood the roster churn that accompanied the Blues' 30th-place finish, and he set career highs in goals (27) and points (52) the next season."For me, everything was based on hard work. Extra time on the ice. Extra time in the gym. Trying to be coachable. Trying to soak up everything I could from all of the veteran players," Stempniak said. "My first year, it was Doug Weight. It was Eric Weinrich. It was Keith Tkachuk. It was Barret Jackman. It was Scott Young. Guys who had been extremely successful in the NHL in a lot of different situations."Trust the processMiller's introduction to the NHL happened in the postseason. A rookie pro and Black Ace in 2007, he dressed in Games 1 and 2 of the Stanley Cup Final when Anaheim Ducks teammate Chris Kunitz broke his hand. Miller threw a hard hit to create the turnover in the offensive zone that led to Anaheim's opening goal of the series."I got my name on the Cup. I got my day with the Cup. I got a ring because I played in the finals," Miller said. "Someone gets hurt, and they picked my name. I'm in there playing with Andy McDonald and Teemu Selanne in the Stanley Cup Final. I'm like, 'Holy crap.'"Methot toiled in the minors for three seasons before he made the Blue Jackets' roster out of training camp in 2008. A Columbus Dispatch reporter asked him at that camp about the frustration of struggling to break through. Set to be a free agent the following summer, Methot said he'd happily move on if Columbus didn't want him."I remember putting that pressure on myself. It was almost unintentional. I think I was just venting to somebody, and that happened to be the newspaper," Methot said. "Some of the veterans gave me the gears that day when I came into the rink, regarding those comments. But I used it. It made me self-aware of my position and that I'd better damn well pull it together now."Methot fulfilled his potential once he overcame a mental block: "It was getting past the fact that you're (facing) all these guys you used to play as in video games." Star-struck as an NHL call-up, he tended to be able to string together a few good games before his performance declined. Consistency came with maturity.Lee Stempniak in 2018. Icon Sportswire / Getty ImagesMost paths to the show aren't linear, Stempniak said. Effort and resilience keep a prospect on track."Playing in the NHL, it's an amazing job, but it's a job," he said. "There's pressure. For most people, there's a lot of hard days in terms of not playing well, expectations, adversity."That's some of the challenge: putting in the work and not seeing that instant reward or instant gratification, but knowing and trusting that two years from now, three years from now, four years from now, it's going to pay off."He would know. Stempniak played long enough to suit up for 10 franchises, tied for second most in history. Traded to his hometown Ottawa Senators in 2012, Methot was Erik Karlsson's defense partner when the Swedish virtuoso won his second Norris Trophy. Thompson, an everyday NHLer until recently, was the oldest player in the AHL this past season.Fellow hidden gems continue to touch up their resumes. Halak and Elliott - the 26th and 28th goalies drafted in 2003 - shared the Jennings Trophy in 2012 as Blues netminding partners. The Dallas Stars left the bench to mob Pavelski in April when he tallied his 1,000th NHL point on a dexterous tip.They all spent plenty of time in the company of legends. Some members of their draft class are bound for the Hall of Fame."It is neat to see a lot of the players - not just mainstays, but some superstars - who happened to be in that draft," Methot said. He laughed, adding: "It gives me a legitimate excuse to tell people why I went in the sixth round."Nick Faris is a features writer at theScore.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Toronto Maple Leafs veteran Morgan Rielly doesn't care about the details of a potential Auston Matthews extension, he just hopes one gets signed."As a friend, a teammate, you name it, you want that guy on your team," Rielly told NHL.com's Dave McCarthy. "I think he loves playing in Toronto, so if he comes back - long-term deal, short-term deal, whatever it is - we'll take it. He's a great player and helped our team tremendously over the years."I've got to know him, and obviously, his skill level and who he is as a player is extremely high level."Matthews is entering the final year of a five-year, $58.1-million pact signed in 2019. He's eligible to sign an extension as of July 1, the same day his full no-move clause is triggered.Maple Leafs general manager Brad Treliving said an extension for the 2022 MVP is among his top priorities at his introductory press conference earlier this month. Matthews stated he wants a new deal before the start of the 2023-24 campaign after the club was eliminated from the playoffs by the Florida Panthers in Round 2.The Maple Leafs star's current $11.64-million cap hit is the fourth-highest in the NHL. His next contract could exceed Nathan MacKinnon's $12.6-million benchmark. Matthews leads all players with 299 goals in 481 games since he entered the league as the first overall pick in 2016. He has two Maurice "Rocket" Richards, two All-Star nominations, and a Hart Trophy to his name.Toronto qualified for the playoffs in each of Matthews' seven seasons but has only won one round - this spring against the Tampa Bay Lightning. Matthews contributed 44 points in 50 career postseason appearances.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The 2023 NHL Entry Draft is less than a week away! All the attention is being focused on Connor Bedard and who will follow him - Adam Fantilli or Leo Carlsson? How far will Matvei Michkov fall? However, I see the betting value a little further down the board.Let's take a look at three plays that stand out, all of which can be found on theScore Bet.Nate Danielson over 10.5 Danielson is a solid two-way center who had a productive year with the Brandon Wheat Kings. He put up 78 points in 68 games while leading the team in goals, assists, and points.He's a well-balanced pivot who can do a bit of everything. But there have been questions about his ceiling, which would need to be quite high for him to warrant a top-10 selection in a very strong draft.Bob McKenzie slotted Danielson 16th in his final draft rankings, which are informed by opinions from scouts representing 10 NHL teams. It's also worth noting that none of said scouts ranked him higher than 11th overall.Although it only takes one team to love Danielson's game, I'm happy to take plus money on the over for a prospect who ranked closer to 20 than 10.Odds: +140 (playable to -110)Oliver Moore under 14.5 High-end skating ability is more important than ever before. Everybody wants to play fast to help win pucks, be it on the forecheck or pressuring on the backcheck. Oliver Moore has it in spades.This kid is an excellent puck-transporter who can kill teams both in transition and off the rush with his straight-line speed. He also works hard without the puck and, again, his wheels are a huge factor.The Buffalo Sabres (picking 13th) and Pittsburgh Penguins (14th) are a couple of teams I'd keep a close eye on with Moore.Buffalo is one of the fastest teams in the NHL, so Moore would fit in nicely. Meanwhile, the Penguins are starved for quality prospects, particularly up front. A talented, competitive, speedster who is perhaps a little undersized strikes me as a player president and interim general manager Kyle Dubas could target.It'll be tight, but I think Moore sneaks into the top 14.Odds: -105 (playable to -125)Colby Barlow under 16.5 Barlow had a remarkably impressive year in the OHL. Serving as the captain of the Owen Sound Attack, he netted a whopping 46 goals in just 59 games while pacing the team with 79 points.He has a relentless work ethic, doesn't shy away from the dirty areas of the ice, and contributes in all aspects of the game.Players with his kind of goal output don't tend to last long in drafts. He's also a complete player and a leader, making teams all the more interested.The hard-working winger came in 12th in McKenzie's rankings and was ranked sixth by HockeyProspect.Barlow strikes me as the kind of player more likely to be over-drafted than free fall, which is what would need to happen for this play to lose.The price is a little juicy, but I think it's worth paying.Odds: -160 (playable to -185)Todd Cordell is a sports betting writer at theScore. Be sure to follow him on Twitter @ToddCordell.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Patrick Marleau is back with the San Jose Sharks.The team announced his hiring as a player development coach and hockey operations advisor Friday. It's the first front-office role for the 43-year-old after he retired in 2022."I'm extremely excited to be officially back as part of the Sharks organization," Marleau said. "I'm looking forward to working with our players on the ice to help them reach their full potential and sharing the knowledge I have garnered from playing 23 years in the National Hockey League. I'm also eager to work with (general manager Mike Grier) and his staff, and continuing to learn about the game and business side of hockey."Marleau is the Sharks' franchise leader in games played (1,607), goals (522), and points (1,111). He set the NHL's all-time regular-season games played mark April 19, 2021, surpassing Gordie Howe's record of 1,767 contests.San Jose retired Marleau's No. 12 on Feb. 25, making him the first player in the team's history to receive the honor."It's rare that you get the opportunity to add someone to your organization that brings a level of talent and character like Patrick Marleau," Grier said. "As one of the top players of his generation, Patty possesses an unlimited wealth of institutional knowledge about the game.""Perhaps more importantly, he was a cornerstone piece in the Sharks becoming one of the NHL's most dominant franchises over the last two decades and knows what it takes to win and succeed in the NHL," Grier continued. "We are extremely happy to bring Patty back into the Sharks family as we continue building a team that our fans can be proud of."Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New Jersey Devils re-signed forward Erik Haula to a three-year, $9.45-million contract, the team announced Friday.Haula was set to become an unrestricted free agent. His new deal sees his cap hit rise from $2.375 million to $3.15 million.The 32-year-old tallied 14 goals and 41 points in 80 games with New Jersey last season. Haula was acquired from the Boston Bruins last summer for forward Pavel Zacha."When I traded for Erik, we talked about how he was the type of player that we needed to help us continue to move the group forward," Devils general manager Tom Fitzgerald said. "He played key minutes in all situations throughout the season - power play, penalty kill, taking faceoffs - and provided leadership for our team.""I don't want to play for any other team," Haula said in May, according to NJ.com's Ryan Novozinsky. "I want to come back here."The versatile Finn was the fourth-most-used forward in the postseason for New Jersey, averaging 17:35 of ice time. He scored four goals and six points in 12 playoff contests.Haula has played 614 NHL games across stints with seven teams.The signing leaves the Devils with just over $23.5 million in cap space, per CapFriendly. Notable restricted free agent Timo Meier remains unsigned, while Jesper Bratt was extended on an eight-year contract earlier in June.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

There's an awful lot of uncertainty surrounding the Ottawa Senators.Questions swirl around the involvement level of new owner Michael Andlauer, the job security for head coach D.J. Smith, the trade market for winger Alex DeBrincat, the options between the pipes - and that's just the high-level stuff.Something the Senators don't have to worry about? Jake Sanderson's ceiling.The rookie defenseman wasn't named a finalist for the Calder Trophy, so he won't be at the NHL awards show Monday in Nashville. However, given the state of Sanderson's game - mature and well-rounded - you can bet he'll be invited to future awards gatherings as a contender for the Norris Trophy. Kirk Irwin / Getty ImagesSeriously, don't be shocked if Sanderson's counting stats pop as a sophomore and by his third or fourth year he's being strongly considered for the Norris. The details of his three-zone game are already pretty polished. More NHL experience, a jump in points, and team success should vault him into the elite tier of defensemen who can impact the game in multiple ways."A lot of the D-men coming up are more focused on offense than defense. Jake's different," DeBrincat told theScore prior to Ottawa's second-last game of the season, a 4-3 loss to Buffalo on April 13. "He's got that old-school mentality of protecting the front of our net before going on the attack."The tracking data from Sportlogiq backs up DeBrincat's insight.A total of 289 NHL defensemen, including 10 on Ottawa, logged 100 minutes in 2022-23. On a per-game basis, Sanderson finished first on the Sens and fifth in the league in blocked passes. He also ranked first on his team in puck-battle wins (21st in NHL) and blocked shots (10th), while ranking second in stick checks and outlet-pass completions, third in zone entries, and fourth in zone exits. Keep in mind the Sens' blue line isn't filled with a bunch of AHLers; Thomas Chabot, Jakob Chychrun, and Artem Zub are on the top two pairings. Joe Sargent / Getty ImagesSo, the eye test and underlying numbers both suggest Sanderson's a high-end defender at 20 years old. Often trusted by Smith to shut down the other team's best line, he skated for 21:55 a night in all situations. Sanderson, an incredible skater and evasive puck mover, pitched in offensively, too, trailing only Owen Power for points by a first-year defenseman with 32 in 77 games."He thinks like an offensive guy when he's playing defense, if that makes sense," Sens winger Drake Batherson said. "It's a huge advantage for him and for us that he knows what the attacker will want to do offensively, and then he's one step ahead of them to defend it. Honestly, he's just a treat to watch.""I can't even imagine what Jake's going to be like when he's 27," he added.Sanderson recently switched his representation to super agent Pat Brisson of CAA Sports. The 6-foot-3, 195-pounder's entry-level contract expires after next season, which means he's eligible to sign an extension on July 1.Now, that extension shouldn't be atop the to-do list for Sens general manager Pierre Dorion. There's too much uncertainty elsewhere. But the new deal shouldn't be far down the list, either. Assuming he avoids injury in Year 2, Sanderson's stock will only rise - and rise exponentially - moving forward.One word to describe Bedard Johnny Hayward / Getty Images Sport / GettyConnor Bedard, the most hyped hockey prospect since Connor McDavid, will officially become a member of the Chicago Blackhawks next Wednesday. Bedard roasted the WHL for 71 goals and 72 assists in 57 regular season games in 2022-23, somehow exceeding the sky-high expectations for his draft year.If I could use one word to describe Bedard at this moment between junior and pro, it'd be "alien." Both his shot and hockey sense are otherworldly.At the scouting combine in early June, I asked 13 of Bedard's draft class peers to pick just one word to describe the next great Connor.Leo Carlsson, forward: "Incredible."Brayden Yager, forward: "Generational."Jakub Dvorak, defenseman: "Unpredictable."Tanner Molendyk, defenseman: "Special."Andrew Cristall, forward: "Greatness."Carson Bjarnason, goalie: "Humble." Minas Panagiotakis / Getty Images Sport / GettyNate Danielson, forward: "Exceptional."Gracyn Sawchyn, forward: "Dynamic."Matteo Mann, defenseman: "Complete."Zach Benson, forward: "Exceptional."Larry Keenan, defenseman: "Impressive."Caden Price, defenseman: "Exceptional. Elite. One of those, probably."Jakub Stancl, forward: "Not human. Yeah, that's two words ..." (Laughs)Sizing up the 2023 goalie crop Mike Mulholland / Getty ImagesFour goalies have been selected in the first round over the past four drafts.Florida picked Spencer Knight at 13th overall in 2019, Nashville tapped Yaroslav Askarov at 11th in 2020, and Detroit and Minnesota picked up Sebastian Cossa and Jesper Wallstedt at 15th and 20th, respectively, in 2021.There's a decent chance a goalie goes off the board in the first round this time around. Overall, though, 2023 lacks a true stud like the highly touted Askarov."It's a pretty average crop. It's not outstanding, and it's not poor," Washington Capitals assistant GM Ross Mahoney said Thursday on a conference call. (The longtime scout sprinkled in a bit of humor: "I'm sure some of them will prove me wrong in the future here.")The scouting service HockeyProspect.com lists five goalies in the top 50 of its final ranking of the entire 2023 class. Michael Hrabal, a 6-foot-6 Czechia native playing in the USHL, comes in at 24th; Slovak Adam Gajan, who was eligible for last year's draft, is 35th. Italian Damian Clara and Americans Jacob Fowler and Trey Augustine are bunched in the mid-40s: 44th, 46th, and 48th. Mike Mulholland / Getty Images"There's a beautiful blend of different talent at the position this season," reads a section in HockeyProspect.com's draft guide. Fowler and Augustine are "ultraefficient and technically proficient." Clara and Gajan are "freak athletes.""What separates Hrabal is he has arguably the best blend of these qualities," the scouting service gushes. "His hockey sense isn't as high-end as Fowler's or Augustine's, and his athleticism isn't as high-end as Gajan's or Clara's, but (Hrabal) is the most well-rounded when you look at the total package."To sum up industry consensus: Expect a run on goalies in the second round.Parting shotsHockey Hall of Fame: If I had to choose one or the other, I'd rather Curtis Joseph be inducted, not Mike Vernon. I'd also rather have two women's hockey players enshrined in November, not just Caroline Ouellette. It's insane that Alexander Mogilny remains on the outside looking in after not only stringing together a Hall of Fame-caliber career but also being a trailblazer for European players. However, none of these complaints compare to my No. 1 issue with the Hall: its lack of transparency. The secrecy surrounding the annual induction announcement taints the entire process. Transparency wouldn't eliminate criticism, of course, but at least the public would be better informed and thus move on to celebrating the inductees faster. In the current setup, we don't even know if Mogilny has ever been nominated. How foolish.

It's no secret that this summer's crop of unrestricted free agents leaves something to be desired. However, there are several combinations of player and destination that would still be compelling for one reason or another.Some of the biggest names on the market, like Patrice Bergeron, David Krejci, and Jonathan Toews, appear destined to either remain with the only NHL teams they've ever played for or retire. But that doesn't mean there aren't any other intriguing potential scenarios.Here's a handful of UFA signings we'd welcome, even if they may not be the most likely moves.Avalanche scoop up Orlov Maddie Meyer / Getty Images Sport / GettyDmitry Orlov won't come cheap, especially after he improved his stock with a strong stretch run for the Boston Bruins. But the talented blue-liner would surely entertain the possibility of joining the 2021-22 Stanley Cup champions and the likes of Cale Makar and Devon Toews on the back end.Orlov is a left-shot defenseman. While Toews fills that role on Colorado's top pairing alongside Makar, the Russian could conceivably slot into the team's second pairing. Jack Johnson is the current lefty in that duo, but he's a 36-year-old pending UFA who's been one of the NHL's worst rearguards in recent years. Bowen Byram also shoots from the left side, but he played on the right when paired with Johnson in the top four.The Avalanche will have $19.575 million in cap space when they put Gabriel Landeskog on long-term injured reserve for next season. Colorado has quite a few pending UFAs to consider re-signing, including forwards J.T. Compher, Evan Rodrigues, and defenseman Erik Johnson. But adding Orlov to the mix would make the Avalanche's must-watch group of defensemen even better and could be a move to get Colorado back to the championship round.Oilers reel in Tarasenko Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyAs fun as it was at times to watch Vladimir Tarasenko play with the various talented New York Rangers forwards, it would be even better to see him line up alongside one of the absolute best players in the league in Edmonton Oilers superstar Leon Draisaitl. The Oilers made it to the conference final two seasons ago and got bounced by the eventual champion Vegas Golden Knights in the second round this spring. They should continue to bolster Connor McDavid's supporting cast.Specifically, the Oilers would be wise to upgrade at the RW2 slot currently occupied by Kailer Yamamoto, and it appears Edmonton is leaning toward moving the 24-year-old. That's where the Russian affectionately known as the "Tarasenk Show" comes in. The ex-St. Louis Blues playmaker will be 32 in December, and he didn't fill the net last season like he has in the past. But inserting him onto a line with Draisaitl and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins would be beneficial for all three players and enjoyable for fans to watch.Edmonton will need to re-up young defenseman Evan Bouchard and consider bringing back several others. The club could also get back into the Erik Karlsson trade talks. However, Tarasenko to Edmonton is an appealing match if they can make the money work.Pacioretty comes home to Canadiens Francois Lacasse / National Hockey League / GettyMax Pacioretty's future with the Carolina Hurricanes is uncertain, to say the least. The team has 15 pending free agents of various varieties to consider signing and only around $16 million available once Andrei Svechnikov's $7.75-million cap hit goes back on the books.To be fair, Pacioretty's future in the NHL is uncertain as a whole, given that he's still recovering after tearing his Achilles tendon for the second time in five months in January. Still, how great would it be to see the former Canadiens captain return to Montreal on a one-year deal that could be the last contract of his career?Pacioretty scored three goals in five games with the Canes before sustaining his second tear and was productive in his four seasons with the Golden Knights prior to that. No one expects him to regain his old form or even be healthy for the start of next season. But even if Pacioretty doesn't suit up until December or January, it would be fun to see the 34-year-old winger back in Canadiens colors while mentoring Cole Caufield and Juraj Slafkovsky.Sabres snag Dumba Bill Wippert / National Hockey League / GettyDumba is still a relatively solid and experienced top-four defenseman despite injuries limiting him in recent years. The Sabres will be looking for more stability on the back end to allow Rasmus Dahlin and Owen Power to freely quarterback the offense. Dumba could slot in with Power on the second pairing. His offensive game fell off last season, but he still averaged 21:16 of ice time. Only Orlov logged more among pending UFA blue-liners.Dumba's expected goals for and scoring chances for percentages at five-on-five sat below 50% in 2022-23. However, his 4.92 individual expected goals in those situations ranked 39th in the NHL among rearguards - just behind the likes of Kris Letang, Rasmus Andersson, and Morgan Rielly. More reliable defensive defensemen like Scott Mayfield and Brian Dumoulin will likely be available in free agency. But those guys are older than Dumba and on the wrong side of 30.The Wild defenseman certainly isn't perfect, but he's still only 28 years old. Locking him into a lengthy contract would be ill-advised, and there will likely be available rearguards with higher offensive upside than Dumba, like Orlov, Erik Gustafsson, and Shayne Gostisbehere. But again, they're all older than Dumba, who would better fit Buffalo's long-term vision as a team that's on the rise but not yet a Cup contender.Kraken grab a Golden Knights goalie Candice Ward / Getty Images Sport / GettyThe triumphant Golden Knights have a slew of decisions to make ahead of free agency, three of which involve goaltenders. Vegas has three pending UFA netminders in Adin Hill, Laurent Brossoit, and Jonathan Quick, and the Seattle Kraken have a rather glaring need at the position.Philipp Graubauer's locked in with the Kraken through 2026-27 thanks to his regrettable contract. But Seattle should move on from pending UFA Martin Jones, who was one of the NHL's worst netminders in goals saved above expected and goals saved above average at five-on-five this past season.Hill's agent recently said that he'd prioritize trying to get his client re-upped in Vegas. Still, the Kraken should make a play for the 27-year-old whose strong play this spring helped the Golden Knights win the Cup. If Seattle can't get Hill, Brossoit would be a decent consolation prize. There are undoubtedly better goalies on the market, but seeing Seattle land a netminder from Vegas would enhance the recent expansion teams' burgeoning divisional rivalry.(Salary source: CapFriendly)Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Utah Jazz owner Ryan Smith wholeheartedly believes Salt Lake City should be the NHL's next venture."I think, for a whole host of reasons, we're not only ready, but hockey would thrive here the same it has in Seattle and also in Vegas," Smith told The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun.Smith has been in contact with commissioner Gary Bettman and deputy commissioner Bill Daly to express his sincere interest in bringing a team to Utah. The billionaire also raised eyebrows in April when he tweeted that bringing hockey to the state is "in motion."A Salt Lake City NHL franchise could temporarily share Vivint Arena with the Jazz, a venue that Smith says can seat 14,000 for hockey events. The Los Angeles Kings have played preseason games at the venue numerous times since 2018.It's unclear when the league may want to expand again after bringing in the Vegas Golden Knights and Seattle Kraken in recent years, but there could be a relocation fit with the Arizona Coyotes. The club's future is in limbo after its latest bid for a new arena failed, and Daly said earlier this month that the clock is ticking for the Coyotes to find a long-term solution.Smith is adamant Salt Lake City is the answer."Everything is close," he said. "We're the fastest-growing state. We're the youngest state. You look at our Utah Jazz, we sold out like 240 straight games in the NBA with three different makeups of a team, right? The fans, when they go in, they go in. We're starting to see this massive movement toward in-person sports, and I think it's definitely on the rise, and I'm really intrigued with hockey."He added: "From my standpoint, we have a huge opportunity to build something unique. And I think hockey is a big catalyst for that. I think we can create an experience that's both incredible for the NBA and for hockey."Smith became the majority owner of the Jazz in 2020. He also bought Real Salt Lake of the MLS in 2022 along with New Jersey Devils and Philadelphia 76ers owner David Blitzer.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Calgary Flames veteran Tyler Toffoli doesn't intend to sign an extension, reports Daily Faceoff's Frank Seravalli.Toffoli is entering the final year of his contract, which carries a $4.25-million cap hit, and will hit unrestricted free agency in the summer of 2024. The Flames are likely to make the 31-year-old available for trade, according to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.The seven-time 20-goal scorer doesn't have any trade protection in his contract and is approaching a potential deal without a desired destination, reports TSN's Chris Johnston.The Flames have a glut of 2024 free agents whose decisions will likely shape the path of the organization. Elias Lindholm, Mikael Backlund, Noah Hanifin, Chris Tanev, and Nikita Zadorov are all also one year from hitting the open market.Hanifin is reportedly likely to be traded this offseason, and Lindholm and Backlund are leaning toward not signing extensions, Seravalli indicated.Tofolli, Lindholm, and Backlund were three of Calgary's four leading scorers this past season.The Flames parted ways with general manager Brad Treliving and head coach Darryl Sutter after missing the playoffs this season. Calgary's disappointing campaign came on the heels of losing Johnny Gaudreau in free agency and trading Matthew Tkachuk to the Florida Panthers last summer.At his introductory press conference, new Flames GM Craig Conroy said the club can't enter the season with seven UFAs. He vowed not to let another star player leave for nothing after the Gaudreau saga.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Winnipeg Jets and former captain Blake Wheeler are working amicably to find the 36-year-old a new home after 13 seasons with the organization, TSN's Pierre LeBrun reported on Thursday's edition of "Insider Trading."It's unclear whether Wheeler's departure will come via trade or buyout, LeBrun added.The NHL's buyout window closes June 30, according to Cap Friendly. Wheeler has one season left on his current contract at a cap hit of $8.25 million. Buying him out would cost the Jets $2.75 million each of the next two seasons.Wheeler's contract includes a five-team no-trade list.The Minnesota native has been with the Jets since 2010-11, their final season as the Atlanta Thrashers. He's the club's all-time leader in games played (897), assists (550), and points (812).Wheeler was one of the game's top playmakers in his prime, but his point totals and ice time have decreased in recent seasons. He managed 16 goals and 39 assists across 72 contests this past campaign.He was stripped of his captaincy in September.The Jets are expected to undergo significant changes this summer. Along with Wheeler's imminent departure, core players Pierre-Luc Dubois, Mark Scheifele, and Connor Hellebuyck are rumored to be prime trade candidates.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Can you believe it? The World Junior Championship is heading back to Ottawa, Ontario in 2025."We are thrilled that the IIHF World Junior Championship will return to Canada and our nation's capital in 2025," said Pat McLaughlin, COO of Hockey Canada. "The bid that was submitted to host the World Juniors in Ottawa was exceptional, and we cannot wait for fans throughout Canada and the world to experience the celebration of hockey for themselves."The Canadian Tire Centre, home of the NHL's Ottawa Senators, will be the primary venue and host 17 games, including both semifinals and medal games. The 9,000-seat TD Place, home of the OHL's Ottawa 67's, will serve as the secondary venue, hosting 14 games.Ottawa last hosted the world juniors in 2009, when Canadian fans were blessed with one of the most thrilling games the event has ever seen. Trailing Russia 5-4 in the semis, Jordan Eberle scored one of the most iconic goals in tournament history, tying the game with 5.4 seconds left in regulation to force overtime.Eberle also scored the shootout winner, giving Canada a berth in the final. The Canadians then dispatched Sweden 5-1 in the gold-medal game. John Tavares was named tournament MVP.Halifax and Moncton played host to the 2023 tournament, which Canada won for the 20th time. The 2024 edition is taking place in Gothenburg, Sweden.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The final point Connor Bedard tallied in his brilliant draft season was a fluke.Bedard's Regina Pats faced elimination from the Western Hockey League playoffs when a teammate rebounded his shot from distance in a hectic scramble. Saskatoon Blades defenseman Tanner Molendyk deftly poked the puck in mid-air away from the goal line. Saskatoon's goaltender headed it backward into the net.The assist was Bedard's 20th point of the opening-round divisional showdown. He bent the series to his will, though the Blades laughed last. They vanquished the Pats in Game 7 before a sellout throng of 14,768 fans at Saskatoon's SaskTel Centre."Playing in front of that loud crowd where the building felt like it was going to collapse, it was pretty fun," Molendyk said in a recent interview. "It was like an NHL feel."The excitement was warranted. A destructive offensive force, Bedard does what he feels like when he handles the puck. Beyond him, his peer group is deep. Prospects from all over Western Canada could be picked in rapid succession next Wednesday night when the NHL draft gets going in Nashville.Eight first-rounders taken in theScore's latest mock draft hail from the WHL. No other feeder league produced more than five. The best forwards in the batch are complete players who star in every phase of the game. Snipers, playmakers, and electrifying skaters are available further down the board.The cohort's talent is prodigious. Five draft prospects - Bedard, Zach Benson, Riley Heidt, Andrew Cristall, and Koehn Ziemmer - finished in the top 10 in WHL scoring in 2022-23. Lukas Dragicevic's 27-game point streak is the longest ever authored by a WHL defenseman.Netminders shine out west, too. Led by Carson Bjarnason, the Brandon Wheat Kings starter who stood tall in Bedard's division, four WHL goalies outrank the finest puck-stopper from Ontario or Quebec in NHL Central Scouting's North American rankings."It's a great time for the Western Hockey League," said Marty Murray, the retired NHL forward from Manitoba who is the Wheat Kings' head coach and general manager. "It was fun, but not so fun sometimes to be on the bench against those high-end prospects night in, night out. At the end of the day, it's a treat."Bedard, an all-world shooter and hockey mastermind who turns 18 in July, was the main attraction in every rink the Pats toured.The North Vancouver native produced more five-point performances (eight) than zero-point outings (five) during the regular season. His 1.25 goals per game - 71 in 57 - are the most in the WHL since 1991.Fans worldwide know about his capabilities. Bedard dangled Slovak defenders at separate World Junior Championships to score off a sweet give-and-go sequence and net an overtime beauty in knockout play.

BUFFALO - After a whirlwind eight-hour day of interviewing with prospective employers, undergoing a balance test, and answering reporters' questions, Andrew Cristall is asked if he'd like to watch a few clips from his highlight reel."Oh yeah, for sure, absolutely," a grinning Cristall replies from his seat inside a Marriott hotel restaurant. It's June 1 and the NHL's annual scouting combine is well underway for Cristall and roughly 100 of his 2023 draft classmates.Cristall's eager because he's an extrovert obsessed with the sport of hockey. Dissecting clips of his finest moments is right in his wheelhouse. Also, it's a short break from a week's worth of discussions about his flaws as a player.The first clip begins with Cristall, an 18-year-old left-winger for the WHL's Kelowna Rockets, skating through the neutral zone with possession of the puck. Between him and the goalie is one defender, who he promptly turnstiles:

The Hockey Hall of Fame caused quite a stir with its induction announcement on Wednesday, grouping a collection of long-retired hopefuls with bona fide first-year lock Henrik Lundqvist to make up the class of 2023.Pierre Turgeon, Mike Vernon, and Tom Barrasso rounded out the former NHLers to make this year's cut, and the Hall righted last year's wrong of omitting Canadian women's legend Caroline Ouellette. Both Vernon and Barrasso admitted they were stunned to receive hockey's highest honor this year.The Hall of Fame had limited first-ballot stars to choose from this year, but 2024 offers a quality selection of debutants. Below, we dive into who has a chance of making the cut in their first try and also highlight the cases of those who've again been forced to wait another year.Before we get into it, it's worth noting only four male players and two female players can be inducted per year. The selection committee consists of 18 members, and candidates to appear on 75% or higher of final ballots are elected. Ballots aren't made public.Players who've been inactive from professional or international hockey for three full seasons, though still might not be technically retired, are eligible to be inducted.Notable first-timersPavel Datsyuk Dave Reginek / National Hockey League / GettyGPGAP953314604918On paper, Datsyuk has the most surefire resume available next year. He played 14 years with the Detroit Red Wings and won the Stanley Cup twice, along with four Lady Byngs and three Selkes. He was named to the 100 Greatest NHL Players list and also has gold medals from the Olympics and the world championship, giving him "Triple Gold" status. Datsyuk featured an unmatchable blend of skill and two-way dominance throughout his entire career and produced some of the most memorable highlights in league history. He was nicknamed "The Magic Man" for a reason.His on-ice credentials are second-to-none among 2024's first-year eligibles, but the Hall may be hesitant to enshrine a Russian international given the ongoing war in Ukraine.

Vancouver Canucks winger Brock Boeser and general manager Patrik Allvin appear ready to put trade drama in the past.Boeser has been linked with a move for multiple seasons and was widely considered a top trade candidate at the 2023 deadline after requesting a move amid a difficult year. He ultimately rescinded the request, and Allvin believes Boeser's revitalized form after the club hired Rick Tocchet as head coach will carry into next season."There was definitely a significant improvement in Brock's game and how he played," Allvin said Wednesday. "He definitely made it clear to myself and the coaching staff that he was excited about the vision and the path of this team and wanted to make sure that ... he wanted to be part of it.""I'm excited to see Brock coming back in September ready to go," he added.Boeser admitted in March that seeing his name in trade discussions negatively affected his on-ice performance and said it was a "relief" he wasn't dealt.The 26-year-old is under contract for two more seasons at a $6.65-million cap hit. Boeser managed 55 points in 74 contests in 2022-23 but had the worst goal-scoring season of his career on a per-game basis (0.24).The Canucks drafted Boeser 23rd overall in 2015. He's produced 311 points in 398 games with the club and was the Calder Trophy runner-up in 2018 after a 29-goal campaign.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Buffalo Sabres want their two cornerstone defensemen to stay with the team for years to come, and there appears to be mutual interest.General manager Kevyn Adams revealed Wednesday that the Sabres are discussing contract extensions with Rasmus Dahlin and Owen Power. Both players are eligible to re-up with the club on July 1."The first conversation was with both of them individually right after the season to say, 'Hey, I just want you guys to know ... we believe in you guys and think you're really important players for us moving forward,'" Adams said. "And there was an excitement from both of them and a clear message to me that they both want to be here long term, so that's the most important first step."Adams added that he and several other members of the Sabres' management group then sat down with the agents for Dahlin and Power during the NHL combine, which took place in Buffalo earlier in June. The GM said the team and the players' representatives are now "in the process of working our way through it.""We made clear to them we see them as really important people and pieces of our franchise moving forward, and they've made it clear to us they want to be here, so we'll keep working at it," Adams said. "But I'm excited about those guys."Dahlin tied for fourth among NHL blue-liners with 73 points in 78 games last season. His goal (15), assist (58), and point totals were all career highs, and the 23-year-old ranked third league-wide in average ice time with 25:48. The 2022-23 campaign was his fifth in the NHL after the Sabres drafted the Swede first overall in 2018.He's under contract through next season with a $6-million cap hit, according to CapFriendly. Dahlin will be a pending restricted free agent with arbitration rights if he doesn't sign a new deal before next summer.Power, who Buffalo also drafted with the No. 1 pick three years after Dahlin, enjoyed a promising first full season. The 20-year-old collected four goals and 31 assists in 79 contests while averaging 23:48 in ice time. He led all rookie defensemen in assists, points, and even-strength points, while pacing the entire class in average ice time.The Canadian rearguard was voted a Calder Trophy finalist for his efforts. The NHL Awards will take place later this month in Nashville.Power is entering the final season of his entry-level contract, which carries a cap hit of $916,667.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Henrik Lundqvist, Pierre Turgeon, Mike Vernon, Tom Barrasso, and Caroline Ouellette were announced as the Hockey Hall of Fame five-player 2023 class Wednesday.The HOF is also inducting Ken Hitchcock and Pierre Lacroix as builders.Henrik Lundqvist Steven Ryan / Getty Images Sport / GettyPosition: Goalie

The Los Angeles Kings are one of multiple teams to join the Montreal Canadiens in the hunt for Winnipeg Jets center Pierre-Luc Dubois, sources told The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun.Dubois' agent Pat Brisson and the Jets believe there will be a "robust market" for the restricted free agent's services, LeBrun added.The Canadiens would be the least surprising landing spot for Dubois. His agent said last summer that "Montreal is a place, a city he'd like to play in." Dubois later said those comments were blown out of proportion. However, he was born about an hour outside Montreal in Sainte-Agathe-des-Monts, Quebec, and grew up in Rimouski. The Habs also reached out to the Jets about Dubois as soon as Winnipeg was eliminated from the 2023 playoffs.The Habs are still rebuilding, but they have the necessary cap space to offer Dubois a mammoth extension. Montreal also has ample prospects and draft picks to dangle in trade talks.The Kings, however, have not been at the forefront of the Dubois sweepstakes until now. They also have only $7.3 million in cap space, need to sign four RFAs, including Gabe Vilardi, and need a starting goalie. So any Dubois trade to the Kings would likely require money going the other way.Dubois is only an RFA but he can become a UFA in 2024. He told the Jets earlier in June that he won't sign an extension, so his agent and the club have been working together to find a trade.The power forward, who turns 25 on Saturday, registered a career-high 63 points in 73 games this past season.Dubois was drafted third overall by the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2016 and was traded to the Jets in 2021 in a deal that sent Patrik Laine the other way.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New Jersey Devils had a "conversation" with the Winnipeg Jets about goaltender Connor Hellebuyck, TSN's Pierre LeBrun reported on Tuesday's edition of "Insider Trading."Hellebuyck has one season left on his deal and is set to become an unrestricted free agent in 2024. The 30-year-old's eligible to sign an extension with the Jets on July 1.However, Hellebuyck said in April that he's feeling like he's running "out of time" to win a Stanley Cup after the Jets' 2022-23 season ended. He reportedly informed the team recently that he isn't interested in re-upping in Winnipeg.As a result, the Vezina Trophy finalist is largely considered a top trade candidate this summer.Hellebuyck will be due a substantial raise from his current $6.16-million cap hit. LeBrun said he believes Hellebuyck's camp is targeting a figure similar to Andrei Vasilevskiy's deal, which carries a $9.5-million price tag.The Devils have around $26.4 million in projected cap space this summer but have 11 free agents on their active roster to contend with. Topping that list is pending restricted free-agent forward Timo Meier, who's currently working toward a long-term extension with general manager Tom Fitzgerald.Three goalies saw time in the crease for New Jersey this season: Vitek Vanecek, Akira Schmid, and Mackenzie Blackwood.Vanecek posted a 33-11-4 regular-season record with a .911 save percentage and 2.45 goals against average, but he struggled in the playoffs. The 27-year-old has two years remaining on his deal with a $3.4-million cap hit.Schmid got into 18 contests during the regular season and put up some strong numbers. He shone in the playoffs, posting a .921 save percentage and 2.35 goals against average in nine showings. The 23-year-old can become a restricted free agent next summer.A pending restricted free agent, Blackwood has battled injuries the past few campaigns and posted a sub-.900 save percentage for the second straight year this season.Hellebuyck was again stellar for the lackluster Jets this campaign, registering a .920 clip over 64 showings while saving 30.11 goals above average and 33.62 goals above expected at all strengths, per Evolving Hockey.He won the Vezina Trophy in 2020 and has been nominated for the hardware three times.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Philadelphia Flyers general manager Daniel Briere declared that his team is open for business this summer, but it appears as though one name is off-limits.Top prospect Cutter Gauthier is Philadelphia's only untouchable player, reports Daily Faceoff's Frank Seravalli.The Flyers selected Gauthier fifth overall in the 2022 NHL Draft after he put up 34 goals and 31 assists in 54 games with the U.S. National Team Development Program.The 19-year-old continued to impress during his first season at Boston College. He led the Eagles with 16 goals and 37 points in 32 contests, and he plans to return for his sophomore campaign.Gauthier has also dazzled with the United States on the international stage. He logged 10 points in seven games at the 2023 World Junior Championship, as well as seven goals and two assists at the 2023 IIHF World Championship.Philadelphia sent defenseman Ivan Provorov to the Columbus Blue Jackets in a three-way deal with the Los Angeles Kings in early June. The Flyers received blue-liner Sean Walker, goalie Cal Petersen, prospect Helge Grans, and a trio of picks, including the 22nd overall selection, in the swap.Veteran Kevin Hayes, forwards Scott Laughton and Travis Konecny, goalie Carter Hart, and defenseman Tony DeAngelo could also be on the move before next season.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Freshly hired New York Rangers head coach Peter Laviolette wants to put a little more on Alexis Lafreniere's and Kaapo Kakko's plates next season."Those young players do need an opportunity to grow," he said during his introductory press conference on Tuesday. "They have to be ... given the opportunity to be counted on more. ... They want to feel valued with what they do."He added, "You certainly would like to see them take the next step: More minutes, maybe a little higher up the lineup, maybe more power-play time. With that, there has to be opportunity. These conversations will take place - I certainly would like that - and those opportunities will be there for them to grab that ice time and to push."The Rangers selected Kakko with the second overall pick in 2019 and drafted Lafreniere with the No. 1 pick in 2020. They have yet to live up to the lofty expectations placed upon them in the Big Apple, but both players enjoyed career campaigns in 2022-23 while spending the bulk of their time on the third line with Filip Chytil.Lafreniere, 21, put up a career-best 39 points (16 goals, 23 assists) in 81 contests while seeing his average ice time eclipse the 15-minute mark for the first time. Kakko, 22, netted a career-high 18 goals and 40 points while skating in all 82 games, but he saw his average playing time decrease slightly from 2021-22.Neither player saw much time on the man advantage this campaign, with Lafreniere averaging 1:23 minutes of power-play time per contest - good for seventh-most among all Rangers forwards - and Kakko clocking in at 53 seconds.When Patrick Kane arrived on the scene in March, Kakko had his average power-play ice time plummet to just 21 seconds.Overall, Laviolette is pleased with the Rangers' mix of veterans and young players."I think it's a really good balance and blend right now," he said. "Teams in the past that I've found success with, I think they've had that balance and that blend."The Rangers have $11.76 million in projected cap space this summer. Veteran forwards Vladimir Tarasenko and Kane can become unrestricted agents on July 1.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Buffalo Sabres re-signed forward Zemgus Girgensons to a one-year, $2.5-million contract, the team announced Tuesday.Girgensons could have tested the market as an unrestricted free agent on July 1. The 29-year-old just played out the last season of a three-year pact with a $2.2-million cap hit.The Latvian registered 10 goals and eight assists in a career-high 80 games this season while averaging just under 13 minutes of ice time per contest.Girgensons has put up 81 goals and 174 points in 625 career NHL games, all with Buffalo.The longest-tenured member of the Sabres, Buffalo selected Girgensons with the 14th overall pick in the 2012 NHL Draft.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.