The Pittsburgh Penguins will get reacquainted with the commander in chief before their latest title defense begins.President Barack Obama will host the Stanley Cup champions Thursday at the White House, the NHL confirmed Friday. The Penguins visited the nation's capital for a similar ceremony after winning the Cup in 2009.The president invited the team during a call with head coach Mike Sullivan to congratulate him in June.Pittsburgh opens its 2016-17 regular-season schedule at home against the Washington Capitals on Oct. 13.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Dallas Stars center Mattias Janmark will have knee surgery and be out of action for five-to-six months, the club announced Friday.Stars general manager Jim Nill revealed Janmark was born with osteochondritis dissecans, a joint disorder that causes cracks to form in knee cartilage and bone.The 23-year-old forward, who was seen walking on crutches at Stars practice Thursday, joins a slew of teammates recovering from injuries in the preseason, including Tyler Seguin, Jamie Benn, and Ales Hemsky.Janmark collected 15 goals and 29 points last season in his rookie campaign.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

theScore is previewing each team leading up to the 2016-17 season.Is this the year the perpetually rebuilding Edmonton Oilers finally rise to the ranks of the competitive?A full season out of Connor McDavid will certainly give them a fighting chance, while a deep and talented forward corps, and a bona fide starting goalie may be enough to cover up apparent weaknesses that remain on the blue line.Here's what the opening night roster may look like in Edmonton.ForwardsLWCRWMilan LucicConnor McDavidJordan EberlePatrick MaroonRyan Nugent-HopkinsNail YakupovBenoit PouliotLeon DraisaitlJesse PuljujarviMatt HendricksMark LetestuZack Kassian

There's no stopping the runaway freight train that is Hockey Canada. Though a band of Europeans playing together for the first - and likely only - time gave it their best shot.Canada began the World Cup of Hockey dominating its opponents. Three round-robin games and a semifinal displayed the gap between the host nation and the field, as the Canadians outscored opponents 19-6. It appeared Canada would walk through Team Europe.That was far from the case.Game 1Canada won the opener of the World Cup final, but the pace of the game was such that it was fairly even outside of the final score. Aside from the loss, Europe was pleased with its performance - players called the game their best as a team in the tournament."I think we can be better but ultimately we found a way to win," Sidney Crosby said after Canada took a 3-1 decision to open the best-of-three.Game 2Europe opened the scoring early Thursday and held the lead for 50:41 - a lifetime when it comes to Canada playing from behind - before Patrice Bergeron tied it on the power play with under three minutes to go in the third period.With 44 seconds to play and Europe on a power play of its own, Brad Marchand - who else? - scored shorthanded to give Canada a 2-1 lead, another win, and another tournament title.The victory is Canada's 16th straight in best-on-best competition, dating back to the 2010 Winter Olympics. It wasn't in dominating fashion in Vancouver, but as Canada has shown time and time again, it simply gets the job done, no matter how it needs to be done.5-on-5"The perception is that we're miles better than everybody else," Canada head coach Mike Babcock said. "We're deeper, but you can only play five guys at a time. You can say anything you want about the game, but we delivered."When USA's Zach Parise scored in the final minute of the third period in the gold-medal game in Vancouver to tie the score at 1-1, Canada stayed composed. The team delivered back then, in an unimaginably pressure-packed situation, and it's been delivering since."It's not easy, everyone wants to be here playing for Team Canada, there’s a lot of expectations," tournament MVP Crosby said. "To win here and how it all came together, it's pretty exciting."Babcock may be on to something. Canada has the most talent at its disposal, but when the most extraordinary hockey players in the world are all in the same city for two weeks, it comes down to a little something extra. Canada's legacy is its sheer will to win and how it's implanted in every player who puts on the national jersey.The Price FactorWhen Canada wasn’t at its best, Carey Price was.Marian Hossa had a great chance to give Europe the lead on a power play late in a 1-1 game. Despite his quick release from the right circle, Price was in position to corral the puck with his chest and keep the game tied to set up another Marchand moment."Pricer played a heck of a game, just like he did a few days ago. Sometimes it comes down to goaltending," Jonathan Toews said. "Their goaltender played a hell of a game, too, but Carey was there when we needed him."Price finished the World Cup with a .957 save percentage in five games. His record representing Canada at the World Juniors, Olympics, and World Cup is a perfect 16-0-0, with five shutouts and a .962 save percentage.Respect, EuropeEurope deserves full credit for what it achieved.The team was put together under circumstances that allowed for maximum NHL participation, and after jokes about being it anthem-less and being pounded by Team North America in pre-tournament play, the Europeans got the last laugh as one of the last two teams standing. It was the outsiders who pushed Canada the hardest."I'm really, really proud of this team because everybody pretty much thought we would be the laughing joke in this tournament," captain Anze Kopitar said. "The way we came together and played and make it to the finals, I think we gave Canada a pretty good run for it."Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Anze Kopitar couldn't put it into words.After falling to Canada in the World Cup final, Kopitar used Twitter to share his pride in representing the newly created Team Europe.

Ralph Krueger lost the World Cup of Hockey final, but his performance at the tournament vaulted him back into the conversation for future NHL coaching positions.Watch: Marchand's shorthanded goal clinches World Cup for CanadaTeam Europe's unexpected run to the best-of-three championship series - during which the underdogs outplayed Canada for much of Game 2 - undoubtedly put its head coach back on the NHL radar."If he wants to coach in the NHL again, I'm sure there's a team out there that would love to have him," Team Canada head coach Mike Babcock said about his adversary after Thursday night's final game, according to the Toronto Sun's Terry Koshan.The new NHL franchise in Las Vegas hasn't filled its head coaching position, but Krueger said he'll be focused exclusively on his duties as chairman of Southampton FC in the English Premier League now that the World Cup is over."I'm very passionate about what I'm doing in Southhampton right now," he told reporters after the game Thursday, according to Postmedia's Michael Traikos. "It's what I'm committed to."Whether it's Las Vegas - which begins play in 2017-18 - or another NHL vacancy that arises beforehand, one would have to assume Krueger will be considered after exceeding expectations with Team Europe.Related: Zuccarello likens Team Europe to 'Miracle on Ice' squadThe 57-year-old former Edmonton Oilers head coach brought a collection of players from eight nations together in a short tournament with very little preparation time and led them to the final, when few expected them to emerge from the preliminary round.While his loyalties lie across the pond for now, Krueger demonstrated his coaching ability on the international stage and may have improved his chances of earning another NHL job.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Hampus Lindholm won't come cheap.The 22-year-old Anaheim Ducks defenseman is a restricted free agent, and it could take an eight-year contract worth more than $48 million to re-sign him, reports TSN's Bob McKenzie.Lindholm, who made his NHL debut in 2013, recorded 10 goals and 18 assists last season - good for second among all Anaheim defenders.Only the Ducks' Corey Perry, Ryan Getzlaf, and Ryan Kesler account for more than his request for more than $6 million per year, with Perry being the most expensive at $8.625 million. Sami Vatanen owns the blue line's biggest cap hit at $4.875 million.As it stands, 16 NHL defensemen carry a cap hit of $6 million or more. Two comparable deals are Colorado's Erik Johnson and the New York Islanders' Johnny Boychuk, who both signed seven-year, $42-million pacts.Lindholm won't attend the Ducks' training camp prior to signing a new deal.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Mike Babcock isn't done winning in Toronto.After leading the Canadian team to victory Thursday at the World Cup, hosted at Toronto's Air Canada Centre, the Team Canada bench boss said, "This is just a sign of what's going to happen here in Toronto, just so you know."Babcock, 53, is head coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs.The World Cup win marks the fifth international victory for the Saskatoon native. Babcock previously led Canada to gold at the 1997 World Juniors, the 2004 World Championships, and both the 2010 and 2014 Olympics.Babcock won the Stanley Cup with the Detroit Red Wings in 2008.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

theScore is previewing each team leading up to the 2016-17 season.The arrival of Connor McDavid trumped all other moves made by the Edmonton Oilers over the course of a decade-long building process.Were it not for an injury that forced him out of the lineup for almost half of 2015-16, McDavid would almost certainly have been the NHL's Rookie of the Year, while perhaps putting the Oilers in position to contend for a playoff spot.While McDavid is without question the most important player on the roster, others will have to step up if Edmonton is truly going to climb the standings this season.Here are three Oilers to watch.Adam LarssonAll eyes will be on defenseman Adam Larsson this season after general manager Peter Chiarelli deemed the Swede worth dealing Taylor Hall to the New Jersey Devils for in a blockbuster summer trade.The addition of Larsson came at a steep price, but the Oilers feel their forward depth, which was bolstered by the addition Milan Lucic in the offseason, can absorb the loss of one of the game's top left wingers in exchange for a solid defenseman capable of munching minutes.Drafted fourth overall in 2011, Larsson was brought along slowly by the Devils, with 2015-16 serving as his first full NHL season after several stints down in the minors. The Oilers don't expect him to be an offensive dynamo - and rightfully so, as his career high for goals in a season sits at three - but the expectation is that Larsson will serve as a much needed shutdown presence in the defensive zone.He's not the sexiest defenseman in the NHL, but if effective, Larsson could indeed help turn things around.Ryan Nugent-HopkinsHard as it may be to believe, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins is entering his sixth NHL season.The 23-year-old's role is somewhat in flux, having been passed on the depth chart by McDavid, and likely Leon Draisaitl as well. As a result, Nugent-Hopkins won't be deployed against the opposition's top defensive players, opening the door for increased production and the kind of secondary scoring needed on teams with playoff aspirations.Nugent-Hopkins has seen his fair share of injuries since entering the NHL, but if he stays healthy, he could very well eclipse his career highs in goals (24) and points (56).A true breakout by Nugent-Hopkins alongside McDavid's continued rise to superstardom would be a boon for the Oilers' chances of success.Cam TalbotCam Talbot posted solid numbers in his first season with the Oilers, recording a .917 save percentage despite a losing record (21-27-5). His shot-stopping success rate speaks much more to his true value, and the efforts made by management to bolster the blue line should help improve his win-loss ratio.Still, defense remains Edmonton's primary area of weakness, and Talbot will need to play at a high level in order to give the Oilers a fighting chance.Anders Nilsson has been replaced by Jonas Gustavsson as Talbot's backup, meaning the starter may have to be relied upon more often as Edmonton's last line of defense.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It's been a September to remember for Brad Marchand.The winger, who entered the month as a hopeful positive contributor for Canada's World Cup effort, was placed on a line with Sidney Crosby and Patrice Bergeron early on and thereby given a prime opportunity by head coach Mike Babcock to thrive on the international stage.In the end, he scored five goals in six games for the tournament winners - including a shorthanded goal late in Game 2 to clinch the whole thing - and signed a big contract extension with the Boston Bruins in the midst of it all to boot.It's a run he won't soon forget."I'll treasure every second of this for the rest of my life," Marchand told reporters following the on-ice celebration.

Anze Kopitar and Marian Gaborik used different platforms, but the Team Europe and Los Angeles Kings teammates were united in their dissatisfaction with the officiating in Game 2 of the World Cup of Hockey final.With Europe up 1-0 and four minutes left in the must-win game, Kopitar was called for a questionable holding penalty on Corey Perry, which led to Patrice Bergeron's game-tying goal less than a minute later.Kopitar was asked about it after the game, which Canada won on Brad Marchand's shorthanded goal, and said it all without even having to say anything."I don't know if I should speak about that out loud," Kopitar said, according to TSN's Frank Seravalli.Gaborik, though, unavailable in the final due to a broken foot, was willing to criticize - and in real time.

Canada reigns victorious at the World Cup of Hockey.Here are five of the best photos from a Game 2 win over Europe.Luck appeared to be on Europe's side early on, as evidenced by John Tavares missing a wide-open net and ringing the puck off the post.Carey Price stood tall in net for Canada all night long, despite taking an awkward bump in the crease by Marian Hossa.Brad Marchand reacts to scoring the game-winning, shorthanded goal with less than a minute to play.A nation celebrates, with gloves and helmets tossed to the wind.Captain and tournament MVP Sidney Crosby hoisting the World Cup trophy.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

In a tournament devised to sardine the NHL's greatest talent into eight teams, who else but the game's greatest player was to stand out most?Sidney Crosby was unanimously named the World Cup of Hockey's most valuable player after captaining Canada to its third straight triumph in best-on-best international competition with a series sweep of Team Europe in the final.Related: Canada wins World Cup of HockeyThe Triple Gold Club member and reigning Stanley Cup-winning captain with the Pittsburgh Penguins scored three times and recorded a tournament-best 10 points.He also centered the best line throughout the competition, with Brad Marchand and Patrice Bergeron on his wings. They combined for 25 points, and produced multiple goals in each of their three games in the knockout round.Crosby has been part of 16 consecutive wins in best-on-best competition; a stretch that includes winning gold medals at the last two Olympics. And if you include the World Championship, he's won 25 straight games in a Canadian sweater.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Brad Marchand justified his selection long ago, but how's one more contribution for good measure?Collecting the puck on a brilliant drop pass from Jonathan Toews, Canada's go-to scoring winger reached back and whipped the decisive goal at the World Cup of Hockey past Jaroslav Halak with 43 seconds left, spoiling a valiant performance from Team Europe.Marchand's fifth goal and eighth point of the tournament capped a stunning comeback for Canada, which won its 16th consecutive game at best-on-best, and third consecutive major title.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Canada won the World Cup of Hockey on Thursday after defeating Europe in two games, coming back in the third period to win Game 2 of the final 2-1 on a short-handed goal by Brad Marchand.The host nation's opponent put forth a valiant effort, and led from early in the first until late in regulation. After largely controlling play in the first few minutes of the game, Europe was rewarded with an early lead thanks to a pinpoint wrist shot off the stick of defenseman Zdeno Chara and past Carey Price.Canada’s play began to pick up at that point, and the Game 1 winners came out more determined in the second period, with John Tavares ringing the puck off the near post when presented with a wide-open net late on a power-play opportunity.Still, at the end of 40 minutes of play, Europe held the 1-0 lead while outshooting Canada in each of the first two periods.The underlying possession numbers, however, suggested the host nation was carrying the play - Canada led in terms of total shot attempts, and it was Europe’s inspired defensive effort that helped keep the puck away from Jaroslav Halak, as evidenced by the bevy of blocked shots in front of him.The fact Europe had more actual shots on net was a testament to an aggressive forecheck and Canada’s propensity to turn the puck over rather easily.Canada continued to press for the tying goal over the course of the final period, and finally broke the shutout on a deft tip by Patrice Bergeron off a Brent Burns point shot while European captain Anze Kopitar was in the penalty box late in regulation.The Europeans were afforded a late power play of their own, only to see Marchand tally a short-handed goal with 44 seconds left in the third period. Canada would not relinquish the lead in the game's dying seconds.The overall possession chart indicates Canada did deserve to come out on top in this one.Price made 32 saves on 33 shots, while Halak stood strong for Europe with 32 saves on 34 shots.The win kept Canada's run of international dominance intact. The World Cup winners now have 16 straight wins in best-on-best competition dating back to the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Hampus Lindholm didn't jet back to California when Sweden crashed out of the World Cup of Hockey. He headed straight home, and will remain there until he has a contract.Lindholm's agent, Claude Lemieux, confirmed Thursday that his client will not attend training camp until he signs a new deal with the Anaheim Ducks."Our plan is to report to the team once we have a contract signed," Lemieux told Eric Stephens of the Orange County Register. "Until then Hampus is training in Sweden."The 22-year-old restricted free-agent defender and the Ducks are both believed to covet a long-term pact, but there's reportedly a significant gap between Lindholm's ask and what the budget club is willing to commit.Several blue-liners in Lindholm's class have signed long-term agreements this summer, offering easy comparables. Those deals range from the $5-million annual salary Toronto Maple Leafs defender Morgan Rielly fetched on a long-term contract to the $7.5 million Aaron Ekblad will pull in each season for the next eight years.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

With fantasy drafts just around the corner, theScore has all the fantasy hockey advice you'll need to dominate your league.The draft kit will be updated daily until the start of the NHL season.2016 Fantasy RankingsStandard Leagues: Top 200 | C | LW | RW | D | G

Montreal Canadiens forward Andrew Shaw was suspended three preseason games Thursday for boarding Washington Capitals defender Connor Hobbs.Shaw delivered forceful contact through the back of Hobbs while in pursuit in the offensive zone Tuesday night in Montreal, slamming the Capitals defender face-first into the glass.He received a five-minute major penalty and game misconduct on the play.The NHL's Department of Player Safety deemed that Hobbs was never eligible to be hit, as he was facing away from the oncoming pressure, and the onus was on Shaw to create legal contact in this instance. The NHL also took into account what happened prior to the incident, noting that Shaw, a repeat offender, was sent crashing to the ice when he was tangled with Capitals forward Jay Beagle.Hobbs was able to return to the game, factoring into the NHL's decision.Shaw will not miss time in the regular season, and will not have to forfeit salary, notes Pat Hickey of the Montreal Gazette.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Clarke MacArthur's latest concussion won't stop him from trying to play this season.The Ottawa Senators forward, who was hit in a training camp scrimmage by prospect Patrick Sieloff over the weekend, clarified his intentions to return in an Instagram post Thursday.

Europe came a lot closer than anyone.Defeated 3-1 in Game 1 of the World Cup final, the Europeans know the task ahead of them - beating Canada twice in a row - is monumental, but they're approaching Game 2 much the same, believing all the pressure is on Canada.Europe's been living on the "there's no tomorrow" cliche all tournament, and that moment of truth is finally upon them. And instead of being intimidated, its players are looking to gain strength from their position."We're playing this game without any fear," head coach Ralph Krueger said, according to NHL.com's Tom Gulitti. "We're going to go head-on again."Europe, to a man, believes it can win Thursday night."We proved we can play," Tomas Tatar, Europe's lone goal-scorer in Game 1, said."You have to believe all the time," Zdeno Chara said.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Florida Panthers defensive stalwart Aaron Ekblad continued to practice Thursday after a neck injury forced him to miss the final two games of Team North America's run at the World Cup of Hockey.Ekblad was cleared by team doctors Wednesday, and after initial concussion fears - which would have been his second since January - the 20-year-old cleared the air, calling the injury "whiplash.""The way I was told, it was about blood flow," Ekblad told George Richards of the Miami Herald."When you get whiplash like that, there's restricted blood flow to the head and that causes systems because the blood doesn't drain out of head as fast. That's why you get symptoms without being a concussion."Ekblad, widely considered Florida's most important player, signed an eight-year, $60-million contract in the offseason, and his clean bill of health is imperative to the Panthers' playoff aspirations this season.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Nikita Kucherov is holding out.Tampa Bay Lightning general manager Steve Yzerman said the club was informed by the forward's agent, Scott Greenspun, that his client won't report to camp without a new contract, according to Joe Smith of the Tampa Bay Times.The Lightning have about $5.9 million in cap space, according to General Fanager, after re-signing defenseman Nikita Nesterov earlier this week.Yzerman said over the weekend that he expected contract talks to pick up now that Kucherov is done playing for Russia at the World Cup of Hockey, where he scored twice and added an assist in four games.The 23-year-old restricted free agent established new career highs with 30 goals and 66 points for the Lightning last season. He scored 28 goals and tallied 64 points in 2014-15.Kucherov is Tampa Bay's lone remaining free agent.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Despite the fact he's currently not under contract, restricted free-agent defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen participated in Buffalo Sabres practice Thursday after asking permission from general manager Tim Murray.Ristolainen played out the final year of his entry-level deal last season, and showed up for the morning skate as a gesture of "goodwill," according to John Vogl of the Buffalo News.While negotiations may be at a standstill, the 21-year-old showing a desire to practice with his teammates is smart, at least in the eyes of head coach Dan Bylsma."It's great that he wants to," Bylsma said. "The contract negotiation is between Tim and the agent, and obviously Rasmus is involved, but he wants to be back on the ice with his teammates, and that's a good thing."As a member of the Sabres' top defensive pairing last season, Ristolainen amassed a career-high 41 points, suiting up for all 82 games.Buffalo's regular season begins Oct. 13 versus Montreal.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

William and Alexander Nylander will take the ice as opponents for the first time in their lives Thursday night.The talented brothers are set to meet when William's Toronto Maple Leafs play Alexander's Buffalo Sabres in preseason action in St. Catharines, Ontario."I think (my mom) will be wearing a half-Toronto, half-Buffalo jersey," William told the Toronto Star's Kevin McGran. "(Alex has) great vision and he can score goals. Likes to shoot the puck. He's developed in every way possible."Other than off-ice battles, this is unfamiliar territory."It's time to face each other. Not friends anymore," William said.Both Nylanders were eighth overall picks: William in 2014, and Alexander this past June.The Leafs prospect centered the top line at the morning skate, and the Sabres draft pick joined Evander Kane and Derek Grant on Buffalo's second line.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Nashville Predators improved significantly in one fell swoop when general manager David Poile acquired P.K. Subban from the Montreal Canadiens for Shea Weber.If Pekka Rinne can rebound from a disappointing season, the Predators should contend for the Central Division title, but that's a big "if."Here's how their roster looks heading into 2016-17:ForwardsLWCRWFilip ForsbergRyan JohansenCraig SmithColin WilsonMike FisherJames NealCalle JarnkrokMike RibeiroViktor ArvidssonAustin WatsonColton SissonsMiikka Salomaki

On the Fly, theScore's wildly successful NHL roundtable series, continues with another - and perhaps final! - World Cup installment. With its end in sight, we're reflecting on what we loved and hated about the tourney.Love: Select teamsCraig Hagerman: What began as a gimmick appears to have been an overwhelming success.Many pegged Team North America and Team Europe to be the weaker clubs entering the tournament, but that was quickly put to rest. North America proved it was arguably the most skilled team outside of Canada, and left fans in awe and wanting more while showing off the future of the game.Europe, meanwhile, proved two underwhelming exhibition games meant nothing, as they rose from underdogs to finalists and served to remind the hockey world there's far more talent across the pond than only what's found in Russia and the Nordic nations.Canada's likely to finish things up Thursday, but there's no doubt the select teams made the tournament more exciting.Hate: No North America-Canada matchupNavin Vaswani: How. How do you put this tournament together and not guarantee a Canada vs. North America matchup. Why. How!The kids were always going to be the tournament's most intriguing team, and Canada the best, and a matchup between the two was one we deserved. Connor McDavid against Sidney Crosby! It could've happened in the semifinal, but Finland decided to sleepwalk through the tourney and ruined everything.But the point is: it shouldn't have been up to the Finns to make it happen. North America did what it could, playing three entertaining games and winning two, but if this format doesn't return, if the select teams are one-and-done, the World Cup will be remembered more for what could have been: Canada versus The Kids.We saw - and were delighted - by North America versus Sweden. Now imagine 3-on-3 overtime against the Canadians.In the end, even a pre-tournament game would've done.Hate: HatersSean O'Leary: The World Cup was nitpicked and criticized consistently leading up to its return, and the negativity didn't stop once the tournament began.The format, uniforms, and even the participating teams caught flak, but above all else, the first best-on-best competition in more than two years was criticized as being a "cash grab."Well, in case you're just learning, the entire premise of pro sports is to generate revenue, so bashing a league for experimenting with a refurbished idea is hardly a worthwhile argument.A Canada-Europe final is a little anticlimactic, sure, and omitting the quarterfinal round can be called a mistake, but this tournament captivated all of us at some point, one way or another. So unless you'd rather tune into a preseason game, quit complaining.Love: Sid the GodJustin Cuthbert: It doesn't matter where you stand on Sid; the NHL is far better off when the best player on the planet is performing like it.Returning from a season where he went from lost to reliving championship glory, Sidney Crosby has sustained his momentum, displaying the unmatched quality from last season's title run at the NHL's curtain-raising international competition.From the pre-tournament to the best-of-three final, he's been spectacular, and largely responsible for bringing Canada to within a win of another major title - and another trophy exchange with Gary Bettman.Crosby has three goals and a World Cup-leading nine points, centering easily the tournament's most dominant line, a unit that's accounted for 45 percent of Canada's total offense.We all took the time to revel in the future at this World Cup. Just don't forget to enjoy the present.Hate: September painJosh Gold-Smith: We hated seeing the many injuries sustained at the tournament, particularly the ones suffered by impact players.Tyler Seguin broke his foot; Aaron Ekblad got either a concussion or a stiff neck, depending who you ask; Matt Murray broke his hand; Marian Gaborik is going to need two months to recover from a foot injury.Calgary Flames forward Mikael Backlund was also diagnosed with a concussion, while three of the four Dallas Stars players selected to World Cup rosters sustained some sort of ailment.Injuries are inevitable, and there's really no better time to hold the tourney, but NHL clubs have to be thrilled it's nearing an end.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

David Poile may or may not have clinched the General Manager of the Year award before the season began, but several concerns could jeopardize what many expect to be another relatively successful campaign.The Nashville Predators' GM pulled off an indisputable heist in late June, landing 2013 Norris Trophy-winner P.K. Subban from the Montreal Canadiens for Shea Weber, but how Poile's prized acquisition fits in Nashville is only one one of the factors that will help determine whether the club takes the next step.The Predators advanced to the second round of the playoffs last spring before being eliminated by the San Jose Sharks, but they've never qualified for the conference final in their 18-year history.Here are three significant subplots for the Predators heading into the 2016-17 season:Will Subban get them over the hump?The analytics community certainly believes he'll make them better, given his superiority over Weber in many categories including puck possession, shot suppression, shot generation, playmaking, and point production.Subban is younger than Weber, more mobile, and - even with a $9-million annual cap hit for the next six years - much more affordable.There's a perception that he takes too many risks, but the numbers don't lie. Subban is a significant upgrade and should stabilize the Predators' top defensive pairing alongside Roman Josi for the foreseeable future.Is Rinne regressing?This should be a bigger concern.Pekka Rinne's workload last season (66 regular-season games and a career-high 14 playoff contests) was his largest in nine campaigns with the Predators, and it showed.The 33-year-old posted a 2.48 GAA and a .908 save percentage, while looking at times like a league-average goaltender.Head coach Peter Laviolette can't always afford to limit Rinne's workload, because his backup options - Marek Mazanec and Juuse Saros - are less experienced, and that's on Poile.Rinne played for Finland in the World Cup of Hockey, and he turns 34 in early November. That doesn't bode well for a potential bounce-back season, but Roberto Luongo is still effective at age 37, so it's not unprecedented.Can Johansen flourish in his 1st full season down south?Ryan Johansen's production improved after his midseason trade from Columbus to Nashville in January, but even over the full campaign, his goal-scoring decreased dramatically compared to his two previous seasons.Johansen posted eight goals and 34 points in 42 games with the Predators, and while he notched 60 points combined in 2015-16, he scored only 14 times.The 24-year-old winger can score in bunches, collecting 59 goals in a two-year span with the Blue Jackets. If Nashville is going to take another step forward, the Predators need Johansen to produce at his previous clip..Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

His camp hasn't issued a press release, and no formal announcement has been made, but restricted free agent Tobias Rieder looks to be taking the Jacob Trouba route.Rieder's agent, Darren Ferris, wrote in an email to Arizonasports.com's Craig Morgan that a trade from the Arizona Coyotes seems like the only way his client's contract impasse could be resolved."I think it would be best for both parties if they just traded him. He is really disappointed with them," Ferris stated.Rieder, currently representing Team Europe at the World Cup of Hockey, is reportedly seeking a two-year contract worth a total of $5 million. Coyotes general manager John Chayka and his staff are reportedly unwilling to go beyond $2.2 million annually."It's unfortunate that a good kid gets treated this way," Ferris added. "He never balked at the defensive role they made him play, and they don't seem to value the intangibles he brings to the team."When contacted, Chayka told Morgan that Rieder will not be dealt.The 23-year-old scored 14 goals and 37 points, appearing in all 82 games last season.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Nick Schultz is expected to miss the next four-to-seven days of training camp.The 34-year-old will be sidelined after suffering a lower-body injury in Tuesday's preseason game against the New York Islanders, general manager Ron Hextall confirmed on Wednesday.The injury shouldn't keep Schultz out of any regular-season games, with the team not opening the season until Oct. 14 against the Los Angeles Kings.Schultz played in all but one game for the Flyers last season, contributing one goals and 10 points from the back end.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Winnipeg Jets' search to find a suitable trade partner for Jacob Trouba appears to be on.The team is reportedly seeking a young left-shot defenseman in exchange for the 22-year-old, but while the market appears to be thin, at least one suitor had serious interest this offseason.TSN's Darren Dreger joined TSN 1200 radio on Wednesday where he noted the Detroit Red Wings made an offer for Trouba in the summer that ultimately failed to pan out."I know that Cheveldayoff received several offers during the summer. I know that one came from Detroit," said Dreger. "I'm told that it involved two of their higher-level forwards, and Holland wasn't willing or able to stomach that. As much as the Detroit Red Wings need defense, they can't move out multiple pieces of scoring, otherwise they fill one hole and dig another."But none of the offers that were made on Trouba were obviously good enough, or we wouldn't be having this conversation. Perhaps he'd be on to greener pastures, from his mindset."In the meantime Trouba will not be attending Jets training camp as he awaits a trade out of Winnipeg.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It's not an excuse, but an explanation.Russian forward Alex Ovechkin joined his teammates at NHL training camp after the World Cup, and offered up his rationale for the United States and Finland going winless at the best-on-best international tournament."If it was during the year like Olympic Games, I don't think U.S. would lose, I don't think Finland would lose," Ovechkin said, according to Stephen Whyno of The Associated Press.The NHL has participated in the Olympics since 1998, with the tournament taking place during the season, resulting in a two-week shutdown. Players are obviously in a different place with respect to their fitness at that point, compared to early September, when training camps begin after a summer off.Ovechkin had a goal and two assists in four World Cup games, as Russia lost in the semifinal to Canada.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Alex Ovechkin has said he's going to the 2018 Olympics with or without the NHL's involvement. It appears he's got a few guys who'll be joining him.

Aaron Ekblad has been cleared by Florida Panthers' medical personnel after suffering an injury at the World Cup of Hockey, TSN's Darren Dreger reports.Ekblad left the tournament after being hurt on a big hit by Finland's Leo Komarov.The ailment was initially reported as a "mild concussion," before being classified by TSN's Bob McKenzie's sources as a stiff neck.The 20-year-old was reportedly considered day to day.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

By God, that's Auston Matthews' music.The No. 1 overall pick in June's draft punctuated his first career NHL practice by shattering a pane of glass Wednesday.Matthews did the damage on a one-timer set up by Mitch Marner.Here's the aftermath:

To see a list of all transactions throughout the summer, visit theScore's NHL Offseason Tracker.Free-agent defenseman Dennis Seidenberg signed with the New York Islanders and will join the team after the World Cup, the team confirmed on Wednesday.The contract is a one-year deal worth $1 million, according to Newsday's Arthur Staple.The 35-year-old German had the final two years of his contract bought out by the Boston Bruins in June. He's representing Team Europe in the World Cup finals.Seidenberg suited up in 61 contests in Boston last season, scoring one goal and adding 11 assists.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Kyle Quincey has found a new NHL home.The veteran defenseman agreed to a one-year, $1.25-million contract with the New Jersey Devils, the club announced Wednesday.Quincey recorded 11 points in 47 games for the Detroit Red Wings last season.The 31-year-old's previous deal carried a cap hit of $4.25 million.He was drafted by the Red Wings in 2003 and spent parts of three seasons with Detroit, then returned for parts of five more after stints with the Los Angeles Kings and Colorado Avalanche.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Jared Cowen's grievance hearing against the Toronto Maple Leafs concerning his buyout will take place Oct. 19, TSN's Bob McKenzie reports.Cowen was recovering from hip surgery when the team bought out his contract in June, which his representatives are using as leverage in the hearing.The 25-year-old blue-liner was acquired by the Maple Leafs in the trade that sent former captain Dion Phaneuf to Ottawa. Cowen played 37 games for the Senators last season before the deal, recording four assists.The hearing bears huge significance for Cowen. If he wins, he receives his $4.5-million salary this season, but will only make $750,000 this season and next if he loses, reports McKenzie.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

theScore is previewing each team leading up to the 2016-17 season.The San Jose Sharks fell two wins shy of the Stanley Cup last season, and they'll ice nearly the exact same roster this season with the goal of taking that final step.Boasting a star-studded lineup, the Sharks should be in the thick of things in the Western Conference once again.Here's a look at their projected depth chart for 2016-17:ForwardsLWCRWTomas HertlJoe PavelskiJoe ThorntonPatrick MarleauLogan CoutureJoonas DonskoiMikkel BoedkerChris TierneyJoel WardMatt NietoTommy WingelsMelker Karlsson

Johnny Gaudreau's World Cup is over, and he's still without a contract. It doesn't appear one is on the horizon, either.TSN's Bob McKenzie's tweet storm Wednesday included a couple of interesting nuggets about Gaudreau - not officially a restricted free agent but a 10.2(c) player under the CBA - and the Calgary Flames:

Ryan Kesler's World Cup of Hockey experience didn't exactly go to plan.For that matter, the entire USA roster could say the same thing, after being embarrassingly ousted from the competition in a winless three games.Kesler, a two-time Olympian, rightly admits he and his teammates failed to perform to standards, but the 31-year-old had trouble finding extra motivation from the re-born tournament."It was weird," Kesler told Eric Stephens of the OC Register upon arriving at Anaheim Ducks camp. "I thought there would be more of a buzz in Toronto. There wasn't ... It just didn't seem like there was a buzz. If you didn't know what was going on, you wouldn't even know teams were playing. That's the only thing I was really disappointed with."A lack of enthusiasm has widely been a knock on the World Cup thus far, but perhaps playing in a meaningful game could have aided Kesler's disappointment in the surrounding atmosphere.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Andrew Shaw will have yet another conversation with the league office.The Montreal Canadiens forward has a hearing scheduled for Thursday with the NHL's Department of Player Safety following his hit on Washington Capitals prospect Connor Hobbs on Wednesday night.Shaw was ejected from the preseason contest after driving Hobbs into the boards behind the Capitals' net late in the second period.The Canadiens pest then fought Nathan Walker while encouraging Montreal fans to cheer for his efforts.Shaw was handed 30 penalty minutes for his actions.Player Safety senior vice-president Stephane Quintal told Le Journal de Montreal's Jonathan Bernier on Tuesday night that he'd seen the hit and didn't like it.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Know your history, kids. Never give up on a play, and always keep your stick on the ice.It was 1972. The Cold War era. Canada against the Soviet Union in the Summit Series - the first time the Soviet national team had faced Canadians from the NHL.Eight games - the first four in Canada, the final four in Moscow.Canada won only once on home soil, and was booed off the ice in Vancouver after a 5-3 loss in Game 4. Phil Esposito couldn't believe it:It got worse. Canada was up 3-0 after two periods in Game 5, and 4-1 at one point in the third. Yet the Soviets won 5-4, putting Canada in a seemingly insurmountable 1-3-1 hole. The Canucks had to win out.Canada won Games 6 and 7 by a goal apiece. In Game 8, Canada trailed 5-3 after 40 minutes, but tied the game, and with under a minute to play, Paul Henderson did the damn thing.

Wayne Gretzky was introduced as the official ambassador for the NHL's Centennial Celebration Tuesday, and while speaking with reporters, he recalled a hilarious story about the time he and his son decided to go to the Hockey Hall of Fame incognito.The two tried out one of the interactive games, and, after missing his first three shots, Gretzky was approached by an employee who wanted to offer him some advice."The young man who was taking care of the line walked over to me and said, 'Sir, if you move your hand down the stick a little bit farther,'" Gretzky said. "And I lifted my hat up and I said, 'Go get me one of those pucks that are in there, there are 802 of them.'”Imagine the embarrassment after learning you just tried to give shooting tips to the Great One.(Video courtesy: NHL.com)Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Despite coming up just short of their goal last season, the San Jose Sharks finally made a playoff breakthrough, advancing past the Western Conference Final for the first time in franchise history.With nearly the same roster in tact, the Sharks are presumed to be contenders once again, and last season's experience could bode well for a team in win-now mode.They know they can get there, but whether they can do it again remains to be seen.Here are three questions facing San Jose entering the 2016-17 campaign:Are they even better?Last season, the Sharks managed 98 points, good for third in the Pacific Division, and with the Calgary Flames and Edmonton Oilers set to improve, the path to the playoffs could be a bit tougher this season.Thankfully, a shrewd offseason from general manager Doug Wilson added useful pieces while the core remained in tact.Mikkel Boedker, who scored 51 points last season split between the Coyotes and Avalanche, was the team's big addition up front, while possession-positive blue-liner David Schlemko replaced Roman Polak on a strong defensive unit.The Sharks, who scored the fourth most goals in the NHL last season (237), did so with only 52 games from playoff hero Logan Couture. If they can stay healthy, this will be one dangerous club.Will impending UFA's have a lingering impact? Joe Thornton, Patrick Marleau, and Brent Burns are unrestricted free agents once this season expires, and whether the campaign is a success or a failure, the future of such important players will be a storyline for the team all season long.Burns, 31, is the only one of the three that is likely to earn a raise, while Thornton and Marleau remain question marks. Age, productivity, and personal reasons will all play a role in the future of the franchise cornerstones once July hits.Can they get off to a better start?Halfway through last season, the Sharks were on the wrong side of the playoff cut line.Through 38 games, San Jose was 18-18-2 under new head coach Peter DeBoer, but surged to a 28-12-4 mark to close out the season.Coming off a deep playoff run, and with seven representatives at the World Cup of Hockey, the Sharks endured a shortened summer. With high expectations, a strong start to the fresh campaign is imperative to building momentum on another march to the postseason.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Three long weeks.Is that the amount of time it takes before the mind begins to wander?Canada beat Team Europe 3-1 in Game 1 of the World Cup of Hockey's best-of-three final Tuesday at Air Canada Centre, moving to within a win of claiming its third straight triumph in best-on-best international competition.But while the end result was just the same - a 15th consecutive victory in the Olympics or World Cup for the hockey juggernaut - this wasn't the bulletproof performance we have become accustomed to seeing.This much, each player and coach would admit."We needed more guys on deck than we had tonight."Those were coach Mike Babcock's simplistic terms, and though they certainly ring true, his words don't offer an explanation for the short strides, stick checks, inaccurate passes, and winding circles in lieu of full stops that we saw through large stretches of the game.Canada suffered from overall disjointedness, and its effort was only neutralized by the resolute sharpness of Carey Price, who made 32 stops and held his team in long enough for Sidney Crosby's line to burst through, and be the difference in a second straight game.So what changed? Did Ralph Krueger make the adjustments that have eluded nations over the last several tournaments? Or did three weeks on the road, in different rinks and in hotels, and as distractions mount at home with NHL training camps well underway, cause the Canadians to lose their focus?"I don't think anyone's really concerned about what's going on back home, and with our own teams," Brad Marchand told theScore. "We're all concerned about being here right now."Perhaps asking the player who successfully negotiated a $49-million contract, and devoted the next eight years of his life to an organization while emerging as a star for Hockey Canada, wasn't the right person to ask about distraction.Alex Pietrangelo, who last month was named captain of the St. Louis Blues, admitted that he's had to switch gears throughout, but like his teammate, it hasn't come at the expense of his preparation."I'd be lying if I said that we weren't thinking about what we have to do in the coming week, but we know what we have to do on game days," he said."We are focused here when we are at the rink. Our sole focus has been on this tournament. I've been pretty impressed with the focus the guys have had throughout."Of course, the players were never going to willingly admit their performances were being affected by matters unrelated to the task at hand. Because despite the mismatched final, and the momentum it has zapped from this World Cup, this remains a major international tournament, and it's Canada's responsibility to deliver.But on Thursday, if they infiltrate the seal-tight neutral zone Pietrangelo said frustrated the Canadian attack, clean up their execution, and end up blowing the doors off Team Europe in Game 2, and in turn can return home and sort out their lives before embarking on the grueling season ahead - well, we just might get our answer.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Nathan Lieuwen turned many heads with his save on Tuesday, except for his own.The Colorado Avalanche netminder made the save of the season - or as of now, the preseason - snaring a Jason Pominville redirection with his back turned to the puck.

Canada has drawn first blood in the World Cup of Hockey final, thanks in large part to the continued dominance of the host nation's top line.On a night where Canada looked rather sluggish for long portions of play, and with Europe putting forth an effort worthy of an upset, the unit of Sidney Crosby, Patrice Bergeron, and Brad Marchand combined for two of the team's three goals, providing enough offense to pull off the 3-1 win.Europe was presented with a chance to open the scoring when Marchand took a penalty 21 seconds into the game. Unable to score on the man advantage, the Europeans watched as Bergeron set up Marchand only 12 seconds after his departure from the penalty box.Later in the opening frame, Steven Stamkos scored his first goal of the tournament to give Canada a 2-0 lead.It was Europe, however, that held a 13-9 shot advantage after 20 minutes.The Europeans were deservedly rewarded for their hard work with a goal from Tomas Tatar - his third in two games - at the seven-minute mark of the second period.Playing with a one-goal lead, Canada took the shot advantage back after 40 minutes of play (26-24), but Europe continued to generate chances, highlighted by a rare shorthanded breakaway opportunity by defenseman Andrej Sekera late in the second period.With Europe looking for the tying marker in the third, Canada's top line got the job done again - this time Bergeron beat Jaroslav Halak with a wrist shot off a feed from Crosby.Canada finished the game with the advantage in shots (38-33) and possession, but it clearly wasn't the dominant performance expected from the heavy favorites.Canada now has a chance to hoist the World Cup trophy with a win in Game 2 on Thursday, but the Europeans at least proved they can hang in and perhaps can push the final to the limit, and earn a deciding third game.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Andrew Shaw made quite a first impression with his new club Tuesday night.The Montreal Canadiens forward was ejected from the club's preseason tilt against the Washington Capitals after hammering defenseman Connor Hobbs with a devastating hit from behind.Shaw dropped the gloves with forward Nathan Walker following the hit, doing his best to get the home crowd into it by egging fans on mid-fight.Shaw was handed 30 minutes worth of penalties on the play, including a game misconduct.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Las Vegas club is hoping that practice makes perfect.The team's management, including their entire pro scouting staff, will hold a mock expansion draft on Oct. 7 and 8 internally as they prepare for the real deal slated to take place next June, ESPN's Pierre LeBrun reported on TSN's Insider Trading segment on Tuesday.According to LeBrun, the club is hoping to make the expansion draft a regular occurrence, hosting one each month up until the real thing.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.