The Calgary Flames have signed veteran defenseman Nicklas Grossmann to a professional tryout offer, reports Sportsnet's Roger Millions.Standing 6-foot-4 and 230 pounds, Grossmann could add more size to Calgary's blue line. The 31-year-old also has 589 games of NHL experience, scoring 86 points over that time.He spent last season with the Arizona Coyotes after previous stops in Philadelphia and Dallas.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Anders Lindback has joined the New Jersey Devils on a professional tryout, reports Expressen's Henrik Sjoberg.The goaltender spent last season with the Arizona Coyotes, posting a 5-7-1 record with a .894 save percentage in 19 appearances. An Achilles injury forced him to miss the last three months of the season.Lindback has had stints in Nashville, Tampa Bay, Dallas, Buffalo, and Arizona since making his NHL debut in 2010.With the Devils, he'll battle Keith Kinkaid for the backup role behind Cory Schneider.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

After moonlighting as an analyst for NBC's Stanley Cup Playoffs coverage, theScore asked New Jersey Devils goaltender Cory Schneider to put on his analyst cap again at media day for the World Cup of Hockey.theScore: You received rave reviews for your work with NBC during the playoffs last spring. Were you as comfortable as you looked in front of the camera?Schneider: Thanks (laughs). Once it got going, yeah. You have to forget that you're on camera and just sort of have a discussion. Everyone there made it really easy on me. They didn't put too much on my plate, didn't have me try to do too much. They just said "Hey, chime in when you have an opinion and feel comfortable, and just say it. Don't be intimidated." They were actually very, very friendly and easy to work with, so that helped a lot too.theScore: We'll let you play analyst again here. You saw Taylor Hall a lot in your time with Vancouver. What makes him such a dangerous attacking player?Schneider: It starts with his speed. When he comes up the ice with the puck with a head of steam he backs defenders off. It's as simple as that. He plays the game with one gear, and the game is obviously trending that way. You look at Pittsburgh, you look at San Jose, the Tampa Bay Lightning - they are fast teams that can get up and down the ice. We have good players and a good system here in New Jersey, but I think he'll add a different element for our team that we didn't have before.theScore: On the other side of the coin, what should Edmonton fans expect in Adam Larsson?Schneider: He's a great person first of all. He's a really good kid. He worked hard. He wasn't given anything for being a top pick. He wasn't gifted ice time. He had to work his way onto the team, and he did. He really enjoys the nitty-gritty things that some guys don't like to do. He likes blocking shots. He likes getting physical in front of the net, winning puck battles. He really embraces that part of the game. And I think with Edmonton his offense could flourish a bit. I know people point to his scoring numbers and say, "Oh, he doesn't create offense," but that wasn't what he was asked to do in New Jersey. I think with the high-end skill Edmonton has that he'll be able to put some points up.theScore: Criminally underrated is almost a blanket theme in Jersey. After one season with Jon Hynes in charge, are you willing to put him under that sort of distinction?Schneider: There are a lot of underrated guys in New Jersey, just because we don't get a lot of attention there. We had a good year. It wasn't quite the year we wanted, but with where people were expecting us to finish, we exceeded a lot of those expectations. But the goal is to set our own expectations and meet those. We're not basing our success or growth on what other people think. Coach Hynes set the tone from day one. He said, "Hey, I know what people are expecting, but this is what we expect inside this room." We had a good step last year, we have to take that next step this year, and hopefully with guys like Taylor Hall and coach Hynes having a year under his belt - we'll see some growth from him as well - hopefully we can do that.theScore: With yourself, Jonathan Quick, and Ben BIshop, three of the best goaltenders on the planet are in one dressing room. What sort of information is shared between the three of you?Schneider: We keep it pretty light. Bish is an easy-going guy, and Quickie is quiet but he likes to joke around and get a few cracks in. We haven't talked too much about the hockey side of it. We're just trying to get along, and (perform) for our team. But it is fun sitting there and seeing how they go about their business. We all have a lot of respect for each other, and we all play against each other quite a bit. We're familiar with each other's set-up, but it's fun to get a look at the elite goalies and see what they do that makes them so good.(Note: Interview was condensed and edited for clarity.)Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Andrew Ference's time in the NHL may be over.The 37-year-old was limited to just six games last season and hasn't seen game action since Nov. 27. He suffered micro-fractures in his right hip and while he can swim and bike, he understands where his condition leaves him."What is the terminology? I have a career-ending injury," Ference said, according to Jim Matheson of the Edmonton Sun. "That's the way I'm looking at it."While the news appears to be devastating, Ference admits he has come to grips with his situation and has no regrets."I got 16 years. I don't feel I missed out," said Ference. "The people close to me walk on egg-shells until I tell them it's OK. I told my wife it's like graduating from high school. You go to high school, have a blast, have all these great parties but by the time you get to the end of high school, you say, 'All right, I'm ready for the next step.' You have fond memories. If I hadn't won a Stanley Cup (2011 in Boston), that would be tough to swallow now."The Edmonton Oilers defenseman says he can't even jog, which highlights his current condition. Going forward he expects team doctors will give him the news that it's over."I'm trying to introduce more weight-bearing with the gym to work on my (range of) motion but I'm not even jogging ... that obviously comes before skating," said Ference.Ference was the last Oiler to don the "C," before having the title removed last season. Going forward he feels it's a no-brainer that Connor McDavid will be his successor."Absolutely," said Ference. "No doubt about it."He's so mature and who he is is who he is. He's not faking it."I don't care how old a guy is, if you have those qualities, you're ready, 100 per cent."If Ference does indeed call it a career, he will finish with 43 goals and 225 points in 907 games, not to mention a Stanley Cup which he captured as a member of the Boston Bruins in 2011.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Alex Ovechkin is planning to be in Pyeongchang, South Korea in February 2018.The Washington Capitals and Russian superstar wants to play in the Olympics:

Four months after helping his country repeat as world champions, Matt Duchene is back representing Canada in international competition. We caught up with the talented Colorado Avalanche forward at media day for the World Cup of Hockey.theScore: You live and train in cottage country over the summer. We've all seen footage of you shooting pucks with the bug hat. Have you made additions to your on-site training methods at the Duchene residence?Duchene: Yeah, that video's old. It was at my parent's house. I've since built a cottage and I have a similar shooting range up there as well, and my gym right there. I've got a great setup, and everything I need to get better throughout the summer.theScore: Your fiancee is American. Have you sold her on the merits of cottage-country living in Canada?Duchene: Oh, she loves it, yeah. It was hard to get her out of Haliburton this summer. As much as I was excited for this, we had such an amazing summer, and when it came to an end - it's always tough to turn the switch. But once you flip it back on toward hockey, you don't even think about it. Maybe after this tournament I will get a day or two to go back up and enjoy it for a little bit. It was a great summer, though, and we got out of it what we needed to.theScore: There's widespread debate in Canada over why this player is selected, why this player isn't. You've become somewhat of a mainstay for Hockey Canada. What do they covet in you?Duchene: I'm not sure. I try to bring speed and skill. I try to do everything at a fast pace. I think I have shown that I can play a 200-foot game and be trusted at the last Olympics and the (World Championship). This past year I played in all situations. That's very important. (Hockey Canada) doesn't take guys that play one way or aren't detail-oriented. It's what I've tried to focus on, combining that and my God-given ability.theScore: You met a goal of reaching the 30-goal plateau last season. Have you set a new benchmark for yourself?Duchene: I've learned that it's dangerous to set number-oriented goals. I would love to produce another 30-goal year. I think I am very capable of that. But I don't want to set goals like that. At the end of the day, the biggest thing is doing whatever I can to help my team win and get back into the playoffs. That's the most important thing.theScore: There's a new boss in Colorado. Have you spoken to Jared Bednar, and if so, what was your first impression?Duchene: We talked for about a half hour before I came up here. We had a really good talk. He's a really nice guy, and I think he's going to be great for a our team.(Note: Interview was condensed and edited for clarity.)Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Buffalo Sabres defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen isn't losing sleep over his current contract situation.The 21-year-old - who is currently manning Finland's blue line at the World Cup - is coming off his entry-level deal with the Sabres, but remains without a new contract as the new season approaches."It doesn't bother me at all. I don't worry about it," Ristolainen said, according to Mike Harrington of the Buffalo News. "I'm 100 percent here for Team Finland. Then let's see what happens with Buffalo after the tournament. I've never been in this situation before so I really don't know how long it takes or how the contract things work."While Ristolainen remains confident that a deal will be made before the season starts, he admits he's not pleased that things have dragged out so long."It doesn't bother me, but on the other hand I'm not happy it's this long too," said Ristolainen. "I still trust that we will make that contract happen. I like Buffalo. I want to be there as long as I can and I feel they feel the same way about me. I trust it's going to be taken care of."The 2013 first-round pick is coming off a career year that saw him pace all Sabres defensemen with nine goals and 41 points in 82 games.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Daniel Alfredsson is set to become a man with two countries.The Sweden native, and former Ottawa Senators captain, will officially become a Canadian citizen during a special ceremony at the Scotiabank World Cup of Hockey Fan Village in Toronto as part of the World Cup, along with 102 other new citizens, the Senators announced.Alfredsson played 17 seasons with the Senators and currently serves as a senior advisor of hockey operations with the club.Last month, the Senators announced that the team would raise Alfredsson's No. 11 to the rafters ahead of a game against the Detroit Red Wings on Dec. 29.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 Chicago Blackhawks have preserved the core that delivered three Stanley Cup wins in seven years. The challenge once again is fitting it under the salary cap by filling out the roster with cheap, young, and effective depth.Here's what the Blackhawks' lineup looks like going into the 2016-17 season:ForwardsLWCRWArtemi PanarinArtem AnisimovPatrick KaneRichard PanikJonathan ToewsMarian HossaAndrew DesjardinsMarcus KrugerRyan HartmanBrandon MashinterDennis RasmussenJordin Tootoo

theScore is previewing each team leading up to the 2016-17 season.The Chicago Blackhawks have captured three Stanley Cups since 2010, and much of that winning core remains intact. We've outlined three questions facing the Blackhawks as they pursue another championship in 2016-17.Can Panarin repeat last year's dominant performance?Artemi Panarin entered the NHL last season as a widely unknown quantity, only to ride shotgun to Patrick Kane en route to winning Rookie of the Year honors.Panarin finished the year with 77 points, second to only Kane in team scoring. This year, he'll be a marked man, making an encore performance more difficult.Unlike most rookies, who are often teenagers, Panarin began his NHL career at age 24, with several years of KHL experience easing his transition to the NHL ranks. With that in mind, is it possible he's already reached his ceiling?Panarin will look to prove he's still got room to grow as he tries to fill the scoring gap left by the offseason departures of Andrew Shaw and Teuvo Teravainen, as well as deadline acquisition Andrew Ladd, who tallied 12 points in 19 games with the Blackhawks last season.Where's the secondary scoring?We know about Panarin, Kane, and captain Jonathan Toews, but aside from those three, does this team have enough firepower?Two of the next four highest-scoring forwards (Teravainen and Shaw) are no longer with the team. Next up is center Artem Anisimov, who finished sixth in team scoring with 42 points, and then veteran winger Marian Hossa, who had his worst showing since his rookie campaign, finishing with just 33 points.The Blackhawks have a number of up-and-coming forwards who can provide offensive support - namely Ryan Hartman, Nick Schmaltz, and Mark McNeill - but it's unclear how soon that production will come. Putting their scoring hopes on the backs of rookies is risky business.Is there enough defensive depth?Much like the Hawks' forward group, their blue line is top-heavy, with defensive stalwarts in Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook, and an ideal second-pairing defender in Niklas Hjalmarsson. The rest of the group leaves a lot to be desired.Head coach Joel Quenneville shuffled his bottom pairing last season, struggling to find the right fit. Eleven defensemen saw time on the Blackhawks' blue line in 2015-16.The team brought back former Hawks defenseman Brian Campbell, 37, who spent the last five seasons with the Florida Panthers. While it'd be unrealistic to expect the same production Campbell provided the Blackhawks in his first tenure, he'll solidify the team's top four, after leading all Panthers in ice time last season (22:16 minutes per game).Trevor van Riemsdyk and Michal Kempny are the likely favorites to fill out the bottom pairing. Van Riemsdyk appeared in all 82 games last season, while Kempny joins the team as a free agent, after spending last season with Omsk of the KHL, leading the team's blue-liners with 21 points.The Hawks also re-signed experienced defenseman Michal Rozsival, who, when healthy, provides veteran support on the back end.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Sidney Crosby would like a word with Evgeni Malkin.The Penguins superstars faced off against one another Wednesday in Pittsburgh in World Cup exhibition action, as Canada beat Russia 3-2 in overtime to close pre-tournament play.A smiling Crosby talked about splitting 10 faceoffs with Malkin, a few months after Crosby's World Cup teammate and San Jose Sharks forward Logan Couture called out No. 87 for illegal tactics on the draw."Check the replay on a couple," Crosby jokingly said, according to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review's Bill West. "(Malkin) was sideways on a couple. I don't know who he learned that from."He was really good there tonight," Crosby added seriously. "A lot of them, he was beating me a lot on his forehand. I have to look at that and make sure I improve."Both centers finished at 47 percent on the draw Wednesday.Canada opens its World Cup on Saturday against the Czech Republic. Russia's tournament begins Sunday against Finland.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NHL is overhauling its concussion monitoring system.Deputy commissioner Bill Daly said the league will have four concussion spotters watching all games from a centralized location in either Toronto or New York, as well as spotters at each game to check for visible symptoms. Those spotters will have the authority to have players removed from games.''It's a pretty major revamp from what it was last year,'' Daly said Wednesday. ''We're going to have both those (remote and on-site) spotters, plus you have the clubs' medical staffs. We're just building in reinforcements, really, to make the system work better.''Previously, there had been team-affiliated concussion spotters in each arena and they could recommend to medical staffs but not require players be removed from a game.Daly said the new concussion policy goes into effect for the eight-team World Cup of Hockey, which begins Saturday in Toronto, and that the NHL will release more details closer to the start of the regular season.''Players get removed for visible signs, and that'll be mandatory removal and that'll be done at the league level,'' Daly said.Daly said the concussion spotters will work out of the department of player safety and report to the chief medical consultant and lawyer Julie Grand.The NHL is in the midst of a concussion lawsuit filed by former players alleging that it had the resources to better prevent head trauma, failed to properly warn players of such risks and promoted violent play that led to their injuries.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The 2018 Pyeongchang Olympics lurk in the distance, but negotiations between the NHL and International Olympic Committee remain quiet.Commissioner Gary Bettman publicly stated in August that the Olympics are on the league's back burner, and deputy commissioner Bill Daly backed that claim Wednesday, saying talks between all parties have fallen "radio silent" over the past months, according to Stephen Whyno of The Associated Press.The NHL, NHLPA, IOC, and IIHF all have to be on the same page in order for negotiations to succeed.Daly, Bettman, and Co. have their hands full with international play at the moment, with the World Cup of Hockey set to officially begin Saturday.Though the possibility of NHLers traveling to the Olympics may seem bleak at this point, Bettman has said discussions will pick up in the winter.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

NHL goalies will wear form-fitting, streamlined pants this season, reports TSN's Bob McKenzie.Further changes, particularly to the chest protector and upper body protection, have been delayed, but could be introduced mid-season.In August, NHL commissioner Gary Bettman deemed the changes "a work in progress." Initially, the league hoped to introduce all of the equipment changes at the World Cup.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Surprise, surprise.The past two Stanley Cup champions - namely the Pittsburgh Penguins and Chicago Blackhawks - have emerged as early favorites to win it all again in 2017.The Tampa Bay Lightning and Washington Capitals aren't far behind, with the Dallas Stars tabbed as the next best bet to come out of the Western Conference.Here's a look at where all 30 teams sit:TeamOddsChicago Blackhawks9/1Pittsburgh Penguins9/1Tampa Bay Lightning10/1Washington Capitals10/1Dallas Stars12/1St. Louis Blues14/1San Jose Sharks14/1Anaheim Ducks16/1Florida Panthers16/1Los Angeles Kings16/1Nashville Predators16/1Boston Bruins25/1Detroit Red Wings25/1Minnesota Wild18/1Montreal Canadiens25/1New York Islanders25/1New York Rangers25/1Edmonton Oilers33/1Philadelphia Flyers33/1Buffalo Sabres50/1Calgary Flames50/1Colorado Avalanche50/1New Jersey Devils50/1Ottawa Senators50/1Toronto Maple Leafs50/1Winnipeg Jets50/1Arizona Coyotes66/1Carolina Hurricanes66/1Columbus Blue Jackets66/1Vancouver Canucks66/1(Courtesy: Bodog)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.With essentially an entire roster returning after the most successful regular season in franchise history, Brian MacLellan didn't have the need, let alone the wiggle room, to bring widespread change to the Washington Capitals.But with forward depth being an issue in the postseason, the Capitals are to return in 2016-17 with added support for arguably the most talented top six in the league, and not a single excuse.Here's how the Capitals stack up with the additions of Lars Eller, acquired from the Montreal Canadiens for two draft picks, as well as free agent Brett Connolly via free agency.ForwardsLWCRWAlex OvechkinNicklas BackstromT.J. OshieMarcus JohanssonEvgeny KuznetsovJustin WilliamsAndre BurakovskyLars EllerDaniel WinnikBrett ConnollyJay BeagleTom Wilson

Mike Babcock has shed some light on an ankle injury that forced Tyler Seguin out of the World Cup, saying the Canadian forward may have left the coaching staff somewhat in the dark."(Seguin) said to us, 'You know I haven't been very truthful'," Babcock told reporters, per Scott Burnside of ESPN.Babcock added Seguin tried to play through the injury - initially reported to be a knee issue - but it was not improving, hence the decision to pull out of the tournament and focus on being ready for the start of the NHL regular season."It's the same; the guys don't tell you," Babcock said to gathered media members. "Why would they tell you? They want to go. They think they're going to get better and they're going to push through it, and he tried to push through it. But he said even yesterday, when he started pushing through it, it started heating up right away. Now I don't know what that means in medical terms but I know in coaching terms you're not doing very good."Seguin said Tuesday he was upset that about not being able to play, but that he understands the situation Team Canada is in with a short tournament, thereby calling upon Ryan O'Reilly to replace him.The Dallas Stars center is expected to be off skates for 7-to-10 days.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Nathan Beaulieu is sticking up for his captain.The Montreal Canadiens defenseman backed teammate Max Pacioretty on Tuesday night, claiming the rest of the team disagrees with a comment head coach Michel Therrien reportedly made at a recent golf tournament.During a radio segment Monday, Montreal-based host Michel Villeneuve claimed Therrien called Pacioretty the worst captain in franchise history.Pacioretty was named as the Canadiens' captain following a vote by his teammates in September 2015.The 27-year-old played all 82 games for Montreal last season, authoring his third straight 30-goal season while leading the club in goals, points, and game-winning markers.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.It was all very on brand.The Washington Capitals were the NHL's premier regular-season team last year, running away with the Presidents' Trophy and winning more games in a single campaign than ever before. But true to their form in the post-lockout era, the Capitals crashed out prematurely in the postseason, losing in the second round to the Pittsburgh Penguins.With the same group back for another run, what will they do for an encore?Here are three questions facing the Capitals:Can they stay focused?For Washington, the summer must have felt unbearable at times. The lights, smells, and sounds that come with opening night will alleviate some feelings of despondency, but in the back of players', coaches', and the entire organization's minds, it's hard to imagine the next seven months offering much satisfaction.It's cliche, but in the absence of postseason success, achieving franchise records, career milestones, and regular season honors will be superfluous in a season with a singular objective.Maintaining focus may prove to be a challenge, with an 82-game schedule to navigate before a crack at retribution, but fortunately for the Capitals, they are talented enough to win, and to dominate, when clicking into cruise control.What will Eller, Connolly bring?After failing to match depth with the Penguins, Capitals general manager Brian MacLellan made it his summer purpose to bolster his bottom six, and didn't lose a single piece from the active roster in accomplishing that.Washington acquired a capable defensive and possession center in Lars Eller from the Montreal Canadiens for two draft picks, then signed free agent Brett Connolly on July 1.With Eller and Connolly, the Capitals hope they've added an offensive dynamic to their bottom six, but neither former first-round draft selection has provided consistent offence at the NHL level. Eller hasn't tallied 30-plus points in a season, while Connolly was overrun by the talented core in Tampa Bay, before showing signs with a career-high 25 points last season in Boston.If the newcomers deliver quality defensive work and possession splits in their third- and fourth-line roles, sporadic production will sufficiently support arguably the most skilled top six in the Eastern Conference.Will they shore up the back?Absolutely loaded up front with an established goalie coming into his prime, the Capitals' most pressing issue lies on defense.One of the team's most skilled defenseman, Russian national Dmitry Orlov, is still unsigned with just $3.4 million - a potentially insufficient amount - in estimated cap space left. And yet, MacLellan's greatest concern might still be the depreciating Brooks Orpik.Orpik, who has no-trade protection, has three years left on his contract at $5.5 million - money that would be more beneficially spent appeasing Orlov.The emergence of Nate Schmidt, and the utility of Taylor Chorney, allowed the Capitals to offset Orpik's 41-game absence and three-game suspension in the playoffs last year. That likely won't be the case should Orlov be squeezed.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

In the wake of Tyler Seguin's injury, Team Canada has named Buffalo Sabres forward Ryan O'Reilly to its World Cup roster, Hockey Canada announced Tuesday.The 25-year-old is coming off one of his most productive NHL seasons, recording 21 goals and 39 assists in 71 games. He's a left-handed, natural center, and won 56.5 per cent of faceoffs in 2015-16.O'Reilly's also won back-to-back gold medals with Team Canada at the IIHF World Championship and earned the Lady Byng trophy in 2014."It's never easy to lose a player to injury, let alone one of Tyler's caliber, but once again, it speaks to the depth of talent in the country to be able to add a Ryan O'Reilly to our team," Team Canada general manager Doug Armstrong said.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Team Canada has lost another star from its lineup, as Dallas Stars forward Tyler Seguin has been ruled out of the World Cup with a reported knee injury.Related: O'Reilly replaces Seguin on Canada's World Cup rosterSeguin joins Jamie Benn, Jeff Carter, and Duncan Keith on the list of Canadian players forced to miss the event."I'm disappointed that I can't represent Team Canada at the World Cup of Hockey," Seguin said. "Any time your country calls, it's a great honor and is something every kid from Canada dreams about getting the chance to do. While I'm upset that I don't get the opportunity to play, I understand the situation Team Canada is in with a short tournament."The injury isn't considered serious, but will require 7-10 days off skates, according to Sportsnet's Nick Kypreos.Seguin missed all but one of Dallas' postseason games in the spring, as he dealt with an Achilles injury.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New Jersey Devils are in no rush to re-sign Patrick Elias, the franchise's all-time leading scorer.The 40-year-old Elias, an unrestricted free agent, continues to recover from offseason surgery after a knee injury limited him to just 16 games last season."We want to make sure we’re on the same page on things, which is he'll continue to skate on his own and we'll kind of see where he is," Devils general manager Ray Shero told Andrew Gross from NorthJersey.com."The conversation we had at the end of the year, he's told me that he wants to play for the Devils. There's no deadline whatsoever. We'll just keep in communication with him and see how he's feeling."Elias has been part of two Stanley Cup championships with the Devils, in 2000 and 2003.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Columbus Blue Jackets have signed forward Mike Brown to a professional tryout offer, according to Sportsnet's Chris Johnston.The 31-year-old split last season between the San Jose Sharks and Montreal Canadiens, recording five points and 100 penalty minutes in 58 games.Drafted in 2004, Brown has also seen stints with the Vancouver Canucks, Anaheim Ducks, Toronto Maple Leafs, and Edmonton Oilers.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Vancouver Canucks are creating some forward competition at training camp.The club has signed James Sheppard and Tuomo Ruutu to professional tryouts, general manager Jim Benning confirmed to Ben Kuzma of Postmedia.Sheppard was drafted ninth overall by Minnesota in 2009. He's appeared in 394 NHL games, recording 23 goals and 68 assists.Ruutu, 33, was selected ninth overall in 2001, and brings 735 games of experience to the table, with 148 goals, 346 points, and 596 penalty minutes to his name.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Scott Darling knows how to party.Or so it seems, based on the Chicago Blackhawks goalie's new mask, which features Wayne, Garth, and Stan Mikita's Donuts from "Wayne's World."

Philadelphia Flyers general manager Ron Hextall seems fine with entering the 2016-17 season with two goalies set to become unrestricted free agents next summer.Both Steve Mason and Michal Neuvirth are entering the final year of their respective deals, and Hextall has yet to come to a decision with regards to their long-term futures with the team."Maybe we sign them both. I can’t predict," he told Dave Isaac of the Courier-Post. "They’re both very good goalies. They both proved it last year. They both should be in their prime/entering their prime. We’re excited about both of them and essentially don’t have a fixed plan moving forward."Here's how the pair stacked up last season:PlayerGamesRecordShotsSave %Steve Mason5423-19-101602.918Michal Neuvirth3218-8-4908.924In the playoffs, Neuvirth's numbers blew Mason's out of the water. In three appearances, the former posted a save percentage of .981, while the latter checked in at .852 in almost identical ice time.Both goalies, it should be noted, enter the new season at 28 years of age.Neuvirth is playing for the Czech Republic at the World Cup, giving Mason the edge in terms of asserting himself early as the Flyers' starter out of training camp. However, it seems both players will get a shot to lay claim to the gig over both the short and long term.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It appears as though Tomas Fleischmann will be at camp on a professional tryout contract (PTO) later this month.Where that camp will be is another question. Eight teams have offered the 32-year-old, unrestricted free agent a PTO, his agent told News 1130 Sports in Vancouver on Tuesday.Fleischmann put up 10 goals and 10 assists in 57 games with the Montreal Canadiens last season, before being shipped to the Chicago Blackhawks ahead of the trade deadline.Following the deal, he managed just four goals and five points in 19 games, before going pointless in four playoff contests.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Alexander Steen is seemingly ahead of schedule in his recovery from offseason shoulder surgery.Expected to be sidelined four-to-six months following the injury announcement back in June - and therefore ruled out of the World Cup - Steen says he could be ready to play when the the St. Louis Blues open a new season against Chicago on Oct. 12.He also seems comfortable heading into 2016-17 as a player set to become an unrestricted free agent next summer.

theScore is previewing each team leading up to the 2016-17 season.The Boston Bruins enter the 2016-17 season having made few offseason moves.The club was ultimately unable to come to terms with second-leading scorer Loui Eriksson, who took his talents back to the Western Conference and the Vancouver Canucks.In his place, the Bruins took what some might deem a gamble, committing five years and $30 million to former St. Louis Blues captain David Backes.The Bruins missed the postseason by a mere three points last season but should push for a playoff berth once again in 2016-17. With no vast offseason improvements, however, success will have to come from within.Related: Season preview: 3 players to watch on the BruinsForwardsLWCRWBrad MarchandPatrice BergeronDavid BackesRyan SpoonerDavid KrejciDavid PastrnakMatt BeleskeyRiley NashJimmy HayesFrank VatranoDominic MooreTyler Randell

In a spare moment in a summer spent stockpiling minds to fill out his hockey operations team, George McPhee spoke to theScore about his process since being appointed general manager of the NHL's incoming Las Vegas franchise. Here are a few additional notes from our conversation with the executive set to embark on an undertaking unlike anything previous in the NHL.The upcoming expansion draft is captivating for a multitude of reasons. It's an event that directly impacts, and will exist as an ongoing subplot, for all teams. For Las Vegas, though, the process is simple, that is at least outwardly. The executives in Nevada won't have an expansion franchise to compete with. In fact, the expansion draft isn't a draft at all. All Vegas must do is treat each team as a separate entity, then select the exposed player that they determine most valuable based on their talent and existing contract. Right?Well, McPhee explained that it won't be quite that simple.McPhee: That would be the ideal, but it's probably going to be more complicated than that. There will be other variables involved like how much we have to spend, what we're required to spend, and what kind of contracts the players exposed have. Ideally, we'll pick the best players, and we'll get some good ones, but it's not going to be a simple process; it will be very complicated. And it will be a moving target right up until the night the lists are submitted.In many respects, Nashville is Las Vegas' closest comparable market; a town with entertainment as its lifeblood. The Predators established roots predominantly on the basis of a solid on-ice product, but a single karaoke session at Tootsies gave us a glimpse of the sort of impact a gregarious, polarizing, larger-than-life athlete can have, and the interest they might be able to generate.Will McPhee select his team with display space outside T-Mobile Arena in mind?I'm not sure that it's all about having marketable players. It's about having a good team. If you have a good team and some of the players happen to bring star power, that's nice, that helps to sell the game. But we believe we're going to build a heck of a team, and it's going to be a very entertaining team. Our fans are going to enjoy coming to the rink every night.In nearly two decades with Washington, McPhee toggled through multiple coaches with very different methodologies in an effort to bring out the most from the talented rosters he assembled, and which were never able to achieve the postseason success expected of them. Since his firing, the Caps turned to Barry Trotz, who has been lauded by many for the effect he's had on the roster, and especially Alex Ovechkin.We asked McPhee about what he covets in his next coach.The coach has to be an awful lot of things. They certainly have to understand the technical packages and everything else, but they have to be respected. The players will do what the coach asks them to do, but if they know why they're doing it, and they're doing it because they respect the coach, you get better results. We hope to find someone that has a lot of boxes we can check and becomes a terrific coach at the NHL level.The uncertainly borne out of the expansion process continues to be in the back of the minds of the other 30 general managers as they spend, trade, draft, and sign. While Vegas isn't making similar transactions, it's very much in the dark as well. McPhee admitted his group hasn't even had the time to sort out what questions they still have for the NHL.We'll (shift) focus on questions we have for the league, other operational issues. But we wanted to get our people out into the field first, and then turn our focus to those issues and things that we need to discuss.Finally, McPhee submitted confidence that players and employees who come to be associated with the franchise will be as sold as he was.When you get there and you see where the practices are going to be, and what a beautiful city Las Vegas is, an area that it is, the means of getting around, and the weather, it’s pretty clear that it’s a place people are going to want to work and want to play. And if we do our jobs, we can win.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

While Tyler Seguin plays for Canada at the World Cup and Jamie Benn recovers from a core muscle injury that caused him to miss the tournament, veteran center Jason Spezza is skating with the rest of the Dallas Stars who are trickling into the rink in advance of training camp.Based on past experience and in light of heightened expectations surrounding the team, Spezza knows the importance of making the most of opportunities to win."We feel like we're in a bit of a window here, we have to try to win," Spezza acknowledged, per Mike Heika of The Dallas News. "You can sense the urgency around the rink, you can sense through Jim (Nill) and Lindy (Ruff), just the push to try to make us better. And as players, we have to recognize that we have a good team and you can't take anything for granted."It's hard to keep good teams together."Spezza knows this all too well after being part of an Ottawa Senators team that regularly excelled in the regular season but advanced to the Stanley Cup Final only once, losing to Anaheim in five games back in 2007.The 33-year-old remains under contract with the Stars for three more seasons, while Seguin, Benn, and John Klingberg are all locked up long term. Questions remain in net, however, and that may have to be addressed via trade sooner than later.The window is indeed open for Dallas, and Spezza isn't likely to let what could be his last best chance of winning a Cup just pass him by.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

If the Toronto Maple Leafs decide to name a captain for the 2016-17 season, Brooks Laich is a well-prepared candidate."I was one of those kids, a Leafs fan growing up who wrote school papers on being captain," Laich said Monday, to Lance Hornby of the Toronto Sun. "But I think all that will sort itself out. I haven’t had any discussion like that, I’ve not been approached."Laich, a Saskatchewan native, appeared in 21 games for the Maple Leafs last season after being acquired from Washington, and helped fill the leadership void after former captain Dion Phaneuf was dealt.Team president Brendan Shanahan has indicated he'll discuss the possibility of naming a captain with head coach Mike Babcock and general manager Lou Lamoriello once training camp begins Sept. 22, but Laich is going to lead by example regardless.That's just who he is."I’ve always believed that well done is better than well said," Laich opined. "Just because you don’t have a letter doesn’t mean you aren’t a leader. The game today is done by a core, not by individuals, so people will follow actions more than words."If we have a captain, that’s great," Laich said. "If not, there’s a great leadership group in the room."The next captain will be the 19th in franchise history.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.To say that the 2016-17 season will be an important one for the Boston Bruins, would be a massive understatement.The team is coming off a second-straight playoff absence, but still remain competitive enough to be a legitimate contender for a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.That being said, their window for success appears to be closing.A playoff berth will likely come down to how three key players perform this season:Zdeno CharaBruins fans may soon have to come to grips with a harsh reality that Chara's career is winding down.While his offensive numbers remain solid - nine goals and 37 points in 80 games last season - it's the opposite end of the ice that's seen the most regression.The primary culprit? Chara's foot speed is quickly evading him.Those who saw the 39-year-old during his first World Cup pre-tournament game with Team Europe against Team North America, can attest that on several occasions, Chara's much younger opponents had a fairly easy time blowing past him.What is evermore frightening for the Bruins, is they lack high-end replacement options behind Chara, other than stud Torey Krug.Chara has one more year left on his contract after the upcoming season - don't be surprised if it's also his last.David BackesFew Bruins will enter the season under the same pressure as Backes.The former St. Louis Blues captain signed a five-year, $30-million contract on July 1 in a quasi-swap for Loui Eriksson, who inked a six-year, $36-million deal with the Vancouver Canucks.Backes should fit perfectly into the Bruins' mold of talented, punishing forwards, but will also be looked upon to fill the void left by Eriksson, who finished second in team scoring with 30 goals and 63 points last season.Backes has remained consistent over the years, but his career highs in goals and points came in 2010-11 when he notched 31 and 62, respectively.Playing on the top line alongside Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand, Backes should get every chance to succeed, but after the club said goodbye to one of its more consistent producers, Backes will be walking into a scenario with very high expectations.Brad MarchandMarchand is coming off one of last season's more unexpected breakouts, as the 28-year-old finished sixth in the NHL with 37 goals - a career high that helped him put up a career best 60 points in 77 games.Though the numbers aren't that out of character, as he hit the 28-goal and 55-point plateaus before, 13-goal and 18-point bumps from the season prior is quite something.Unfortunately for Marchand, the pressure will be on the chippy forward to either replicate or build on that success.Marchand can attribute his increased production to two things: averaging a career-high 18:36 of ice time, and, taking 70 more shots than his previous career mark of 180 the year prior.Maybe all he ever needed was a larger opportunity.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

When Pavel Datsyuk opted to leave the Detroit Red Wings for the KHL in the offseason, the NHL lost arguably the most creative player to ever lace them up.Aptly nicknamed the "Magic Man," Datsyuk repeatedly terrorized goaltenders and defenders over his 15 NHL seasons with a number of stunning plays that left both players and fans in awe.Simply unfair.While his body of work in the NHL will surely one day land him in the Hall of Fame, Datsyuk believes the league he consistently wowed with his otherworldly talent is becoming less skill-driven."There are not many creative players now," Datsyuk told Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. "It's less and less every year. There's lots of talent, but teams are playing more systems.""Hockey is so different now," he added. "With the new rules in the NHL, you have to be good defensively. And if you play fast, you have more time to work offensively."Datsyuk, as one would expect, is off to a great start in his latest KHL stint, recording seven points in six games for St. Petersburg SKA.NHL fans can catch one more glimpse of the Magic Man this month, as he suits up for Team Russia at the World Cup.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The St. Louis Blues have invited six players to training camp on PTOs, the club announced Monday.Forwards Eric Nystrom, T.J. Galiardi, Chris Porter, and Yan Stastny - brother of Blues center Paul Stastny - along with defenseman Mike Weber and Scooter Vaughan, will all compete for a spot on St. Louis' roster come training camp.Last season, Nystrom played 46 games for the Nashville Predators, while Galiardi and Porter suited up in the Swedish Elite League and the Minnesota Wild, respectively.Stastny has bounced around multiple European leagues for the last five seasons, while Weber split time between the Buffalo Sabres and Washington Capitals last season.Vaughan, an undrafted, right-handed shot, has spent the last three years in the AHL.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New York Islanders have invited forward Stephen Gionta to training camp on a professional tryout.Gionta, a native of Rochester, N.Y., spent the last 10 years in the New Jersey Devils organization, splitting time between the AHL and NHL.Last season, Gionta suited up in all 82 games for the Devils, recording one goal and 10 assists.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NHL's best hockey smiles, ranked. Click the links below to navigate through the full list.Hockey Smile Rankings

The NHL's best hockey smiles, ranked. Click the links below to navigate through the full list.Hockey Smile Rankings

A stomach virus has hospitalized Team Sweden forward Rikard Rakell, the Anaheim Ducks confirmed to Eric Stephens of the Orange Country Register.Rakell - who joined the club as a substitute for the injured Alex Steen - was hospitalized Sunday and did not join the team as it made the trip to Washington ahead of its final exhibition game against Team Europe on Wednesday.

theScore is previewing each team leading up to the 2016-17 season.The Florida Panthers made a few changes to a roster that earned the Atlantic Division crown last season, particularly on defense.Here's a look at the projected depth chart for 2016-17.ForwardsLWCRWJonathan HuberdeauAleksander BarkovJaromir JagrJussi JokinenVincent TrocheckReilly SmithJared McCannNick BjugstadColton SceviourJonathan MarchessaultDerek MackenzieLogan Shaw

A knee injury that sidelined Henrik Zetterberg for the World Cup of Hockey, shouldn't impede his regular-season availability.The Detroit Red Wings forward was set to represent his native Sweden at the tournament, but was forced to bow out after suffering a knee injury during offseason training, but Zetterberg expects to be 100 percent for the season opener, according to the team.

They are without a coach, and a roster, and a distinguishable brand, or the requisite prefix to license "Knights," but the NHL franchise that lies dormant has a team. And they're fully operational.While the hockey community took its collective breather this summer, George McPhee poured through his contacts. It was in the neighborhood of 450 days before NHL hockey would arrive in Las Vegas, but the man spearheading the project was immediately working on deadline. Eight weeks until World Cup training camps.The good bottle remaining corked, the rush was on to assemble hockey operations and manufacture a network of scouts with comparable reach to the NHL's 30 in-competition franchises, all of which have been greasing their production lines from their outsets.What was paramount for Las Vegas - the installation of manpower in order to effectively evaluate talent in rinks across the globe in sufficient time to begin a season devoted to thorough appraisal of others' assets - seemed unfeasible.Sure enough, placed calls led to press releases. The Vegas Is Hockey team had a morning daily for your cup of coffee as McPhee rolled out hire after hire like clockwork. Now, Las Vegas will arrive in Toronto for the World Cup on time, and well represented."We're really happy with where we are in hockey operations, with the people we've hired, with how well organized we are," McPhee told theScore."We'll be off and running."Hockey minds assemble in NevadaLas Vegas has achieved more than mere presence in the mind of its skipper.McPhee's confident that with hockey minds like Kelly McCrimmon, Scott Luce, his hand-picked web of professional, amateur, and European scouts, and the staff continuing to assemble in Nevada, the framework's in place to build a winner."Hire talented, experienced people that want to work. People of high quality and integrity. If you're hiring like that, every time you make a hire, ultimately the organization turns out to be in pretty good shape."That standard could prove essential to the prosperity of the club, especially considering that McPhee hasn't previously worked with some individuals he hustled to hire.Because while on the surface, the job of an NHL executive without a roster seems as simple as bingeing on hockey, and evaluating players' strengths and weaknesses to determine values leading up to expansion and amateur drafts in June, that's simply not the case.McPhee explained that while he'll jump from rink to rink at times this season, it's his responsibility to run point in Las Vegas as well."We have a practice facility to build, and there are things that the rest of the staff in Las Vegas are going to have to learn. They're going to need direction from the hockey department, so if you want to work well as a team off the ice, then you have to be there to provide instruction."Sin City StabilityThere are myriad uncertainties when it comes to Las Vegas expansion. Hand and hand with the ownership group that footed the enormous franchise fee, McPhee will pilot the first big-four professional sports team to break into the market. For that, it's viability still remains very much suspect.(For what it's worth, he believes in it profoundly).But as McPhee returns to a prominent role in the NHL, he does as one of its more proven executives, and he possesses the stability Las Vegas will strive to achieve as an organization - on and off the ice.McPhee both tore down the Washington Capitals and built them back up into a perennial contender around a No. 1 draft pick in the cap era during a tenure that spanned parts of three decades. He's witnessed the sport evolve. He's adapted along with it.And though he didn't see it through and win a championship, and tweaks to his design have certainly seen the Capitals progress since, McPhee believes in his process, and is confident he'll fashion another NHL powerhouse.When asked if there's something he learned in retrospect, and that he looks forward to applying, McPhee responded:"Not really. We left Washington in great shape. It's among the best if not the best team in the league right now. The organization is talented and deep."The staff's terrific."Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It will be an interesting reunion in Pittsburgh on Wednesday.The Consol Energy Center will see Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin take the ice as opponents rather than teammates, as Russia and Canada conclude their World Cup exhibition schedule."I think it's going to be fun," Malkin said, according to Wes Crosby of NHL.com. "We actually play against Sid, against Canada. It's an amazing time here. I'm excited. (It will be) the first time I've played on the different bench, on the guest bench. It's weird, but I don't know how the fans feel. But I hope they support us."Malkin - who's gone pointless through the first two exhibition games - also mentioned how he expects chatter on the ice between the two to be minimal, which would be a rare change of pace for the 30-year-old."Not much," Malkin said. "Sid talks too much every game. He talks too quick for me. Actually, when he's mad, I don't understand. But he's funny."Through the first two games of exhibition play, Russia and Canada each have a win and a loss to their credit.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It's easy to raise questions after how the 2016 Stanley Cup Playoffs went down, but Alex Ovechkin certainly isn't a fan of the NHL's current playoff format."You win Presidents' Trophy, but you see schedule in the playoffs is kind of weird," Ovechkin told CSN Mid-Atlantic’s Tarik El-Bashir. "Because you play first team in fourth, then you play against Pittsburgh, not like Islanders or different teams play against each other and you think why do you need to win the Presidents' Trophy to play against best team?"It’s kind of weird, but nothing you can do, it’s over, it’s past, now we looking forward."As a refresher, upon realigning the divisions prior to the 2013-14 season, the league decided to bring back a version of the old divisional playoff format wherein the team with the most points doesn't necessarily face the weakest competition in the conference en route to the third round, but rather the team from within the division that also advances past round one.So, for example, the Washington Capitals were forced to face off against the Pittsburgh Penguins in the second round, even though the teams finished first and second in the conference, respectively.Under the old system, the Capitals would have played the Detroit Red Wings in the opening round, followed by the team with the lowest points that happened to advance to the second round, thereby setting up a potential meeting with the Penguins in the Conference Finals.There's no guarantee anything would have been different for the Presidents' Trophy winners, but the Capitals should have been one of the final four teams standing, at the very least. Instead, Washington was eliminated by Pittsburgh, who went on to win the Cup.Maybe don't try as hard in the regular season this time around.- with H/T to Russian Machine Never BreaksCopyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Avert your eyes, Washington Capitals fans.Swedish head coach Rikard Gronborg is making dreams come true at the World Cup by placing Filip Forsberg on a line with Nicklas Backstrom.

Dmitry Orlov doesn't appear overly confident about where he's going to be playing after the World Cup of Hockey.The Russian defenseman enters the tournament as a restricted free agent, heretofore unable to reach an agreement on a new deal with the Washington Capitals.For now, he's focused on representing his country, but his confidence in regards to an imminent return to his NHL club seems to be waning.From Isabelle Khurshudyan of the Washington Post:

theScore is previewing each team leading up to the 2016-17 season.After years of building, the Florida Panthers have the look of a team capable of clawing their way to the very top. Here are three question facing the reigning Atlantic Division champions in advance of a new season.Will the spending spree pay off?Since the beginning of 2016, the Panthers have been extremely active in terms of spending, locking up their building blocks to long-term contract extensions, while also opening the coffers to attract talent from the outside.PlayerAgePositionContract LengthCap HitAleksander Barkov21F6 years$5.9MJonathan Huberdeau23F6 years$5.9MReilly Smith25F5 years$5MVincent Trocheck23F6 years$4.75M*Jason Demers28D5 years$4.5MAaron Ekblad20D9 years$7.5M*Keith Yandle30D7 years$6.35M*James Reimer28G5 years$3.4M* UFA signingAll of the above, plus Roberto Luongo's $5,333,333 cap hit through to the end of 2021-22 and Nick Bjugstad's $4.1-million average annual valuation over the next five season, adds up to around $53 million committed to 10 players beginning next season.Ownership's clear mandate is to build a winner around its undeniably talented young core, and banking on the likes of Aaron Ekblad (the next captain?), Aleksander Barkov, and Jonathan Huberdeau is a given.But the bevy of long-term contracts could limit general manager Tim Rowe's flexibility moving forward should any number of these players fall short of expected levels of production, especially if the team isn't able to take that next step in the short term.Transition DOut of the top eight defensemen in terms of minutes played for the Panthers last season, only four will return: Aaron Ekblad, Alex Petrovic, Steve Kampfer, and Jakub Kindl.Who's out? Brian Campbell (Chicago), Dmitry Kulikov (Buffalo), Erik Gudbranson (Vancouver), and Willie Mitchell (retired).Incoming D-men include Keith Yandle (NY Rangers), Jason Demers (Dallas), Mark Pysyk (Buffalo), and Mike Matheson (AHL). All are expected to play significant roles in a top-six defensive unit that will look to move the puck out of their zone more effectively than their predecessors and improve upon the team's 20th ranked Corsi rating in 5-on-5 play.Ekblad will begin training camp taking part in the World Cup, but the rest of the gang will be there right out of the gate, and the sooner the revamped defensive corps can find cohesion, the better off the Panthers will be.Jagr's swan song?One of the best things about watching the Panthers is seeing the great Jaromir Jagr continue to ply his trade at a high level.Somewhat remarkably, Jagr led the Panthers in total points last season (66), and the 44-year-old is only 19 points behind Mark Messier for second on the NHL's all-time points leader list. Should he both pass that milestone and maybe even win the Stanley Cup with the Panthers, one can't help but wonder if this will be his final season.Jagr, who re-upped with the club on a one-year, $4-million contract, seems ready to keep playing for as long as possible, but even if he does keep playing, it could be his last year in Florida, based on the salary commitments already listed above.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Dennis Seidenberg isn't quite sure what the future holds after the World Cup of Hockey.The German-born defenseman made his debut for Europe in Sunday's exhibition loss to North America, and while he gets ready for the tournament to begin, he's left wondering where he'll play once the NHL regular season starts having had his contract with the Boston Bruins bought out this summer."I’ve kind of turned the page," Seidenberg told Fluto Shinzawa of the Boston Globe. "But then again, my family’s still in Boston. They started school in Boston. So you always think about something you’re still with but you’re not. So it was something that was obviously disappointing. But it doesn’t really matter right now. I have to go into this tournament, play my game, and hopefully something comes up."The 35-year-old was set to earn $7.5 million over the two remaining years on his contract with the Bruins, but will now collect $4,666,667 in buyout money over the next four years.Seidenberg played an important role in the Bruins' Stanley Cup win back in 2011, but has been slowed by both injuries and Father Time in recent years. Still, he feels he has some gas left in the tank, and will look to make the most of opportunities afforded him by European head coach Ralph Kruger to limit chances by the opposition while boosting his own on the open market."I just have to focus on playing my game," Seidenberg said. "There’s no magic to it. It’s playing a simple style of hockey. That’s basically it. I don’t have to try and do something I can’t do. That’s going to go the other way if you do that."Based on Europe's performance in the pre-tournament games, he'll likely only have a few more opportunities to impress, unless Europe can somehow manage to advance to the semifinal round.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.