The Minnesota Wild will celebrate Prince with every goal scored at Xcel Energy Center during the 2016-17 season."Let's go crazy" was announced as the club's official goal song Tuesday, as per the results from a season ticket-holder vote."Our in-arena experience is designed for the fans, so it's great to be able to show them we take their feedback to heart," John Maher, the club's vice president of brand, content, and communications announced Tuesday."At the same time, it's our privilege to celebrate an iconic hometown artist that clearly has had an incredible impact on our community and the world."The Wild made Prince's hit their goal song April 24, on a night that proved to be the club's last game of the season.Prince died unexpectedly three days prior at age 57.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

While he no longer has a say in the matter, former Edmonton Oiler Taylor Hall feels Connor McDavid would be a "great" choice as the team's next captain.The Oilers went captainless last season after Andrew Ference was stripped of the title. However, heading into next season, head coach Todd McLellan has confirmed the club will name a captain and, for what it's worth, Hall feels McDavid could fit the bill."I’m not there anymore so it’s not something I’ve given much thought to, but I do think that they need a captain," Hall said, according to Postmedia's Michael Traikos. "They need someone that has a ‘C’ on their jersey and if that’s Connor, he’s going to do a good job, there’s no doubt about it."Hall was dealt to the New Jersey Devils this offseason after playing with McDavid during his rookie season. And while he understands McDavid is still young, he certainly is captain material."I don’t know if Connor is ready. He very well could be," Hall said. "But he’s going to be a great captain, whether it’s this year or whenever it might be. I was lucky to play with him and spend some time with him and he’s one of those guys that I’m always rooting for."Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Montreal Canadiens appear to be covering their tracks.A sign reading "No excuses" - which had been a mainstay in the club's dressing room - was removed Monday.

While Jamie Benn's recovery from a core muscle injury will keep him out of the World Cup of Hockey, it shouldn't keep him out of the Dallas Stars lineup.Following Tuesday's news that San Jose Sharks forward Logan Couture will replace Benn on Team Canada's World Cup roster as he rehabs from offseason surgery, Stars general manager Jim Nill announced the 27-year-old will be 100 percent to start the regular season.After pacing the NHL with 87 points during the 2014-15 campaign, Benn finished second last season, amassing a career-high 89 points while playing in all 82 games.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

San Jose Sharks forward Logan Couture has been named to Team Canada's roster for the upcoming World Cup of Hockey, the team announced on Tuesday.Couture joins the team as a replacement for injured Dallas Stars forward Jamie Benn.Benn underwent core muscle surgery back in mid-July, and while his recovery time was expected to be six weeks - he was hoping to return ahead of the tournament - he won't participate."We are excited to add Logan to Team Canada. He has developed into a top player in the NHL, and his versatility will benefit our group of forwards. In making this decision, the management group consulted with our coaching staff and determined that Logan was the best fit to help fill the role that Jamie was projected to play on Team Canada," general manager Doug Armstrong said in a release."We want to thank Jamie for his dedication to an extensive rehab program in an attempt to play for Canada. Unfortunately, Jamie will not be available and we wish him a speedy recovery."Couture put up 15 goals and 36 points after being limited to 52 games due to a fractured fibula last season. He went off during the postseason, leading all skaters with 20 assists and 30 points in 24 games en route to his club's first Stanley Cup Final appearance.Meanwhile, Canada loses a big contributor in Benn, who is one year removed from winning the Art Ross Trophy. The 27-year-old played a key role for Canada at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, scoring the lone goal in Canada's 1-0 victory in the semifinals against the United States.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Shea Weber is one of the toughest guys to play against. It turns out he's been replaced by a similar type of player.Related: Blackhawks' Toews thanks Weber for leaving Central DivisionNashville Predators forward James Neal spoke to Brooks Bratten of NashvillePredators.com, and explained that he's looking forward to not having to face P.K. Subban anymore."He’s a guy that you get into it with, you don’t like playing against him," said Neal. "He’s a guy that gets under your skin, and plays the game well when he’s under a guy’s skin, so it’s better having him on your team than playing against him."He has a great shot, great hockey sense and great ability to do good things with the puck. He’s a distributor and a goal scorer and he does it all. With the way our defensemen look right now, we have some great young defensemen who can skate and make plays and do everything … It’s an exciting time for Preds hockey."With Weber now a member of the Montreal Canadiens, there's a captain vacancy in Nashville. Being among the team's elder players certainly makes Neal a possible candidate, but whether he's ultimately chosen as Weber's successor or not, Neal insists he will continue to be a leader for his teammates."Regardless of what happens, I came in here to be a leader, to be an older guy and someone that guys can lean on, someone that leads by example and someone that can be vocal as well," Neal said. "I’ve been around a lot of different leaders; older guys and veterans and younger captains, so I feel I have a good grasp of how things are done. We’ll see what happens, but we have a few guys who are definitely capable of doing a great job."Neal concluded his second season with the Predators by contributing 31 goals and 58 points, good enough for third in team scoring.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

After a successful rookie campaign, Dylan Larkin will likely return to his native position in 2016-17.The Detroit Red Wings forward led the club with 23 goals during his first season, playing on the wing alongside captain Henrik Zetterberg. However, general manager Ken Holland feels it's time to transition the 20-year-old back to his preferred position at center."That's our plan going into camp," Holland told NHL.com's Dan Rosen. "He's obviously been a center his entire life. We drafted him as a center, but when you have guys like Henrik Zetterberg and Pavel Datsyuk down the middle, guys who are so good 200 feet, it's tougher."Dylan played with Zetterberg last season and Zetterberg took a lot of the responsibility off of Dylan to free him up to play the game. Long-term, the plan is that Dylan is going to be a center for us."In turn, Holland says the team will likely shift Zetterberg to the wing, with newly-acquired Frans Nielsen occupying the other center spot in the top-six.As for season expectations, Holland understands that the club is no longer the powerhouse it once was, but believes the Red Wings should remain in the thick of things."I don't know that there are more than five or six legitimate Stanley Cup contenders; we're probably not in that group," Holland said. "After that five or six, there are 20 teams without much difference between them. We're in that group of 20."Certainly there are lots of questions about our team."Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Kevin Dineen and Bob Boughner have reportedly become prime candidates in the Colorado Avalanche's search for Patrick Roy's replacement.Dineen, an assistant coach with the Chicago Blackhawks, and Boughner, who serves the same role for the San Jose Sharks, are major contenders to be named head coach of the Avalanche, Terry Frei and Mike Chambers of the Denver Post reported Monday.Chambers reports that Dineen had a 3.5-hour interview with the Avalanche, and Frei says it's "fair to assume" both he and Boughner had productive interviews.

The "BasedGod" curse will not extend into the ranks of developmental hockey for now.Lil B, the rapper who's been known to toy with NBA players including Kevin Durant, James Harden and D'Angelo Russell, spared the Montreal Canadiens' ECHL affiliate Monday.

Paul Bissonnette signed a contract with the AHL's Ontario Reign on July 2, but he'll get a chance to make the parent club - the Los Angeles Kings - in September.The 31-year-old's been invited to Kings camp on a professional tryout, according to The Globe and Mail's James Mirtle.Bissonnette played 35 games for the Reign last season, scoring twice, adding an assist, and accumulating 51 penalty minutes. He last played in the NHL in 2013-14 with the Arizona Coyotes (who at the time still officially hailed from Phoenix).A veteran of 202 NHL games, Bissonnette has seven goals, 15 assists, and a very popular Twitter account to his name.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Toronto Maple Leafs are giving Brandon Prust a shot, reportedly inviting the forward to training camp on a PTO, according to James Mirtle of The Globe and Mail.Leafs general manager Lou Lamoriello reportedly met with Prust over the summer and sees no downside to the move.

Carey Price said back in June that he's 100 percent healthy. Over the weekend, he went a little further, much to the delight of Montreal Canadiens supporters."I feel like my old self on the ice," Price told InGoal Magazine at a fundraising event in British Columbia.In other words, the sprained MCL that cost Price his season - and derailed Montreal's - is a thing of the past. Price did admit, though, that he still thinks about the injury, and that he can't wait for the 2016-17 season to begin. Months of rehab and waiting have taken their toll."I've been working towards a goal I haven't gotten to yet," he said.Price was limited to only 12 starts last season. He won 10 of them, thanks to his .934 save percentage. Before he gets back in the Canadiens' net, though, he'll play ultra-competitive hockey at the World Cup, where he'll be Team Canada's No. 1 keeper.Playing with SheaWhile Price, who turned 29 last week, will certainly be thinking about his knee injury as he gets back in the crease, he won't be able to talk about it with one of his good friends: P.K. Subban.The June 29 trade that sent Subban to the Nashville Predators shocked most in the hockey world, Price included, but he's looking forward to playing with Shea Weber. The two have been skating together in Kelowna, B.C.Price believes Weber's addition to the team and his adapting to Montreal's system will be seamless, he told NHL.com's Kevin Woodley.He'll miss P.K., no doubt, but "there's not a team in the NHL that wouldn't want Weber," Price said. And once Canadiens fans see what Weber brings to the table, they'll love him, too, much like they loved Subban.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Connor McDavid has his eyes set on raising the bar.Of course, McDavid's bar has been considerably higher than his peers' since he was granted Exceptional Player Status to enter the OHL at 15 years of age, but now 19 years old, the Edmonton Oilers phenom wants to ditch the "kid" narrative heading into his sophomore season."I just want to go in and have a good (training) camp and show everyone that I'm not some 18-year-old kid anymore," McDavid told The Canadian Press.McDavid endured a trying rookie campaign after a shoulder injury sidelined him for 37 games, but recorded 48 points in 45 contests when healthy. As one of the presumed leading candidates for the Oilers' vacant captaincy, McDavid could be bearing larger expectations before even stepping foot on the ice, something he believes he'd be ready for."It would mean so much," McDavid said. "It would definitely be an accomplishment that I would be the most proud of. But that's still to be determined and I don't want to talk about it too much or anything like that."The Oilers changed their identity this offseason, trading 2010 No. 1 pick Taylor Hall and acquiring Milan Lucic via free agency. Without revealing any personal goals, McDavid shared a glimpse of optimism heading into October."Definitely have high hopes for this year," he said.We'll be watching, Connor. No pressure.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Alexander Radulov has one thing on his mind as he gets ready to embark on his latest stint in the NHL.One of the newest members of the Montreal Canadiens spoke with the media on Monday and admitted that his decision to return to not just the NHL, but the Canadiens stemmed from a desire to win."The first goal is I want to win," Radulov said, according to Sportsnet's Eric Engels. "I want to win every night. It doesn’t matter who’s going to score and put up the points; we want to win. It’s a team game and I think if the team is going to be successful, everyone will be successful."Marc (Bergevin) was saying it’s a special place to play," said Radulov. "I hate losing. I hate when something goes not our way. I just want to win and I think this is the place and I’m ready for it."The decision by the Canadiens to take a chance on Radulov has always been one met with scepticism. This is largely due to the impression he gave after he was suspended by the Nashville Predators back in 2012 for violating a team curfew policy and ultimately returned to the KHL.However, Radulov feels that part of his life is in the rear-view mirror and he has since become a leader on and off the ice, thanks in large to his general manager in CSKA Moscow, Sergei Fedorov."Thanks to Sergei for that," Radulov said. "I was there playing and we had a pretty young team and I had that thing that I was a leader and playing a lot of minutes. I tried to live as an example in the locker room, off the ice and on the ice. It’s helped me a lot. It’s changed my vision of the way I have to work and I have to be."Radulov is now married with a son and understands that for his sake and theirs, he must act accordingly."I’m getting older," Radulov said. "I know I gotta take care of myself and be in shape and be 100 per cent every day. I know how to do that and I really like that I’m here right now."During his last four years in the KHL, Radulov has amassed an astounding 78 goals and 238 points in 181 games.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Toronto Maple Leafs signed free-agent goaltender Jhonas Enroth to a one-year, $750,000 contract on Monday, the team announced.The 28-year-old spent last season serving as Jonathan Quick's backup in Los Angeles. While he only appeared in 16 games for the club, he put up better numbers than Quick with a 2.17 goals-against average and a .922 save percentage.Enroth is sure to serve as backup once again, this time to Frederik Andersen, who the Maple Leafs acquired from the Anaheim Ducks before inking to a five-year contract back in June.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Toronto Maple Leafs promoted Mark Hunter to the role of assistant general manager on Monday, the team announced.Hunter joined the Maple Leafs in 2014 and had been serving as the team's director of player personnel, largely spending his time overseeing the club's scouting."Mark's new title is essentially a formality as these are duties he’s already been performing," Maple Leafs general manager Lou Lamoriello said in a release. "Brendan and I have been discussing this change of title since last season - as it’s a more appropriate recognition of Mark's role with the organization since joining the Maple Leafs. There are no changes to Mark or Kyle’s duties, or to that of Brandon Pridham, assistant to the general manager."Hunter will continue to work alongside assistant general manager Kyle Dubas where he will further oversee the club's scouting, player evaluation, and the team's player development.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

While they may lack experience, Team North America surely doesn't lack confidence.The team, comprised of players age 23 and younger from Canada and the United States, will enter next month's World Cup of Hockey as one of the unlikely squads to capture the title, but don't tell that to the players."There is a lot of speed and a lot of talent on our team," Florida Panthers defenseman Aaron Ekblad said, according to NHL.com's Mike Brophy. "I think it all comes down to how we jell as a team led by (coach) Todd McLellan (Edmonton Oilers) and the rest of the coaching staff. I think we'll do fine."The team will enter the tournament with five of the past six No. 1 draft picks, most notably Oilers standout Connor McDavid, who shares the same confidence as Ekblad, suggesting the team shouldn't be ruled out."It's exciting," McDavid said. "There are a lot of good young players that have a lot of speed and skill. I think we have the ability to surprise some teams."We haven't been all together yet. But in talking with some of the guys, I think everyone has a quiet confidence. At the same time, I think we all understand we're the young bucks, the young guys, and nobody is really expecting too much from us. We'll see how it goes, but I think everyone is excited."Team North America will get their first chance to prove their might when they open the tournament on Sept. 18 against Finland.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Minnesota Wild forward Mikko Koivu will serve as Finland's captain at the upcoming World Cup of Hockey, the team announced on Monday.Related: 6 top candidates for World Cup's vacant captainciesKoviu - who also serves as Wild captain - is not a stranger to captaining his country, having done so on three prior occasions. He most recently served as captain at this year's IIHF World Championship, where his team claimed silver.The 33-year-old was also a member of the most recent installment of the World Cup in 2004 that saw Finland fall in the championship game to Canada.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NHL offseason is nearing the end, and soon clubs will begin to hit the ice with their retooled rosters.Teams have been doing their darnedest to patch up and bolster their squads in a bid to improve or sustain the success they found in 2015-16.However, while some teams are sure to rise from the depths of last season's standings, many are doomed to stumble and fall this season.Here is a look at which team in each division is poised to take a step back this upcoming season:Pacific - Los Angeles KingsWhile the San Jose Sharks made quick work of them in the first round of the playoffs, the fact is the Los Angeles Kings actually matched the second-best record in franchise history, amassing 102 points.The Kings rebounded after missing the postseason the year prior, but heading into the 2016-17 season, the club could be hard-pressed to duplicate last season's success.Right off the top, the Kings said goodbye to Milan Lucic who in his first and only season with the Kings appeared to fit the club's mould perfectly with his rugged physicality, not to mention his 20 goals and 55 points - good enough for fourth in team scoring.The team also let Jhonas Enroth go, even while the team's backup - albeit in a much smaller work load - led the team's netminders with a .922 save percentage and a 2.17 GAA in 16 games.The team also saw other less significant names leave, while their biggest addition in the offseason was Teddy Purcell. They might not fall out of a postseason spot, but the Kings can surely expect to take a step backwards next season.Metropolitan - Carolina HurricanesThe Carolina Hurricanes exceeded expectations in 2015-16, finishing 10th in the Eastern Conference despite a club that lacked any superstar talent.The Hurricanes are in the midst of a transition period as they appear to be turning their roster over with young, home-grown talent.To their misfortune, they find themselves in one of the most difficult divisions in the league - one that seemingly got stronger this offseason.The Washington Capitals and Pittsburgh Penguins remain the heavyweights of the bunch, but the Rangers remain strong, thanks to the acquisition of Mika Zibanejad and signing of Jimmy Vesey.The Hurricanes did little in free agency, signing journeyman Lee Stempniak and adding forwards Teuvo Teravainen and Viktor Stalberg. The team could have used an upgrade between the pipes, but instead Ron Francis and company elected to re-sign Cam Ward.The future remains bright for the Hurricanes with many high-end prospects at their disposal, but next season will see a slight regression.Central - St. Louis BluesIt should be noted off the top that the St. Louis Blues surely aren't going to fall off the face of the earth next seasonThe Blues reached the Conference Finals for the first time since the 2000-01 season, but even on the backs of their longest playoff run in 15 years, the club saw a huge turnover this offseason.The team saw goaltender Brian Elliott and forward Troy Brouwer join the Calgary Flames and captain David Backes sign with the Boston Bruins.Where things begin to look less optimistic is that the only big-name replacement for these players was David Perron.In goal, the Blues said goodbye to Elliott. He was arguably the team's most valuable player in the playoffs and the club's most reliable option during the regular season, posting a .930 save percentage and 2.07 GAA. Both marks bested those set by Jake Allen.In Backes and Brouwer, the team loses size and a combined 39 goals and 84 points. Of course, the club should be healthier with the likes of Jaden Schwartz and Paul Stastny available long term, while the addition of Vladimir Sobotka should help.The Blues will once again be a lock for the playoffs, but challenging for another Conference Final might be a bit much.Atlantic - Boston Bruins The Bruins' biggest offseason casualty came in the team's unsuccessful attempt to re-sign Loui Eriksson.The 31-year-old instead elected to join the Vancouver Canucks, so in turn the Bruins lost one of their three 30-goal scorers.In his place, the Bruins brought in David Backes. Backes definitely fits the Bruins' mould perfectly in his ability to throw his weight around while adequately chipping in offensively.However, the fact is Backes is one year Eriksson's senior and, unlike his predecessor, has not managed 30 goals or more since the 2010-11 season. Meanwhile, Eriksson's 63 points this season are more than Backes has ever hit.Moving down the list, the Bruins also did very little to address their need on the opposite side of the puck.The team gave up an average of 2.78 goals per game last season, good enough for 20th in the league. To fix the problem the team bought out Dennis Seidenberg's contract and re-signed John-Michael Liles - who, despite being a solid veteran blue-liner, plays more of an offensive-style game.More could have and should have been done for a team whose Cup window is closing quick.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Kevin Bieksa was a win away - twice. Three periods. Sixty minutes. He still thinks about how close he was to the Stanley Cup. How could he not?He was a member of the Vancouver Canucks then, and his team lost Game 7 of the 2011 Stanley Cup Final to the Boston Bruins 4-0. In excruciating fashion.The Canucks were up 2-0 and 3-2 in the series. Vancouver outshot Boston 37-21 in the deciding game, played at home in Rogers Arena. So close. And, in a way, it's that painful loss that continues to motivate the 35-year-old defenseman.Bieksa, now on the Anaheim Ducks' blue line, was in Richmond, B.C., last week, and told The Province's Steve Ewen that he wants to play after his two-year contract in SoCal ends in 2018."Who knows? If we had won a Stanley Cup back in 2011, maybe my perspective would have changed," Bieksa said. "I'm at the point in my career where I really want to win a Stanley Cup, and I've wanted to win one for 30 years, and I've dreamed about it for 30 years, and I've been as close as you can get."The veteran says he doesn't feel 35, not physically. He's going to keep trying to win a Cup, as long as he can help a team win, in any role.Bieksa's playing for a Cup contender in the Ducks, who welcome back Randy Carlyle behind the bench. Bieksa had four goals and 11 assists in 71 games last season, averaging more than 21 minutes in ice time per game. He was an important part of fired head coach Bruce Boudreau's squad, and is no doubt looking forward to playing a similar role for Carlyle.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Las Vegas is famous for putting on a show. It won't disappoint when it comes to the NHL, says George Parros.The former tough guy, who retired in 2014, now resides in the desert, and can't wait for the world's best hockey to be played in town."This is a great sports town," Parros told NHL.com's Pat Pickens. "This is going to be a great hockey market."The Vegas expansion franchise - still unnamed - will begin play in the 2017-18 season.Parros recently played in the Las Vegas Firefighters Youth Hockey charity game, Pickens writes, along with Minnesota Wild forward Jason Zucker, who also calls Vegas home. And Zucker shares Parros' enthusiasm."Most people don't realize that there's hockey here," Zucker said. "It's fun to be able to talk to them and maybe open their eyes a little bit. But it is a good hockey community."Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Cory Schneider wants to be the starter for Team USA at the upcoming World Cup of Hockey, and rightfully so.The New Jersey Devils goaltender, who underwent offseason core muscle surgery, is looking to be in top form right out of the gate in order to win the race to be named the number one goalie at the tournament."My goal is to be the guy to play in that tournament, and in order for that to happen, I have to be ready," Schneider told Chris Ryan of NJ.com."With this USA camp, you better be good from the first practice because I think that's how they're going to evaluate us and figure out who's going to play."His competition?Ben Bishop of the Tampa Bay Lightning and Jonathan Quick of the Los Angeles Kings.Both have been finalists for the Vezina Trophy and boast appearances in the Stanley Cup Final on their resumes, while Quick has the added benefit on being a member of two championship teams.Schneider, however, has quietly outperformed both at five-on-five play over the past three seasons, without the aid of playing on a contending team.Here's a look at the trio's numbers at five-on-five, generally regarded as a more precise barometer for success.PlayerGamesShots AgainstSave %Ben Bishop186377392.74Jonathan Quick189369292.8Cory Schneider172351293.02Schneider may not have the accolades of his American teammates but statistically speaking, he's been a better performer than the other two, a fact that made more impressive considering he's been featuring on a non-playoff team.While he deserves to start in goal for Team USA, it is in all likelihood that he will not. At the very least, however, the experience should help him come out strong for a Devils team with eyes on challenging for a playoff spot."I only see it as a benefit, to get into that intensity and that level of competitiveness early," Schneider said of being included on the roster. "And then coming (back to New Jersey), whenever that is, I'll hopefully be feeling really good about my game and where I am."Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

With the World Cup of Hockey now less than a month away, and all eight rosters basically set in stone (health permitting), the next decision to be made is who will don the captain's "C" for each squad.So far, we know that Henrik Zetterberg has been named Sweden's captain, while Joe Pavelski is expected to be handed the honor for Team USA.Here's a look at the top candidates to captain the other six teams.Canada - Jonathan ToewsWhile Sidney Crosby captained the 2014 Olympic and 2015 World Championship teams to gold medals, it's time for Jonathan Toews to be afforded the chance to take on that mantle of leadership for a couple weeks.As previously argued here, Toews is a three-time Stanley Cup champion, a two-time Olympic gold medalist, and the 2015 Mark Messier Leadership Award winner. Clearly he has achieved more than enough to deserve the "C" for Canada at the World Cup.Crosby has served well as Captain Canada and is the unquestioned best player in the world, but the reality is that the World Cup's a step below the Olympics.To deny Crosby the "C" and bestow it on Toews, therefore, would simply be to acknowledge the latter's body of work while keeping the former out of the spotlight until PyeongChang - if NHL players participate, that is.Russia - Pavel DatsyukHaving made the decision to walk away from the final year of his NHL contract, the World Cup will effectively serve as Pavel Datsyuk's swan song in North America.Alex Ovechkin remains Russia's premier star, but chances are he'd be willing to step aside for one international tournament in order to allow the Magic Man - who captained the World Championship team back in May - to once again serve as team leader, in name at least.Seeing as former Red Wings teammate Zetterberg is captaining Sweden, having Datstyuk wear the "C" for Russia would add another layer of intrigue to the tournament.Finland - Mikko KoivuThis Finnish squad is made up of a bevy of rising stars, and a player like Aleksander Barkov is sure to carry the team to great heights as early as the 2018 Winter Olympics.For the time being, elder statesman and Minnesota Wild captain Mikko Koivu gets the nod, especially after having captained Finland to a silver medal at the World Championships in the spring.It also helps that Koivu is the NHL's active points leader among all players from his home country.Czech Republic - Tomas PlekanecIn the absence of cornerstone players like Jaromir Jagr and Patrik Elias, Tomas Plekanec emerges as the de facto leader of the Czech Republic squad.Plekanec has represented his country in multiple international tournaments at the junior and major levels, with all colors of medals earned along the way.That the tournament will be played in Toronto and Plekanec is a member of the rival Montreal Canadiens is also quite fitting. And yes, he, like others mentioned above, wore the "C" at the 2016 World Championships.Europe - Anze KopitarTwo names that jump to mind immediately for Europe are Zdeno Chara and Anze Kopitar, both of whom have raised the Stanley Cup in recent years as captains of the Boston Bruins and Los Angeles Kings, respectively.While Chara is a worthy candidate, Kopitar is in his prime and has the better chance of making a major contribution to a European squad which many don't have pegged to make much noise in the tournament.Europe was added to the field in part to allow for players from smaller countries to participate, so why not make the most of the Slovenian's presence and charge him with leading the team both on and off the ice?North America - Connor McDavidThe Young Stars team is made up of players 23 and under, many of whom are likely destined to become captains at the NHL level sooner than later.Two may have that distinction as early as 2016-17, namely Aaron Ekblad in Florida and Connor McDavid in Edmonton.The defenseman has more professional experience, but the World Cup is designed to feature the best and brightest hockey has to offer, with McDavid - who already has a World Championship gold with Canada to his name - representing not only the future but the present of the game.Ekblad will no doubt be an alternate and has as bright a future as just about anyone in the game, but if North America is able to pull off the upset and win the thing, it should be McDavid who's front and center to receive the odd-looking trophy.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

John Tavares will soon be faced with the reality of change in the New York Islanders locker room after an offseason of notable roster moves.Gone are forwards Frans Nielsen and Kyle Okposo, both of whom were valued teammates in the captain's eyes."It hasn’t even really sunk in, maybe until you don’t see them at training camp or during the season, and that hasn’t happened yet," Tavares told Arthur Staple of Newsday. "I don’t think people realize how much I lean on Kyle and Frans, as well as guys like Travis (Hamonic), Clutter (Cal Clutterbuck), Johnny Boychuk."Having those different perspectives is a huge help. And personally for me, you go through a lot of ups and downs and you’re trying to manage a lot of things. When you have people you can rely on, especially with those friendships I have with Kyle and Frans are deep."One of the veteran players brought in to fill the void left by the departure of Tavares' alternate captains is winger Andrew Ladd, with whom he is already familiar and looking forward to adding to the locker room."I know Ladder a bit - he’s got a great family, he’s a leader and the two Cups he’s won, he’s been through a lot in his career," Tavares said. "He’s someone to definitely really count on and will make a great impact in our room. Someone who’s been through it and succeeded will be great for our young guys. He’ll be someone I lean on in a lot of areas."Tavares himself can become an unrestricted free agent in 2018, with the opportunity to sign a contract extension as early as July 1, 2017. Ownership has made it quite clear they intend to lock him up as soon as possible, using some of the money saved by not re-signing Okposo and Nielsen to boost the star's current team-friendly average annual valuation.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Canada said an emotional goodbye Saturday night.The Tragically Hip played what is expected to be their final show, wrapping up their "Man Machine Poem" tour at home in Kingston, Ontario. Gord Downie, the band's iconic lead singer, has terminal brain cancer.The concert was broadcast nationally on CBC and NHLers were tuned in, much like the rest of the nation - including Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who was in attendance.

Like all others participating in September's World Cup of Hockey, Ryan Getzlaf's offseason is getting cut a little bit short, but the Anaheim Ducks captain is up to the task."We're going into a playoff-type atmosphere, so we've got to be ready to go," Getzlaf said, according to Abbey Mastracco of NHL.com. "We're going to have to ramp it up."Getzlaf is representing Team Canada, who will face the pressure of delivering on home soil, but wearing the maple leaf is nothing new for the 31-year-old, having won two Olympic golds and one World Junior Championship.Getzlaf says preparing for the tournament requires an accelerated workout plan, but he feels he's trained well enough thus far."I tried to simulate what I would do for camp and I've been back working out," Getzlaf said. "I think that the amount of skating and stuff I've been doing is a lot more and it's a lot earlier. These next two weeks are going to be about trying to get up to that speed where we're playing at a high level."Getzlaf and Team Canada begin their quest for hockey supremacy Sept. 17 versus Czech Republic.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The World Cup of Hockey is around the corner, and the host country is listed as the early favorite.Team Canada comes in as champions of the last two Olympics and IIHF World Championships, and with the deepest roster of NHL talent, it's no surprise the Canucks are atop the list.TeamOpening oddsCanada5/6Russia4/1USA6/1Sweden6/1Finland10/1Czech Republic20/1North America20/1Europe30/1Following the Canadians is the Russian squad, led by Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin.The tournament-inspired teams, Team North America and Europe, come in at the bottom of the poll, trailing more internationally experienced teams in the USA, Sweden, Finland, and Czech Republic.In the last running of the tournament, held in 2004, Canada defeated Finland in the finals.(Odds courtesy: Westgate Superbook)Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Dan Hamhuis expects to play a big role in any present and future success by the Dallas Stars.The veteran defenseman, who signed a two-year, $7.5-million contract on July 1, will be called upon by the coaching staff to help shepherd the likes of Stephen Johns, Esa Lindell, Patrik Nemeth, and Jamie Oleksiak, who may all be required to step up in light of the departures of Alex Goligoski, Jason Demers, and Kris Russell.Hamhuis was brought in with a view to setting an example for the younger players on how to succeed at the NHL level, and it's a role he's more than comfortable with."I enjoy helping these guys along to learn what it is like to play in the NHL," he told Mike Heika of the Dallas News. "It’s tough to get here, but it is even tougher to stay. It’s those habits and the day-to-day things that can make you a better player, and the ultimate goal is winning the Cup."On top of that, Hamhuis will bring a measure of defensive responsibility to a club known for an up-tempo, offensively minded style."The strength of this team is the offensive power, and I’m hoping what I can bring to the team is sound defensive presence," Hamhuis said. "That’s the way I have played throughout my career, I take a lot of pride in my defensive game."Head coach Lindy Ruff said Hamhuis will play big minutes for the Stars, meaning the team's ability to take the next step next season may hinge on how well he fares in each of those areas.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Frolunda forward Carl Grundstrom pulled a Patrik Stefan during Champions Hockey League action Friday night, completely missing what should've been an easy empty-net goal.Grundstrom, a Toronto Maple Leafs 2016 second-round pick, had an opportunity to give Frolunda a 3-1 lead late in the third period, but the puck ended up bouncing off the goal post.Frolunda still went on to win, though, defeating Germany's Grizzlys Wolfsburg 2-1.Here's Stefan's infamous empty net miss from 2007:- With h/t to Puck DaddyCopyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

While Sean Monahan was awarded with a long-term, big-money deal Friday, the statuses of other prominent restricted free agents remain up in the air as August draws to a close.The list is headlined by Johnny Gaudreau and Nikita Kucherov, both of whom broke out in big ways this past season.There are several other notable names, however.PlayerTeamPositionAgeJohnny GaudreauCalgaryLW22Nikita KucherovTampa BayRW22Tobias RiederArizonaLW22Valeri NichushkinDallasRW20Ryan StromeNY IslandersC22Rickard RakellAnaheimC22Zemgus GirgensonsBuffaloC22Jacob TroubaWinnipegD21Hampus LindholmAnaheimD21Rasmus RistolainenBuffaloD21Cody CeciOttawaD22Dmitry OrlovWashingtonD24Nikita NesterovTampa BayD22NHL training camps are set to begin Sept. 12, and the World Cup of Hockey - which unsigned players will be able to participate in - runs from Sept. 17 to Oct. 1.The NHL regular season begins Oct. 12, with or without these names under contract.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Add another name to the list of candidates for the current Colorado Avalanche head coaching vacancy.Brad Larsen, who currently serves as an assistant to John Tortorella with the Columbus Blue Jackets, has entered the mix for the position, according to Terry Frei of the Denver Post.Larsen joins two AHL head coaches - Jared Bednar of the Cleveland Monsters (Columbus) and Travis Green of the Utica Comets (Vancouver Canucks) - as well as New York Rangers associate coach Scott Arniel and Washington Capitals assistant Lane Lambert as those being considered for the post by Colorado general manager Joe Sakic.The various ties to the Blue Jackets - which includes Arniel - make sense, considering Colorado's assistant GM, Chris MacFarland, came to the club by way of Columbus.Larsen, however, also has a personal connection with the Avalanche, having been drafted by the team in 1997 and appearing in 92 games over five years during Sakic's days as a player. He previously served as head coach of the AHL's Springfield Falcons, leading the team to a pair of division championships before bring promoted to an assistant at the NHL level.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Jimmy Vesey appears to have fanned the flames of the Boston-New York sports rivalry.Related: Rangers sign Harvard forward Jimmy VeseyUpon choosing the Rangers over his hometown Bruins after extensive meetings and deliberations, Vesey promptly caught a gibe from Boston forward Matt Beleskey, who signed with Boston as a free agent last summer.

Jimmy's got no regrets.The New York Rangers and their newest player, Jimmy Vesey, spoke with the media Friday night, after the highly sought-after free agent put pen to paper on a two-year, entry-level contract with the club. And both parties are ecstatic."I am very pleased to be a part of the Rangers organiziation," Vesey said. "Based on our talks I think New York was the right fit."Vesey strongly considered eight teams, tweeted the The Associated Press' Stephen Whyno. In the end, the Rangers won out, because they proved to Vesey that they really wanted the Hobey Baker Award winner.

Just when you thought the spotlight on Jimmy Vesey's long-awaited decision couldn't get any brighter, he chose the shiniest city in the world.The 23-year-old Harvard product is heading to Broadway after signing with the New York Rangers on Friday, ending months of constant speculation.While he may have broken the hearts of the several teams and fans courting his services, Vesey got the most out of his free-agent experience, and now everyone can shift their focus to how he'll perform come October.Where he'll slot inVesey joins an incredibly deep forward corps in New York - especially on the left wing, where he's expected to play - that includes the likes of Chris Kreider, Rick Nash, and the emerging J.T. Miller.Mats Zuccarello, Jesper Fast, and Kevin Hayes, a longtime friend of Vesey's, occupy the right side.Slotting Vesey in the top six will require some tinkering, perhaps moving Nash to the right wing and Fast down in the order, but head coach Alain Vigneault surely has options.In his final two seasons at Harvard, Vesey scored 56 goals in 70 contests, and it's reasonable to believe the Rangers will provide him power-play opportunities to fully take advantage of his offensive capabilities.Whether he's in the top or bottom six, bringing in Vesey to a roster that's added Mika Zibanejad, as well as veteran forwards Nathan Gerbe and Michael Grabner, over the offseason, could create one of the most potent attacks the Eastern Conference has to offer.Top of the prospect poolThe instant Vesey put pen to paper with the Rangers, he became their best prospect.Years of trading assets in pursuit of a Stanley Cup has left New York's cupboard bare, and adding a potential top-six forward on an entry-level contract provides immediate help with virtually no risk.Somewhat amazingly, the Rangers haven't had a first-round draft pick since 2012, when they selected defenseman Brady Skjei - who made a pleasant impact in his brief stint with the club last season - 28th overall.Along with Skjei, 2013 third-rounder Pavel Buchnevich is showing promise, scoring 37 points in 58 KHL games last season, but following those two, the Rangers' development pool is incredibly shallow.Will he be a difference-maker? After four consecutive seasons of advancing past the first round of the playoffs, including two Eastern Conference finals losses and one Stanley Cup defeat, the Rangers failed to continue the trend last season, losing to the Pittsburgh Penguins in five games this April.While adding Vesey was a big get, and a prudent signing, the Rangers' Cup window doesn't rest on him or its offense, but on the broad shoulders of goaltender Henrik Lundqvist, and a defensive platoon that lost Keith Yandle.Vesey is a nice addition to a team that ranked seventh in goals per game, but it's hard to believe he's the missing piece on a team that appears to be trending downward.Above all else, though, the recruiting saga is finished, and now the hockey world, including plenty of eyes in The Big Apple, can focus on what he offers on the ice.

Jimmy Vesey had no choice.The kid's a member of the New York Rangers now, ending his free agency by signing a two-year, entry-level deal Friday. And details are beginning to emerge about New York's sales pitch. Including the only one that matters:

The Boston Bruins wanted to keep Jimmy Vesey at home, and they tried. Hard.Born in North Reading, Mass., only 40 minutes north of Boston, and a Harvard product, Vesey clearly has ties to the area. In the end, though, he chose to sign with the New York Rangers, agreeing to a two-year deal in Manhattan.But the Bruins will sleep Friday night knowing their pitch was their best.

Jimmy loves Broadway.White smoke emerged from Jimmy Vesey headquarters Friday, as the former Harvard standout finally made his decision about his playing future, signing what's assumed to be a two-year, entry-level contract with the New York Rangers.Below you'll find some of the best reactions on Twitter after the deal was announced.If you're a Seinfeld fan, you'll like this one:

It was always the Pittsburgh Penguins for Thomas DiPauli.The Notre Dame standout was drafted by the Washington Capitals in the fourth round in 2012, but after three seasons in South Bend, he opted to sign a two-year entry-level contract with the Cup champs Friday.For DiPauli, it's a chance to play for the team he's always rooted for."They've always been my favorite team," he said. "I even wore 87 growing up. I'm one of those kids."Unfortunately for DiPauli, No. 87 is still unavailable in Pittsburgh.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The wait is over. Jimmy Vesey has finally found a new home.The 23-year-old has signed with the New York Rangers, the team announced Friday. It's assumed to be a two-year, entry-level contract.

In locking up Sean Monahan to a seven-year contract extension Friday, the Calgary Flames secured an integral part of their future, and now, the focus shifts to Monahan's linemate and partner in crime: Johnny Gaudreau.Flames general manager Brad Treliving recognizes the importance of reaching a deal with the team's leading scorer, but is approaching the situation with patience.Related: Gaudreau won't negotiate with Flames during World Cup"There's some uniqueness when you have two young players like this, relatively the same age, coming out at the same time," Treliving said, according to Sean Leahy of Yahoo Sports. "Is there some uniqueness? Sure there is. Does one impact the other? It's like we talked about earlier, there's a marketplace. ... We'll continue to work away. ... That's all you do. You pick away at it every little day. You try to find common ground."Monahan, too, is eager for his teammate to sign."It takes time. I'm positive he's going to be here for Oct. 12 and be playing for the Calgary Flames," Monahan said. "I'm not worried about it and obviously Brad's doing work on that part. I'm just looking forward to getting up to the World Cup and playing with him there and continue that chemistry into the season."Monahan and Gaudreau have proven to be one of the most dynamic duos in the NHL since uniting, contributing a combined 267 points over the past two seasons.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

North America is going to look good at the World Cup, at least.Goalie Matt Murray, who recently backstopped the Pittsburgh Penguins to a Stanley Cup win, put his mask on display Friday, and, quite simply, it's a beauty.

The Calgary Flames have rewarded Sean Monahan for a tremendous first three NHL seasons, and firmly believe there are many more to come.The 21-year-old signed a seven-year contract extension worth a reported $6.375 million per season on Friday, and general manager Brad Treliving says it's money well committed.

The hockey world continues to wait with bated breath on Jimmy Vesey.The 23-year-old NCAA player of the year continues to consider his options after meetings with eight teams earlier in the week - his agent Peter Donatelli said a decision is not likely going to happen today, but should be done this weekend, according to Brian Hedger of NHL.com.

Adam Henrique is attempting to add "goalie pad designer" to his resume.The New Jersey Devils center attempted to help backup goaltender Keith Kinkaid's quest for a new look for the upcoming season, placing forward Stephen Gionta's face on a famous body image of Seinfeld character George Costanza.

The Calgary Flames have signed one of their high-profile restricted free agents to a long-term contract.On the heels of the most productive season of his young career, 21-year-old center Sean Monahan has signed a seven-year contract extension.The deal is believed to be worth $44.625 million over the course of the seven-year term.

The Ontario Hockey League has announced player safety initiatives that could shape the future of the game.Most notably, the league has lowered the threshold prior to automatic disciplinary action from 10 fights per player per season to three fights per player per season.What this means is players will be subject to an automatic two game suspension for each fight exceeding the threshold. If a player is instigated upon, however, that fighting major is not included in the player’s total number of fights.On top of that, a new penalty for blind side hits has been introduced, whereby the officials can asses a minor, a major, and game misconduct or match penalty based on the nature of the specific incident in question.“As the number one development league in the world for the NHL and CIS, the OHL continually challenges ourselves to improve the on-ice environment and evolve the game for the benefit of the most important people in our game, our players,” said OHL commissioner David Branch.The Western Hockey League and Quebec Major Junior Hockey League may soon follow suit, meaning the number of players with significant experience engaging in fisticuffs moving on to the pro level could soon be greatly diminished.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Rickard Rakell of the Anaheim Ducks has been selected to replace injured St. Louis Blues forward Alexander Steen on Sweden's World Cup roster.The unsigned restricted free agent recorded 20 goals and 23 assists in 72 games for the Ducks in 2015-16, a sign of things to come, according to the Swedish coach:

Goalies have a unique perspective on the game, meaning Cory Schneider knows better than anyone what the New Jersey Devils gave up in trading Adam Larsson."(Larsson) really committed himself to playing as tough a defense as he could," Schneider told Chris Ryan of NJ.com. "As a goaltender, as a player, you appreciated the style of game he played."Eyebrows were raised around the hockey world when the Edmonton Oilers sent star winger Taylor Hall to the Devils in a straight-up deal for Larsson, but Schneider is well aware of the hole left on New Jersey's blue line."It's hard to replicate that, you don't find players like that very easily. That's why Edmonton had to give up such a good player to get him, because they're hard to come by," Schneider said."It will definitely create a hole for us, but we're hoping that there's some guys here that can fill that void and have a chance to step up."Schneider has somewhat quietly become one of the NHL's best goalies since becoming an unquestioned number one option in New Jersey. While the addition of Hall is huge up front, the impact of Larsson's departure on the team's overall defense remains to be seen.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Pittsburgh Penguins have officially announced the signing of forward Thomas DiPauli to a two-year, entry-level contract.Originally drafted by the Washington Capitals in the fourth round (100th overall) of the 2012 NHL Draft, DiPauli became a free agent on Aug. 16, and a deal with the Penguins was initially reported by multiple sources on Thursday.The 22-year-old appeared in 37 games for the University of Notre Dame this past season, notching 14 goals and 18 assists.In 145 career games at the NCAA level, DiPauli recorded 30 goals and 48 assists. His offensive upside will bring added depth to the Stanley Cup champions' already loaded forward corps.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

After meeting with several NHL teams, college free-agent forward Jimmy Vesey has yet to rule out any interested suitor."Everyone is still in the mix," said Peter Donatelli, an agent of Vesey, told ESPN. "We're going to try and drill down right now to a few (teams) and then either call some teams with some questions or not."We'll probably reach out to a few teams with some questions that we think were either unanswered or we want clarification on, but that's the intent today."Vesey, 23, has fielded offers from his hometown Boston Bruins, as well as the Buffalo Sabres, Chicago Blackhawks, New Jersey Devils, New York Islanders, New York Rangers, Pittsburgh Penguins, and the Toronto Maple Leafs.The possibility remains that the Hobey Baker winner could sign this weekend.Several teams have put their best foot forward in an attempt to recruit Vesey, with the likes of Patrick Kane, John Tavares, and Sidney Crosby pitching their respective clubs.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.