Less is more for Buffalo Sabres defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen, according to his head coach.In an interview with Buffalo's WGR 550, Dan Bylsma confessed to using the young blue-liner too frequently last season, as he appeared to experience fatigue with the increased workload, particularly down the stretch."We put him into a lot of tough situations and I think some of the numbers that roll out on him as far as Corsi and possession do reflect that," Bylsma said, "But frankly we played him too much at times."He's not going to like to hear this, but he's not a guy that should be getting 28 to 30 minutes per night, although we did it to him and we put him in those situations."The 21-year-old defenseman led all Sabres in ice time, averaging 25:16 - nearly three minutes more than Zach Bogosian (22:20), the second-highest Buffalo skater. It was a career high for the third-year defender, and an increase of nearly five minutes per game from the previous campaign.SeasonGPGAPts+/-TOI2015-168293241-2125:162014-157881220-3220:362013-1434224-1519:07Ristolainen's average ice time also ranked 10th-highest across the league.RankPositionSkaterAgeTOI1DErik Karlsson2628:582DRyan Suter3128:353DDrew Doughty2628:014DKris Letang2926:565DP.K. Subban2726:216DAlex Pietrangelo2626:187DBrent Burns3125:518DRoman Josi2625:299DShea Weber3125:2210DRasmus Ristolainen2125:16The 21-year-old is at least five years younger than every blue-liner on the list.Buffalo's acquisition of Florida Panthers defenseman Dmitry Kulikov will allow him some more time off, and his coach is certain the drop in minutes will lead to increased output."(Ristolainen's) number should be in the 24 minute per game range," Bylsma said, "and that's where you'll see him be at this next year, and his numbers will improve too because of that."Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The hockey world is Jimmy Vesey's oyster.For the next few days, at least.Set to become an unrestricted free agent at midnight ET on Tuesday, Vesey's camp will reportedly meet with representatives from the New York Islanders and New York Rangers over the next two days, writes Newsday's Steve Zipay and Arthur Staple.Vesey's agents will be meeting teams in Boston, and a decision is expected by Friday or Saturday.Related: Report: Leafs to likely use No. 1 pick Matthews in pitch to VeseyThe Rangers have long been documented as a suitor, and while many teams will be calling Vesey's camp, this is the first time the Islanders have been linked to the 23-year-old.Vesey's a Hobey Baker Award winner, given to the nation's top collegiate hockey player, and can sign a two-year entry-level contract with the team of his choice.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

If you're not yet excited about the World Cup of Hockey, this will do it.Upper Deck's clearly amped, and the cards manufacturer is releasing special five-card World Cup of Hockey packs to be given to customers who buy $25 worth of Upper Deck products as a gift.The cards will be available Sept. 15.Below are some images of the cards, courtesy of Upper Deck, with all eight teams - including Team Europe and Team North America - represented.Jonathan Toews:Evgeni Malkin:Patrick Kane:Connor McDavid:Autographed cards will be up for grabs, too:Yeah, you're excited.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Antoine Vermette won his first Stanley Cup with the Chicago Blackhawks, and he believes he can win his second with the Anaheim Ducks."I've always portrayed (the Ducks) as Cup contenders," Vermette told AnaheimDucks.com, after signing a two-year, $1.75-million-per-year deal with the Orange County club Monday. "That's a big thing for me. I had the chance to win it not too long ago, and now later in my career, I believe in this team and organization."According to agent Allan Walsh, Vermette had offers from five different clubs, but the Ducks stood out as a team that continued to express interest."As talks evolved, some (teams) were more interested than others," he said. "Anaheim was there all throughout the process."Vermette became a free agent after his contract was bought out by the Arizona Coyotes earlier this month.The 34-year-old will provide Anaheim with valuable center depth, likely lining up as the third pivot behind captain Ryan Getzlaf and veteran center Ryan Kesler.A noted faceoff specialist, Vermette ranks second among all active NHLers, winning 55.8 per cent of his career draws. In each of the past four seasons, he's ranked in the top 10 in faceoff wins.He'll also provide Ducks coach Randy Carlyle with an extra option on the power play. Only two Anaheim skaters, Corey Perry (12) and former Ducks winger Jamie McGinn (9), tallied more power-play goals than Vermette (6) last season.As Ducks GM Bob Murray told the Orange County Register, "Antoine is very versatile and gives us a bunch more options with our forward group."In 76 games with Arizona last season, Vermette scored 17 goals and added 21 assists. Following his 2015 trade to Chicago, he provided the Hawks with much-needed playoff scoring, including three game-winning goals."I'm glad to be on (Anaheim's) side. They have a lot of tools in the lineup that can hurt you, and there are a lot of good players," he said. "I'm very excited to jump on board and find the right chemistry to give us another championship."Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Although he's still two years removed from free agency, John Tavares has no intent to leave Long Island.Speaking with Newsday.com, the New York Islanders captain expressed his desire to stay with the franchise long term, and his commitment to leading the team to its fifth Stanley Cup."I don't really have any reason to leave and I think we have a great makeup and a team that can do something special this year," Tavares said. "I've always expressed my love for playing for Long Island. It's where I started, it's all I know in the NHL."The Islanders can sign Tavares to a long-term extension July 1, one year before he can become an unrestricted free agent."There's obviously still a lot of time, but Long Island is where I enjoy playing. I love being the captain there and they've treated me so well. The people, the fans have always been so good to me."The Islanders have seen renewed success under Tavares. New York eliminated the Florida Panthers in the opening round of the 2016 playoffs, marking the Islanders' first playoff series victory since 1993."Winning that tough series against a good team gave us the belief that we've got what it takes to go right to the end."GM Garth Snow looked to build upon that success this offseason, signing a trio of free-agent wingers in Jason Chimera, Andrew Ladd, and P.A. Parenteau.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Toronto Maple Leafs are putting Auston Matthews to work.With Harvard standout Jimmy Vesey set to hit the free-agent market at midnight Tuesday, the first overall pick in this summer's draft is going to be putting on his salesman suit before he plays a game in blue and white:

New Jersey Devils goalie Cory Schneider is rested and ready to go, with his sights set on the World Cup.After undergoing offseason core muscle surgery, Schneider is looking forward to starring in goal for Team USA at the upcoming World Cup."Surgery pushed me back a little," Schneider told NHL.com. "But honestly I think having the World Cup sooner was a good thing because once I was cleared and felt good to go, I started pushing pretty hard."It's been a good, focused summer in terms of not only rehabbing, but keeping in mind that you have to be in game shape a little sooner than normal because you don't have as long a training camp to ease into it."Schneider admits that part of the challenge will be the quick adjustment to the World Cup's short schedule."When you play in the Olympics, guys are in midseason form and they have it already, but for this tournament we all have to find a way to come in with an intensity and focus you normally don't have at the beginning of September."While Schneider is excited to play for his country, he noted that his priority is being healthy for Devils training camp."It's a fine line talking with my strength coach and trying to figure out the pace and I am still in a strength mode because of the surgery, but it's not just the tournament. It's 82 games and hopefully more after that I need to prepare for."Team USA's first game is set for Sept. 17 vs. Team Europe.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Canadian Olympic swimming superstar Penny Oleksiak's ties to hockey go deeper than her brother, Jamie, who plays defense for the Dallas Stars.Now up to almost 45,000 followers after a miraculous week in Rio, Penny took part in a Twitter Q&A with BuzzFeed Canada on Monday, and revealed that her "biggest fan" is named after an NHL legend:

While he's set to become an unrestricted free agent Tuesday, highly coveted Hobey Baker winner Jimmy Vesey won't rush to a decision.''It's certainly not going to be tomorrow,'' Vesey's agent, Peter Fish, told The Associated Press. ''I would say the earliest may be Friday or Saturday, but I wouldn't expect it to drag on much into the following week.''Vesey, 23, was drafted 66th overall by the Nashville Predators in 2012, but decided to forego signing with the club in order to pursue free agency.In June, the Predators traded Vesey's rights to the Buffalo Sabres for a 2016 third-rounder.In addition to the Sabres, Boston, Chicago, New Jersey, and Toronto are believed to be among the interested suitors.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Although he's entering his final season as head coach, St. Louis Blues bench boss Ken Hitchcock couldn't be more excited.Speaking with the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Hitchcock voiced his enthusiasm for the coming year, highlighting the team's crop of young talent.The Blues are expected to take on a younger look following the departures of David Backes, 32, and Troy Brouwer, 30, with 24-year-olds Jaden Schwartz and Vladimir Tarasenko growing into larger roles."We have a lot of guys that started young and we've grown them into the group," Hitchcock said. "We've got experienced players who are just hitting their prime now."Hitchcock also raved about the additions made behind the bench.In June, the Blues announced the appointment of Mike Yeo (formerly of the Minnesota Wild), who will serve as associate coach and assume the main job a year from now.Rick Wilson, who won the Stanley Cup in 1999 with Hitchcock as part of the Dallas Stars, was also named assistant coach."We're able to cherry-pick what Minny did. Their team was built the same way that our team is going to be built this year, not really big on size, but a bunch of puck-hunters."Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

With just over a month until the World Cup of Hockey kicks off, Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby is thrilled that one of the game's biggest pests will be on his side of the ice.Boston Bruins forward Brad Marchand has made his mark in the league as a bruiser and a thorn in the side of the opposition. For Crosby the tournament will provide the rare opportunity to play alongside Marchand."You’re so used to playing against him, you know the way he plays," Crosby chuckles," Crosby said, according to Sportsnet's Luke Fox. Having him on your team is going to be so much more enjoyable than having to play against him."Having a local guy, someone who’s from the same area, I think that’s pretty special to be competing for Team Canada with someone like that."Marchand was added as one of the final additions to Team Canada's roster and after hitting a career-high 37 goals and 60 points this past season; Crosby feels it's no wonder he was chosen."You look at the season he had—he’s proven he can be a lot more than just an agitator. He’s a really good player, but part of his game is playing a tough brand [of hockey]. Playing right on that edge," Crosby says. "He’s had a tremendous career so far. I think that’ll be someone fun to join up with."Fun aside, Crosby, Marchand, and co. will look to duplicate the result of the last World Cup of Hockey back in 2004 that saw Canada walk away tournament champions.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Karl Alzner is hoping to be in the Washington Capitals' lineup on opening night.The defenseman has been recovering from offseason surgery to repair a sports hernia and groin injury suffered last campaign.Alzner has been working out and admits it's now just a matter of time before he's back to his best."I was working out after the first week [following the procedure], which was fast," Alzner said, according to Tarik El-Bashir of CSN Mid-Atlantic. "The hernia is going to be fine. The only thing is the groin; I’m still waiting for that to be 100-percent."Alzner had been dealing with the injury for a large part of the year, but was forced to leave Game 6 in the second round of the playoffs against the Pittsburgh Penguins - which his team ultimately lost, knocking them out of contention."I can do everything now, but I’m just maybe a half step slow because I can’t get the full extension with the power, the little kick at the end," said Alzner. "Once I get that kick back, then I’m 90-100 [percent]. So, I’m close."His 458-game iron man streak remains intact and should extend as long as he's back to kick off the regular season.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Anaheim Ducks signed forward Antoine Vermette to a two-year contract on Monday, the team announced.While the club did not release the terms of the deal, it is expected to pay the 34-year-old a total of $3.5 million, according to TVA Sports' Renaud Lavoie.Vermette became an unrestricted free-agent on Aug. 1 after the Arizona Coyotes elected to buy out the final year of his contract.

United States Senator Richard Blumenthal has made another plea to NHL commissioner Gary Bettman, urging him to change his stance on the topic of head injuries and possible Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy in players.Related: Bettman again denies CTE link in response to U.S. SenatorBlumenthal stated his extreme displeasure with Bettman's views on a possible link between repeated blows to the head and CTE back in late July, and on Monday penned a letter which included suggestions to Bettman on how he and the league should proceed with the matter.In the letter, Blumenthal asked why the league was so quick to discard evidence from researchers in the field, despite claiming to have the players' best interests at heart."The league's position is entangled in conflicting, mixed messages. The NHL insists that player safely is sacrosanct - a 'top priority' for the league - and recognizes the many dangers of concussions and head impacts. Your letter notes concussions can cause 'long-term lasting effects' like 'permanent brain injury' and 'permanent brain damage.' But the league appears unwilling to consider even the possibility that concussions cause CTE."In his response to Blumenthal back in July, Bettman warned the Senator not to give in to "speculation and fear mongering," suggesting evidence that a relationship between concussions and CTE is still not concrete.Blumenthal concluded his letter to Bettman by pleading for the league to be proactive in setting an example for all players on the subject, and suggested the league create a foundation dedicated to researching the matter."An investment in such research literally would help save lives - and enable the league to lead by example. It would put the NHL on the right side of history and health. Your apparent current indifference is a disservice to fans and players.I invite you to re-evaluate and resubmit your response, delineating the steps you are taking to advance science instead of dismissing it."Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

If Taylor Hall had it his way, things would have turned out differently in Edmonton.The 24-year-old was dealt to the New Jersey Devils this offseason in exchange for defenseman Adam Larsson, and while he's exciting about his new journey with the Devils, he can't help but feel like there was unfinished business with the Oilers."I just want to be on the best team possible, and I think that goes without saying. It sucks what happened in Edmonton, and it's unfortunate we didn't have more success, but then I probably wouldn't be here," Hall said, according to NJ.com's Chris Ryan. "I'm excited for the opportunity ahead."While Hall has yet to skate alongside his new teammates in a game, he's already setting goals for himself and envisions a strong season for the Devils."Just win more. It's not an easy division by any means, but just looking at our team on paper, if we can stay healthy and rely on Cory (Schneider) a little bit less, it's going to put us in a good spot," Hall said. "I haven't played a game yet, so I don't have quite as good of a feel as I will 20 games into the season, but I'm excited for what I see right now."The Devils finished last season with 84 points, good enough for 12th place in the Eastern Conference. The team also managed to put up a league-worst 2.22 goals per game, a glaring reason for the addition of Hall.Luckily for New Jersey, Hall finished last season just one goal shy of matching his career-best of 27, finishing with 65 points - more than any Devils player.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It turns out Alexander Radulov was a highly sought-after commodity prior to signing with the Montreal Canadiens this offseason.The Russian forward spoke to sport-express.ru, according to Igor Eronko, where he explained that the Canadiens were not the only club vying for his services."The Panthers and Red Wings were the most realistic options besides the Habs," said Radulov. "Also I was in talks with the Devils."Radulov also explained that during his negotiations, it was actually his former KHL club that offered him the most lucrative contract."CSKA offered me more than any NHL team, but I wanted to play in North America," said Radulov.

The Arizona Coyotes are close to signing free-agent winger Radim Vrbata, according to Craig Morgan of Arizona Sports.

The goalie tandem is the NHL's answer to the two-headed monster. When it works, it provides two quality puck stoppers and, when not, it often leaves the coach scratching his head.The NHL has seen some impressive duos over the years, from Johnny Bower and Terry Sawchuk with the Leafs in the 1960s, Dominik Hasek and Ed Belfour with the Blackhawks in the 1990s, to Roberto Luongo and Corey Schneider with Vancouver (sorry, Canucks fans) in recent years.We've outlined our top 5 picks of who will be the most interesting tandems to follow this coming season:1. Thomas Greiss & Jaroslav Halak - IslandersGoalieGPRecordSOGAASV %Greiss4123-11-412.36.925Halak3618-13-432.30.919Following an early-March groin injury to starter Jaroslav Halak, backup Thomas Greiss was left to carry the load. The 30-year-old Greiss played in all but six games down the stretch, making the most of his opportunity on Long Island, after showing glimpses of strong play in previous stops in San Jose, Arizona, and Pittsburgh.Greiss' strong play continued in the postseason, appearing in all 11 games and leading New York to its first series win since 1993. As for Halak, he underwent sports hernia surgery this offseason, though he plans to play for Team Europe at the World Cup. Halak, 31, has two years left on his deal, carrying a $4.5-million cap hit.2. Antti Niemi & Kari Lehtonen - StarsGoalieGPRecordSOGAASV %Niemi4825-13-732.67.905Lehtonen4325-10-222.76.906No two goalies split the net more last season than Dallas' Antti Niemi and Kari Lehtonen. And it didn't look half bad until that pesky elimination game versus the St. Louis Blues, in which the two combined to allow five goals on 18 shots.Lehtonen saw the bulk of the work in the playoffs (555 minutes), compared to Niemi (237 minutes), despite the latter being a key piece in Chicago's 2010 Stanley Cup win. Nevertheless, the duo's body of work appears to be good enough for the Stars, as GM Jim Nill is in no rush to make a change in the crease.3. Steve Mason & Michal Neuvirth - FlyersGoalieGPRecordSOGAASV %Mason5423-19-1042.51.918Neuvirth3218-8-432.27.924What's a goalie list without the Philadelphia Flyers? The Flyers have used seven different goalies (10 or more games) since 2010, and after shuffling through its latest round of netminders, Philly settled on Steve Mason and Michal Neuvirth last season.While Mason saw the majority of regular-season duty, the goaltenders took three games a piece in the playoffs, with wildly different outcomes. While Mason's numbers bloated to a 4.09 GAA and an abysmal .852 save percentage, Neuvirth showed some of the promise that Washington saw in him years ago, sporting a .981 save percentage and a minuscule 0.67 GAA.4. Ryan Miller & Jacob Markstrom - CanucksGoalieGPRecordSOGAASV %Miller5117-24-912.70.916Markstrom3313-14-402.73.915It's no Luongo/Schneider pairing, but the Canucks' biggest issue last season wasn't between the pipes. Signing veteran Ryan Miller as a free agent in 2014, the 36-year-old hasn't provided the same level of support he did in his prime with Buffalo, but he doesn't appear ready to give up the starter's job just yet.Meanwhile, the Canucks recently re-signed Jacob Markstrom to a three-year contract, further complicating their crease. Last year's 33 games was a career high for Markstrom, as he began to show the potential that the Florida Panthers saw in him before dealing him to the Canucks in March 2014.5. Roberto Luongo & James Reimer - PanthersGoalieGPRecordSOGAASV %Luongo6235-19-642.35.922Reimer4017-14-732.31.922On July 1, the Panthers signed James Reimer to a 5-year, $17-million deal. While not the starter's role he desired, the expectation is that Reimer will get regular work, especially early, with Luongo not available until early November after undergoing offseason hip surgery.In any event, it's too much to expect the 37-year-old Luongo to keep up his 60-plus-game pace. Reimer will have the chance to transition into the No. 1 role in the future. Reimer, 28, played 40 games last year (32 with Toronto, eight with San Jose), posting a 1.62 GAA and .938 save percentage with the Sharks.Honorable Mention: Marc-Andre Fleury & Matt Murray - PenguinsGoalieGPRecordSOGAASV %Fleury5835-17-652.29.921Murray139-2-112.00.930How can this list be complete without last year's playoff hero? Simple. We need a bigger sample size. Is Matt Murray the next Andrew Hammond or the next Cam Ward?Despite only appearing in 13 regular-season games, Murray got the nod in the playoffs, posting a 2.08 GAA alongside a .923 save percentage, leading Pittsburgh to its fourth Cup in franchise history. But, we also can't forget about Marc-Andre Fleury, who put up top regular-season numbers and aims to win back the starter's role.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Ottawa Senators will be a part of the postseason dance, according to new general manager Pierre Dorion."Without a doubt, and I know when you work for an organization you're biased about your players because you drafted a lot of them and you've made a trade for a few of them," Dorion told Postmedia's Bruce Garrioch. "But, for sure, there's no doubt in my mind that I think we're a playoff team."It's been a busy offseason for Dorion, who took over the post in early April from outgoing GM Bryan Murray.Dorion, 44, has been with the Ottawa organization since 2007, holding different roles over that time, including amateur scout, director of player personnel and, most recently, assistant general manager.The new manager has not been shy about making bold moves. Last month, the Senators acquired center Derick Brassard from the New York Rangers for young pivot Mika Zibanejad. The 28-year-old Brassard is from nearby Hull, Quebec."You look at the personnel, the coaching, and the improvement of the 20 guys we're going to put on the ice from where we finished last year to where we are now and I really feel this is a playoff team."Dorion has his work cut out for him, as the Senators have missed the playoffs two of the last three years, with just one series win since the team advanced to the Stanley Cup Finals in 2007.SeasonRecordPointsPlayoffs2015-1638-35-985Missed2014-1543-26-1399Lost in Round 12013-1437-31-1488MissedAmong the other roster moves, the team dealt winger Alex Chiasson to the Calgary Flames for young defenseman Patrick Sieloff, signed free-agent center and former Senator Chris Kelly, while longtime blue-liner Chris Phillips announced his retirement.The Senators also brought in Guy Boucher as their new head coach. Boucher last coached in the NHL in 2013 as the bench boss of the Tampa Bay Lightning.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Jimmy Vesey is reportedly listening to one last pre-free agency pitch from the team that owns his negotiating rights.The Hobey Baker Award winner's camp is having last-minute discussions with the Buffalo Sabres, reports TSN's Ryan Rishaug.Vesey will still likely test the free-agent market when eligible Monday, but the Sabres remain 'very much in the mix' to sign him, according to the report.The 23-year-old's adviser, Peter Fish, told Yahoo Sports' Josh Cooper on Saturday that there's no favorite to sign his client and confirmed they were still talking with the Sabres, who have "always been a team that has interested" Vesey.The Chicago Blackhawks, New Jersey Devils, Toronto Maple Leafs and Boston Bruins have all reportedly been linked to Vesey since his camp revealed its client's intent to become a free agent.Related - Report: Vesey narrows list to half-dozen NHL teamsBuffalo acquired the Harvard standout's negotiating rights in a trade with the Nashville Predators in June.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Pittsburgh Penguins forward Bryan Rust got his turn with the Stanley Cup on Saturday, and decided to pull a Sidney Crosby by napping with the trophy.The intimate moment was captured by Phil Pritchard, the official keeper of the Stanley Cup.

Few teams have navigated the NHL expansion waters like the Anaheim Ducks and Tampa Bay Lightning.Winning is crucial in non-traditional markets, and the Ducks and Lightning have done just that, capturing Stanley Cups and establishing winning cultures. Today, both franchises are seen as consistent contenders.TeamJoinedFirst SeasonFirst PlayoffsStanley CupsSan Jose199139 Points19940Tampa Bay199253 Points19961 (2004)Anaheim199371 Points19971 (2007)Florida199383 Points19960Nashville199863 Points20040Atlanta199939 Points20070Since 1991, the NHL has added San Jose, Tampa Bay, Anaheim, Florida, Nashville, Atlanta, and now Las Vegas, which is set to begin play in 2017. That's seven teams in the U.S. sunbelt in 25 years (not including the relocated Stars, Coyotes, and Hurricanes).While most of these teams saw early success, the Lightning and Ducks stand ahead of the pack as the sole Stanley Cup champions.The Lightning were the first to capture Lord Stanley, winning the Cup in 2004, after only 12 seasons in the NHL. That season, the Bolts finished with a franchise-best 106 points. The team then broke that record in 2014-15, posting 108 points en route to another Stanley Cup Finals appearance, only to lose to the Chicago Blackhawks.The Ducks brought the Cup to Orange County in their 13th season, topping off their playoff run with a five-game defeat of the Ottawa Senators. The team was led by the defensive duo of Scott Niedermayer and Chris Pronger, plus goalie Jean-Sebastien Giguere, who three years earlier nearly led the Ducks to the Cup with a heroic playoff campaign.In 22 years, the Ducks have qualified for the playoffs on 12 occasions, losing in the first round only five times. In other words, when the Ducks make the playoffs, there's a better-than-not chance they'll advance. Anaheim has made it to Round 3 or later four times since 2003.But that's not to say the NHL's other new faces haven't had some levels of success. The road has just been longer and the silver mug hasn't yet made it to the Bay Area, Sunrise, or the Music City.In their inaugural season, the Sharks led the league with an embarrassing 58 losses, only to top that feat a year later with 71 losses and a lowly 11 wins. But the dark days soon got brighter. From 1998 to 2014, the Sharks missed the playoffs just once, even running a 10-year playoff streak. Last season was the Sharks' best to date, as they advanced to the Stanley Cup Finals, only to fall to the Pittsburgh Penguins in a six-game battle.The Florida Panthers were the most impressive expansion franchise early on, finishing their first season with 83 points, just one shy of the playoffs. Two years later, the team went on a Cinderella run to the Stanley Cup Finals (you remember the rats?), led by winger Scott Mellanby and goalie John Vanbiesbrouck, only to lose to the Colorado Avalanche.But the success didn't last for the Panthers. After the 1996 playoffs, the team was lost in the hockey wilderness, with just two playoff appearances in the next 14 years, including an NHL-record 10-year playoff dry spell (although the Edmonton Oilers may have something to say about that). The Panthers are now on the right track, finishing atop the Atlantic Division last season.In Nashville, the Predators have emerged as a legitimate Stanley Cup threat. Part of the reason Nashville found early success was its hiring of general manager David Poile (still with the club) and head coach Barry Trotz, now with the Washington Capitals. In acquiring offensive juggernauts like Filip Forsberg and P.K. Subban, the Predators have shed their defense-first label, adding an offensive threat to their arsenal.Though no longer with us, the Atlanta Thrashers serve as the expansion example of what not to do (think of George Costanza's "The Opposite"). Part of the reason the Thrashers now call Winnipeg home is because of their lack of on-ice success. It's difficult to draw interest when you win just 56 of your first 246 games. Through 11 seasons, the Thrashers made the playoffs just once, a sweep at the hands of the New York Rangers. Eleven years and zero playoff wins.Emulating the early success of the Ducks and Lightning will serve hockey well in Sin City, and hiring an experienced GM like George McPhee puts Las Vegas on the right track for early returns.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Former Arizona Coyotes general manager Don Maloney had hoped to re-sign center Martin Hanzal prior to the start of the season, but new GM John Chayka appears to be taking a different path."If there was something that made sense, we would probably take a closer look at that because Marty's been a good player for us," Chayka told Arizona Sports on Thursday. "But maybe it's not a bad thing to get into the season and see how things play out."Hanzal, 29, can become an unrestricted free agent next summer when his current five-year pact expires.It's familiar territory for the Coyotes, who entered last season with winger Mikkel Boedker unsigned, only to deal him to Colorado at the deadline.In 64 games last season, Hanzal scored a career-high 41 points, tallying 13 goals and 28 assists.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Fear not, Ottawa Senators fans, the team expects Cody Ceci to be on the blue line for opening night.Ceci is still a restricted free agent, but Senators general manager Pierre Dorion told Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun that the team expects to reach a deal with the defenseman soon."It's taken a bit longer than I anticipated," Dorion said. "I think maybe (J.P. Barry, Ceci's agent) is trying to test me in my first time as GM, even though I've done quite a (few) contracts before. He'll be playing for us Oct. 12. I think in the next few weeks we'll get something done."Dorion said recent discussions with Barry have been positive."J.P and I exchanged emails (Thursday) and they were really positive emails," he said. "We're still looking at different angles and what we can do for a contract but I have a lot of faith."Ceci enjoyed a breakout season in 2015-16, notching a career high in goals with 10 and points with 26. The 22-year-old no doubt wants a long-term deal, but, given he just completed his third season and only has 56 career points, the Sens will likely want to be cautious.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Two tickets to tonight's San Jose Rubber Puckies game. Who wants 'em?Bash Las Vegas if it ultimately decides on an unoriginal name like the Red Hawks, rather than Knights, Vipers, or Wranglers. But at least it's playing it safe, avoiding the ridicule that comes with an awful team nickname.With that, here are our top five cringeworthy names that nearly made it into NHL circles:1. San Jose Rubber PuckiesWhile not a finalist (that distinction goes to the "San Jose Blades"), the Rubber Puckies was a consideration when the NHL returned to the Bay Area in 1991.Despite the Blades winning a name-the-team contest, ownership selected the Sharks nickname based on its local connection, unique color scheme, and its inability to be shortened in a headline.Other possibilities included the Salty Dogs and Screaming Squids, which don't look too bad next to the Rubber Puckies.2. Phoenix Moon DoggiesIt's one thing to move a franchise from the Canadian Prairies to the Arizona desert. It's a whole different animal to ignore the traditions of the sport.Thankfully, the franchise opted for a regional and likeable name in the Coyotes, still achieving a unique appeal. The name came to be following a name-the-team contest, topping facepalm-inducing votes like the Moon Doggies, Goal Miners, and Phreeze (Yes, with a 'Ph').Another possibility? The Phoenix Jets. That'd have been interesting!3. Colorado ExtremeIt's a great pick if you're naming an XFL franchise, but this is pro hockey.The NHL called Denver home from 1976 to 1982, before the Colorado Rockies uprooted for New Jersey. When the NHL returned, the Rockies nickname had been scooped by baseball.In need of a new name, and with the relocated Nordiques moniker not a fit with the local landscape, the team chose to honor the Rocky Mountains, selecting the Avalanche, ahead of the Big Horns, Black Bears, Explorers, and Storm.4. Nashville Ice TigersLike the Extreme, it's a name generally reserved for the minor pro level. See the AHL's Rockford IceHogs and the ECHL's Orlando Solar Bears.However, the Predators' history is different than most, with the team named after a saber-toothed tiger fossil that was discovered in downtown Nashville.When hockey came to the Music City, a saber-tooth logo was drawn up, with a contest asking fans for a name based on the design. Ultimately (and thankfully), the Predators won out, besting the Ice Tigers, as well as the Attack, Fury, and Rage.5. Hampton Roads RhinosWait, who? In 1997, southeastern Virginia was the subject of an NHL expansion bid, to play in downtown Norfolk.However, the bid was short-lived, as later that year it was announced that the Hartford Whalers would relocate to Raleigh, N.C., only a short trip from the Virginia city.In the end, the Hurricanes were born and the Rhinos were sent to the hockey graveyard.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Alexander Ovechkin likely still has many years ahead of him in the NHL, but the jersey from his first game is already a hot commodity.The Washington Capitals sniper's sweater from his first game against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Oct. 5, 2005 recently sold at an auction for $14,340, according to Allan Muir of Sports Illustrated. Ovechkin didn't even wear the jersey during the game, removing it for a different one following warmup.The jersey was initially auctioned off for nearly $8,000 by the NHL in 2005, so that's not a bad return on your investment.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Jimmy Vesey appears destined to become a free agent on Aug. 15, but that doesn't mean he's ruled out the team that currently holds his negotiating rights.Vesey's agent Peter Fish told Josh Cooper of Puck Daddy that the Buffalo Sabres are still in the mix to sign the 2016 Hobey Baker Award winner."I think there’s a lot of things out there that either aren’t true or people are just searching to say things," Fish said. "We’re still talking with Buffalo, who will be part of this process once free agency happens, if it happens, which I assume is going to happen. Jimmy wanted to go to free agency all along. He wanted to see it through and, so Buffalo has always been a team that has interested him, but he wants to compare with a few other teams once it happens on the 15th."Fish also said Vesey hasn't talked too much about where he wants to go and instead is going to wait to hear all his options."Jimmy’s, he really is an interesting kid. He has been very quiet about it. He hasn’t talked much about it," Fish said. "He and I and my other colleague Pete Donatelli, we talk to him maybe every week or so and kind of bounce things off. We’ve had some good discussions with the Sabres, but it’s not something that’s talked about every day. I think Jimmy just can’t wait to see all the options, hear everybody out and make his decision and then move on."The Sabres have been working to sign Vesey ever since they acquired his rights from the Nashville Predators in the offseason. Vesey was a third round pick of Nashville's in the 2012 draft before he went on to star at Harvard.A recent report stated that Vesey had cut his list down to six teams, and Fish confirmed the Chicago Blackhawks are one of the teams the 23-year-old wants to speak to.Vesey's father is a scout for the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Boston Bruins aren't far from his hometown in Massachusetts, so one would think those two teams would be in the mix as well.That being said, Fish noted his client isn't someone who craves the spotlight of a big hockey market."I think he would prefer to be under the radar," Fish said. "He’s not the type of kid who enjoys necessarily being talked about all the time. He’s a good teammate, he’s a good kid. He’s pretty quiet and quietly goes about his business as a hockey player. He’s not afraid of the spotlight or anything like that. He’s a kid that probably prefers to fly under the radar a bit."Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The market for Antoine Vermette appears to be hot.Vermette currently has offers from five teams and will be making a decision on his new destination sometime on Monday, according to his agent Allan Walsh.The 34-year-old was bought out by the Arizona Coyotes earlier this month in somewhat of a surprising move. Vermette posted 17 goals and 21 assists in 76 games last season, but it's clear the Coyotes want to disperse ice time to younger players.A strong faceoff man, Vermette is the type of veteran that could add some solid depth to a contender. Just ask the Chicago Blackhawks, who picked up Vermette for their 2014-15 Stanley Cup run, and watched him post seven points in the postseason while recording a sparkling 58.7 percent mark in the faceoff circle.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Erik Gudbranson's no longer a member of the team, but he's still mindful of how the Florida Panthers do business.Traded to the Vancouver Canucks for Jared McCann in late May, Gudbranson's still in South Florida working out in preparation for the season, and made a point to take off his hat when he met with the Miami Herald's George Richards."(Team president) Dale (Tallon) would kill me if I wore a backward hat on camera," Gudbranson said.The 24-year-old was drafted by the Panthers in 2010, third overall. Florida's the only club he's ever known. A lot of emotions come with a trade, especially to a city about as far away as one can get from Miami, and especially after the Panthers had their best-ever season."There's a buzz around hockey here now and I'd like to think that, as part of the Panthers the past few years, we created it," Gudbranson said. "It's sort of sad to leave, but hopefully this thing continues to grow and hockey becomes the prominent sport down here."But, hey, to new beginnings: Gudbranson's from Ottawa, Ontario, and he's looking forward to playing in a market that breathes hockey."I was surprised about the trade, but Vancouver is a huge hockey market and I'm excited to be going there," he said. "It was a shock to be traded, I didn't see it coming. But it's a business. I'll keep going."Gudbranson's under contract for one year at $3.5 million, a deal he signed as a Panther before being traded. He'll play an integral role on Vancouver's blue line this coming season and will be a restricted free agent on July 1, 2017.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

In life, it's important to have dreams. To dream big, in fact.Nick Bonino had a dream. The Pittsburgh Penguins forward told his mom about it."Nick would say, 'If we ever win the Stanley Cup, we're eating pasta out of it,'" his mother Joanne told the Hartford Courant's Jeff Jacobs.Well, Bonino's dream came true Thursday. He and his grandparents, who are both in their 90s, ate pasta out of the Cup. Tuna fish with angel hair, if you were wondering. Secret family recipe.Jacobs chronicled Bonino's day with the Cup, and the quote Bonino's mother remembered - "If we ever win ..." - provides a window into the character of the 28-year-old. Bonino didn't win the Cup - his entire family did. His hometown did. His boarding school, Avon Old Farms, did.An estimated 5,000 people showed up at Avon Old Farms to celebrate the Cup with Bonino, an experience he called "very humbling." Yet after a miracle playoff run - in which Bonino had four goals and 18 points in 24 games and became an internet sensation thanks to Hockey Night Punjabi's "Bonino! Bonino! Bonino!" calls of his goals - it's watching his grandparents enjoy the Cup that will stay with him forever."I think that's the one memory I will cherish the most," he said. "My nana and poppa kissing the Cup and eating pasta out of it is something I will never forget."How could he?Family and big dreams. That's what Bonino's all about."I dreamt of it. It's tough to think of it as reality."Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Martin St. Louis, NHL insider. At least, he is to Derick Brassard.Brassard, traded from the New York Rangers to the Ottawa Senators in July for Mika Zibanejad, learned of the deal in a text message from St. Louis, writes NHL.com's Chris Stevenson."I think Ottawa is an up-and-coming team," St. Louis told Brassard. "I think it's going to be good for you."Brassard was confused. "I was like, 'What is he talking about?' After that, my phone started blowing up."Brassard met with the Ottawa media for the first time Friday, wearing his new jersey, which bears No. 19. He's excited to be a Senator, and likes the mix of skill, size, and toughness on the Senators roster.Turning 29 in late September, Brassard was born in Hull, Quebec, across the river from Ottawa. He's essentially playing at home."Playing in front of my friends and family is going to give me another edge to my game," Brassard said.A former first-round pick of the Columbus Blue Jackets, Brassard has been a productive NHLer throughout his career. And he's come into his own - his last two seasons were his best. He had 60 points in 2014-15 and scored a career-high 27 goals last season on Broadway, finishing with 58 points.Brassard heads to Ottawa with playoff experience, something general manager Pierre Dorion wanted. And much like in New York, Brassard's projected to be the team's No. 2 center."I want to show everyone (the Senators) made a good choice," Brassard said.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Only three months removed from the Stanley Cup Finals, Joe Thornton will shoot for gold with Team Canada at the 2016 World Cup of Hockey.The 37-year-old is one of just six players from Canada's 2004 World Cup roster still active in the NHL. That group also includes Shane Doan, Jarome Iginla, Patrick Marleau, Jay Bouwmeester, and Roberto Luongo.Thornton is the lone player who will get a chance at a repeat championship as part of this year's Canadian squad. He was added to the final roster on May 27.Thornton has donned the red and white on six occasions, winning three gold medals.In 41 games with Team Canada, "Jumbo Joe" has tallied 12 goals and 21 assists, representing the Great White North at the World Juniors (1997), World Championships (2001, 2005), World Cup (2004), and the Winter Olympics (2006, 2010).At the 2004 World Cup, Thornton's six points ranked second among all Canadian skaters, and only two points back of tournament leader Fredrik Modin."(Thornton's) still one of the best power-play players and in my opinion he's one of the top three passers - if not the best - in the world," Doug Armstrong, general manager of Team Canada, said in June.The World Cup returns to the hockey stage for the first time since 2004, with the first game set for Sept. 17 in Toronto.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Las Vegas Nighthawks may be a safe bet after all.Amid reports that the NHL's newest franchise had ruled out Thursday's leak of three potential team names, owner Bill Foley confirmed to the Las Vegas Review-Journal's Steve Carp that the Nighthawks nickname is still under consideration."Nighthawks is still a name we're considering," Foley told Carp, "though we are probably not going to go with the others (Red Hawks and Desert Hawks)."Nighthawks honors a bird that is in Las Vegas and a fighter aircraft from an air force base in Las Vegas (Nellis AFB). I think Nighthawks is a beautiful name."According to Foley, the team has also filed trademark applications for two other potential names.The Las Vegas franchise has had a busy summer since officially joining the NHL on June 22, hiring general manager George McPhee, assistant general manager Kelly McCrimmon, and several other executives.The team name and logo appears to be next on the docket, with Foley expecting a formal announcement in late September or early October.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

That's just not fair.Vladimir Tarasenko returned to his old stomping grounds recently, participating in a shootout contest with the KHL's Novosibirsk Sibir, where he played four seasons from 2008-12.During the competition, the St. Louis Blues sniper had the puck on a string - literally - and left an unsuspecting goalie in his wake.- With h/t/ to Puck DaddyCopyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Ottawa Senators are examining all options in their quest for a new deal with defenseman Cody Ceci.The parties have discussed a two-year bridge contract, as well as a long-term, six-year deal, according to Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun.Both options fit in the Senators' books, with just over $8.8 million in available cap space.While it's unclear what direction the team will go, Senators general manager Pierre Dorion is optimistic they'll put pen to paper within the next few weeks.Ceci, 22, enjoyed his most productive NHL campaign in 2015-16, suiting up for 75 games and scoring a career-high 26 points. He also was apart of Canada's gold medal team at this year's IIHF World Championship.The 15th overall pick in 2012 just completed the final year of his entry-level contract, and as a restricted free agent, he's the only unsigned player on Ottawa's roster.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

When Patrick Roy announced Thursday he was leaving the Colorado Avalanche as head coach and vice president of hockey operations, one of the names immediately linked to the vacancy behind the bench was Bob Hartley.General manager Joe Sakic said the team will look outside the organization for a new coach, starting immediately.Hartley, axed by the Calgary Flames in May, coached the Avalanche for five seasons, leading them to a Stanley Cup in 2001 in the prime of Sakic's era as Colorado captain. But success from more than a decade ago shouldn't be grounds for a reunion in the Mile High City.Here are three reasons Hartley isn't a fit this time around:His coaching style mirrors Roy'sHartley is a fiery, results-driven coach aiming to get the most out of his players, sounds a bit like his predecessor, no?While a drive to win isn't a flaw as a coach, Hartley's failure to adjust his near non-existent defensive zone structure in Calgary was his undoing.Hartley and the Flames were the talk of the NHL in 2015 during a thrilling run to the playoffs that saw multiple third period comebacks, and frankly, quite a bit of luck, mirroring what Roy did with the Avalanche the year prior.Colorado doesn't need another year of unsustainable success, it needs a leader to build a strong foundation for a supremely talented core to buy into.Poor numbersHartley's tenure in Calgary doesn't have many supporting statistics to prove it was a success.His overall record with the Flames from 2013-2016 was 134-135-25, but over four seasons, Calgary managed some dismal possession numbers:StatisticResultRankCF/6051.6127thCA/6059.627thCF%46.41%27thIronically enough, Roy's Avalanche were ranked 28th, 28th, and 29th, respectively, in the above categories.While the analytics are among the league's worst, Calgary also had the worst penalty kill (75.5 percent) last season, ranked 20th in shots allowed per game (29), and finished dead last in goals allowed both overall (257) and per game (3.13).Shoddy goaltending can't be pinned on Hartley, but Flames general manager Brad Treliving said it himself when he fired the 55-year-old; you need the puck to win in today's NHL.(Stats courtesy: corsica)Underwhelming exit in CalgaryUnable to build off a momentous season, Hartley's final campaign in Alberta came and went with a whimper.The Flames finished 26th overall, despite having an above average offense, filled with budding superstars.One playoff berth and a Jack Adams award was the peak for Hartley in Calgary."I just felt at this particular time ... Bob has taken this team as far as I feel he could take it," Treliving said of Hartley's firing in May.Hartley's a veteran coach, and Colorado brass is in a tough spot to find a new coach only one month out of training camp, but in order to take the next step as a team, Sakic may want to search elsewhere.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NHL has a scoring problem. Last season, Patrick Kane of the Chicago Blackhawks led the league with 106 points, the only player to hit triple digits. Next up? Jamie Benn of the Dallas Stars with 89 points.It gets worse. A year prior, 87 points was all that was needed for Benn to capture the Art Ross Trophy. It marked the lowest total for any scoring leader (not including lockout- and strike-shortened seasons) since Gordie Howe's 86 points in 1962-63.Fans will call for a crackdown on obstruction, as seen back in the 2005-06 season, but the trick is to increase even-strength scoring. Nobody wants to watch a night of power plays.We've outlined three ideas on how to see more goals:1. Reduce the Size of Goalie EquipmentThis coming season, the NHL will introduce re-engineered goalie equipment, though the measure only takes it half way, reducing the size of the pants and chest protector, but with no change to the biggest offender: the leg pads.Renaud Lavoie of TVA Sports confirmed the report in early June. NHL goalies will wear "streamlined" equipment, donning a smaller-look upper body and better, form-fitting protection.

Penny Oleksiak used to be Jamie's sister.Jamie Oleksiak, after all, is a professional hockey player - a former NHL first-round pick who's expected to contribute on the Dallas Stars' blue line next season. One week into the Summer Olympics, though, Jamie is now known as Penny's brother.The swimmer cemented her legacy as one of Canada's most decorated Olympic athletes on Thursday night, winning a gold medal - her fourth medal at Rio 2016. And she's only 16 years old.Jamie's in Rio to watch his sister's coming out party, and, much like the rest of Canada, he's seeing gold.

The Las Vegas Nighthawks, the Las Vegas Desert Hawks, or the Las Vegas Red Hawks.Which one do you prefer? Because there's a good chance it's going to be one of those three.According to Steve Carp of the Las Vegas Review-Journal, Bill Foley, owner of Vegas' expansion NHL franchise, confirmed a Sportslogos.net report Thursday night that the club is close to finalizing its team name, narrowing the choices down to those three and another two.

The transition between coaches won't be an easy one for the Colorado Avalanche.The club watched as Patrick Roy shocked the hockey world on Thursday, announcing he was leaving the team. The news was hard to take for players, especially defenseman Erik Johnson, who learned about the news after hitting the ice for practice."I was skating at the practice rink and when I got off the ice, [I] had a couple missed calls from [Roy] and I'm like, 'Oh god, I got traded, where am I going?'" Johnson said on Altitude Sports Radio 950, according to NHL.com."I guess you don't really think the news would be Patty stepping down, but I talked to him on the phone. He just said it was time for him to go and he didn't elaborate too much."Roy had only spent three seasons as coach of the club, but in his time grew a strong rapport with his players who were saddened by his decision."I had a bunch of phone calls right after the news broke from different guys and everyone was super upset because of how much we loved playing for Patty and it's going to be tough for sure, it's going to be an adjustment," Johnson said. "At the end of the day, the players have to be [upset] at themselves. I mean, I'm mad at myself; I'm sure there are a ton of guys that are mad at themselves because if we played better and won, this wouldn't be happening."I don't want to share too much of the intricate details of what we talked about but from the players' perspective, myself and probably 90 percent of my teammates, which is a lot on any team because no coach is going to have everyone that loves him, but I can tell you that probably over 90 percent of the guys loved playing for Patty. We respected him, we thought he was a great coach and we'll all really miss him."The onus now rests on general manager Joe Sakic, who must now quickly find a replacement coach for his young and talented club.Related: Sakic: Avalanche will look outside team for new coachAs for Johnson, he feels there should be no shortage of candidates interested in the job."I would assume coaches would be falling over themselves to coach this team," Johnson said. "While we haven't gotten the results we've wanted over the past couple of years, the talent's there and if you look at our top three forwards, our defense, our goalie, there's a lot of upper echelon talent there and I think a lot of coaches would like to form it into a winning team, which I know we can be."Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Ryan Murphy has captured gold in Rio.Of course, that is not to say the Carolina Hurricanes defenseman is actually an Olympic swimmer in his spare time, but rather that his namesake captured gold for the second time at these Olympics, most recently in the 200m backstroke on Thursday.Nevertheless, the Hurricanes' Murphy is taking all the glory he can for the achievement.

The search for the new coach of the Colorado Avalanche is about to begin.Following Thursday's news that head coach Patrick Roy had decided to leave the team, general manager Joe Sakic told reporters the team will look outside its own ranks for the replacement.Related: Patrick Roy's 5 unforgettable moments as Avalanche coachThe team will get together on Friday and start to hammer out a list of candidates for Roy's replacement.

Captain Henrik Zetterberg.The Detroit Red Wings captain will keep the "C" on his sweater at the upcoming World Cup of Hockey, Team Sweden announced Wednesday."It's a very special thing to be the captain for this team," Zetterberg said. "I'm honored. It's something I'll always remember."Zetterberg, 35, captained the squad at the Sochi Olympics in 2014, but a back injury limited him to only one game.Team Sweden advisor Nicklas Lidstrom, who played with Zetterberg in Detroit, called him "the obvious choice."The World Cup officially begins Sept. 17, and the international appearance will be Zetterberg's 13th with the Tre Kronor.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Patrick Roy dropped a bombshell on Thursday, announcing he was stepping down as the head coach and vice president of hockey operations with the Colorado Avalanche.Related: Patrick Roy announces he's leaving AvalancheAfter three seasons as the club's bench boss, Roy walked away - even after saying he wouldn't back in April - stating that he lacked decision-making power.While Roy's stint with the club was short, it certainly was memorable.The Hall of Fame goaltender, who previously spent eight seasons with the team during his playing days, brought the same passion and flare that he did on the ice with him behind the bench.Here are the five moments we will never forget:Nearly pushing glass overRoy's first day on the job was one to remember.Following the conclusion of his first game with the Avalanche - a 6-1 win over the Anaheim Ducks - the 50-year-old got in a war of words with fellow coach Bruce Boudreau.The incident then saw Roy nearly push the glass separating both benches over. He proved very quickly that his fiery personality was still intact and that he was not intimidated by his more experienced coaching peers.Losing temper after Jets goalOnce again his temper always made for good television.This past February, Roy threw another fit after he felt a goal scored by Winnipeg Jets forward Drew Stafford should have been called off after Andrew Ladd appeared to make contact with goaltender Semyon Varlamov.After challenging the call, it was upheld by the refs and this ensued:

Colorado Avalanche head coach and vice president of hockey operations Patrick Roy issued a statement Wednesday announcing he will be leaving the organization."For the past three years, I have carried out my duties as head coach and vice president of hockey operations for the Colorado Avalanche with energy, passion, and determination," Roy said."I have thought long and hard over the course of the summer about how I might improve this team to give it the depth it needs and bring it to a higher level. To achieve this, the vision of the coach and VP-Hockey Operations needs to be perfectly aligned with that of the organization. He must also have a say in the decisions that impact the team's performance. These conditions are not currently met."The timing of Roy's decision comes as a huge surprise, as both he and general manager Joe Sakic expressed their desires to keep things the same behind the bench earlier in the offseason."Patrick informed me of his decision today," Sakic said in a release. "We appreciate all he has done for our organization and wish him the best of luck in the future.""We will begin the search for a new head coach immediately."Roy was named to his position in May 2013, and after leading Colorado to a Central Division tile in his first year behind the bench, the team has struggled to sustain success, missing the playoffs in each of the last two seasons.On top of coaching duties, Roy has close ties to the entire Avalanche organization, where he played eight seasons and won two Stanley Cups. All told, he finishes his tenure as Colorado's coach with a 130-92-24 record.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Everybody loves a goalie goal.Carolina Hurricanes keeper Eddie Lack showed some offensive flair at a recent Pro-Am game by (illegally) joining the play and burying a top-corner wrister from the high slot.- With h/t to BarDownCopyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Jimmy Vesey's long-anticipated decision on where he'll begin his NHL career is coming down to the wire.The former Harvard star and Hobey Baker Award winner has reportedly narrowed down his list to a half-dozen teams, according to Stephen Harris of The Boston Herald.Vesey's exclusive negotiating rights were acquired by the Buffalo Sabres - who are believed to be in the mix - in June from the Nashville Predators, who drafted him in the third round in 2012. Buffalo has since been unable to sign him.Set to become an unrestricted free agent on Monday, Aug. 15, Vesey held a meeting Wednesday with his agent and family to discuss options."Just to kind of finalize our thoughts," his agent, Peter Fish, said. "We've all been running around doing stuff this summer, but we're finally getting down to the nitty-gritty."Other teams linked to the 23-year-old are his hometown Boston Bruins, the Toronto Maple Leafs - who his father is a scout for - and the Chicago Blackhawks, but it's reasonable to believe all 30 teams will at least put in a call.Related: Report: Devils GM Shero watched Vesey play WednesdayFish said his client wants to see things through, and is thoroughly considering all factors before making a final decision."We've looked at depth charts with some teams and talked about them ... There's obviously a lot that goes into it: The city, the coach, the GM, the salary structure, how a team treats their players in the second and third contracts down the road."Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Tampa Bay Lightning were the first to kick off the annual professional tryout contract sweepstakes on Wednesday, reportedly agreeing to such an arrangement with defenseman James Wisniewski. And many other teams could follow suit.Ever since the craziness that was July 1, teams have been quiet, appearing unwilling to risk valuable dollars on players whose best years are behind them.That silence has left many players who could still have some valuable miles there for the taking.Here are five who could receive tryout contracts:Antoine VermetteJust over a week after his contract was bought out by the Arizona Coyotes, Antoine Vermette remains unsigned.Related: 3 teams that should take a chance on Antoine VermetteThe 34-year-old has seen his offense drop the past few seasons, but what he lacks on the scoresheet he makes up for in intangibles.Vermette has a Stanley Cup to his name and remains one of the better faceoff men in the game. He would be a great fit on a young team looking for a veteran presence. And though he might need to prove that he still has game, a tryout would provide the perfect opportunity.Jiri HudlerIt's hard to believe a player just a year removed from a 31-goal, 76-point campaign remains without a contract heading into next season.That's the case with forward Jiri Hudler, who, after a career season, put up just 16 goals and 46 points in 72 games split between the Calgary Flames and Florida Panthers in 2015-16.Hudler saw a drop in production on a Flames team that regressed last season, and never quite found his mark with the Panthers. That aside, he still has a great scoring knack, and can produce at even strength and on the power play.Radim VrbataRadim Vrbata's agent claimed his client was in talks with as many as four teams back in mid July, but nearly a month later, Vrbata appears no closer to a contract.The 35-year-old is clearly nearing the end of his career, but, much like Hudler, is only a year removed from some fantastic output.During the 2014-15 season, Vrbata led the Vancouver Canucks with 31 goals, chipping in another 32 assists for a career-high 63 points.He showed a significant drop in production last season, but considering the Canucks fell from fifth in the Western Conference with 101 points in 2015 to 13th with 75 points, maybe it wasn't all his doing.Brandon PirriBrandon Pirri appears to be another victim of an off year.The 25-year-old scored a career-best 29 points in a career-high 61 games last season, but saw his goal total plummet.During the 2014-15 campaign, Pirri proved his pure goal-scoring ability by netting 22 goals in just 49 games. In fact, only Alex Ovechkin and Rick Nash scored more goals per 60 minutes than he did.Unlike many on this list, Pirri is still young, and, given the right chance in the right environment, he could prove to be a steal.Cody HodgsonCody Hodgson is by far the biggest risk on the list.The former first-round pick has nearly fallen out of the league after being plucked 10th overall in 2008.Hodgson hit a career high with 20 goals and 44 points with the Buffalo Sabres during the 2013-14 season - the first year of his six-year, $25.5-million contract. As fate would have it, though, he was bought out at the conclusion of the following season after compiling just six goals and 13 points.Hodgson failed to stick with the Nashville Predators this past season, with just three goals and eight points in 39 games. However, while playing in the American Hockey League, he managed just under a point per game with 11 in 14 contests.He is definitely a gamble, but with little to lose and Hodgson likely trying his best to resurrect his career, it might pay off for one lucky team.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

On Monday, Jimmy Vesey will be a free agent. His suitors are getting ready.New Jersey Devils general manager Ray Shero is one of them: