Las Vegas' NHL team doesn't have a name, but it appears to have a general manager.Bill Foley, the owner of the recently awarded club, will reveal the GM at a press conference at T-Mobile Arena on Wednesday afternoon.TSN's Bob McKenzie merely speculated Tuesday that he'd put his money on former Washington Capitals GM George McPhee getting the job, a guess fellow TSN insider Darren Dreger called a "safe bet."Others in hockey circles have echoed the heavy hitters:

Tim Murray might have learned his lesson with Connor McDavid.After admitting he was thinking too much about the top prospect heading into the 2015 draft and calling him "our franchise-changing player" before the Buffalo Sabres had even won the lottery, the Edmonton Oilers landed the top pick and selected McDavid.The Sabres general manager seemed far more passive when asked about highly-touted pending free-agent forward Jimmy Vesey on Tuesday."I've talked about this literally less than anyone else in Buffalo," Murray told reporters at the Sabres' development camp, according to Mike Harrington of The Buffalo News."I hear the guys on the radio, and people are mad. This is like top-end news. I think I've paid less attention to this than anybody. It is what it is. We made a trade. We traded one of our four third-round picks to be able to talk to him."The Sabres acquired Vesey's exclusive negotiating rights from the Nashville Predators, with whom the Hobey Baker Award winner and his camp refused to sign.Vesey's camp has repeatedly stated they intend to explore free agency when eligible on Aug. 15.Buffalo's brass sat down with Vesey and his representatives in Boston last week. The 23-year-old's agent said the meeting went "quite well" and that his client felt "very comfortable" with Murray and Sabres head coach Dan Bylsma.Murray didn't seem eager to share any details of the rendezvous Tuesday."We went down there. We spoke to him. I told him he doesn't owe anybody anything," he said. "He went to school for four years and he (is about to become) a free agent, so now he's got to make the right decision for him. There's no timetable."The GM echoed the sentiments of Vesey's camp but admitted he wasn't sure if a second meeting was going to happen."I felt really good about the meeting," Murray said. "I got great feedback about the meeting but this is his show right now. If he wants to come in here or he wants to reach out to us and have another meeting then we're there. But for me, this is in his court."Vesey could have a plethora of suitors on Aug. 15, but Murray cautioned against getting carried away with speculation in the meantime."I don't sit at home and speculate about this," Murray said. "He's either going to sign here or he's not. If he doesn't, it's going to be obviously not the decision we want and you guys will call me a dummy for trading away a third-round pick. I've got all the scenarios and I'm ready for it all but it's up to him. It's his time."What a difference a year makes.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

An event normally associated with optimism became the site of a scary scene Tuesday morning.Michael Campoli, an undrafted invitee to the Buffalo Sabres' development camp, had to be stretchered off the ice after absorbing a hard hit from prospect William Carrier during the team's 3-on-3 tournament.

For the immediate impact that they're expected to have, the reigning No. 1 and No. 2 overall NHL draft selections, Auston Matthews and Patrik Laine, must be considered the betting favorites for the Calder Trophy.But as Artemi Panarin and Shayne Gostisbehere proved while finishing one-two in the last rookie vote, it's not as simple as banking on the horse with the most hype.Here are five players who could emerge as next season's top freshman:Dylan StromeThe third overall selection in the Connor McDavid-Jack Eichel draft, Strome will take his first strides as a professional next year, and presumably make his long-awaited debut for the Arizona Coyotes.Strome returned to Major Junior after netting 129 points in his draft season, winning the Ontario Hockey League scoring title with 111 points and a 1.98 point-per-game production rate.The Coyotes have two returning top-six centers, but are in no way indebted to Antoine Vermette or Martin Hanzal. Strome, who might have the highest ceiling among their collection of quality prospects, figures to have a highly productive debut season working out of Arizona's top six.Jimmy VeseyWhen Vesey finally inks his first NHL contract, he'll have a host of factors in his favor as it pertains to making a mark as a rookie - many of which are the same variables that helped Panarin nab top rookie last season.To wit, in successfully waiting out his former rights holder, David Poile and the Nashville Predators, the Harvard graduate will be five years older than the incoming rookie class. But his greatest advantage will be a luxury he's waited patiently to achieve: calling his own shot.And potentially finding his Patrick Kane?Zach WerenskiWerenski left Michigan at the end of his sophomore season to continue on his accelerated path to the NHL. And after making a seamless transition to the professional game, it appears his momentum will carry him to opening night with the Columbus Blue Jackets.The second defender chosen in last summer's draft pushed the Lake Erie Monsters over the top in their run to the Calder Cup title, providing five goals and 14 points in 17 postseason games.Werenski's not expected to be an attacking force at the next level, at least not to a near point-per-game degree, but could immediately step into a top-four role on the Jackets' thin defense, and have a major impact next season.Ivan ProvorovWe'll see the next phase in Philadelphia's transition from an unimaginative, overpaid, and ineffective defense corps to leading light when it rolls out the decorated Ivan Provorov this season.The displaced Russian has dominated at every level since coming to North America at 16 to entrench himself in the NHL brand - a decorated run that includes being named Canadian Major Junior's top defenseman this year.He may not have a Gostisbehere-sized impact out the shoot, but will most certainly upgrade the unit as it continues to turn over.Sebastian AhoThe understated fulcrum of Finland's mega-talented top line from the World Junior Championship, Aho may carry less hype, but could see his impact exceed that of Laine and Jesse Puljujarvi.Carolina's second-round pick last summer outproduced the pair, scoring 20 goals and turning in a point-per-game average in his second season in Finland's top division.Aho will be immediately thrust into a scoring function with the up-and-coming Canes, and should have a productive debut campaign that arrives relatively unannounced.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Carolina Hurricanes have locked up one of their best young forwards for the long term.Victor Rask agreed to a six-year contract with the club worth $4 million per season, the Hurricanes announced Tuesday.The 23-year-old ranked second on the team with 21 goals and tied for second with 48 points in his second season with Carolina. He led the Hurricanes with 18 power-play points and ranked fourth on the team in ice time, averaging 16:58."Victor has gotten better every season that he's been a part of our organization," general manager Ron Francis said in a statement Tuesday. "He is a big part of this team's present and future, and we are thrilled to sign him to a longer-term deal."The move brings Carolina above the 2016-17 salary cap floor ($54 million), giving the Hurricanes a total cap hit of about $55 million, according to General Fanager.The Hurricanes extended a qualifying offer to Rask on June 27. He was a restricted free agent.Carolina selected him 42nd overall in 2011.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Make it 21.Shane Doan and the Arizona Coyotes have agreed to a one-year contract that will prolong the veteran forward's career, reports Arizona Sports' Craig Morgan.No salary information is yet out there, but Morgan writes that the pact will be worth close to $5 million when a bonus, incentives, and deferred payments are included.Doan will be 40 in October, but can still light it up. He scored 28 goals last season, highest on the team, and his most since 31 in 2008-09. He finished with 47 points. Let's face it: at his age, the captain deserves a season shooting 16.5 percent.Drafted seventh overall by the then Winnipeg Jets in 1995, Doan's been with the franchise his entire career.The Coyotes finished fourth in the Pacific Division last season with a 35-39-8 record. Goals against were a problem, but youngsters Max Domi and Anthony Duclair had strong seasons.Domi finished with 52 points, good for second on the team, while Duclair scored 20 goals and had 44 points while averaging only 14:23 in ice time per game. Between the two kids and Oliver Ekman-Larsson, and hopefully Dylan Strome next season, the Coyotes appear to have a bright future, with Doan continuing to play a part in where, eventually, the club ends up.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

When Bobby Orr speaks, you listen. It's as simple as that.The legendary Hall of Fame defenseman shared some thoughts on the modern game with TSN's Gino Reda, and No. 4 believes the NHL must bring back the red line in order to slow the game down - it's too fast, the players too big, and the game too dangerous as a result."I think the center line, with the size of our players and the speed of our players, we're shooting the puck from the goal line to the other blue line, and guys are going through the middle looking back for the passes, I think our game has become more dangerous," Orr said.Now 68, Orr said far too many players are being lost to injury due to too much open ice."I just don't think (hockey is a game) we can play without borders. And we need that center ice line back in to slow it down. ... With the size, the strength, I don't think we can play like that."Orr added that he isn't concerned with a decrease in scoring if the red line comes back into play. He pointed out, in fact, that all of the rules implemented to increase scoring haven't worked."The coaches just coach around the style," Orr said. "If the red line was back in, now the players have to make plays coming out of their end. I think that's going to help create more offense. Forechecking can be more sustained."Orr would know - he revolutionized his position, after all. Injuries limited him to only 657 career regular-season games, but he left hockey having averaged a remarkable 1.39 points per contest.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It was probably slashing, but, whatever.Tyler Bertuzzi put a new spin on playing the man and not the puck at Detroit Red Wings development camp, abusing his defender by knocking the stick out of his hands - literally - before scoring on his backhand.The prospect was even polite enough to send the discarded stick back into the slot, so it could be more easily retrieved. Never forget your manners, kids.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Evgeny Medvedev's foray into the NHL is over after one season.The Russian defenseman is returning to the KHL, signing a two-year contract with Avangard Omsk, the club has announced.The 33-year-old appeared in 45 games for the Philadelphia Flyers this past season after signing a one-year contract, recording four goals and nine assists.Medvedev is also reportedly facing facing DUI and drug charges after an incident in late April.Prior to signing with the Flyers, Medvedev spent eight seasons with KHL club Ak-Bars Kazan.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Montreal Canadiens general manager Marc Bergevin had the full support of team owner Geoff Molson when it came to trading P.K. Subban for Shea Weber.Speaking at a press conference Monday to announce the Canadiens' AHL affiliate moving to nearby Laval, Molson addressed the negative reaction from fans in the trade's aftermath, affirming Bergevin did what was in the best interest of improving the on-ice product.Related: Bergevin not looking back after Subban-Weber trade"I think that P.K. is a bigger-than-life person on and off the ice, and our fans love him, and still will love him, and I heard a lot of it on my Twitter account and I appreciate that," Molson said, according to Sean Farrell of NHL.com."But I also appreciate what I've hired Marc (Bergevin) to do, and that is to make our team better, and I'm confident he has done that."On top of adding Weber, Bergevin also brought in forwards Andrew Shaw and Alexander Radulov, and Molson again affirmed his belief in the GM's decision to deal the fan favorite."For sure, P.K. is, obviously, we all know, an excellent hockey player and played an important role in the community as well," Molson said. "And at the same time, Marc Bergevin, he works to make our team better, and I think all of the work he has done this spring to improve our team has been 100 percent supported by me."And that's what I pay him for, is to make our team better, and I'm really looking forward to seeing the evolved team on the ice and I think our fans are going to really appreciate the improvements."A healthy Carey Price will no doubt be the biggest boost for the Canadiens, but the jury remains out in the court of public opinion on the merits of the Subban trade, no matter what Bergevin and Molson say about it.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Kid is finally on the Conn Smythe.Sidney Crosby, who was deemed the most valuable player of the 2016 Stanley Cup Playoffs, has officially been added to the 51-year-old trophy.

Korbinian Holzer is staying in Anaheim.The Ducks reportedly signed the defenseman to a one-year, one-way contract worth $700,000, according to TVA Sports' Renaud Lavoie.Holzer played 29 games for the Ducks last season, recording three assists. A fourth-round pick of the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2006, he has two goals and 10 assists in 87 career NHL games.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Hockey fans in need of a summer puck fix need to head to Edina, Minn.Beginning Tuesday, the town's Braemar Arena will play host to the newly formed Da Beauty League, which will feature several notable NHL players/beauties, defined by the league as "the guy who plays for the love of the game, who is also talented and loved by the rest of the team.".The league's six teams will be captained by Alex Goligoski, Ryan McDonagh, David Backes, Nick Bjugstad, Taylor Chorney, and Brock Nelson, while Zach Parise, Dustin Byfuglien, Nick Leddy, Anders Lee, Paul Martin, James van Riemsdyk, and Jake Gardiner will be among the other NHL notables.Games will be played four-on-four in two 20-minute halves, and while the standard rules of the game will apply, the league will feature two primary regulations:

The Las Vegas expansion franchise appears close to naming its first general manager.This according to owner Bill Foley, who has indicated the search process is nearing an end."We’re hoping to have an announcement in a few days," Foley said Monday, according to Steve Carp of the Las Vegas Review-Journal. "We’ve got two primary candidates and we’re trying to get this done. We need to get a scouting staff hired and whoever we hire as our GM will be responsible for putting the (scouting) staff together."Foley wasn't naming names, but whoever lands the job will apparently be a familiar face within the hockey community."I can tell you the people we talked to are all well-known in the hockey community and are well-respected," Foley said. "They’re all very smart and they’ve done different things for different teams. Some are strong on the (salary) cap. Some are strong when it comes to assessing talent. But they all have strong backgrounds."One person out of the running is Dale Tallon of the Florida Panthers, who told Carp he was never contacted by Foley despite the fact team ownership was contacted for permission to do so.Earlier in the offseason, Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun reported former Vancouver assistant GM Laurence Gilman, former Washington GM George McPhee, Pittsburgh assistant GM Jason Botterill, former Arizona GM Don Maloney, and Montreal executive Scott Mellanby were considered to be at the top of the list of candidates.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NHL Players Association announced the dates for pending salary arbitration hearings Monday.Tyson Barrie, Mike Hoffman, and Brayden Schenn are among the players who now know the dates they will face off against their teams if they fail to reach an agreement prior to the hearings.Here's the full list of dates for player-elected filings:Team Player DateArizona CoyotesMichael StoneAug. 4Colorado AvalancheTyson BarrieJuly 29Colorado AvalancheMikhail GrigorenkoJuly 22Detroit Red WingsDanny DeKeyserJuly 28Minnesota WildJordan SchroederJuly 27Nashville PredatorsCalle JarnkrokAug. 4Nashville PredatorsPetter GranbergAug. 3New York RangersKevin HayesJuly 27New York RangersChris KreiderJuly 22New York RangersDylan McIlrathJuly 21New York RangersJ.T. MillerAug. 2Ottawa SenatorsMike HoffmanAug. 4Philadelphia FlyersBrandon ManningAug. 2Philadelphia FlyersBrayden SchennJuly 25St. Louis BluesJaden SchwartzJuly 20Tampa Bay LightningAlex KillornJuly 20Tampa Bay LightningVladislav NamestnikovJuly 29Toronto Maple LeafsFrank CorradoJuly 26Toronto Maple LeafsPeter HollandJuly 25Toronto Maple LeafsMartin MarincinAug. 2Washington CapitalsMarcus JohanssonJuly 20Detroit Red Wings goaltender Petr Mrazek will have his hearing on July 27 if no deal is reached before then. The Red Wings filed for club-elected arbitration with him last week.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Kyle Okposo left the New York Islanders for the Buffalo Sabres, but he says he won't forget his former club's loyalty in difficult times.The forward - who opted not to re-sign before inking a seven-year, $42-million deal with Buffalo on July 1 - penned a long-awaited goodbye to the Brooklyn-based organization and its fans, thanking them for sticking with him when they had no obligation to do so."I'm not a perfect player. I went through some pretty rough times with my game," Okposo wrote in a piece published Monday on The Players' Tribune."The Isles' fans and organization stuck by me. I'll forever be grateful for that. The organization could have easily cast me aside and gotten rid of me, but they helped me through it. When I would go to an autograph signing or an appearance during those tough times, the fans would say, 'Stick with it,' or 'We love your game.' Those things brought a smile to my face."The 28-year-old winger also reiterated his desire to win a championship with the rebuilding Sabres.Related: Okposo dons Sabres blue and gold: 'The future is bright'"The Sabres are a great organization and I couldn't be happier," he wrote. "All I want to do is give the city a Stanley Cup. I'm excited for the journey and the challenge. I'll see you all in October. Let's get it, Buffalo."Okposo played parts of nine seasons with the Islanders, who drafted him seventh overall in 2006. He's a three-time 20-goal scorer who collected more than 50 points four times and went over 60 twice.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The ECHL is making a couple of significant changes.The mid-level pro league announced Monday it will realign from six to four divisions and use a new divisionally focused playoff format next season.Here's how the league will look in 2016-17:Eastern ConferenceNorth DivisionAdirondack ThunderBrampton BeastElmira JackalsManchester MonarchsReading RoyalsWheeling NailersSouth DivisionAtlanta GladiatorsCincinnati CyclonesFlorida EverbladesGreenville Swamp RabbitsNorfolk AdmiralsOrlando Solar BearsSouth Carolina StingraysWestern ConferenceCentral DivisionFort Wayne KometsIndy FuelKalamazoo WingsQuad City MallardsToledo WalleyeTulsa OilersWichita ThunderMountain DivisionAlaska AcesAllen AmericansColorado EaglesIdaho SteelheadsMissouri MavericksRapid City RushUtah GrizzliesThe first two rounds of the Kelly Cup playoffs will be intra-division matchups, with the division champion playing the fourth-place team and the second-best club facing the third.The winners of the division semifinals will meet in the division finals, followed by the conference finals and Kelly Cup final.The league cited more economical travel and a better chance of playing traditional rivals in the first two rounds as reasons for the changes.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Philadelphia Flyers signed forward Roman Lyubimov to an entry-level contract Monday.The 24-year-old played six seasons with CSKA Moscow in the KHL, playing a career-high 52 games while posting seven goals and seven assists in 2015-16.He added four goals and four assists in 15 playoff games, helping CSKA reach the Gagarin Cup final before losing in seven games to Metallurg Magnitogorsk.Lyubimov also helped the Russian national team win bronze at the World Championship this spring with eight points in 10 games.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Montreal Canadiens are moving their AHL club much closer to home.The relocation of the AHL's St. John's IceCaps to Laval, Quebec, was unanimously approved by the league Monday.The franchise's pro affiliate will play one more season in Newfoundland before moving to Place Bell, a multi-purpose facility under construction in the Montreal suburb."The relocation of our AHL affiliate in Laval will be beneficial in several ways, allowing for hockey management to follow the organization's young prospects and provide players and coaching staff with a great environment, a state-of-the-art hockey venue and a new and enthusiastic fan base," said Canadiens general manager Marc Bergevin said in a statement.The city of St. John's is discussing another agreement with the AHL and other leagues, IceCaps president and CEO Danny Williams said Monday, according to Stephen Whyno of The Associated Press.Montreal launched a 'Name The Team' contest Monday that will run through July 22. The club will keep the IceCaps moniker until moving to Laval.The Canadiens moved the AHL's former Hamilton Bulldogs to St. John's to become the new IceCaps before the 2015-16 season. The original IceCaps were moved to Winnipeg to become the new Manitoba Moose as the Jets' affiliate.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Ryan O'Reilly was cleared in his impaired driving case in London, Ont., on Monday.The Buffalo Sabres forward was found not guilty after the judge found no reasonable prospect of conviction due to insufficient evidence, according to Jane Sims of The London Free Press.O'Reilly was arrested and charged with impaired driving after allegedly crashing his truck into a Tim Hortons location last summer.The Crown folded after testimony from only one witness, who had issues identifying the driver of the vehicle, according to The Free Press' Hailey Salvian.The trial was expected to last two days, but ended in about an hour and a half Monday. It was adjourned multiple times since his arrest last July.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It's impossible to ignore the commotion across the street.There's the NBA and its 30 teams, obediently spending billions and billions of dollars to fulfill the requirements of its new, wildly inflated salary scale borne of the league's seismic success.There are rules to govern spending, of course, including a near $85-million salary floor - or a minimum spending requirement that's almost $12 million more than the NHL's maximum purse. But unlike its little brother, there's an element of elasticity to the walls that police parity in basketball.And the mandate doesn't punish winners.The Golden State Warriors - the greatest team in regular-season history and a team that already features the league's two-time reigning MVP and two other All-NBA players - came to terms with a top-three NBA talent this offseason in Kevin Durant.There was a serendipitous element to this unforeseen marriage. But because it has happened, the NBA has been presented this incredible opportunity to fuel its burning star. The Warriors' every outing will be must-see television, let alone a potential Finals rematch with the NBA champion Cleveland Cavaliers that would achieve pay-per-view intrigue.All this while the two most successful NHL franchises over the last handful of seasons are being stripped down to their studs, punished for accounting for five of the last seven Stanley Cups.The Chicago Blackhawks and Los Angeles Kings have managed to preserve the stars capable of anchoring a title run. But winning - and the NHL's desire to maintain competitive balance - has resulted in an erosion of these rosters, and has the clubs now trending toward non-contender status.The price of winningNo team has hemorrhaged talent quite like Chicago.Stan Bowman has discarded a head-shaking amount of talent throughout the franchise's dynastic years, a list that includes Brandon Saad, Patrick Sharp, Andrew Ladd (twice), Brian Campbell, Dustin Byfuglien, Nick Leddy, Johnny Oduya, and most recently, Teuvo Teravainen and Andrew Shaw.They've routinely done quite well padding their core with capable talent, but a quick scan of their current forward fleet is jarring, especially with just a couple million in cap space to play with.(Courtesy: General Fanager)Chicago has just five top-six forwards on NHL contracts, and aside from Marcus Kruger, a supporting cast exclusively earning $875,000 or less.The Kings, meanwhile, haven't had to juggle a similar mass exodus, though they would certainly have preferred to retain Justin Williams. What's hurt the Kings most is that cap restraints have made it impossible to shore up deficiencies with impact imports. Dean Lombardi moved three valuable pieces that included a current NHL starter and a first-round pick to acquire Milan Lucic, only to lack the means to meet his contract demands after only one season.Rewards, and other mistakesIt should be noted that Lucic wasn't even the most difficult bargain. Poor decisions prevented Lombardi from retaining the cement mixer and satiating the other needs on his roster. He's worked exclusively at the margins since trading for Lucic, and his latest work includes replacing the power forward with Teddy Purcell, and adding a bottom-tier backup goaltender in Jeff Zatkoff.But the Kings are in this mess primarily for rewarding fading stars like Dustin Brown and Marian Gaborik with long-term deals that carry a combined average annual value that accounts for 15 percent of the team's total payroll. It's a problem that will compound through until 2022.Aside from Bryan Bickell, the Blackhawks haven't poured money into rapidly depreciating assets. Instead, they've created a problem by ceding to their stars.Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane earned $84-million contracts with the two Stanley Cups they delivered the franchise, as well as the third they lifted before the legacy extensions kicked in last summer. But because Toews, Kane, and the similarly extolled Brent Seabrook have been compensated in full, most others have been squeezed.VirtuesThere are benefits to winning, of course, aside from championships. Chicago has held a competitive advantage in recruiting college free agents and assets from overseas since its proliferation of Stanley Cups.Artemi Panarin chose a winner, then wound up finishing ninth in NHL scoring en route to the Calder Trophy. And now it appears Chicago is chasing Hobey Baker winner Jimmy Vesey, who himself would make an immediate impact at an entry-level rate.Los Angeles hasn't quite had the same lure, but took advantage of a loophole the Blackhawks exploited in their title trifecta, keeping Gaborik on the shelf until the postseason to ice a roster priced above the cap ceiling.In a way, that sort of circumvention underscores just how difficult of a task it's become for Bowman and Lombardi to keep championship rosters intact.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The St. Louis Blues could have a distinct Minnesota Wild feel next season.Coach Ken Hitchcock and his understudy, Mike Yeo, were busy exchanging notes and drawing up schemes while watching over the team's development camp this week in St. Louis.And for the veteran Hitchcock, whose experience rivals any coach currently at the helm, there have been more than a few aha moments."I learned a lot already," Hitchcock told Jeremy Rutherford of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. "We took some of the really good stuff that we thought Mike and his staff did, and we’re incorporating that into us."There were things in their game that you really had a tough time playing against and now we know why. So we’re going to use those things, and it’s going to make us a hell of a lot better."Meanwhile, the former Wild head coach has gained insight beyond Xs and Os."(Hitchcock)'s been unbelievable, as far as sharing his knowledge and sharing information as far as things that have gone on here," Yeo said. "But also asking for input, very interested in a lot of things that we've done."That's one of the things that has been more eye-opening and revealing to me than anything is just how committed he is to getting better. Even despite the success that he's had in his career, he's trying to find ways to get better as a coach and trying to find ways to get this team better."St. Louis' recruitment of Yeo presented the makings of an awkward spot for Hitchcock, who covets a final charge at a championship before moving on to the next chapter of his life. But four weeks in, the unlikely marriage has been a harmonious one.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Pavel Zacha might have a permanent home in New Jersey starting next season.The Devils' 2015 first-round pick will be looking to crack the opening-day roster for the first time this upcoming season, and as general manager Ray Shero sees it, the 19-year-old should have every chance to do so."Absolutely, I'm looking forward to seeing him," Shero said, according to Andrew Gross of NorthJersey.com "He's been battling a hip pointer and we'll see how that impacts him at development camp, but he'll be ready for training camp. Yeah, there's room for him. There's always room for good players."Zacha has had just one year of development since the team plucked him sixth overall, but what a year it has been.Zacha returned to the Sarnia Sting of the Ontario Hockey League, where he went off for 28 goals and 64 points in 51 games. He lit up the postseason, managing six goals and 13 points in just seven games. He made his NHL debut in the Devils' final game of the season, scoring two assists.Then to top things off, Zacha joined the team's American Hockey League affiliate in Albany, where he had three points in three games in the regular season and three points over five playoff games.The Devils finished last season with a league-worst 2.22 goals per game, but if Zacha is any proof, help could soon be on the way.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Jamie McGinn is hoping new scenery will bring new challenges.The 27-year-old joined the Arizona Coyotes on July 1 after agreeing to a three-year $10-million contract, and is hoping it comes with an opportunity to serve as a leader on a young squad."At this point in my career, I want a bigger role on being a leader," McGinn said, according to Sarah McLellan of azcentral sports. "There are some young guys on the team, so I want to help out in a leadership role and do the best that I can and share my knowledge and help those guys make the next step. That’s a big part in success; they have a lot of talent, but sometimes there’s some adversity that players need help through. That’s where I can come in."McGinn is coming off the most productive season of his career, having set career highs with 22 goals and 39 points in 84 games split between the Buffalo Sabres and Anaheim Ducks. That aside, McGinn insists he can't be satisfied with last season's success."If I find 22 goals acceptable, that means I'm not going to be working hard to get past that," McGinn said. "I'm going to continue to strive to get better."McGinn is a welcome addition to a club that made has made a splash this offseason with several trades at the draft and the courting and eventual signing of defenseman Alex Goligoski."It looks like they're a very positive group," McGinn said. "I’m looking forward to the future."Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

With Jonathan Bernier out of the picture, the Toronto Maple Leafs are now in search of his replacement.The club acquired Frederik Andersen from the Anaheim Ducks - the same team Bernier was dealt to - who will step in as the team's No. 1. However, the goalie position is far from solidified, as Mike Babcock admits the team is now in search of a reliable second-in-command."Now we have to find a good pro to come in and support him (Andersen), and we'll do that," Babcock said at this week's development camp, according to NHL.com.While the Maple Leafs might have their eyes set on a reputable goaltender with some miles under his belt, unless a deal is done via trade, their options in free agency will be limited, with few quality experienced goalies seeking contracts.Goalie Age Last TeamKarri Ramo29CGYBen Scrivens29MTLJhonas Enroth27LAKAnders Lindback27ARIRay Emery33PHIOf course, the team could return to Garret Sparks, who spent a large part of last season as the club's backup. But with Sparks still awaiting his next contract as a restricted free agent after posting a porous .893 save percentage and a 3.02 goals-against average last season, the team appears to be looking for a different option.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Auston Matthews came to Toronto Maple Leafs development camp and left without signing his first NHL contract.No big deal, says general manager Lou Lamoriello."There is nothing to talk about with reference to Auston's contract until it's done," the notoriously tight-lipped Lamoriello said to Lance Hornby of the Toronto Sun. "We're certainly talking to his representative. I don't think this is something that's going to take long. I have total confidence that he'll be under contract."The issue, it would seem, is Lamoriello's distaste for rookie signing bonuses, which should be a 'fait accompli' when it comes to a first overall pick like Matthews.Here's the kind of standard deal Matthews would be in line to sign, according to Chris Johnston of Sportsnet:

The Arizona Coyotes and Tobias Rieder have yet to find common ground in contract negotiations.Rieder's agent, Darren Ferris, said contract negotiations are ongoing, but the two sides aren't close to reaching an agreement, according to Sarah McLellan of azcentral.The 23-year-old restricted free agent appeared in all 82 games for the Coyotes in 2015-16, recording 14 goals and 23 assists with even possession numbers in five-on-five play.Rieder carried a cap hit of $925,000 last season, while the Coyotes have almost $18 million in available space heading into next season.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Mike Richards is preparing for another season in the NHL.The 31-year-old forward, who appeared in 39 regular-season games and 12 playoff contests with the Washington Capitals in 2015-16, is hoping to draw interest from suitors now that the first waves of free-agent signings have died down."Not much right now just training, trying to get ready for the season. Not sure where it's going to be yet, but hopefully get some traction in the next couple of weeks," the unrestricted free agent told Ryan Young of Kenora Online."I plan to play hockey next year. So, it will just be what is the best fit for me."Richards scored two goals and added three assists in those 39 games for Washington, but was held without a point in the postseason. His plan for 2016-17 is to get things rolling as soon as training camp begins."It was a little bit of an up-and-down season," he said. "I probably expected it to go a little more offensively, but it's not easy to just jump in midseason. Live and learn and hopefully I can get a full season under my belt this year."Richards likely won't return Washington, with winger Brett Connolly having already scooped his jersey No. 10 after signing with the Capitals.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Columbus Blue Jackets won't be bringing in reinforcements.Following another down season that began with an 0-8-0 stretch in October, the Blue Jackets are counting on the roster pieces already in place - as well as some promising prospects - to help right the ship in 2016-17, due mainly to a lack of salary-cap space."Our improvement is going to come from within," general manager Jarmo Kekalainen told Aaron Portzline of the Columbus Post-Dispatch. "It has to come from within."We have several guys, veteran guys, who have a lot to prove after the season they had last year, and I think they're going to be better. We have a group of young guys who are going to push them to be better."Chief among those who need to be better are captain Nick Foligno and goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky; the former experienced a 19-goal drop-off from the previous campaign, while the latter was oft-injured and unable to find his Vezina Trophy form."I, 100 percent, appreciate (management) having trust in us," Foligno said. "They know we can get the job done."We should be humbled by the fact that they're going to give us another shot, and now we're going to run with it. This core group ... it's on us to push us to that next level."The Blue Jackets also hope young players like Oliver Bjorkstrand, Zach Werenski, and Sonny Milano can parlay a Calder Cup championship at the AHL level into success with the big club as early as the upcoming NHL season.According to General Fanager, Columbus holds less than $5 million in available cap space, and despite calls for improvement from players on the roster, Kekalainen will no doubt remain open to potential trades that would allow him to dump some of the more burdensome salary commitments.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The decision to trade P.K. Subban was not an easy one for Marc Bergevin.In an interview with Dave Stubbs of NHL.com, the Montreal Canadiens general manager maintains the trading of the fan favorite and Norris Trophy-winning defenseman to the Nashville Predators in exchange for Shea Weber was purely a hockey move designed to improve his club.Believing he accomplished just that, Bergevin told Stubbs it's time to move on:

Stanley Cup champion Phil Kessel did indeed go under the knife to repair an injury that affected him for much longer than first reported.The Pittsburgh Penguins winger recently underwent surgery on an unspecified hand, general manager Jim Rutherford confirmed Saturday. It's believed Kessel suffered the injury - also unspecified - during the 2015 preseason and not the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, as was initially reported."It was something he dealt with all season," Rutherford told Seth Rorabaugh of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. "It bothered him. He took care of it. He's not expected to miss any time."Despite the injury, Kessel was able to appear in all 82 regular-season games, as well as an additional 24 in the playoffs, where he played some of the best hockey of his career and finished second to Sidney Crosby in Conn Smythe voting.Altogether, Kessel recorded 36 goals and 45 assists in 106 games in 2015-16.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Carolina Hurricanes have signed 2016 first-round draft picks Jake Bean and Julien Gauthier to three-year, entry-level contracts.The deals will pay Bean - selected 13th overall - and Gauthier - selected 21st - $832,500 each at the NHL level or $70,000 at the AHL level through their first three seasons as pros.Bean, an 18-year-old defenseman, recorded 29 goals and 103 points in 119 games for the WHL's Calgary Hitmen over the last two campaigns."It was great having Jake here for our development camp this week, and getting to know him better as a person and player," said general manager Ron Francis. "He has a bright future in our organization and we are looking forward to seeing him again at the rookie tournament and during training camp."Gauthier, also 18, scored 41 goals in 56 games for the QMJHL's Val d'Or Foreurs in 2015-16."For an 18-year-old, Julien already has the body of a professional hockey player," Francis said. "He had a great week in Raleigh for development camp, and will play an important role in the Hurricanes' future."They both also received signing bonuses of $277,500.

Jonathan Bernier is looking forward to taking flight with the Anaheim Ducks.Traded Friday by the Toronto Maple Leafs for a 2017 conditional draft pick, the 28-year-old goalie did not expect to be on the move, but appears quite pleased about his destination."I had no idea there was a trade coming up or that I was going to get moved," Bernier said on a conference call with reporters. "(Toronto general manager) Lou (Lamoriello) called me this morning and gave me the news."For me, I'm definitely very happy to come to the Ducks. It seems like a really great organization. They have a great team has well. I think it's going to be a great fit for me and obviously a new chapter."Related: Expectations, pressure and Mandela: Bernier's time in Toronto comes to a closeBernier spent three seasons in Toronto after being acquired from the Los Angeles Kings, posting a record of 59-68-17 with a .917 save percentage. He joined the Maple Leafs during a down time in the team's history, and leaves with generally positive memories and a renewed hope for his hockey future after being relegated to the AHL for a spell this past season."Playing in Toronto, I had a real good experience," Bernier said. "I had a lot of fun. But when you go through a rebuild it's never easy. I'm going to a team that's a Stanley Cup contender, and you're feeling better coming into camp and knowing you have a great team in front of you."That "great team" will be coached by Randy Carlyle, under whom Bernier played for a season and a half in Toronto."Knowing (Carlyle), he's very detailed on how well he wants to play defensively. So I think it's a great fit," Bernier said of the reunion. "I had to gain his confidence when I got traded to Toronto, but we always got along well. He's a very detailed coach, and he demands a lot. That's what you want from your coach."Bernier, who's expected to begin the season as John Gibson's backup, has one year left on his contract and will carry a $4.15-million cap hit in 2016-17 heading into unrestricted free agency next summer.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

A decision on Patrik Elias' tenure with the New Jersey Devils likely won't come until closer to training camp.The veteran forward is back in the Czech Republic recovering from knee surgery, and while Devils general manager Ray Shero says he's been in contact with Allan Walsh - Elias' agent - it is yet to be determined whether the unrestricted free agent will return to the team."Once he starts getting the green light to start ramping up his training off ice, we'll see where that takes him and certainly when he gets back on ice, if it's going to be later in the summer, we'll see where that goes," Shero told Chris Ryan of NJ.com. "And his body will tell him or his knee will tell him how he feels, and we'll be in constant communication with Patrik."Earlier this offseason, Walsh stated Elias "desperately" wants to play one more season.Elias was drafted 51st overall by the Devils in 1994 and sits 43 games behind Ken Daneyko for the team's games-played record.The 40-year-old, who was limited to 16 games this past season due to injury, is the franchise leader in goals (408), assists (617) and total points (1,025).After acquiring Taylor Hall and re-signing Kyle Palmieri, the Devils still have over $13 million in available cap space, and his stable presence would be invaluable for a club looking to return to the playoffs for the first time since 2012.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

While Mark Scheifele and Nathan MacKinnon were rewarded with long-term contract extensions Friday, several notable restricted free agents are still waiting to put pen to paper on new deals of their own.Here's a look at some of the highest profile names on that list.PlayerAgePositionTeamHampus Lindholm21DANARasmus Ristolainen21DBUFVictor Rask22CCARSean Monahan21CCGYJohnny Gaudreau22LWCGYTyson Barrie*24DCOLValeri Nichushkin20RWDALPetr Mrazek**23GDETMatt Dumba21DMINRyan Strome22CNYIChris Kreider*24LWNYRJ.T. Miller*22CNYRKevin Hayes*23RWNYRMike Hoffman*26LWOTTCody Ceci22DOTTBrayden Schenn*24CPHIJaden Schwartz*23LWSTLAlex Killorn*26CTBNikita Kucherov22RWTBJacob Trouba21DWPGMarcus Johansson*25LWWSH* player filed for arbitration** team filed for arbitrationCopyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Nathan MacKinnon appears to have every intention of making good on a freshly signed seven-year, $44.1-million contract extension with the Colorado Avalanche.Coming off a season in which MacKinnon was sidelined with a knee injury and the Avalanche missed the playoffs for the second straight year, the 20-year-old aims to take his game - and the team - to the next level."I think everybody on the team has a chip on their shoulder that we can be a little better," MacKinnon said Friday, according to Terry Frei of the Denver News. "I think we're really going to challenge ourselves and me personally, I've never felt more motivated than I have these last couple of months."I feel like I have a lot to prove in this league and I definitely can take my game to a whole other level. ... I think 82 games, coming every night, being a true professional. I think after three seasons, my mind is clear. I've had some great moments, I've had some down moments, and it's just kind of balancing that out. It's a roller coaster ride."And don't think the long-term, big-money deal will go to MacKinnon's head."It was very weird signing (the contract)," he said. "I hesitated before I sent it back. … Just thinking where I’m from and that kind of money. It’s just crazy to me, but I’m very lucky and I know I’m very fortunate."Drafted first overall in 2013, MacKinnon won the 2014 Calder Trophy on the strength of a 24-goal, 63-point rookie season. Over three campaigns with the Avalanche, he's averaging 22 goals and 58 points for every 82 games played.MacKinnon's late-season knee injury didn't require surgery, and he's resumed his regular offseason training. The young forward is scheduled to suit up for Team North America at the World Cup of Hockey in September.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, and the next wave of Toronto Maple Leafs hopefuls caught a break from this week's development camp to attend a Blue Jays game at Rogers Centre on Friday night.And does it look like a blast or what?

Mark Scheifele seized what he wanted most from restricted free agency: eight years.The breakout star couldn't contain his excitement shortly after signing a $49-million maximum-term contract extension that will keep him with the Winnipeg Jets through the 2023-2024 season."I haven't stopped smiling since I found out," he said.What he discovered Friday afternoon was that Jets GM Kevin Cheveldayoff and his staff were willing to tender the maximum allowable term under the Collective Bargaining Agreement to the former seventh overall selection. His delight is born from the belief that the Jets are building toward something special."I believe in the organization. I believe in the players that are on the team. I believe in the future prospects of the team. It's an honor to be a part of it, that's what makes it exciting for me. That's what made it just an easy choice to sign for eight years in Winnipeg."I'm so honored, and so unbelievably happy."It was the organization that made the sizable financial commitment, but it was Scheifele's investment in the happenings with the franchise that was most absorbing as he spoke in a conference call.Scheifele, a self-proclaimed hockey nerd, admitted to streaming the Jets' inter-squad game, and gushed about the prospects he'll soon call teammates as well as the talented collection of players he shares a room with now."It does make you excited," he said, "and that's why I wanted to go long term."Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Phil Kessel's Stanley Cup triumph didn't come without sacrifice.The Pittsburgh Penguins forward sustained a hand injury in the first round against the New York Rangers, and had surgery Friday after playing three more series, according to Sportsnet's John Shannon.Though the severity is unknown, the alleged injury didn't hinder Kessel's performance by any means, as he recorded 22 points in 24 playoff contests.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The St. Louis Blues have signed forward Landon Ferraro to a one-year, two-way contract, the team announced Friday.Terms of the contract were not disclosed.Ferraro 24, split 68 games between the Boston Bruins and Detroit Red Wings last season, scoring five goals and adding five assists.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Colorado Avalanche have signed forward Nathan MacKinnon to a seven-year contract extension, the club announced Friday.The deal carries an AAV of $6.3 million, according to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman."Signing Nathan to a long-term contract was a priority this offseason," Avalanche general manager Joe Sakic said. "He is going to be a key part of our team for many years to come and it was important to secure his rights going forward."The 2013 No. 1 pick played out the final year of his entry-level contract last season, scoring 21 goals with 31 assists in 72 games, good for third on the team.In locking up MacKinnon, the Avalanche only have two contracts left to address. Forward Mikhail Grigorenko and defenseman Tyson Barrie are both restricted free agents, and Colorado has over $7.7 million in cap space to work with, according to General Fanager.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Mark Scheifele and the Winnipeg Jets have agreed to terms on an eight-year contract extension worth $49 million, the team announced Friday.Scheifele will carry a $6.125-million annual cap hit throughout the life of the max-term deal, which vaults him toward the top financial tier among league centers.The former seventh overall pick and first draft selection of Winnipeg in its rebirth emerged as one of the most productive forwards in the NHL in the latter half of the 2015-16 season.Scheifele scored 17 goals and added 20 assists in 33 games after the All-Star break, hitting the 60-point plateau for the first time in the final season of his entry-level deal. He led the team with 29 goals and finished second in scoring behind Blake Wheeler.All told, Scheifele scored 58 goals and racked up 145 points in 227 games as an entry-level asset.The Jets maintain more than $10 million in cap space with 23 players signed to NHL contracts, according to CapFriendly.Talented defenseman Jacob Trouba and bottom-six center Adam Lowry are their two main contributors currently without contracts.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Vladimir Sobotka appears to be on his way back to the St. Louis Blues.After rumblings in June that Sobotka would exercise an option in his KHL contract that would allow him to return to the NHL, Blues general manager Doug Armstrong confirmed the 29-year-old will be coming back, according to Jeremy Rutherford of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.Though the move is not yet official, a reunion seems to be in the works.Over the last two seasons, Sobotka suited up for Omsk, recording 28 goals and 44 assists in 97 games. He's also registered 123 points in 381 career NHL contests.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It was inevitable, but the Toronto Maple Leafs officially cut ties with Jonathan Bernier on Friday, shipping the 27-year-old goaltender to the Anaheim Ducks for a conditional 2017 draft pick, thus ending a tumultuous three-year run in hockey's most critical market.In June 2013, coming off their only glimpse of success in 10 seasons, Toronto acquired Bernier to fill an apparent need, though it was thought by many to be under control with James Reimer at the helm.Regardless, former general manager Dave Nonis and company got their man, a backup netminder from the Los Angeles Kings, who they believed was poised to take the reins as an NHL starter.Bernier's tenure with the Maple Leafs was never a perfect match, as many fans clung to Reimer, the hardworking underdog story that almost single-handedly carried Toronto to the second round of the 2013 playoffs.Still, with Toronto's perennial woes seemingly in the rearview mirror, Bernier came in and made an impact, starting with a preseason brawl against then Buffalo Sabres keeper Ryan Miller.Bernier ultimately won the starting gig in his first year as a Maple Leaf, starting 55 games and succeeding under Randy Carlyle, but the final chapter of his first season was a familiar one for Toronto - a late season meltdown knocked the Leafs from a playoff spot.As the seasons wore on, the criticisms piled up. Bernier - and Reimer for that matter - became scapegoats for a team truly inept when it came to defensive play.Bernier was put into the spotlight from Day 1, and the once-high expectations crashed suddenly. The constant pressure turned to nerves, and it translated to shaky on-ice results.Over his time with Toronto, Bernier accumulated a 59-68-17 record with a .915 save percentage and a 2.80 goals against average. Decent numbers for a goalie on a team that never finished better than sixth in the division during his time.By the same token, any capabilities Bernier possessed as Toronto's goalie were overshadowed by his blunders in the crease, and frankly, there were a lot of them. Not to mention, mistaking Nelson Mandela for an athlete didn't help his reputation.Last season, by many accounts, was Bernier's worst. Unlike Carlyle and Peter Horachek before him, Bernier never seemed to be the go-to-guy for new head coach Mike Babcock. His confidence disappeared, and his stats crumbled, so much so that he was sent to the Toronto Marlies for a conditioning stint.When Toronto acquired Frederik Andersen from the Ducks in June, the writing was on the wall for Bernier, concluding Nonis' experiment from 2013.Considering the drama that's swirled around the Maple Leafs over the past three seasons, it's tough to fairly evaluate Bernier's time in Toronto, but nevertheless, it's safe to say it was never a match made in heaven.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Pavel Datsyuk has chosen his Russian destination.The former NHL forward has agreed to a contract with the KHL's SKA St. Petersburg, the club announced Friday.It's a two-year pact worth about $3.9 million per season, according to Helene St. James of the Detroit Free Press.The Russian squad was long rumored to be Datsyuk's preferred team. Last month, the longtime member of the Detroit Red Wings announced plans to return to Russia.Datsyuk's agent, Dan Milstein, said earlier this week that his client had "unfinished business" and wanted to play two more seasons so he could help Russia win gold at the 2018 Olympic Games.The final year of his NHL contract remained on the books, so the Red Wings traded it to the Arizona Coyotes at the draft, retaining none of the $7.5-million cap hit.Datsyuk notched 314 goals and 918 points in 953 games for the Red Wings over 14 seasons. He led Detroit to Stanley Cup championships in 2002 and 2008, won the Lady Byng Trophy four times, and took home the Frank J. Selke Trophy three times.He'll turn 38 on July 20.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Toronto Maple Leafs have traded goaltender Jonathan Bernier to the Anaheim Ducks in exchange for a conditional pick in the 2017 draft.In June, the teams also constructed a trade that sent goalie Frederik Andersen to the Leafs at the price of the 30th overall pick in this year's draft.Bernier wasn't included in that deal because the Leafs were required to pay him a $2-million signing bonus on July 1, according to James Mirtle of The Globe and Mail.With Andersen signed and declared the new starter in Toronto, Bernier was on the outside looking in after three seasons with the club.After a strong first season in Toronto, Bernier, acquired from the Los Angeles Kings in 2013, struggled as the Leafs starter, often sharing the net with James Reimer.The 27-year-old endured a trying campaign in 2015-16, one that saw him sent down to the AHL for a four-game conditioning stint.All told, Bernier wraps up his stint in Toronto with a 59-68-17 record, posting a .915 save percentage with a 2.80 goals against average.In Anaheim, he'll serve as a backup to John Gibson.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The worst contracts are usually handed out at this time of year.With teams tossing money around freely as the free-agent market opened, we figured it was a good time to take a dive into some of the worst contracts in the NHL.So without further ado, here's the 2016-17 bad contracts team:ForwardsLWCRWMatt MoulsonTravis ZajacDavid ClarksonMarian GaborikDave BollandDustin BrownEvander KaneMikhail GrabovskiJoffrey LupulBryan BickellBrandon SutterRyan CallahanNick FolignoJordan StaalDarren HelmNotes: