Jimmy Vesey's representative said they were satisfied after their sit-down with the Buffalo Sabres."I felt the first meeting with the Sabres went quite well and was certainly informative," Peter Fish wrote in an email to WGR 550's Howard Simon. "Jimmy was very comfortable with (general manager) Tim Murray and (head) coach (Dan) Bylsma."Vesey and his camp met with the Sabres' brass for more than two hours in Boston on Thursday, according to Mark Divver of The Providence Journal.Fish also represents Sabres forward Jack Eichel, who like Vesey, is a Massachusetts native. Eichel and Vesey have been playing together this summer in the Foxboro Pro League.Vesey intends to become a free agent when he's eligible on Aug. 15. He chose not to sign with the Nashville Predators in March, and they traded his negotiating rights to the Sabres last month.The 23-year-old won the Hobey Baker Award as the nation's top college hockey player after posting 24 goals and 46 points in 33 games during his senior season at Harvard.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The hockey world, like the rest of America, was shocked and saddened by the shootings that left five officers dead following a police brutality protest in Dallas on Thursday night.The Dallas Stars' Twitter account sent out a heartfelt message early Friday morning.

After signing Chris Kelly to a one-year contract Thursday, it appears the Ottawa Senators roster is nearly set, but two key restricted free agents remain unsigned.Mike Hoffman - who scored 29 goals last season - has already filed for arbitration, but general manager Pierre Dorion is confident the two sides will come to an agreement."We can negotiate all the way until (the arbitration date)," Dorion said, according to Ken Warren of the Ottawa Citizen. "We still have lots of time to do things. Sometimes I feel there's a sense of panic and we've never lost a player going to UFA. And I can't see us losing a player like this."Meanwhile, defenseman Cody Ceci is not eligible for arbitration, but remains a key piece for the Senators. The 22-year-old recorded a career-high 26 points last season, and Warren suggests Ceci may hold himself out of training camp if a contract is not finalized this summer."For me, again, he'll be playing for us when the season starts, whether it's a single-year contract or a multiple-year contract," Dorion said. "We've done these contracts in the past, whether it was a bridge (contract) and some got done a bit earlier than others. We have lots of time to sign them."They'll all be playing Oct. 12 against the Maple Leafs."Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Nashville Predators look to be on the rise heading into next season, and shrewd moves by general manager David Poile are the main reason why.In recent weeks, Poile locked up leading scorer Filip Forsberg to a six-year contract extension before dealing longtime captain Shea Weber to Montreal in exchange for a younger star defenseman in P.K. Subban.After bowing out in the second round of the playoffs for the third time in franchise history this spring, forward Ryan Johansen told Adam Vingan of the Tennessean that he sees the recent transactions as proof his team is ready to make that next step in the near future."As players and as a franchise, it's all about winning," said Johansen, who was acquired from the Columbus Blue Jackets in another high-profile one-for-one deal that sent Seth Jones to Ohio. "You want to win. You want to come together as a group and have success and win a championship and hopefully championships."To see (management) try to make a move like that to try and just benefit the team, as a player, it shows they want to win and they want to win very soon."Johansen and Forsberg lead a young forward group that includes Craig Smith and Colin Wilson, while Subban joins an impressive defense corps beside Roman Josi, Mattias Ekholm, and Ryan Ellis."You know they're ready to take the next step," Johansen said of Predators management. "And as players, we're ready to come together again and win."The biggest factor that may hold the Predators back is the tough Central Division - where the Blackhawks, Blues, Wild, and Stars all show little sign of slowing down after reaching the playoffs last season.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Nikita Kucherov can no longer be had at a discount rate.The Tampa Bay Lightning's dynamic scorer will arrive at the bargaining table for the first time this summer after completing his obligatory entry-level term as the NHL's production-on-the-dollar king.Here's a look at what his next, much more proportionate contract might look like:The backgroundThe 58th overall selection five years back, Kucherov played one season in Russia, plus another in Major Junior, before starting his entry-level clock one month into the 2013-14 season.He racked up 42 points in 69 games split between Tampa Bay and the farm before returning the next season - his first full year in the top flight - as one of the NHL's most productive players. He collected 3.13 points per 60 minutes in all situations, finishing with 29 goals and 64 points, and worked out of the most effective statistical trio in hockey. Scoring then accelerated in the playoffs; he netted 10 goals and 22 points in Tampa's run to the Stanley Cup Final.Despite a woeful start to his third campaign, in which he mustered just three points in October, Kucherov stormed back to eclipse his sophomore work. He scored at over a point-per-game over the final five months, turning in 30 goals and 66 points in five fewer games.Kucherov activated bonuses in each season, but still cost less than $900,000 to deploy.The numbersKucherov's 131 points over the last two seasons ranks just outside the top 20 NHL wide, and his 2.99 points per 60 minutes of ice ranks seventh among players who appeared in both seasons.But while those numbers will establish the bar in negotiations, it is his production in relation to the league's best which underscores how valuable he's been to the Lightning.Check out the cost of Kucherov's production compared to the top 10 scorers, as well as teammate Steven Stamkos, whom the Bolts just committed $68 million to:PlayerTotal CostPointsCost/PointJamie Benn$10.5M176$59,659Patrick Kane$16.8M170$98,823Sidney Crosby$17.4M169$102,958John Tavares$11M156$70,512Alex Ovechkin$19M152$125,506Tyler Seguin$11.5M150$76,666Nicklas Backstrom$13.4M148$90,540Erik Karlsson$13M148$87,837Joe Pavelski$12M148$81,081Vladimir Tarasenko$8.9M147$60,544Steven Stamkos$15M136$110,294Nikita Kucherov$1.79M131$13,651"The Calgary Flames' Johnny Gaudreau, also restricted after completing his entry-level deal, is the only other comparable player inside the top 25. He tallied 11 points more than Kucherov, but cost almost $1 million more in performance bonuses.The knockThis isn't a player with shortfalls; Kucherov has been the league's model of efficiency.His presence triggering a greater even-strength production rate than Jamie Benn, Kucherov's 63 percent Goals For clip ranks highest among players who logged 2000 minutes over the last two seasons, and he continues to drive possession at the very top percentile.Kucherov owns a high shooting percentage, which might give some pause, but with one of the most dangerous releases in the sport, his shot should provide results above standard.What's more, however, has been his postseason play. Kucherov's notched 42 points in 45 games, and almost a half goal per game, which ranks second among active players.The comparablesFilip Forsberg, who rather conveniently just signed a 6-year, $36-million deal with the Nashville Predators, is his closest comparable.Both posted 60-plus point campaigns in the final two years of their entry-level deals after splitting duties between the big club and the American Hockey League in their first qualified seasons.The wingers each hit the 30-mark in their third years, but didn't make massive gains from their sophomore totals, and both have similarly impressive underlying numbers.The contractIt'll be incredibly challenging for Kucherov's camp to drive his price beyond that of Forsberg's, even with stellar postseason stats in their back pocket.The precedent feeds right into the hand of Steve Yzerman, who with a couple days to spare before Stamkos hit unrestricted free agency, was able to have the superstar sign at amount well below market value.With a major commitment to No. 1 defender Victor Hedman made a few days after the Stamkos signing, and a collection of restricted free agents still to follow, Yzerman must work to retain each and every asset at a marked-down figure.Kucherov signs a seven-year, $42-million deal.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Mikhail Sergachev's tenure with the Montreal Canadiens is off to a good start.The Habs' development camp is well underway, and the ninth overall pick of the 2016 draft wasted no time in gaining attention from his superiors."His level of confidence with the puck, at his age, is exceptional," Canadiens director of player development Martin Lapointe said, according to Eric Engels of Sportsnet. "To only be 18 and be so composed with the puck is impressive."He picks his spots to get up in the play. He defends well. We also saw his level of competitiveness is very high."Sergachev, who's listed at 6-foot-3, 206 pounds, is also impressing with his degree of physicality."The strength he has already, at 18, is impressive," Lapointe said. "I love his brute force."The 18-year-old blue-liner scored 57 points in 67 games for the Windsor Spitfires last season, and while it's clear Montreal's back-end will look different come October, the potential emergence of Sergachev on the Canadiens depth chart provides even more intrigue.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New York Islanders don't want John Tavares to be the next Steven Stamkos. Well, sort of.General manager Garth Snow would love to see Tavares continue to produce like Stamkos. Tavares has averaged 0.92 points per game so far in his 510-game career, while Stamkos comes in at 0.99 points in 569 games. And Snow would certainly love to see his No. 91 take the Islanders to the Stanley Cup Final.But now that Stamkos is signed long term with the Tampa Bay Lightning, his expiring contract a distraction for more than a calendar year, Tavares is the next big fish in the free-agent pool.Tavares, another kid from the Greater Toronto Area, will be a free agent after the 2017-18 season, when he'll be 27 years old. The similarities are downright eerie.Snow, appearing on SiriusXMNHL radio Thursday, said the Islanders will reach out to Tavares next summer and talk extension, according to NHL.com's Brian Compton. At that time, Tavares will have one year left on his deal at only $5.5 million against the cap.Turning 26 in September, Tavares led the Islanders to their first playoff series win since 1993 this year, as New York knocked off the Florida Panthers in six games. The Islanders fell to a Stamkos-less Lightning team in the second round in five games.Tavares finished with 70 points in 2015-16, his 0.90 points per game his lowest since his second year in the NHL. But he was the Islanders in the playoffs. He had 11 points in 11 spring games, and scored the game-tying and series-winning goals in Game 6 against the Panthers.He's the face of the franchise, and Snow and the Islanders are surely hoping to keep it that way. But make no mistake, he's due for a massive raise over a long-term deal, one that could keep him an Islander for life.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Rich Clune has a way with words.The Toronto Maple Leafs winger, who spent the majority of the 2015-16 season with the AHL's Toronto Marlies, chimed in on Twitter after stiffer consequences for fighting were announced by hockey's top developmental league.

Jacob Markstrom is staying in Vancouver.The goaltender signed a three-year, $11.01-million contract extension with the club on Thursday.Markstrom appeared in a career-high 32 games as the backup netminder for the Canucks in 2015-16, going 13-14-3 with a 2.73 GAA and .915 save percentage.The new contract carries an average annual value of of $3.67 million. The 26-year-old has one year and $1.55 million remaining on his original deal.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Fighting in pro hockey continues down the path of extinction.The AHL Board of Governors met Wednesday to determine rule changes for the upcoming season, and starting in 2016-17, fighting will warrant harsher consequences.The new rules state:"Players who enter into a fight prior to, at, or immediately following the drop of the puck for a faceoff will be assessed an automatic game misconduct in addition to other penalties assessed."Additionally, if a single player accumulates 10 fighting majors over the regular season, he will automatically be suspended for one game, with subsequent suspensions handed up until a player reaches 13 fights.If a player reaches 14 fights and higher, suspensions will be two games.On top of the changes to fighting, the league also opted to ban offending teams from using their timeout after an icing call, a tactic often used by coaches to provide a brief rest period.The AHL has previously been a buffer zone for the NHL when it comes to adopting new rules, as the affiliate league tested both 3-on-3 overtime and hybrid icing before the NHL implemented them.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Chris Kelly is going back to where it all began.On Thursday, the 35-year-old signed a one-year, $900,000 contract with the Ottawa Senators - the club that drafted him 94th overall in 1999.Kelly played only 11 games last season for the Boston Bruins, scoring twice. He fractured his femur in November and was lost for the remainder of the schedule. He scored seven goals and added 21 assists in 80 games in 2014-15.A Toronto native, Kelly spent the first seven years of his career in the Canadian capital, playing 463 regular-season games with Ottawa and recording 176 points.He was traded to the Bruins in 2011, and the timing was perfect. He scored five goals and had eight assists in 25 playoff games as Boston won the Stanley Cup."We are excited to welcome Chris back to Ottawa," Senators general manager Pierre Dorion said. "In our evaluation of our roster we felt that we needed to add another player with the ability to succeed in close situations and on the penalty kill."Chris will be able to contribute to both of those while adding another accomplished leader to our group. He understands the type of commitment that is necessary to play at a championship level."The Senators have been mostly quiet this offseason, but the addition of a strong two-way center in Kelly will help a young group that will be playing for a new head coach in Guy Boucher.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Calgary Flames have agreed to terms with their first-round pick.Matthew Tkachuk signed his three-year, entry-level contract Thursday, the club announced.

The Winnipeg Jets have signed Mathieu Perreault to a four-year contract extension, the club announced Wednesday.The extension is worth $16.5 million, equaling a $4.125 million AAV.Perreault, 28, signed with the Jets in 2014, and has proven to be a valuable centerman during his tenure with the team.Perreault's scored 41 points in each of his seasons with the Jets. Last season, he averaged over 16 minutes of ice time and won 46.3 percent of face offs in 71 games - his lowest clip since 2010-11.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NHL's free-agency period yields new faces in new places, and though many players - often star players - find what they think is a fit, sometimes donning the colors of a new uniform just doesn't fit.Here are five examples of NHLers looking strangely out of place.Mike Modano - Detroit Red WingsAfter 21 seasons with the Stars organization, Modano signed in Hockeytown for one year in 2010-11.The most prolific American-born scorer in NHL history suited up in 40 games for the Red Wings, scoring 15 points, but the colors - nor No. 90 - suited Modano.Martin Brodeur - St. Louis BluesFor 20 seasons, Brodeur was the backbone of the New Jersey Devils, capturing four Vezina Trophies and three Stanley Cups in the process.However, the NHL's all-time leader in wins, shutouts, and games played had a seven-game stint with the Blues in 2014-15, and suffice to say, the new digs seemed odd.Mats Sundin - Vancouver CanucksAdding green to his jersey never looked right.Following a torturous holdout in 2008-09, Sundin broke the hearts of Toronto Maple Leafs fans by signing a one-year contract with the Canucks.The longtime Leafs captain and franchise leader in every major statistical category played 41 games with Vancouver, putting up 28 points before being eliminated in the second round of the playoffs, and ultimately retiring.Wayne Gretzky - St. Louis BluesWhen The Great One was shipped from the Edmonton Oilers to Los Angeles Kings in 1988, the NHL flipped upside-down, but Gretzky's brief landing in St. Louis was flat-out unnatural.After a reported rift in Los Angeles, Gretzky was traded to the Blues for Patrice Tardif, Roman Vopat, Craig Johnson, and two draft picks. What?Regardless, No. 99 joined Brett Hull and the Blues for 18 contests and a brief playoff run, ended by Steve Yzerman's infamous blue-line slapshot.Bobby Orr - Chicago BlackhawksFew legends are as synonymous with the franchise they starred with as Bobby Orr and the Boston Bruins, making No. 4's minuscule run with the Blackhawks one of the strangest in NHL history.Orr signed in Chicago for the 1976 season, but chronic knee injuries limited him to only 26 games as a Blackhawk.The Hall of Famer wrapped up his illustrious career in the Windy City, but based on the results, it's no wonder how oft-forgotten his time with the Blackhawks is.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Ken Holland wasn't given an opportunity to lure Steven Stamkos away from the Tampa Bay Lightning.The Detroit Red Wings general manager said Stamkos and his representatives never met with them during the negotiating window before he re-signed."Through the interview process, we never talked to him or his camp," Holland told SiriusXM NHL Network Radio on Thursday.Stamkos - who would have been by far the biggest name on the market - agreed to an eight-year, $68-million extension with the Lightning last week, two days before free agency officially began.The Red Wings reportedly had him at the top of their wish list, but they settled for their second choice, Frans Nielsen.Detroit inked the 32-year-old forward - who collected 20 goals and 52 points in 2015-16 for the New York Islanders - to a six-year, $31.5-million deal on July 1.The Buffalo Sabres and Toronto Maple Leafs both met with Stamkos before he opted to stay in Tampa Bay.- With h/t to Chris NicholsCopyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Sabres forward Evander Kane is facing non-criminal harassment charges after an incident outside a Buffalo bar, according to The Buffalo News' Lou Michel, citing police sources.The charges stem from a June 24 incident where Kane is alleged to have grabbed two women, one by the neck, outside Bottoms Up around 3 a.m. ET. Video surveillance of the incident exists, according to Michel's police sources, who also allege that Kane "yanked the hair and grabbed the throat of a third woman, but she has not come forward to press charges."Kane's attorney Paul J. Cambria said his client denies any wrongdoing:

Kyle Okposo is staying in New York state, but he's officially a member of the Buffalo Sabres now. And he couldn't be happier about it.The former New York Islanders sniper put on a Sabres jersey for the first time Thursday when he was introduced to the media at a press conference, and he's nothing but excited about up-and-coming Buffalo's prospects."We're going to be a good team for a long time, and it's going to be a fun organization to play in," Okposo said, according to the Buffalo News' John Vogl.In fact, that was Okposo's message to prized collegiate free-agent Jimmy Vesey, whose rights were acquired by the Sabres last month. Vesey plans to hit the market on Aug. 15, but is scheduled to meet with the Sabres on Thursday."When you have the Pegulas at the helm, it's going to be a great organization," Okposo added. "We're going to be contenders. That's something that isn't always there on teams. I know that personally. We went through a really tough stretch with the Island. There's not going to be those rough times ahead. We're going to be good."

The Buffalo Sabres are getting their chance to woo Jimmy Vesey.The highly coveted prospect told NHL.com's Amalie Benjamin that he will sit down with the Sabres on Thursday in Boston.It will be the first time the two sides have met in person since free agency opened July 1.Buffalo acquired his negotiating rights from the Nashville Predators last month. The prized winger was dealt after refusing to sign with the Predators, and his camp says he doesn't plan on signing with any NHL team before Aug. 15, when he officially becomes a free agent.Vesey is playing with Sabres forward Jack Eichel in the Foxboro Pro League this summer. Mark Divver of the Providence Journal reported that Chicago Blackhawks general manager Stan Bowman was on hand to watch Vesey on Wednesday night.He finished his fourth season at Harvard by winning the Hobey Baker Award as the nation's top collegiate hockey player.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Toronto Maple Leafs will turn back the clock in style next season.The club announced plans to celebrate its 100th NHL campaign in a number of ways Thursday.

The New Jersey Devils signed forward Kyle Palmieri to a five-year, $23.25-million contract extension Thursday.The deal carries an average annual value of $4.65 million, with a breakdown as follows:Season Salary ($M)2016-174.52017-184.52018-1952019-2052020-214.25Palmieri tied Adam Henrique for the team lead with 30 goals and led all New Jersey skaters with 57 points in 2015-16.The 25-year-old avoided arbitration by signing the new contract. He was the lone Devil to file before the deadline Tuesday.General manager Ray Shero said in March that he planned to have Palmieri signed this summer.New Jersey now has about $13 million in cap space with only one free agent - restricted forward Reid Boucher - unsigned, according to General Fanager.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It's official: We've set sail on a season unlike any other in the NHL.Sure, there's still a fixed number of scheduled games. And the same major awards that engender the same major arguments will be handed out shortly after one of the 30 active teams emerges as a Stanley Cup champion. As is customary.But behind the motivations, intentions, and decisions made in pursuit of a title will be the list of players each general manager is required to submit for protection ahead of the 2017 NHL Expansion Draft.There's plenty of time to prepare for this bit of administrative work; the third Saturday next June is almost 50 weeks from now. But there are teams at a higher risk of losing an indispensable asset.Here are five most likely to be affected by expansion:Tampa Bay LightningSteve Yzerman must finally surrender something.After working wonders to keep his team intact as the salary parameters tightened on his roster like a hand-spun vise, the Lightning GM will be without the means to escape expansion without losing a serviceable asset, or even a future star.With Ryan Callahan and Valtteri Filppula having no-movement clauses in their deals, and Steven Stamkos, Nikita Kucherov, Tyler Johnson, Ondrej Palat, and Jonathan Drouin each requiring safety, Las Vegas could see the likes of Alex Killorn, Vladislav Namestnikov, Brian Boyle, and Cedric Paquette exposed.But each of those forwards will be safe if Yzerman fails with his next most pressing chore. Goaltender Ben Bishop must not only be dealt over the next 11-plus months, but for a return asset exempt from the expansion process.Anaheim DucksWith Kevin Bieksa problematically holding a no-movement ticket, and a comparable amount of desirable assets on the back end as compared to up front, Anaheim could potentially choose to expose more skaters to protect its talented defensive corps.Let's say Hampus Lindholm, Sami Vatanen, and Cam Fowler are preserved along with Bieksa, that leaves only Ryan Getzlaf, Corey Perry, Ryan Kesler (who also has a no-movement clause), and either Rickard Rakell or Jakob Silfverberg safe.As it is tentatively, Bob Murray will have to expose a legitimate top-six talent in a group that would likely also include Nick Ritchie, Andrew Cogliano, and Simon Despres to avoid losing a mega-talented, puck-moving defenseman.Minnesota WildThe Wild are similar to Anaheim in that the incoming franchise would likely target their defense. But even if they decide to save four, a fairly significant asset will still be dangled.Minnesota has four defenders, Ryan Suter, Jared Spurgeon, Jonas Brodin, and Marco Scandella, signed for at least another four years, as well as Matt Dumba, the talented former first-rounder scheduled to graduate from entry-level status when he negotiates a deal this summer.Up front, Zach Parise, Mikko Koivu, and Jason Pominville are ensured their futures, while Eric Staal, Charlie Coyle, Nino Niederreiter, Mikael Granlund, Jason Zucker, and Erik Haula make nine (of a maximum seven forwards) Minnesota would prefer to retain.Dallas StarsThe NHL's most potent attack will have much to consider when determining its seven protected forwards.Jason Spezza has a no move, and Jamie Benn, Tyler Seguin, and Cody Eakin will absolutely claim the next three spots. That leaves Patrick Sharp, who had a productive, but not necessarily indispensable impact in his first season; Ales Hemsky, the veteran winger with the club's fourth-best even-strength scoring rate; Valeri Nichushkin and Brett Ritchie, lottery talents still working to carve out meaningful roles; and Radek Faksa, who rode a quick-climbing trajectory in what was a fantastic rookie season.And on top of that, John Klingberg may be the most experienced of the three protected on the back end, with touted prospects Stephen Johns and Esa Lindell both eligible with just 18 NHL games between them.Nashville PredatorsIt's not a question of if; the Predators will protect four defensemen.Without even having performed a line change, P.K. Subban, Roman Josi, Mattias Ekholm, and Ryan Ellis are being touted as the NHL's best, or at least its most contemporary top four. But keeping them together for more than one season will require a skilled casualty.Ryan Johansen, Filip Forsberg, and James Neal will fill up three of the four protected slots up front, meaning either Mike Ribeiro, Craig Smith, Colin Wilson, Viktor Arvidsson, or Calle Jarnkrok is tentatively headed to Vegas.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

After being drafted eighth overall in this year's NHL draft, Alexander Nylander is now participating in his first development camp with the Buffalo Sabres.While many find can find their first taste of NHL action daunting, it certainly hasn't bothered this young forward - who watched his brother William go through the same process with the Toronto Maple Leafs."I've been expecting this," Nylander said, according to NHL.com's Joe Yerdon. "This is what my brother went through with the [Maple Leafs] and he sort of taught me what development camp looks like and nothing happened that I haven't expected yet. It's been a lot of fun today."While William made his NHL debut last season, the younger Nylander starred for the OHL's Mississauga IceDogs, recording 75 points in 57 games, and his new Sabres teammates are quickly recognizing his ability on the ice."Obviously he's got great skill," Sabres forward Hudson Fasching said. "He's making plays out there today, you can kind of just tell if you pay a little extra attention to him that every puck he shoots it's crisp, [and] it's in a direction."He's aiming for a really small area and a lot of times it looks like he's hitting it. So you kind of look for the small details in a guy like that."It is still unclear where Nylander may play next season. If he can't crack the Buffalo roster, the 18-year-old could suit up in the AHL, return to the OHL, or head back to Sweden.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Minnesota Wild can thank Zach Parise for Eric Staal choosing to sign with the club.The newest member of the Wild agreed to a three-year, $10.5-million deal on July 1, after Parise reached out to Staal suggesting the Wild would be a good fit for him, allowing Staal the opportunity to play center on his wing, he told wild.nhl.com.Staal noted that prior to Parise signing his monstrous 13-year, $98-million contract ahead of the 2012-13 season, he had reached out to Parise about joining the Carolina Hurricanes.The 31-year-old is coming off his least productive season since his rookie campaign, registering just 13 goals and 39 points in 83 games split between the Hurricanes and New York Rangers.Staal will be looking to get back to being a consistent point producer, which an already-blooming chemistry with his future linemate should aid in.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Detroit Red Wings filed for arbitration with restricted free-agent goaltender Petr Mrazek before Wednesday's deadline, Ansar Khan of MLive.com reports.Mrazek, surprisingly, did not elect for arbitration himself prior to the deadline for players on Tuesday, but now that the team has chosen to go that route, the 24-year-old can decide if his contract chosen by an arbitrator will last one or two years, rather than the Red Wings.That choice may not need to be made though, as the two sides intend to continue negotiations with the hopes of finalizing a new contract prior to July 20 - the first day of arbitration hearings - according to Khan.Last season, Mrazek finished with a 27-16-6 record, posting a 2.33 goals-against average, and a .921 save percentage. He also recorded a career-high four shutouts.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Detroit Red Wings signed goaltender Jared Coreau to a two-year contract extension Wednesday.The 24-year-old avoids salary arbitration - which he filed for Tuesday - by signing the new deal.Coreau's contract is a two-way deal in 2016-17, but it becomes a one-way pact in 2017-18, according to General Fanager.He went 29-15-2 with a 2.43 GAA and .922 save percentage in 47 games for the AHL's Grand Rapids Griffins this season.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Florida Panthers have signed forward Derek MacKenzie to a two-year contract extension.The deal is believed to be worth $2.7 million, with an average annual valuation of $1.35 million. MacKenzie had one year remaining on his current deal, carrying a $1.3-million cap hit through to the end of 2016-17.The extension, therefore, will kick in at the beginning of 2017-18, keeping him under contract for the next three years in total."Derek is a leader on our team and a true professional," said general manager Tom Rowe. "His experience, work ethic, and character make him a respected presence on the ice and throughout our organization."The 35-year-old recorded six goals and seven assists in 64 games this past season, adding one assist in six playoff games.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Calgary Flames named Dave Cameron and Paul Jerrard assistant coaches on Wednesday, the team announced.Cameron joins the team after serving as head coach of the Ottawa Senators the past two seasons. In his first year with the Senators he coached the team to a 32-15-8 record in 55 games - after taking over for the fired Paul MacLean - which included an incredible 23-4-4 run to close out the regular season and a playoff berth.He was let go at the end of this season after the Senators regressed, finishing with a record of 38-35-9.Jerrard makes the jump to the NHL in joining the Flames after serving as an assistant coach to the Vancouver Canucks' American Hockey League affiliate, the Utica Comets.The two will join newly named head coach Glen Gulutzan and a staff including Martin Gelinas, Jamie Pringle, and Jordan Sigalet.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Former Boston Bruins defenseman Ray Bourque was sentenced to one year of probation Wednesday for operating a vehicle under the influence, according to The Boston Globe.Bourque will lose his license for 225 days, including a 180-day suspension for refusing a chemical test at the police station after being arrested following a car accident last month.The legendary former defenseman was found to have a blood-alcohol level at three times the legal limit after his vehicle collided with a minivan in Andover, Mass., according to a police report.Bourque pleaded not guilty but admitted in court Wednesday that the prosecution had enough evidence to convict him.His attorney, Gerard LaFlamme, Jr., said his client told him, “I made a mistake. I had a lapse in judgment. I want to make sure that I am accountable for my actions, and I want to do this as quickly as possible.”No injuries were reported in the crash.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Andrew Shaw is looking forward to being on the same team as Shea Weber after finding out first hand how the defenseman handles the opposition.Shaw and Weber went toe-to-toe on several occasions as Central Division foes, with one incident resulting in a fairly serious injury suffered by the forward. With each respectively coming to Montreal by way of the Chicago Blackhawks and Nashville Predators, Shaw is glad they are now teammates."Well, I don't have to play against Shea Weber anymore, so that's a huge positive," Shaw told reporters. "We've had some good battles in front of the net. He actually broke one of my ribs."I know he's a tough defenseman. He's going to be great for us. He's going to be that wall that's standing in front of Carey (Price), and he's got that bomb from the point as well."Shaw and Weber represent a significant measure of turnover on the Canadiens' roster this offseason, giving the club an upgrade in terms of grit at both ends of the ice.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

This is going to take some getting used to.Eric Staal and Andrew Shaw both met the media Wednesday wearing their new clubs' jerseys for the first time.

On Tuesday, 24 players elected to have their next contract decided by an arbitrator.Related: Rangers' Kreider, Miller among 24 players to file for salary arbitrationTuesday marked the deadline for players to make their decision and this time around many high-profiled names elected for third-party assistance.While general managers and team executives might do their best to talk-down the price of their very own players - and could sign before an arbitrator is needed - sometimes the player's performance speaks loudest and in such cases that player is going to get paid.Here are five players most likely to cash in via arbitration:Mike HoffmanIt's a position that is becoming all too familiar for Mike Hoffman.After being awarded a one-year $2-million contract in arbitration last season, Hoffman is back at the table and this time is set to make the Ottawa Senators pay, literally.Related: Projecting Mike Hoffman's next contractThe 26-year-old went to arbitration after failing to come to terms with the Senators last season, even after leading the team with 27 goals during the 2014-15 campaign.Well it appears that was no fluke as for the second-straight year Hoffman once again led the team in goals, this time with 29 while adding 30 assists.He is the club's most skilled marksman and this time around he should be paid as such.Jaden SchwartzThe St. Louis Blues missed Jaden Schwartz this season.After a career-year that saw him collect 28 goals and 63 points, Schwartz was limited to just 33 games this time around, managing just eight goals and 22 points.Schwartz's last contract - that paid him $4.7 million over two years - came prior to his career-season. Couple this with a strong postseason which saw him put up 14 points in 20 games this past season, that dollar figure is sure to go up.What could fault Schwartz is that he didn't play a full season, but factor in that the team won 23 of its 33 with Schwartz in the lineup during the regular season and it's quite obvious the team is significantly better when's he's playing.Tyson BarrieWhether the Colorado Avalanche want to trade away Tyson Barrie or not the team can't deny that he has been one of the most productive defensemen in the game.Barrie has averaged 51 points the past two seasons and this year hit a career-high 13 goals. With seven more goals and 15 more points than second-place Francois Beauchemin on the club, he is by far the team's valuable asset on the back end.The 24-year-old also hasn't been afraid of coming up clutch for his team, finishing second this season with five game-winning goals.Over the last two seasons his 102 points sit him seventh among all blue liners, ahead of the likes of Drew Doughty, Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Shea Weber, and and Duncan Keith to name a few.Barrie produces like a top defensemen, it's about time he got paid like one.Kyle PalmieriFew players saw their production sky-rocket this year quite like Kyle Palmieri.After collecting 14 goals and 29 points in 57 games during the 2014-15 season with the Anaheim Ducks, the 25-year-old was traded to the New Jersey Devils where he erupted for 30 goals and 57 points. This coming off the final year of a three-year contract signed with the Ducks that paid him an annual average under $1.5 millionFactor in his four game-winning goals, his 11 power play markers, and 23 power play points, it's clear Palmieri deserves notably more than a "measly" $1.5 million.J.T. MillerJ.T. Miller received less money than his entry-level contract awarded him this season and it appears that didn't sit well with him.After receiving a three-year entry-level deal worth an average of $894,166, he was signed to a one-year contract worth just $874,000 and used it as motivation.The 2011 first-round pick had a career year with 22 goals - more than twice as much as his previous three years combined - and 43 points. What makes his numbers ever more impressing is that 20 of his goals and 39 of his points came at even strength.Talk about turning it around.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

LAWRENCE, Mass. - Former Boston Bruins star Ray Bourque is expected to appear in a Massachusetts court to try to resolve a drunken driving charge.A spokeswoman for Essex District Attorney Jonathan Blodgett confirmed that the office has been advised that Bourque will be in Lawrence District Court on Wednesday to try to resolve the case.Bourque pleaded not guilty last week to operating under the influence of alcohol after his Mercedes-Benz rear-ended a minivan in Andover on June 24. No one was hurt.Police said Bourque had a blood-alcohol level of 0.249, three times the state's legal limit to drive.Bourque said in a statement last week: ''I am not happy about the situation I put myself into.''He retired from the NHL in 2001 after helping the Colorado Avalanche win the Stanley Cup.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New Jersey Devils have re-signed restricted free-agent center Sergey Kalinin to a one-year, $800,000 contract.The 25-year-old appeared in 78 games for the Devils in 2015-16, recording eight goals, seven assists, and 70 shots.Kalinin also won a bronze medal with Russia at the 2016 World Championships, contributing three assists in 10 games.He was originally signed to a one-year, $925,000 contract as a free agent by the Devils last summer.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Mike Hoffman is no stranger to the NHL's arbitration process.For the second straight summer, the Ottawa Senators winger has filed for arbitration, with both sides expected to ramp up talks with a view to a long-term contract, according to Ken Warren of the Ottawa Citizen.Related: 24 players file for salary arbitrationHere's a look at what Hoffman's next deal might look like.The backgroundSelected in the fifth round of the 2009 NHL Draft (130th overall), Hoffman made the jump to the NHL late in the 2013-14 season, establishing himself as a regular in the Senators' lineup at the beginning of the next season after four years in the AHL.Last summer, Hoffman was reportedly seeking $3.4 million in arbitration on the strength of a team-leading 27-goal campaign, while the Senators were believed to be offering $1.75 million. Hoffman was eventually awarded a one-year, $2-million contract, and, having played that out, can become an unrestricted free agent in 2017 if he and the club settle for another one-year deal.For the time being, he's a restricted free agent, and no longer open to sign an offer sheet with another team after having filed for arbitration.The numbersIn short, Hoffman has been one of the highest-scoring forwards at 5-on-5 over the past two seasons.The 26-year-old is tied for the seventh-highest goal total among all players in that situation, with nine high-paid forwards ahead of him on that list.PlayerGames PlayedGoals (5 on 5)Vladimir Tarasenko15747Alex Ovechkin16047Patrick Kane14344John Tavares16043Tyler Seguin14342Steven Stamkos15942Corey Perry14941Filip Forsberg16440Joe Pavelski16440Mike Hoffman15739(Courtesy: Stats.HockeyAnalysis.com)The players also with 39 goals are Matt Duchene, Max Pacioretty, and James Neal, all of whom only secure Hoffman's place among the league's high-end talent.In total, Hoffman has scored 56 goals over the past two seasons, leading the Senators in each while displaying a deadly combination of skill and speed that's desperately needed in Ottawa.In terms of assists, Hoffman recorded 30 in 2015-16, up from 21 the year before. And for his career he's averaging 26 goals and 50 points for every 82 games played.The knockDespite Hoffman's clear scoring prowess, former Ottawa head coach Dave Cameron didn't seem to trust the winger, especially in his own end.New bench boss Guy Boucher admitted Hoffman needs to work on developing a more complete game, albeit while heaping praise on his former junior player."I think Mike has shown great things in the NHL. He was in the All-Star Game. Let's focus on his strengths, the fact he's a game-breaker. He can shoot, score, and change the game," Boucher told Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Citizen."Does he have things he can improve? Of course, but I'm so excited to be coaching him again. I know him. I know what to do with this guy and I know how to surround him."Hoffman averaged only 17:33 of ice time, slotting him 104th among all NHL forwards.The comparablesIn the report mentioned above citing upcoming contract talks between Hoffman and the Senators, Ken Warren offers two players that serve as rough comparables when assessing what Hoffman might command on a new deal: Gustav Nyquist of the Detroit Red Wings and Reilly Smith of the Florida Panthers.The 26-year-old Nyquist signed a four-year, $19-million extension in 2016 and has scored 44 goals over the past two seasons - 20 of which came at 5-on-5.Smith, 25, recently signed a five-year, $25-million extension that won't kick in until the 2017-18 season after recording a career-high 25 goals this past season. Over the past two seasons, he's scored 38 - 29 of which came at 5-on-5.Nyquist's $4.75-million cap hit ranks him 82nd among all forwards for 2016-17. Considering Hoffman's production rate is higher, and based on his importance to the Senators as the team's leading goal-scorer two years running, the Ottawa forward should rank at least within the top 90, meaning he should be paid as a first-line winger.The contractSo what should Hoffman reasonably expect to command on his next deal?Based on his sparkling yet limited track record (having not yet hit the 200-game mark for his career), questions about his defensive game and a few comparable contracts, a five-year, $27.5-million deal ($5.5 million average annual valuation) seems entirely reasonable for a player of Hoffman's skill set.When one considers the amount of money tossed at free agents seemingly on the decline on July 1 (see: David Backes, Andrew Ladd), that would be a nice deal for the Senators, making Hoffman the team's second-highest paid forward, behind Bobby Ryan ($7.25 million cap hit) and ahead of Mark Stone and Kyle Turris ($3.5 million each per season).Whether the two sides can reach a deal prior to arbitration remains to be seen, but under Boucher's guidance, Hoffman's star is only set to rise, and he would command a high amount of attention as a UFA in 2017.Ottawa, then, would be well served by resolving this contract situation sooner than later.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Basil McRae is back in the NHL.The Columbus Blue Jackets named the former enforcer director of player personnel Wednesday.McRae spent the last two years as part-owner, alternate governor, and general manager of the OHL's London Knights, who won the Memorial Cup in the spring.He was a scout for the Blue Jackets in 2013-14 and spent five seasons in the same role for the St. Louis Blues before that.McRae played 16 years in the NHL, racking up 2,453 penalty minutes and 136 points in 576 games.The Blue Jackets made three other personnel moves Wednesday, promoting Ville Siren to head amateur scout, Chris Morehouse to assistant director of amateur scouting, and Josef Boumedienne to director of European scouting.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

A pair of eight-year contract extensions will allow two Tampa Bay Lightning stars to keep the bromance alive.Drafted first and second overall at the 2008 and 2009 NHL drafts respectively, Steven Stamkos and Victor Hedman have not only become franchise cornerstones, but also close friends. That relationship, Stamkos says, played a big part in his decision to re-sign with the Lightning."Victor and I are extremely close friends," Stamkos told Pierre LeBrun of ESPN. "We came up in this organization as 18-year-old kids. To say that we're going to be together for the long run, and on one team, that's something special."It was extremely exciting to see him sign. A big reason why both of us stuck around is because of the relationship that we have as teammates and as friends as well."Stamkos, of course, could have become one of the most high-profile unrestricted free agents in NHL history, but chose instead to sign an eight-year, $68-million contract extension. Hedman, meanwhile, signed his own eight-year deal (worth $63 million) that will kick in at the beginning of the 2017-18 season.Both players would likely have commanded more on the open market, but the opportunity to stick together - and compete for the Stanley Cup on an annual basis - clearly helped tip the scales in the Lightning's favor.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Ray Whitney has been out of the NHL for two years, but the retired forward is heading to the Olympics this summer - as a caddie.The 44-year-old will be on the bag for Canadian golfer Graham DeLaet - whose regular caddie, Julien Trudeau, will not go to Brazil due to Zika virus concerns."Ray Whitney has been put forward by Graham to caddie for him at the Olympic Games and Golf Canada supports Graham’s decision," Golf Canada director of corporate communications Dan Pino told Yahoo! Sports.This will mark an Olympic debut for both athletes as golf is played for the first time at the Olympics since 1904.Whitney has represented Canada on four separate occasions at the IIHF World Hockey Championship.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Anaheim Ducks are adding some toughness to their lineup, signing forward Jared Boll to a two-year contract worth $1.8 million, Eric Stephens of the Orange County Register reports.The 30-year-old had spent his entire nine-year NHL career with the Columbus Blue Jackets, posting a career-high 14 points in 2009-10. He's recorded at least 100 penalty minutes on seven different occasions.Last season, Boll was limited to just 30 games, recording one goal and two assists.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Montreal Canadiens have signed restricted free-agent Phillip Danault to a two-year extension, the team announced Tuesday.Danault was acquired this past season as part of the trade that saw Dale Weise and Tomas Fleischmann dealt to the Chicago Blackhawks.Danault played 51 games split between the Canadiens and Blackhawks, and tallied a combined four goals and 10 points.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Tuesday was the NHL's deadline for players to file for salary arbitration, and a total of 24 restricted free agents may have hearings in the near future, according to the NHLPA.Meanwhile, teams have until Wednesday to decide if they want to elect for arbitration themselves.The New York Rangers lead the way with four players filing, including forward Chris Kreider and J.T. Miller. Other notable players include Colorado Avalanche defenseman Tyson Barrie and Ottawa Senators forward Mike Hoffman.Negotiations can still occur, and a new contract can be finalized before a hearing. The hearings are scheduled to happen between July 20 and Aug. 4.Here is the full list of players who elected to file for arbitration:PlayerPos. TeamMichael StoneDARITyson BarrieDCOLMikhail GrigorenkoFCOLJared CoreauGDETDanny DeKeyserDDETJordan SchroederFMINPetter GranbergDNSHCalle JarnkrokFNSHKyle PalmieriFNJDKevin HayesFNYRChris KreiderFNYRDylan McIlrathDNYRJ.T. MillerFNYRMike HoffmanFOTTBrandon ManningDPHIBrayden SchennFPHIJordan WealFPHIJaden SchwartzFSTLAlex KillornFTBLVladislav NamestnikovFTBLFrank CorradoDTORPeter HollandFTORMartin MarincinDTORMarcus JohanssonFWSHCopyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

For the second straight season, Marcus Johansson is seeking a second opinion.The Washington Capitals forward filed for arbitration ahead of the player-elected deadline at 5 p.m. ET Tuesday.

In 2013, then New Jersey Devils general manager Lou Lamoriello gave his legendary goaltender Martin Brodeur the honor of selecting his own son, Anthony, during the seventh round of the NHL Entry Draft.Three years later, Lamoriello is now in Toronto and after the younger Brodeur never received a contract from the Devils, the Maple Leafs GM invited the 21-year-old to the team's development camp."I'm going to take a tryout from an NHL team any day," Anthony said, according to Jonas Siegel of the Canadian Press.Last season, Brodeur led the BCHL with 28 victories while posting an excellent 1.99 goals-against average and a .931 save percentage with the Penticton Vees.The Maple Leafs currently have four goalies under contract with Frederik Andersen, Jonathan Bernier, Antoine Bibeau and Kasimir Kaskisuo. Meanwhile, Garret Sparks - who appeared in 17 games for Toronto last season - remains a restricted free agent.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Colorado Avalanche locked up their backup goalie Tuesday, signing restricted free agent Calvin Pickard to a two-year contract.

Prior to the arbitration deadline, the New York Islanders locked down goaltender Jean-Francois Berube to a one-year contract, the team announced Tuesday.It's a one-way deal worth $675,000, according to Arthur Staple of Newsday.Berube, 24, got his first taste of the NHL last season, serving as the Islanders' backup netminder. He posted a 3-2-1 record with a 2.71 goals-against average and a 9.14 save percentage.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Though subject to trade rumors in recent weeks, Darcy Kuemper is sticking with the Wild.Minnesota signed the 26-year-old netminder to a one-year contract worth $1.55 million, the team announced Tuesday.Kuemper posted a 6-7-5 record last season with a 2.43 goals-against average and a .915 save percentage while backing up Devan Dubnyk.General manager Chuck Fletcher mentioned in June that he was hesitant about shopping a goaltender given the franchise's history of injuries between the pipes, and Kuemper will provide them with that insurance for another season.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New Jersey Devils re-signed forward Jacob Josefson to a one-year, $1.1 million contract on Tuesday, the team announced.The club's 2009 first-round pick, is coming off his sixth season with the Devils where he had a career-high 10 assists and 14 points in 58 games.The team also announced the signing of free-agent forward Luke Gazdic to a one-year, two-way contract worth $700,000. The 26-year-old had spent the past three season with the Edmonton Oilers organization.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

If there is one thing that the Tom Rowe and the Florida Panthers brass proved this summer it is that they have an overwhelming confidence in their budding stars.The club has been by and large the NHL's most active organization in the early months of the offseason. Besides inking pending free agent Keith Yandle to a seven-year deal and unrestricted free agents Jason Demers and James Reimer to five-year terms, the club has also locked up several of their young stars.Related: Panthers riding impressive offseason after front-office shake-upAaron Ekblad, Vincent Trocheck, and Reilly Smith have all signed lucrative long-term deals. The commitments have placed the franchise in steady hands looking towards the future, assuming their production continues to trend upwards.The Panthers locked up Ekblad to a staggering eight-year contract on July 1, with the 20-year-old still to play out the final year of his entry-level deal.Ekblad captured the Calder Trophy following his debut campaign during the 2014-15 season and followed it up with yet another stellar season, leading the team's defensive core with 15 goals and 36 points in 78 games, in addition to an admirable 52.85% Corsi-for during his two seasons.All that aside, Ekblad will see his annual salary jump from $925,000 to $9 million during the 2017-18 season with a cap-hit of $7.5 million until the 2024-25 season. This is a lot for a player with just two years of professional experience under his belt.Trocheck - like Ekblad - was locked up long-term as well, inking a six-year contract that will pay him an annual average of $4.75 million and max out at $6.26 million in the final year.The 22-year-old is coming off what was by far his most productive season, hitting the 25-goal plateau in his first full-season in the NHL with a 53-point total. Prior to this past season he had never managed to dress in more than 50 games and never scored more than seven goals in a single campaign.Now enter Smith, who also hit the 25-goal mark for the first time while hitting the 50-point mark for the second occasion. He also shined in the playoffs, leading the team in scoring with four goals and four assists in six games.After playing just his first season with the franchise, the team extended Smith through to the 2021-22 season with a five-year deal that will kick-in in 2017-18 with an average of $5 million per season.Keep in mind that Jonathan Huberdeau will be a restricted free agent at the conclusion of next season and has fared better statistically than Smith and an equal if not greater contract is likely coming down the pipeline for him as well.Without factoring in Huberdeau and Nick Bjugstad - who is signed until the 2020-2021 season with a cap-hit of $4.1 million - the Panthers will have $17.25 committed to three guys with just over seven years of NHL experience collectively. The team also sits with over $59 million combined for the 2017-18 season with 10 players set to become restricted or unrestricted free agents.That being said, all three are under the age of 25 and are coming off career-years. During the team's recent postseason run, the trio played significant minutes - over 25 a night - including Trocheck who averaged 33 minutes of ice-time.If the three - in addition to the rest of the young group of Panthers - can continue to improve and play significant roles with the club, Florida will undoubtedly have one of the league's strongest cores for the foreseeable future.Rowe and company clearly have seen something in these young men that leads the club to believe they are worth the long-term investment, it is now up to the players themselves to ensure that these lucrative contracts are money well spent.-Contract info courtesy of General FanagerCopyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Philadelphia Flyers bolstered their blue-line depth Tuesday, signing defenseman T.J. Brennan to a multi-year contract, the team announced.Philadelphia didn't disclose terms, but according to Tim Panaccio of CSNPhilly, it's a two-way deal worth $625,000 anually.Brennan, 27, spent the last four seasons in the Toronto Maple Leafs organization, primarily with the AHL-affiliate Marlies.Though he struggled to find a permanent spot in the NHL, Brennan's widely noted as a gifted offensive defenseman. He scored 68 points in 69 games last season for the Marlies, which earned him the Eddie Shore Award as the league's most outstanding blue-liner.In 53 NHL games, Brennan's scored five goals and eight assists.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Pavel Datsyuk has a golden goal of a different sort.The veteran forward's agent, Dan Milstein, told Helene St. James of the Detroit Free Press that his client's plan is to play until 2018 to be part of Russia's pursuit of Olympic glory.“Pavel wants to play well and he wants to help the team,” Milstein said. “Very likely, he will play for two years, to be part of the next Olympics, because he has unfinished business. He wants to help Russia win a gold medal.”Datsyuk is waiting on transfer paperwork that will facilitate his departure from the NHL and the Arizona Coyotes, who took on the final year of his contract in a draft night trade with the Detroit Red Wings.Milstein said the documents should arrive shortly, and his client will sign with a KHL club as soon as they're processed.The 37-year-old announced his decision to leave the NHL for Russia last month.The cap hit from the final year of Datsyuk's deal remains on the books, per CBA rules, because he signed a multi-year deal after the age of 35.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.