It's doubtful Teemu Pulkkinen will start the season for the Detroit Red Wings.The 24-year-old Finnish winger underwent shoulder surgery in early June, according to MLive.com's Ansar Khan, and will be out four-to-six months.Pulkkinen had six goals and six assists in 36 games last season. He has 11 goals and nine assists in 70 career NHL games. He's currently in need of a contract as a restricted free agent.Khan also reports defenseman Alexey Marchenko underwent a procedure on his wrist during the offseason, and is expected to be healthy for puck drop on the 2016-17 campaign.Marchenko signed a two-year, $2.9-million contract extension on July 1.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The St. Louis Blues have signed restricted free agent Magnus Paajarvi to a one-year contract, the team announced Tuesday.It's a one-way deal worth $700,000, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch's Jeremy Rutherford.The 25-year-old forward appeared in 48 games for the Blues last season, scoring nine points.Drafted 10th overall by the Edmonton Oilers, Paajavri has struggled to produce at the NHL level, amassing 80 points over 276 contents.With Paajarvi now locked up, St. Louis' only remaining restricted free agent on the pro roster is forward Jaden Schwartz.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Thomas Chabot made an impression at development camp, but it wasn't a good one.The Ottawa Senators' prized defensive prospect drew criticism from assistant general manager Randy Lee after the summer sessions concluded Monday."I thought Thomas should have been a bit more intense, I thought Thomas should have dominated,” Lee told Ken Warren of the Ottawa Sun, adding he felt Chabot had an "average" camp."I think Thomas should look at the landscape and see we’ve got six signed defencemen (to NHL contracts)," Lee said. "Thomas and I have talked about it.”Erik Karlsson, Marc Methot, and Dion Phaneuf are signed to long-term deals, while both Mark Borowiecki and Chris Wideman are locked in for two more seasons. Cody Ceci, a defensive prospect in his own right, is mulling a qualifying offer from the club.Chabot, the Senators' 18th overall pick in 2015, knows he missed an early opportunity to prove he belongs in the NHL.“I’m their first pick from last year, they expect a lot from me," he said. “I don’t think I did what they expected from me. They only have six defencemen signed, so, for sure, I want to work as hard as I can this summer to work for a spot (next season).”Senators GM Pierre Dorion said last week that Chabot will have a shot to make the team out of training camp in the fall, but his development camp performance doesn't do him any favors.“I think he realizes it,” Lee said. “He’s a very special player and he worked so hard last year. I just thought the impact he would have made on this camp would have been a bit more.”Chabot posted nearly a point per game in his third season with the QMJHL's Saint John Sea Dogs, adding 21 points in 17 playoff contests.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It appears the Calgary Flames couldn't be happier with their first-round draft pick.Matthew Tkachuk - selected sixth overall in June's draft from the London Knights - is hopeful to make an impact as Calgary's development camp gets underway."I want to show where I've come as a player and how much I'm willing to buy into the fact that I want to play soon and just make sure I'm ready," Tkachuk said, according to Aaron Vickers of CalgaryFlames.com.As for Calgary's brass, it believes the addition of Tkachuk to an already skilled, youthful lineup will provide a great benefit, as the 18-year-old brings a different complexion to the team."When you talk about sandpaper, great around the net, and a proven winner ... that's one thing," Flames assistant GM Craig Conroy said. " Everybody says, well, he's got to play with all these other guys. It's hard to play with good players. Not everybody can play with good players. He's a great compliment ... if you want to call him that. A lot of nights he does a lot of dirty work in front of the net, in the corners, to free up space for other guys."To have a guy like that ... we have have a lot of guys with skill but we don't have a Tkachuk-like guy on our team right now."Tkachuk scored the Memorial Cup-winning goal in overtime for the Knights in May, and is coming off a 107-point season. Although he still needs to earn a roster spot on the Flames, it looks like he's off to a good start.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

July 1 was a busy day in the NHL, with more than 100 players signing new contracts and a number of unrestricted free agents finding new homes in the hours after the signing period began.But several teams are still yet to lock up their restricted free agents, and Tuesday marks another important point in the offseason, as it's the final chance for players to file for salary arbitration.While many notable players are eligible, here are three to keep an eye on before the 5 p.m. ET deadline:Mike Hoffman, Ottawa SenatorsComing off a career-best 29-goal, 59-point season, the 26-year-old forward could be headed to salary arbitration for the second consecutive year with the Senators.Last year, Hoffman was awarded a one-year, $2-million contract, and he is sure to get a significant raise once again with his continued improvement. With this in mind, the Senators are hoping to get a contract done prior to arbitration, according to Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun.Tyson Barrie, Colorado AvalancheThough Avalanche general manager Joe Sakic had expressed his hope to sign the 24-year-old defenseman to a long-term deal last month, it appears the two sides will be heading to arbitration.With trade rumors swirling around the blue-liner for weeks, Tuesday's deadline may be the last chance for Sakic to make a deal before Barrie is awarded a contract for one more year. Last season, he recorded 13 goals and 36 assists, with almost half of his production coming on the power play.Petr Mrazek, Detroit Red WingsThere's no doubt who the goaltender of the future is in Detroit, and, after losing the starting job at the end of the season only to grab it back from Jimmy Howard in the postseason, Mrazek is ready to earn a starter's salary.If Mrazek heads to arbitration, it's likely he'll be awarded a salary close to that of new Toronto Maple Leafs goalie Frederik Andersen, with whom he shares similar career numbers. Andersen signed an extension following his trade from the Anaheim Ducks that will earn him $5 million per year through 2021.Goalie Age GP Record GAA Sv% SOMrazek248346-30-82.29.9209Andersen2612577-26-122.33.9186Other notables: Kyle Palmieri, New Jersey Devils; Brayden Schenn, Philadelphia Flyers; Chris Kreider, New York RangersCopyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Anaheim Ducks signed veteran forward Mason Raymond to a one-year contract worth $675,000 in the NHL and $225,000 in the AHL, according to Renaud Lavoie of TVA Sports.After a disappointing second season with the Calgary Flames, the 30-year-old had the final year of his contract bought out by the club last week, making him a free agent.Raymond recorded just five points in 29 games with the Flames last season, eventually being sent down to the AHL's Stockton Heat, where he scored at a point-per-game pace in 15 appearances.He originally signed a three-year contract worth $9.45 million with the Flames following a surprising 45-point campaign in 2013-14 with the Toronto Maple Leafs - where he played under current Ducks bench boss Randy Carlyle.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Despite being offered a top-six role on a playoff team, Hobey Baker Award winner Jimmy Vesey decided not to sign with the Nashville Predators after his college career ended in order to become a free agent in August, which is an option available to college players after their senior season.The Predators have since traded the former Harvard forward's rights to the Buffalo Sabres, and general manager David Poile acknowledged the rule makes dealing with prospects in the NCAA more complicated."It's not a perfect situation," Poile said, according to Adam Vingan of The Tennessean. "I guess if you're on our side, that's a loophole that the college players can run the gamut on four years and then be a free agent like Jimmy Vesey. I think it's a bad rule."I hope we can change it because now you see a lot of teams, because of the Vesey thing and a couple of other players, you see teams taking their players out of college maybe a year early to try to entice them with a contract, and so they don't have to face that situation."Vesey was a 2012 draft selection of the Predators. Under the current CBA, a team holds exclusive rights to a drafted college prospect for four years, as long as the player stays a student the entire time.The situation with Vesey hasn't deterred Poile from drafting college-bound players, though, as the Predators selected defenseman Dante Fabbro in the first round of this year's draft. Fabbro will play at Boston University this coming season.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Vancouver Canucks added Loui Eriksson in free agency, but they want more.In dire need of goals, Eriksson's going to help. He scored 30 times last season, and will form what should be a formidable all-Swedish first line with the Sedin twins. But Jim Benning knows the Canucks - the only team to score fewer than 200 goals in the Western Conference - need more offense.While the Sedins are around, Vancouver is going to chase a playoff spot. That much is clear early in an offseason in which the club has tried to get better for the immediate future."If I had a crystal ball, I would say we'd try to add a winger who had some grit and size to him, who can score," Benning told The Province's Jason Botchford.Those players aren't available on the free-agent market, which means Benning is going to have to get what he wants via trade. And that won't be easy. Gone already is forward prospect and 2014 first-round pick Jared McCann, traded to Florida for defenseman Erik Gudbranson.Here's a look at the Canucks' depth chart up front:LWCRWDaniel SedinHenrik SedinLoui ErikssonSven BaertschiBrandon SutterJannik HansenAlex BurrowsBo HorvatJake VirtanenRonalds KeninsMarkus GranlundDerek DorsettEmerson EtemBrendan GaunceThere isn't much to trade from that group. Prospects and/or draft picks could be used to pluck one of the pending 2017 unrestricted free-agent forwards, who are up there in age and who could help in the short term: Patrick Marleau, Patrick Sharp, and Jarome Iginla. None of those players fit the description Benning is looking for, though, with Iginla coming the closest. He scored 22 goals as a 38-year-old last season, so there's still game left on his stick.While Eriksson's bringing 30 goals to Vancouver, the Canucks are losing Radim Vrbata's 13 goals, and 44 over the last two seasons. Any way you look at it, there's still work to be done, which means the summer may still hold intrigue out west.- With h/t to Pro Hockey TalkCopyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

This piece was written before Mason Raymond reportedly signed with the Anaheim Ducks.With the free-agent frenzy over, and the NHL slowly but surely shifting to offseason mode, we'd thought we'd have a little fun and put together a team of those players still looking for work next season.Let's get right into it.ForwardsLWCRWJiri HudlerBrandon PirriRadim VrbataKris VersteegSam GagnerShane DoanAlex TanguayCody HodgsonJosh JoorisMason RaymondDominic MooreLinden VeyChris HigginsPaul GaustadDavid JonesNotes:

Peter Chiarelli expected Edmonton Oilers fans to be upset when he traded Taylor Hall to the New Jersey Devils for Adam Larsson."I knew I was going to get hammered (for it)," the Oilers general manager told SiriusXM NHL Network Radio on Monday. "The Edmonton fans don't know (Larsson). They don't know what he projects to be, and they know Taylor."It wasn't just Oilers fans who were shocked by the deal, which was announced during a flurry of major activity around the league last week. Several media members chimed in with critical responses.Related: Twitter reacts to 1-for-1 Hall, Larsson trade"You kind of knew there was going to be some backlash, and to a certain degree, it's justifiable because of the stature Taylor had in Edmonton and ... (his) time in the league and what he's done," Chiarelli said Monday.Hall racked up 132 goals and 328 points in 381 games for the Oilers after being selected first overall by Edmonton in 2010. Larsson - a right-shot defenseman Chiarelli has repeatedly insisted the Oilers needed - was chosen fourth overall in 2011."It's a tough business. You make these decisions, (and) whatever you do, social media is going to criticize you ... It's a really public forum, and you just don't look at it, basically."Chiarelli's social media strategy aligns with Connor McDavid's advice to Canadian players during the World Junior Hockey Championship. McDavid told players to "make your world as small as possible," and to turn off social media apps while in the figurative bubble of the international tournament.For the Oilers, less is apparently more.- With h/t to Chris NicholsCopyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

In honor of Independence Day stateside, it's time to acknowledge the growth of hockey in the United States.The game has spread significantly south of the border in the 20 years since the U.S. defeated Canada to win the World Cup of Hockey, inspiring a whole new generation just as the game grew following the 'Miracle on Ice' in 1980.Here are five reasons American hockey is blossoming and should only continue to grow.Patrick KaneThe Chicago Blackhawks star is a lightning rod of controversy off the ice, but his impact on it is undeniable. Kane became the first American-born player to win the Hart Trophy last month after a season in which he claimed the Art Ross Trophy with a career-high 106 points.He also set the record for the longest point streak by an American-born player, tallying at least a point in 26 consecutive games between Oct. 17 and Dec. 13.His off-ice legal troubles ensure he won't be the singular face of the league any time soon, but the Buffalo native is arguably the NHL's most dynamic player.Record-setting draftThe present is promising, but the future looks even brighter for USA Hockey.A record 12 American-born players were chosen in the first round of the NHL draft last month, including five players who played their youth hockey in St. Louis.For some perspective, compare that to the 11 Canadians taken in the opening round. Three Americans went in the first seven picks for the first time in 10 years, and 55 U.S.-born players were drafted in all.At least a handful of them should make major contributions in the NHL for years to come.Auston MatthewsThe first-overall pick won't be playing close to home with the Arizona Coyotes, but the Toronto Maple Leafs' top prospect will be a huge boon for the U.S. program if he excels in the biggest hockey market in the world and continues representing his country on the international stage.Matthews was the first American chosen with the top pick since Kane in 2007, and no one's doubting he'll have a similar impact.The centerpiece of the Leafs' youth movement should contribute fairly quickly after spending a season playing professionally in Switzerland.Encouraging participation numbersA glance at USA Hockey membership provides further evidence that interest is rising.There are now more than 542,000 players in the system, a 47 percent increase since the Americans won the World Cup in 1996. The total number of participants in the program (622,833) has gone up 45 percent in that span.The number of players, coaches and officials is steadily increasing nationwide, and that's a positive sign for the growth of the game in the United States.California's hockey revolutionThe Golden State has seen a surge of interest in hockey in the years since the trade that sent Wayne Gretzky to the Los Angeles Kings in 1988.The number of collegiate players from the state has nearly tripled since 2003. The Kings' Stanley Cup championship in 2012 and 2014 helped to generate even more interest on the west coast, while the success of the San Jose Sharks and competitiveness of the Anaheim Ducks have strengthened the market.Hockey hasn't caught on in every southern locale, but California is becoming a major hotbed for hockey, and that could very well have been a factor in the awarding of an NHL franchise to nearby Las Vegas for the 2017-18 season.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Now that the initial free-agent frenzy has died down, teams are beginning to turn their attention to the secondary market.Related: Top 5 NHL free agents still available after Day 1Teams are circling around defenseman Kris Russell, while multiple teams are believed to be interested in forward Kris Versteeg, according to Darren Dreger of TSN.The Toronto Maple Leafs were reportedly interested in Russell, while his agent has denied the defenseman turned down a significant offer from the club.The shot-blocking specialist was dealt by Calgary to Dallas prior to the 2016 trade deadline, while Versteeg scored 15 goals in 77 games split between Carolina and Los Angeles last season.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Matt Martin, the Toronto Maple Leafs lone signing from the first day of free agency, is excited to begin the next chapter of his career.The bulldozing winger said Toronto's management team is part of what drew him to the team."I was able to talk to Lou and Mike on the phone and kind of get a good feel for the direction they're heading," Martin told Dean Blundell of Sportsnet 590 The Fan, transcribed by Chris Nichols of Today's Slapshot. "The management and coaching staff is arguably the best in the league. I'm just excited for the opportunity to play under those guys."Martin is coming off two-consecutive playoff appearances with the New York Islanders, and although his new team finished 30th in the league, he doesn't think it will take long for Toronto to climb up the ranks."I think they're going in the right direction. They're a young team that just got a very good player in Auston Matthews and going through a bit of a rebuild, but with Lou Lamoriello, Brendan Shanahan and Mike Babcock, I can't see that rebuild going too long. I think it's going to be a quick turnaround. They have a lot of great people. A lot of brains behind the bench and the management, and I can't see the Leafs struggling for long."Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Despite some heavy lifting, Steve Yzerman still has some serious work to do.The Tampa Bay Lightning general manager drew rave reviews for re-signing franchise players in Steven Stamkos and defenseman Victor Hedman to long-term contract extensions on July 1.At the same time, winger Nikita Kucherov has grown into a star in his own right, and remains without a new contract as a restricted free agent a few days after the opening of the NHL's free-agent signing period."We'll do our best to get (it) done as quickly as possible," Yzerman told Joe Smith of the Tampa Bay Times on July 1. "It's a process, hopefully sooner than later. I'm confident in that at some point, we'll be able to reach an agreement."The 23-year-old carried a cap hit of $894,166 over the past three seasons, and is due a large raise after averaging 29 goals and 65 points over the past two seasons.Kucherov is clearly the type of player Yzerman values."He's an outstanding player, good in all aspects of the game," Yzerman said. Offensively, defensively, he's a scorer, he's a playmaker, really good defensively, a hard worker. He's still relatively young, three years of pro hockey, he's becoming a leader on our team. Really a go-to-guy for us. He can play in a lot of situations, do a lot of things on the ice."Nikita is going to continue to develop. He's determined to be an elite hockey player and a complete hockey player."Kucherov's early career numbers mirror those posted by 21-year-old Filip Forsberg, who recently signed a six-year, $36-million extension with the Nashville Predators.According to General Fanager, the Lightning have close to $13 million in available cap space, but with Alex Killorn, Vladislav Namestnikov and Nikita Nesterov also in need of new deals as fellow RFAs.On top of that, a reconciliation between the club and Jonathan Drouin means he'll need a new contract in 2017, with a career season likely on deck.In beating the Lightning in the Eastern Conference finals en route to a Stanley Cup championship, the Pittsburgh Penguins proved you need depth to succeed in today's NHL.Having Stamkos and Hedman at the top is fine, but Yzerman needs to lock up the supporting cast, with Kucherov serving as the brightest Bolt of the bunch.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Can Joffrey Lupul see himself playing for the NHL's Las Vegas expansion franchise?The question was posed to him by Steve Simmons of the Toronto Sun, with Lupul offering a refreshingly honest response."Me? Vegas? I don’t think that’s a good fit for either of us."Enough said.For the time being, the 32-year-old winger remains under contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs through to the end of 2017-18 at a salary-cap hit $5.25 million, although general manager Lou Lamoriello seems somewhat non-committal about Lupul's status with the club.

Home is where the heart is.Presented with the opportunity to sign with the Montreal Canadiens, forward David Perron ultimately decided to return to the St. Louis Blues as an unrestricted free agent, agreeing to a two-year, $7.5-million contract.However, it wasn't the easiest decision to make."It would have been a dream to play (in Montreal), but St. Louis is really a place that’s close to my heart," Perron told Jeremy Rutherford of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. "I really missed playing in the city and I wanted to get another shot and hopefully make the best of it this time."Perron was drafted 26th overall by the Blues in 2007, and was traded to the Edmonton Oilers in 2013 amid reports he didn't fit with head coach Ken Hitchcock's system and in the locker room.Hitchcock liked what he saw out of Perron during his brief time with the Anaheim Ducks, and pushed general manager Doug Armstrong to bring the forward back."I saw a guy that was a really good player there for Anaheim, very effective," Hitchcock said. "He was one of the guys getting a lot of scoring chances in that series against Nashville. I said, 'Whoever gets this guy on the next go, he’s going to get a real good player.'"The coach's endorsement was not lost on Perron, and helped tip the scales in St. Louis' favor."I think what I was really happy about is how much (Hitchcock) pushed to get me. With all the rumors that were out there, it just kind of proves that everyone was wrong, and I’m happy about that."Perron, 28, is averaging 20 goals for every 82 games played over the course of his career.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Edmonton Oilers have dipped back into the free-agent waters, signing fringe forward Taylor Beck to a one-year contract, the club announced Sunday.Beck was traded twice in two months last summer after making 62 starts the season prior for the Nashville Predators, who drafted him in the third round in 2009.He appeared in two NHL games last season after landing with the New York Islanders by way of the Toronto Maple Leafs, and scored 33 points in 46 games with their American Hockey League affiliate in Bridgeport.The 25-year-old has 11 goals and 23 points in 87 career NHL games across five pro seasons.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Roman Polak's return did well to quiet the whispers, but Kris Russell's camp is setting the record straight anyway.Russell's agent, Allain Roy, tweeted Sunday that they have not turned down a contract offer from the Toronto Maple Leafs, calling the suggestion merely a rumor.Various reports over the weekend linked the Leafs to Russell, including one that indicated Lou Lamoriello and co. had tabled a fairly substantial multi-year offer.Toronto announced it had signed Polak, the eighth NHL-ready defender under team control, Saturday afternoon.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Georges Laraque's still instigating.The longtime enforcer welcomed, honored, and also denounced Edmonton Oilers chuckers of past and present with 140 characters Sunday morning.

The Winnipeg Jets have agreed to terms on a three-year, entry-level contract with second overall draft pick Patrik Laine, the team announced Sunday.Laine will net the maximum entry-level base salary under the league's CBA, and can earn up to $3.575 million on an annual basis with $2.65 million in bonuses tied to the agreement.His earning potential is just $200,000 short of the maximum allowable on an entry-level deal.The reigning MVP of the World Championship will be unable to participate in on-ice activities at the club's development camp this month, after undergoing a knee procedure after the NHL Combine.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Florida Panthers can't stop making deals.The same day they officially locked down forward Vincent Trocheck to a six-year extension, the Panthers finalized a five-year extension for Reilly Smith on Sunday, the team announced.The team didn't disclose terms, but TSN's Gary Lawless reports the deal is worth $25 million.Related: Panthers riding impressive offseason after front-office shake-upAlong with Trocheck and now Smith, the Panthers signed defensemen Jason Demers and Keith Yandle, as well as inking Aaron Ekblad to an eight-year extension in what's been a busy offseason for newly appointed general manager Tom Rowe."Reilly was a key player for our team last season," Rowe said. "He is a valuable contributor to our offense and special teams and is an important part of our talented group of forwards."Smith, a 25-year-old winger, scored a career-high 25 goals last season, adding 25 assists and suiting up in all 82 games for Florida. He also notched eight points in six playoff contests.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Dallas Stars fans would like the club to acquire Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Ben Bishop.The Stars announced the one-year signing of forward Adam Cracknell on Sunday, but rather than welcoming the news with open arms, the team's faithful wondered why Cracknell wasn't Bishop instead.

Columbus Blue Jackets general manager Jarmo Kekalainen isn't concerned with his team's depth down the middle.Kekalainen dealt 23-year-old pivot Ryan Johansen last season to the Nashville Predators for Seth Jones, and disputes the notion the team still lacks a No. 1 center."People might say that we don't have a first-line center," Kekalainen said, according to Aaron Portzline of the Columbus Dispatch. "But I think we have real solid, 200-foot centers."Columbus is likely to roll out Boone Jenner, Brandon Dubinsky, and Alexander Wennberg down the middle, with Gregory Campbell and William Karlsson also available.Kekalainen went so far as to challenge Karlsson's game to motivate him."I think William Karlsson is going to get a lot better," Kekalainen said. "I challenged him at the year-end meeting, just asked him: 'Do you want to be a fourth-line center for the rest of your life?'"Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

What was once old is new again in the NHL.After the first two days of free agency, there appears to be a growing trend of teams becoming more willing to bring back players who once donned their jersey in years past.The St. Louis Blues have brought back David Perron, the New York Islanders are giving P.A. Parenteau a second chance, and the Toronto Maple Leafs are welcoming back Roman Polak.The phenomenon is certainly nothing new, but is nevertheless intriguing. That being said, similar moves have also included some of the game's greats.Here are five former stars who also made returns to former teams:Mark MessierAfter enjoying his first 12 - and arguably his most prolific - years of his NHL career with the Edmonton Oilers, Messier was traded to the New York Rangers ahead of the 1991-92 season.In his first season with the Rangers, he captured the Hart and Lester B. Pearson trophies. Two years later, he would make Rangers history by capturing the Stanley Cup on a run that included his famous guarantee to win Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Final.Messier would eventually leave for the Vancouver Canucks via free agency, spending three seasons there before returning to the Rangers for the 2000-01 season.Messier was reintroduced as captain, and would play four more seasons for the Rangers before calling it a career.Teemu SelanneAfter a blazing start to his career with the Winnipeg Jets that saw himset an NHL record with 76 goals and 132 points as a rookie - Teemu Selanne was abruptly dealt to the Anaheim Mighty Ducks during the 1995-96 campaign.However, all worked out well. Selanne would go on to form an instant chemistry with Paul Kariya and enjoyed great production for five years. But as fate would have it, Selanne was dealt once again, this time to the San Jose Sharks.Two years in San Jose and a failed Stanley Cup quest with the Colorado Avalanche later, and Selanne rejoined the Ducks; where the rest (506 more points) is history.Luc RobitailleLuc Robitaille not only rejoined the Los Angeles Kings once, he did so on two separate occasions.Robitaille played the first eight seasons of his Hall of Fame career with the Kings before being traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins in 1994. He would spend one season with the Penguins and two with the Rangers before landing back in Los Angeles.He would put up three 35-plus goal seasons in four years with the Kings, before joining the Detroit Red Wings in pursuit of a Stanley Cup. Robitaille succeeded in his quest, capturing the Cup with the Red Wings in 2002 with a team boasting the likes of Brendan Shanahan, Steve Yzerman, Sergei Fedorov, Brett Hull, Nicklas Lidstrom, and Dominik Hasek.After a down second year where he amassed just 31 points, Robitaille would return to the Kings, where he would play out the final two years of his career.Denis SavardDenis Savard burst on to the scene with the Chicago Blackhawks after being drafted third overall in 1980.By his eighth year in the league, he had already amassed five 100-point seasons. However, following the 1989-90 season, he was famously traded to the Montreal Canadiens in a deal for defenseman Chris Chelios.While Savard's numbers started to decline, he still managed to capture the Stanley Cup with the Canadiens during the 1992-93 season. That offseason, he was sent to the Tampa Bay Lightning where he would play just over a season before being sent back to Chicago for a sixth-round pick.Savard played two more seasons following the trade before retiring at the end of the 1996-97 season. He still sits as the Blackhawks leader in points per game, and third on the franchise's all-time points list with 1,096 to his name.Ron FrancisWhile Ron Francis didn't officially rejoin the same team, he did rejoin the same franchise.After being drafted fourth overall in 1981 by the Hartford Whalers, Francis enjoyed a long tenure with the club, finally being traded 67 games into his 10th season with the team.He was traded to the Penguins as part of a six-player deal that worked out incredibly well, as Francis would capture back-to-back Stanley Cups in his first two seasons with the Penguins. He would spend eight seasons in total with the Penguins - the most productive campaigns of his career.Following the 1997-98 season, Francis would sign with the Carolina Hurricanes - formerly the Whalers - as a free agent. He would spend the next six seasons in Carolina before being dealt to the Maple Leafs at the trade deadline in 2004, which was his final season in the league.Honorable MentionBrendan ShanahanBrendan Shanahan was drafted second overall in the 1987 Draft and spent his first four years with the New Jersey Devils.After a polished career spent with the Blues, Whalers, Red Wings, and Rangers over 17 years, Shanahan agreed to rejoin the Devils midway through the 2008-09 season. There he would contribute six goals and eight assists in 34 games and another three points in seven playoff games.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Florida Panthers' busy offseason continues.The club and forward Vincent Trocheck agreed to a six-year contract extension, the team announced Sunday.The deal was first reported Saturday by George Richards of the Miami Herald and carries an average annual value of $4.75 million, or $28.5 million over the life of the contract, according to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.The Panthers reportedly offered Trocheck the six-year deal last month.Trocheck tied for third on the team with 25 goals and ranked fifth with 53 points in his third NHL season.The 22-year-old was a pending restricted free agent before the Panthers reportedly extended him a qualifying offer last weekend.Florida signed defenseman Jason Demers to a five-year contract earlier Saturday.On Friday, the Panthers locked up franchise blue-liner Aaron Ekblad on an eight-year extension, inked goaltender James Reimer to a five-year deal, signed former Dallas Stars forward Colton Sceviour to a one-year pact, and added former Tampa Bay Lightning center Jonathan Marchessault on a two-year contract.Florida also acquired Keith Yandle's negotating rights and signed him to a seven-year deal last week.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It appears the Toronto Maple Leafs' philosophy has slightly shifted in a year's time.Last offseason, in the first year under its new regime led by Brendan Shanahan, Lou Lamoriello, Kyle Dubas, and Mike Babcock, the Leafs' promised pain - which definitely occurred over the course of 82 games - but their re-furbished approach at chasing skilled players and acquiring draft picks was promising.This offseason, Toronto was handed a golden ticket by winning the right to draft Auston Matthews first overall, but a series of curious draft picks following the 18-year-old wunderkind set the bar for what has been a strange sequence of acquisitions during the free-agency period.Toronto's first free-agent signing was Matt Martin, the NHL's trailblazer in hits. He was brought in to protect the kids, but ultimately the Leafs added another body to a crowded forward group, and gave a four-year contract to a player whose career high in points is 19.As much as Leafs fans want to see a lineup full of youngsters, it just isn't possible. Matthews will be there, William Nylander will be there, but Toronto's prospects will have to do battle to crack the roster with limited spots available.PlayerAgePositionGP last seasonJoffrey Lupul32LW46Nazem Kadri25C76Brooks Laich33C21James van Riemsdyk27LW40Tyler Bozak30C57Milan Michalek31LW13Leo Komarov29C67Colin Greening30LW30William Nylander20C22Martin being added to the players listed above leaves two forward spots available. Nikita Soshnikov, Connor Brown, Brendan Leipsic, Kasperi Kapanen, and Zach Hyman all showed promise with the big club last season, not to mention the newly acquired Kerby Rychel or 2015 No. 4 overall pick Mitch Marner who can only play for the Leafs or in the OHL next season.Sure, injuries occur and trades can happen. But as advanced as the rebuild seems to be, the Leafs don't have the space for a complete youth movement this upcoming season.On the defensive side, the Leafs brought back Roman Polak on a one-year deal, creating an unnecessary log jam on the blue line as well.Jake Gardiner, Morgan Rielly, Frank Corrado, Martin Marincin, Connor Carrick and new addition Nikita Zaitsev fit the mold of a swift, possession-positive D-corps, and bringing in Polak - a brute force rather than an analytics darling - likely puts the younger Corrado out of a job.No matter what stage of the "Shanny-Plan" Toronto is at, the Leafs appear to have somewhat contradicted what they've created. At this point, it's difficult to gauge what year two of the Leafs' most recent rebuild will yield, but it's easy to label their offseason work as unexpected.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Florida Panthers are winning the summer after many wondered what they were doing in the spring.Owner Vincent Viola raised eyebrows when he overhauled the front office after a historically successful campaign, but the restructured staff is putting its stamp on the offseason.Florida made two significant moves Saturday, signing free-agent defenseman Jason Demers to a five-year contract and reportedly locking up promising 22-year-old forward Vincent Trocheck on a six-year extension.On Friday, the Panthers put the finishing touches on an eight-year extension for 20-year-old franchise defenseman Aaron Ekblad. The club has now solidified most of its young core, which also includes forwards Aleksander Barkov and Nick Bjugstad.Jonathan Hubderdeau is now the lone member of the core group without a long-term deal, but he has one year remaining before potentially entering restricted free agency.After clinching the Atlantic Division title in April for the first time in franchise history, Florida was eliminated in the first round of the playoffs by the New York Islanders, and Viola didn't wait long to make changes.The Panthers promoted general manager Dale Tallon to president of hockey operations, named Tom Rowe the new GM, and appointed analytically inclined executives Eric Joyce and Steve Werier assistant GMs. Two more analytics experts, Richard Pollock and Josh Weissbock, were brought on in June.It wasn't all hiring and promoting, though. Hockey operations director Mike Dixon was fired in May along with assistant coach John Madden, and Rowe reportedly dismissed the team's equipment managers.Amid all the upheaval and a clear shift in philosophy, the Panthers had a critical summer ahead, and given the circumstances, it's gone remarkably well for them so far. In addition to the Ekblad and Trocheck extensions, the Demers signing was the latest move designed to retool the blue line.The Panthers traded defenseman Erik Gudbranson and a fifth-round pick to the Vancouver Canucks for forward Jared McCann, a second-rounder, and a fourth-round selection, then dealt Dmitry Kulikov and a second-round pick to the Buffalo Sabres for Mark Pysyk and two second-rounders.Then came Keith Yandle, whose rights were acquired by the Panthers before they signed him to a seven-year deal reportedly worth about $44 million.As if that wasn't enough, the new braintrust signed free-agent goaltender James Reimer to a five-year, $17-million contract Friday, providing a brilliant insurance policy for 37-year-old netminder Roberto Luongo, both now and in the future.There are still question marks. The revamped defense will generate plenty of scoring chances, but can it hold up in its own end? How much does Jaromir Jagr have left? Who takes over the captaincy now that Willie Mitchell is likely retiring? Can they risk waiting until next season - or worse, next summer - to figure out a way to keep Huberdeau?Despite these concerns, the Panthers' new-look management team has already checked off all the major items on its summer to-do list, and the club appears primed to contend for the Stanley Cup in the years to come.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

David Backes would have loved to return to the St. Louis Blues, but a single disagreement during contract negotiations ultimately spelled his farewell.The club's former captain admits that negotiations came down to the duration of a contract, which both sides could not find common ground on."If you can’t agree on term, and both sides are pretty stuck on term, I don’t know how you get a three-quarter year or a half year ... to find a happy medium there," Backes said, according to Jeremy Rutherford of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. "It wasn’t like, ‘Hey, we’re a half-million dollars away, let’s meet in the middle and stop this lunacy.’ That’s a very bridgeable gap that wouldn’t be a question. But when it’s term..."To general manager Doug Armstrong, whose offer to Backes maxed out at four years, the fear of a buy out down the road ultimately played into the decision to not offer a longer contract."There’s a constant drove of buy outs every year and it’s always players signed on this date," Armstrong said. "Philosophically, you don’t want to be signing players thinking there’s a greater percentage chance they’re going to be bought out. I’m not saying that about our two players (Backes and Troy Brouwer). I’m just saying in general, term scares me."Backes - who eventually agreed to a five-year contract with the Boston Bruins - understands Armstrong's position, admitting the Blues offered him a four-year deal and then suggested going by a year-to-year basis. But with Backes' original plan to retire a Blue, he knew it would put things in jeopardy."See that’s a tough ..." Backes said. "All of the sudden when you’ve bled Blue for 13 years and you think you’ve got two or three more, and the team thinks you’ve got one more, or they don’t see a role for you ... then you’re going elsewhere and not able to retire as a Blue, (which) is what the initial desire was from the get-go."In the end Backes has no hard feelings, and he doesn't want to point blame for how things ended in St. Louis - the only team he has ever played for."I don’t want to sling mud at anyone because I think there’s plenty of blame to share on both sides, and I’m willing to accept my portion," Backes said. "There’s no leaving town with fingers-out-the-window type of mentality. They respect the work that I’ve done and the player I’ve been for this team. I love this town, love this city, love this team and think it’s an awesome hockey organization."Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Two days into free agency and Arizona Coyotes captain Shane Doan is still without a contract for next season, but don't expect the 39-year-old to be donning a different jersey any time soon."I'm not worried," said Doan of his current contract status, per Sarah McLellan of Azcentralsports. "You understand they're trying to put the team together and get it all in place and do what they need to do. I obviously want to get a contract that I think is fair to me, too. It is what it is."The two sides are working towards a one-year contract according to McLellan, and though Doan's agent Terry Bross admitted three teams were "pushing hard" to sign his client, the veteran forward remains focused on his future in the desert."It was nice to know that there are other people interested and value you, I guess," Doan said. "At the same time, I've kind of made the bed and I want to make sure everything works out here as much as I can."It was clear that my goal is to stay in Arizona at this point."Despite being unsigned, Doan was involved in the team's recruitment of defenseman Alex Goligoski - who signed a five-year, $27.375 million contract in June - which the captain called "huge" for the team. He also expressed his excitement for new additions Jamie McGinn and Ryan White.Doan may not have a contract yet, but all signs are pointing to a new deal for the franchise leader in games played, goals, and points in the coming weeks.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The St. Louis Blues traded goaltender Anders Nilsson to the Buffalo Sabres in exchange for a fifth-round pick at the 2017 NHL draft, the Sabres announced Saturday.Following the trade, the Sabres reportedly signed the netminder to a one-year contract worth $1 million, according to General Fanager.Nilsson started last season with the Edmonton Oilers before being traded to the Blues in February. He posted a 10-13-2 record with a 3.12 goals-against average and .901 save percentage.The 26-year-old was the odd man out in St. Louis after the Blues signed Carter Hutton on Friday to back up Jake Allen.He is now the favorite to be the backup behind Robin Lehner in Buffalo, barring a challenge from Linus Ullmark.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New York Islanders signed forward Pierre-Alexandre Parenteau to a one-year contract Saturday.The deal is worth $1.25 million, according to Newsday's Arthur Staple.Parenteau led the Toronto Maple Leafs with 20 goals in 2015-16.He played two seasons with the Islanders from 2010-12, collecting 38 goals and 120 points combined in his previous stint.The 33-year-old played parts of seven campaigns in the AHL before beginning his NHL career with the New York Rangers in 2009-10.He was a ninth-round pick of the Anaheim Ducks in 2001.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

After dealing him to the San Jose Sharks at the trade deadline, the Toronto Maple Leafs are bringing back Roman Polak to the organization on a one-year contract, the team announced Saturday.Terms of the contract were not disclosed.The 30-year-old defenseman recorded 13 points in 55 games with the Maple Leafs before being dealt. Polak went without a point in 24 playoff games during the Sharks' run to the Stanley Cup Final.During his time in Toronto last season, Polak spent the majority of his ice time paired with Martin Marincin.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

During a wild first day of free agency Friday, where over 100 players signed new contracts, Paul Bissonnette - a.k.a. @BizNasty2point0 - stole the show by sharing his direct messages to Brendan Shanahan and Evgeni Malkin as he searched for a new deal.Related: Bissonnette slides into Shanahan's, Malkin's DMs in search of contract​On Saturday, TSN's Bob McKenzie broke the news that Bissonnette had agreed to return to the Los Angeles Kings' AHL affiliate, the Ontario Reign, where he played last season.

The start of the 2016-17 season is still roughly three months away, but already there are several teams who are destined for greater success than last season.Related: 3 teams that got worse on July 1Friday's onslaught of signings saw several teams already add the pieces needed to make a jump up the standings. Amazing what a couple of hours can do.Here are three teams that are significantly better today than they were prior to the noon hour on Friday:Calgary FlamesThe Calgary Flames made just two moves on Friday, but they were two moves that should pay off immediately.The team inked forward Troy Brouwer to a four-year, $18-million contract and added much-needed depth between the pipes, locking up former Buffalo Sabres backup Chad Johnson.Brouwer provides strength, size, and skill, averaging 20 goals a year for his career. The 30-year-old was dealt to the St. Louis Blues ahead of this past season in exchange for T.J. Oshie and in his lone season with the Blues added 18 goals and 39 points in 82 games.He further proved his worth in the postseason when he finished just a goal behind Vladimir Tarasenko's nine for the team lead and added five assists.While he was coined the team's backup thanks to multiple ankle injuries to Robin Lehner, Johnson spent a large part of the year as the team's No. 1. He played 45 games posting an impressive 2.36 goals-against average and a .920 save percentage on a team that finished third-last in the East, while giving up just under 31 shots per game.He is sure to be a solid relief option for the newly acquired Brian Elliott.San Jose SharksHaving made it to the Stanley Cup Final and coming within just two games of capturing hockey's ultimate prize, the San Jose Sharks were not desperate to make a splash on July 1, but they did anyways.The club added one of the top unrestricted forwards in Mikkel Boedker and added skill to their defense core with the addition of David Schlemko.

The future of the Tampa Bay Lightning was in question all season long. The idea of Steven Stamkos leaving town drew more speculation perhaps than any free agent ever. Jonathan Drouin, the team's best prospect, wanted out. Their impending salary-cap doom lurked in the distance. And yet, on the road to next season, the Lightning remain firmly intact, all because of Steve Yzerman.Much like his Hall of Fame career as a player, Yzerman's stoic approach as a general manager has translated into booming success.Yzerman has built a perennial contender in Tampa Bay, a group so tightly knit and driven for a Stanley Cup that the team's two most important players - Stamkos and Victor Hedman - chose to stay at incredible discounts, rather than raking in piles of money on the open market.Drouin, who as a 21-year-old pushed and pushed for a midseason trade, flourished in the postseason. He revitalized his image and proved his worth to his teammates with 14 points in 17 games, because Yzerman wouldn't budge.By retaining Stamkos for $8.5 million per year, the bar was set for his teammates, with Hedman following suit by agreeing to take $7.875 million starting in 2017.Now, with two deep playoff runs behind them and surely another one in sight, Yzerman's kept the band together. There's still work to be done, like finding a contract for dynamic scorer Nikita Kucherov, who's a restricted free agent. The GM's confident a deal will get done soon and, based on his work this offseason, he should be.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Here are the fantasy repercussions following Jason Demers signing with the Florida Panthers. Demers reached an agreement on a five-year contract worth $22.5-million.

The Florida Panthers have signed free-agent defenseman Jason Demers to a five-year contract, the team announced Saturday.The deal's worth a reported $22.5 million, according to Sportsnet's Chris Johnston.Demers is thrilled to get the season going.

The first day of the NHL's free agency saw flurry of franchise-altering decisions made and over $600 million spent.Now that the biggest fish have been plucked from the pond, it's time to evaluate the moves and distribute some grades.Milan Lucic: 7-year, $42M contract with EdmontonThe Edmonton Oilers have mapped out a plan, and it's a familiar one. They have their generational talent in Connor McDavid, who's expected to take them where No. 99 once did. They were gifted a Finnish winger to complement him in Jesse Puljujarvi, and on July 1, they completed the trio by adding Lucic to patrol the ice protecting McDavid a la Dave Semenko with Wayne Gretzky.Now, comparing McDavid, Puljujarvi, and Lucic to Gretzky, Jari Kurri, and Semenko is near-blasphemous, but it's almost too perfect of a coincidence.One of the main differences in this generation's rendition is Lucic can score. The towering winger was brought to Edmonton to change the mantra on and off the ice, which he's ready to do. He's coming off a 55-point campaign, and if he plays with No. 97 all season, it's reasonable to believe he can set multiple career highs.However, he's signed until he's 35 at a $6-million cap hit. Lucic could prove to be a slam dunk in his early years with Edmonton, but if the project fails and Lucic begins to decline, it could be another disaster in Oil Country.Grade: BDavid Backes: 5-year, $30M contract with BostonDespite being the heart and soul of the St. Louis Blues, Backes should have no problem fitting in with the Bruins. Physicality has been a staple in Boston's style of play for decades, and Backes brings exactly that.Signing Backes creates outstanding depth at center for Boston, grouping him with Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci down the middle.That said, Boston let Loui Eriksson - who was second on the team with 63 points last season - walk to the Vancouver Canucks. Eriksson, though he wouldn't provide much of a discount, is a more versatile and younger player.It's doubtful Backes, 32, can continue to produce the way he used to as his career reaches its latter portion.Grade: C+Alexander Radulov: 1-year, $5.75M contract with MontrealThis was easily the most intriguing signing of the day.Just days after Canadiens general manager Marc Bergevin traded franchise cornerstone P.K. Subban, citing a need for character in the dressing room, he brought in a player who was chastised for missing curfew during the Nashville Predators' playoff run in 2012.Radulov, supremely talented, claims to be a changed man, and enters La Belle Province as a low-risk, high-reward project for the Habs.There's simply no doubting Radulov's skill, as he scored 238 points in his last 181 KHL games. If he's made an attitude adjustment, the third time could be the charm for the Russian in the NHL.Even if the move blows up, the good news is it's only a one-year deal.Grade: B+Kyle Okposo: 7-year, $42M contract with BuffaloBuffalo missed out on Steven Stamkos, but found a cheaper, reliable replacement in Okposo.The 28-year-old will be thrust into an already talented Sabres top six. He'll produce points while adding veteran leadership to a fairly young core.Whether he's on a line with Ryan O'Reilly or Jack Eichel, Okposo should have no problem fitting in, as he's coming off his third career 20-goal season.Logistically, the term and value of the contract met Okposo's market, and it's a prudent move for the Sabres, who still have money to spend.Grade: A-Frans Nielsen: 6-year, $31.5M contract with DetroitLike Buffalo, Detroit resorted to Plan B when Stamkos opted to stay in Tampa, but the Red Wings landing Nielsen to a lucrative contract lacks oomph, and quite frankly, sense.Nielsen is a skilled player, but at 32, general manager Ken Holland gave too much term and money to a piece brought in to hopefully fill the void left by Pavel Datsyuk.Nielsen is another veteran body in the delicate portion of Detroit's aging core, and has produced only two seasons of more than 20 goals. He can surely prove to have value, but tied in with the gamble of signing Thomas Vanek to a one-year deal and the peculiarly massive Darren Helm extension, it wasn't a banner day for Holland.Grade: CCopyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Conner Bleackley has finally signed a NHL contract.The 20-year-old agreed to a three-year, entry-level deal with the St. Louis Blues, the team announced on Saturday.Bleackley was originally drafted in the first round in 2014 by the Colorado Avalanche. He was traded to the Arizona Coyotes as part of the deal that saw Alex Tanguay exchanged for Mikkel Boedker ahead of this year's trade deadline.After going unsigned by the Coyotes, Bleackley re-entered this year's draft where the Blues plucked him in the fifth round.In addition to signing Bleackley, the Blues also stockpiled their minor league system by agreeing to terms with Chris Butler, Jacob Doty, Brad Hunt, Andrew Agozzino, Wade Megan, Morgan Ellis, Alex Friesen, and Kenny Agostino to one-year, two-way contracts.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

With a franchise now guaranteed to Las Vegas, it is time for the club to begin building its front office.Owner Bill Foley and company have begun meetings in Montana with the process of putting in place the staff, which includes the hiring of a general manager."My hope is we'll have our general manager on board no later than Aug. 1," Foley said, according to Steve Carp of the Las Vegas Review-Journal. "We've had a lot of people reach out to us, and we've got some people we're interested in who we've yet to speak to. We hope to identify who we want to speak to from these meetings."Foley and his team are new to the process and have had meetings with the league as to learn how to appropriately speak to candidates currently under contract with other teams."We talked to the NHL last week, and we were explained how the protocol works when it comes to contacting other teams," Foley said. "We want to play by the rules and not make any mistakes. The NHL told us what we have to do, and we're good with that."Foley plans to narrow down a list to three to five candidates who will then be interviewed for the job.On the business side of things, Foley and company continue to work alongside sales staff. Season-ticket sales are approaching 16,000 where after Foley plans to put a cap as to leave room for single-game tickets.As for the club's name and mascot, a decision is still forthcoming, as Foley admits it has not been easy."It's a very long process," he said. "You really can't rush it. The NHL has to approve everything."Foley plans to unveil the team's name, color scheme, and mascot at a viewing party in September or October.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

There were a lot of disgruntled Montreal Canadiens fans following the team's decision to ship P.K. Subban off to the Nashville Predators in exchange for Shea Weber.One fan in particular was so furious over the trade that she wrote a message for Canadiens management on her jersey, which she then left on the Jean Beliveau memorial statue.

July 1 is a day on the hockey schedule that brings hope to many NHL franchises.It's a day when teams can stalk and retool for the upcoming season, seizing players looking for new homes. But while the excitement of nabbing a cornerstone player keeps fans enthralled, the fact is not every signing is a winner and not every deal makes a team better.Here are three teams that fit such a card and are now worse off after Friday's free-agent frenzy:Ottawa SenatorsThe Ottawa Senators are worse off after Friday's action, less for what they did and more for what they didn't do.The club was active, coming to terms with six players, but all six will have little impact on the team's NHL roster as nearly all are projected to start with the Binghamton Senators of the American Hockey League.PlayerYearsCap hitMike Blunden2$737 500Michael Kostka1$800KPhil Varone1$700KMax McCormick1$650KCasey Bailey1$874 125Chad Nehring1$600KFollowing his flurry of action Friday, general manager Pierre Dorion told reporters that the majority of the players the Senators had targeted in free agency were still on the market, which demands the question, what exactly were the Senators hoping to achieve in free agency?Given that more than $630 million was spent on more than 100 players and nearly all of the big names are off the board, it's quite easy to see that the Senators were not big-game hunting.Factor in that nearly every other club in the Atlantic Division made moves to make themselves more competitive and it appears the Senators may have been left in the dust.Detroit Red WingsFor the Detroit Red Wings, Plan A far exceeded Plan B.The Red Wings made it no secret that they were hopeful to land Steven Stamkos on July 1. With the Tampa Bay Lightning captain slated to hit the open market, the club did everything in its power to make a possible signing work.They dealt the remaining year of Pavel Datsyuk's contract and in turn freed up $7.5 million. Unfortunately, once Stamkos decided to remain with the Lightning, the Red Wings' plan went off the rails.Things got off to a bad start when they elected to pay Darren Helm just south of $4 million a season over five years, a player who during his six full seasons in the league has only surpassed the 30-point mark twice.The team then added a previously bought-out Thomas Vanek and a player who failed to score a single goal last season in Steve Ott. They did manage to ink Frans Nielsen to a deal, but at six years and more than $5 million per season, it's a risk for a player who will be 38 when the contract expires.The Red Wings have now left themselves with just over $4 million in cap space and with Teemu Pulkkinen, Danny Dekeyser, and Petr Mrazek all restricted free agents, it appears the Red Wings may have pushed themselves into a corner that will require roster moves to get out.New York RangersSimilar to the Senators, the New York Rangers are worse off after making many moves with little significance.The Rangers' grab bag included forwards Michael Grabner and Nathan Gerbe as well as defenseman Adam Clendening.Grabner spent last season with the Toronto Maple Leafs where he set career-lows - in a full season - managing just nine goals and nine assists in 80 games.As for Gerbe, the 5-foot-5 forward suited up in just 47 games for the Carolina Hurricanes and in turn also hit career-lows with just three goals and four assists.Finally, in Clendening the Rangers get a defenseman who has played in just 50 career games, 29 of which came last season split between the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Edmonton Oilers where he compiled just one goal and five assists.In fact, some Rangers fans felt the club's hiring of former player Jeff Beukeboom as assistant coach was the best deal made.

The first day of free agency took place on Canada Day north of the border - as it always does - and it was a work day stateside this year, so we'll forgive those who opted for some rest and relaxation or an all-important business meeting.Here's what you may have missed on a jam-packed day of movement in the NHL. The value of the contracts hasn't been confirmed in all cases, but you can check our offseason tracker for more information on the deals.Milan LucicTeamYearsContractEdmonton Oilers7$42MLoui ErikssonTeamYearsContractVancouver Canucks6$36MVictor HedmanTeamYearsContractTampa Bay Lightning8$63M (Extension)Kyle OkposoTeamYearsContractBuffalo Sabres7$42MAaron EkbladTeamYearsContractFlorida Panthers8$60M (Extension)Andrew LaddTeam Years ContractNew York Islanders7$38.5MDavid BackesTeam Years ContractBoston Bruins5$30MTroy BrouwerTeam Years ContractCalgary Flames4$18MEric StaalTeam Years ContractMinnesota Wild3$10.5MJames ReimerTeam Years ContractFlorida Panthers5$17MAlexander RadulovTeam Years ContractMontreal Canadiens1$5.75MFrans NielsenTeam Years ContractDetroit Red Wings6$31.5MMikkel BoedkerTeam Years ContractSan Jose Sharks4$16MDan HamhuisTeam Years ContractDallas Stars2$7.5MAndrei VasilevskiyTeam Years ContractTampa Bay Lightning3$10.5MCopyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The first day of NHL free agency was indeed a frenzy, with over $300 million in contracts being dished out in the first hour alone.But teams shouldn't feel bad if they missed out on the big names Friday, as there are a number of serviceable free agents still searching for a new arena to call home next season.Here are the top five remaining UFAs:Jason DemersThe Edmonton Oilers and Montreal Canadiens have already been ruled out of the running to sign the former seventh-round pick, but Demers is sure to get a lot of attention as one of the best right-handed defenseman available.Widely regarded for his defensive play, the 28-year-old scored a career-high seven goals in 62 games last season with the Dallas Stars, and may fetch around $5.5 million per year to take a spot in a team's top four D-men.Jiri HudlerDespite a disappointing 46-point campaign this past season, Hudler is only one year removed from a 2014-15 season when he recorded 31 goals and 76 points with the Calgary Flames. He's arguably the most skilled forward still without a team.Though he was picked up as a rental by the Florida Panthers ahead of the trade deadline, a return to Sunrise appears unlikely. There's been little word of interest in the Lady Byng winner, and the 32-year-old may see a slight pay cut from his previous $4-million salary.Kris RussellAnother former Star, Russell - like Demers - is bound for a significant raise on the open market with the Canucks, Canadiens, and Maple Leafs all rumored to be interested in his services.The 29-year-old made little impact with Dallas after a trade-deadline deal from the Flames, but his status as one of the league's top shot-blockers has made him a priority for a number of teams.Kris VersteegIf a team is looking to add postseason experience to their dressing room, they should take a long look at Versteeg, who won a pair of Cups with the Chicago Blackhawks in 2010 and 2015.The 30-year-old split last season between the Hurricanes and Kings, racking up 38 points in 77 games. He's a solid depth forward option that has hit the 20-goal mark three times in his career.Radim VrbataVrbata earned a trip to the 2015 All-Star Game in his first season with the Vancouver Canucks, finishing with a career-high 63 points playing alongside the Sedin twins. His contract year, however, was a huge disappointment.The 35-year-old managed just 27 points in 2015-16, but his skill is certainly not being ignored with five teams rumored to be in the mix for the Czech winger.Honorable mentions: P.A. Parenteau, Brandon Pirri, Roman Polak, Luke Schenn, Justin Schultz.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Wednesday's flurry of shocking moves didn't ruin the Friday frenzy after all.General managers handed out more than half a billion dollars in the span of a few hours after the NHL's free agency period officially opened at noon.Here are some of the winners and losers from a busy opening day of free agency:WinnersTampa Bay LightningA great week for Steve Yzerman got even better Friday.Two days after convincing Steven Stamkos to stay in Tampa Bay, the Lightning GM signed his best defenseman, Victor Hedman, to an eight-year, $63-million extension.Yzerman also inked backup goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy to a three-year, $10.5-million deal, and that's a solid Ben Bishop insurance policy should the Lightning decide to deal the veteran netminder (as they reportedly explored doing at the draft).This was a critical offseason for Tampa Bay, and it's gone swimmingly so far.Buffalo SabresThe Sabres missed out on Stamkos earlier in the week, and they weren't about to let one of the other big fish in free agency get away.Buffalo was thought to be the favorite to land Kyle Okposo on Friday morning, and the Sabres got their man about 20 minutes after the frenzy began.Okposo's deal is reportedly for six years and $42 million, which isn't unreasonable considering his age (28), Buffalo's cap flexibility, and the fact he's been one of the most productive scoring wingers in the league over the last five seasons.Whether he plays with Ryan O'Reilly or Jack Eichel, Okposo should come close to replicating the numbers he achieved with John Tavares and the New York Islanders.Calgary FlamesThe Flames had cash to play with, and while they didn't wade into the deep end, they did sign veteran forward Troy Brouwer to a four-year, $18-million deal.Brouwer is a perfect fit for Calgary, given his blend of scoring touch and physicality. His affordable deal gives the Flames room to lock up pending restricted free agents Johnny Gaudreau and Sean Monahan, as well as Sam Bennett, who'll become one if he's not signed after this season.The Flames also picked up experienced backup goaltender Chad Johnson on a one-year contract for a mere $1.7 million Friday after acquiring Brouwer's former St. Louis Blues teammate, Brian Elliott, on draft night.Florida PanthersThe Panthers have had an unusual offseason, but GM Tom Rowe and company should be smiling after Friday's moves.Florida finalized its long-term deal with franchise defenseman Aaron Ekblad, getting pen to paper on an eight-year, $60-million extension.

NHL general managers made it rain Friday.The free-agent market opened with a bang Friday at 12 p.m. ET, with a flurry of action over the first three hours.The major players - Milan Lucic, Loui Eriksson, Andrew Ladd, Kyle Okposo, and Mikkel Boedker, to only name a few - are all off the board.In total, teams spent more than $630 million - over half a billion dollars! - on 119 players, according to Sportsnet's John Shannon.It was a frenzy, yeah.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Kyle Okposo wants to win a Stanley Cup. He believes he can do it with the Buffalo Sabres.Okposo left the New York Islanders on Friday, signing a seven-year deal with Buffalo reportedly worth $42 million."What sold me was the chance to win a Stanley Cup," Okposo said, according to the Times Herald's Bill Hoppe. "I think we have a lot of pieces in play that can help us achieve that goal."