The Vancouver Canucks have their eyes on the stars.General manager Jim Benning was on TSN 1040 in Vancouver on Thursday, where he didn't hold back, stating his club has interest in Montreal Canadiens defenseman P.K. Subban."Yeah, we've been one of the teams that have talked to them," Benning said. "It's a high price, he's a true No.1 defenseman."Before Canucks fans get too ahead of themselves, Benning isn't close to a deal for the former Norris Trophy winner."We do our due diligence, but it's a long ways from completing a deal like that," said Benning.Related - Canucks' Benning: Improving draft position costs too muchThe GM didn't stop there, also noting the club will talk with pending unrestricted free agent, Steven Stamkos."He's gonna have lots of interest across the league," Benning said. "But we'll talk to him and see where it goes."Suffice it to say it's going to cost a pretty penny if the Canucks hope to acquire one or both of the NHL's biggest stars.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It's a small hockey deal, but a hockey deal nonetheless.The Florida Panthers have acquired a backup for Roberto Luongo, trading Rocco Grimaldi to the Colorado Avalanche for goaltender Reto Berra, George Richards of the Miami Herald reports.Colorada has since confirmed the transaction.The Swiss-born Berra appeared in 14 games for the Avalanche last season, authoring a .922 save percentage and recording a pair of shutouts. He was drafted by the St. Louis Blues in 2006, but didn't make his NHL debut until the 2013-14 season with the Calgary Flames.He owns a career .906 save percentage, exclusively in a backup role.Grimaldi, 23, is a former second-round selection out of the University of North Dakota who never found traction with the Panthers. He appeared in 20 games last season, registering five points, and has scored a decent rate at the minor-league level.Al Montoya, who was effective in a backup role last season, is an unrestricted free agent and most certainly on the move.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Winnipeg Jets general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff isn't ready to let Jacob Trouba walk.If the 22-year-old defensemen - a pending restricted free agent - were to sign an offer sheet by an opposing team, Cheveldayoff would "certainly" match it, according to ESPN's Pierre LeBrun.And while Cheveldayoff would like to hold on to Trouba, he also hinted at the possibility of bringing back former captain Andrew Ladd, stating that he looks forward to the opportunity to interview pending UFAs such as Ladd on Saturday, according to TSN's Frank Seravalli.Ladd captained the team since the 2010-11 season, before he was traded to the Chicago Blackhawks ahead of last season's trade deadline.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Heading into Friday's NHL draft, the Vancouver Canucks don't expect to pick any higher than fifth.General manager Jim Benning has been doing his due diligence the last couple weeks, but isn't optimistic about improving his draft position."The cost of moving up is too much," Benning said. "We're happy at five; we've got six players we'd be thrilled to get and one will be there at five."As of right now, I'd say we'll keep the pick and we're going to draft a really good player."While the prospect of moving up appears unlikely, it hasn't necessarily closed the door on moving down the draft."We've had a lot of calls, there are a lot of teams interested in the fifth pick," said Benning.Looking towards free agency, the team should have more cap space to play with as Benning stated the club will not re-sign forward Radim Vrbata or defensemen Matt Bartowski and Yannick Weber.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Vancouver Canucks will reach out to free-agent forward Milan Lucic once the dust settles after Friday's NHL draft.Related: Report: Lucic, Eriksson 'high priority' targets for CanucksCanucks general manager Jim Benning spoke to the media Thursday, where he admitted he has interest in Lucic and will touch base with the bruiser's camp following the draft.It was reported Wednesday that Lucic will test free agency - having been given permission to speak with other teams - after talks with the Los Angeles Kings fell through.The born and raised in Vancouverite had 20 goals and 55 points last season.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

With Wednesday's announcement of the NHL expanding to Las Vegas in 2017-18, the upcoming expansion draft is on the minds of general managers ... sort of.While some trade speculation insists teams could deal players for fear of losing them for nothing, Chicago Blackhawks general manager Stan Bowman gave his two cents on the expansion draft - slated for next June - and he feels teams aren't stressing over it yet."It's a little bit early to be making moves strictly for an expansion draft," Bowman said, according to Chris Hine of the Chicago Tribune.

Ahead of the NHL draft and free agency - which opens July 1 - we're looking at three teams from each division facing pivotal offseasons. First up, the Eastern Conference's Atlantic Division.Calgary Flames

If St. Louis Blues general manager Doug Armstrong had it his way, David Backes would play out the rest of his playing career - and beyond - with the organization.Armstrong admits he would like to ink the pending unrestricted free agent to a contract and envisions a management position for Backes once his career concludes."I'd love to see David sign a contract here, play the remainder of his contract here as our captain, have success, get his jersey retired one day, and jump in the front office," Armstrong said, according to Jeremy Rutherford of the St. Louis Dispatch. "That's the vision that you'd love to have because he's a smart man."He's going to be great at management down the road if he so chooses. I'd love to see him play here his whole career."The 32-year-old is coming off his sixth season as the club's captain having hit the 20-goal mark for the third straight year. Backes also just completed the final year of a five-year contract that paid him an average of $4.5 million.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Evgeni Malkin won't be going under the knife.The Pittsburgh Penguins forward doesn't require surgery on his left elbow, general manager Jim Rutherford announced Thursday.Malkin's elbow injury kept him out of the final 15 regular-season games and the first game of the postseason against the New York Rangers."This is a guy that had a real serious injury that played before most guys would have played and made a contribution to the team," Rutherford said, according to Seth Rorabaugh of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. “Just shows his character. It was pretty impressive."According to Rutherford, the 29-year-old will rehab the elbow over the summer and shouldn't miss any time.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Third pick is nice, but first or second would be better.The Columbus Blue Jackets have spoken to the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Winnipeg Jets about potentially trading up in the draft, according to Aaron Portzline of the Columbus Dispatch.Portzline reports the asking price for the No. 1 pick is steep, but not completely out of reach, like it apparently was when the Edmonton Oilers held it last year with Connor McDavid projected to go first overall.

With the Carolina Hurricanes re-signing Cam Ward and the Toronto Maple Leafs acquiring and signing Frederik Andersen this week, the goaltending market is growing increasingly thin.With that, teams have reached out to the Minnesota Wild to inquire about goaltender Darcy Kuemper."Darcy is a player that - I’ll be candid - some teams have asked us about,” general manager Chuck Fletcher said, according to Chad Graff of the Twin Cities Pioneer Press.Despite the interest, though, Fletcher admits he's reticent to deal the 26-year-old especially with the team's history of injuries at the position."With our track record of injuries to our goaltenders, I’m a little hesitant to get aggressive in shopping him, is the best way to put it," Fletcher said. "I also want to be fair to Darcy. He’s been a real good goaltender, and a real good teammate, and clearly the net right now is Devan (Dubnyk's). If we have an opportunity to move him and get a fair return, we’ll look at it, but I don't want to be too aggressive in that regard and leave us short in that position."It’s such a very important position. We're comfortable if we can get the right return in moving him, but we’re also comfortable in having him come back, and work with Devan to form a great one-two punch. If that means he leaves us next summer, then that’s the price we pay. You just want to make sure you have enough depth in goal."Kuemper - who posted a 2.43 goals-against average and a .915 save percentage last season in 21 games - will become a restricted free agent July 1.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

While the Ottawa Senators first-round pick might sit outside the top 10, the club still feels it holds value.The Senators hold the 12th selection, and with the value placed on picks at the top of this year's draft, general manager Pierre Dorion admits he'll have to be blown away by an offer if he's to move it."For us to move away from No. 12, it will take a significant trade," said Dorion, according to Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun. "I doubt it. That’s why I say if I had to bet, I’d bet on No. 12."As for the pick itself, Dorion admits he likely won't do anything out of the norm."Unfortunately, I am going to go with the same boring line of best player available," Dorion said. "Let’s say we had a need on defence and we passed on a forward that could be outstanding and helped us down the road then we’d really feel bad about it."I’m extremely comfortable at No. 12," Dorion said. "I’m extremely comfortable with taking the player that we’re going to take. I really am comfortable. The thing is, if you’re picking closer to No. 1 that player has a better chance of playing right away, when you’re closer to No. 12 that player might be a year away."Friday will tell who exactly that player will be.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Florida Panthers have themselves a replacement for Brian Campbell.The club agreed to terms with pending free agent Keith Yandle on a seven-year, $44.45-million contract, according to ESPN's Pierre LeBrun.The deal includes a no-movement clause through the first six seasons, and a limited no-trade clause in the final season, according to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.The Panthers acquired Yandle's rights from the New York Rangers on Monday for a pair of draft picks, one of them conditional on Yandle signing with Florida. With the deal, the Panthers' fourth-round selection in 2017 is now guaranteed to New York.Yandle is the second big-ticket defenseman who was scheduled to hit unrestricted free agency but didn't make it, joining Alex Goligoski who was traded to and subsequently signed by the Arizona Coyotes.A thin blueline free-agency crop is now that much thinner.Yandle will be 30 when next season begins and is coming off a productive year. He scored five goals and had 42 assists in 19:58 of ice time per game. He had a 50.3 Corsi For rating, according to Hockey Reference.He'll quarterback the power play in Florida with his left-handed shot and strong passing ability. Three times in his career he's put up 50 or more points in a season.

Sidney Crosby didn't win the Hart Trophy on Wednesday night, but he did take home a consolation prize.Related: Patrick Kane becomes 1st American-born player to win Hart TrophyThe Pittsburgh Penguins captain was named to the NHL's First All-Star Team, which recognizes the best players at each position over the entire 2015-16 season.Here's the entire first team:PositionPlayerTeamGBraden HoltbyWashington CapitalsDDrew DoughtyLos Angeles KingsDErik KarlssonOttawa SenatorsLWJamie BennDallas StarsCSidney CrosbyPittsburgh PenguinsRWPatrick KaneChicago BlackhawksA pair of San Jose Sharks made the Second All-Star Team:PositionPlayerTeamGBen BishopTampa Bay LightningDBrent BurnsSan Jose SharksDKris LetangPittsburgh PenguinsLWAlex OvechkinWashington CapitalsCJoe ThorntonSan Jose SharksRWVladimir TarasenkoSt. Louis BluesVoting for the 2015-16 All-Star and All-Rookie team is conducted by the Professional Hockey Writers Association at the end of the regular season.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NHL announced its All-Rookie Team for the 2015-16 season, and it was headlined by the three Calder Trophy finalists: Shayne Gostisbehere, Connor McDavid, and Artemi Panarin.Panarin won the Calder on Wednesday night.Here's the full squad:PlayerPositionClubJohn GibsonGoalieAnaheim DucksShayne GostisbehereDefensemanPhiladelphia FlyersColton ParaykoDefensemanSt. Louis BluesJack EichelForwardBuffalo SabresConnor McDavidForwardEdmonton OilersArtemi PanarinForwardChicago BlackhawksJohn Gibson was an All-Star in 2015-16 and finished with a .920 save percentage. He's the Anaheim Ducks' undisputed No. 1 goalie after the trade of Frederik Andersen to the Toronto Maple Leafs.Gostisbehere was integral to the Philadelphia Flyers' turnaround last season, and finished with an impressive 46 points. He scored four overtime goals, and finished second in Calder voting.Colton Parayko had a strong season for the St. Louis Blues, finishing second among rookie defensemen in goals (nine) and points (33).Jack Eichel, the second overall pick by the Buffalo Sabres at least year's draft, finished second among rookies with 24 goals and 56 points.McDavid's exploits with the Edmonton Oilers were well documented. He was better than a point-per-game player in his freshman season, and had a five-point night against the Maple Leafs in February.Panarin was a force with the Chicago Blackhawks, finishing first in every major statistical category among rookies. That's why he took home the trophy.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Vancouver Canucks are ready to go shopping July 1.TSN's Darren Dreger has the details:

Patrick Kane made history Wednesday night.The Chicago Blackhawks forward won the Hart Trophy as the NHL's most valuable player at the NHL Awards in Las Vegas, becoming the first American-born player to receive the honor.Kane won it over Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby and Dallas Stars captain Jamie Benn.

After a stellar record-tying season, Braden Holtby is officially the NHL's best goaltender.The Washington Capitals netminder won the Vezina Trophy by a landslide on Wednesday night at the NHL Awards.

Anze Kopitar is cleaning up.The Los Angeles Kings forward won the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy on Wednesday night, awarded to the player best combining sportsmanship and ability, shortly after being named the Selke Trophy winner as the league's top defensive forward.The newly minted Kings captain captured his first Lady Byng over Florida Panthers forward Aleksander Barkov and Loui Eriksson of the Boston Bruins.Kopitar led the Kings in scoring for the ninth consecutive season with 74 points in 81 games. He also finished second in the league with a plus-34 rating, and only totaled 16 penalty minutes all season.The 24-year-old Slovenian is the first King to win the award since Wayne Gretzky took it home in 1994.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Barry Trotz of the Washington Capitals won the Jack Adams Award as the NHL's best head coach on Wednesday night.Trotz earned the honor over Florida Panthers head coach Gerard Gallant and Lindy Ruff of the Dallas Stars.

Anze Kopitar is hockey's best defensive forward.The Los Angeles Kings center won the Selke Trophy on Wednesday night at the NHL Awards. It was his sixth time nominated, and the first time he won. He finished second in Selke voting in 2014, and third last year.

Vladimir Tarasenko is the face of hockey.The St. Louis Blues forward was named the EA Sports NHL 17 cover athlete at the NHL Awards ceremony Wednesday night.Tarasenko was chosen over San Jose Sharks captain Joe Pavelski.The Blues sniper edged Dallas Stars forward Jamie Benn while Pavelski beat out Edmonton Oilers rookie Connor McDavid to advance to the final round of voting.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Stan Bowman is reportedly working the phones.The Chicago Blackhawks general manager is "shopping Marcus Kruger and putting out feelers on (a) possible trade partner for Andrew Shaw," according to the Chicago Tribune's Chris Kuc.With the club seemingly forever in a jam with respect to the salary cap, and with free-agent defenseman Brian Campbell reportedly interested in a Chicago return, the Blackhawks may be forced to make some moves.Kruger, 26, played 41 games with the Blackhawks this past season, recording four assists. He had one assist in seven playoff games. He's signed through 2018-19 at a cap hit of $3.083 million.Shaw, who turns 25 on July 20, made $2 million against the cap this past season, and is a restricted free agent. He had 14 goals and 20 assists in 2015-16, and had four goals and two assists in six first-round playoff games.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Drew Doughty is the NHL's top defenseman.The Los Angeles Kings blue-liner won the Norris Trophy on Wednesday night at the NHL Awards in Las Vegas.Doughty topped two-time winner Erik Karlsson of the Ottawa Senators, and San Jose Sharks All-Star Brent Burns to win the award for the first time in his career.

Nashville Predators defenseman Shea Weber won the Mark Messier Leadership Award on Wednesday night at the NHL Awards ceremony in Las Vegas.Weber captained the Predators to a wild-card playoff berth and ranked ninth in the league in average time-on-ice.He edged out Washington Capitals star Alex Ovechkin and New York Islanders captain John Tavares.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Calgary Flames captain Mark Giordano won the NHL Foundation Player Award for community service at the NHL Awards on Wednesday night in Las Vegas.The NHL detailed Giordano's service in a press release:

Vancouver Canucks captain Henrik Sedin won the King Clancy Memorial Trophy for leadership on and off the ice and noteworthy humanitarian contribution to the community Wednesday night at the NHL Awards.Sedin's impact on the Canucks is obvious as the franchise leader in games played, assists and points, but his work in the Vancouver community earned him the award.He opened Sedin Corner in Rogers Arena, which is a 14-person suite exclusively donated to the charity groups for every home game.Furthermore, along with his brother and linemate, Daniel, Sedin contributed to a donation of $1.5 million dollars to help fund a new children's hospital in 2010.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Florida Panthers forward and NHL legend Jaromir Jagr won the Masterton Trophy for perseverance and dedication to hockey at the NHL Awards ceremony.Jagr, who turned 44 on Feb. 15, led the Panthers in scoring with 66 points (27 goals and 39 assists). The rink rat helped the club to its best season in franchise history (103 points) and a playoff spot for the first time since 2012. He wasn't in Vegas to accept the award due to the ailing health of his father."I am honored to receive the Masterton Trophy," Jagr said in a statement. "Many great players in the NHL with dedication to the game of hockey have earned this award and it is a privilege to be considered one of them. Hockey is my passion and it's why I am motivated every day to play it at the highest level that I can. I would like to thank my teammates, coaches, the entire Panthers organization, the PHWA and the NHL for this honor."Signed to another one-year contract, Jagr was instrumental in the development of Aleksander Barkov and Jonathan Huberdeau, who are 20 and 23 years old respectively - or younger than Jagr combined.Jagr won the award over nominees Pascal Dupuis, who was forced to retire from the Pittsburgh Penguins due to health concerns, and New York Rangers forward Mats Zuccarello.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Chicago Blackhawks forward Patrick Kane was voted the most valuable player by his peers and won the Ted Lindsay Award at the NHL Awards ceremony Wednesday.Kane led the league with 106 points and finished second with 46 goals while appearing in all 82 regular-season games.He was chosen over Dallas Stars forward Jamie Benn and Washington Capitals goaltender Braden Holtby. It's the first time Kane has won the award.Montreal Canadiens netminder Carey Price claimed the award last June.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Pittsburgh Penguins general manager Jim Rutherford was named General Manager of the Year at the NHL Awards ceremony in Las Vegas Wednesday.He edged out Jim Nill of the Dallas Stars and Brian MacLellan of the Washington Capitals.Rutherford made a series of instrumental moves in guiding the Penguins to the Stanley Cup, starting by acquiring Phil Kessel last off-season.The 67-year-old also orchestrated deals for Nick Bonino, Carl Hagelin, Matt Cullen, and Trevor Daley, who all played key roles in the championship.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Chicago Blackhawks forward Artemi Panarin won the Calder Trophy as the league's top rookie Wednesday night in Las Vegas at the NHL Awards ceremony.

Seven months ago, Pittsburgh Penguins head coach Mike Sullivan didn't have an NHL job. Today, Sullivan was on the horn with the Leader of the Free World.President Barack Obama contacted Sullivan to congratulate him and the Penguins on their Stanley Cup title, and not surprisingly, Sullivan was excited with the call.In a perfect piece of symmetry, Obama noted Pittsburgh won the Cup in his first year of presidency (2009), and repeated the feat in his last.(Video courtesy: NHL.com)Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

NHL hockey is coming to Las Vegas.Commissioner Gary Bettman announced Wednesday that the league's Board of Governors unanimously approved expansion to the city for the 2017-18 season, giving Las Vegas its first professional sports franchise.Bill Foley will be principal owner of the team, which will play its home games at the recently opened T-Mobile Arena. Foley and his group will pay a $500-million expansion fee, which will be distributed equally among the 30 other clubs."Well, Las Vegas, we did it," Foley said at Wednesday's news conference. "It wasn't easy, was it?"The new franchise will play in the Western Conference's Pacific Division, and there will be no other changes to the league's alignment."In the fall of 2017, when we celebrate the 100th birthday of the NHL, we will do so as a League of 31 teams,” Bettman said in a statement.“We are pleased to welcome Bill Foley and the city of Las Vegas to the League and are truly excited that an NHL franchise will be the first major professional sports team in this vibrant, growing, global destination city.”The league also announced Wednesday that expansion to Quebec City has been deferred.Foley said his Las Vegas club doesn't yet have a name, and although he's partial to calling them the Black Knights, nothing's been decided.The expansion draft will take place nearly one year to the day of Wednesday's announcement.Related: Las Vegas franchise will reveal roster June 21, 2017NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly said the Las Vegas franchise will be a lottery team in 2017 and its future NHL Draft positions will be determined by the standings, according to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.This is the first time the NHL has expanded since 1997, when the Nashville Predators, Minnesota Wild, Columbus Blue Jackets, and Atlanta Thrashers were added for a fee of $80 million each.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Almost a year to the day after the NHL confirmed expansion into the Las Vegas market, the 31st franchise will have its roster.Along with the expansion announcement Wednesday, the NHL revealed that it will announce the players chosen to Las Vegas' initial roster from the pool exposed to the draft on June 21, 2017.Las Vegas' acting general manager and his team will choose one player from each of the NHL's 30 teams. Those teams can safeguard from between nine and 11 players, depending on position. These players will have to be named to the protected list on June 17.The incoming franchise will have three days to formulate their roster before the NHL announces the team June 21.Among further guidelines set forth for the draft:

Shortly after NHL commissioner Gary Bettman officially announced expansion to Las Vegas in 2017-18 on Wednesday, he confirmed the league deferred expanding to Quebec City.Bettman didn't fully shut the door on expanding to La Belle Province in the future, but said geographic imbalance, among other factors, determined the decision."Although the League sees Quebec City as a prime opportunity for future expansion, the Board of Governors concluded that the NHL's lack of geographic balance, the belief that it would be best not to assimilate multiple teams into the League at this time, as well as the recent and significance devaluation of the Canadian dollar made it prudent to defer Quebecor's application."Chairman of the Board of Governors, Jeremy Jacobs, said Quebec City is still a strong candidate for future expansion.Pierre Dion, who spearheaded the move to Quebec as President and CEO of Quebecor, was adamant about working to bring a second team back to the Province."The strong relationship we've built with the NHL over the last few years is very important to us," Dion said, according to Dan Rosen of NHL.com. "Bringing the Nordiques back to Quebec City remains a priority for Quebecor. We will keep talking."Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It's been 10 years since Tie Domi last dropped the gloves in an NHL game, but he still isn't someone you want to mess with.A young Montreal Canadiens fan figured this out quickly after challenging the former Toronto Maple Leafs enforcer to a brawl in a parking lot recently.- With h/t to BarDownCopyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Milan Lucic is heading to the open market as an unrestricted free agent.The power forward let that be known by way of text message to ESPN's Pierre LeBrun, after failing to come to an agreement on an extension with the Los Angeles Kings.Drafted in the second round of the 2006 NHL Draft by the Boston Bruins, Lucic has recorded 159 goals and 397 points in 647 regular-season games, averaging 20 goals and 50 points for every 82 games played. He's also proven to be an intimidating foe and a positive possession player, bringing a coveted mix of skill and physicality to the table.The 28-year-old left-winger is set to command a significant amount of attention, with these three teams ranking as top potential destinations.Vancouver CanucksCap space: $9,287,085Bring him home.Lucic is a Vancouver native who had a successful run with the WHL's Giants as a junior player, and even lifted the Stanley Cup on home soil, albeit as a member of the Bruins, back in 2011.The Canucks are quite thin at left wing, and will need to replace Radim Vrbata's production up front after his likely departure via free agency. Dumping Alex Burrows' contract would open up more cap space and a roster spot for Lucic.Lucic has already said playing in Vancouver is a dream he's had since childhood, while general manager Jim Benning is quite familiar with him dating back to his days as assistant GM in Boston.Edmonton OilersCap space: $12,105,836Speaking of the Boston days, Edmonton Oilers GM Peter Chiarelli certainly benefited from having Lucic on the roster during his tenure with the Bruins, although it's now-New York Rangers GM Jeff Gorton who's to be credited for selecting the hulking young forward.Lucic would bring a level of physicality and veteran savvy that's been missing in Edmonton's young core, and would be called upon to serve as a complementary point producer, which suits his skill set just fine.Earlier in June, it was reported that Lucic would be "warm" to receiving a free-agent offer from the Oilers, although at the time he appeared somewhat certain to return to Los Angeles.Warmth is something he'd certainly need should he make that move.New York IslandersCap space: $15,421,025The New York Islanders advanced to the second round of the playoffs and won't be looking to take a step back.So while GM Garth Snow appears prepared to allow Kyle Okposo to walk as a UFA, his departure would open a prime spot for Lucic alongside John Tavares in Brooklyn.Having Tavares locked into a team-friendly salary-cap hit of $5.5 million over the next couple years allows for a measure of big spending elsewhere, for the time being at least.The Islanders' top-paid player at the moment is Johnny Boychuk, also a member of the 2011 Bruins.That could change as early as July 1, should Snow announce "Lucic is coming."- Salary information courtesy general fanagerCopyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Chicago Blackhawks may welcome a familiar face back into the mix this offseason.Unrestricted free agent Brian Campbell is believed to have serious interest in returning to the team with whom he spent three seasons and won a Stanley Cup in 2010, a source told Chris Kuc of the Chicago Tribune.Campbell is coming off an eight-year, $57-million contract that he signed with the Blackhawks in 2008, with the final five years of the deal being spent with the Florida Panthers after a salary dump following the 2011 season.As Kuc points out, the 37-year-old would have to agree to a discounted contract in order to fit under Chicago's already tight cap situation.Campbell is averaging 0.49 points per game over his career, and has proven to be a steady puck-moving, positive-possession defenseman.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Milan Lucic's prepared to make himself available on the open market.In text messages to ESPN's Pierre LeBrun, both Lucic and Los Angeles Kings general manager Dean Lombardi confirmed the bruising power winger will test the open market as an unrestricted free agent.This comes after the latest round of negotiations, believed to have occurred over the past few days, failed to yield an agreement.According to LeBrun, Lombardi has since authorized all 29 other clubs to speak with Lucic, likely in an effort to gain compensation.Lucic has previously expressed a desire to return to the Kings, and a scheme that suited his style so incredibly well, but at this time he's unwilling to accept the pay cut required to squeeze inside the club's tight salary parameters.Now, he'll be one of the biggest names on the open market July 1, and will have no shortage of suitors. The Edmonton Oilers and Vancouver Canucks are two teams that fit Lucic's desire to be on the West Coast, and have previously been rumored to be interested in him.Lucic earned $6 million last season, and will likely pursue something similar as a free agent.If Lombardi's unable to recoup a draft pick or prospect as compensation, the Kings will have nothing to show for their draft-day deal with the Boston Bruins, which saw them part with Martin Jones, Colin Miller, and the 13th overall pick used to select defenseman Jakub Zboril.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Montreal Canadiens' phone lines are jamming up.NHL general managers appear to be looking to take advantage of a brief window of time in which P.K. Subban may be available on the trade market.The versatile defenseman has a no-move clause that kicks in July 1, and the volume of calls being fielded by the front office in regard to his availability has "increased significantly" over the past 48 hours, according to Pierre LeBrun of ESPN.One Western Conference GM has reportedly been told flat out Subban won't be made available, which suggests the calls are coming in unsolicited.

With the NHL expected to announce plans to expand to Las Vegas, and existing franchises scrambling to determine exactly what it means for their puzzles, NHL draft weekend in Buffalo has taken on an added dynamic.For this, and with the hustle and bustle in advance of the most anticipated weekend on the NHL calendar, pundits are calling for a flurry of activity on the draft floor, in hotel lobbies, and throughout one of the rare stretches of days when the NHL's decision-makers come together.Here are nine bold predictions for draft weekend:Red Wings find a home for Datsyuk's contractKen Holland may not be "overly optimistic" he can move Datsyuk's $7.5-million contract, but the opportunity for a non-contender to net assets for simply housing money is too good to pass up. The Red Wings are in a major jam, and thus without leverage. Because of this, a wise taker will swoop in, and benefit in the long run.Blue Jackets balk at trade offers for No. 3There's been speculation that Jarmo Kekalainen is drumming up interest in the No. 3 overall selection and the rights to Jesse Puljujarvi. His motivation, to an extent, may involve attaching an unwanted contract to the towering Finnish winger in a package deal. Does this sound nuts to anyone else? Kekalainen will ultimately realize there are other means to shed a body, and select Puljujarvi.Someone steps in to save ChychrunThe consensus may be that Jakob Chychrun will fall from his preseason rank as the No. 2 overall rated prospect and out of the top 10. But all 30 teams aren't working off the same spreadsheet. There'll be an organization, one that hasn't deviated far from its initial evaluation, that will trade up to stop the Florida-born defenseman's slide so it can nab a player who'll contribute in a top four.Blues make out well on Shattenkirk dealAs Alex Goligoski and Keith Yandle's traded negotiation rights proved, transition defenders are now at a premium. So, sitting pretty are the Blues who, in apparently being willing to move Kevin Shattenkirk, can sit back and let the offers flow in. Doug Armstrong apparently already has one on the table involving a first-round pick, which in itself would be a coup with Shattenkirk scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent.Flames don't solve goaltending woesThere are more teams at risk of losing a quality netminder in expansion than there are teams - or a team - without a single viable option. So in theory, the situation presents itself well for the Flames, right? Well, with teams still making decisions on working protection parameters, and information still to gain before making a call, it's on Brad Treliving - who needs a goaltender in camp - to act first. A trade this weekend would likely be an overpay.Oilers can't resist TkachukDesperate for a top-end blue-liner who can contribute right now - rather than aiding a penniless prospect system - Edmonton will pass on its pick of the 2016 defensive class and choose a winger who possesses the traits required to flank Connor McDavid for the better part of the next decade.Islanders replace OkposoBack to the scene of some of his greatest successes, Garth Snow will be a draft-night darling again. The Islanders architect will find a top-flight winger to replace Kyle Okposo on the draft floor and serve as a capable linemate for John Tavares without overspending on the open market.Leafs load up on netmindersIn trading for, and promptly agreeing to a lucrative long-term contract with Frederik Andersen, Toronto's need for goaltending was magnified. At their price points, Jonathan Bernier doesn't fit in tandem with Andersen, while the other prominent goalies in the system - Garret Sparks and Antoine Bibeau - haven't shown they're poised to make contributions at the next level. The Maple Leafs will inject multiple goaltending prospects into the system in an effort to push Andersen down the road.Duchene is dealtAll signs indicate the Avalanche are looking to make a major amendment to their roster this summer. At the same time, however, Joe Sakic has secured the futures of Nathan MacKinnon and Tyson Barrie, only recently extended Erik Johnson, and doesn't appear to be wavering on Gabriel Landeskog. This leaves Duchene, who endures as the whipping boy, as the only trade piece who could fulfill such promise.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

On the Fly, theScore's NHL roundtable series, continues. With the NHL Awards set to be handed out Wednesday night, we're predicting who will take home some hardware.Hart TrophyNominees: Jamie Benn, Sidney Crosby, Patrick KaneIan McLaren: With all due respect to Kane's 106 points (17 more than second-place Benn), the distinction of Most Valuable Player isn't reserved exclusively for the league's highest scorer. So while the Chicago Blackhawks winger celebrates his Art Ross Trophy win on awards night, the Hart Trophy should go to Crosby.Like his team, the Pittsburgh Penguins center got off to a slow start, but amid suggestions his game was in decline, Crosby recorded 66 points in 52 games following the hiring of Mike Sullivan as head coach. Crosby led the NHL with 58 points after Jan. 1, and played a large role in lifting the team from outside the playoff picture to second place in the Metropolitan Division by season's end. He accomplished all this with Evgeni Malkin, Kris Letang, and Marc-Andre Fleury sidelined due to injury at various points throughout the season.Crosby has already won two Hart Trophies (2007, 2014) and, based on his performance and impact on the Penguins' fortunes this season, should leave Las Vegas with a third.Vezina TrophyNominees: Ben Bishop, Braden Holtby, Jonathan QuickBen Whyte: After tying an NHL single-season record with 48 wins and guiding the Washington Capitals to their second Presidents' Trophy, Holtby should win the Vezina Trophy for the first time in his career.The 26-year-old finished in the top 10 in goals-against average (fifth) and save percentage (eighth), and led the league in both categories during the playoffs despite his team bowing out in Round 2.Holtby's season was highlighted by a 22-game streak without a regulation loss from November to January, when he went 20-0-2 with two shutouts.His incredible play also earned him a nomination for the Ted Lindsay Award, which is given to the league's most outstanding player as judged by the players.Bishop will be Holtby's biggest competition after pacing an injury-plagued Tampa Bay Lightning team to the postseason with a 35-win campaign, while finishing among the leaders in all major goaltending categories.Norris TrophyNominees: Brent Burns, Drew Doughty, Erik KarlssonSean O'Leary: Karlsson is an easy choice for the Norris Trophy.No disrespect to Doughty or Burns - who are both more than worthy finalists - but Karlsson deserves to be this year's winner. Few players make the game look so effortless, and his impact on a middling Ottawa Senators team is unprecedented.Karlsson recorded a career-high 82 points, which was more than everybody except Kane, Benn, and Crosby.He takes risks - some of which are ill-advised - but his skill set is so unique, it's futile to compare him to his peers and better to simply appreciate everything he brings to the sport.For the defensive-zone pundits, Karlsson finished 11th in the league with 175 blocked shots - more than Doughty and Burns, for what it's worth.Karlsson's will likely win his third Norris Trophy - and he's only 26.Calder TrophyNominees: Shayne Gostisbehere, Connor McDavid, Artemi PanarinNavin Vaswani: In a simple world, the Calder Trophy would always be awarded to the rookie with the most points to his name in his first NHL season, which would make Panarin a lock to win the award. But it's not that simple.While Panarin's absolutely right in saying he didn't pen the rules, and while his his 77 points playing shotgun alongside Kane are damn impressive, McDavid averaged 1.07 points per game as a 19-year-old among the world's finest hockey players. That matters.The argument against McDavid is he only played 45 games, and it's a valid one. There's a difference, however, between playing 45 games and dominating while playing the toughest position in the game as a teenager. The Edmonton Oilers phenom failed to record a point in only 15 games.Only Kane (1.29) and Benn (1.09) averaged more points per game than McDavid in the NHL this past season. Panarin finished 10th.McDavid may not have played the most games among rookies, but he's the cream of the crop.Selke TrophyNominees: Patrice Bergeron, Ryan Kesler, Anze KopitarJustin Cuthbert: Bergeron isn't ready to relinquish his title as the NHL's best defensive forward.He made gains on his Selke Trophy campaign from a year ago as the Boston Bruins' fulcrum, being on the ice for a considerably greater amount of goals for than he was against despite taking on an enhanced defensive role.Bergeron took and won more faceoffs than any other player, which includes more than a third in his own end. He was also a top-15 forward in shot-based possession, and began more shifts in the defensive zone than any player in that elite class.On top of that, and enduring as a commanding penalty killer, he enjoyed his best offensive season in almost a decade, scoring a career-high 32 goals and totaling 68 points.Jack Adams AwardNominees: Gerard Gallant, Lindy Ruff, Barry TrotzCuthbert: Let's change this up a bit; it's time to honor excellence with the Jack Adams Trophy.With 58 wins under Trotz, Washington turned out the best year in franchise history, and also one of the greatest in the post-lockout era. The Capitals boasted both the second-ranked offense and defense, scoring 59 goals more than they allowed. They went on to win the conference by 16 points and the Presidents' Trophy by 11. They also won more games on the road than all but two postseason entries, and owned the league's second-best combined special teams.This was the greatest season for one of the league's greatest modern-day coaches. And certainly no one-off.Lady Byng TrophyNominees: Aleksander Barkov, Loui Eriksson, Anze KopitarVaswani: A perennial Lady Byng candidate, Kopitar is a gentle giant who should win the award for the first time Wednesday night.The Slovenian had his best offensive season since 2011-12, shaking off a slow start that saw him finish October with only three goals in 10 games. He exploded in the second half and had 21 points in the Los Angeles Kings' final 20 games.Always in the lineup, Kopitar's the No. 1 center on a forever-competitive team in the mighty Western Conference. He took only 16 minutes in penalties - none in October or March, which amounted to a 25-game stretch.They don't come much more gentlemanly or skilled than Mr. Kopitar.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Jim Rutherford doesn't appear to be in a rush to part ways with Marc-Andre Fleury.Amid reports the Pittsburgh Penguins general manager requested the sixth overall pick from the Calgary Flames in exchange for the goaltender, Rutherford maintains he'd be comfortable entering next season with both Fleury and Matt Murray, who backstopped the team during the run to the Stanley Cup."We might have to make a decision at some point," Rutherford said Tuesday, according to Jonathan Bombulie of Trib Live. "(But) I'm not aggressively doing anything.""I met with Fleury," Rutherford added. "He's handled himself so well. When you talk about 50-50 split, I think guys can buy into that, but if you get into the season and one guy takes over the other, does that work for both guys? I don't know, so there's a lot of things to think about right now."Rutherford is also waiting for official news in regards to expansion draft guidelines before making a firm decision on how to proceed. If only one goalie can be protected, the Penguins would likely defer to 22-year-old Murray, expediting the need to trade Fleury before next summer at the latest.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The St. Louis Blues have signed depth forward Scottie Upshall to a one-year contract worth a reported $900,000, Jeremy Rutherford of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.Upshall appeared in 70 games last season, scoring six goals and racking up 14 points after signing late last summer as an unrestricted free agent.He also appeared in 17 postseason contests, contributing three points.Upshall will earn a decent raise from the $700,000 contract he signed after making the team on a pro tryout.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Alex Goligoski has found a home in the desert.The 30-year-old defenseman has signed a five-year deal with the Arizona Coyotes worth a reported $27.375 million. The deal carries an average annual valuation of $5.475 million, according to Bob McKenzie of TSN."I am very happy to join the Coyotes," Goligoski said. "Arizona is a great place to live and play and I'm excited to join an up-and-coming team that has a ton of talent and a very bright future."The Coyotes acquired Goligoski's rights from the Dallas Stars, and have apparently wooed the impending unrestricted free agent during a two-day team tour."We are thrilled to sign Alex to a long-term contract," said general manager John Chayka. "Alex is a great skater and a smart, efficient defenseman who moves the puck well and makes his teammates better. He will help solidify our defense and support the growth of our young players. He will be a great addition to our team and we welcome him and his wife Amanda to the pack."Related: Fantasy Fallout: Alex GoligoskiOver the course of his career split between Dallas and the Pittsburgh Penguins, Goligoski has averaged 0.49 points per game and has been a positive possession player in five-on-five play, according to Corsica Hockey.The Coyotes had approximately $38 million in available cap space prior to this signing, and still need to spend over $14 million in order to reach the salary floor.Goligoski now carries the third-highest cap hit on the team, behind Mike Smith and Oliver Ekman-Larsson.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Ahead of the NHL draft and free agency - which opens July 1 - we're looking at three teams from each division facing integral summers. Next up, the Eastern Conference's Metropolitan Division.New York Rangers

Evgeni Malkin doesn't appear to be going anywhere anytime soon.Rumors swirled Tuesday on social media that the Chicago Blackhawks were kicking tires in regards to the Pittsburgh Penguins center, but general manager Jim Rutherford quickly doused those flames."We're not looking to move him," Rutherford said, according to Jenn Menendez of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. "I did not get an inquiry from any team."Malkin was limited to just 57 games during the regular season, but still managed 27 goals and 58 points. He also added another 18 points in the postseason.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Toronto Maple Leafs Sports and Entertainment have filed an opposition to the logo by Snoop Dogg's marijuana products business "Leafs by Snoop", according to TSN's Rick Westhead.The opposition was filed on June 8 while Snoop's products - including eight strains of marijuana - have been sold in various Colorado pot shops since November, around the time Snoop filed his trademark application for Leafs by Snoop.Christopher Sprigman - an intellectual properties professor at the New York University School of Law - suggested to Westhead that MLSE might argue Snoop's logo could cause confusion in the marketplace or that it meets the requirement of fame, but he feels both cases would be difficult to prove.In the meantime MLSE's legal representation has asked for more time to detail its opposition, where a clear reason for the counter should then arise.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It looks like the Arizona Coyotes' attempt to lure free agent Alex Goligoski to the desert has worked, as the two sides are nearing a five-year deal worth a reported $5.475 million per season, according to Bob McKenzie of TSN.The Coyotes acquired Goligoski's negotiating rights from the Dallas Stars on June 16 for a 2016 fifth-round pick, and the 30-year-old defenseman reportedly liked what he saw from Arizona's pitch.

The Boston Bruins are willing to risk their future for a proven NHL stud.After TSN's Darren Dreger reported Monday that the Bruins had made a call to the St. Louis Blues about defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk, Dreger added Tuesday that the Bruins have offered a first-round pick for the 27-year-old.According to Dreger, the Blues might still make a run at extending Shattenkirk - who has one year remaining on his contract with a cap hit of $4.25 million - but if they fail to do so they will start intently looking at dealing him.Shattenkirk led all Blues defensemen with 14 goals and 44 points in 72 games this season.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.