You're never too old to live out a lifelong dream.Mike "Doc" Emrick will get to fulfill one of his this summer. The legendary NHL announcer will step behind the microphone at PNC Park to call the first baseball game of his life when his beloved Pittsburgh Pirates host the Chicago Cubs on July 8. He'll work the MLB Network telecast of the game alongside fellow broadcasting legend Bob Costas.The 69-year-old has called NHL hockey since 1982, and has become the voice of the sport for many in the United States. His passion for baseball, and specifically the Pirates, runs deep. A fan of the team since his childhood, Emrick had a dry run announcing Pirates baseball earlier this year while guesting on some of their spring training broadcasts in Florida.Costas was the one who suggested Emrick join him in the booth, and he's expecting the long-time hockey voice to have little trouble adjusting his style to the slower pace of baseball."No matter how great a guy is, he'll be better on his 10th game than his first," Costas told Richard Sandomir of the New York Times. "But he's a lifelong baseball fan and follows the Pirates so closely, he’s not going to be asking, 'Which one is Andrew McCutchen?' And he's an obsessive preparer."While Emrick will assuredly have a blast in the booth, he's tempering expectations ahead of his baseball debut."I just want to make sure that what I do is at least at MLB Network level - maybe the bottom of the bar they set, but I want to be halfway professional," he said."I don't have a home run call. Whatever happens, happens."Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Your browser does not support iframes.Losing the Stanley Cup Final in six games didn't stop the Bay Area from showing the San Jose Sharks some love.Several Sharks players came out to the Oakland Coliseum to watch the Athletics take on the Los Angeles Angels on Saturday, and they were welcomed with open arms. Goalie Martin Jones, defensemen Brenden Dillon and Justin Braun, and forwards Barclay Goodrow and Logan Couture all threw out ceremonial first pitches while sporting their own custom green-and-gold jerseys.If the Athletics ownership had its way, the Sharks wouldn't have had to travel all the way around the East Bay to visit the team, as the A's have been attempting to move to San Jose for several years.(Video courtesy: MLB.com)Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Arizona Coyotes will do their best to make a believer out of Alex Goligoski.General manager John Chayka sent a fifth-round pick to the Dallas Stars for the soon-to-be unrestricted free agent's negotiating rights, and the club plans to make the most of the opportunity to sign Goligoski to a new deal.From ESPN's Pierre LeBrun:

On the Fly, theScore's NHL roundtable series, continues. In this edition, editors Ian McLaren and Navin Vaswani say goodbye to Pavel Datsyuk.McLaren: It's probably not the way Datsyuk nor the Detroit Red Wings wanted their relationship to end, but the dynamic Russian center is heading home with a year remaining on his NHL contract and a resume that earns him the distinction of being one of the greatest two-way players in the history of the game.The "Magic Man" nickname was entirely appropriate for a player whose ability to handle, pass, shoot, and track the puck was essentially unmatched. When he wasn't putting on a show in the offensive zone (averaging 0.96 points per game for his career), he was racing back to the defensive end to take the puck right back, making him a three-time winner of the Selke Trophy as the league's best defensive forward. And he did it with style and grace, winning four Lady Byng trophies to boot.Datsyuk also helped bring two Stanley Cups and three Conference championships to Hockeytown, playing a small role as a rookie in 2002, while recording 23 points in 22 playoff games in 2008.In short, Datstyuk has been one of the most exciting players to watch in recent memory, bringing fans out of their seats just as easily for a back-check steal as a "How did he do that?!" goal or assist. He will be missed, but no one should fault him for wanting to be closer to his family.Vaswani: Datsyuk made his debut in the iconic red and white on Oct. 4, 2001. Almost 15 years later, he's going home to Mother Russia. Time flies.A month shy of 38, it's time, and I can't begrudge him. No one can. He gave the Red Wings and the NHL the best years of his life, and while he was paid handsomely to play the game he loves away from home, those years came at the expense of his family. In the end, there's something right about Datsyuk announcing his intention to be closer to his teenage daughter the afternoon before Father's Day.To me, Datsyuk was the Red Wings. Quietly great. Consistent. Forever competitive. He also personified the beauty that is Russian hockey, combining skill, grace, poise, incredible hockey IQ, and the ability to make the difficult look so damn easy in a way only few Russian players can.This is how I'll remember Pavel Datsyuk:Injuries robbed us from seeing Datsyuk on the ice in recent years. The last time he played 70 games in a season was in 2011-12. But when he was out there, he was always one of the better players on the sheet. The magic never faded.Datsyuk did what he came over to do. He put on a show, he spent his entire career with one team, and he won. He leaves with his name forever inscribed on the Stanley Cup.Thanks for the memories and the magic, Pavel.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Re-signing defenseman Sami Vatanen could be the beginning of Bob Murray's offseason roster retooling.The Anaheim Ducks general manager took to Facebook for a live chat Saturday, naming a few big items on his summer to-do list.Related: Ducks sign Sami Vatanen to 4-year extension"We want to get a few more (draft) picks," Murray said. "This team is at a certain point and time right now and the opportunities are here to have some success, but you have to start stockpiling again, building up your assets."I've got to convince our boys to make some moves and get some draft picks, so when that time comes to turn over this team, let's not go down ... you can go down and have five years when you're drafting in the top five or six, but I don't want to do it and I don't think this market wants us to do it."In other words, Murray is well aware his club can reasonably contend for a Stanley Cup while built around the likes Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry for only so long, so he's trying to get ahead of the game in terms of building a consistent winner.Ahead of the 2016 NHL Draft, the Ducks hold only five picks, according to General Fanager.More in the present, Murray is also intent on adding a top-six, left-shooting winger to the mix."It's something we've been missing," he said. "Even bringing in David Perron to play left wing, he was still a right-hand shot. We could use a really good left-hand shot. That's very high on our priority list."The Ducks, of course, already made a big change in swapping Bruce Boudreau for Randy Carlyle behind the bench.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Arizona Coyotes' AHL affiliate has officially been named the Tucson Roadrunners, president and CEO Anthony LeBlanc announced Saturday.

Doug Armstrong isn't expecting to sign his captain to a new deal before the start of free agency.David Backes is one of five pending UFAs on the St. Louis Blues' roster heading into July 1, joining Troy Brouwer, Steve Ott, Scottie Upshall, and Kyle Brodziak."I think the unrestricted guys will most likely hit the market," the general manager told Jeremy Rutherford of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch on Saturday."We'd like to have David back and hopefully as we push in we can get it done, but it has to work for both sides not just one."Backes posted 21 goals and 45 points last season, but those were his lowest totals through an 82-game season in the last six years. He notched seven goals and 14 points in 20 playoff contests.Armstrong said Saturday he wants to reward the veteran for his work over the years, but also knows the 32-year-old forward's production could continue to decline."We're willing to invest a little bit of 'thank you' money, but it has to make sense," the GM said. "He's earned the right ... but only to a level."Armstrong added, "It's got to work for David and it's got to work for us. We haven't been able to find that common ground right now."The Blues have about $13 million in projected cap space, according to General Fanager, and Armstrong will also need to negotiate new deals for pending restricted free agents Jaden Schwartz and Magnus Paajarvi.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Ken Holland isn't confident he'll find a taker for the remaining year on Pavel Datsyuk's deal.The Detroit Red Wings general manager said Saturday he's "not overly optimistic" a trade will be worked out, according to NHL.com's Nick Cotsonika.Datsyuk announced earlier in the day he is leaving the Red Wings and will return to Russia to play in the KHL. He has one year remaining on his NHL contract at a cap hit of $7.5 million, and it will stay on Detroit's cap because it was signed after he turned 35.Holland told reporters a small group of teams expressed "some interest" in taking on the remaining year, but the Red Wings know they'd have to package a prospect and don't want to give up too many assets just to clear cap space for one season.The GM said top prospect Anthony Mantha, nor any of the organization's other "top kids," will be traded to clear room.Holland understood his star forward's decision."His heart isn't here anymore," he said, later adding, "I have no ill will whatsoever toward the Pavel Datsyuk camp. He was an incredible Red Wing."Datsyuk signed a three-year, $22.5-million extension in June 2013.Related - Agent: Datsyuk declined $2M bonus in FebruaryHolland believes the veteran didn't fully grasp the rules pertaining to contracts signed by players who are 35 and older at the time, but the GM called the 37-year-old an "honorable person," according to MLive.com's Ansar Khan.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Sami Vatanen is staying in Anaheim.The 25-year-old defenseman signed a four-year contract extension, the Ducks announced Saturday. The deal is worth a reported $19.5 million:

It's the end of an era in The Motor City.Pavel Datsyuk will forgo the final year of his contract with the Detroit Red Wings to play in Russia, the veteran forward announced Saturday."My family and I have decided that it's time to return home," Datsyuk told reporters.The 37-year-old confirmed he'll play in the KHL next season, according to NHL.com's Nick Cotsonika. His agent, Dan Milstein, said Datsyuk hadn't yet seen the offers from his homeland but will review them Tuesday night.The legendary center didn't tip his hand Saturday."All of Russia is beautiful," he told Helene St. James of the Detroit Free Press when asked if he's headed to SKA St. Petersburg.Datsyuk said he struggled with the decision for a long time."It's difficult," he said. "I (fought) with my mind already (for) a few years. Finally (the) decision (came) during vacation with family."Milstein said he expects the final year of Datsyuk's contract - which carries a cap hit of $7.5 million - to be traded.Datsyuk met with Red Wings general manager Ken Holland on Friday evening and made the announcement Saturday afternoon at his hockey camp in suburban Detroit.He had insisted he wouldn't make a decision until discussing his future with the Red Wings, with whom he played all 14 of his NHL seasons.Known as much for his offensive wizardry as he was for his defensive prowess, Datsyuk had one of the most decorated NHL careers by a Russian-born skater.He was a two-time Stanley Cup champion, a four-time All-Star, a four-time Lady Byng Trophy winner, a three-time Selke Trophy recipient, and was nominated for the Hart Trophy in 2009.Datsyuk represented Russia in four Olympic Games, serving as team captain in 2014, and won gold at the 2012 World Championship.He racked up 918 points in 953 career NHL regular-season games and added another 113 points in 157 playoff contests.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NHL draft will begin Friday night, with plenty of options on the table for all 30 teams.With countless mock drafts floating around the internet, there are certain scenarios that, appealing as they may be, just don't quite make sense.Here, then, are three unlikely landing spots for big-name players prior to the NHL draft, based primarily on the needs of the teams in question.Patrick Laine, Toronto Maple LeafsPatrick Laine believes he should be taken first overall at the 2016 NHL Draft, and that he can become the next Alex Ovechkin within five years. While he could very well become the most prolific goal-scorer to emerge from this year’s selection process, Laine is not a fit for the Toronto Maple Leafs.Brendan Shanahan and Co. worked long and hard to “win” the draft lottery, and before them stands the opportunity to select center Auston Matthews, the expected cornerstone for whatever future success is to come in the so-called center of the hockey universe.Skilled, goal-scoring wingers are an important component in the winning formula, but an elite talent down the middle is essential. Case in point, every Stanley Cup winner since the 2005 lockout has featured at least one franchise player down the middle: Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Jonathan Toews, Anze Kopitar, Patrice Bergeron, Pavel Datsyuk, Ryan Getzlaf, and Eric Staal.Laine will probably be the next Finnish sensation to hit the NHL, but like a legendary countryman before him (Teemu Selanne), he should get his start in Winnipeg, not Toronto.Matthew Tkachuk, Edmonton OilersMatthew Thachuk enters the draft as the second-ranked North American skater, fresh off scoring the overtime winner for the OHL’s London Knights in the 2016 Memorial Cup final.The 6-foot-2, 200-pound left winger is the son of Keith Tkachuk, who scored 538 goals in 1,201 career NHL games, and the belief is the younger Tkachuk has the potential to be even better than his old man.His stock entering the draft is sky high, as recently reported by Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet:

Pavel Datsyuk's agent says the veteran forward passed on cashing in a signing bonus that would have made him $2 million richer.Dan Milstein told reporters Saturday that Datsyuk made $15 million over the first two years of his most recent contract, and didn't take the bonus he was due in February, according to NHL.com's Nick Cotsonika.Datsyuk announced Saturday he's leaving the Red Wings and returning to Russia to play in the KHL.Milstein later clarified that the bonus was contingent on Datsyuk playing the final year of his deal, and that they informed the Red Wings he was considering forgoing it.He signed a three-year extension with the club in June 2013, at an annual cap hit of $7.5 million.The agent also clarified Saturday that the bonus would have had no impact on the $7.5 million cap charge.Milstein said Saturday he expects the Red Wings to be able to trade the contract.Because Datsyuk inked the extension after turning 35, the final year will count against the cap for whichever team takes it on.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It's time for Steven Stamkos to make his decision.The Tampa Bay Lightning captain has been surrounded by speculation for a calendar year, and with the clock counting down, the biggest fish in the unrestricted-free-agent pond will soon determine his fate.Ultimately, Stamkos holds the keys, as all 30 NHL teams would be happy to add a player of his caliber, but only a handful can make it work.Here are the contenders:The front-runner1. Tampa BayUnless he's after a max contract, staying put with the Lightning makes the most sense for Stamkos.Tampa Bay is a notoriously tight-knit group, and has reached the last two Eastern Conference Finals. Remaining with the Lightning likely gives the 26-year-old the greatest chance to win.The problem for Steve Yzerman and Co. is the salary cap. The Lightning are pressed against the ceiling, and have to work out deals with Nikita Kucherov, Tyler Johnson, Victor Hedman, and Ben Bishop, among others, over the next two seasons.The contenders2. Detroit Red WingsHockeytown could have a new star come July 1.With the departure of Pavel Datsyuk, the Red Wings have options to lure Stamkos in.Ken Holland could package Datsyuk's contract ($7.5 million) with a young player to create both cap and roster space. TSN's Bob McKenzie reported Tomas Jurco or Teemu Pulkkinen could be in play, and goaltender Jimmy Howard has said he's open to being dealt.Perhaps more importantly than any potential deal Holland can muster up, Detroit's most notable free agents are Petr Mrazek and Danny Dekeyser, neither of which should set the Red Wings back too much.3. Toronto Maple LeafsLinked from the get-go, a Stamkos hometown reunion would set the hockey world ablaze.Whether liking that tweet in December was inadvertent or not, the Maple Leafs are expected to make a push at Stamkos.Toronto is littered with young talent, with more on the way on draft day in Auston Matthews (presumably), and the front office has a firm plan in place for a successful rebuild.Stamkos could essentially be handed the reins as the team's leader, and Toronto has the cap space to make it happen.The dark horses4. New York RangersBuying a star player would be nothing new for the Rangers.New York's window to win opens as wide as Henrik Lundqvist can hold it, but, somewhat surprisingly, the Rangers could make this work, and are expected to pursue it, according to McKenzie.Eric Staal's contract will be off the books, Keith Yandle is expected to sign elsewhere, and Rick Nash is hot on the trade market, creating ample space for the Blueshirts to lure Stamkos to Broadway.However, forwards Chris Kreider, J.T. Miller, and Kevin Hayes need new contracts, and are likely due for raises.5. Buffalo SabresAfter missing out on the Connor McDavid and Mike Babcock sweepstakes, this could be the splash general manager Tim Murray has long hoped to make.Much like Toronto, Buffalo has plenty of youth, along with even more cap space, and the addition of Stamkos would accelerate the team's quest to become a contender.Murray needs to sign youngsters Zemgus Girgensons and Rasmus Ristolainen, but would still have the space to add Stamkos to create an incredibly talented four lines.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Dallas Stars are set to promote a few employees. Defensemen, in particular.Even after trading the negotiating rights of blue-liner Alex Goligoski to the Arizona Coyotes on Thursday, the Stars will head into July 1 with another three defensemen set to hit the open market: Jordie Benn, Jason Demers, and trade-deadline acquisition Kris Russell.That's a lot of minutes to fill. But general manager Jim Nill isn't panicking, because he's relying on some of the kids - Stephen Johns, Esa Lindell, Patrik Nemeth, and Jamie Oleksiak - to step up."It's time for them to start grabbing more of the action," Nill told the Stars' website. "If nothing happens, we are comfortable going with what we have right now. If there is somebody out there that is a fit for us, great. They've got to fit for us as a player and fit for us financially. We've got lots of flexibility, and it opens the door for us in other ways."D-MenGPIce Time Per GameRussell*1124:02Goligoski*8223:50John Klingberg7622:41Demers*6220:52Johnny Oduya8220:23Johns1417:50Benn*6415:39Nemeth3815:38Lindell414:03Oleksiak1912:43*UFAAmong the top four Stars defensemen in average ice time - including Russell's small sample size - only John Klingberg is returning. And the Stars may yet sign Russell, Demers, or Benn, but there are certainly holes on the blue line.Sink or swim, gents.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The magic may be over on this side of the pond.Pavel Datsyuk met Detroit Red Wings general manager Ken Holland on Friday evening to discuss his playing future, though early speculation suggests the sit-down was merely a formality.TSN's Bob McKenzie and Darren Dreger endorsed a report from Aaron Ward on Friday afternoon stating the two sides will announce Saturday at a joint press conference that Datsyuk will not return to Detroit for the final season on his contract.Instead, Datsyuk's expected to return to Russia to continue his playing career close to home, likely with KHL outfit SKA St. Petersburg.Datsyuk's agent, Dan Milstein, said his client will address the media Saturday at noon, according to MLive.com's Ansar Khan."I don't have any information that I can share," Milstein said earlier Friday.Because Datsyuk signed his lucrative multi-year contract beyond age 35, his impending departure will see the Red Wings on the hook for his entire $7.5-million salary. The two sides are expected to explore avenues to have his contract dealt, and hidden on a payroll elsewhere.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Ken Holland has a lot on his mind these days.As the Detroit Red Wings' general manager prepares for an announcement Saturday with regards to Pavel Datsyuk's future, he's also contemplating a trade involving Jimmy Howard, who has been supplanted as the starting goalie by Petr Mrazek."I can see on the one hand that having two goaltenders, it’s a nice luxury," Holland said, according to Ted Kulfan of The Detroit News. "Certainly Jimmy Howard played an important role down the stretch in our team qualifying for the playoffs."(A trade) might be good for some careers and good for the organization. I’ve thought about it lots."Mrazek, 24, is set to become a restricted free agent, and posted better numbers in 2015-16 than the 32-year-old Howard, who's on the books for three more seasons at a cap hit of $5,291,666.PlayerGamesRecordSv%Jimmy Howard3714-14-15.906Petr Mrazek5427-16-6.921Howard was given the opportunity to start for Detroit to begin the playoffs, but posted a save percentage of .891 in two losses to Tampa Bay before Mrazek entered and allowed four goals over the next three games.Whether there's a team out there willing to take on Howard's contract and seemingly diminished skills remains to be seen.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NHL offseason comes quick, especially for the Stanley Cup champions.Pittsburgh Penguins general manager Jim Rutherford is in a unique position this summer. He may have to decide between Marc-Andre Fleury, a fan favorite and rock-solid veteran, and Matt Murray, the wunderkind who just put together one of the best rookie postseasons in NHL history.Though no one knows if Fleury will be dealt, he's already garnered attention from other teams, but Rutherford has no problem with keeping two reliable netminders in Pittsburgh's crease."Ideally, we'd like to start next year with both goalies, Fleury and Murray," Rutherford told ESPN's Pierre LeBrun. "But we have to look into some things. We have to, first of all, look into what the expansion guidelines are, and talk internally as to how all this works, if both goalies are here."We're very fortunate that we have two very good goalies; one a franchise goalie who's done a lot for the Penguins over the years and another up-and-coming young guy that just helped win a Stanley Cup. We have to look at the situation, but it's a good one to be in."Fleury was enjoying a strong season before injuries derailed it, posting a 35-17-6 record with five shutouts, a 2.29 goals-against average, and a .921 save percentage.Murray, on the other hand, has only played 13 career regular season games, winning nine of them. In the playoffs, he was 15-6 with a 2.08 GAA and a .923 save clip.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Time may be running out for Loui Eriksson and the Boston Bruins.While agent J.P. Barry confirmed he and Bruins general manager Don Sweeney have been in regular contact, the ball appears to be in Boston's court at this point."We were expecting a new offer from the club at some point but we haven’t received one yet," Barry told ESPN's Pierre LeBrun. "I’m sure we will speak again prior to the draft about their intentions."The NHL Draft is set for June 24, while Eriksson can begin negotiating with other teams on June 25, with the ability to sign elsewhere on July 1.Eriksson, who will turn 31 in mid-July, is coming off the best of his three seasons with the Bruins, recording 30 goals and 33 assists in 82 games.The Bruins decided to hold on to Eriksson prior to the trade deadline for what turned out to be an unsuccessful run at a playoff spot. The winger carried a cap hit of $4.25 million over the past six seasons, and will likely be looking for a bump in salary in light of his productive 2015-16 campaign.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Garth Snow doesn't sound like a general manager who'll be able to retain Kyle Okposo's services moving forward.Speaking Friday on SiriusXM's "Stellick and Simmer" show, the New York Islanders' GM said Okposo has been a terrific player both on and off the ice."We're just in a situation with the salary cap that you really have to analyze where you are today and where you're going to be five years from now," Snow said. "There's always tough decisions. We're not the only team that has tough decisions to make and potentially could lose free agents on July 1."Kyle is a great person and has been a terrific player for this organization. I wish him nothing but the best."Snow's comments come on the heels of Okposo's agent saying all signs point to his client hitting the open market as an unrestricted free agent.Okposo, 28, is coming off a five-year deal that carried a cap hit of $2.8 million, a valuation that will likely rise significantly as early as July 1. The Islanders, meanwhile, have close to $14 million in available cap space (according to General Fanager), with plenty of holes to be filled in the forward ranks this season.Okposo was drafted seventh overall by the Islanders in 2006, averaging 0.7 points per game in 529 career appearances.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Phil Kessel can flat out fly on the ice, but his reluctance to board small planes apparently cost his linemates a late-night TV appearance.Nick Bonino revealed that the vaunted "HBK" line - made up of himself, Kessel, and Carl Hagelin - was forced to decline an invite to "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert" after winning the Stanley Cup last weekend."Me, Haggy, and Phil were invited to Stephen Colbert and we were going to go on the day after we won or the day after we got back," Bonino told the Pardon My Take podcast."They sent an eight-person jet, and Phil was like, 'No, it's too small,' because he's afraid to fly, so he cancelled the whole show. (He) wouldn't get on the private jet. Me and Haggy are like, 'F---, man, we're never going to get to go on Colbert without you, and (Kessel) just went to sleep and that was it. Never heard from him again."Kessel's postseason performance nearly earned him the Conn Smythe Trophy, and his eccentricities will surely fly with his teammates as long as he continues to deliver on the ice.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

If the Colorado Avalanche wade into the free agency pool, it won't involve a blockbuster signing on the first day of the frenzy."We're not going to be looking that day," Avalanche general manager Joe Sakic told Mike Chambers of The Denver Post."As the summer goes on, we’ll see what good fits are. But on July 1, don’t expect us to go after any big long-term deals. Within our own, we’re going to discuss what we have within, but outside on July 1 we’re not going to go after a big splash.”The Avalanche have seven pending unrestricted free agents and five pending RFAs - including Nathan MacKinnon and Tyson Barrie - with about $18.75 million in cap space, according to General Fanager.Related: Avalanche to let Boedker and Matthias test free agency, but will bidSakic said Thursday that Barrie will not be traded and that the club would prefer to sign the defenseman to a long-term deal but will go to arbitration if necessary.TSN's Darren Dreger reported Tuesday that Sakic has told other NHL GMs that he's willing to listen on trades and potentially deal big names.As he did on the Barrie front, Sakic shot down the notion that the Avalanche could be interested in acquiring pending RFA blue-liner Jacob Trouba from the Winnipeg Jets.“I don’t ever comment on rumors,” Sakic said. “There’s a lot of speculation out there. All I can tell you is we’ve had conversations with different teams and we want to try to improve our crop.”The Avalanche hold the 10th overall pick in the draft, which takes place next Friday and Saturday in Buffalo. They selected forward Mikko Rantanen in that same spot last year.Colorado finished five points out of a playoff spot this season, but the Avalanche boast a solid core that includes MacKinnon, Barrie, captain Gabriel Landeskog, and forward Matt Duchene.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Daniel Sprong's 2016-17 season will be an abbreviated one.The Pittsburgh Penguins prospect will miss seven-to-eight months after having surgery on his right shoulder, the club announced Friday.Sprong suffered the injury while serving as one of the Penguins' reserves - or 'Black Aces' - during the run to their fourth Stanley Cup championship.The 19-year-old played 18 games for the NHL club earlier this season before being sent to the QMJHL's Charlottetown Islanders.He racked up 46 points in 33 junior games before joining the AHL's Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins and scoring five goals in 10 playoff contests.Sprong was Pittsburgh's second-round pick in 2015.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Jonathan Drouin has already stated that he wants to stay with the Tampa Bay Lightning, and his agent confirmed Friday that his client's previous desire to be dealt has been officially rescinded.Drouin's trade demand was withdrawn during a conversation between Lightning general manager Steve Yzerman and agent Allan Walsh that came after the forward's expression of loyalty to the club, according to ESPN's Pierre LeBrun."As (Jonathan) said at the end of the season, he wants to be back in Tampa next year,” Walsh told LeBrun in an email Thursday. "It's a tight-knit group, and going forward, he's happy being part of it."At the team's final media availability in late May, Drouin made it clear that he'd changed his tune."I definitely want to be here," Drouin told reporters, according to Joe Smith of the Tampa Bay Times. "I love the way this ended, I guess, with this different and weird year. … It's definitely somewhere I want to play."That same day, Yzerman implied there was no reason to believe Drouin wouldn't return to the Lightning next season.Drouin was suspended by the club in January for failing to report to an AHL game. Walsh announced earlier that month that he and his client demanded a trade in November.The 21-year-old returned to the Lightning for the final two games of the regular season, scoring a goal in both contests.Drouin carried that success into the playoffs, notching five goals and 14 points in 17 postseason games.Walsh's confirmation was essentially a foregone conclusion, but it puts to bed any lingering doubts about his client's intentions.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Calgary Flames officially named Glen Gulutzan their new head coach in a news conference Friday."It became very clear, meeting with Glen early, that this was a perfect match," Flames general manager Brad Treliving said.Gulutzan spent the last three years as an assistant with the Vancouver Canucks, after two seasons as the head coach of the Dallas Stars.The 44-year-old was the head coach and GM of the ECHL's Las Vegas Wranglers from 2003 to 2009. The Wranglers were the Flames' affiliate."What a whirlwind," Gulutuzan said. "It's a honor. This is where I started to cut my teeth in the NHL when I was in Las Vegas."Treliving believes his new head coach's greatest strength is his ability to connect to players."The players trust Glen. That is a huge factor," Treliving said.Gulutzan plans to alter the way the Flames play compared to their approach under former head coach Bob Hartley.

The Calgary Flames will name Glen Gulutzan head coach Friday, Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reports.The Flames have called a news conference at which it's expected Gulutzan will be introduced.The Vancouver Canucks assistant coach was reportedly the favorite to land the Flames' job. He was hired as a Canucks assistant in the summer of 2013 after being dismissed as head coach of the Dallas Stars.Gulutzan went 64-57-9 in two seasons with Dallas, failing to qualify for the playoffs in both campaigns.The Flames fired former head coach Bob Hartley in May, one season after he received the Jack Adams Award as the NHL's top head coach.Hartley spent four years behind Calgary's bench and was inherited by Flames general manager Brad Treliving, who was hired in the spring of 2014.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Turns out the AHL's Lake Erie Monsters weren't the only champions in the building.Evgeni Malkin showed up to watch Game 6 of the NBA Finals between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Golden State Warriors at Quicken Loans Arena on Thursday night.

Alex Goligoski's future is now in his hands.Related: Coyotes GM: Goligoski 'first domino to fall' for many potential movesThe 30-year-old had his negotiating rights traded to the Arizona Coyotes on Thursday - giving the club roughly two weeks of exclusive negotiating power - a right that Dallas Stars general manager Jim Nill admits Goligoski was owed."He's earned this right. He's earned this right to become a (unrestricted free agent)," Nill said, according to NHL.com's Mark Stepneski. "I told him I fully understand that. For him and his family, he needs to see what is the right fit monetarily-wise and team-wise. If there is something that fits, good for him. He was a good player for us."Goligoski had been a member of the Stars since the 2010-11 season when he was traded from the Pittsburgh Penguins and Nill admits the club did make an attempt to re-sign him. However, when negotiations failed he did his best to find a suitor for Goligoski."We negotiated with him," said Nill. "We made an offer and in the end we just couldn't agree on terms, which was fine. Negotiations were very well taken on both sides. In the end, Alex wanted to see what was out there."When I was talking to teams, Arizona showed a lot of interest. So, I called Alex and said, 'Do you want to go and talk to another team that showed interest in you?' And he thought that might be a good idea, give him another feel for the market. So, we ended up making the deal with Arizona."Goligoski concludes his time with the Stars with 32 goals and 187 points in 385 games.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Cam Ward wasn't interested in leaving what has become home.The goaltender re-upped with the Carolina Hurricanes on a two-year, $6.6-million deal Thursday, and he wasn't interested in testing free agency. Not at all."Free agency never really did (interest me), to be honest," Ward told the Hurricanes' website. "I had a belief that something could be done. My family, we consider Raleigh home. I want to be here to play hockey, and there's also a family side to it, too. This is where we would like to be."Ward is glad the uncertainty of his future is out of the way, and now he can simply focus on his work in the crease."I think it's a real good time to be a part of the Hurricanes," Ward said. "We've got some real good upside with the young prospects. We talk about the defense that was playing in front of me last year, a crew that I'm real excited to be able to play with. They're only going to get better, and that's the beauty of that. And you're seeing the team address other needs up front, getting players that they're real excited about. It's a matter of putting everything all together come September. The goal will remain to get back in the playoffs and fight for that Stanley Cup."The Hurricanes added Bryan Bickell and Teuvo Teravainen in a trade with the Chicago Blackhawks on Wednesday.Now that he's signed, Ward has to shift his focus to playing better. His .909 save percentage this past season ranked 32nd in the league, and his .910 mark in 2014-15 ranked 33rd.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Making Anze Kopitar captain of the Los Angeles Kings was as much about Dustin Brown as it was about the Slovenian.It's Kopitar's time to lead the club, general manager Dean Lombardi said Thursday, and it's also time for Brown to once again become the integral contributor he once was for the Kings."I really believe (Brown's) going to get his game back," Lombardi said, according to The Associated Press' Greg Beacham. "He perfectly recognizes that for us to be successful as a team, he needs to get his game back to where he's capable. It's just about putting the grind in now to figure out how to get his game back to where it was at one time, not long ago, he was one of the best power forwards in the league."Brown's scored only 11 goals in each of the last two seasons, totaling a combined 55 points in 164 regular-season games. He had only 27 points in 2013-14. Before the lockout-shortened 2012-13 season, Brown posted five straight seasons of 50 or more points. He was a beast.The 31-year-old was also integral to the Stanley Cup the Kings won in 2012, scoring eight goals and adding 12 assists in 20 playoff games.The thing is: Brown's not going anywhere. He's signed through 2021-22 at a cap hit of $5.875 million, and Lombardi said he has no plans to buy him out."There's this feeling in hockey that (a captaincy) is a lifetime appointment," Lombardi said. "And that's just something that's not always practical. This puts the responsibility squarely on the guys who need to assume that role right now."Kopitar, for his part, said taking the "C" from a teammate is bittersweet, but that his relationship with Brown won't change."It's a little bit of sweet and sour in my mouth, just because (Brown) and I are very good friends. We've developed a strong relationship over the course of my 10 years in L.A.," Kopitar said. "I wouldn't say it's awkward. Just maybe a little bitter, but I don't think our relationship is going to change. I'm still going to need him right beside me to help me out with a lot of stuff, and hopefully we can just manage and continue working together."Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

R.J. Umberger took the high road after parting ways with the Philadelphia Flyers on Thursday.Related: Flyers buy out UmbergerThe 34-year-old was bought out of the final year of his contract - worth $4.6 million - but still took to Twitter to thank the organization for his time there.

The Vancouver Canucks signed forward Sven Baertschi to a two-year contract extension on Thursday, the team announced.The deal will see him make $1.7 million in the first year and $2 million in the second. Baertschi was set to become a restricted free agent on July 1 after inking a one-year, $900,000 deal last year.The 23-year-old is coming off his first full-season with the Canucks, where he hit career highs, knotting 15 goals and 28 points in 69 games.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Arizona Coyotes general manager John Chayka is hopeful that acquiring Alex Goligoski's negotiating rights is just the first of his team's many moves this summer."He was the first domino to fall in what we hope are a series of coordinated moves to help our team," Chayka said, according to Craig Morgan of Arizona Sports.

The Arizona Coyotes have acquired the negotiating rights to defenseman Alex Goligoski from the Dallas Stars in exchange for a 2016 fifth-round draft pick, the Coyotes announced Thursday.The deal - which was first reported by ESPN's Craig Custance - will give the Coyotes an exclusive opportunity to sign the 30-year-old, who's set to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1.

The St. Louis Blues signed forward Dmitrij Jaskin to a two-year contract extension Thursday.The deal will carry an average annual value of $1 million, ESPN's Craig Custance reports."It's great to be part of a group like this," Jaskin said in a statement. "It's great to have the opportunity to be part of this team. To get the Conference Final, it's a big motivation. You want to get there again and in (these) two years, I hope we'll get even further. I'm really excited for next season."Jaskin recorded 13 points in 65 games this season, adding a goal and an assist in six playoff contests.The 23-year-old was a pending restricted free agent.He was named to the Czech Republic's World Cup of Hockey roster last month.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Colorado Avalanche will let in-season acquisitions Mikkel Boedker and Shawn Matthias enter the open market July 1, but the club also plans to bid on their services."They're going to test the open market and see what's out there," Avalanche general manager Joe Sakic said, according to Mike Chambers of the Denver Post."I'd like to have one back for sure, or both, but we'll see where that goes. They have the right to test it so they're going to do that. We'll revisit that early July."Colorado surrendered veteran Alex Tanguay, a trio of prospects, and a fourth-round draft selection to potentially rent Boedker and Matthias for their stretch run.One of those prospects is former first-round draft pick Conner Bleackley, who netted the Arizona Coyotes a compensatory second-round selection when it was decided they wouldn't offer him an entry-level deal.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Zemgus Girgensons is dodging rumors in a way that would make Neo proud.The Buffalo Sabres forward had an amusing response to a Latvian report claiming he was considering a deal with KHL club Dinamo Riga.

Brent Burns has been named one of four finalists for ESPN's Sports Humanitarian of the Year award.The San Jose Sharks defender is being recognized for his contributions with various organizations that help veterans and active duty members, as well as assisting families with members who died or were injured during their services.A noted military buff, Burns was motivated to help families affected by service, by his grandfather, who fought in World War II.Tina Charles of the WNBA's New York Liberty, Carlos Dunlap of the Cincinnati Bengals, and Chris Paul of the Los Angeles Clippers are the other nominees.The winner, announced July 12, will receive a $100,000 grant for their charity.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

As rain delayed Thursday's opening round of the U.S. Open at Oakmont, some players got a close look at the trophy recently captured by the local hockey team.The Stanley Cup made an appearance in the locker room at Oakmont Country Club just outside Pittsburgh. The hometown Penguins won the franchise's fourth championship Sunday.Forwards Sidney Crosby and Phil Kessel were both present as golfers took photos with the trophy.

Carolina Hurricanes forward Joakim Nordstrom is doing his part to ensure Sweden and Ireland continue their friendly relations during Euro 2016.William Keane told Connor Heneghan of JOE.ie that he was at a bar in Paris with some friends watching Sunday's Northern Ireland-Poland match when three Swedish brothers walked by. After some "good-natured taunts" from the Irish, the Swedes decided to join them for a beer.Related: Irish, Swedish fans sing ABBA's 'Dancing Queen' ahead of match"The eldest of them, Joakim, happened to mention that he was a hockey player but at the time nothing more was thought of it," Keane said. "After a couple of more songs and a beer, the bar man in Quigley's Point informed us that there was a drink for the house paid for by Joakim."As you can imagine, this was met with a huge cheer and everyone went over to thank him for his huge generosity. I estimate the round must have cost him around €500, so it was very generous indeed."Keane didn't realize how well Nordstrom's hockey career was going until he got a Twitter notification the next day that the Swede was now following him, and had nearly 13,000 Twitter followers of his own."No wonder he was able to buy a round for the house," Keane said.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

If the Colorado Avalanche are poised to make a major splash in the trade market, it won't be Tyson Barrie heading the other way.Avalanche GM Joe Sakic has informed Mike Chambers of the Denver Post that the able puck-moving defender will not be dealt. Rather, Sakic hopes to sign Barrie long term, but will go to arbitration if the two sides fail to iron out a more substantial commitment."Either way, he'll be here," Sakic said.Barrie's quietly been one of the most efficient offensive defensemen over the last two years, and hasn't relied heavily on the power play to produce offense. He's one of just seven defenders with 100 points over that span, and ranks fifth in even-strength contribution behind Erik Karlsson, Brent Burns, Roman Josi, and P.K. Subban.That sort of production will see no shortage of suitors, but at the same time make it challenging for the team to the keep the price point manageable on a defender limited in certain aspects.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Calgary Flames are reportedly looking into the availability of a certain Stanley Cup-winning goaltender.Flames general manager Brad Treliving has been in contact with Pittsburgh Penguins GM Jim Rutherford about Marc-Andre Fleury, reports Eric Francis of the Calgary Sun.Matt Murray supplanted Fleury as the starter in the playoffs and led Pittsburgh to its fourth title Sunday.Fleury's cap hit is $5.75 million for each of the next three seasons after signing a four-year, $23-million extension in the fall of 2014.Murray's on the books for $620,000 before potentially becoming a restricted free agent next summer.The Penguins are about $2.4 million over the cap ceiling, according to General Fanager.Related: Penguins to qualify Beau Bennett, but not Justin SchultzFleury went 35-17-6 with a 2.29 GAA and .921 save percentage in the regular season. Murray played 13 regular-season games down the stretch, going 9-2-1 with a 2.00 GAA and .930 GAA.Murray is younger and cheaper, but Fleury has plenty of experience. The veteran won his first championship with the Penguins in 2009, and the two-time All-Star has 357 wins in 653 career games.Rutherford said Thursday that "in a perfect world," he'd love to keep both Fleury and Murray, according to DKPittsburghSports.com's Josh Yohe.Given the Penguins' cap situation, that utopian scenario seems somewhat unrealistic.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Los Angeles Kings have named forward Anze Kopitar the 14th captain in team history, general manager Dean Lombardi announced Thursday.

It's "only game," but Ilya Bryzgalov is looking to play it professionally again.“I feel the passion inside and the fire in my eyes. I want to face new challenges and I want the chance to play in the best league," the eccentric goaltender told Chris Lomon of the NHLPA.“When I told my son I was looking to play in the NHL again, his eyes lit up," Bryzgalov said. “He was so excited. Now he’s older and he understands the game more. It would be great if he could watch me play again, maybe to learn some things that can help him.”The 35-year-old netminder last played with the Anaheim Ducks in 2014-15, posting a 4.19 GAA and .847 save percentage in eight games.Bryzgalov yearned to return after watching the 2016 postseason unfold."I watched a lot of hockey, but when it came to the playoffs, that’s when it really hit me,” offered Bryzgalov. “I realized I really needed to feel that excitement again, the rush of playing, the challenge of trying to stop the most talented players in the world. I was really missing all of that. The more I watched, the more passion I had inside of me."His time away from the game allowed him to recharge and spend quality time with his family.“I was able to rest, both spiritually and mentally, and I also had the opportunity to spend time helping my wife and spend time with our kids,” he continued. “So, it was nice to have that year to recharge the batteries. Right now, I feel amazing. I feel great. I kept myself in shape and worked out a lot.”Bryzgalov's agent believes his client is ready to return to the form he displayed playing nine playoff games for the Minnesota Wild in 2014."Having worked with (Hall of Fame goalie) Dominik Hasek on his return after a year off and knowing the training Ilya has in place for the summer, there is no doubt in my mind he will perform at the level he did leading the Wild to the playoffs two years ago,” Rich Winter said.“With Ilya prepared to play for a modest salary and take most of his compensation in bonuses, this will be a unique opportunity for a team looking for an experienced goaltender to challenge for a starting job.”Whether the aging netminder is still capable of contributing in the crease is one thing, but the NHL could certainly benefit from having his personality back.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Embattled defenseman Jared Cowen cleared waivers Thursday, making him eligible to be bought out by the Toronto Maple Leafs.Toronto will earn a $650,000 cap credit with Cowen's impending buy out, but the transaction will cost them $750,000 in valuable cap space in 2017-18, Sportsnet's Chris Johnston reports.Cowen was acquired in the trade that sent former Maple Leafs captain Dion Phaneuf to the Ottawa Senators.His tenure will come to an end without dressing for the Maple Leafs.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

R.J. Umberger admitted he expected to be bought out by the Philadelphia Flyers after a difficult 2015-16 season, and general manager Ron Hextall confirmed Thursday that the team will buy out the final year of the forward's contract.The 34-year-old was owed $4.6 million next season, and his buyout will help the Flyers gain an extra $3 million in cap space.

Following the Pittsburgh Penguins' Stanley Cup victory, general manager Jim Rutherford is already back to work, including dealing with his team's pending restricted free agents.The Penguins will make a qualifying offer to forward Beau Bennett, but will not give one to defenseman Justin Schultz, Rutherford told reporters Thursday, according to DKPittsburghSports.com's Josh Yohe.Bennett, 24, was limited to just 33 games this season due to injury, recording six goals and six assists. He appeared in just one playoff game, posting a minus-2 rating in 11 minutes of ice time during his team's Game 5 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning in the Eastern Conference Final.He earned $900,000 last season.Schultz agreed to a one-year, $3.9-million deal with the Edmonton Oilers last offseason before being moved to the Penguins at the trade deadline. Although he recorded a career-low 18 points this season, Rutherford would like to bring the 25-year-old back.

Evgeni Malkin's nagging elbow injury could require surgery.The Pittsburgh Penguins forward told reporters Thursday he has an MRI pending on his elbow, according to Seth Rorabaugh of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.Penguins general manager Jim Rutherford then revealed the extent of Malkin's ailment:

The Carolina Hurricanes have extended their partnership with Cam Ward for two more seasons, the club announced Thursday.Ward will earn $6.6 million over the two-year term, including $3.5 million in the 2016-17 season.TSN's Bob McKenzie notes that Ward's deal includes a modified no-trade clause.The veteran netminder was a lightning rod for criticism in recent seasons, and throughout his mammoth six-year deal that expired at the end of the year. He's largely provided mix-bag results during his tenure, and led Carolina into the postseason just once since his breakthrough performance in the 2006 Stanley Cup Playoffs.Ward has provided career-average numbers over the course of the last two seasons, but his efficiency has been well below the league's current standard. Ward's .907 save percentage over the last four seasons ranks second-to-last among goaltenders with at least 100 starts.He'll take almost a 50 percent pay cut to remain in Carolina, but the organization clearly sees value - or doesn't quite have enough trust in Eddie Lack - in having Ward contribute in goal as they continue to develop. This includes grooming their own goaltending prospects, namely U.S. world junior netminder Alex Nedeljkovic.Ward had the largest cap hit among goaltenders scheduled to hit the open market.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Florida Panthers have promoted NHL great Peter Mahovlich to special advisor to ownership after six seasons as a professional scout, the club announced Thursday.Mahovlich will continue lending his services to the scouting department in his expanded role."Peter is highly respected within our organization and with his peers around the league," owner Vincent Viola said in a press release. "His wealth of experience and knowledge from his years as a player, coach and scout are tremendous assets for our organization."The four-time Stanley Cup winner has previously worked in the Edmonton Oilers, Tampa Bay Lightning, and Atlanta Thrashers organizations.Florida has brought extensive changes to its front office structure this summer, Mahovlich's promotion included.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.