Nick Bonino played the final stretch of the playoffs with a rather concerning ailment.The Pittsburgh Penguins forward told reporters Thursday he played in the Stanley Cup Final with an elbow infection that required heavy antibiotics, according to Jenn Menendez of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.Bonino said he had his left elbow wrapped, and the condition caused his temperature to rise to around 100 degrees Fahrenheit at times, according to NHL.com's Wes Crosby.The 28-year-old center would have been shut down had his fever hit 101 degrees.Bonino posted 18 points in 24 playoff games on the highly productive "HBK" line with Carl Hagelin and Phil Kessel. He scored a goal and added two assists in the six Cup Final games.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Andrew Shaw's agent plans to meet with the Chicago Blackhawks' brass next week to begin working on a new deal.Pat Brisson told Chris Hine of the Chicago Tribune he intends to meet with the club - presumably general manager Stan Bowman - at the upcoming NHL draft.Chicago cleared cap space Wednesday by trading forwards Bryan Bickell and Teuvo Teravainen to the Carolina Hurricanes for a pair of draft picks.Related - Blackhawks' Bowman: Trading Bickell helps ability to re-sign ShawThe move gave Chicago about $5 million in additional cap flexibility for a total of about $9.5 million.Shaw would become a restricted free agent if he's not signed by July 1. His cap hit was $2.5 million last season.The 24-year-old winger recorded 14 goals and 34 points in 78 games.Shaw was suspended one game for directing a homophobic slur toward an official during the Blackhawks' first-round series against the St. Louis Blues.The NHL draft takes place Friday, June 24 and Saturday, June 25 at First Niagara Center in Buffalo.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Amid all the clamoring that Phil Kessel deserved the Conn Smythe Trophy, it turns out he was incredibly close to winning it.Kessel nearly took home the playoff MVP award that ultimately went to Sidney Crosby in one of the closest votes ever, according to TSN's Frank Seravalli.Eighteen members of the Professional Hockey Writers Association - including Seravalli - cast first-, second-, and third-place votes, and the other 17 voters revealed their picks to him on the condition of anonymity.Penguins defenseman Kris Letang and goaltender Matt Murray, as well as San Jose Sharks netminder Martin Jones and forward Logan Couture received votes. Here's how it reportedly broke down:Player1st2nd3rd PointsSidney Crosby95363Phil Kessel78160Kris Letang22218Martin Jones0217Matt Murray0147Logan Couture0077The league gives five points for a first-place vote, three points for second, and one for third.The NHL wouldn't confirm Seravalli's findings, because it's the only major pro league that refuses to reveal playoff MVP voting.Crosby was held without a goal in the final, but the Penguins captain set up Letang's Cup-clincher, recorded 19 points in 24 postseason games, and notched three game-winners in the earlier rounds.Kessel led Pittsburgh in the playoffs with 10 goals, 22 points and 98 shots, racking up 11 power-play points.Not sure this is any consolation for Kessel backers, but it illustrates just how split the decision was.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Bryan Bickell was traded by the only team he has ever known on Wednesday.Related: Blackhawks' Bowman: Trading Bickell helps ability to re-sign ShawThe 30-year-old was shipped form the Chicago Blackhawks to the Carolina Hurricanes in a deal along with Teuvo Teravainen for two draft picks. In parting fashion, Bickell released a statement Wednesday night thanking the organization and the city for being his second home.

The Pittsburgh Penguins' use of speed and skill en route to a Stanley Cup championship won't influence the Calgary Flames at the NHL Draft.So says president of hockey operations Brian Burke, who continues to emphasize the need for truculence when building a successful hockey team."You still play 82 games and you've got to make the playoffs and to do that you've got to play big teams, especially in the west," Burke told Eric Francis of Sportsnet."Now you say to yourself maybe we've got to go with more speed, but the teams that made the playoffs and made it a few rounds like Los Angeles (lost in the opening round) and St. Louis (advanced to conference finals) - those are big teams. To get there you need size."Skill and speed are indeed vital, Burke added, but the need to balance out the lineup with bigger players remains a priority."It's already moved towards more skill and speed but I still think the teams that are successful have some size in the lineup and can play that kind of game," he said.The Flames will select sixth overall at this year's draft, where they'll look to pick the best all-around player, but again placing an emphasis on size in the end."It's too simplistic to say you'll draft fast or big guys," said Flames director of scouting, Tod Button. "You look at the total package and all things being equal between two guys you take the bigger player."Calgary's leading scorer this season was Johnny Gaudreau, who's listed at 5-foot-9 and 157 pounds.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Stan Bowman is hoping some gained cap space will help the Chicago Blackhawks retain their star pest.Related: Bickell's camp 'relieved' to finally be traded out of ChicagoThe club shipped forwards Bryan Bickell and Teuvo Teravainen to the Carolina Hurricanes in exchange for a couple draft picks Wednesday with the prospect of retaining forward Andrew Shaw on their mind."This is a step in the right direction," Bowman said of signing Shaw, according to Mark Lazerus of the Chicago Sun-Times. "We certainly had to move Bickell to have some flexibility."Shaw will become a restricted free agent on July 1, coming off a two-year deal with a cap hit of $2 million."Obviously we like what he [Shaw] brings to the table and we’d like to try and make something work," Bowman said, according to CSN Chicago's Tracey Myers.Shaw collected 14 goals and 34 points in 78 regular season games, but stepped up in the postseason leading the team with four goals and adding two assists in six games.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

To Thomas Vanek's agent - Steve Bartlett - no news is good news.After the 32-year-old posted the lowest full-season goal total of his career - 18 goals - in his second season with the Minnesota Wild, there are rustlings that Vanek could be a prime candidate for a buyout from his club. However, Bartlett insists general manager Chuck Fletcher has not hinted at such a move, suggesting his client could be in the clear."If Chuck knew he was going to buy him out by now, I think I would know by now," Bartlett said, according to Michael Russo of the Star Tribune. "I do think I have a good enough relationship that he'd give me the heads up. Now that doesn't mean that they couldn't decide something different between now and two weeks from now."The window to buy out player contracts opened on Wednesday and while obviously things could still change, Bartlett is hopeful that with a new head coach at the team's helm - in Bruce Boudreau - Vanek will have the opportunity to redeem himself."With a new coach, we'll just have to see how it all shakes out," Bartlett said. "I still think there's a rebound year in Thomas, and I'm hoping they'll give him that opportunity, but I understand in this day and age, you never know. You can never predict."Vanek has one year remaining on his three-year contract with a cap hit of $6.5 million.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Phil Kessel had good reason to break his Twitter silence.The Pittsburgh Penguins winger hadn't published a thought on the social media website since thanking Toronto fans for the support showed to him over the course of his tenure as a Maple Leaf.297 days later, he's thanking Pittsburgh fans on the day he and the rest of the Penguins paraded the Stanley Cup through town.

Ron Francis is pleased with his day's work.The Carolina Hurricanes general manager was able to pull off a trade with the Chicago Blackhawks that saw his team add forwards Teuvo Teravainen and Bryan Bickell in exchange for a 2016 second-round pick and a 2017 third-round pick, and it's a deal he seems quite content with.Related: Teravainen a painful cap casualty for Blackhawks"It's not every day that you're able to do a deal like this," Francis said on the team's official website. "I think we feel fortunate that we are able to get those guys into our organization and lineup. We wouldn't have been able to do it if we didn't have the (salary cap) room cleared out over the last year or two, and we wouldn't have been able to do it if we didn't have the draft picks we've built up, as well."The picks sent to Chicago were not originally owned by Carolina. This year's second-rounder (50th overall) originally belonged to the New York Rangers and was acquired in the Eric Staal trade, one that also freed up a bunch of cap space. And the 2017 third-rounder came from Chicago back in September.Even after the trade, the Hurricanes have six picks in the top 75 this year (two first-round picks, a second-round pick, and three third-round picks), hence Francis referencing the flexibility with which he was able to work.Here's what the GM had to say about the players heading to Carolina.Teravainen:

It was a sight to be seen Wednesday as the Penguins took their Stanley Cup celebration to the streets of Pittsburgh.The team enjoyed their first victory parade in seven years and there were many cherished moments to be had.With over 400,000 fans predicted to be in attendance, it's easy to see why this lady had the right idea showing up so early to the event.Before...

Even if they wanted to, the Edmonton Oilers can't use a buyout on veteran defenseman Andrew Ference.The 37-year-old has not been cleared to play following hip surgery in March, meaning he's exempt from having the final year of his contract bought out, agent Kurt Overhardt confirmed."He's not cleared to play ice hockey and a cartilage repair takes a long time," Overhardt told Jim Matheson of The Edmonton Journal. "He's nowhere near being cleared so it's not even an issue. If you are hurt, you're hurt. He has to be able to run, he has to be able to skate."The Oilers would have saved $2,166,667 in cap space for 2016-17 if Ference had been healthy.Ference was limited to six games due to injury last season, and may not have a guaranteed spot on the roster if and when he's cleared to return. Whether his captaincy is removed in the meantime remains to be seen.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

At a funeral service attended by family, fans, and some of hockey's most distinguished names, the late Gordie Howe was honored by son Murray Howe in a near half-hour eulogy."I asked my dad a few years ago what he would like me to say at his funeral," Murray said Wednesday at the packed Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament in Detroit, according to Helene St. James of the Detroit Free Press."He said, 'Say this: Finally, the end of the third period.' Then he added, 'I hope there is a good hockey team in heaven.'""Dad," Murray continued. "All I can say is, once you join the team, they won't just be good, they will be great."Murray then offered several superlatives to describe his father, who passed away on June 10 at age 88, describing him as humble, tough, wise, graceful, powerful, prompt, eternally positive, patient, accepting, and selfless."We filled his final days, surrounding him with friends and family, and he knew he was loved," Murray said near the end of his eulogy. "Mr. Hockey left the world with no regrets. And although he did not lead the league in church attendance, his life has been the epitome of a faithful servant."The full eulogy can be viewed here:(Courtesy: NHL.com)Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Pittsburgh Penguins paraded through town Wednesday, celebrating the fourth Stanley Cup championship in franchise history with a delirious crowd that topped out at 400,000 fans.

Teuvo Teravainen didn't see it coming.The 21-year-old forward was caught off guard by the trade that sent him from the Chicago Blackhawks to the Carolina Hurricanes on Wednesday.Related: Blackhawks trade Bickell, Teravainen to Hurricanes for 2 draft picks"(The deal was) a surprise, of course," Teravainen told Mark Lazerus of the Chicago Sun-Times. "It was just a normal day, (and) then that (happened)."Teravainen was sent to the Hurricanes along with veteran forward Bryan Bickell - and his $4-million cap hit - for a second-round pick in the upcoming draft and a third-rounder in 2017."With Chicago (and) their cap situation, you never know, but I was not expecting anything," Teravainen said.The Blackhawks gave themselves $10 million in cap space before signing pending restricted free agent Richard Panik to a one-year deal later Wednesday.Andrew Ladd, Dale Weise, Tomas Fleischmann, and Christian Ehrhoff are Chicago's notable pending UFAs, while Andrew Shaw is set to become a restricted free agent if he's not signed to an extension by July 1.Related: Teravainen a painful cap casualty for BlackhawksTeravainen offered gratitude to his former club Wednesday."(It was) special to be part of such a great organization and fans and everything, such great players. I just want to thank everyone," he said.He scored 13 goals and added 22 assists in his first full season with the Blackhawks in 2015-16, posting 44 points in his first 115 NHL games over three campaigns beginning in 2013-14.Chicago drafted Teravainen 18th overall in 2012.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Chicago Blackhawks and winger Richard Panik have agreed to terms on a one-year contract extension, the club announced Wednesday.Panik was rescued from the minor leagues in January in a trade with the Toronto Maple Leafs. He went on to feature in 30 games for Chicago - even making spot appearances in the top six - and scored six goals and eight points.He also chipped in with three helpers in the postseason.The Blackhawks opened up almost $5 million in cap space with the trades of Bryan Bickell and Teuvo Teravainen earlier Wednesday, helping keep Panik in the fold.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Whether it's the cost of doing business or the product of salary cap mismanagement, the Chicago Blackhawks have a history of shedding talented players in recent years.Wednesday's trade that sent forwards Bryan Bickell and Teuvo Teravainen to the Carolina Hurricanes for two draft picks was just the latest in a long line of moves influenced by the Blackhawks' frequent proximity to the cap ceiling.

Bryan Bickell can't wait to get to Carolina.Doomed by a deal never in accordance with his on-ice worth, Bickell was finally shed by the cap-strapped Chicago Blackhawks on Wednesday in a trade with the Carolina Hurricanes.Related: Blackhawks trade Bickell, Teravainen to Hurricanes for 2 draft picksBickell will require a personal renaissance of sorts to recoup the fleeting form that ultimately put him in his previous bind, but he's encouraged to have a fresh start nonetheless."We are relieved that a trade was finally completed," Bickell's agent, Todd Diamond, told Mark Lazerus of the Chicago Sun Times shortly after the deal was announced."Bryan thoroughly enjoyed his time in Chicago, and we are appreciative of everything the organization has done for him, and for (Stan Bowman's) effort to get this done early in the offseason."Bryan is looking forward to the new challenge and a new beginning."Bickell's inability to contribute in Chicago prompted Bowman to bury him in the minor leagues for the majority of his final year, if only to net a fractional amount of financial leash.With only $45 million tied up in assets right now, the Hurricanes won't have to resort to the same with Bickell.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

If Arizona Coyotes GM John Chayka is willing to prepare a bounty to acquire the rights of homegrown projected No. 1 draft selection Auston Matthews, it's news to him.Chayka indicated this week that the Coyotes are unwilling to bundle first-round picks with prospects and budding talents - or any sort of comparable package - in a trade with the Toronto Maple Leafs to acquire the first pick in next week's draft."I'm not exactly sure where people come up with this stuff," Chayka said, via Craig Morgan of Arizona Sports. "I personally find some of the reports that are out there are pretty ridiculous speculation."That, however, doesn't mean Arizona isn't exploring avenues to potentially move out from No. 7."We're still just in discussions, whether that means moving up or down, and up doesn't even have to be No. 1," Chayka said."What we're really looking at it is does this trade make your team better in the short term and in the long term?"Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Let the buyout season begin.The Toronto Maple Leafs placed defenseman Jared Cowen on waivers Wednesday for purposes of buying out his contract, TSN's Darren Dreger reports.Cowen was acquired from the Ottawa Senators in the Dion Phaneuf trade in February, but the blue-liner never played a game for the Maple Leafs.The 25-year-old had one year and $2.15 million left on his deal, according to General Fanager.Toronto had been planning to buy him out since the trade. In March, Cowen's agent said his client had six months to get back to being "a good player."Wednesday marked the start of the NHL's first buyout window, which extends through June 30.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Chicago Blackhawks finally shed Bryan Bickell's contract, though it came at a considerable cost.Bickell and talented young forward Teuvo Teravainen were dealt to the Carolina Hurricanes on Wednesday in exchange for a second-round draft selection in 2016 and a third-round pick in 2017.The Blackhawks had been exploring opportunities to move Bickell and his eyesore of a contract since not long after he inked his four-year, $16-million extension for a breakout performance in the 2013 Stanley Cup Playoffs.Bickell racked up just 45 points in three seasons since signing the deal and spent the majority of last season in the American Hockey League, gobbling up a significant portion of the Blackhawks' cap.Losing Teravainen is no minor consequence, but the 21-year-old Finn didn't catch on with the club's top six as quickly as many anticipated. He contributed 13 goals and 35 points in his first full season in Chicago's top nine.Carolina maintains six picks in the first three rounds of this upcoming draft, three in the first two rounds in 2017, and has only about $45 million tied up in player contracts for this upcoming season.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It might not garner a parade, but the Stanley Cup appears to be on its way back to Toronto.Phil Kessel says he's strongly considering bringing it to the city this summer when he gets his 24 hours with the trophy."I haven't fully decided, but I have a lot of friends in Toronto and that's where I've spent most of my time (in the NHL)," the Pittsburgh Penguins forward told Sportsnet 590 The FAN on Wednesday."I probably will end up bringing it back there. Nothing's been decided, but I think there's a good chance that it'll happen."Kessel spent six tumultuous seasons with the Maple Leafs before being traded to the Penguins last July."It's been a whirlwind, a lot of changes in my life, and obviously I wouldn't change this for anything ... it's unbelievable," he said Wednesday.He notched 10 goals and 22 points in 24 playoff games this spring, and many felt he deserved the Conn Smythe Trophy as the postseason MVP, an honor that went to Penguins captain Sidney Crosby.Kessel posted 26 goals and 59 points in his first regular season with Pittsburgh. He authored four 30-goal seasons with the Maple Leafs, including 37-goal campaigns in 2011-12 and 2013-14.The 28-year-old winger had nothing but praise for the fans in Toronto."They always treated me great. I loved the city there and I'll always cherish my time there," Kessel said.He added that he'll "for sure" be back in Toronto for OVO Fest, the music festival hosted by Drake's record label, OVO Sound, in late July and early August.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Riley Sheahan has reportedly agreed to a two-year contract extension with the Detroit Red Wings, according to MLive's Ansar Khan.The contract will reportedly pay the restricted free agent $2.075 million per season.Sheahan, 24, scored a career-best 14 goals last season, but did take a step back in overall production, netting a modest 25 points in 81 games.The former first-round draft pick hasn't proven he can be a consistent top-six contributor for Detroit, and seems at risk of being overrun by the organization's prospects. But the Wings apparently think enough of Sheahan's work down the middle and in a bottom-six role to have him continue working toward becoming a consistent offensive contributor.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

PITTSBURGH - A huge turnout is expected in downtown Pittsburgh for the 2016 Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins victory parade.A parade after the team's last Stanley Cup championship in 2009 drew nearly 400,000 people.The parade will begin at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, seven years ago to the day that the last one was held.Players and coaches are expected to be driven along a triangular route to a temporary stage, where other dignitaries will join them for remarks and festivities.The team was founded as an expansion franchise in 1967, and also won the Stanley Cup in 1991 and 1992.The Penguins clinched the championship with a 3-1 victory Sunday night against the San Jose Sharks, winning the best-of-seven series 4-2.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

What's old is new again in Anaheim.Related: Consulted Ducks players 'unbelievably supportive' of Randy Carlyle hireThe Ducks made a splash on Tuesday by announcing the return of Randy Carlyle as the team's head coach. For the 60-year-old it marks the second time he has manned the head coaching position in Anaheim, doing so from 2005-12.While the rehire might come as a surprise - given his firing after just 24 games in 2012 - it's not first time a team has elected to reintroduce a former coach.Here are five other coaches that saw teams bring them on for more than one tenure:Paul MauriceWinnipeg Jets head coach Paul Maurice currently stands as the Carolina Hurricanes' all-time wins leader.The 49-year-old coached the club for 13 years, but not all in succession. Maurice joined the franchise in 1995 when it was the Hartford Whalers, remaining with the club after its move to Carolina in 1997.He would remain with the team until 2004 - helping the team reach the Stanley Cup Final in 2002 - when he was fired after 30 games. After stints in the American Hockey League and two seasons with the Toronto Maple Leafs, he rejoined the Hurricanes for the 2008-09 season.He would remain until the 2011-12 campaign where - after another slow start - Maurice was canned after going 8-13-4 in 25 games.Jacques LemaireJacques Lemaire's story with the New Jersey Devils is one of trying to rekindle what was once great.Lemaire coached five seasons with the Devils from 1993-98, capturing the Stanley Cup during the lockout-shortened 1994-95 season. Lemaire was let go by the Devils after his division-winning club bowed out in the first round in 1998.After joining the Minnesota Wild for eight years until 2009, he rejoined the Devils for the 2009-10 season. Lemaire would lead the team to a first-place finish in his first year, retiring thereafter. However, just when you thought he was out, they bring him right back in.Lemaire took over the following season for a struggling John MacLean for the remaining 49 games, where he would go an impressive 29-17-3 before finally calling it a career.John TortorellaIt might not be well known, but John Tortorella's stint with the New York Rangers from 2008-13 wasn't his first.John Muckler was fired with just four games remaining in the 1999-00 season as the club failed to make the playoffs for the third straight year.In firing Muckler, the team named Tortorella interim head coach for the remaining four games. Ron Lowe was hired as the team's head coach the next year and Tortorella joined the Tampa Bay Lightning midway through the season.He would return to the Rangers in 2009, replacing Tom Renney and we all know how that went.Punch ImlachPunch Imlach coached the Toronto Maple Leafs through arguably their most successful seasons in franchise history.Imlach joined the club at 40 years old for the 1958-59 season and three years later lead the club to its first of three consecutive Stanley Cup victories.He would collect his fourth Cup - and the franchise's last - in 1967. But after missing the postseason the following year and being swept in the first round after that, his reign with the club was over.That was until 11 years later when he rejoined the Maple Leafs as the club's new general manager. Imlach would hire Floyd Smith who - after 68 games - was injured in a car accident. Dick Duff served as interim head coach for two games before Imlach took over for the final 10 contests, going 5-5-0.Michel TherrienMontreal Canadiens fans know this song and dance all too well.Michel Therrien enjoyed his first three seasons as a head coach in the league with the Canadiens from 2000-03.After being let go midway through the 2003 season, he joined the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2005 - Sidney Crosby's rookie year - for four seasons.After failing to get the team no further than the Eastern Conference Final in 2008, he was fired midway through the 2009 season - the season the club captured its third Stanley Cup.Therrien was reintroduced as the Canadiens head coach ahead of the 2012-13 lockout-shortened season and it's where he remains... for now.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The 2016 Stanley Cup Final was not watched by many.The six-game series between the Pittsburgh Penguins and San Jose Sharks averaged four million viewers, making it the third lowest-rated final since 2006, according to Nielsen live-plus-same-day data.As a point of comparison, the NBA Finals on ABC are averaging a 18.1 million viewers per game, reports Anthony Crupi of Ad Age.Part of the issue was that Games 2 and 3 were aired on NBCSN instead of NBC, with the former reaching only about 70 percent of all TV homes in the U.S.On top of that, the series-deciding Game 6 went head-to-head with "Game Of Thrones"; hockey drew 5.41 million viewers in the most-watched match of the series, but those numbers were dwarfed by Thrones, as the fantasy drama was watched by 7.6 million.Perhaps if the Sharks could have pulled a Jon Snow and came back from the dead to force a Game 7, there would have been an uptick.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Family, friends, and fans flocked to Detroit's Joe Louis Arena for Tuesday's public visitation for Gordie Howe, who passed away on June 10 at age 88.The entry line began forming in the wee hours of the morning, and the folks who came to pay their respects to Mr. Hockey flowed in and out of the rink for almost 13 hours.Here's a look at some of the last images from a truly remarkable event, beginning with the group of noteworthy pallbearers.

Hockey is well represented on the cover of Sports Illustrated this week, albeit under entirely difference circumstances.Regionally, a tribute to the late and legendary Gordie Howe will be featured following his passing on June 10 at age 88.

Keith Yandle looks destined to hit the open market.The New York Rangers defenseman is coming off his first full season with the club - after being acquired last season from the Arizona Coyotes - and while both sides might like to come to an agreement, cap restrictions appear to have the team's hands tied.Both sides have not had any contract talks and are unlikely to unless the Rangers are able to free up cap space, according to ESPN's Pierre LeBrun.The Rangers have roughly $15 million in cap space, according to GeneralFanager.com, but also have restricted free agents Chris Kreider, Kevin Hayes, J.T. Miller, and Dylan McIlrath to contend with.Yandle is coming off the final year of a five-year, $26.25-million contract and will become an unrestricted free agent. He led all Rangers defensemen with 47 points in 2015-16.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Just days after capturing the Stanley Cup as a member of the Pittsburgh Penguins, Jacques Martin is welcoming the idea of being a head coach once again.The Penguins assistant coach joined TSN 1200 on Tuesday noting his desire to return as a bench boss, a job he has 17 years of experience in."I'd love to get another opportunity," Martin said, according to TSN 1200's Ian Mendes. "I've grown from my last stint in Montreal."Martin last held a head coaching gig in 2011-12 after he was fired 32 games into his third season with Montreal Canadiens. Martin has a career coaching record of 613-481-119-81 in 1,294 games spent with the Canadiens, Florida Panthers, Ottawa Senators, and St. Louis Blues.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Winnipeg Jets general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff has put the rumor to bed.With Jacob Trouba's entry-level contract set to expire July 1, there has been speculation that the Jets might be looking to deal the 22-year-old, but Cheveldayoff says that's not true."Trying to trade Jacob Trouba?" Cheveldayoff said, according to Tim Campbell of the Winnipeg Free Press. "This is an interesting time of year. I've seen lots of different scenarios out there of teams that are pushing hard that I haven't even heard from and I've talked to different teams that have asked different questions that I've certainly asked myself. I'm not trying to trade anybody. I think in this game there's a distinct possibility that anybody can get traded."And again we've got some good young players here. We've got two of them that are up for contracts in Trouba and (Mark) Scheifele and we're going to do our best to get those contracts done and in the books. So trying to trade him? No."Before Cheveldayoff deals with free agents, his focus will be on the draft where his team holds the second overall pick. However, the Jets already have their minds set barring any unforeseen changes."We've gone through a lot of the processes already and the list is getting pretty much in ink," he said. "I think you're still doing some due diligence. You can't watch any more hockey so the evaluation on the hockey side is essentially left to video."Unless something really dramatically makes a shift that you just don't see, and you saw some crazy things in the NFL draft this year, our minds are very set."- with h/t to NBC SportsCopyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Pittsburgh Penguins are your 2016 Stanley Cup champions, unbeknownst to some Los Angeles Kings fans.Following Pittsburgh's win over the San Jose Sharks, late night talk show host Jimmy Kimmel sent his people out to the streets of Los Angeles to congratulate Kings fans on their team's Cup win.Unfortunately, nay hilariously, some believed it and shared their feelings on the win.- with H/T to Puck DaddyCopyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Andrew Ladd's reunion with the Chicago Blackhawks didn't go as planned, as the defending Cup champs were eliminated in the first round at the hands of the St. Louis Blues.Ladd and his former team, the Winnipeg Jets, were far apart on a contract extension, so the 30-year-old was dealt before the trade deadline as a rental to the Blackhawks, whom he won a Cup with in 2010.Now, with Chicago neck-deep in salary cap complications, it seems unlikely the Blackhawks can retain Ladd, so he's ready to test the market."Right now it's like you just want to get there. It seems like we've been waiting for quite some time to get the next contract," Ladd told ESPN's Pierre LeBrun. "It's exciting to think about the opportunities, (to) see who is interested."However, Ladd has his eyes set on joining a contending team."First and foremost I want to play for a team that has a chance to win," he said. "I've kind of done the rebuild thing a little bit there in Winnipeg. At this point in my career I want another chance to win a Stanley Cup."Ladd also mentioned location is important for him and his family.Last season, the winger scored 25 goals and 21 assists split between the Jets and Blackhawks.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Colorado Avalanche appear to be open for business.Report: Strong chance Avalanche's Barrie could be tradedAfter missing the playoffs for the second straight season, the club is looking to shake things up and - according to TSN's Darren Dreger - are willing to move just about anybody to do so."No, it's not just noise," Dreger said on TSN 1040, according to Chris Nichols of Today's Slapshot. "I know that Joe Sakic has told NHL general managers that he's willing to listen and willing to deal any of those big guys like (Tyson) Barrie, like (Matt) Duchene. But it's got to be part of something big. Something significant."And look, we're getting close to the place where the freedom and flexibility to make those type of deals is probably best than it is at any point in the season, and that's on the draft floor or right before the draft."Dreger insists he picked the brains of those around the club and the sense is that nearly anybody could be had short of Nathan MacKinnon."I had a couple of people during my Stanley Cup run here, guys I trust who are pretty deeply connected to the Avalanche, say that the sense is that they're willing to move just about anyone outside of Nathan MacKinnon."I find that to be a bit hard to believe, but Joe Sakic and the Colorado Avalanche are big-game hunting. They know that they've got to do something fairly significant to turn this organization around, and the only way you can do that is by being bold and making some moves."The Avalanche could use help at all positions. The team finished 20th in the league with 2.59 goals per game this season and 25th with 2.93 goals against per game. The team also generated the 25th most shots per game and allowed the third most.All eyes are sure to be on Colorado in the coming weeks.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Kyle Okposo's agent is preparing to receive offers for the coveted winger.Pat Brisson, who represents the soon-to-be unrestricted free agent, confirmed to Pierre LeBrun of ESPN that he recently spoke to the New York Islanders about a new deal, but it appears as though general manager Garth Snow will allow Okposo to test the open market."All indications are that we're headed to free agency with Kyle," Brisson said.Okposo, who was drafted seventh overall by the Islanders in 2006, is on the heels of a string of strong seasons, averaging 0.87 points per game since the beginning of 2013-14.The 28-year-old is coming off a five-year contract that carried a cap hit of $2.8 million, a valuation that will rise significantly on his next deal.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Randy Carlyle's former pupils may have been the deciding factor in his return to an NHL bench.Anaheim Ducks general manager Bob Murray, in his reintroducing of Carlyle to the media Tuesday, revealed his tenured stars were in complete support, even pressuring him to facilitate the head coach's return.

Nate Thompson's offseason just got considerably longer.The Anaheim Ducks forward ruptured his Achilles during a workout session and is out indefinitely, Ducks general manager Bob Murray announced Tuesday.Murray said Anaheim "would be lucky" to have him back in the lineup before next season's trade deadline.Shoulder surgery limited Thompson to 49 games for the Ducks in 2015-16, in which he only scored three goals and three assists.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

There's only one number retired across the NHL: Wayne Gretzky's No. 99.It's widely known The Great One donned 99 to honor his childhood idol, Gordie Howe, whose No. 9 is equally as famous.Howe's passing came late in the playoffs, and it's likely the NHL will honor his immeasurable stature throughout next season, but If it were up to Gretzky, no one would ever wear the number again."I'm pretty biased, if I had my way I would do it," Gretzky told reporters at Howe's visitation Tuesday. "That's for the league, I'm not involved in the league right now. I'm sure whatever they choose to do is going to be very special, because Gordie deserves something really special and unique."I don't think anybody helped promote the game, the sport or our country better than Gordie Howe. He was proud to be Canadian, he was proud of being from Saskatchewan. And I don't think the NHL is going to overlook how important he was to the game. I'm sure they're going to do something really special for him."Howe's No. 9 is iconic as they come, but it's also been worn by Hall of Fame legends Maurice "Rocket" Richard, Bobby Hull, Johnny Bucyk and Mike Modano, among others inspired by Mr. Hockey.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Vancouver Canucks have named former starting netminder Dan Cloutier their new goaltending coach.Cloutier will take over the role from Rollie Melanson, who will shift into a player development role after six largely successful seasons fine-tuning Roberto Luongo, Cory Schneider, Eddie Lack, Ryan Miller, and Jacob Markstrom.Melanson stated he wanted to move closer to his family on the east coast after the season ended, setting a change in motion. He'll now work with the team's goaltenders at the minor-league level in Utica, also helping scout the college and junior ranks.Cloutier has worked in the Canucks organization for the last four seasons as a goaltending consultant.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

After a lull between the two sides, the Los Angeles Kings and forward Milan Lucic have resumed contract discussions, according to Kings insider Jon Rosen.Rosen reports nothing is imminent at this point and the talks can be described as "ongoing."Lucic, 28, was traded to Los Angeles from the Boston Bruins last June and enjoyed a fine first season with the Kings, scoring 55 points in 81 games.The bruising winger is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent July 1 and is one of the most notable names among players possibly on the move.Lucic made it clear throughout the season he enjoys playing in Los Angeles, but plenty of teams could use his rare combination of skills, including the Edmonton Oilers, a team Lucic declared he'd be "warm" to receiving a contract offer from.The Vancouver native carried a $6-million cap hit in the final year of his contract in 2015-16 and it's plausible to think he'll get offers in the same range wherever he signs.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It appears Glen Gulutzan has a leg up on the NHL's last vacant head coaching position.The former Dallas Stars boss and current assistant with the Vancouver Canucks is considered the "favorite" to land the Calgary Flames' head coaching job, which is expected to be filled this week, reports TVA's Renaud Lavoie.TSN's Bob McKenzie and Ben Kuzma of the Vancouver Province have corroborated Lavoie's finding, the latter suggesting the Flames are holding off with respect to Gordie Howe's memorial services this week.Gulutzan's head coaching experience in the NHL is limited to two seasons with the Stars. He was dismissed in 2013 after missing the postseason in consecutive years.Bob Hartley, who was fired one season after winning the Jack Adams Award, was inherited by Flames general manager Brad Treliving.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Ottawa Senators want Cody Ceci back, they just need to find the right deal.Ceci, a restricted free agent come July 1, has been offered both long- and short-team deals from the Senators, according to Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun.The 22-year-old was selected 15th overall by Ottawa in 2012 and recently enjoyed his finest pro season, scoring 10 goals and 16 assists in 75 contests, playing to a plus-9 rating in 19:18 minutes of ice time per game.Ceci was also a member of Team Canada's gold-medal squad at the 2016 World Championship, where he contributed six points in 10 games.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Randy Carlyle will indeed return to the Anaheim Ducks.On Tuesday, general manager Bob Murray officially announced the re-hiring of Carlyle, who coached the Ducks for six-plus seasons between 2005-2011."A proven winner and motivator, Randy has expertly managed the bench throughout his coaching career," Murray said, via team release."Our expectations are extremely high, and I believe Randy is the coach who can lead us to playoff success and our ultimate goal, the Stanley Cup."Carlyle, 60, coached the Ducks to a 230-155-49 record in his initial tenure and before his firing after a woeful start to the 2011-12 season.The winningest coach in franchise history, Carlyle guided Anaheim to its only Stanley Cup in 2007.

The movement to have Gordie Howe grace the cover of EA Sports' NHL 17 is picking up steam.There are over 5,000 signatures on the official petition to have "Mr. Hockey" appear on the popular video game cover.There's similar lobbying to have Detroit Red Wings owner Mike Ilitch reconsider the naming rights for Little Caesers Arena, having the team's future home bear Howe's name.To lend your signature, visit change.orgCopyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Joe Louis Arena in Detroit will be open all day for Red Wings fans, and the entire hockey community, to pay their respects to "Mr. Hockey," Gordie Howe.

The Tampa Bay Lightning will retain at least one valued asset this summer.Associate coach Rick Bowness officially re-upped with Tampa Bay, signing a multi-year contract announced Tuesday.The news comes in indirect response to Randy Carlyle apparently being on the verge of taking the Anaheim Ducks head coaching job, a role Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman indicated Bowness was in "deep" consideration for.Bowness has been a staple behind NHL benches for the better part of three decades, but sparingly in a lead capacity. He owns 123 wins in 463 games on his head coaching record - predominantly in spot opportunities over parts of nine seasons.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The raising of the Stanley Cup officially triggers the NHL's offseason, with all 30 teams expected to engage in some measure of roster management over the summer months.The first circle on the summer calendar is Wednesday, June 15, with the first buyout window opening 48 hours after the Final and remaining so until June 30.As a refresher, and according to General Fanager, "a buyout is paid over twice the number of years remaining on the player's contract, at a rate of one-third of the total salary remaining for players under 26, and at a rate of two-thirds of the total salary remaining for players 26 and older."Here's a look at five players whose contract could be bought out over the next couple weeks.Thomas Vanek, Minnesota WildThomas Vanek wants to remain with the Minnesota Wild, but logic suggests he's a prime candidate to be bought out.Owed $7.5 million in 2016-17, the 32-year-old recorded only 18 goals and 23 assists in 74 games this past season, his lowest output in years.If Vanek is bought out by the club, a $6.5 million cap hit would shrink to $1.5 million next season, but the Wild would be on the hook for $2.5 million the following year.With youth and depth at a premium in today's NHL, and with Vanek's best days seemingly behind him, the business side of the game suggests the Wild would be well served by using that money elsewhere.Jared Cowen, Toronto Maple LeafsAcquired by the Toronto Maple Leafs from the Ottawa Senators in the Dion Phaneuf trade, defenseman Jared Cowen has one year remaining on his contract with a 2016-17 salary of $4.5 million.It was clear from the start that Cowen was not part of Toronto's plan, and, at age 25, the Maple Leafs would only be on the hook for $1.5 million over two years.Small price to pay for a club flush with cash and in need of roster spots for younger players that fit in the Shanaplan and all the cap space available to reel in big fish in free agency.As such, the ninth overall pick from the 2009 NHL Draft is likely headed for the open market, and the possibility of resurrecting his career on a team of his choosing, should multiple opportunities be presented.R.J. Umberger, Philadelphia FlyersThis seems like a formality, as R.J. Umberger openly admitted he expects the Philadelphia Flyers to buy him out following an injury-riddled and unproductive season.Slated to make $4.5 million in salary on the one year remaining on his deal, it'll cost the Flyers $3 million over two years to buy him out, but general manager Ron Hextall would have that same amount in available cap space next season to help improve a team that gave the Presidents' Trophy-winning Washington Capitals a decent fight in the opening round of the playoffs.Bryan Bickell, Chicago BlackhawksAwarded a four-year, $16-million contract after Chicago's 2013 Stanley Cup win, Bryan Bickell's contract has proven to be an anchor for the Blackhawks, and no other team has bit on the chance to snag him off the waiver wire.Chicago remains a team with championship aspirations, and is always right up at the salary cap ceiling. Shedding Bickell's deal would open $3 million in available cap space for 2016-17, money that can be used on a cheaper and more productive player.The market simply isn't there in terms of a trade, and Chicago will likely want to do everything possible to rebound from a disappointing first-round playoff loss.Andrew Ference, Edmonton OilersThe Edmonton Oilers are tracking younger and maybe, finally, better, meaning a player like Andrew Ference will likely be on the outside looking in only three years after being signed to a $13-million deal and being named captain.He'd have to be fully recovered from the hip surgery he underwent back in January, but the buy out would free up $2,166,667 in available cap space for the upcoming season, money that could be spent improving the blue line or luring a big name free agent to the league's most northern destination.Plus, with Ference off the books, it'll make it easier to anoint Connor McDavid as the new captain sooner rather than later.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

As the Calgary Flames draw closer to a decision in regards to their next head coach, the list of possible candidates is beginning to get clearer.One of the finalists for the job is reported to be Vancouver Canucks assistant Glen Gulutzan, according to Ben Kuzma of The Province.Veteran head coach Randy Carlye was believed to be deep in the mix for the job left vacant since the firing of Bob Hartley last month, but TSN's Darren Dreger suggests Gulutzan's chances of landing the Calgary gig may have improved after a report emerged Monday stating the Anaheim Ducks are set to announce the hiring of Carlyle as early as Tuesday.Gulutzan has been with the Canucks for the past three seasons, joining the club following a two-season stint as head coach of the Dallas Stars.In 130 games behind the Stars' bench, Gulutzan guided Dallas to a record of 64-57-9 while failing to qualify for the playoffs in both 2012 and 2013.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.