The Detroit Red Wings want to sign Alexander Radulov, but only on their terms.The team is reportedly concerned about the Russian forward's off-ice demeanor, and would like to sign him to a one-year contract worth between $4 million and $5 million, according to MLive.com's Ansar Khan. The Red Wings believe a one-year contract would "limit their risk."Radulov, who confirmed in April he will return to the NHL next season, is believed to be seeking a two-year contract.The 30-year-old has played his entire NHL career with the Nashville Predators, leaving twice for the KHL in 2008 and 2012.His second stint - lasting just 17 games between the 2011-12 regular season and playoffs - ended on a sour note, where he and teammate Andrei Kostitsyn were suspended by the Predators for a playoff game after breaking curfew.Radulov finished second in KHL scoring this season with CSKA Moscow, recording 65 points in 53 games.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Saturday isn't officially a must-win game for the San Jose Sharks. Unofficially, it is.Down 2-0 to the Pittsburgh Penguins in the Stanley Cup Final, with only three goals in two games, the club knows it needs to turn things up. Now."We've got another level and we're going to have to find it here," said captain Joe Pavelski, according to ESPN's Pierre LeBrun. "It goes to this next game. They've done their job at home, but we've got to go win the next one."I think we still have another level. They're playing at a pretty good pace right now, but we can definitely do better."Game 3 is Saturday at 8 p.m. ET in the Bay Area, and the Sharks will no doubt be looking to feed off their crowd. It will be the first Cup Final game ever played in San Jose.The message after Game 2 was simple, according to Marc-Edouard Vlasic."Let's go home and do what they did here."The Sharks face a tough task, having to win four of five in order to secure the Stanley Cup. Goaltender Martin Jones lamented the lack of space in the offensive zone for his team's forwards, while Logan Couture says a lack of support is leading to far too many turnovers.San Jose has two days to figure it out. And they're going to have to figure out a way to do it at five-on-five, because the Penguins are playing incredibly disciplined hockey.No, it's not a must-win game, because it takes four games to win a series. But deep down, the Sharks must know that if they go down 3-0, they can kiss their Cup dreams goodbye.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Ontario Hockey League All-Stars were announced Thursday, and they feature a slew of top prospects who will hear their names called at the 2016 NHL Entry Draft later this month.

The New York Islanders have signed forward Casey Cizikas to a five-year contract, the team announced Thursday.The deal is worth $16.75 million, reports Arthur Staple of Newsday, carrying an average annual value of $3.35 million."Casey has developed into a highly dependable two-way center and we’re pleased to sign him through 2021," said general manager Garth Snow. "His energy and passion, both on the ice and in the community, make him an invaluable piece of our lineup."Cizikas, who was set to become a restricted free agent this summer, recorded eight goals and 21 assists in 80 games this past season, his fifth and most offensively productive with the Islanders.He chipped in three assists in 11 Stanley Cup Playoff games."I’m thrilled to remain a New York Islander for the next five years," Cizikas said. "The organization has been first class ever since I was drafted and we’ve come so far as a team during my time hear. I’m excited to continue to be a part of this group as we build towards the ultimate goal, the Stanley Cup."The 25-year-old was selected in the fourth round of the 2009 NHL Draft.

The St. Louis Blues are going to need a new head coach next summer and are hoping to promote a newly hired assistant to the position when the time comes.With assistants Brad Shaw and Kirk Muller leaving Hitchcock's side, the club is in talks with former Minnesota Wild head coach Mike Yeo, who was in St. Louis on Wednesday and Thursday morning, according to the Star-Tribune's Michael Russo.

Top Finnish prospect Jesse Puljujarvi underwent left knee surgery after the World Under-18 Hockey Championship in late April, according to Sportsnet's Damien Cox.Puljujarvi was restricted to upper-body workouts at the NHL Draft Combine as a result, Cox added.Finland won the Under-18 tournament in Grand Forks, N.D., and Puljujarvi had a hat trick in the gold medal game against Sweden. He finished with five goals and two assists in four games.He is expected to go third overall at the draft, after Auston Matthews and fellow countryman Patrik Laine.

If anyone knows what it's like to be in Steven Stamkos' shoes, it's Zach Parise.Back in 2012, Parise decided to leave the team that drafted him and for which he served as captain, choosing to sign a lucrative 13-year, $98-million contract with his hometown Minnesota Wild along with defenseman Ryan Suter."It's tough being in that situation, being a captain. That's your team. The guys look up to you and respect you. It's not easy," the former Devil told Joe Smith of the Tampa Bay Times.Parise added, "If you're going to decide to wait for (after) the season, go home and be by yourself. When you're surrounded by everything, it's tough to think of leaving. I'm not telling him to leave, but for me, the best thing is we went home just for a couple weeks (and) tried to figure out what to do."Parise qualified his advice by admitting the Lightning captain indeed has a tough decision ahead, and will have to assess whether the grass really will be greener on the other side.At the same time, it can be an enjoyable process, and Stamkos is surely in for a nice payday when it's all said and done."It's fun," Parise said of hitting the open market. "You're getting courted by every team. It's flattering. It's humbling. It's a really neat thing. … For (Stamkos), it's one time, (get an) eight-year deal (with the Lightning) or seven somewhere else."As it does every year, the NHL's free agency period begins on July 1.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Mike Sullivan didn't even want to address it, even though he kind of did.The Pittsburgh Penguins head coach was asked Thursday about Logan Couture's assertion that Sidney Crosby cheats in the faceoff circle and receives special treatment from officials.To Sullivan, it's a non-issue."Sid's not doing anything their guys aren't doing," he told reporters. "Quite honestly, it really isn't worthy of a response."Crosby ranks second in faceoff wins this postseason with 245, with a success rate of 52.7 percent.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NHL combine is underway in Buffalo, and with the draft around the corner, projected No. 1 pick Auston Matthews is getting to know his presumptive future bosses.Matthews was interviewed by Toronto Maple Leafs brass, including director of player personnel Mark Hunter. General manger Lou Lamoriello sat in on the interview too, but was only there to listen."Lou didn't ask me anything in that meeting," Matthews told Dean Blundell of Sportsnet 590 The Fan. "I could see him out of the corner of my eye. He just sat there and listened."When asked, the 18-year-old joked he was glad he didn't mess up any answers in front of the Leafs boss."It'd probably kill my confidence for the rest of that meeting," he said.Lamoriello's notorious ice-cold demeanor did shake Matthews a little bit."You know, he is a little bit (intimidating)," Matthews said. "He seems like a good guy, really passionate about what he does. He cares. The two times I've talked to him, you look at him and you know who he is and what he represents."The draft is set for June 24th, where Matthews and Lamoriello are likely to cross paths again.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The San Jose Sharks produced at a supreme rate through three rounds in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.Their 63 goals in 18 games translated to a 3.5 goals-per-game standard, and a rate only incrementally behind the output of the 2009-10 Chicago Blackhawks - the highest-scoring team to compete in the Stanley Cup Final in the post-lockout era.More impressive than comparing their attack to a juggernaut is the competition on which San Jose's scorers have feasted. They drummed up offense against some of the most defensively sound programs in the NHL, and units anchored by stalwarts like Drew Doughty, Roman Josi, and Alex Pietrangelo.So the question entering the terminating series was valid: how were these Pittsburgh Penguins, with the misfit cast of characters that share a blue line with Kris Letang in protection of a rookie goalie, going to dig in and stop a Sharks team that arrived at the Stanley Cup Final via cannon?Pittsburgh snatched up a strangle hold in the series Wednesday night after another suffocating performance. They allowed 22 shots and defended 49 shot attempts (both totals fewer than they allowed in Game 1), fortifying the defensive zone for 60-plus minutes against a desperate opponent, before Sidney Crosby acted as player-coach on the dot, drawing up a decisive set-piece off an attacking-zone draw 155 seconds into extra time.Crosby, of course, was lauded after the game. As was Conor Sheary, who scored the overtime winner, and Phil Kessel, whose tap-in goal in the second period serves as his team-leading 19th point. But where would the Penguins - who produced just four goals in six regularly scheduled periods - be without its seal-tight defense that's allowed three goals in two-plus games?Here's a snapshot of the unit's work:

With his overtime winner Wednesday night, Pittsburgh Penguins forward Conor Sheary joined quite an exclusive list.The 23-year-old became the first rookie in 30 years to net an overtime goal in the Stanley Cup Final, and only the fifth ever to do so.

Ryan Kesler seems to have a feel for the what the Anaheim Ducks need in a new bench boss.With the club still looking for a head coach following the firing of Bruce Boudreau, and with Randy Carlyle reportedly deep in the mix, Kesler believes the Ducks need someone who can make in-game adjustments and keep the players on their toes."We just need a good bench coach, a coach that does things on the fly and makes changes during the game and not just between periods," Kesler told Ben Kuzma of The Province. "We need a coach that holds everybody accountable - not just certain guys. We need a coach to come in and just be a good motivator and do what a coach does."The biggest thing is we need a good bench coach for strategies."Kesler played for Carlyle as a member of the AHL's Manitoba Moose, and seems to slot him favorably based on the aforementioned criteria."He was a very good bench coach and very detailed," Kesler said. "We worked on faceoff plays every practice and on the power play every practice - things that you really need to work on everyday."Carlyle won a Stanley Cup with the Ducks in 2007, and was replaced by Boudreau in 2011.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The San Jose Sharks are in trouble.Thanks to a 2-1 overtime victory Wednesday night, the Pittsburgh Penguins own a 2-0 series lead heading to California, and if history is any indicator, the Penguins are in good shape.

Hollywood could not have scripted this any better.Pittsburgh Penguins center Evgeni Malkin and his fiancee Anna Kasterova welcomed a baby boy into the world on May 31, and little Nikita's birth weight (7 pounds, 1 ounce) just so happened to correspond with Daddy's jersey No. 71.

Don't write a eulogy for the 2015-16 San Jose Sharks quite yet.That was the message espoused by head coach Pete DeBoer following a Game 2 overtime loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins on Wednesday, despite the fact his team faces a 2-0 Stanley Cup Final hole that only five of 49 teams have been able to climb out of in NHL history."Game 1 was decided in the last two minutes. Tonight is an overtime game. I think we'll hold off on the funeral," DeBoer said at the postgame press conference."We have a lot of hockey left to play."DeBoer credited Martin Jones for his outstanding play in net through the first two games of the series, and challenged his skaters to create more offense, particularly at even strength."You know what, I thought we were better tonight than in Game 1. Got to find a way to score some five-on-five goals. We only got one in each game. It's close to the best hockey out there ... There's not a lot of room out there. We've got to find a way to battle through and create a little bit more space."The Sharks are now set to host Games 3 and 4, and DeBoer hopes the friendly environs of the home rink will help tilt things their way."This was a game that went back and forth. They're at home. They carried the play for parts. We carried it for parts. We've got to go back home now and get back in the series."The last team to come back to win the Cup after losing the first two games of the Final was the Boston Bruins in 2011, who also dropped consecutive one-goal decisions on the road, including in overtime in Game 2.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

As doubtful as it may seem with the San Jose Sharks down 2-0 in the Stanley Cup Final, should the Sharks and Golden State Warriors both claim championships this month, an unlikely source stands to profit.Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban holds the trademark for the "City of Champions" moniker that cities often use on memorabilia following successful periods of multiple titles across various sports.History isn't on Cuban's side, however, as markets that have had teams in both the NBA Finals and Stanley Cup Final in the same year - the Warriors and Sharks, representing the Bay Area of California, are the ninth such example - have yet to pull off the double.Citing an online record from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, ESPN's Darren Rovell and Mark Stein report that Cuban intends to use the "City of Champions" phrase on products like T-shirts, hats, and pajamas. The trademark was transferred to the "Shark Tank" billionaire after originally being registered by an insurance agent in 2010."'If the Mavs don't win, at least there is always a chance for a win in there somewhere for me," Cuban told ESPN.com.The "City of Champions" designation was famously tied to Cuban's hometown of Pittsburgh during the mid-to-late 1970s, when the Steelers, Pirates, and University of Pittsburgh football team each enjoyed a period of success.In addition, Edmonton was billed the "City of Champions" after its inspiring response to a devastating tornado in 1987, which was part of a decade that saw the Gretzky-led Oilers put together an NHL dynasty.The most recent example of cross-sport success was seen in Boston, where the Patriots, Red Sox, Celtics, and Bruins combined for nine championships between 2002-2015.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It was a moment - a conversation - illustrative of the entire postseason run for Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins.Moments into overtime in Game 2, the Penguins captain - who doesn't lead the team in scoring, but at the same time remains very much responsible for its success - barked out the orders, then promptly set the plan in motion with a clean offensive zone faceoff win.Related: Sheary scores on set play, sends Penguins to 2-0 series lead"Before the goal, Sid positioned us and told us what to do," Kris Letang said postgame, via NHL.com's Dave Stubbs."We executed what he wanted."What Crosby demanded was that Letang passed up a one timer to find Conor Sheary slipping beneath coverage, who followed the instructions to the letter, of course, firing a shot that would bring Pittsburgh to within two wins of the Stanley Cup.

Logan Couture wasn't in the mood to admire Sidney Crosby's faceoff technique after Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final on Wednesday night.The San Jose Sharks forward called out the Pittsburgh Penguins captain, who cleanly won the draw that led to teammate Conor Sheary's overtime winner.Related: Watch - Sheary scores on set play, sends Penguins to 2-0 series lead

The Pittsburgh Penguins own a 2-0 lead in the Stanley Cup Final thanks to a wonderfully crafted, and apparently spontaneous set play off an offensive zone draw a little more than two-and-a-half minutes into overtime.Watch as Sidney Crosby pulls the puck back to Kris Letang, to then float a pass into a soft area between defenders for Conor Sheary, who pulled the puck from his skates to fire beyond Martin Jones' tardy glove hand to end Game 2.Sheary's fourth of the postseason, and second of the series, is his first career game-winner, and has the Penguins within two wins of the Stanley Cup after a 2-1 win in Game 2.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The HBK line is at it again.Carl Hagelin stole the puck from Brenden Dillon and fed it to Nick Bonino, whose attempt was chipped in by Phil Kessel for the opening goal Wednesday in Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final.It was Kessel's 10th goal of the playoffs, and his line produced its 50th point in 20 postseason contests.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Patric Hornqvist had to test it just to make sure.There were a pair of black circular objects pinballing between skates early in Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final after a camera operator dropped a lens on the ice.Despite cries, the fumbled equipment didn't earn the Penguins a whistle and instead was scooped up after they exited the defensive zone.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Pittsburgh Penguins will indeed dress their hottest goal-scorer in Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final.After being forced to exit Pittsburgh's icebreaking win over the San Jose Sharks on Monday following an illegal check to the head from Patrick Marleau, Bryan Rust will return to regular duty in Game 2.

Roman Polak knows one of his teammates isn't quite like the others."Everybody is the opposite of Brent Burns," the Sharks defenseman said when asked about how his fellow blue-liner's personality compares to that of San Jose rearguard Marc-Edouard Vlasic, according to Seth Rorabaugh of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette."He's one of a kind," Polak added. "I don't see any other guy like him. I think I'm the opposite of him. I'm crazy but in a different way though. He's just a different level. It's just too far to reach."Between Burns' facial hair, his choice of wardrobe, and his collection of exotic pets, there's no disputing Polak's assessment.The Pittsburgh Penguins host Burns and the Sharks in Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final on Wednesday night.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It's arguably the least sexy deadline day. Take it away, Elliotte Friedman:

The Toronto Maple Leafs want to ensure the 2016 draft is their best yet.Despite owing third-round picks to the Detroit Red Wings and New Jersey Devils as compensation for hiring head coach Mike Babcock and general manager Lou Lamoriello, the Maple Leafs will hold on to their 2016 third-round draft pick, reports Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman and General Fanager.Wednesday was the deadline for Toronto to decide the fate of the 2016 pick, and their decision ensures the Red Wings will receive the Maple Leafs' 2017 third-round pick, while the Devils will receive Toronto's 2018 third-round pick.The Maple Leafs have 12 picks in the coming draft, including the first overall selection.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Nick Bonino is becoming a household name. His surname in particular, actually.The Pittsburgh Penguins forward is not only having the playoffs of his life, he's become a social media star thanks to Hockey Night in Punjabi's incredible calls of his goals, punctuated by repeated yells of "Bonino! Bonino! Bonino! Bonino!"Here's the call from Monday's Game 1 of the Cup Final, if you (somehow) missed it:

There appears to be two assistant coaching jobs up for grabs in St. Louis.Kirk Muller has informed the Blues that he will not be returning, according to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.The news comes a day after the team announced a one-year extension with head coach Ken Hitchcock and the departure of assistant coach Brad Shaw.Blues general manager Doug Armstrong had offered extensions to all of the Blues' assistant coaches, noting that Muller could have been a successor for Hitchcock at the conclusion of next season.Muller has head coaching experience, having served as bench boss for the Carolina Hurricanes from 2011-14, amassing a record of 80-80-27 in 187 games.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Ovi's got game.Washington Capitals super sniper Alex Ovechkin proved to be as deadly on the court as he is on the ice, draining a three-point shout during a charity basketball game in Russia last weekend, to help raise money for children with cerebral palsy.Here's another look at his skills.

Randy Carlyle has interviewed for the Calgary Flames' vacant head coach position, Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman stated in his latest 30 Thoughts column.Carlyle met with the Flames as well as the Anaheim Ducks - which was expected, according to Darren Dreger - on Tuesday at the NHL combine, according to Friedman.The 60-year-old is the latest to interview for the position as Friedman notes the Flames interviewed former Edmonton Oilers head coach Ralph Krueger at the World Championship last month.Carlyle signing in Calgary would see a reunion with president of hockey operations Brian Burke, who hired Carlyle as the Toronto Maple Leafs head coach when Burke was the club's general manager in 2012.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Dallas Stars general manager Jim Nill plans to stay the course with goaltender Kari Lehtonen.Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman cited a conversation with Nill in his latest 30 Thoughts column, where Nill closed the book on the suggestion the team could buy out his contract."No, we’re not buying him out," Nill said, according to Friedman. "That last game is not a full reflection of the season. Nobody remembers the game before where he stood on his head. He's disappointed, and the team is disappointed. We finished second overall, and everybody is focused on the playoffs. Something went right too, you’ve got to be careful."The 32-year-old had a questionable postseason going 6-3-0 in 11 games posting a .899 save percentage and a 2.81 goals-against average. He fared slightly better in the regular season a .906 save percentage and a 2.76 goals-against average.Lehtonen has another two years remaining on his contract, with a cap hit of $5.9 million per season.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Andrew Ladd appears set to become an unrestricted free agent, with a big decision to make in regards to his future.Acquired by the Chicago Blackhawks prior to the NHL's most recent trade deadline, Ladd doesn't expect to re-sign with the club, mainly due to cap restrictions."When we spoke after the season, they said it would be tough," Ladd told Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet via a phone conversation Tuesday. "The likelihood is they don't have the room to make it work."His criteria for a new team?"Can the family go somewhere where my wife and kids enjoy life? That’s a big element. From my standpoint, I want to win and compete for a Cup."Ladd added he's not closing the door on a potential return to Winnipeg, where he served as captain of the Jets up until the move to Chicago.The 30-year-old is coming off a five-year deal that carried an average annual valuation of $4.4 million.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Arizona Coyotes have decided not to sign forward Conner Bleackley, allowing him to re-enter this month's NHL Entry Draft.The club had until Wednesday to sign Bleackley and by not doing so will now receive a supplemental second-round pick in this year's draft, giving them eight selections in total."We're going to take the compensation pick," General manager John Chayka said, according NHL.com's Mike Morreale. "There's a lot of value in that pick. That's not to diminish anything Conner has done or the type of player he is. He had a good Memorial Cup. He's a good player, but at this point (the draft pick) is a more valuable asset for us."Bleackley was drafted by the Colorado Avalanche in the first round, 23rd overall in 2014, but was dealt to the Coyotes this season along with Alex Tanguay and Kyle Wood in exchange for Mikkel Boedker and Eric Gelinas.The 20-year-old is coming off his fourth full season with the Red Deer Rebels of the Western Hockey League, where he had 13 goals and 46 points in 55 games.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Winnipeg Jets defenseman Grant Clitsome has announced his retirement from professional hockey."It’s tough when something unexpected, and out of your control, suddenly ends your career," he said in a statement released Wednesday. "Despite the circumstances, I am very grateful to have had the opportunity to fulfill my childhood dream and play in the NHL."I would also like to thank the Winnipeg Jets organization for treating me so well from day one. It truly was a special place to play and I’m proud to retire as a Jet."Clitsome also thanked the Columbus Blue Jackets, who drafted him 271st overall in 2004.The 31-year-old appeared in 205 NHL games, recording 15 goals, 56 assists, and 98 penalty minutes.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

San Jose Sharks forward Matt Nieto will return from an eight-game absence on Wednesday.The 23-year-old has been sidelined with an upper-body injury since Game 6 of his club's second-round series against the Nashville Predators, but told reporters on Wednesday he will be in the lineup for Game 2.

Pittsburgh Penguins rookie forward Bryan Rust was the man of the hour following Wednesday's morning skate.

The 2015-16 season has not yet concluded, but already Carolina Hurricanes head coach Bill Peters is mulling over next year's roster.Peters insinuated as much in response to Finnish prospect Sebastian Aho, who he believes stands a strong shot of cracking next year's roster."I'd be shocked if he can't come in and make our hockey team," said Peters.Aho is coming off a stellar 2015-16 season that saw him contribute five goals and 14 points in seven games en route to Finland capturing gold at the World Junior Hockey Championship. He also had 45 points in 45 games for Karpat of Liiga in Finland, and another seven points in 10 games in Finland's silver-medal performance at the World Championship last month.The 18-year-old was drafted by the Hurricanes in the second round last season, and should aid the Hurricanes who were goal deprived this in 2015-16, finishing 27th in the league with just 2.39 goals per game."I'm excited about next year," said Peters. "We have a lot of things going in the right direction"Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Carolina Hurricanes have signed defenseman Josh Wesley to a three-year entry-level contract worth an average of $625, the team announced.The deal will pay Wesley - who was drafted by the Hurricanes in the fourth round in 2014 - an average of $625,000 at the NHL level, and includes a $210,000 signing bonus.The 20-year-old is the son of former Hurricane and the club's current director of defenseman development, Glen Wesley. He is coming off his third season in the Ontario Hockey League, which he split between the Flint Firebirds and Niagara IceDogs, totaling five goals and 18 points in 57 games.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Kyle Okposo appears destined to hit the open market as an unrestricted free agent.With his contract set to expire at the end of June, there have been no talks between the winger's agent and the New York Islanders in regards to a new deal, reports Arthur Staple of Newsday.Okposo, 28, is coming off a five-year deal that carried an average annual valuation of $2.8 million, and will no doubt be looking for a significant raise.Drafted seventh overall by the Islanders in 2006, Okposo has recorded 139 goals and 369 points in 529 career games, with career highs of 27 goals and 69 points set in 71 games back in 2013-14.Most recently, he contributed two goals and six assists over the course of the Islanders' 11 playoff games in 2016.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Carolina Hurricanes are at the center of a real-life family feud.Owner Peter Karmanos is being sued by his three sons over the matter of $105 million promised to them in his will. The problem is that Karmanos borrowed millions against the trust account to help fund his NHL club.Back in June of 2013, Karmanos reportedly wrote a loan contract for more than $100 million, agreeing to pay interest installments until June, 2022, or one year following his death.From Rod Meloni of Local 4 Detroit:

With his Pittsburgh Penguins just three games away from capturing the Stanley Cup, defenseman Olli Maatta has just one thing on his mind, and it isn't his health.The 21-year-old has been a medical anomaly over the last couple years. Having suffered several upper-body injuries, a run in with the mumps, and most shockingly a surgery to remove a cancerous tumour in his thyroid last season.“It really wasn’t as heartbreaking for me as it sounded like. It wasn’t as bad," Maatta said on Media Day of the tumour, according to Sports Illustrated's Alex Prewitt. "I know there’s people that have way worse than I had it, and I can’t really compare what I had to what other people had."I felt like I had a target on my back. But it’s done and over with. There’s nothing I can do now. I'm just trying to live in the moment. I'm trying to enjoy this. I'm playing hockey. I'm in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. That's the biggest thing. I can't think about what happened last year."While Maatta's battles with his numerous ailments have usually gathered more worry from teammates, coaches, and management, Maatta has remained calm and cool-headed and wants no special treatment, according to assistant general manager Bill Guerin."We were making dinners for him, asking if he wanted to stay certain places, bring his family around, he was like, 'Nah, I’ll be fine. I’ll be good on my own,'" Guerin says. "I don’t know. Just taking care of himself. He didn’t want the extra attention. He just wanted to get the procedure done and move on. I think he was very appreciative of that, but it was almost like, 'I'm okay. Don’t worry about me. I’m good.'"Maatta hasn't escaped injury during the postseason either. He was sidedlined for three games after a headshot from Washington Capitals defenseman Brooks Orpik in the second round.But still Maatta continues to patrol the club's second pairing while logging nearly 20 minutes of ice time most nights, simply doing whatever he can to help his team win, despite what may be ailing him.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

A loss to the Penguins in Game 2 on Wednesday in Pittsburgh could effectively sink the San Jose Sharks.Since entering the NHL in 1991-92, the Sharks have never won a Stanley Cup Playoff series in which they've lost the opening two games, going 0-10 in that situation.And in this history of the Final, a team that has lost the first two games has lost the series 44 of 49 times."You never want to go down 2-0 in a series," Sharks goalie Martin Jones said Tuesday, according to Curtis Pashelka of The Mercury News. "Whether you lose the first game, any game, you never want to lose two in a row in playoffs."That sense of urgency is going to be important for us."The Sharks did have the NHL's best road record this past regular season (28-10-3), and have lost back-to-back games only once this postseason, Games 3 and 4 against the Predators, both of which were played in Nashville.

From captain to ... doctor?Retired Ottawa Senators forward Daniel Alfredsson will receive an honorary Doctor of Laws degree June 7 at Carleton University's spring convocation, according to CBC's Andrew Foote.

Without a large market between the Pittsburgh Penguins and San Jose Sharks, ratings were expected to dip in this year's Stanley Cup Final.With Game 1 matched up against an incredible Game 7 in the NBA between the Golden State Warriors and Oklahoma City Thunder, the viewership was as low as anticipated.Viewership for Monday's game on NBC dropped 36 percent from last year, receiving a 2.7 overnight rating - the lowest for a Cup Final Game 1 since the 2012 series opener between the Kings and Devils, which earned a 2.4 rating, according to Sports Media Watch.Meanwhile, the Warriors-Thunder game had nearly five times the viewership, grabbing an 11.2 rating on the night nationally, as well as in the Bay Area, with both the Warriors and Sharks representing Northern California.

As world No. 1 golfer Jason Day looks to win his second consecutive tournament - and fourth in his last seven starts - at this weekend's Memorial Tournament, he got some help during a practice round from an old friend he met in Ohio a few years ago.Carolina Hurricanes defenseman James Wisniewski caddied for Day on Tuesday. The two became friends during the 2012-13 NHL lockout, according to Chip Alexander of the Raleigh News & Observer, and used to golf together at Muirfield while both were living in the Columbus area.

With Bryan Rust listed as day to day after suffering an upper-body injury in a hit to the head from San Jose Sharks veteran Patrick Marleau, a pair of Pittsburgh Penguins forwards are prepared to step in for head coach Mike Sullivan.With either Matt Cullen or Eric Fehr likely to take Rust's spot on Evgeni Malkin's wing, Game 1 scratches Beau Bennett and Oskar Sundqvist are the most likely options to join the fourth line in Game 2."If I'm slotted in there, I've got to be able to make a contribution right away," Bennett said, according to Jonathan Bombulie of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. "I think I was maybe playing a little too cautious my first time around there."Bennett's lone postseason appearance came in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Final against the Tampa Bay Lightning, where he posted a minus-2 rating in just over 11 minutes of action.Meanwhile, Sundqvist appeared in one game in each of the Penguins' first two rounds, failing to register a point or a shot in just under 19 minutes of ice time."I'm pretty comfortable when we don't have the puck," Sundqvist said. "I'm usually a guy that's on the right side. I think Sully knows that, too."Regular season statsPlayer GP G A P +/- PIMBennett336612-110Sundqvist1813404Game 2 is scheduled for Wednesday at 8 p.m. ET.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Randy Carlyle may be going back to Cali.The unemployed head coach is expected to meet with the Anaheim Ducks on Tuesday about their vacancy behind the bench, according to TSN's Darren Dreger.Former NHLer Travis Green is also "among those in (the) mix" for the job, Dreger addsCarlyle hasn't worked since being fired by the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2015. He spent six seasons as head coach in Anaheim beginning in 2005, and won a Stanley Cup with the club in 2007.The 60-year-old has a lifetime 364-260-80 record.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Sidney Crosby could have taken the morning off following a Game 1 win over the San Jose Sharks.Instead, he was one of a handful of Pittsburgh Penguins that participated in Tuesday's optional skate, because that's simply what he does, says head coach Mike Sullivan.

NHL commissioner Gary Bettman put his foot down Monday, saying former Los Angeles Kings defenseman Slava Voynov won't play in the World Cup of Hockey due to his league suspension, but Russia isn't ready to give up.The Russian Ice Hockey Federation (RHF) has an ongoing dialogue with the NHL about Voynov's participation in the tournament, according to Russian news agency TASS."The Russian Ice Hockey Federation is holding negotiations with the organizers of the World Cup - the NHL - concerning the issue of national team's defender Vyacheslav Voynov," the RHF's press service said Tuesday."The Russian Ice Hockey Federation hopes that the organizers of the international competition will make a positive decision on the issue and the defender will be allowed to be included in the roster of the Russian national team."The RHF said Rene Fasel, president of the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF), is also part of the negotiations.Voynov was charged with domestic violence, and spent two months in prison before returning home to Russia. He was suspended indefinitely, and had his contract voided by the NHL. The 26-year-old spent this season with SKA St. Petersburg of the KHL.The World Cup gets underway Sept. 17.- With h/t to NBC SportsCopyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It's almost hard to believe it's been five years already.On May 31, 2011, fans gathered at Portage and Main to celebrate the return of the NHL to Winnipeg after a 20-year absence.Earlier that month, the Atlanta Thrashers were sold to Manitoba-based ownership group True North Sports & Entertainment, signalling the end of NHL hockey in Georgia for the second time in league history.Season tickets sold out within minutes, and Jets 2.0 supporters quickly became known as some of the most boisterous, filling MTS Centre with raucous encouragement for the home team and creative chants directed at the opposition.What a ride it's been so far.