The Buffalo Sabres announced Wednesday that they inked head coach Don Granato to a multi-year extension.Details of the deal weren't officially disclosed."Don's passion for the game and leadership skills have been on display since the moment we met," general manager Kevyn Adams said. "He is someone who the players have a tremendous amount of respect for, and he dedicates himself to bettering each individual on the team."Granato took over behind Buffalo's bench during the pandemic-shortened 2020-21 season after Ralph Krueger was fired. He's coached the Sabres to a 41-55-14 record, but the club looks to be on the rise thanks to one of the league's top prospect pipelines.The Sabres open their 2022-23 campaign Thursday against the Ottawa Senators.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NHL season is only two games old - courtesy of a European back-to-back between the Predators and Sharks - but we've had weeks to bet on all 32 teams. The world's sharpest hockey bettors' opinions have shaped betting futures, particularly the regular-season point total markets.We can collate those opinions and turn them into ratings. The Avalanche were set at 111.5 points, and there wasn't enough disagreement in that projection to move them out of the top spot, let alone change that number. On the bottom end, the Coyotes' under was bet down to 65.5, as oddsmakers underestimated the markets' distaste for Arizona.How can we translate point totals into a rating to help us create a moneyline projection?First, divide the projected total points in the market by the combined average projected regular-season points of all 32 teams. That number should be around 91 points - last year's average - which makes sense given how many games go to overtime and provide three collective points in the standings.For the Avalanche, that's 111.5 / 91.5 = 1.22Colorado is 22% better than an average NHL team.For the Coyotes, that's 65.5 / 91.5 = 0.716Arizona is 28.4% worse than an average NHL team.In literal terms, the Devils, lined at 91.5 points this season, embody the average NHL team.How can we turn those numbers into a moneyline?Using the neutral-site games between the Sharks and Predators as our example, Nashville's point total of 96.5 and San Jose's 74.5 point total suggest a 24% gap between the two teams. This means the Predators would be expected to win that game 62% of the time, and the Sharks 38% of the time.We know from any moneyline calculator that the implied win probability of 62/38 translates to a fair moneyline price of -163/+163.As we know, sportsbooks will add the vigorish to the equation. In Game 1, the Predators opened -177 and closed -197, while the Sharks opened +145 and closed +160. Nashville never reached the fair buy point of -163, and luckily, the Sharks never surpassed +163, which would've triggered a losing bet. For the remaining games of the season, home-ice advantage will have to be calculated for each game, along with instances in which a market-meaningful player isn't playing.The recipeThe regular-season point totals are just a starting point, but for the first segment of the season, they're the best measurement we have - even better than a small sample size of play on the ice. Over the course of the season, we'll start adjusting team ratings using our on-ice metrics of choice to remove the cognitive bias of win-loss record. Since that can be skewed by various outliers like special teams results, poor goaltending performances, and other unreliable events like three-on-three overtime and the shootout.The cheat sheetThe following includes my fair price on the games (true moneyline) and the moneyline price I'd need to bet either side. I only need a 1% edge for a favorite if we're getting better than a fair price on the team more likely to win. For the underdog, I'll need 4% or better to make it a bet. For games I project to be closer to a coin flip, a 2.5% edge is enough for a worthwhile wager. I also have a 5% win probability consideration for a team playing in the second game of a back-to-back with travel and a 3% consideration for a team on the second leg of a back-to-back without travel.DATEGAMETRUE MLPRICE TO BETOct. 11TBL@NYR+105/-105TBL +117/NYR +105VGK@LAK+115/-115VGK +135/LAK -111Oct. 12CBJ@CAR+191/-191CBJ +229/CAR -183TOR@MTL-179/+179TOR -171/MTL +214BOS@WSH+108/-108BOS +119/WSH +102CHI@COL+303/-303CHI +380/COL -287VAN@EDM+141/-141VAN +167/EDM -136SEA@ANA+114/-114SEA +134/ANA -110Oct. 13ARI@PIT+248/-248ARI +304/PIT -236NJD@PHI-124/+124NJD -119/PHI +146OTT@BUF-101/+101OTT +109/BUF +112WSH@TOR+148/-148WSH +176/TOR -142FLA@NYI-115/+115FLA -111/NYI +136NYR@MIN+120/-120NYR +141/MIN -115DAL@NSH+118/-118DAL +139/NSH -113COL@CGY+122/-122COL +143/CGY -117CHI@VGK+275/-275CHI +341/VGK -262SEA@LAK+200/-200SEA +241/LAK -191Oct. 14TBL@CBJ-140/+140TBL -134/CBJ +165MTL@DET+147/-147MTL +174/DET -141NYR@WPG+116/-116NYR +136/WPG -111CAR@SJS-148/+148CAR -142/SJS +175Oct. 15FLA@BUF-156/+156FLA -150/BUF +186VAN@PHI-156/+156VAN -150/PHI +186TBL@PIT+112/-112TBL +131/PIT -107DET@NJD+169/-169DET +201/NJD -162MTL@WSH+232/-232MTL +283/WSH -221ARI@BOS+225/-225ARI +274/BOS -215OTT@TOR+178/-178OTT +213/TOR -171ANA@NYI+148/-148ANA +175/NYI -142CBJ@STL+167/-167CBJ +199/STL -160LAK@MIN+122/-122LAK +144/MIN -117NSH@DAL+112/-112NSH +132/DAL -108VGK@SEA-120/+120VGK -115/SEA +141CGY@EDM+113/-113CGY +133/EDM -109CHI@SJS+125/-125CHI +147/SJS -120Matt Russell is a betting writer for theScore. If there's a bad beat to be had, Matt will find it. Find him on Twitter @mrussauthentic.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Boston Bruins have signed defenseman Anton Stralman to a one-year, $1-million contract, reports TSN's Pierre LeBrun.The veteran blue-liner had been in training camp with the Bruins on a professional tryout.Stralman is set to enter his 16th NHL campaign with his seventh team. He recorded 23 points in 74 games with the Arizona Coyotes last season, averaging 21:20 per contest.The 36-year-old projects to play more of a depth role in Boston, even with Charlie McAvoy out to begin the season. The Bruins have six NHL defensemen on the active roster in addition to Stralman and even waived Mike Reilly on Sunday.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Hockey Canada announced Tuesday that CEO Scott Smith has departed and the entire board of directors agreed to step down.The board will name an interim management committee before a new slate of directors is chosen by mid-December.Hockey Canada has been under intense scrutiny for months over a sexual assault lawsuit settled in May. In the lawsuit, a woman said eight unnamed CHL players, including members of Canada's 2018 world junior team, sexually assaulted her in June of that year.The fallout of the scandal has caused several longtime sponsors and provincial minor hockey organizations to suspend their relationships or fully cut ties with Hockey Canada.Tim Hortons, one of Hockey Canada's most prominent partners, said it wouldn't resume its agreement until the governing body does "what's required to restore the faith and trust of Candians.""We will not consider reinstating our support for Hockey Canada's men's programming until we're confident that progress is being made and Canadians once again believe in the organization's leadership and its ability to do what's right for the game we all love," Tim Hortons said in a statement, per Joshua Clipperton of The Canadian Press.Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said last week that Hockey Canada needs "wholesale change."Interim board chair Andrea Skinner resigned Oct. 8 after she downplayed "toxic behavior" within the sport's culture during a parliamentary meeting with the House of Commons.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Toronto Maple Leafs captain John Tavares expects to suit up in Wednesday's season opener against the Montreal Canadiens."Feeling good. Tomorrow looks good. So, excited about that ... excited that I can be there right off the get-go," Tavares told TSN's Mark Masters.Tavares' status was in question after he was given a three-week timeline to recover from an oblique strain suffered Sept. 27.Here's how the Leafs lined up in practice Tuesday with Tavares in the fold.

The Carolina Hurricanes are bringing back veteran center Derek Stepan, singing him to a one-year, $750,000 contract Tuesday.Carolina invited Stepan to training camp on a professional tryout agreement after he played for the club last season. The 32-year-old collected nine goals and 10 assists over 58 games with the Canes in 2021-22.Stepan originally signed with Carolina as a free agent in July 2021. He spent the previous campaign with the Ottawa Senators and the three prior seasons with the Arizona Coyotes after suiting up with the New York Rangers for his first seven.The Minnesota-born forward averaged a career-low 10:48 of ice time in 2021-22 but won a personal-best 55.9% of his faceoffs.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

With four teams slated to take the ice tonight, let's give both games some love and focus on a play from each that stands out.Lightning (+100) @ Rangers (-120)Playoffs included, the Tampa Bay Lightning and New York Rangers met nine times last season. The Lightning won the expected goal battle at five-on-five and had the better chances in eight of those affairs.Igor Shesterkin is the great equalizer, of course, but that's not a great recipe for success against a team as good as the Lightning.Tampa Bay simply has too much firepower on its roster. Surrendering a clear edge in chances will often be too much to overcome. Only the Minnesota Wild and Washington Capitals have scored on a higher percentage of their five-on-five shots in the past three seasons.That's saying something considering superstar winger Nikita Kucherov missed one of those years entirely.While the Rangers flipped the script and were generally a much more potent five-on-five side down the stretch and in the playoffs, they lost a lot of the added pieces (including Andrew Copp, Frank Vatrano, and Tyler Motte) that helped them get to the level they needed.The Rangers do have some talented kids capable of taking on bigger roles, but they're not necessarily play-drivers, which is important to note.We also know Andrei Vasilevskiy is one of the best goaltenders in the NHL, and the Lightning are a strong defensive team.I think the Lightning are going to control the puck for a lot of this game, and they have the high-end talent to take advantage.Bet: Lightning (+100)Jack Eichel over 3.5 shots (+100)Eichel was a little slow out of the gate after returning from injury last season, but he quickly got up to speed and never looked back. He was an absolute shooting machine for the Vegas Golden Knights.The star center registered at least four shots on goal in 23 of his final 30 games, which is a whopping 77% success rate.Games between the Golden Knights and Los Angeles Kings were surprisingly high-scoring events a season ago. All four meetings featured at least six goals, with the two sides combining for 30 tallies - an average of 7.5 per contest.Vegas' goaltending could be shaky, and the Kings have more firepower this season, so this game could feature more offense than you'd expect on the surface.That should only serve Eichel well in his quest for shots.Todd Cordell is a sports betting writer at theScore. Be sure to follow him on Twitter @ToddCordell.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Heading into the 2022-23 regular season, theScore's Kyle Cushman, Kayla Douglas, Mike Dickson, Josh Gold-Smith, John Matisz, Sean O'Leary, and Josh Wegman make their picks for the division champions, major award winners, and Stanley Cup Final.Atlantic Division Kevin Sousa / National Hockey League / GettyEditorPickCushmanMaple LeafsDouglasLightningDicksonPanthersGold-SmithLightningMatiszMaple LeafsO'LearyMaple LeafsWegmanMaple LeafsThe Atlantic shapes up to be arguably the toughest division in the NHL with perennial contenders at the top and an intriguing group of up-and-comers rising at the bottom. The Toronto Maple Leafs have had plenty of regular-season success but have yet to capture the Atlantic crown. Despite going to the Stanley Cup Final three years in a row, the Tampa Bay Lightning haven't won their division since 2018-19. Then there's the Florida Panthers, the reigning division champs who just experienced a significant amount of turnover. No matter who wins, the battle for the Atlantic will be plenty of fun.Metropolitan Division Gregg Forwerck / National Hockey League / GettyEditorPickCushmanRangersDouglasRangersDicksonHurricanesGold-SmithHurricanesMatiszRangersO'LearyHurricanesWegmanHurricanesTwo teams stand above the crowd in the Metropolitan. A summer of shrewd moves makes the Carolina Hurricanes the slight favorite to three-peat as Metropolitan champs. After ousting the Canes in the playoffs, the New York Rangers will push for their first division title since 2014-15. It would be no surprise to see the Metro's top seed decided on the final weekend of the season.Central Division Julio Aguilar / Getty Images Sport / GettyEditorPickCushmanAvalancheDouglasAvalancheDicksonAvalancheGold-SmithAvalancheMatiszAvalancheO'LearyAvalancheWegmanAvalancheIt's a sweep for the Colorado Avalanche. The reigning Stanley Cup champions dominated the Western Conference in the postseason and shape up to be an elite team again in 2022-23. The lack of game-changing moves from the rest of the Central leaves Colorado as the clear team to beat.Pacific Division Andy Devlin / National Hockey League / GettyEditorPickCushmanOilersDouglasFlamesDicksonFlamesGold-SmithFlamesMatiszOilersO'LearyFlamesWegmanFlamesThe Battle of Alberta for the Pacific Division? Yes, please. What looked like a catastrophic offseason for the Calgary Flames following Johnny Gaudreau's departure in free agency and Matthew Tkachuk's refusal to sign long term somehow ended with them still top candidates to win the division. The additions of Jonathan Huberdeau, MacKenzie Weegar, and Nazem Kadri keep the Flames in the hunt. Meanwhile, Jack Campbell is the new man in the crease for an Edmonton Oilers team that's a constant threat for the division as long as it has Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl.'Rocket' Richard Trophy Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyEditorPickCushmanAuston MatthewsDouglasAuston MatthewsDicksonLeon DraisaitlGold-SmithAuston MatthewsMatiszAuston MatthewsO'LearyAuston MatthewsWegmanAuston MatthewsAuston Matthews is the favorite to take the Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy on the heels of the league's first 60-goal campaign in a decade. Another year atop the goal charts would make Matthews the ninth player in NHL history to lead the league in goals for three consecutive seasons and just the second to do so since the introduction of this award in 1998-99. Draisaitl, last campaign's runner-up, is among the biggest threats to end Matthews' reign as the top goal-scorer in the league.Art Ross Trophy Andy Devlin / National Hockey League / GettyEditorPickCushmanConnor McDavidDouglasConnor McDavidDicksonConnor McDavidGold-SmithConnor McDavidMatiszConnor McDavidO'LearyConnor McDavidWegmanConnor McDavidMcDavid may not have enjoyed the 21-point buffer over second place that he had in 2020-21, but the Oilers star still managed to capture his fourth career Art Ross Trophy with relative ease last season. Somehow, McDavid increased his rate of production in the playoffs, with 33 points in just 16 games. It's difficult to see a healthy McDavid losing the Art Ross coming off of his outrageous 2021-22 performance.Calder Trophy Joshua Bessex / Getty Images Sport / GettyEditorPickCushmanMatty BeniersDouglasOwen PowerDicksonMason McTavishGold-SmithOwen PowerMatiszOwen PowerO'LearyMatty BeniersWegmanAndrei KuzmenkoThe race for the Calder Memorial Trophy will be among the most fun to watch this season, with no clear favorite and some fascinating underdog threats. Buffalo Sabres defenseman Owen Power is looking to become the first top pick since Matthews to win the award. Forward Matty Beniers is primed for a Calder-worthy season after his impressive debut at the end of 2021-22 with the Seattle Kraken.Anaheim Ducks prospect Mason McTavish enters the campaign with momentum after his stellar outing at the 2022 world juniors for Canada. And don't sleep on top KHL signing Andrei Kuzmenko, who is set to begin the season on a line with Elias Pettersson for the Vancouver Canucks.Vezina Trophy Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyEditorPickCushmanThatcher DemkoDouglasJuuse SarosDicksonIgor ShesterkinGold-SmithIgor ShesterkinMatiszJacob MarkstromO'LearyIgor ShesterkinWegmanJuuse SarosNew York's heir apparent made the throne his own in 2021-22. Igor Shesterkin had one of the best goaltending seasons in recent memory, posting a .935 save percentage in 53 appearances to take home the Vezina Trophy and earn a Hart nomination. He can't get too comfortable at the top, though, with lots of contenders in the mix.No goaltender started more than Juuse Saros' 67 games last season. Jacob Markstrom wasn't far behind with 63 starts and also led the league in shutouts with nine. And sleeper pick Thatcher Demko could vault into the conversation if Vancouver takes a step toward playoff contention.Norris Trophy Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / Getty ImagesEditorPickCushmanCale MakarDouglasCale MakarDicksonRoman JosiGold-SmithCale MakarMatiszCale MakarO'LearyCale MakarWegmanCale MakarIt's Cale Makar's world and we're just living in it. At 23 years old, the Avalanche blue-liner brought home the James Norris Memorial Trophy and the Conn Smythe. Makar's 28 goals and 86 points in 77 games are totals we haven't seen out of a defenseman in years ...Except for Roman Josi, who went toe-to-toe with Makar offensively in 2021-22. The Nashville Predators defenseman racked up 96 points last year, the most a blue-liner has scored since 1993. The Norris was a two-horse race last season and shapes up to be a head-to-head battle once again.Hart Trophy Michael Martin / National Hockey League / GettyEditorPickCushmanCale MakarDouglasNathan MacKinnonDicksonNathan MacKinnonGold-SmithConnor McDavidMatiszConnor McDavidO'LearyCale MakarWegmanCale MakarMakar's dominant 2021-22 season and Conn Smythe run in the playoffs convinced some of our voters that he can be the first defenseman to capture the Hart Memorial Trophy since Chris Pronger in 1999-2000. It will be a tall task to top the many forwards chasing the award, but another elite campaign from Makar and the Avs will put him in the hunt.Almost unbelievably, his Colorado teammate Nathan MacKinnon's individual trophy cabinet only contains the Calder and a Lady Byng. MacKinnon needs a season where he stays healthy and plays the full schedule to be a legitimate Hart threat. A three-time finalist, it seems like a matter of time for Nate. Meanwhile, it's not an NHL season unless McDavid is in the mix for the Hart.Stanley Cup Final Michael Martin / National Hockey League / GettyEditorPickCushmanHurricanes over AvalancheDouglasAvalanche over HurricanesDicksonAvalanche over PanthersGold-SmithAvalanche over HurricanesMatiszHurricanes over AvalancheO'LearyAvalanche over HurricanesWegmanMaple Leafs over FlamesOur voters are big believers in the Avalanche and Hurricanes. Five have the two teams meeting in the Cup Final, with three picking Colorado to come out on top of that matchup. Overall, four voters tabbed the Avs to repeat as champs. Carolina made the conference finals in 2019 but has yet to revisit that same level of postseason success. Years of knocking on the door have our voters anticipating they'll break through. And after plenty of playoff heartbreak, could this finally be the year for the Maple Leafs?Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Leading up to the start of the 2022-23 season, theScore is counting down the top 100 players in the game today, as voted on by our NHL editors. Injuries have been taken into consideration. We'll reveal 20 players every day until the top 20 are unveiled Oct. 11.100-81 | 80-61 | 60-41 | 40-21 | 20-180. Connor Hellebuyck, Winnipeg Jets Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyHellebuyck has faced the most shots in the NHL in each of the past four seasons, and that's unlikely to change in 2022-23. The Jets workhorse had a slight dip in performance in 2021-22 with a .910 save percentage, his lowest since his sophomore campaign in 2016-17. Still, Hellebuyck's incredible workload and consistent play keep him among the league's top netminders year in, year out.79. Dougie Hamilton, New Jersey DevilsHamilton's first season with the Devils was derailed by injuries - including a broken jaw - that prevented the defenseman from looking quite like himself. However, he did show some of his typical pop and potted 15 points in his first 19 games. The Devils will need a healthy Hamilton to help boost their playoff hopes.78. Roope Hintz, Dallas StarsHintz's career was frequently slowed by injuries until last season when he broke out with 37 goals and 35 assists while playing all but two regular-season games. The Finn, who turns 26 in November, deservedly centers the Stars' top line. It was only a matter of time before he truly arrived after posting over a point per game in the abbreviated 2021 campaign.77. Kevin Fiala, Los Angeles KingsFiala is the new star attraction in Hollywood after racking up an impressive 85 points - 67 at even strength - this past season. The talent has always been there, but Fiala will need to build off his breakout year to be truly considered one of the league's elite wingers.76. Timo Meier, San Jose SharksMeier is a modern-day power forward. He isn't massive (6-feet, 210 pounds), but he's an excellent short-area player who loves to play the body and potted a career-high 35 goals last season.75. Patrik Laine, Columbus Blue Jackets Emilee Chinn / National Hockey League / GettyLaine flew under the radar with the Blue Jackets in 2021-22 as he posted his first point-per-game campaign. With 26 goals and 56 points in 56 games, he returned to the offensive form that made him a budding star early in his Winnipeg tenure. Laine, if he can remain healthy, could be in for a career year with new linemate Johnny Gaudreau arriving in Columbus.74. Frederik Andersen, Carolina HurricanesAndersen was spectacular in his first campaign with the Hurricanes. He ranked fourth in Vezina Trophy voting after posting a 2.17 goals-against average and .922 save percentage in 52 appearances. Unfortunately, the netminder wasn't able to exorcise all his demons from his time in Toronto, as an injury held him out of the playoffs.73. Brady Tkachuk, Ottawa SenatorsFew were surprised when the Senators named Tkachuk captain in November. The 23-year-old scored 30 goals last season while racking up his customary hundreds of hits (270) and even winning more than 50% of the 435 faceoffs he took despite not being a natural center. He's not quite elite yet, but he can impact a game in many ways.72. Rasmus Dahlin, Buffalo SabresThe hype associated with being a potentially generational No. 1 pick makes it feel like Dahlin has been around for ages, but the Sabres stalwart is only 22. The swift-skating Swedish defender registered a career-high 53 points last season and should continue to get better as he gets older. There's no question his ascension will considerably accelerate Buffalo's rebuild.71. Alex Pietrangelo, Vegas Golden KnightsPietrangelo is getting up there in age (33 in January) but is still one of the game's premier defensemen. He's a rare blend of size (6-foot-3, 210 pounds), smooth skating, soft hands, and excellent intangibles. He received some down-ballot Norris votes last year after registering 13 goals and 44 points.70. Robert Thomas, St. Louis Blues Scott Rovak / National Hockey League / GettyThomas enjoyed a breakout 20-goal, 77-point season with the Blues last season, leading the team with 57 assists. St. Louis rewarded him handsomely with an eight-year, $65-million extension that begins in 2023-24. The 23-year-old will be looking to prove the Blues' decision was more than worth it in 2022-23.69. Mark Scheifele, Winnipeg JetsDespite all of Winnipeg's struggles in 2021-22, Scheifele managed to produce at a point-per-game rate for the sixth straight season by potting 70 in 67 contests. The longtime Jets servant cast doubt on his future with the franchise after missing the playoffs, but he later expressed his excitement for a fresh start with the team in 2022-23.68. Joe Pavelski, Dallas StarsPavelski keeps defying conventional wisdom and disproving doubters. The 38-year-old led the Stars in assists (54) and points (81) last season. If that's not remarkable enough, how about the fact that the 16-year veteran played all 82 games? The fact that he's still among the NHL's best forwards at this stage of his career is nothing short of impressive.67. Mathew Barzal, New York IslandersBarzal hasn't matched the offensive production of his rookie year in four seasons since, but his skill set is so tantalizing that the hockey world kind of just universally accepts he could light the league on fire at any time. He's too good not to break out eventually. Perhaps this is the year, as he's got a new coach and is now locked in long term.66. Nikolaj Ehlers, Winnipeg JetsEhlers is one of the fastest skaters on the planet. The 2021-22 campaign was his most productive on a per-game basis, as he tallied 55 points in 62 contests. If he plays on the top line this season, don't be surprised if the 26-year-old Dane breaks out with 90-plus points.65. Shea Theodore, Vegas Golden Knights David Becker / National Hockey League / GettyAmid all of the chaos that was the Golden Knights' season, Theodore was just about the only constant presence. The 26-year-old defenseman set career highs in goals (14), points (52), and average time on ice (23:08) in 2021-22. Despite this, he didn't receive any Norris votes for the first time since 2018-19. A healthy Vegas lineup could put him right back into that conversation.64. Anze Kopitar, Los Angeles KingsKopitar may be 35, but the timeless center is still bringing it for the Kings. The captain paced his squad with 67 points in 81 contests last season while leading all Los Angeles forwards in average ice time (20:46). His threat level will only increase if Fiala rides on his wing. The Kings made the playoffs under Kopitar's veteran leadership, and he's a key reason why they're the best team in California right now.63. John Tavares, Toronto Maple LeafsMuch like Pavelski and Kopitar, Tavares isn't slowing down as he ages. The 32-year-old Maple Leafs captain racked up nearly a point per game once again last season while winning a career-high 60.6% of his faceoffs. He may be unfairly criticized if the Leafs flounder yet again in the playoffs, but last season's failure wasn't his fault, as he notched three goals and three assists in seven games.62. Morgan Rielly, Toronto Maple LeafsRielly's exploits tend to get lost behind the Maple Leafs' cast of star forwards, but Toronto wouldn't be the same team without its top blue-liner. The 28-year-old ranks sixth in points among all defensemen over the past five seasons, and has led the club in average ice time in all but one of those years.61. Nazem Kadri, Calgary FlamesKadri is one of the sport's most fiery competitors, and he has the skill to go with it. He came through with a career year at age 31 in 2021-22, racking up 87 points in 71 games. Repeating that may be a tall task, but Kadri proved this past spring that he's a player you can count on when the lights shine brightest.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Leading up to the start of the 2022-23 season, theScore is counting down the top 100 players in the game today, as voted on by our NHL editors. Injuries have been taken into consideration. We'll reveal 20 players every day until the top 20 are unveiled Oct. 11.100-81 | 80-61 | 60-41 | 40-21 | 20-140. Miro Heiskanen, Dallas Stars Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyHeiskanen has yet to tally a big offensive season with the Stars, but make no mistake, he's among the NHL's top blue-liners. The 23-year-old has blossomed into an elite transition defenseman as one of the best puck-movers around. Should Heiskanen find the next level on the scoresheet, he could be a sneaky underdog for the Norris Trophy.39. Kris Letang, Pittsburgh PenguinsThe Penguins were able to keep the good times rolling by inking Letang to a six-year, $36.6-million extension in July. The veteran continued to be the man on the Pens' blue line in 2021-22: He ranked third on the team with a career-high 68 points in 78 contests while eating up the fourth-most minutes per game (25:47) in the league. He's 35 and is showing no signs of slowing down, so let's see what his 17th NHL season brings.38. Jake Guentzel, Pittsburgh PenguinsGuentzel isn't slowing down either, though, admittedly, he's seven years younger than his talented teammate. The Nebraska-born forward scored 40 goals for the second time last season, and his career-high 44 assists gave him a personal best in points as well. But perhaps the most impressive thing is his shooting percentage was actually below his career average in 2021-22. That means he could be even more productive in the upcoming campaign.37. Jason Robertson, Dallas StarsRobertson doesn't have a huge body of work to be judged on, but what an impact he's made through his first two seasons. The 23-year-old burst onto the season as a Calder Trophy finalist in the shortened season then followed up with a 41-goal campaign in Year 2.36. Kyle Connor, Winnipeg JetsConnor has developed into one of the game's most consistent scorers, setting a career high with 47 goals a season ago. He has a great nose for the net. His shot is tremendous shot, yes, but he just knows how to get open and always finds himself in the right place at the right time.35. Elias Lindholm, Calgary Flames Gerry Thomas / National Hockey League / GettyLindholm had a massive 2021-22, tallying his first 40-goal campaign and hitting the point-per-game mark with 82 points. His two-way prowess and incredible plus-61 rating earned him a second-place finish in Selke voting. As the lone remaining piece of the Flames' dominant first line from last season, Lindholm's fit with Jonathan Huberdeau and Tyler Toffoli will be a major storyline to follow early in 2022-23.34. Filip Forsberg, Nashville PredatorsForsberg was one of the driving forces of the Predators' success in 2021-22. He eclipsed the 40-goal mark for the first time in his career, lighting the lamp 42 times in 69 contests, and he led the squad with a solid 1.22 points per game. Forsberg will be looking to build on his career campaign in the first season of an eight-year, $68-million extension.33. Mark Stone, Vegas Golden KnightsStone was hindered by injuries last season but remains among the sport's very best two-way players. The 30-year-old collected 30 points in 37 games. Despite the Golden Knights' difficulties in 2021-22, they controlled 53.55% of the expected goals with Stone on the ice at five-on-five. He plays a true 200-foot game and is clearly still elite.32. Jack Hughes, New Jersey DevilsOur voters liked what they saw from Hughes last season enough to place him among the upper echelons. The 2019 first overall pick finally looks comfortable at the NHL level and was on track for a huge breakout year in 2021-22 before injuries got the best of him. It feels like he's just scratching the surface of his potential, and it should be fun to watch what's next.31. Juuse Saros, Nashville PredatorsIt's amazing that Saros has established himself as one of the game's elite netminders despite being just 5-foot-11. He was surely told numerous times he'd never make it due to his size, but he's proved the doubters wrong. Consider this: The worst save percentage of his career is .914.30. Aaron Ekblad, Florida Panthers Ethan Miller / Getty Images Sport / GettyDespite being limited to 61 games in 2021-22, Ekblad's 15 goals and 57 points earned him enough votes to finish sixth in Norris Trophy voting. Injuries have been a significant concern for the 26-year-old defenseman, as he hasn't played a full campaign since 2018-19. A healthy season for Ekblad is paramount for the Panthers following the departure of MacKenzie Weegar.29. Brayden Point, Tampa Bay LightningAfter sustaining a leg injury in the Lightning's first-round matchup against the Toronto Maple Leafs, Point was sidelined for much of the Bolts' third consecutive run to the Stanley Cup Final. He led the league with a combined 28 goals the previous two postseasons, so having a healthy Point back will be a relief for Tampa Bay. As for the 2021-22 regular season, Point ranked second on the team with 28 tallies and fifth with 58 points in 66 games.28. Steven Stamkos, Tampa Bay LightningStamkos scored 14 more goals than Point, though the captain played 15 more games. Everyone knows what Stamkos is capable of, but he still had a remarkable season for a 32-year-old. Not too many players his age can produce 106 points in a campaign, but the Bolts veteran should continue defying the odds.27. Charlie McAvoy, Boston BruinsMcAvoy isn't as flashy as some other young stars on the blue line, but make no mistake, the Bruins' No. 1 rearguard has the capabilities to win multiple Norris Trophies. McAvoy can skate, break the puck out, and defend with his stick as well as anyone. He controls the flow of the game whenever he's on the ice, too, as his 63.18% expected goals clip led all regularly deployed defensemen last season.26. Patrick Kane, Chicago BlackhawksKane isn't as good defensively as he used to be but remains as dangerous as ever offensively, as evidenced by his 92 points last season - the third most in his career. As a 2023 UFA, it's fair to wonder which contender Kane will get traded to this season.25. David Pastrnak, Boston Bruins Rich Gagnon / Getty Images Sport / GettyPastrnak ranks fifth in goals scored since 2016-17 and doesn't look to be slowing down anytime soon. The 26-year-old scored 40 goals for the second time in 2021-22 and hit the point-per-game mark for the fourth consecutive campaign. Entering a contract year, Pastrnak is primed for a massive season. The Bruins will need him to be ready out of the gate as they deal with multiple significant injuries.24. Sebastian Aho, Carolina HurricanesAho just continues to do his thing. He led the Hurricanes with 37 goals and 81 points in 79 games while eating up the most minutes per contest (18:57) out of all Carolina forwards. The 25-year-old has never hit the 40-goal mark in his career, but he's come within three or fewer on two different occasions. Let's see if the star can cross the threshold in his seventh season.23. Matthew Tkachuk, Florida PanthersThe hockey world is eager to see how Tkachuk plays with his new team, but no one will be shocked if he fits in seamlessly with the Panthers. The gritty forward provides a unique blend of offensive skill and tenacity. He's coming off a career-best 104 points for the Flames, and even if he doesn't hit triple digits this season, it's clear he's now one of the game's best and most multi-dimensional players.22. Alex Ovechkin, Washington CapitalsFifty goals and 90 points at 36 years old. Ovechkin is a once-in-a-lifetime player, and rather than debate about where he belongs on a player ranking list, let's all sit back and appreciate his pursuit of the all-time goal record.21. Mikko Rantanen, Colorado AvalancheA rare blend of size (6-foot-4, 215 pounds), speed, and skill, Rantanen is a handful for opposing defenders. He reached a personal-best 92 points last season, and it wouldn't be a surprise if the 25-year-old cracked 100 this year.(Analytics source: Natural Stat Trick)Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Leading up to the start of the 2022-23 season, theScore is counting down the top 100 players in the game today, as voted on by our NHL editors. Injuries have been taken into consideration. We'll reveal 20 players every day until the top 20 are unveiled Oct. 11.100-81 | 80-61 | 60-41 | 40-21 | 20-160. Thatcher Demko, Vancouver Canucks Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyOnly Connor Hellebuyck and Juuse Saros faced more rubber than Demko last season. The Canucks netminder carried a massive workload, posting a .915 save percentage in 64 appearances. A playoff push in Vancouver could see Demko work his way into the Vezina conversation.59. Thomas Chabot, Ottawa SenatorsFor the third straight campaign, Chabot was one of the busiest guys in the league. He ranked second in average ice time (26:12) last season and is only 25 years old. Chabot is an absolute workhorse for the Senators, and it looks like it will stay that way in 2022-23. Ottawa bolstered its forward group this offseason but didn't do much to provide any proven, notable reinforcements on the blue line.58. Ryan O'Reilly, St. Louis BluesO'Reilly has long been among the NHL's preeminent two-way players. The 2018-19 Selke Trophy winner, Conn Smythe Trophy recipient, and Stanley Cup winner is still good for 20-plus goals, over 50 points, and the peace of mind of knowing opposing stars will have a much tougher time generating offense when the veteran Blues center is on the ice.57. William Nylander, Toronto Maple LeafsNylander's had a target on his back for much of his career, but his once maligned $6.9-million AAV has turned into a bargain for Toronto, as he's blossomed into an annual 30-goal threat. His effort level can sometimes draw the ire of fans who crave a more physical brand of hockey. Still, Nylander is elite at causing turnovers without throwing bone-crushing hits, as evidenced by his 59 takeaways last season. His 15 playoff points over the past two springs also lead all Maple Leafs players.56. Ilya Sorokin, New York IslandersSorokin took the starting reins from Semyon Varlamov last season and didn't look back, posting a .925 save percentage and finishing third among all goalies with 21.6 goals saved above expected. The 27-year-old is a star in the making.55. Quinn Hughes, Vancouver Canucks Ben Nelms / Getty Images Sport / GettyHughes' first season on his six-year contract was about as good as the Canucks could've hoped for. The soon-to-be 23-year-old set career highs in points (68) and average time on ice (25:15) in 2021-22. Hughes also finished fifth among defensemen in power-play scoring with 31 points. He will once again be leaned on heavily as the Canucks look to improve their place in the standings.54. Elias Pettersson, Vancouver CanucksPettersson had a lot going on last season. First, he was recovering from a wrist injury that derailed his 2020-21 campaign, then he missed training camp while negotiating a new contract. The Canucks star ended up posting a career-high 68 points in 80 games in 2021-22, but 48 of those points came in his last 41 games. Pettersson can climb this list if he has a better start this time around.53. John Carlson, Washington CapitalsCarlson sometimes gets overlooked because he benefits from setting up Alex Ovechkin and playing with him on the power play. But the Capitals defenseman topped the 70-point mark for the third time last season, and he's notched at least 68 points four times. Carlson scored a personal-best 17 goals in 2021-22, including a career-high seven with the man advantage. The 32-year-old remains a premier offensive blue-liner.52. Chris Kreider, New York RangersKreider turned 30 and suddenly transformed from a quality top-six winger to an unstoppable 50-goal force. It was one of the most surprising stories of the 2021-22 season, but infusing goal-scoring into a repertoire that already featured elite size and speed apparently makes one heck of a player.51. Evgeni Malkin, Pittsburgh PenguinsIt would've been easy to write off Malkin heading into last season considering he was coming off knee surgery and entering his age-35 campaign, but he proved the doubters wrong by registering 42 points in 41 games. He's still got it.50. Andrei Svechnikov, Carolina Hurricanes Chris Tanouye / Getty Images Sport / GettySvechnikov tallied his first 30-goal campaign and recorded a career-high 69 points in 2021-22. The 22-year-old's great regular season was overshadowed by his disappointing playoffs, where he scored just four goals and five points in the Hurricanes' 14 playoff games. Svechnikov is expected to be one of Carolina's top goal-scorers again in 2022-23, but eyes will be on his performance come the postseason.49. Moritz Seider, Detroit Red WingsSeider had a rookie season to remember for the Red Wings. He became just the third active blue-liner to rack up 50 points in his first NHL campaign. The youngster ran away with the Calder Trophy for his efforts, and there's no telling what he will accomplish in his sophomore season.48. Jack Eichel, Vegas Golden KnightsEichel said he was disappointed in his play with the Golden Knights after he debuted with Vegas in February. But the self-criticism is unjustified for two reasons. For one, the former Buffalo Sabres star scored 14 goals in only 34 contests - a per-game rate (0.41) that exceeded his career mark (0.37) entering the campaign. In addition, as Eichel acknowledged, he was coming off surgery that was unprecedented in hockey and still wasn't 100%. If he is now, look out.47. Gabriel Landeskog, Colorado AvalancheLandeskog doesn't play with the panache some of his Avalanche teammates do, but he's revered as a captain and certainly pulls his weight for the defending champs. Injuries limited Landeskog to only 51 contests this past season, but he was on pace for his best year yet with 1.16 points per game. He's also one of the league's best defensive wingers and put up 22 playoff points to help secure Colorado's first title since 2001.46. Devon Toews, Colorado AvalancheOnce among the most unheralded defensemen in the NHL, Toews finally started getting the recognition he deserves during Colorado's Stanley Cup run this past spring. The 28-year-old can thrive in any situation.45. Jaccob Slavin, Carolina Hurricanes Jared C. Tilton / Getty Images Sport / GettySlavin has anchored the Hurricanes' top pairing for years as arguably the best defensive defenseman in the league. The 28-year-old has earned Norris Trophy votes each of the past six years due to his ability to shut down opponents. He's found success alongside Justin Faulk, Dougie Hamilton, and Tony DeAngelo; next up is Brent Burns.44. J.T. Miller, Vancouver CanucksMiller erupted for a 99-point campaign in 2021-22 while seeing his name frequently appear on the trade block. He could have become an unrestricted free agent this coming summer but opted to sign a hefty seven-year, $56-million extension to remain in Vancouver through 2029-30. Whether he can repeat last season's success remains to be seen, but he can enjoy a more stable campaign after putting pen to paper.43. Jacob Markstrom, Calgary FlamesMarkstrom is coming off a tough postseason, but he's still a very reliable goaltender. Only four played more games than the Flames netminder did last regular season, and Markstrom's save percentage (.922) was better than all of them. Nearly one-quarter of his wins (37) were shutouts (nine), and he led the league with the latter. Even at 32 years old, the Swede is rock solid.42. Mika Zibanejad, New York RangersThere aren't many centers who can put the puck in the net like Zibanejad. The Rangers' top pivot ranks seventh at his position in goals since 2018-19, up there with some of the biggest stars in the sport. He can be streaky at times, but when he's hot, Zibanejad is near unstoppable on the attack in large part to his deadly one-timer and pinpoint wrist-shot release.41. Alex DeBrincat, Ottawa SenatorsDeBrincat is one of the purest scorers around. Since entering the NHL in 2017-18, he ranks eighth in the league with 160 goals - an average of 25 per 82 games. Surrounded by several gifted playmakers in Ottawa as he enters his prime years, the 5-foot-7 winger could explode for a career year.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Leading up to the start of the 2022-23 season, theScore is counting down the top-100 players in the game today, as voted on by our NHL editors. Injuries affecting players entering the season have been taken into consideration.100-81 | 80-61 | 60-41 | 40-21 | 20-120. Jonathan Huberdeau, Calgary Flames Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyHuberdeau is one of two players ranked in the top 20 who changed teams this offseason, and he just so happens to be replacing the other one. Huberdeau had a monster season in Florida, breaking the record for assists by a left winger with 85 and finishing second in league scoring with 115 points. He begins his tenure with the Flames with big expectations as one of the premier playmakers in the NHL.19. Adam Fox, New York RangersFox is a stud for the New York Rangers at just 24 years old, and he's only one season removed from winning the Norris Trophy. He finished fourth among all defensemen with 74 points in 78 games in 2021-22. However, New York was overreliant on goaltender Igor Shesterkin last season - the Rangers failed to control the majority of the expected goals and shot attempts at five-on-five, per Natural Stat Trick - and Fox will be key to cleaning that up.18. Artemi Panarin, New York RangersPanarin is the heartbeat of the Rangers' attack, and he's registered 249 points in 186 games since arriving on Broadway. The 30-year-old has been one of the best wingers in the league for most of his career and hasn't shown any signs of slowing down.17. Mitch Marner, Toronto Maple LeafsMarner has been one of the world's most dynamic playmakers since he entered the NHL and is coming off a season in which he buried a career-high 35 goals thanks to a much-improved shot. He's the right-hand man on arguably the league's most dominant offense and will be a 100-point threat for years to come.16. Brad Marchand, Boston BruinsThe ultimate pest, you hate Marchand if he's on the opposition, but you'd love to go into battle with him on your team. Even at 34 years old, Marchand remains one of the game's best competitors and all-around players.15. Patrice Bergeron, Boston Bruins Gregg Forwerck / National Hockey League / GettyIt's remarkable: Every year, pundits predict the Bruins will take a step back, and then Bergeron goes out and puts up another elite season. He collected his fifth Selke Trophy after a typically dominant two-way campaign from the 37-year-old. He racked up 65 points in 72 games to go with a hilariously good 69.2 xGF%. Bergeron remains one of the best well into his late 30s.14. Johnny Gaudreau, Columbus Blue JacketsGaudreau threw the hockey world for a bit of a loop after signing with the Blue Jackets in free agency. Now the winger will break into a new market after a career year. He tied for second in the league with 115 points (40 goals, 75 assists) and was also a bonkers plus-64 in 2021-22. He won't have former linemates Matthew Tkachuk and Elias Lindholm, but there's no reason Gaudreau can't put up some big numbers in Columbus.13. Kirill Kaprizov, Minnesota WildKaprizov went from a hotshot prospect to the real deal in the blink of an eye. He's the complete package offensively, but his defensive contributions fly under the radar on a strong two-way Wild squad. After posting 108 points as a superstar sophomore, there's no telling what Kaprizov's ceiling may be.12. Andrei Vasilevskiy, Tampa Bay LightningVasilevskiy led the NHL in wins each of the past five seasons, posting a .920 regular-season save percentage while collecting two Stanley Cups, a Conn Smythe, and a Vezina Trophy. The Lightning backstop is the most clutch goaltender in the league, having put up historic numbers in series-clinching games throughout the past three postseasons. It feels like Vasilevskiy has been the best at his position for ages, but he's only 28 and seemingly has much more to give.11. Roman Josi, Nashville PredatorsIt's ridiculous that Josi flirted with 100 points as a defenseman last season. He finished with 96 - the most since Phil Housley in 1992-93 when goalies couldn't stop beach balls. Josi may not repeat that performance, but he's still one of the game's most special players.10. Aleksander Barkov, Florida Panthers Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / Getty2021-22 marked the second straight season where Barkov earned votes for the Lady Byng, Selke, and Hart Trophies. Barkov found another level offensively, tallying a career-high 39 goals and scoring at a career-best rate with 88 points in 67 games. No matter who the Panthers put on his wing, Barkov has proven he's an elite two-way center who can get the most out of his linemates.9. Victor Hedman, Tampa Bay LightningDeath, taxes, and Hedman being a Norris finalist: The Tampa Bay Lightning rearguard was nominated for the sixth straight season after he finished third among all blue-liners with 85 points in 82 games. The towering Swede chipped in with an additional 19 points in 23 playoff games while averaging almost 25 minutes per contest as the Bolts made their third consecutive Stanley Cup Final.8. Igor Shesterkin, New York RangersShesterkin is fresh off one of the most dominant goaltending seasons we've ever seen and, in our estimation, is the league's best netminder. Amid an offensive outburst across the NHL, Shesterkin blew his peers out of the water last season, leading them in save percentage (.935), goals-against average (2.07), and goals saved above average (44.9). The Rangers showed they have the pieces to contend, but make no mistake: Their star goalie is the franchise.7. Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh PenguinsWhile Crosby isn't quite the two-way force of nature he once was, Sid the Kid isn't done by any means. His 1.22 points per game last season represented his highest mark since 2018-19 and his second-best since 2013-14. Crosby is probably done winning MVPs and scoring titles, but a season of good health should allow him to become the 15th player in NHL history to reach 1,500 points.6. Nikita Kucherov, Tampa Bay LightningKucherov is one of the most skilled players of all time, never mind today. He could probably score 50 goals every season if he was selfish enough, but he also happens to be an amazing playmaker. He's truly a treat to watch and he's proven he shines when the lights get brighter.5. Leon Draisaitl, Edmonton Oilers Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyOn one healthy ankle, Draisaitl scored at an incredible rate of two points per game in the Oilers' 16-game playoff run. His 55 goals and 110 points in the regular season were nothing to scoff at either, as both ranked inside the top five league-wide. Leon will chase his first Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy in his first full campaign under head coach Jay Woodcroft.4. Nathan MacKinnon, Colorado AvalancheMacKinnon won't yet be the highest-paid player in the league in 2022-23, but he'll undoubtedly show why he's worth every penny of his gargantuan eight-year, $100.8-million extension. The Colorado Avalanche star ranked second on the team with 88 points in a mere 65 contests in 2021-22, and his 1.35 points-per-game clip was seventh-best in the league. MacKinnon went on to score 13 goals - tied for the NHL lead - in 20 playoff games for the Stanley Cup champions.3. Cale Makar, Colorado AvalancheThere's already a Stanley Cup, Conn Smythe, Norris, and Calder Trophy on Makar's resume, and he's not even 24 yet. The Avalanche blue-liner is a transcendent talent equipped with two-way skills no defenseman in the NHL can match. The Makar hype train is at full speed after his dominant 2021-22 campaign, but when a player is on the fast track to becoming an all-time great, it's better to embrace it than ignore it.2. Auston Matthews, Toronto Maple LeafsMatthews entered the "best in the world" debate during his MVP run last season by putting up 60 goals in 73 games and breaking the 100-point barrier for the first time. The Maple Leafs superstar is one of the best offensive creators in the league at five-on-five, and high-caliber defense is also part of his impressive repertoire. It's going to be fascinating to see what he can accomplish next from both a team and individual perspective.1. Connor McDavid, Edmonton OilersWas there ever any question? McDavid is the undisputed best player in the NHL, coming in at No. 1 on our list for the fifth consecutive year. With his speed and skill, McDavid could realistically tally 150 points this season. While his electrifying highlight-reel play deservedly garners all the attention, McDavid has quietly rounded out his game and become an excellent defensive player in the past two seasons.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NHL's waiver frenzy has resulted in two new players for the Arizona Coyotes.The club claimed defenseman Juuso Valimaki from the Calgary Flames on Sunday, and goaltender Connor Ingram from the Nashville Predators on Monday.Valimaki was chosen 16th overall by the Flames at the 2017 NHL Draft, but his career has yet to take off. The 24-year-old Finnish blue-liner has recorded 16 points in 82 career NHL games across three seasons.Ingram, 25, has spent the bulk of his professional career in the minors, posting an .879 save percentage in three regular-season NHL games and a .913 mark in four postseason contests. He projects to battle Jonas Johansson for Arizona's backup goalie job behind Karel Vejmelka.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NHL season is nearly upon us, so it's time to take an early look at the Hart Memorial Trophy contenders.The top dogs from last season are poised to jockey for MVP honors once again, but there should be some movement on the list with a new potential finalist and a past one getting back into the mix.Johnny Gaudreau finished fourth last season and would normally have an even stronger case with less help around him. But the Columbus Blue Jackets will be hard-pressed to make the playoffs in the upcoming campaign. That's essentially a prerequisite for the Hart - for better or worse - so it'll likely take him out of the running unless his new club surprises.Here are our top five MVP candidates entering the season.All stats in charts are from 2021-225. Igor Shesterkin Bruce Bennett / Getty Images Sport / GettyGPRecordSV%5-on-5 GSAx5-on-5 GSAA5336-13-4.93521.1422.38Shesterkin finished third in the voting for this award last season, but he didn't slide down this list by any real fault of his own. The New York Rangers goaltender is our preseason favorite to repeat as the Vezina Trophy recipient, and for good reason.The Russian, who'll turn 27 in late December, led all qualified netminders in save percentage in 2021-22. He saved the second-most goals above expected and the third-most above average. Shesterkin was the biggest reason the Rangers exceeded expectations, especially considering the team's defensive flaws.The Blueshirts' core remains intact, but they lost more of their supporting cast than they gained in free agency. So some regression could seep in for the team as a whole, especially considering its biggest Metropolitan Division rivals all got better. Still, Shesterkin will be in the Hart conversation if he plays at anywhere near the level he achieved a season ago. He may simply be overshadowed by the other candidates.4. Nathan MacKinnon Dave Sandford / National Hockey League / GettyGPGAATOIxGF%65325621:0453.48Voters don't factor in postseason play. But if MacKinnon can carry his playoff performance into the 2022-23 regular season and once again lead the Colorado Avalanche to a strong finish, he'll make a triumphant return to the MVP hunt.MacKinnon's points-per-game rate ranked among the league leaders during the last regular season, but missing 17 games all but disqualified him from Hart contention. Cale Makar's immense contributions also hurt MacKinnon's case, but the center's value is undeniable regardless of his teammate's exploits.If MacKinnon can stay healthy for the vast majority of the upcoming campaign and continue to play as well as he did last season, the three-time Hart finalist will be a worthy contender.3. Kirill Kaprizov Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyGPGAATOIxGF%81476119:0653.97Kaprizov has a legitimate shot to be among the leaders in the MVP race this season for a couple of reasons.The biggest one is the fact that the Minnesota Wild traded their second-best forward, Kevin Fiala, to the Los Angeles Kings in June. Much like Gaudreau and the Blue Jackets, Kaprizov won't have as much assistance this season. The difference is that the Wild are a better team that's more likely to make the playoffs.The other reason is that Kaprizov is coming off a huge season individually. The Russian tied for fifth in the NHL in goals and ranked fifth in points. He's adept at creating offense and making plays regardless of who his teammates are, so he should excel even without Fiala in the fold. If Kaprizov can maintain his 2021-22 form and play at a much higher level than the other Wild skaters, he'll be firmly entrenched in the Hart discussion.2. Connor McDavid Andy Devlin / National Hockey League / GettyGPGAATOIxGF%80447922:0459McDavid would've been a shoo-in to claim this award for the third time and the second time in as many years if not for the No. 1 name on this list. The Edmonton Oilers superstar won the Art Ross Trophy for the second straight season and the fourth time in total.Yes, McDavid plays on the same team as Leon Draisaitl, who's been nearly as dominant. But analytics consistently show McDavid has helped Draisaitl more than the other way around. There's a reason McDavid got 1,111 points in MVP voting compared to Draisaitl's 28 in 2021-22.Assuming McDavid keeps producing video game numbers - of both the conventional and underlying varieties - and the Oilers get back to the playoffs this season, there's no reason to believe the Edmonton captain won't be among the top Hart contenders.1. Auston Matthews Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyGPGAATOIxGF%73604620:3763.91Matthews bested McDavid by over 500 points in 2021-22 MVP voting, and that wasn't a very controversial result. The Toronto Maple Leafs sniper repeated as the Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy winner despite missing nine games. A whopping 44 of his 60 goals came at even strength, which also led the league.But it wasn't just goal-scoring that won him the Hart last season, and it won't be the sole reason he's the front-runner entering this one. Matthews made big strides defensively and was a possession monster. The otherworldly American led the NHL in wins above replacement and goals above replacement while ranking third in five-on-five expected goals for percentage among those with at least 600 minutes played in those situations.Matthews' situation hasn't changed much for 2022-23; he'll have the same linemates, and the Leafs' skaters won't look too different aside from an improved bottom six. He could even exceed his 2021-22 production if he can avoid injury. So it's entirely conceivable that the 25-year-old leads the pack in the MVP race once again.(Analytics sources: Natural Stat Trick, Evolving-Hockey)Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Vegas Golden Knights signed defenseman Nicolas Hague to a three-year contract extension carrying an average annual value of $2.294 million, the team announced Monday.Hague was a restricted free agent before inking the deal. The 23-year-old will be an RFA again after his contract expires following the 2024-25 season.Vegas placed Hague on long-term injured reserve last campaign due to a lower-body injury. He remains on IR with Vegas' season opener set for Tuesday against the Los Angeles Kings, according to Cap Friendly.With Hague's new cap hit, the cap-strapped Golden Knights can exceed the salary limit by over $14 million with Robin Lehner, Laurent Brossoit, and Shea Weber on LTIR. The club is just $17 short of the maximum LTIR pool limit, per PuckPedia.The Golden Knights drafted Hague in the second round in 2017. He's emerged as a regular within Vegas' defensive corps and registered 14 points in 52 games last season while averaging a career-high 18:40 per contest.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

First overall pick Juraj Slafkovsky will start his rookie campaign with the Montreal Canadiens after the club finalized roster cuts Monday.The coaching staff called Slafkovsky, Arber Xhekaj, Jordan Harris, and Kaiden Guhle into a meeting together to tell them that they made the team, according to Sportsnet's Eric Engels.Players on entry-level deals can play nine games at the NHL level and still be sent down to the minors without burning a year off their contract. However, Slafkovsky aims to stick with the Habs as long as possible."Just play my best game every time I get the chance to play. I think if I give everything, then I can stay here for a long time, and that's what I will try to do," Slafkovsky said, per Stu Cowan of the Montreal Gazette.Slafkovsky is currently practicing on a line with Christian Dvorak and Brendan Gallagher. The 18-year-old skated in four preseason games, registering one assist.The Canadiens begin their 2022-23 season Wednesday against the Toronto Maple Leafs. Now that his roster spot is confirmed, Slafkovsky is hopeful his parents can quickly get to Canada."I texted my parents (back in Slovakia) right away that they can come now," he said.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

This is the preseason edition of theScore's NHL Power Rankings for the 2022-23 campaign. Check back for updated rankings every other Monday during the regular season.In this edition, we look at the player on each team that has the most to prove coming into the new season.1. Colorado AvalancheOffseason rank: 1It must be strange being Alexandar Georgiev right now. The goaltender has never been a full-time starter in the NHL, and he's finally getting a shot with the Avalanche. However, he's taking the place of Darcy Kuemper - the guy who just helped Colorado win the Stanley Cup. Talk about pressure.2. Tampa Bay LightningOffseason rank: 3The Lightning made a splash at the trade deadline when they acquired Brandon Hagel for two first-round picks and two roster players. Hagel struggled to find the same offensive success he'd enjoyed with the Blackhawks in Tampa Bay, scoring just 13 points in 45 games across the regular season and playoffs. Hagel needs to prove his offensive results in Chicago weren't a fluke to justify the massive price Tampa Bay paid.3. Carolina HurricanesOffseason rank: 2Hurricanes head coach Rod Brind'Amour thinks it's about time Jesperi Kotkaniemi starts "emerging," and the young forward will have plenty of opportunity to do so this season: He's been tapped to replace Vincent Trocheck as the team's second-line center. Kotkaniemi, who spent most of last season on the fourth line, is going to have to live up to his new billing.4. Calgary FlamesOffseason rank: 9Nazem Kadri had one of the best contract years for a pending unrestricted free agent in recent memory. His 87 points in 71 games beat his previous career high by a whopping 26 points. Even at a lower-than-expected $7-million cap hit with the Flames, Kadri's 2022-23 campaign will determine whether he's a true point-per-game player.5. Toronto Maple Leafs Minas Panagiotakis / Getty Images Sport / GettyOffseason rank: 5Matt Murray's got a lot on his plate. The new Maple Leafs goaltender is finally back on a contending team, but the past two seasons haven't been kind to him - Murray's tenure with the Senators was derailed by injuries (and a demotion to the AHL). The two-time Stanley Cup champion will have to put in a lot of work to silence his doubters in the league's testiest market.6. Edmonton OilersOffseason rank: 6Prior to the new year, Jack Campbell had a .937 save percentage in 23 games with the Maple Leafs. In his 26 games in 2022, he was an .893 goaltender. The version of Campbell that the Oilers get will determine whether his five-year, $25-million contract was a great bet or a cap anchor for Edmonton.7. Florida PanthersOffseason rank: 4The Panthers were part of the offseason's most bonkers storyline after they struck a deal with the Flames for Matthew Tkachuk. However, Florida sent quite a bit back to Calgary in Jonathan Huberdeau and MacKenzie Weegar - two players who were key to its Presidents' Trophy-winning season. It's up to Tkachuk to show that the Panthers didn't give up too much.8. New York RangersOffseason rank: 10Alexis Lafreniere has yet to reach the heights many expected he would when the Rangers drafted him first overall in 2021. The team's "Kid Line" had great moments in the playoffs, but the fact remains that Lafreniere tallied just 31 points last season. A breakout campaign in the final year of his entry-level contract would take New York to the next level.9. Pittsburgh PenguinsOffseason rank: 7After some surprisingly contentious negotiations, Evgeni Malkin is still with the Penguins. It seems the oft-injured veteran really wanted that fourth year on his new pact, so he'll need to prove to Pittsburgh that it was worth the risk: This summer was the first time in three offseasons that Malkin didn't undergo surgery.10. Boston Bruins Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyOffseason rank: 17David Krejci returns to the NHL after one season back home in Czechia. The Bruins are banking on the 36-year-old's ability to fill their second-line center role without missing a beat. Early-season absences for Boston make it even more important for Krejci's comeback to be successful.11. Minnesota WildOffseason rank: 14Thanks to last summer's contract buyouts, the Wild lost Kevin Fiala and didn't have the money to replace his production. That means someone has to step up because no external help is coming. We're tabbing youngster Matt Boldy and rookie Marco Rossi, who can both break out in a big way while proving their worth in the NHL this season.12. St. Louis BluesOffseason rank: 11During the first season of his six-year contract extension, Jordan Binnington lost the starting gig to Ville Husso. Binnington got back in the crease during the playoffs and performed well, giving the Blues enough confidence in him to let Husso walk in free agency. Without Husso as a contingency plan, Binnington must return to form in the regular season if St. Louis is going to contend in the Central.13. Los Angeles KingsOffseason rank: 13The 2022-23 season isn't technically Quinton Byfield's rookie year with the Kings, but in a way, it kind of is. Byfield broke his ankle last preseason, which put him behind the 8-ball in 2021-22; the 20-year-old said he lost confidence after the injury. Los Angeles will look for a healthy Byfield to show exactly why the team drafted him second overall in 2020.14. Washington CapitalsOffseason rank: 12Darcy Kuemper had a great regular season with Colorado, posting a .921 save percentage in 57 games. He also had an .895 save percentage in 13 playoff games after suffering an eye injury in the first round. The Capitals' five-year gamble on Kuemper rests largely on him returning to full health.15. Nashville Predators John Russell / National Hockey League / GettyOffseason rank: 15Filip Forsberg chose the perfect time to eclipse the 40-goal mark for the first time in his career, and the Predators rewarded him handsomely this summer with an eight-year, $68-million extension. That's a hefty chunk of change, so the 28-year-old needs to show that last season's career-high production was no fluke.16. Vegas Golden KnightsOffseason rank: 8Few players in the league are under as much pressure to perform in 2022-23 as Jack Eichel. The 25-year-old still hasn't made the postseason in his NHL career. A Golden Knights team looking to bounce back from a tumultuous campaign will rely on Eichel to be a point-per-game first-line center once again.17. Dallas StarsOffseason rank: 16In terms of total salary, Tyler Seguin will be the highest-paid player in 2022-23 with a price tag of $13 million, according to CapFriendly. His production last season (49 points in 81 games) was certainly not worth that much. The Stars need a big-time rebound from their veteran forward.18. Vancouver CanucksOffseason rank: 22Ilya Mikheyev cashed in as a free agent, signing a four-year contract with the Canucks at a $4.75-million cap hit. The 27-year-old has yet to play a full season and will miss time to begin 2022-23 after suffering an injury in the preseason. When he comes back, Mikheyev needs to lock down a spot in the top six to prove his big contract is worth it.19. New Jersey DevilsOffseason rank: 23Injuries prevented Dougie Hamilton's first season with the Devils from going exactly as planned: The talented defenseman said he didn't feel like the same player after suffering a broken toe and then a broken jaw in consecutive games. Hamilton needs to be operating at 100% if New Jersey has any hope of climbing the standings.20. Ottawa Senators Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyOffseason rank: 18Erik Brannstrom has taken longer to develop into an NHL defenseman than the Senators hoped when he was the major asset they acquired in the Mark Stone trade. As Ottawa looks to climb into playoff contention, Brannstrom would offer a significant boost to a lackluster Senators blue line if he can figure it out at this level.21. Winnipeg JetsOffseason rank: 24There's no shortage of Jets players with something to prove following last season's abysmal showing, but we settled on Blake Wheeler because he was essentially stripped of the captaincy. That must sting on some level, even if it was best for the team. It'd be great to see Wheeler have a strong year in Winnipeg - if the Jets don't trade him, that is.22. New York IslandersOffseason rank: 21Now that he's signed a massive eight-year extension, it's time for Mathew Barzal to once again be the point-per-game player he was as a rookie. Since 2017-18, Barzal hasn't scored more than 62 points, but he had 63 assists alone in his Calder Trophy campaign. New Islanders bench boss Lane Lambert will try to help Barzal recapture his high-end offensive form.23. Detroit Red WingsOffseason rank: 20Filip Zadina is having a heck of a time putting the puck in the net. He has just 25 goals in 160 NHL games, but he was viewed as a natural scorer in 2018 when the Red Wings drafted him sixth overall, right after he potted 44 goals in the QMJHL. Maybe Detroit's coaching change can uncork Zadina's potential.24. Columbus Blue JacketsOffseason rank: 19We know how good Johnny Gaudreau is; he doesn't have much to prove in that regard. What Gaudreau does need to prove is that the Blue Jackets were the right choice in free agency. Columbus' path back to contention for a playoff spot isn't an easy one, but the team has to make significant strides in 2022-23 for Gaudreau's surprising decision to begin to look like the right call.25. Buffalo Sabres Darcy Finley / National Hockey League / GettyOffseason rank: 27Tage Thompson broke out for the Sabres in 2021-22 with 38 goals in 78 games and was rewarded with a seven-year, $50-million deal. The extension doesn't kick in until 2023-24, but the 24-year-old needs to show that last season wasn't a flash in the pan.26. Seattle KrakenOffseason rank: 26If Shane Wright makes the Kraken out of training camp on the heels of his dramatic draft-day fall to fourth overall, few players will be as motivated to prove their doubters wrong. Should Wright return to the OHL, Philipp Grubauer is the man to watch in Seattle. The 30-year-old netminder had an abysmal season, and with five years remaining on his contract, the Kraken need him to bounce back if they want to be competitive.27. Anaheim DucksOffseason rank: 25Trevor Zegras' rookie season with the Ducks was tons of fun for obvious reasons. Now he'll be asked to take another step forward as the face of Anaheim's future and its first-line center (but please Zegras, if you're reading this, keep up the highlight-reel plays). Heavy is the head that wears the crown.28. San Jose SharksOffseason rank: 29An underrated storyline entering 2022-23 is Timo Meier's impending $10-million qualifying offer next summer. The 26-year-old Swiss forward tallied 35 goals and 76 points in 77 games during a career year in 2021-22. If Meier proves to be a legitimate point-per-game winger for the Sharks this season, he will be in for quite the payday.29. Montreal CandiensOffseason rank: 28The Canadiens caused quite the ruckus when they bypassed Shane Wright and drafted Juraj Slafkovsky first overall. A few months later, general manager Kent Hughes described the new addition's preseason performance as "underwhelming." Whether or not he's in the NHL in 2022-23, Slafkovsky should be motivated to show he earned the distinction of being the No. 1 pick.30. Philadelphia Flyers Mitchell Leff / Getty Images Sport / GettyOffseason rank: 30Tony DeAngelo is the latest right-shot defenseman to enjoy a great season playing alongside Jaccob Slavin. The next step? Proving he can be just as effective with a lot less help in Philadelphia. The Flyers are in a tough spot and are hoping DeAngelo can be a positive, not another negative.31. Chicago BlackhawksOffseason rank: 32Much of the conversation about the Blackhawks has focused on Patrick Kane, but the team has another pending unrestricted free agent on its hands in Jonathan Toews. Regardless of whether Toews sticks around in Chicago or gets traded elsewhere, the captain would do well to prove that he isn't just an afterthought.32. Arizona CoyotesOffseason rank: 312018 fifth overall pick Barrett Hayton finally made the jump to full-time NHL action in 2021-22 with mixed results. On a Coyotes team with minimal depth (to say the least), Hayton will have plenty of opportunity to convert the potential he showed in his OHL days into production with Arizona.(Analytics sources: Evolving-Hockey, Natural Stat Trick)Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Ottawa Senators have signed veteran forward Derick Brassard to a one-year, $750,000 contract, the team announced Monday.Brassard joined the Senators earlier this offseason on a professional tryout. His new deal was revealed to teammates during Monday's practice.

Leading up to the start of the 2022-23 season, theScore is counting down the top 100 players in the game today, as voted on by our NHL editors. Injuries have been taken into consideration. We'll reveal 20 players every day until the top 20 are unveiled Oct. 11.100-81 | 80-61 | 60-41 | 40-21 | 20-1100. Anthony Cirelli, Tampa Bay Lightning Mark LoMoglio / National Hockey League / GettyCirelli had a modest 17 goals and 43 points in 2021-22, totals that may not indicate he's a top-100 player at first glance. However, there's far more to the Lightning forward's game than providing secondary scoring. Cirelli is one of the premier defensive forwards in the league, finishing top five in Selke voting last season for the second time in his career. Don't underestimate Cirelli's impact on Tampa Bay.99. Bo Horvat, Vancouver CanucksHorvat chipped in with a career-high 31 goals in 2021-22. He should be extra motivated this season given that he can become an unrestricted free agent in the summer. The Canucks captain also got more productive once head coach Bruce Boudreau took over midway through the last campaign, so we'll see what a full 82-game slate can bring.98. Nico Hischier, New Jersey DevilsIt's not just that Hischier established career bests in goals (21), assists (39), points, and average ice time (19:21) over 70 games last season. The Swiss center is finally showing the potential on a nightly basis that inspired the Devils to draft him first overall in 2017. It helps that the 23-year-old now has more talent around him, but Hischier earned this spot on his own merit.97. Valeri Nichushkin, Colorado Avalanche Nichushkin broke out in a big way in 2021-22, proving to be a dominant two-way player and a key cog in the Avalanche's championship squad. He racked up 52 points in 62 regular-season games before finding the scoresheet 15 times in the playoffs while maintaining stellar defensive metrics. It's hard to believe Nichushkin is the same player as the one who looked to be a bust during a rocky four seasons in Dallas.96. Sean Couturier, Philadelphia FlyersCouturier's had some bad luck with injuries. At 29 years old, he was limited to 45 games last campaign and is already hurt to begin this season. However, when healthy, the 2020 Selke winner is still one of the game's premier two-way centers.95. Jesper Bratt, New Jersey Devils Bruce Bennett / Getty Images Sport / GettyA breakout 26-goal, 73-point season for Bratt put him on the map as one of the bright young wingers in the game. Despite his stellar campaign, he only signed a one-year extension with the Devils. Another near point-per-game season from the 24-year-old would cement his place in the top 100 and have him in line for quite the raise from his $5.45 million cap hit.94. Claude Giroux, Ottawa SenatorsAfter spending the first 1,000 games of his career with the Flyers, Giroux signed with his third NHL team, the Senators, as an unrestricted free agent in July. The veteran forward was a key part of the organization's extremely active offseason. He'll undoubtedly bear more than his fair share of the pressure as the buzz builds in Ottawa.93. Matt Duchene, Nashville PredatorsDuchene had one of the quietest 43-goal seasons in recent memory. It was even more surprising that the Predators forward produced personal bests in tallies and points (86) after he turned 31 in January. But don't overlook Duchene because of his age or team. The 13-year veteran still has plenty of skill.92. Darnell Nurse, Edmonton OilersNurse is the heart and soul of the Oilers' blue line. He may soon be usurped by Evan Bouchard as Edmonton's top offensive rearguard, but Nurse is worth his weight in gold when it comes to eating minutes and providing physicality and leadership. He's averaged over 25 minutes of ice time per game over the past two seasons.91. MacKenzie Weegar, Calgary FlamesWeegar is one of the rare right-handed blue-liners who often plays on the left side. That may change now that he's in Calgary. But regardless of where he's playing, Weegar has proven to be one of the more underrated defensemen in the league. He defends well, is excellent in transition, and can chip in offensively.90. Dylan Larkin, Detroit Red Wings Darcy Finley / National Hockey League / GettyThe young stars in Detroit have gotten lots of attention over the past year, but don't forget about Larkin. The Red Wings captain tallied 31 goals and 69 points in 71 games to lead Detroit in both categories last season. A big campaign is ahead as Larkin enters a contract year looking to bring the Red Wings back into playoff contention.89. Pavel Buchnevich, St. Louis BluesBy any measure, Buchnevich enjoyed a breakthrough season during his first campaign with the Blues. The former New York Ranger ranked second on the team with 30 goals and third with 76 points in 73 games. If he keeps up the flashy production, he can continue to make the Sammy Blais trade look really, really good for his new squad.88. Vladimir Tarasenko, St. Louis BluesTarasenko returned to his old ways in 2021-22 after a couple of injury-plagued campaigns. Buchnevich's teammate and countryman is on the wrong side of 30 now, but Tarasenko has proven he can still be a game-changer when healthy.87. Jared Spurgeon, Minnesota WildIt seems as though Spurgeon will fly under the radar his entire career. Minnesota's quiet captain, soon to be 33, is fresh off his most productive offensive season while posting a sterling expected goals rate of 56.9%.86. Seth Jones, Chicago BlackhawksThe analytics aren't overly kind to Jones, but 6-foot-4 defensemen who skate like he can are few and far between in the NHL. He may be better suited as a No. 2 D-man, but we probably won't see him in that role during the prime of his career as he enters the first season of an eight-year contract with the rebuilding Blackhawks.85. Darcy Kuemper, Washington Capitals Gregory Shamus / Getty Images Sport / GettyKuemper was exactly what Colorado needed in the 2021-22 season, posting a .921 save percentage in 57 games. The scary eye injury he suffered in the playoffs is cause for some concern as he starts a five-year pact with the Capitals. If Kuemper is healthy, he's one of the top goaltenders in the league. He's recorded a .920 save percentage or better in four of the past five campaigns.84. Jordan Kyrou, St. Louis BluesKyrou's emergence in 2021-22 was something to behold. He was one of nine 20-goal scorers for the Blues, and he posted career highs in tallies (27) and points (75) in 74 games. St. Louis rewarded Kyrou for his effort with an eight-year, $65-million extension that kicks in during the 2023-24 campaign. It'll be up to him to continue to prove he's worth the investment this season.83. Zach Werenski, Columbus Blue JacketsWerenski has been one of the most dependable defensemen in the NHL since entering the league in 2016-17. The Blue Jackets rearguard averaged a whopping 25:40 of ice time last season and is a true anchor on Columbus' back end. No matter who his partner has been on the blue line, the 25-year-old has long provided stability and offensive production.82. Trevor Zegras, Anaheim DucksIf this were a "Most Entertaining Player to Watch" list, Zegras would arguably be in the top spot. For now, the Ducks' creative catalyst will remain on the opposite end of our rankings as he continues growing into a superstar.81. Drew Doughty, Los Angeles KingsDoughty seemed to be rejuvenated last season while the Kings returned to the playoffs - it's a shame he wasn't healthy in time for the postseason. He may not be who he was in his heyday, but he's still one of the game's most competitive players and proven winners.(Analytics source: Natural Stat Trick)Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Warning: Story contains graphic contentThe Tampa Bay Lightning suspended defenseman Ian Cole indefinitely Sunday after a woman said he sexually assaulted her when she was a minor and groomed her over a four-year period."The Tampa Bay Lightning is aware of the allegations against player Ian Cole and are cooperating fully with the NHL on an investigation," the team said in a statement."Our organization takes these allegations very seriously. While we continue to gather more details, we have decided to suspend Ian Cole pending the results of an investigation. No members of the organization, including players, will comment further at this time."On Friday, a Twitter user with the name Emily Smith posted a statement saying Cole sexually abused her, including sexually assaulting her when she was a minor. She said she later discovered that Cole had slept with another minor at her former high school. Smith added that one of Cole's former NHL teammates told her that the defenseman had bragged about the assault to his teammates.Cole released a statement via his agent later Sunday evening."I take the allegations made against me today in an anonymous tweet very seriously," the statement reads. "I completely deny these allegations and will fully cooperate with the NHL and the Tampa Bay Lightning, their officials and legal departments in the forthcoming investigation."I look forward to clearing my name and demonstrating to the NHL and the Tampa Bay Lightning that these allegations are unfounded. I will have no further comment until the NHL's investigation concludes."NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly said earlier Sunday that the league is aware of the allegations and is looking into them, according to The Athletic's Katie Strang.Cole, 33, is entering his 13th NHL season with his seventh organization.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Toronto Maple Leafs signed forward Zach Aston-Reese to a one-year contract worth approximately $840,000, the team announced Sunday.Aston-Reese joined Toronto's camp on a professional tryout last month. The defensive-minded winger projects to be a bottom-six contributor this season.

The Toronto Maple Leafs have let teams know that Wayne Simmonds is available via trade, according to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.Toronto is more concerned about "doing right" by the veteran winger rather than maximizing a potential return, Friedman adds.Simmonds, 34, was placed on waivers Sunday, according to NorthStar Bets' Chris Johnston. Adam Gaudette, Kyle Clifford, and Victor Mete are on the wire as well.Rosters are set to be finalized Monday as the North American start to the 2022-23 campaign kicks off Tuesday. The Maple Leafs begin their season Wednesday against the Montreal Canadiens.Toronto signed Simmonds to a one-year contract prior to the 2020-21 season and gave him a two-year, $1.8-million extension the following summer. He spoke earlier this month about his uncertain role with the team."Kinda on the bubble here," Simmonds said, according to Sportsnet's Luke Fox. "I know that I'm battling for my job here. So, you just gotta put that to the back of your mind and come out and do everything the right way."Simmonds was one of the league's premier power forwards in his prime, eclipsing the 25-goal mark five times as a member of the Philadelphia Flyers. The Scarborough, Ontario, native has also suited up for the Los Angeles Kings, Nashville Predators, New Jersey Devils, and Buffalo Sabres during his 14-year career.With the Leafs, Simmonds has recorded 12 goals and 13 assists in 110 appearances.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Edmonton Oilers traded defenseman Dmitri Samorukov to the St. Louis Blues in exchange for forward Klim Kostin, the teams announced Sunday.Both players recently cleared waivers and are restricted free agents following the upcoming season.Kostin was the 31st overall pick in 2017. He appeared in a career-high 40 games last season for the Blues and registered nine points. He also racked up 15 points in 17 AHL appearances in 2021-22.Samorukov was a third-round pick in 2017 but has only appeared in one NHL contest to date. The 6-foot-3 rearguard played 51 games in the minors last season and recorded 18 points.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Welcome to the first edition of theScore's 2022-23 Norris Trophy Power Rankings. New rankings will be published once a month throughout the season.Note: All stats from 2021-22

The Buffalo Sabres announced 34-year-old veteran Kyle Okposo as the 20th full-time captain in franchise history on Saturday.Rasmus Dahlin and Zemgus Girgensons will serve as alternates.Buffalo's captaincy has been vacant since Jack Eichel was stripped of the distinction last September. He was traded to the Vegas Golden Knights in November.Okposo is set to enter his seventh season with the Sabres after signing as a free agent in 2016. He enjoyed a bounce-back campaign in 2021-22, tallying 21 goals and 24 assists in 74 games. He'll be an unrestricted free agent following the 2022-23 season."It's impossible to overstate what Kyle has meant to this group - he is patient, he is a lifelong learner, he is levelheaded, and most of all, he is proud to be a Buffalo Sabre," general manager Kevyn Adams said."When times get difficult, Kyle knows when to speak up, and when he does, the team takes it to heart. Kyle and his family have made Buffalo their home and want to see our organization succeed, both on and off the ice. I am proud that Kyle will represent our organization with class and dignity."Girgensons, meanwhile, is the longest-tenured Sabre and will wear an "A" for the third straight season. Dahlin, the 2018 first overall pick, will serve as an alternate for the second consecutive campaign.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Most of our big questions heading into the 2021-22 NHL season were answered in fascinating fashion.No, the Tampa Bay Lightning didn't three-peat, but they came very close. The Jack Eichel saga ended when the Buffalo Sabres traded him to the Vegas Golden Knights. Connor McDavid followed up his historic 2020-21 season with a 123-point effort, winning his second straight Art Ross Trophy and fourth in total.The Toronto Maple Leafs didn't win a playoff series, failing to reach the second round for a sixth consecutive year as Tampa eliminated them in seven games. COVID-19 did impact the league, but not to the degree it did in the two previous campaigns.With those queries resolved, there are a handful of new ones for the upcoming season. Here are five big questions heading into 2022-23:Can the Avalanche run it back? Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyThe Colorado Avalanche finally vanquished their playoff demons and won the Stanley Cup for the first time since 2001. After an offseason in which they lost Darcy Kuemper, Nazem Kadri, and Andre Burakovsky in free agency, can they defend their title?Colorado is still extremely deep on paper, with an elite core featuring Nathan MacKinnon, Cale Makar, Mikko Rantanen, Gabriel Landeskog, and Devon Toews. Trade-deadline acquisition Artturi Lehkonen and breakout winger Valeri Nichushkin are still around (the latter with a new eight-year deal) and should help ease the pain of the summer departures.The biggest unknown is in the crease, where former New York Rangers netminder Alexandar Georgiev and incumbent backup Pavel Francouz will try to fill the void left when Kuemper joined the Washington Capitals.It's possible the explosive Avalanche can outscore any potential issues in net. Perhaps Georgiev will have a career year. Maybe Francouz can seize the starting job. But it remains to be seen how this experiment pans out.Who will win the Flames-Panthers blockbuster? Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyThe Calgary Flames and Florida Panthers completed a July mega-trade that shocked the hockey world and likely impacted both teams' fortunes significantly. It will take more than one season to determine who "won" the deal that sent Matthew Tkachuk to Florida and brought Jonathan Huberdeau and Mackenzie Weegar to Calgary. But which team will benefit more in 2022-23?The Flames faced the possibility of an underwhelming return for Tkachuk - after watching Johnny Gaudreau walk out the door, no less - because it was public knowledge he wanted out. But Calgary general manager Brad Treliving managed to snag Huberdeau, one of the league's best playmakers coming off a 115-point campaign, and Weegar, a top-pairing defenseman who should be capable of shouldering the heaviest workload on the Flames' back end.Calgary is still deep enough to defend its Pacific Division title, which is pretty remarkable given the team's offseason rollercoaster. The deal appears to be a step backward for the Panthers, though. They didn't get fleeced, having landed a rare talent in Tkachuk who's adept at both creating offense and getting under opponents' skin. But losing Huberdeau and Weegar arguably made them worse.Florida remains a very good team with a solid goaltending duo, brilliant two-way dynamo Aleksander Barkov at center, and the excellent Aaron Ekblad on defense. But the rest of the Panthers' back end is concerning - particularly on the left side. Though this club can make the playoffs, it seems highly likely the Flames will go further.How good will the Blue Jackets be? Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyEveryone knows Gaudreau's arrival should give the Columbus Blue Jackets a major lift, but how much better will they actually be in 2022-23?Gaudreau added 5.5 wins above replacement and scored 31.3 goals above replacement for the Flames last season, both of which ranked second in the NHL. In addition to his 40 goals and 75 assists, the Hart Trophy contender ranked 14th in the league in both individual expected goals at five-on-five (18.03) and expected goals for percentage in the same situations (59.2).The Blue Jackets posted a 37-38-7 record in 2021-22, collecting 81 points and finishing sixth in the Metropolitan Division. Theoretically, with five extra wins from Gaudreau (we'll round down to be conservative), Columbus would have finished fifth with 91 points. The Blue Jackets would have leapfrogged the New York Islanders but still finished nine points behind the fourth-place Washington Capitals.Trading away a 28-goal, 57-point player in Oliver Bjorkstrand cost Columbus 1.5 WAR, but the team surprisingly gained 0.7 by signing Erik Gudbranson. So while Bjorkstrand's departure is certainly notable, it shouldn't have a devastating effect on the team's win total.Gaudreau and Patrik Laine will give opponents plenty of matchup nightmares. But unless one of the Metro's top four clubs from last season has an unexpectedly poor campaign, the Blue Jackets aren't likely to make the playoffs. A wild-card berth will also be a stretch considering the competition in a loaded Atlantic Division. Columbus should make strides this season with its big-ticket signing. Reaching the postseason is another story.Who will win the Connor Bedard sweepstakes? Andy Devlin / Getty Images Sport / GettyAnother "generational talent" is projected to go first overall in next year's draft, and teams are already salivating over the chance to select Connor Bedard.If there's one team blatantly chasing the first overall pick, it's the Chicago Blackhawks. They all but gutted their roster this offseason, parting with several impact players including two-time 41-goal scorer Alex DeBrincat. The lineup is now quite bare aside from franchise cornerstones Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews (more on them below), as well as Seth Jones.Then there are the Arizona Coyotes, who always seem to be in the lottery mix but have never actually won it. This could the year, as last season's second-worst team hasn't really improved. Conversely, the Montreal Canadiens - who finished dead last in 2021-22 - figure to be better, with their encouraging young core developing further over a full campaign under head coach Martin St. Louis.The Seattle Kraken should be better, too. The second-year squad acquired Bjorkstrand from the Blue Jackets, while youngsters Matty Beniers and Shane Wright are both primed to make an impact. Of course, finishing last doesn't guarantee a lottery win. No management team will ever admit to tanking, and no players actively attempt to lose on the ice. But the hunt for Bedard will be a subplot all season.Will Kane and Toews be traded? Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyConsidering the Blackhawks' shameless teardown, it wouldn't shock anyone if the faces of the franchise are playing for other teams after the March 3 trade deadline. That said, it's entirely possible they both choose to finish their careers in Chicago.Kane and Toews have nothing left to prove on the ice. They both played integral parts in Chicago's three most recent Stanley Cup championships, so going elsewhere to win may not be as critical to them as it is for veterans who have never won. But one or both of the Blackhawks' stars may still have the hunger to go on a deep playoff run and prove they can help multiple franchises claim the ultimate prize.Toews certainly doesn't sound like he'll be in the Windy City beyond the deadline. The 34-year-old Blackhawks captain said in July that Chicago's five-year rebuild plan "doesn't sound appealing" to him at all; it wasn't a ringing endorsement of general manager Kyle Davidson's vision, but much can change in five months.Kane, who turns 34 in November, could see the value in retiring with the only NHL team he's ever known. It's a rarity in today's game. The opportunity to mentor Chicago's prospects and end his career with the Blackhawks could be appealing for the winger - and even for Toews if the center has a change of heart. Either way, their futures will be a major talking point this season.(Analytics sources: Evolving Hockey, Natural Stat Trick)Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Welcome to the first edition of theScore's 2022-23 Vezina Trophy Power Rankings. New rankings will be published once a month throughout the season.Note: All stats from 2021-22

The Vancouver Canucks traded forward Jason Dickinson and a 2024 second-round pick to the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for defenseman Riley Stillman, the teams announced Friday.The move will give the Canucks an additional $1.3 million in cap space, but they're still $689,167 over the upper limit with a roster of 22 players, per CapFriendly. They could become compliant by assigning one player to the minors.Dickinson, 27, has two years remaining on his contract with a $2.65-million cap hit and will then be an unrestricted free agent. He recorded five goals and six assists in 62 games last season and is set to enter his eighth NHL campaign. He played his first six seasons with the Dallas Stars after they drafted him in the first round in 2013.Stillman, 24, also has two years remaining on his contract with a $1.35-million cap hit and will hit restricted free agency at the end of the pact. He recorded two goals and 10 assists in 52 contests with the Blackhawks in 2021-22. The son of two-time Cup winner Cory Stillman, Riley was a fourth-round pick of the Florida Panthers in 2016.Neither player is considered an analytics darling. Here are their underlying numbers over the last three seasons. Evolving-Hockey.comFor the Canucks, they ship out a player whom the previous regime acquired last offseason and didn't quite pan out. They also gain depth on defense, although, as a left shot, Stillman won't fill Vancouver's holes on the right side of its blue line.The Blackhawks, meanwhile, gain another draft pick as their rebuild continues. They now have two firsts, two seconds, and two thirds in the 2023 and 2024 drafts.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Tomas Hertl left the Czech crowd ecstatic, scoring the San Jose Sharks' first goal of 2022-23 in the opening game of the NHL regular season against the Nashville Predators in Prague on Friday.

Sure, most teams haven't hit the ice for their first game of the 2022-23 season, but we can still zero in on the youngsters vying to take home the Calder Trophy as the league's top rookie.Let's address the elephant in the room first: You won't find Shane Wright or Juraj Slafkovsky on this list ... yet. You may remember the Montreal Canadiens opted to take Slafkovsky with the first overall pick at the draft in July, while Wright (complete with that innocuous-yet-piercing stare) fell to the Seattle Kraken in the No. 4 spot.Their omissions are mostly because they haven't carved out their roles in the NHL yet. There's another rookie center grabbing his fair share of the headlines in Seattle (more on him later). And Canadiens general manager Kent Hughes raised some eyebrows when he said Slafkovsky's early preseason play was "a little underwhelming."There's no reason Wright and Slafkovsky can't force their way onto these rankings at some point. However, for the preseason edition, we opted to feature five players bound to see plenty of playing time while taking on sizeable roles.All stats are from the 2021-22 NHL season.5. Logan Thompson, Golden Knights Jeff Bottari / National Hockey League / GettyGPSV%GAASODrafted19 (17 starts).9142.681UndraftedTo say there's a lot riding on Thompson's shoulders would be an understatement. With the ailing Robin Lehner ruled out for the season, the inexperienced Thompson finds himself in contention to become the Vegas Golden Knights' No. 1 goaltender.That's intimidating enough on its own, but the Golden Knights are still licking their wounds after failing to make the playoffs for the first time in franchise history. Of course, injuries decimated the roster last season, but excuses can only go so far in covering up the fact that the team fell short of expectations. The pressure is pretty high in Sin City for 2022-23, and a large chunk of the responsibility will fall on Thompson (as well as his supporting cast of Adin Hill and the currently injured Laurent Brossoit).However, the 25-year-old Thompson enjoyed a solid showing down the stretch last season. He paced the team in save percentage and goals-against average, as well as goals saved above average (2.67) and goals saved above expected (1.8) at five-on-five. Time will tell if he can give the Golden Knights what they need to return to postseason form. For Vegas' sake, hopefully, this won't be Thompson's only appearance on these rankings.4. Jack Quinn, Sabres Bill Wippert / National Hockey League / GettyGPGPATOIDrafted21214:538th overall (2020)Quinn is already used to having huge rookie seasons, which is why he's the first of two Buffalo Sabres players to appear on these rankings. He torched the competition in the AHL last season, potting 26 goals and 35 assists in just 45 games with the Rochester Americans. His outlandish 1.36 point-per-game rate ranked third among all skaters who suited up for at least 20 contests, and he recorded multiple points in 19 games.The 21-year-old winger was named the 2021-22 AHL Rookie of the Year for his efforts, and we're not sure what's left for him to do at that level. Quinn got into a pair of NHL games in January and scored a goal - a bar-down beauty on the power play - in his second contest. It's about time Quinn made the jump to the big league on a full-time basis.The consensus seems to be that he's ready. The question is where Quinn will slot into the Sabres' lineup. He could take a spot in the top six and has skated on the second line alongside Casey Mittelstadt and Alex Tuch in the dying days of the preseason. Quinn has some competition for that role thanks to the experienced Peyton Krebs, who has been a good fit in Buffalo since the Sabres acquired him as part of the Jack Eichel trade. Quinn may have to pay his dues in the bottom six before climbing the team's ranks. Regardless, he'll need to make a convincing push to solidify his early case for Calder Trophy consideration, especially with the names still to come on this list.3. Mason McTavish, Ducks Andy Devlin / Getty Images Sport / GettyGPGPATOIDrafted92313:053rd overall (2021)Between the NHL, OHL, AHL, Olympics, and world juniors, few players were as busy as McTavish in 2021-22. He started his torrid campaign on a nine-game stint with the Anaheim Ducks and scored a goal in his first NHL contest on Oct. 13.McTavish truly came into his own on the international stage, though. He chipped in with one assist for Canada in five contests at the 2022 Beijing Games, and he dominated at the world juniors in August. McTavish was named tourney MVP after leading all players with 17 points in seven contests while donning the "C" for Team Canada. He also made a tournament-saving defensive play when he scooped the puck off Canada's goal line in overtime of the gold-medal game against Finland. McTavish's high hockey IQ and top-notch shot have garnered him a ton of hype heading into the 2022-23 NHL season.What's keeping him from the top two spots on these rankings is the mere presence of Trevor Zegras, who will be the Ducks' No. 1 center. Anaheim also acquired Ryan Strome in the offseason, and he could center the second line. If that's the case, McTavish will either get pushed to the third line - which would be detrimental to his Calder hopes - or move out of his natural position and shift to the wing to get into the top six.2. Matty Beniers, Kraken Jonathan Kozub / National Hockey League / GettyGPGPATOIDrafted103916:562nd overall (2021)Beniers will be saddled with the most responsibility out of all the forwards on this list, which justifies his high placement on these rankings. With the Kraken in need of a true No. 1 center, Seattle will likely lean on Beniers to fill that role, perhaps as early as the team's first game of the campaign on Oct. 12. It's a ton of pressure, but the franchise's first-ever draft pick managed to make a noticeable impression during his initial big-league test last season. Beniers made his NHL debut on April 12, and his nine points over the Krakens' final 10 games of the campaign tied for the team lead.The 19-year-old will get a chance to rack up even more points because he'll probably factor into Seattle's top power-play unit. He led Michigan with 10 goals on the man advantage in 2021-22, and the Kraken could surely use some help in that area. Seattle owned the league's fourth-least effective power play in its inaugural campaign after converting on only 14.6% of its opportunities.Beniers' brief flash of NHL production last season translates to 74 points over a full 82-game campaign. Whether he can keep up that pace remains to be seen, especially on the scoring-deficient Kraken. But Seattle partially addressed that issue by acquiring wingers Oliver Bjorkstrand and Andre Burakovsky in the summer.1. Owen Power, Sabres Toronto Star / Toronto Star / GettyGPGPATOIDrafted82322:051st overall (2021)The Sabres haven't played a game yet, but Power's name may already be prewritten on more than a few Calder Trophy voting ballots. The 19-year-old defenseman is widely considered the front-runner for the coveted award, and for good reason.Like Beniers, Power took his talents to the NHL once his 2021-22 season with Michigan concluded. He played eight games with the Sabres and displayed his poise and maturity. It's a small sample size, but Power showed his potential at the big-league level. Buffalo controlled 57.6% of the shot attempts, 52.9% of the goals, and 56% of the expected goals with the young rearguard on the ice at five-on-five.Those are decent possession numbers, especially on a team that struggled to drive its fair share of the play in 2021-22. Power did it all while averaging around 22 minutes of ice time per night, the third most on the team during that span. Rasmus Dahlin will probably still shoulder most of the playing time while quarterbacking the Sabres' top power-play unit in 2022-23, but the 6-foot-6 Power will still get plenty of opportunities to prove his worth.Keep an eye on:

The Calgary Flames signed defenseman Mackenzie Weegar to an eight-year contract extension with an average annual value of $6.25 million.The extension begins in 2023-24.Calgary has now inked both players it obtained in the Matthew Tkachuk trade to eight-year contract extensions, agreeing to a deal with Jonathan Huberdeau in early August. That pact carries a $10.5-million AAV.The Flames acquired Weegar, Huberdeau, prospect Cole Schwindt, and a 2025 conditional first-round pick from the Florida Panthers in the blockbuster swap in July."The guys were all excited, shaking my hand and saying congratulations," Weegar said Friday in reference to his new contract, according to Postmedia's Wes Gilbertson. "A few of them said, 'Well deserved,' but they don't really know. They haven't seen me play too, too much. So expectations are high within the teammates."Weegar has been one of the NHL's best and most underrated two-way blue-liners in recent years. The 28-year-old established career highs in goals (eight), assists (36), average ice time (23:22), and games played (80) with the Panthers last season.The Ottawa-born rearguard suited up for five-plus campaigns with Florida, the club that drafted him 206th overall in 2013.Weegar's deal puts the Flames approximately $3.5 million over the salary cap, according to CapFriendly. Calgary has 28 players on its roster, five over the limit.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

A handful of shocking signings and blockbuster trades over a brief stretch of time - oh yeah, the shortened offseason generated countless storylines for NHL fans. To preview the much-anticipated 2022-23 season, here are 23 predictions. Some are complete long shots, while others are pretty realistic.1. Hurricanes win Cup over AvalancheCarolina isn't getting nearly enough buzz as a Stanley Cup favorite. General manager Don Waddell's offseason haul of Brent Burns, Max Pacioretty, Paul Stastny, Ondrej Kase, and Dylan Coghlan was significant. (Unfortunately, Pacioretty is out for the first half of the year.) Free agent Vincent Trocheck was the only departing player of note. Youngsters Andrei Svechnikov, Seth Jarvis, Martin Necas, and Jesperi Kotkaniemi have extra gears to activate; surely at least two of them will level up. The back end is elite. And, assuming that Frederik Andersen and Antti Raanta can stay healthy, the goaltending is in pretty good shape. Might as well tack on another Canes prediction: Rod Brind'Amour will win his second Jack Adams Award in three years. Book it.2. Klingberg flipped to contender at deadlineJohn Klingberg somewhat surprisingly signed for only one year two weeks into free agency. It seems more likely than not that Ducks GM Pat Verbeek, who appears to be approaching the rebuild with a healthy dose of patience, will trade the right-shot defenseman for futures ahead of the deadline. Klingberg's contract includes a modified no-trade clause that says he can't be dealt before Jan. 1, but after that date, he must submit a 10-team no-trade list. I simply don't see Klingberg's and Anaheim's timelines as compatible over the long term. John Russell / Getty Images3. Jeannot becomes NHL's best bargainConnor McDavid is arguably the NHL's best bargain. But if we're talking about squeezing value out of inexpensive contracts (salary-cap hit of under $1 million, entry-level deals excluded), the place to look is CapFriendly's league-wide cost-per-point ranking. Last year, Michael Bunting, Mason Marchment, Nicolas Roy, Tanner Jeannot, and Travis Boyd were the top five. This season, with his cap hit still at just $800,000, the Predators' Jeannot will take over the No. 1 spot. He brings so much to the table. Four others on non-ELC deals and making less than $1 million who could challenge Jeannot as the best bargain: Alexander Edler (Kings, $750K), Klim Kostin (Blues, $750K), Mark Giordano (Maple Leafs, $800K), and Bunting (Leafs, $950K).4. Coyotes' move to ASU provides boostUnquestionably, playing home games in Arizona State's 5,000-seat arena is embarrassing for the Coyotes and the league. But Mullett Arena, which should be intimate, loud, and a generally unique setting for an NHL game, will provide the team with that elusive home-ice advantage. Sure, the novelty will wear off in future seasons, but in the short term, the rebuilding Coyotes should get a minor boost.5. Penguins get over goalie yipsA brief recap of the Penguins' goaltending woes in recent postseasons: In 2021, promising young starter Tristan Jarry was unexpectedly terrible, posting an .888 save percentage in six games. In 2022, both Jarry and backup Casey DeSmith were injured, thrusting the club's third-stringer, spicy-pork-loving Louis Domingue, into action in the first round. It became Pittsburgh's fourth straight first-round exit despite Jarry returning for Game 7. If the hockey gods aren't cruel, Pittsburgh will get over its goalie yips in 2023. Jarry, to put it lightly, is due for a bounce-back in the playoffs. Last year he was excellent in the regular season, then encountered bad luck. No way that happens again.6. Fiala builds on breakout seasonFor years, Kevin Fiala had been one of the most frustrating young players in the NHL. He would occasionally flash a tantalizing skill set but could never maintain any kind of season-long consistency. Until last season, that is, when he bagged 33 goals and 52 assists in 82 games for the Wild. Fiala, a crafty winger from Switzerland, was then traded to the Kings this offseason. Anze Kopitar and Adrian Kempe have been his preseason linemates - not bad, eh? I think the frustrating times are in the rearview mirror, and Fiala, who's under contract with Los Angeles until 2029, will produce at a similar rate in 2022-23.7. Avalanche don't miss a beat post-KadriNazem Kadri is a tremendous player who had a fabulous 2021-22 season. The Avalanche are better with him than without him. But the fact that coach Jared Bednar has Evan Rodrigues, J.T. Compher, and Alex Newhook as options to replace Kadri as the second-line center is an important bit of context. Any of those three can step in and be 75% of Kadri with increased ice time and better linemates. Colorado's core pieces, from Nathan MacKinnon to Cale Makar to Mikko Rantanen and so on, are so superior to most of the cores in the league that the team can lose Kadri and not miss a beat. As an aside, watch for lesser-known winger Logan O'Connor to become a reliable, point-producing middle-six NHLer this season. Icon Sportswire / Getty Images8. Wings greatly improve, narrowly miss playoffsThere was a clear divide between the top four and bottom four teams in the Atlantic last year. Buffalo, Detroit, Ottawa, and Montreal finished with 75, 74, 73, and 55 points, respectively, well below the playoff cutline. Coming out of a busy summer, it's clear the Canadiens aren't ready to climb the standings, while the Red Wings, Senators, and Sabres are all prepared to take a sizeable step forward. Of those latter three, Detroit seems to have the best chance of challenging for a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. The additions of veterans Ville Husso, Andrew Copp, David Perron, Dominik Kubalik, Ben Chiarot, and Olli Maatta will turn this rebuilding club into something respectable. Look for a healthy Jakub Vrana to break out offensively, too.9. Same 16 teams make playoffsI know: This is the most boring take possible. Yet, when I look at last year's standings and ponder the state of each team heading into this season, I don't see any clear-cut changes to the playoff group. In the East, the Islanders, Blue Jackets, and/or Devils could conceivably move up. The same goes for rebuilding teams like the Red Wings, Sabres, and Senators. But who's losing their spot? The Bruins? The Capitals? I'm not ready to give up on either squad being in the East's top eight next spring. In the West, the Golden Knights and Canucks have playoff aspirations, but I really liked the Predators' summer; Pete DeBoer teams are always competitive so the Stars are probably safe; and every other 2021-22 playoff club is either rising or still super strong.10. McDavid scores 50 goals for first timeWhile hoisting the Stanley Cup remains priority No. 1 for McDavid, bagging 50 goals can't be too far behind for a guy who's eclipsed 100 points five times and racked up multiple scoring titles and MVP honors. His goals-per-game rate has moved in the right direction every year of his career, and he finished 2021-22 with 44 tallies in 80 games. Scoring 50 is a fresh challenge, and it feels inevitable in the same way Sidney Crosby popping 50 did.11. Hakstol is first head coach firedThe Kraken's inaugural season wasn't pretty: The 60-point team finished 28th in goals for and 24th in goals against. The bar is low. If Seattle doesn't make progress in Year 2, though, coach Dave Hakstol could be an easy fall guy. That's not to say GM Ron Francis will make a panic move if things don't go as planned in October. But he should probably do something to send a message to players and fans if the season spirals. Hakstol, whose best years have been behind a college bench, was an odd hire at the time, so perhaps Francis cuts his losses here. Otherwise, there aren't many other obvious candidates to be the first head coach fired. D.J. Smith in Ottawa? Lindy Ruff in New Jersey? Kevin Sousa / Getty Images12. Eklund finishes top three in Calder votingThere's usually one unexpected contender for the Calder Trophy - a rookie who quickly sheds the "dark horse" label, gains steam at midseason, and finishes top three in voting. (Think Michael Bunting last year and Jason Robertson in 2020-21.) William Eklund will be that guy this season. The creative two-way Sharks forward didn't garner preseason buzz like Owen Power or Matty Beniers, but he'll have ample opportunity to produce if he can nab a permanent spot in San Jose's top six. Veteran Logan Couture could use a winger with offensive punch and energy. Eklund, who turns 20 next week, fits the bill.13. Eichel records 100 points for first timeJack Eichel's start in Vegas wasn't ideal; the Golden Knights were ravaged by injuries to close out last season. It's easy to forget that Eichel is an offensive powerhouse, and with his neck healed and something to prove, the 2015 No. 2 overall pick is primed for a gigantic season. While it would be a sizeable jump from his career high of 82, Eichel recording 100 points isn't an outrageous idea. This is his first full season on a highly competitive team, and he's armed with all the motivation in the world.14. Dorion wins GM of the YearYou shouldn't overthink some predictions. While the Flames made the biggest splashes of the offseason, the Senators were the consensus winners of the summer. Pierre Dorion reeled in Alex DeBrincat, Claude Giroux, and Cam Talbot through the trade market and free agency, then locked up Tim Stutzle on an eight-year extension. I liked the Tyler Motte signing, and props to Dorion for retaining only 25% of Matt Murray's cap hit in a summer trade with Toronto. If Ottawa makes the playoffs, Dorion is probably the no-brainer pick for GM of the year. Even if they don't, he has enough depth players to flip at the deadline for assets to keep the good vibes going.15. Miller becomes household nameThe growth of Alexis Lafreniere and Kaapo Kakko as it relates to the Rangers' chances of winning the Cup is deservedly attracting a lot of attention. However, don't sleep on K'Andre Miller's potential impact. The 22-year-old defenseman's early career has been overshadowed by the presence of Adam Fox, Ryan Lindgren, and partner and team captain Jacob Trouba. Miller has two seasons of top-four minutes under his belt now, and he's set to make a statement in Year 3. As a 6-foot-5, 215-pounder who can skate like the wind and handle the puck with ease, Miller is a rare blue-liner. If he doesn't ascend into household-name territory, I'll be shocked.16. Michkov will not be a top-five pick in 2023Based solely on what he brings to the ice, Matvei Michkov is, at worst, a top-three player in the 2023 draft. He will be a highlight-reel goal-scorer in the NHL one day - somebody who brings fans of all stripes out of their seats. However, three factors are working against Michkov ahead of the draft. One, the 17-year-old forward is signed with a KHL team through 2026. Two, Russia's war on Ukraine may deter teams from drafting Russians in the appropriate slot. Three, another half-dozen elite prospects will be available after presumptive No. 1 pick Connor Bedard goes off the board. Mark LoMoglio / Getty Images17. Shesterkin overtakes Vasilevskiy as top goaliePoll 10 keen hockey observers on the best goalie in the world right now and you'd probably get six votes for Andrei Vasilevskiy and four for Igor Shesterkin. It's tight. But by the end of the season, I believe the results will flip to 6-4 or 7-3 for Shesterkin. The Rangers netminder, who received 29 of 32 first-place votes for the Vezina Trophy last year, is a rock star at only 26 years old. There's no doubt he'll continue his ascent this season. That's not to suggest that Vasilevskiy, 28, is due to drop off - he'll continue to be spectacular. It's just that Shesterkin is rising.18. Boldy leads sophomores in pointsYes, Matt Boldy - who finished 10th in rookie scoring last year - will break through and collect more points than his peers. The 21-year-old Wild forward quietly paced 2021-22 rookies in points per game (0.83 in 47 contests) while skating for only 15:23 a night (Lucas Raymond, Trevor Zegras, Dawson Mercer, and Cole Caufield saw between 16:30 and 18:09). Boldy's an incredibly smart player. He's poised with the puck, too, and he won't get pushed around at 6-foot-2 and 201 pounds. And, if the preseason is any indication, the Massachusetts native should get plenty of touches on the power play.19. Leafs start playoffs with Samsonov in netAnybody claiming to be confident about a prediction involving the Maple Leafs, particularly the club's goaltending, is playing with fire. Toronto enters the season with two projects - Matt Murray and Ilya Samsonov - and neither is a sure thing. I'll go with Samsonov, the 2015 first-round pick who fell out of favor with the Capitals. The highly motivated young Russian will outperform Murray in the early stages of the regular season and solidify himself as the No. 1 by midseason. Samsonov won't take complete control of the crease or appear in an exorbitant number of games. But he will start Game 1 of the playoffs.20. Cale Makar wins second consecutive NorrisWe're spoiled with high-end defensemen. In predicting this year's Norris Trophy winner, one could easily tap a past recipient such as Victor Hedman, Roman Josi, or Adam Fox, or someone who'll be in the conversation for years, such as Moritz Seider, Charlie McAvoy, or Aaron Ekblad. But Cale Makar's 2021-22 season for the Avalanche - Norris, Conn Smythe, Stanley Cup - was so phenomenal that if anybody's going to repeat, it's him. The dude's an award voter's dream: He's incredibly entertaining to watch, puts up a ton of points, and defends very well. Makar would be the first D-man to go back-to-back since Nicklas Lidstrom won three straight trophies coming out of the 2004-05 lockout. Patrick Smith / Getty Images21. Ovechkin scores 40, keeps record within reachAlex Ovechkin's career consists of 12 seasons of 46 or more goals and five of 38 or fewer. In two of those less productive seasons, he was limited to 48 and 45 games due to a lockout and the pandemic. So predicting that Ovechkin will "just" score 40 goals is betting against history. My logic for doing so is simple: Ovechkin will slow down at some point, and while I'd love to see him snipe 50 every season for the next 10 years, I think 2022-23 may be the start of his decline. He's given himself such a head start in the race to break Wayne Gretzky's all-time goals record that 40 would bring him to 820, or 75 from setting a new record. Ovechkin could pot 75 in his sleep over the remaining three seasons of his deal. He'll be OK if he "only" gets 40 this year.22. League save percentage dips to .905The league save percentage has been on a downward slope for the past eight seasons, sliding from .915 in 2014-15 to .907 in 2021-22. And I'm guessing this year it'll hit .905 for the first time since 2006-07. There will be a course correction at some point over the next handful of years once the goaltending fraternity figures out how to shift the power dynamic. (They always find a way.) But that trend reversal isn't coming just yet. Brimming with skill from top to bottom on every roster, the NHL will be infused with extra offensive punch in 2022-23, driving the SV% down further.23. Fleury reaches 1,000 career gamesMartin Brodeur, Roberto Luongo, and Patrick Roy are the only netminders to have appeared in 1,000 NHL games. Marc-Andre Fleury enters his 19th season 61 games away. The NHL favors sharing the load at the position now, and just five goalies appeared in 60 or more games last year. So this prediction is a bit of a stretch. However, the universally beloved 37-year-old, who prefers lots of crease time, should start 55-60 games for the Wild. Fleury will presumably relieve unproven backup Filip Gustavsson a few times along the way, too, bringing him within striking distance of 1,000. I say he gets there.John Matisz is theScore's senior NHL writer. Follow John on Twitter (@MatiszJohn) or contact him via email (john.matisz@thescore.com).Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NHL saw a major uptick in scoring last season, as the league's 3.14 goals per game were its highest since 1995-96. The surge was due in part to the game's biggest stars reaching new heights. As we hope for another offensive outburst in 2022-23, here are five electrifying players who can help make it happen.Connor McDavid Andy Devlin / National Hockey League / GettyWe'll start with the most obvious entry on this list. McDavid has led the NHL in scoring in four of the past six seasons and somehow keeps finding ways to get better. He set career highs in goals and points in 2021-22 while also reaching his first Western Conference Final.He'll be as motivated as ever to raise the bar, which should be a joy for fans and a nightmare for opponents across the league.Auston Matthews Claus Andersen / Getty Images Sport / GettyMatthews has established himself as the NHL's most electrifying goal-scorer since entering the league in 2016. He became the first player in a decade to reach the 60-goal plateau en route to capturing MVP honors this past season.The 25-year-old is a threat to score every time he touches the puck in the offensive zone. He's also an underrated playmaker on one of the league's best lines, having racked up a personal-best 46 helpers a year ago.Cale Makar Mark LoMoglio / National Hockey League / GettyThere are no defensemen like Makar in today's game. The Colorado Avalanche rearguard is one of hockey's most gifted skaters, has elite offensive instincts, and can shut down any opponent's top line. He's also the quarterback of the NHL's most high-octane offense, making Colorado games must-watch.Makar is well on his way to becoming one of the all-time greats, having won the Calder, Norris, Conn Smythe, and Stanley Cup at only 24 years old. Soak in his prime years while you can.Kirill Kaprizov Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyKaprizov doesn't play on a team as dynamic and entertaining as the others on this list, but he's appointment viewing all on his own. Since joining the Minnesota Wild from the KHL two seasons ago, Kaprizov's captured a Calder Trophy and recorded 159 points in 136 games.The 25-year-old is the complete package offensively; he's armed with a lethal shot, pinpoint passing, and the skating ability to create chances out of nothing. Kaprizov went from a highly touted prospect to one of the league's top talents seemingly in the blink of an eye, and there's no telling what his ceiling might be.Nikita Kucherov Mark LoMoglio / National Hockey League / GettyInjuries have kept Kucherov off the ice for much of the past two regular seasons. But he's shown during the playoffs in recent years that he's one of the league's most unstoppable offensive forces when healthy.While his playoff exploits cement his reputation as one of the NHL's current greats, Kucherov could easily capture some regular-season hardware this year. After all, he's only three seasons removed from winning an MVP and scoring title, and although he appeared in just 47 contests this past campaign, his 1.47 points per game trailed only McDavid. As the primary playmaker on one of the league's best power plays, Kucherov will have ample opportunities to work his magic and light up the scoresheet.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Edmonton Oilers released forward Jake Virtanen from his professional tryout agreement on Thursday.Virtanen, 26, put up two assists in six preseason games.The Oilers drew heavy criticism when they brought Virtanen to camp.Virtanen was found not guilty of sexual assault by a jury in late July after he was charged in January. In May 2021, a woman said in a lawsuit that Virtanen assaulted her in a Vancouver hotel room in 2017.The lawsuit also said the woman suffered physical and emotional damages. Virtanen denied the allegations.The Vancouver Canucks, who drafted Virtanen with the sixth overall pick in 2014, cut ties with him shortly after the allegations surfaced and bought out his contract.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has taken several opportunities to express his displeasure with Hockey Canada and continued to do so Thursday, calling for "wholesale change" within the organization itself or externally."They need to realize that, if we have to create an organization, get rid of 'Hockey Canada' and create an organization called 'Canada Hockey' instead, people will look at doing that," Trudeau told reporters in Ottawa."The federal government isn't in the business of starting those organizations, but if nobody's going to this organization, I'm sure there'll be a vacuum filled up," he added.Trudeau's comments came hours after Canadian Tire announced it would end its partnership with Hockey Canada."In our view, Hockey Canada continues to resist meaningful change and we can no longer confidently move forward together," the company wrote in a statement, per TSN and the Canadian Press.While other companies like Tim Hortons, Telus, and Scotiabank have all suspended their support for Hockey Canada's men's program for this season, Canadian Tire is apparently the first to cut ties entirely. It also announced that it would redirect funds to Respect Group, an organization co-founded by Sheldon Kennedy that aims to eliminate bullying, abuse, harassment, and discrimination in sports.Hockey Quebec made the substantial decision Wednesday to suspend the transfer of registration fees to Hockey Canada, while the Ontario Hockey Federation asked the organization to stop collecting the $3 participant assessment fee from its members.Hockey Canada has been under intense scrutiny in recent months over a sexual assault lawsuit that was settled in May. In the lawsuit, a woman said eight unnamed CHL players, including members of Canada's 2017-18 world junior team, sexually assaulted her in June 2018 following an event in London, Ontario.The organization was once again in the headlines Tuesday after interim chair Andrea Skinner downplayed "toxic behavior" in the sport while being questioned by the House of Commons."Suggesting that toxic behavior is somehow a specific hockey problem, or to scapegoat hockey as a centerpiece for toxic culture is, in my opinion, counterproductive to finding solutions," Skinner said, "and risks overlooking the change that needs to be made more broadly, to prevent and address toxic behavior, particularly against women."Skinner also continued to support Hockey Canada's current leaders and wondered if the lights would "stay on" at rinks if those leaders were removed, according to TSN's Rick Westhead.Trudeau pushed back against that notion Thursday."It's not like there's something extraordinarily special about the people at Hockey Canada that means they're the only people in the country that can run an organization like this," he said. "There's lots of people who could run it, and unfortunately, the total loss of faith in that organization by everyone means that it's nonsensical that they'd be digging in their heels on this one."Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Calgary Flames released forwards Cody Eakin and Sonny Milano from their professional tryout deals on Thursday.Veteran defenseman Michael Stone remains with the team on a PTO.When assessing Eakin's and Milano's performances in the preseason earlier this week, head coach Darryl Sutter said it had been "challenging" for both players, according to TSN's Salim Nadim Valji.Eakin scored one goal in four games of preseason action, while Milano failed to register a point, according to Natural Stat Trick.Milano, 26, logged 14 goals and 20 assists in 66 games with the Anaheim Ducks last season. He memorably buried Trevor Zegras' stunning, alley-oop assist that went viral in December.Eakin, 31, put up four goals and 12 points in 69 contests with the Buffalo Sabres in 2021-22.Both players are unrestricted free agents.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Dallas Stars put an end to their contract standoff with restricted free-agent star Jason Robertson by signing him to a four-year, $31-million extension Wednesday.The forward's new deal carries an average annual value of $7.75 million. He will remain a restricted free agent once it expires.A key part of the Stars' top line last season alongside Roope Hintz and Joe Pavelski, Robertson led the Stars in goals (41), power-play tallies (13), shots (220), and shooting percentage (18.6). He also ranked second on the team with 79 points in 74 games."Jason is an integral part of the present and future of our team, and we're thrilled to have him for the next four years," Stars general manager Jim Nill said in a statement."Since he was drafted by our organization, he has worked tirelessly to become a better player every day. His knack for scoring goals and seeing plays develop on the ice are just some of the tremendous assets that he brings to our team. He is one of the best young players in the NHL, and we look forward to seeing him continue to progress."Robertson also posted strong underlying numbers in 2021-22: The Stars controlled 60.7% of the goals, 58.2% of the expected goals, and 60.2% of the scoring chances with the 23-year-old on the ice at five-on-five, per Natural Stat Trick. As one of the drivers of the Stars' firepower, Robertson's 3.78 goals for and 3.28 expected goals for per 60 minutes ranked best on the team.Selected in the second round (No. 39) of the 2017 NHL Draft, Robertson finished second to the Minnesota Wild's Kirill Kaprizov for Calder Trophy honors in 2020-21.Robertson has amassed 58 goals and 67 assists across 128 regular-season outings with the Stars.The Stars only have one game remaining on their preseason slate before the puck drops on Dallas' 2022-23 campaign on Oct. 13 against the Nashville Predators.Robertson wasn't the only key restricted free agent the Stars had on their hands: Dallas signed young goaltender Jake Oettinger to a three-year, $12-million pact in early September.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Seattle Kraken general manager Ron Francis is hopeful that rookie forward Shane Wright will play the full 2022-23 season in the NHL."I don't want to draw a line in the sand, but I would think he's with us for the year," Francis told The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun. "It's just a matter of how things go and managing it. … But I think he'll be fine. He's fit right in. He does a lot of good things."At the very least, Francis said he believes Wright will start the season with the Kraken. The center has logged one assist across four games of preseason action so far, according to Natural Stat Trick."Him coming to us in Seattle is going to be good for him," Francis said. "It will give him time to develop and mature as a player; get stronger. He's still only 18 years old."There's a lot of progression in front of him. But I'm really pleased with what we see. He thinks the game well. He sees the game at a high level. His hands are extremely quick. He sees the right play."After tumbling to the No. 4 spot in the 2022 NHL Draft, Wright's career in the big leagues didn't start the way many expected. For one, he's a member of the Kraken rather than the Montreal Canadiens, who made the somewhat surprising move to take Juraj Slafkovsky with the first overall pick.Meanwhile, Seattle's inaugural season didn't go as planned in 2021-22, with a last-place finish in the Pacific Division and a minus-69 goal differential, but there's bound to be more excitement entering Year 2 of the Kraken.It'll be Kraken fans' first opportunity to see both franchise cornerstones - Matty Beniers and Wright - in action at the same time. Beniers already passed his first NHL test with flying colors last season, posting nine points in 10 games at the end of Seattle's campaign.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The 2022-23 NHL campaign begins overseas in just a couple of days. As you would expect, last year's Stanley Cup winners - the Avalanche - are favored to win it all.Is there value backing them to repeat at +400, or do other teams pop off the page?Let's dive in as we break down three best bets to hoist the holy grail of hockey at year's end.TEAM ODDSColorado Avalanche+400Toronto Maple Leafs+800Carolina Hurricanes+1000Florida Panthers+1200Tampa Bay Lightning+1200Calgary Flames+1600Edmonton Oilers+1600New York Rangers+1800Minnesota Wild+2000Pittsburgh Penguins+2000Vegas Golden Knights+2200Boston Bruins+2800St. Louis Blues+2800Los Angeles Kings+3300Nashville Predators+4000New York Islanders+4000Washington Capitals+4000Dallas Stars+4500Ottawa Senators+5000Vancouver Canucks+5000Detroit Red Wings+6000Winnipeg Jets+6000New Jersey Devils+7000Columbus Blue Jackets+8000Anaheim Ducks+15000Buffalo Sabres+15000Montreal Canadiens+15000Philadelphia Flyers+15000Seattle Kraken+15000San Jose Sharks+20000Chicago Blackhawks+30000Arizona Coyotes+40000Toronto Maple Leafs (+800)I know, I know. The Leafs have had an impossibly difficult time winning even a single round come playoff time. Now they're going to win four?It sounds crazy until it doesn't. Although the Capitals mixed in some first-round victories, it wasn't that long ago they consistently dominated regular seasons only to come up short when the games mattered most. Many said they'd never win a Stanley Cup built around Alex Ovechkin and a high-powered offense; then they did.The two sides may not be perfect comparisons, but that doesn't much matter. All that matters is the Leafs have an implied 11% chance of winning the Stanley Cup this season, and I think it's higher than that. I don't really care what has or hasn't happened with previous versions of this team.Here's what we know: Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, William Nylander, and John Tavares will score goals at will all season long, giving the Leafs one of the league's most dangerous offenses.David Kampf centers a very strong defensive trio on the third line, and offseason additions Calle Jarnkrok, Nicolas Aube-Kubel, and (soon) Zach Aston-Reese give them some real versatility - and playoff-winning experience - in the bottom six. The expected promotion of Nick Robertson should also give them an additional jolt offensively lower in the lineup.For all of the talk about how the Leafs can't defend, the numbers sure suggest otherwise. Only the Flames conceded fewer expected goals a season ago.If not for Jack Campbell providing sub-.900 goaltending for months on end - and the team getting nothing from whoever backed him up - their goals against numbers would look a whole lot better.Morgan Rielly and TJ Brodie are strong top-of-the-lineup defenders. Jake Muzzin is past his best before date, but he's still competent. Having Mark Giordano on the bottom pairing is a ginormous luxury. Rasmus Sandin and, when healthy, Timothy Liljegren are also already solid NHL defensemen with plenty of room to grow. The blue line is very strong.While Matt Murray and Ilya Samsonov are absolutely gambles in goal, the Leafs don't need them to be high-end netminders to be successful. They just need them to be competent.They won 54 games - third-most in the NHL - with .897 goaltending last season, after all.I know many will see the Maple Leafs listed, shake their head, and ignore any and every case made for them being Stanley Cup contenders, and that's fine. There are two more teams for you below.Calgary Flames (+1600)Not very often does a team lose two-thirds of its top line in an offseason and remain competitive, let alone be a contender. I think the Flames will be an exception to the rule.Jonathan Huberdeau and Nazem Kadri make up a lesser duo than Johnny Gaudreau and Matthew Tkachuk, but they're still a damn good one.Huberdeau is an electric offensive winger coming off a 115-point campaign with the Presidents Trophy winners. Although he's unlikely to replicate that kind of production, he has been a point-per-game player (or better) four years in a row. He'll replace a ton of what was lost when Gaudreau walked in free agency.Kadri is also likely heading for regression following a career season. He's still a valuable contributor at both ends of the ice, though, and his presence makes the Flames a much deeper team at the sport's most valuable position. That's even more imperative when a divisional opponent can ice superstars Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl down the middle.Even if we consider the big changes up front to be a small but not inconsequential step in the wrong direction, a case can be made this Flames roster is better than it was a year ago.MacKenzie Weegar is a fantastic two-way defenseman capable of logging huge minutes against top competition. He might well step in and be the No. 1 option on a very strong blue line that was largely responsible for a second-place finish in goals against a season ago. Any losses up front can be erased by gains on the back end.Not to mention, the team is coached by a Jack Adams winner, and a Vezina finalist will be manning the crease on a nightly basis.This team is good across the board and should be ultra-competitive in 2022-23.Boston Bruins (+2800)This is what you call a plug-and-play. With injuries to Brad Marchand, Charlie McAvoy, and Taylor Hall, among others, the Bruins will probably not be roaring out of the gate. Luckily for them, they have a soft schedule with a lot of home games in the early going to help stay afloat.If they can survive the early portion of the season - they have enough horses to do so - and get healthy, this team should get into the playoffs and cause real headaches once they get there.With Jake DeBrusk showing the ability to contribute at the top of the lineup, and David Krejci back in the mix, Boston's top six is as good and balanced as it has been in a long time.The defense is also as stout as ever, with the likes of McAvoy, Hampus Lindholm, Matt Grzelcyk, and Brandon Carlo making up a stable top four.Jeremy Swayman looks like he could be an All-Star caliber netminder sooner than later, and Linus Ullmark is there to spell him whenever necessary. This team has experience, star power, and a lot of two-way prowess. I wouldn't want to run into them in April.Todd Cordell is a sports betting writer at theScore. Be sure to follow him on Twitter @ToddCordell.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Montreal Canadiens signed controversial prospect Logan Mailloux to a three-year, entry-level contract on Wednesday."This is a decision that we have thought through carefully," Canadiens general manager Kent Hughes said. "Having Logan around members of our team and hockey operations staff for a good part of the summer allowed us to gain a greater appreciation of Logan Mailloux, the person."He has an opportunity to affect positive change, and we will work to support him in any effort towards that goal. Logan recognizes the impact of his gesture and, of course, the process continues."The Habs faced widespread criticism after they selected the 19-year-old defenseman with the 31st overall pick in the 2021 NHL Draft. Mailloux was charged and fined for invasion of privacy and defamation in 2020 after taking a photo of a woman without consent during a sexual encounter and distributing it while on loan in Sweden.Three days prior to the 2021 NHL Draft, Mailloux withdrew himself from the selection process because he hadn't "demonstrated strong enough maturity or character to earn that privilege," but he heard his name called at the draft anyways.At the time, Montreal's decision to pick Mailloux "stunned" NHL commissioner Gary Bettman. Canadiens owner Geoff Molson released a statement apologizing for any harm the selection caused while adding that the organization would work closely with Mailloux.Mailloux, who plays for the London Knights, was subsequently suspended by the OHL in September 2021. He was reinstated on Jan. 1, 2022.He will earn $750,000 at the NHL level in 2022-23 and $832,500 in the two following seasons, as well as $70,000 per season in the AHL.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

If NHL teams made the Stanley Cup Playoffs based on watchability, the results might be very different. They don't, of course, but that doesn't mean we can't explore which clubs are primed to draw the most attention this season.Unlike typical power rankings, these focus on just that: How tantalizing are these teams, regardless of how good they'll be?On Tuesday, we examined the bottom 16 clubs in terms of entertainment value. Now, we're into the top half of the league. Here's our list of the 16 most watchable NHL squads in 2022-23:16. Los Angeles KingsThe Kings very nearly made it to the second round of the playoffs last season, and for good reason: They were one of the top possession teams in the league. Los Angeles has a mix of proven veterans and up-and-coming talent such as Quinton Byfield, Arthur Kaliyev, Gabriel Vilardi, and Sean Durzi. Trading for Kevin Fiala gives fans another reason to check them out.15. Columbus Blue JacketsA single offseason move - the most shocking of the summer - pushed the Blue Jackets into the top 16. Johnny Gaudreau's arrival as a free agent makes Columbus much more interesting, and even out-of-market fans (outside of Calgary) are itching to see the ex-Flames star on a line with Patrik Laine. The Blue Jackets still have flaws, but their two game-changers will get people watching.14. Ottawa SenatorsThe "Summer of Pierre" turned a promising Senators squad into what should be a legitimately exciting team. Alex DeBrincat, Claude Giroux, and Cam Talbot (when he returns from injury) will help Ottawa win games. Making the playoffs is still a long shot in Canada's capital, but adding those established veterans to complement a young core led by Brady Tkachuk makes the Senators even more eye-grabbing than they were before.13. Washington Capitals John McCreary / National Hockey League / GettyThe Capitals will be missing noted pest Tom Wilson for at least the first two months of the campaign. Nicklas Backstrom might miss the entire campaign, too. But people watch Capitals games to see Alex Ovechkin, who amassed 50 goals over 77 games last season. The 37-year-old should keep filling the net in 2022-23, even if he doesn't match that rate. That makes Washington watchable as usual, though perhaps not as much as in years past.12. Boston BruinsIt's hard to rank the Bruins higher on this list because Brad Marchand and Charlie McAvoy are both expected to miss the first two months of the season. Patrice Bergeron and David Pastrnak always make Boston a worthwhile watch, but now Taylor Hall is week-to-week, too. The Bruins were the NHL's best possession team in 2021-22, but a banged-up roster and new head coach don't bode particularly well for a continuation of that trend.11. Pittsburgh PenguinsThe aging of the Penguins' core is unavoidable, but they managed to keep it intact this offseason. Sidney Crosby can still dazzle with the occasional jaw-dropping play, and while injuries are always a concern for Evgeni Malkin, he continues to make a significant impact when healthy. The window is closing in Pittsburgh, but this team hasn't yet lost most of its appeal.10. Vegas Golden KnightsThe Golden Knights aren't as fun as they used to be, but there's still plenty to like about this team. A full season of a healthy Jack Eichel is something to look forward to - if they get it, that is. But Vegas' goaltending is suspect following Robin Lehner's injury, and the club had to trade one of its top scorers in Max Pacioretty to get under the salary cap. Though Mark Stone, Shea Theodore, and Alex Pietrangelo are still great, the Golden Knights have lost some of their shine. At least they'll still have over-the-top pregame theatrics.9. St. Louis Blues Vaughn Ridley / National Hockey League / GettyThe Blues are often more watchable than they appear. Only the Panthers and Maple Leafs scored more goals per game than St. Louis last season, and only Toronto had a better power play league-wide (by a mere 0.3%). Jordan Kyrou and Robert Thomas have joined Vladimir Tarasenko and Ryan O'Reilly as Blues players who demand attention whenever they're on the ice.8. New York RangersThe Rangers will be hard-pressed to duplicate their 2021-22 run to the Eastern Conference Final, but they should still be an entertaining team. Artemi Panarin, Mika Zibanejad, Chris Kreider, Adam Fox, and several youngsters will move the needle, as will Igor Shesterkin's brilliance in goal. New York will be enjoyable to watch even if it endures some inevitable regression.7. Florida PanthersThe Panthers landed the ever-compelling Matthew Tkachuk, but losing 115-point star Jonathan Huberdeau and underrated defenseman Mackenzie Weegar made Florida worse. This team still boasts elite two-way dynamo Aleksander Barkov and skilled blue-liner Aaron Ekblad, but it probably won't be as exciting as it was during last year's Presidents' Trophy-winning campaign.6. Toronto Maple LeafsThe Maple Leafs should continue to provide electric entertainment, with their talented quartet of Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, John Tavares, and William Nylander regularly featuring on highlight reels. Toronto's goaltending situation could make the team less watchable than in recent years, though - except to fans who relish Toronto's failures.5. Calgary Flames Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyFlames general manager Brad Treliving's wizardry turned what could have been a disastrous offseason into an excellent one under the circumstances. It also cemented Calgary as one of the league's most intriguing teams this season. The Flames' new-look lineup no longer boasts Gaudreau or Matthew Tkachuk, but adding Huberdeau, Weegar, and Nazem Kadri to an otherwise solid squad will ensure Calgary is consistently worth viewing.4. Carolina HurricanesThe Hurricanes have been one of the league's most watchable squads for a while now, and the reigning Metropolitan Division champions should be even more compelling this season. Carolina lost some depth players in the summer, but it added Brent Burns and Pacioretty. The latter is likely out until late in the winter, but the "Bunch of Jerks" will still be lots of fun.3. Tampa Bay LightningIf not for the Avalanche, the Lightning would have won their third straight Stanley Cup. And if not for both Colorado and the Oilers, the Bolts would clearly be the most watchable team in the NHL. Tampa is loaded with stars, including Nikita Kucherov, Steven Stamkos, Victor Hedman, Brayden Point, and Andrei Vasilevskiy. Fans know they'll probably see something great when they tune in to Lightning games.2. Edmonton OilersConnor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl make Oilers games appointment viewing, and though Edmonton may struggle to prevent goals against, high-event play is just another reason to tune in. Whether or not you're a fan of the team, there's never a dull moment when the Oilers take the ice.1. Colorado Avalanche Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyThis might seem like a no-brainer, but it's not just that the Avalanche are the defending champions. Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar are two of the four best players in the league right now, and that duo alone makes it impossible to ignore Colorado.In addition to two megastars and a deep supporting cast, the Avalanche's appealing brand of hockey makes this team the league's most watchable club. Despite being hampered by injuries last season, Colorado ranked fourth in goals per game. The team lost its starting goaltender and some key forwards in free agency, but the core is still intact. More than any other squad, this is one you simply can't afford to miss.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Before he flew to Ottawa last month to gear up for the NHL season, Brady Tkachuk watched his younger sister play field hockey. The family trip to support Taryn, a sophomore striker at the University of Virginia, went as expected. Tkachuk pressed against the chainlink fence that separates the bleachers from the pitch to holler and cheer from close range.The hockey world saw Tkachuk channel this energy when he ferried beers - plural - up the stairs at Calgary Flames home playoff matchups. By the time Matthew Tkachuk scored a hat trick in the Battle of Alberta opener, his brother had thrown merch to fans thronged outside the rink, hoisted someone's kid onto his shoulders in the crowd, and threatened to remove his shirt following an in-game national TV interview. Budweiser raced to sponsor him.

Pittsburgh Penguins superstar Sidney Crosby admitted he was nervous watching longtime teammates Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang get so close to the open market this past summer."I was sweatin'," Crosby told ESPN's Greg Wyshynski. "You know how it works. The longer it goes, the closer it gets to free agency, the greater the chances are you might want to test it. You're trying to balance being optimistic with being realistic about the fact it was possible (they'd leave)."Crosby kicked back into competitive mode shortly after Malkin and Letang signed their deals."Relieved. And then immediately thinking, 'OK, we've got an opportunity. These guys are staying. And now we've gotta do something with it," he said.Crosby, Malkin, and Letang have been teammates for 16 seasons. They've qualified for the playoffs each year together and won championships in 2009, 2016, and 2017.Letang signed a six-year, $36.6-million contract to stick with the Penguins before the free-agent window opened. It looked like Malkin would become a free agent, but the two sides struck a four-year agreement on July 12 worth $6.1 million per season - a significant pay cut from the Russian pivot's previous $9.5 million cap hit.Although Pittsburgh's star trio is well into their 30s, they remain highly productive.2021-22 statsPlayerGPPTSATOICrosby688420:01Malkin404018:25Letang776725:48The Penguins finished third in the Metropolitan Division with 103 points last season. The club was eliminated in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs at the hands of the New York Rangers after letting a 3-1 series lead slip away.Pittsburgh opens its 2022-23 campaign on Oct. 13 against the Arizona Coyotes.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New York Islanders signed star forward Mathew Barzal to an eight-year extension on Tuesday.His new pact has a reported average annual value of $9.15 million, according to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman. Barzal has one season remaining on his current deal with a cap hit of $7 million. He could have become a restricted free agent following the 2022-23 campaign.Barzal, 25, recently expressed his desire to stay with the Islanders and said he was aiming to sign an extension before the start of the new season.Islanders general manager Lou Lamoriello said he wanted Barzal to put pen to paper prior to the season so the negotiations wouldn't become a distraction, per The Athletic's Kevin Kurz."I genuinely (love it here). I think anyone who plays here knows that it's one of the top places to play in the league," Barzal said after news of the deal broke. "From the practice rink we have, UBS (Arena), the boys in the room, Lou being here, a fresh coaching staff, the city itself - the lifestyle is elite."Like the Islanders as a whole, Barzal floundered a bit in 2021-22. He put up a career-low 15 goals in 73 games while seeing a slight dip in his ice time. Despite his struggles, he still tied for the team lead in points (59) for the fifth consecutive season.Additionally, amongst all Islanders skates to log at least 500 minutes at five-on-five, Barzal's 2.79 expected goals for per 60 minutes were the best on the team, per Natural Stat Trick.He was already tied with captain Anders Lee as the highest-paid player in Long Island, but Barzal will take the lead outright beginning in 2023-24. He currently stands as the 31st-priciest player starting next season, according to CapFriendly, but he may get pushed further down the list; the likes of David Pastrnak and Alex DeBrincat will need new deals come next summer.Selected by the Islanders in the first round of the 2015 draft, Barzal has 311 points in 362 career contests, as well as an additional 38 points in 49 playoff games.The Islanders missed the playoffs last season after making two straight trips to the conference finals. New York subsequently parted ways with veteran head coach Barry Trotz, replacing him with former associate coach Lane Lambert.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

No player has won the Hart Trophy in consecutive seasons since Alex Ovechkin in the late 2000s.Can Auston Matthews buck that trend and repeat as the league's MVP, or does the value lie elsewhere?Let's take a look as we zero in on a few of the standout candidates.PLAYERODDSConnor McDavid+250Auston Matthews+400Leon Draisaitl+700Nathan MacKinnon+1000Kirill Kaprizov+1200Cale Makar+1500Nikita Kucherov+2200Aleksander Barkov+2500Igor Shesterkin+2500Jonathan Huberdeau+2500Mikko Rantanen+2500Andrei Vasilevskiy+2500Jack Eichel+3000David Pastrnak+3300Johnny Gaudreau+3300Sidney Crosby+3300Alex Ovechkin+4000Jack Hughes+5000Patrick Kane+5000Sebastian Aho+5000Steven Stamkos+5000Artemi Panarin+6000Brad Marchand+6000Brady Tkachuk+6000Brayden Point+6000Kyle Connor+6000Matthew Tkachuk+6000Auston Matthews (+400)Having led the league in goals since entering the NHL and outscoring the next closest player by 16 tallies over the last two seasons, Matthews is unquestionably the best finisher in the NHL.He's also an elite point producer and play driver, and his defensive game has grown leaps and bounds from where it was two or three years ago. He's a legitimately dominant two-way player.The Maple Leafs figure to - once again - be one of the league's best offensive teams. Barring a barrage of injuries, they'll also comfortably make the playoffs.As much as people want to point the finger at goaltending, the team ranked 27th in five-on-five save percentage a year ago, and that didn't stop them from finishing third in the league with 54 wins.The Leafs are going to win a lot of games, and Matthews will be at the forefront at both ends of the ice. That's going to get him a lot of recognition.Nikita Kucherov (+2200)Kucherov has missed his fair share of time with injuries over the last couple of years. That's the only explanation for him being priced so egregiously.When healthy, he has been as dominant - and productive - as anybody in the league. It's not a stretch to say he has been in the same world as the likes of Matthews, Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, and Nathan MacKinnon.Over Kucherov's last three seasons of regular-season play, he has piled up 282 points in 197 games. That equates to a whopping 117 points per 82.If you want to throw the 2018-19 Hart campaign out the window and focus on his last couple of years, he has still averaged 110 points per 82 games while playing for a team that wins consistently.So long as Kucherov is healthy, he's going to be an ultra-productive player for one of the NHL's best teams.Jack Hughes (+5000)Hart Trophy candidates generally need to produce 90-plus points and play for a contender or lead a surprise team to the playoffs. The Devils certainly don't fit into the contender category, but I think they could surprise this season. If they do, it'll be Hughes leading the charge.He quietly was remarkably efficient when healthy a season ago, producing at a 44-goal, 94-point pace at just 20 years old. Natural progression should help him hit another gear this season. So should an improved supporting cast, headlined by free-agent acquisition Ondrej Palat and the expected promotion of top prospect Alexander Holtz. Not to mention, the Devils brought in Jack Adams finalist Andrew Brunette to run a power play that looked completely out of sync during Mark Recchi's tenure with the team.All signs point toward Hughes taking the next step to superstardom. If he can flirt with 100 points and the Devils sneak into the playoffs, he would surely be one of the prime candidates for the Hart.Todd Cordell is a sports betting writer at theScore. Be sure to follow him on Twitter @ToddCordell.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Four NHL players. Two general managers. Two league-office executives. One head coach. One player representative. One team owner. One top prospect.The following isn't a definitive list of the people who will define the 2022-23 season. But it does identify 12 who are tremendously powerful, are the key to their team's success, or find themselves in a sticky situation - in some cases all three labels apply - in the lead-up to opening day Friday. Here we go:Jonathan Huberdeau Icon Sportswire / Getty ImagesIt's well-documented that Huberdeau was startled and upset when he found out the Panthers traded him in late July. A few weeks later, the playmaking winger inked a lucrative eight-year extension with the Flames, proving he'd moved on. Huberdeau, whose 85 assists last year led all NHLers, has played for only one franchise in one market, so how he fares in Calgary is one of the most intriguing storylines of the season. He's replacing Johnny Gaudreau, who's also coming off a 115-point campaign, while other newcomers Nazem Kadri and MacKenzie Weegar should replace the value lost in Matthew Tkachuk's departure. If Huberdeau can continue producing at a superstar level, the Flames are unquestionably a Stanley Cup contender.Don Sweeney Jeff Vinnick / Getty ImagesHired by the Bruins in May 2015, Sweeney is the league's eighth-longest tenured GM and the longest among those managing Original Six franchises. After seven-plus years, Sweeney's on his third head coach, with Jim Montgomery replacing Bruce Cassidy. Sweeney can't seem to escape criticism for his 2015 draft debacle and is staring down an important negotiation with David Pastrnak.So, as Sweeney attempts to steer his club through a crossroads season, the spotlight is shining brighter than ever. Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci came back on one-year deals, while seven others on the 23-man roster - including Pastrnak - are pending UFAs. Charlie McAvoy, Brad Marchand, and Matt Grzelcyk are all starting the season sidelined due to injury. (Taylor Hall might miss time, too.) Can the Bruins stay afloat in the early going, then push for a playoff spot? How does Sweeney handle all of this uncertainty?Connor Bedard Andy Devlin / Getty ImagesBedard, projected to be hockey's next great goal-scorer, won't be pulling an NHL jersey over his head until June, yet the 17-year-old's presence will be felt across the league throughout the season. Most teams, even contenders, are flat-out not interested in trading their first-round pick because of the depth of the 2023 class, which is headlined by forwards Bedard, Matvei Michkov, and Adam Fantilli, and features a long list of can't-miss prospects. Meanwhile, the Coyotes and Blackhawks are actively trying not to win, while another group of clubs - like the Sharks, Canadiens, and Flyers - could easily follow suit if things go off the rails early. Yes, Bedard's worth the tank.Pat Brisson Bruce Bennett / Getty ImagesAccording to PuckPedia, Brisson leads all player representatives in total value of active contracts at a whopping $1.18 billion. The CAA agent is highly influential under normal circumstances. However, this season, Brisson has three star clients on expiring deals: Patrick Kane, Jonathan Toews, and Dylan Larkin. Kane is the biggie, and it's looking like Brisson and Blackhawks GM Kyle Davidson will work together to trade the winger before the March 3 trade deadline. It'll be complicated. Kane's deal carries a $10.5-million cap hit and includes a no-move clause; the three-time Cup winner may want an extension with his new club. Brisson helped facilitate the Jack Eichel blockbuster last year. His plate is full again.Gary Bettman and Bill Daly Ethan Miller / Getty ImagesThis list wouldn't be complete without Bettman and Daly. The commissioner and his longtime deputy have their fingerprints on all major NHL-related issues. The league's investigation into allegations against members of Canada's 2018 juniors team is ongoing. It is keeping tabs on the court battle involving Canucks owner Francesco Aquilini. The Coyotes' push for a permanent home in Tempe, Arizona, is also of significant interest to Bettman and Daly, who refuse to quit on the Arizona market.Other top-of-mind matters include Russia's invasion of Ukraine and its impact on Russian players; further potential pandemic outbreaks within clubs; and finalizing the framework for the 2024 World Cup of Hockey. Of course, every unforeseen development over the next nine months - there are several per season - will end up on the duo's desk as well.Jack Campbell Icon Sportswire / Getty ImagesSomething lost in the shuffle over the offseason: the 2021-22 Oilers were a final-four team for the first time in Connor McDavid's career. And, after bringing in Campbell to replace Mike Smith, Edmonton is an even better team on paper. Overall, McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, both in the middle of their primes, have never been surrounded by so much talent. Can they depend on Campbell to make the big save in the big moment? The 30-year-old is fresh off a roller-coaster debut with Toronto as a full-time starter, where he went from early Vezina Trophy candidate to liability in the middle of the year, battled through injury, returned to the net, and held his own in the playoffs. Campbell doesn't have to be lights-out for the high-octane Oilers. However, his stability - or lack thereof - will determine the group's ceiling.John Tortorella Jeff Vinnick / Getty ImagesPlain and simple, the NHL is more entertaining when Tortorella is running a bench. He's back for a fifth head-coaching stint after a one-year hiatus and, predictably, he's producing plenty of headlines. Tortorella, as we've come to learn, will continue to entertain, whether it's benching a prominent player, calling out an opponent in the media, or other shenanigans. The Flyers are already in a funk thanks to injuries to Sean Couturier and Ryan Ellis. Philadelphia's margin of error, once small, is now minuscule. Tortorella's proven he can get more out of a group than the average coach. What "more" ultimately means for these Flyers is to be determined.Kyle Dubas Toronto Star / Getty ImagesDubas has been in the GM's chair for four-plus years, so the Maple Leafs, for better or worse, are very much his team. And, in case you haven't heard, his team has failed to advance in the playoffs. Dubas, then, enters the year as a pending free agent, with his job on the line. The goaltending tandem of Matt Murray and Ilya Samsonov might be a smash hit, but there's a decent chance Dubas will be forced to go goalie shopping before the trade deadline. At that point, he'll have to decide how much he should leverage the future for a shot at short-term success. How desperate will he, and by extension Leafs president Brendan Shanahan, be? Weirdly enough, since the bar for playoff success is so low, winning a single round could be enough to warrant an extension for Dubas, even though Toronto's accomplished squat despite being a top regular-season team throughout his tenure. If the Leafs lose in the first round again, on the other hand, the pitchforks will be out, and likely for good this time.Crosby and Ovechkin Patrick McDermott / Getty ImagesSeason 18 of the Crosby-Ovechkin experience is upon us. Crosby, 35, remains an elite two-way center, and challenging for a third Hart Trophy is a legitimate possibility - if the Penguins captain can stay healthy. Ovechkin, 37, begins the year 114 tallies shy of Wayne Gretzky's all-time goal record. Sure, McDavid may have supplanted Crosby as the consensus best player on the planet, and Auston Matthews may have swiped the goal-scoring crown off Ovechkin's noggin, but these two icons are far from washed up. Both can still play, and play well. Until they can't, Nos. 87 and 8 will be defining figures in the NHL.Mark Chipman Darcy Finley / Getty ImagesThe Jets don't appear to be on the cusp of a deep playoff run. Nor are they bereft of talent. Coach Rick Bowness was the club's biggest offseason splash, and he promptly stripped veteran Blake Wheeler of the captaincy. Kevin Cheveldayoff, who oversees hockey operations, has been the only GM in Jets 2.0 history. Depending on how you look at it, either there's been half measures taken to move the franchise in a new direction or no change at all. That's where Chipman enters the chat. Chipman, the executive chairman of True North Sports & Entertainment, the company that owns the Jets, can turn the page at any point. That'd be the smart move if things go south on the ice and in the dressing room. If that comes to pass and Chipman stays the course with the core and Cheveldayoff, well, he'll still be making a statement. Just a different kind. All eyes are on the owner's suite at Canada Life Centre.John Matisz is theScore's senior NHL writer. Follow John on Twitter (@MatiszJohn) or contact him via email (john.matisz@thescore.com).Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

While it's true that success is a component of watchability, that doesn't mean every competitive NHL team is entertaining. Conversely, some mediocre clubs are far more watchable than they should be. So, with that in mind, we're taking our annual look at which clubs are likely to attract the most - and least - eyeballs.As a reminder, these aren't typical power rankings that evaluate the relative strength of every squad. The projected performance of each team is a factor, but we're primarily looking at the degree to which casual fans will tune in to catch each club when their favorite's not playing.We'll reveal the top 16 on Wednesday. For now, here are our 16 least watchable NHL clubs.32. Arizona CoyotesIt's not a great sign that people are most looking forward to seeing what the atmosphere is like in the Coyotes' converted college arena rather than their actual play on the ice. While the odd new facility might initially be a reason to watch them, it'll likely only be a novelty for the first few games before people get used to it. As for the team, it's pretty clear that most fans won't be clamoring to check out this moribund franchise.31. Philadelphia FlyersThe Flyers, who weren't good to begin with, had an embarrassing offseason. John Tortorella should provide his typical share of postgame rants as Philadelphia's new head coach, but to paraphrase a certain Philly legend, we're talking about the games. Even Torts would admit nobody tunes in to watch the coach, as expressive as he may be. General manager Chuck Fletcher's team would've been a lot more compelling with Johnny Gaudreau in the fold.30. Chicago BlackhawksPatrick Kane is still a superstar, but he's basically the only reason the Blackhawks aren't dead last on this list. Chicago gutted its roster over the summer, trading Alex DeBrincat and Kirby Dach while opting not to re-sign Dylan Strome. Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews isn't what he once was, and both he and Kane could be gone by the trade deadline. There's not much incentive to watch a club that's so obviously tanking.29. Seattle Kraken Jonathan Kozub / National Hockey League / GettyDoes the Kraken's bizarre new mascot, Buoy the Troll, make them more or less watchable? Regardless, it'll be interesting to see how Matty Beniers and Shane Wright fare in their first full NHL seasons, assuming the fourth overall pick in this year's draft joins the 2021 second overall selection with the big club. But aside from those two - and Buoy - there isn't a whole lot to be excited about with this squad.28. San Jose SharksIt's looking like it'll be another difficult season for the Sharks, which means they probably won't be any more appealing to watch than they were in 2021-22. Timo Meier and Tomas Hertl are undoubtedly talented, and Erik Karlsson proved last season that he's still got game. But Karlsson remains injury-prone, and a team without much else to offer that's destined for the latter half of the standings won't be a big draw.27. Montreal CanadiensThe rebuilding Canadiens were actually somewhat enjoyable to watch down the stretch last season after Martin St. Louis took over as head coach. Preseason Calder Trophy favorite Cole Caufield turned around what would've been a disappointing rookie year, and new captain Nick Suzuki took a big step forward. Expectations remain low, and it's still all about development. That's why watching the occasional Montreal game won't be a complete waste of time this season.26. New York IslandersThe Islanders have been one of the NHL's least watchable teams recently even when they've been good. The combination of defense-first play and mediocrity made them even less desirable to watch in 2021-22. They didn't do much to change that for this season, and not even a bounce-back campaign from Mathew Barzal will be enough to captivate out-of-market audiences.25. New Jersey Devils Scott Taetsch / Getty Images Sport / GettyJack Hughes should continue blossoming into a star after taking a giant step forward last season, but can he and the rest of the Devils' core turn the team into appointment viewing? Hughes, Nico Hischier, Jesper Bratt, and Dawson Mercer make up an encouraging, young group of forwards. However, they're still overmatched in a loaded division. Their predicament's unfortunate, but don't completely ignore them because of it.24. Buffalo SabresThe Sabres' burgeoning stable of prospects will inject two more potential phenoms into the mix with Jack Quinn and J.J. Peterka. They're expected to make an impact alongside Calder Trophy favorite Owen Power, Eichel trade acquisition Peyton Krebs, and the "Workhorse from Whitehorse" Dylan Cozens. Plus, the Florida Panthers and Boston Bruins may take steps backward in the Atlantic Division this season. Buffalo probably won't make the playoffs, but the Sabres could make the race interesting.23. Anaheim DucksWe'd consider flipping to Ducks games for Trevor Zegras alone, while fellow youngster Jamie Drysdale and rookie Mason McTavish should increase their watchability. But will Anaheim be consistently exciting as a team? Zegras oozes skill, but he can't make viral plays every night. The Ducks' offseason signings will make them a bit better, but this isn't a must-watch club yet.22. Dallas StarsThe Stars' top line of Jason Robertson, Roope Hintz, and Joe Pavelski is potent. But aside from that trio and the underrated Miro Heiskanen, Dallas doesn't offer viewers a whole lot. Last season, the Stars ranked in the bottom third of the league in goal-scoring and sat in the middle of the pack in goals allowed, which used to be their forte. Assuming Robertson re-signs soon, it'll pretty much be the same team in 2022-23: a good one, but not very intriguing.21. Nashville Predators John Russell / National Hockey League / GettyYes, Roman Josi and Filip Forsberg are certified stars, while Matt Duchene is coming off one of the quietest 43-goal/86-point seasons in recent memory. But even with numerous game-changers, Nashville only ranked 13th in goals per game and 16th in five-on-five expected goals for percentage in 2021-22. The Predators should again be in the mix for a playoff spot, but they just don't scream excitement.20. Winnipeg JetsDespite possessing a handful of solid-to-great forwards, the Jets ranked squarely in the middle in goals per game last season. And despite having a capable goaltender, Winnipeg's poor defense caused the club to allow more goals than all but 12 other teams. The now captainless Jets also appear to be an internal mess, which is bound to affect their on-ice watchability.19. Vancouver CanucksBruce Boudreau's transformation of the Canucks made them a lot more watchable. They barely missed the playoffs after digging themselves into a deep hole, but this is a talented squad that'll battle for a postseason berth with a clean slate. Elias Pettersson, Quinn Hughes, Bo Horvat, and KHL import Andrei Kuzmenko could all make appearances on highlight reels, even if the team is inconsistent as a whole.18. Detroit Red WingsThe Red Wings should be more competitive with newcomers David Perron, Andrew Copp, and Ville Husso. Detroit was already more watchable than the team's record suggested with two blue-chip youngsters in Calder Trophy winner Moritz Seider on defense and forward Lucas Raymond up front. The Wings will be more entertaining this season with the new additions, but they're not quite in the upper echelon of excitement just yet.17. Minnesota Wild David Berding / Getty Images Sport / GettyThe Wild had one of the league's best records last season before flaming out in the playoffs. Unsurprisingly, they were one of the best clubs in terms of puck possession. Kirill Kaprizov is a major draw, but Minnesota had to trade away its second-best player, Kevin Fiala, in June. The Wild still have talent and some promising young forwards, but the electric Russian winger is pretty much the only reason for out-of-market fans to regularly tune in.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Welcome to theScore's 2022-23 fantasy hockey rankings.Yahoo uses hits in standard head-to-head leagues and blocks in standard points leagues, so we're adopting both. We've excluded plus-minus for our rankings since it's an outdated and generally unpredictable statistic.Here's what we're factoring in.SkatersGoaliesGWAGAAPPPSV%SOGSOHitsBlocksThese rankings are based on 12-team leagues and factor in positional value. The value of certain positions can change depending on the size of the league. Positional eligibility is courtesy of Yahoo.RankPlayerPositionTeam1Connor McDavidCEDM2Auston MatthewsCTOR3Nathan MacKinnonCCOL4Leon DraisaitlC/LWEDM5Cale MakarDCOL6Brady TkachukLWOTT7Alex OvechkinLWWSH8Nikita KucherovRWTB9Victor HedmanDTB10Roman JosiDNSH11Igor ShesterkinGNYR12Andrei VasilevskiyGTB13Matthew TkachukRWFLA14Timo MeierLW/RWSJ15Mikko RantanenC/RWCOL16Moritz SeiderDDET17David PastrnakRWBOS18Jacob MarkstromGCGY19Aleksander BarkovCFLA20John CarlsonDWSH21Mitch MarnerRWTOR22Jack EichelCVGK23Kirill KaprizovLWMIN24J.T. MillerC/LWVAN25Adam FoxDNYR26Andrei SvechnikovLWCAR27Juuse SarosGNSH28Aaron EkbladDFLA29Steven StamkosC/LWTB30Sidney CrosbyCPIT31Gabriel LandeskogC/LWCOL32Dougie HamiltonDNJ33Kris LetangDPIT34Filip ForsbergLWNSH35Jake GuentzelLWPIT36Mika ZibanejadCNYR37Roope HintzCDAL38Patrik LaineLW/RWCBJ39Thomas ChabotDOTT40Drew DoughtyDLA41Brayden PointCTB42Seth JonesDCHI43Patrick KaneRWCHI44Frederik AndersenGCAR45Kyle ConnorLWWPG46Vladimir TarasenkoRWSTL47Chris KreiderLW/RWNYR48Rasmus DahlinDBUF49Jonathan HuberdeauLWCGY50Connor HellebuyckGWPG51Evander KaneLWEDM52Sebastian AhoCCAR53Brent BurnsDCAR54Miro HeiskanenDDAL55Jacob TroubaDNYR56Zach WerenskiDCBJ57Noah DobsonDNYI58Darnell NurseDEDM59Thatcher DemkoGVAN60Mark ScheifeleCWPG61Artemi PanarinLWNYR62Johnny GaudreauLWCBJ63Darcy KuemperGWSH64Ilya SorokinGNYI65Marc-Andre FleuryGMIN66Jack HughesCNJ67Nikolaj EhlersLW/RWWPG68William NylanderLW/RWTOR69Jason RobertsonLWDAL70Patrice BergeronCBOS71Tim StutzleC/LWOTT72Evgeni MalkinCPIT73Elias PetterssonC/LWVAN74Kevin FialaLW/RWLA75Morgan RiellyDTOR76Quinn HughesDVAN77Jake OettingerGDAL78John TavaresCTOR79Drake BathersonRWOTT80Bryan RustRWPIT81Mark StoneRWVGK82Josh NorrisCOTT83Elias LindholmCCGY84Tristan JarryGPIT85Vincent TrocheckCNYR86Evan BouchardDEDM87Alex PietrangeloDVGK88Dylan LarkinCDET89Alex DeBrincatLWOTT90Jakob ChychrunDARI91MacKenzie WeegarDCGY92Lucas RaymondRWDET93Trevor ZegrasCANA94Joe PavelskiC/RWDAL95Tomas HertlCSJ96Cole CaufieldLW/RWMTL97Brad MarchandLWBOS98Charlie McAvoyDBOS99Alexandar GeorgievGCOL100Pavel FrancouzGCOL101Valeri NichushkinLW/RWCOL102Pierre-Luc DuboisCWPG103Shea TheodoreDVGK104Mikhail SergachevDTB105Matt MurrayGTOR106Jeremy SwaymanGBOS107Jack CampbellGEDM108Anze KopitarCLA109Teuvo TeravainenLW/RWCAR110Tage ThompsonCBUF111Pavel BuchnevichLW/RWSTL112Alex TuchRWBUF113Jordan BinningtonGSTL114Sergei BobrovskyGFLA115Seth JarvisLW/RWCAR116Cole SillingerCCBJ117Matt DucheneRWNSH118Mats ZuccarelloRWMIN119Matt BoldyLW/RWMIN120Adrian KempeLW/RWLA121Neal PionkDWPG122Sam BennettCFLA123David PerronRWDET124Sam ReinhartC/RWFLA125Nick SuzukiCMTL126Bo HorvatCVAN127Tyler ToffoliLW/RWCGY128Josh MorrisseyDWPG129Travis KonecnyRWPHI130Tyler BertuzziLW/RWDET131John KlingbergDANA132Logan ThompsonGVGK133Devon ToewsDCOL134Ryan PulockDNYI135Erik KarlssonDSJ136Torey KrugDSTL137Owen PowerDBUF138Tanner JeannotRWNSH139Tom WilsonRWWSH140Andrei KuzmenkoLWVAN141Mason MarchmentLW/RWDAL142Mathew BarzalCNYI143Jordan KyrouLW/RWSTL144Robert ThomasCSTL145Evgeny KuznetsovCWSH146Justin FaulkDSTL147Rasmus AnderssonDCGY148Nazem KadriCCGY149Nico HischierCNJ150Blake WheelerRWWPG151Clayton KellerLW/RWARI152Boone JennerCCBJ153Tyler SeguinC/RWDAL154Elvis MerzlikinsGCBJ155John GibsonGANA156Spencer KnightGFLA157Matt DumbaDMIN158Jonathan MarchessaultLW/RWVGK159Jonathan QuickGLA160Cal PetersenGLA161Lawson CrouseLW/RWARI162Joel Eriksson EkCMIN163Jesper BrattRWNJ164Vitek VanecekGNJ165MacKenzie BlackwoodGNJ166Bowen ByramDCOL167Rasmus RistolainenDPHI168Claude GirouxC/RWOTT169Brock BoeserRWVAN170Taylor HallLWBOS171Jake SandersonDOTT172Philipp GrubauerGSEA173Carter HartGPHI174Ville HussoGDET175Zach HymanLW/RWEDM176Ryan HartmanCMIN177Carter VerhaegheLWFLA178T.J. OshieC/RWWSH179Max PaciorettyLWCAR180Matty BeniersCSEA181Ivan ProvorovDPHI182Tony DeAngeloDPHI183Vince DunnDSEA184Linus UllmarkGBOS185Anton ForsbergGOTT186Adin HillGVGK187Shayne GostisbehereDARI188Ryan Nugent-HopkinsC/LWEDM189Viktor ArvidssonLW/RWLA190Oliver BjorkstrandRWSEA191Andre BurakovskyLW/RWSEA192Mikael GranlundCNSH193Nick SchmaltzC/RWARI194Cam AtkinsonRWPHI195Noah HanifinDCGY196Oliver WahlstromRWNYI197Brayden SchennC/LWSTL198Artturi LehkonenLW/RWCOL199Jared McCannC/LWSEA200Anders LeeLWNYI201Brock NelsonCNYI202Josh AndersonRWMTL203Andrew MangiapaneLW/RWCGY204Alexis LafreniereLW/RWNYR205Jack QuinnRWBUF206Nino NiederreiterLWNSH207Troy TerryRWANA208Anton LundellCFLA209Anthony ManthaLW/RWWSH210Joel FarabeeC/LWPHI211Martin NecasRWCAR212Michael BuntingLWTOR213Oliver Ekman-LarssonDVAN214Eeli TolvanenLWNSH215Jakub VranaLWDET216Tyson BarrieDEDM217Rickard RakellLW/RWPIT218Dylan StromeC/RWCHI219Jamie BennC/LWDAL220Jaccob SlavinDCAR221Ryan O'ReillyCSTL222Frank VatranoLW/RWANA223Alex RomanovDNYI224Ryan JohansenCNSH225Ondrej PalatLWNJ226Damon SeversonDNJ227Chandler StephensonC/RWVGK228Conor GarlandLW/RWVAN229K'Andre MillerDNYR230Semyon VarlamovGNYI231Cam TalbotGOTT232Jeff SkinnerLWBUF233Jamie DrysdaleDANA234Cole PerfettiC/RWWPG235Dawson MercerC/RWNJ236Jesse PuljujarviRWEDM237Kailer YamamotoRWEDM238Jared SpurgeonDMIN239Mario FerraroDSJ240Logan CoutureCCJ241Radko GudasDFLA242Alexander HoltzRWNJ243Sean DurziDLA244Dmitry OrlovDWSH245James ReimerGSJ246Karel VejmelkaGARI247Calen AddisonDMIN248Alex NewhookC/LWCOL249Nick RobertsonLWTOR250Alex KillornLW/RWTBJosh Wegman has been theScore's resident fantasy hockey expert since 2015. Find him on Twitter @JoshWegman_.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Finding quality depth in your fantasy league is arguably as important as drafting top-end talent. That's especially the case in keeper leagues, where most of the NHL's star power is already snatched up.Landing a breakout player or two can often be the difference between a good team and a championship one. So, with that in mind, here are five burgeoning players you can bank on to become major contributors this fantasy season.Tim Stutzle, C, Senators Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyStutzle isn't a breakout candidate in the sense that he's an unknown commodity. Rather, all signs point to the Ottawa Senators youngster reaching a new level of superstardom in 2022-23.One can naturally assume the 20-year-old will continue his upward ascension with another year of growth and development under his belt after he managed a respectable 58 points last season. On top of physical maturity, Stutzle looks poised to receive a major upgrade on his wings, with newcomers Alex DeBrincat and Claude Giroux currently slotted beside him on the second line.Stutzle may have a tough time cracking Ottawa's first power-play unit, but a reinforced lineup should help up his production significantly at five-on-five. He's also an underrated contributor physically - he recorded 125 hits last season - which boosts his value in banger leagues.Seth Jarvis, LW/RW, Hurricanes Gregg Forwerck / National Hockey League / GettyJarvis quietly racked up 40 points in 68 games as a rookie, doing so while averaging under 14 minutes per contest. Rod Brind'Amour notoriously spreads his ice time among his forwards as evenly as he can, as no Hurricanes attacker logged more than 18:57 this past season. But despite limited opportunity on a game-to-game basis, Jarvis is worth a chance late in your draft as a larger role for the 20-year-old looms.Jarvis found impressive chemistry with Sebastian Aho a season ago, meaning a top-line look could be in the young winger's future. He, Aho, and one of Teuvo Teravainen or Andrei Svechnikov on the opposite flank would make for a tenacious trio with outstanding offensive upside.Carolina has other top-six options, but at this stage, Jarvis is the most promising. Beat your opposing general managers to him before it's too late.Evan Bouchard, D, Oilers Andy Devlin / National Hockey League / GettyBouchard displayed his offensive gifts in spades last season, recording 43 points in 81 games despite minimal exposure to the Oilers' lethal top power-play unit.Although the first squad is quarterbacked by Tyson Barrie, who's paid for his power-play prowess, one wonders if Jay Woodcroft would consider bumping the veteran for Bouchard if Edmonton's man advantage hits any sort of cold spell. Extended exposure to Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl would make Bouchard a must-have player and potentially launch him into keeper-worthy status.We understand you may not want to draft a player stuck in a lineup logjam, but Bouchard's five-on-five production alone makes him worth thinking about. Anything else is just gravy.Alexandar Georgiev, G, Avalanche Joe Sargent / National Hockey League / GettyGeorgiev's role with the defending champion Avalanche is an intriguing one. Brought in to replace Darcy Kuemper in goal, Georgiev is worth rostering if he can beat out Pavel Francouz for Colorado's starting role.Georgiev was once considered an emerging star but got lost in the fold as Igor Shesterkin became the guy in New York. The Avs are banking on a fresh start to help Georgiev return to the form he showed through his first three seasons, which featured a .913 save percentage across 77 appearances.Even if Georgiev doesn't put up Vezina-caliber stats, he should be targeted by fantasy managers as a capable 1B option in goal with starter upside. Colorado is good enough to win with just about anyone between the pipes, and it's unlikely Georgiev puts up waiver-wire numbers on a team that spends the majority of its games with possession of the puck in the offensive zone. If he doesn't float your boat, try Francouz. Drafting an Avalanche goalie is perhaps the easiest way to secure wins for your team.Matty Beniers, C, Kraken Jonathan Kozub / National Hockey League / GettyBeniers is generating Calder Trophy buzz as the regular season inches closer, and for good reason. The 2021 second overall pick racked up nine points in his first 10 NHL games after debuting for the Kraken last spring.That's not a big enough sample size to guarantee that Beniers will become a star in his first full season, but it's clear he has the skill to carry his weight in the pros. As it stands now, he should be Seattle's first-line center with top power-play exposure to boot.Considering the Kraken reinforced their top six this offseason with the addition of Oliver Bjorkstrand and have three solid left-wing options in Jared McCann, Ryan Donato, and Jaden Schwartz, Beniers should have every opportunity to make a name for himself playing with quality, offensive-minded linemates.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.