Winnipeg Jets center Pierre-Luc Dubois took the time to address some recent rumors a couple of days after signing his one-year, $6-million qualifying offer to remain in the prairie province.Namely, the Quebec native thinks people overreacted to his agent Pat Brisson's comments about Dubois wanting to play for the Montreal Canadiens someday."To be honest, I saw the comments that he made. I think people were blowing them out of proportion. I think people took a little thing and blew it up times 20," he told the media Monday."It's fine, everybody can read into it what they want. ... I just thought it was overblown, the reaction. I think some people just ran with the two seconds that they liked or didn't like to hear."Dubois will still be a restricted free agent once his new deal expires.The 24-year-old reportedly informed the Jets that he plans to test free agency once he's eligible in 2024, but he opted to remain tightlipped about his long-term future with the Jets. Dubois said his job now was just to play hockey and deal with it once his new deal is up, but he denied that he requested a move."You hear so many things that I apparently said or apparently did. A lot of it is frustrating, to read (about) some things that I didn't even know I did or I didn't do, didn't say," he said."At this time, the one-year deal was the way we wanted to go. ... You read stuff (like), 'He wants out of Winnipeg.' If I wanted out of Winnipeg, I would've asked for a trade. I didn't ask for a trade. There was no doubt in my mind that I was gonna show up to camp."Dubois also wanted to dispel the notion that he went to the 2022 NHL Draft in Montreal expecting a trade would be completed on the draft floor."I went to the draft because I live 15 minutes from the arena. I'm a fan of hockey," he said. "My bank invited me, they had a box with food and dinner. It's an entertaining night ... I used to go to drafts when I was a kid."If I was invited to go with the Jets, I would've gone with them."Dubois was upfront when asked about his hesitance to answer questions about his future outright."Look, I don't even know what I'm eating tonight for dinner. I don't know what I'm going to do in two years," he said. "I don't know what I'm going to do in six years. I don't know what I'm going to do in six months."I'm not somebody that has one idea and is then set on it for the next six years. ... It's just human nature to change your mind sometimes."Dubois logged 28 goals and 32 assists in 81 games during the 2021-22 campaign. The Columbus Blue Jackets shipped him north of the border in the swap for Patrik Laine to t in January 2021.The third overall pick in 2016 has 239 points in 361 career games.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Hockey Canada unveiled an action plan Monday to address "systemic issues" and "toxic behavior" within the sport as the organization deals with investigations into two separate incidents of alleged sexual assault."We need to do more to address the behaviors that are undermining the many good things the game brings to our country," Hockey Canada wrote in a statement. "With this action plan, we aim to do just that."The multipronged plan aims to hold Hockey Canada accountable while promoting safety and inclusivity. The organization will establish a fully confidential tracking and reporting system for all complaints of abuse and harassment by the end of September 2022. The results will be published publicly annually.The plan also features:

Jonathan Huberdeau and MacKenzie Weegar have only been Calgary Flames players for a couple of days, but the pair of former Florida Panthers are open to sticking with their new team."We didn't really talk about that, but I'm open to staying in Calgary for a long time. … We haven't gotten to go to Calgary and see everything, but I'm open for it," Huberdeau said during his introductory press conference Monday.Weegar shared a similar sentiment."Yep, same here, open to signing a long-term deal. … The city and the team, there's no reason not to be open about it," the 28-year-old defenseman said. "I'm looking forward to my agent talking to (general manager Brad Treliving) and seeing what's going on."The Flames acquired Huberdeau, Weegar, prospect Cole Schwindt, and a conditional 2025 first-round pick from the Panthers in exchange for star forward Matthew Tkachuk and a conditional 2025 fourth-rounder late Friday night.Huberdeau and Weegar each have one year remaining on their current deals with a combined cap hit of $9.15 million and can become unrestricted free agents next summer.Huberdeau admitted it was hard to say what might factor into his decision to stay but was pleased the Flames sought his services."They're the ones that traded for me, and that means they want me," the 29-year-old star winger said. "Obviously, the situation was different with Tkachuk wanting to leave Calgary, but I think they still went and got us. You want to play for a team that wants you, and that's all I want."Weegar, meanwhile, revealed what might be on his mind while thinking about his future with Calgary."Are we a winning team, how is the city, how are the teammates, how are my coaches?" he said. "I think … they're the boxes that you check to sign a long-term deal with the team. … I've heard lots of great things about all those things I just said."The Panthers captured the Presidents' Trophy as the league's best team in the regular season after a 122-point campaign. Huberdeau and Weegar were key to Florida's success, with the former potting 115 points in 80 games and the latter ranking second among the team's blue-liners with 44 points in 80 contests.The Flames had a spectacular season of their own, finishing atop the Pacific Division with a record of 50-21-11.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Anaheim Ducks avoided arbitration with restricted free-agent forward Isac Lundestrom, signing him to a two-year deal on Monday.The pact carries an average annual value of $1.8 million, according to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.Lundestrom's salary arbitration hearing was scheduled for July 27. He'll still be a restricted free agent after this pact expires.The Swede recorded a career-high 16 goals and 13 assists in 80 contests in 2021-22 while averaging 15:29 per game.A first-round pick by Anaheim in the 2018 draft, Lundestrom has 44 points in 151 career contests.The Ducks have now signed all of their restricted free agents and have almost $26 million in projected cap space, according to CapFriendly.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Detroit Red Wings signed unrestricted free-agent defenseman Robert Hagg to a one-year pact worth $800,000 on Monday.Hagg, 27, split the 2021-22 campaign between the Buffalo Sabres and Florida Panthers. He logged one goal and eight assists in 64 contests while averaging 16 minutes of ice time per game.The Swede also chipped in with 138 hits and 102 blocks.His playing time decreased after the Panthers acquired him prior to the trade deadline, but he strengthened his underlying numbers. Florida controlled 54.3% of the shot attempts and 54.4% of the expected goals with Hagg on the ice at five-on-five - both metrics dipped below 50% while he was with the struggling Sabres, according to Natural Stat Trick.A second-round pick of the Philadelphia Flyers in 2013, Hagg has 56 points in 300 career contests.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Player-for-player blockbuster trades between NHL teams trying to be competitive are rare, largely due to the hard salary cap. However, as the Matthew Tkachuk deal showed us, they're not impossible. So, we've come up with another one.Vancouver Canucks forward J.T. Miller for New Jersey Devils defenseman Damon Severson (and more).Now, hear us out before you close the page. Miller is more of a household name, but Severson is underrated. The Devils would have to add more pieces to this hypothetical swap, but we'll get to that later. First, a little background on each centerpiece.Miller, 29, is coming off a career-high 99-point campaign. He's capable of playing both center and left wing and is an exceptional offensive player, even if he gives up a fair amount defensively. He also brings an element of size (6-foot-1, 218 pounds) and physicality (172 hits last season) that teams covet. Evolving-Hockey.comSeverson, who turns 28 next week, is also coming off a career year after tallying 46 points. He defends well, in large part due to his size (6-foot-2, 205 pounds) and mobility. Severson averaged more ice time per game (23:36) than Dougie Hamilton last season (21:13), which says a lot about how much coaches trust him to handle tough minutes. Evolving-Hockey.comAnother thing to remember: there's familiarity between Devils general manager Tom Fitzgerald and Canucks GM Patrik Allvin, who worked together in the Pittsburgh Penguins' front office from 2007-08 to 2014-15.Now, let's dive into why this trade would make sense for each side, and what final assets would need to be included to get a deal done.Why it makes sense for the Devils Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettySeverson ($4.16-million cap hit) will be an unrestricted free agent in 2023. There have been no reports of his availability, but it'd be sensible for New Jersey to move him following the recent John Marino acquisition.With Marino and Hamilton signed long term on the right side of the blue line, locking up another righty in Severson would be illogical. That's especially true after the club selected Simon Nemec, yet another right-shot defender, second overall in the draft. Even if Nemec isn't ready to play in the NHL this season, Fitzgerald could sign a one-year stopgap until the young Slovak arrives.The Devils struck out on Johnny Gaudreau in free agency. They signed Ondrej Palat, but they could still use a veteran, star forward to complement Jack Hughes, Nico Hischier, and Co. Miller would be an even better fit than Gaudreau, considering he'd bring a different element with his size and tenacity to a forward group that's mostly on the smaller side.Perhaps most importantly, New Jersey possesses the cap space to sign Miller, a 2023 UFA, to a long-term extension. As of now, only Hughes, Hischier, Palat, Hamilton, and Marino are making significant money beyond next season. Miller projects to land an eight-year deal with a $9.7-million cap hit if he signs an extension, per Evolving-Hockey.Why it makes sense for the Canucks Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyMiller ($5.25-million cap hit) was expected to be traded at the deadline, but a move never materialized. Reports in early July indicated that he and the Canucks were far apart on a possible extension, thus causing trade talks to intensify. But more recently, Miller's agent said there's a "realistic path" to an extension.Basically, nothing is off the table at this point. However, extending Miller would be tricky, considering captain Bo Horvat also needs a new contract for next year and Elias Pettersson is due up in 2024. It might be smart for Allvin to allocate that money to positions of greater need, like the back end.The right side of Vancouver's blue line is among the league's worst. It currently consists of Tyler Myers, Luke Schenn, Kyle Burroughs, and Tucker Poolman, whose status for 2022-23 is still up in the air. Lefty Travis Dermott is capable of sliding over to his off side, too.Severson would represent a massive upgrade. Regardless of whether he plays alongside Quinn Hughes or Oliver Ekman-Larsson, he'd help elevate either top-four pairing.Severson will also be much cheaper than Miller. Evolving-Hockey projects his next contract to be a six-year deal with a $6.8-million cap hit.What would the Devils have to add? Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyClearly, Miller is more valuable than Severson. Based on the aforementioned contract projections, he's about $3 million per year more valuable, to be exact. So, New Jersey would have to have to add a piece or two to sweeten the deal.We've noted that Vancouver's current blue line needs work, but its defensive prospect pipeline could use a jolt, too. The Canucks haven't drafted a defenseman higher than the third round since they took Hughes seventh overall in 2018. Jett Woo was also taken in the second round that year, but it's not certain he'll become a full-time NHLer.So, it'd be logical for the Canucks to target a defensive prospect in this trade. Fortunately for them, the Devils are loaded with young blue-line talent. Nemec and Luke Hughes, the 2021 No. 4 pick, are likely untouchable. But Shakir Mukhamadullin, Reilly Walsh, Kevin Bahl, and Nikita Okhotyuk could all potentially be in play.Proposal No. 1Devils receiveCanucks receiveJ.T. MillerDamon SeversonShakir MukhamadullinMukhamadullin, selected 20th overall in 2020, is considered the best of New Jersey's defensive prospects outside of Hughes and Nemec. He's 6-foot-4 but skates really well for his size, and while he shoots left, he can play the right side.The Canucks would be smart to persist for Mukhamadullin, but it's possible the Devils would hesitate to give him up. So, we've come up with some alternative offers.Proposal No. 2Devils receiveCanucks receiveJ.T. MillerDamon SeversonKevin BahlJesper Boqvist2023 2nd-round pickIn this deal, the Devils give up less quality but more quantity.Bahl doesn't share Mukhamadullin's upside, but he's already played 24 NHL games and didn't look out of place. A second-round pick by the Arizona Coyotes in 2018, the New Westminster, B.C., native stands at 6-foot-6 and 230 pounds. Whether he can play a top-four role one day remains to be seen, but at the very least, he has a future as a shutdown, third-pair blue-liner.Boqvist, chosen 36th overall in 2017, hasn't quite found his footing in the NHL yet, recording 34 points in 119 career games. It's possible a change of scenery could help, though. At the very least, he'd give Vancouver some forward depth.Proposal No. 3Devils receiveCanucks receiveJ.T. MillerDamon SeversonKevin BahlReilly WalshWalsh shoots right, so he'd have a much clearer path to NHL playing time in Vancouver than in New Jersey. The 2017 third-rounder is coming off an impressive AHL campaign in which he tallied 43 points in 70 games. He brings more upside than Bahl but less than Mukhamadullin.Including both Walsh and Bahl may seem steep for the Devils, but it'll be hard for them to crack New Jersey's roster considering they're the organization's fourth- and fifth-best defensive prospects behind Nemec, Hughes, and Mukhamadullin.For Vancouver, getting three defensemen would help give its blue line the facelift it needs. And if Walsh and Bahl aren't already NHL ready, they're close, which is key for a Canucks team still trying to remain competitive.These trade proposals may not be perfect, but it's clear there's an avenue to grind out an agreement that'd benefit both sides. Could old colleagues Fitzgerald and Allvin find a middle ground?(Cap source: CapFriendly)Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Although Matthew Tkachuk didn't specify why he decided to leave the Calgary Flames, he said he's at peace with how he went about it."I feel like I did it the right way," he told Sportsnet's Eric Francis on Saturday. "I played my hardest. I tried to be in the community as much as possible. I knew pretty recently it was time for a change. ... There was no second-guessing it or delaying it. I told them right away. It's like ripping a Band-Aid off ... It's hard."I hope people can respect me for that, and for trying to help them out as much as they tried to help me out in this process, because I feel working together really did benefit both of us."Calgary shipped Tkachuk, 24, to the Florida Panthers on Friday night in a blockbuster deal that saw Jonathan Huberdeau and MacKenzie Weegar go the other way. Tkachuk inked an eight-year, $76-million contract in the process.Although Tkachuk acknowledged there was always a chance he'd want out after the duration of his previous three-year contract, he said he didn't make that decision until recently."I put myself in a position with the last deal I signed to kind of re-evaluate my life and my career at this stage, and I kind of came to the conclusion after the restricted free-agent period (July 13) that it was time to look elsewhere," he said."There's a lot that went into it. There's no single reason why I left."Tkachuk also said his goodbye via Twitter on Sunday.

On Friday night, the Calgary Flames traded restricted free-agent winger Matthew Tkachuk and a conditional fourth-round pick in the 2025 draft to the Florida Panthers for winger Jonathan Huberdeau, defenseman MacKenzie Weegar, prospect Cole Schwindt, and a 2025 lottery-protected first-rounder.Tkachuk subsequently signed an eight-year deal with the Panthers. The contract, which runs through the 2029-30 season, carries a $9.5 million AAV.Two 100-point players involved in a six-piece swap - damn, how's that for a late-July whopper? OK, let's break down how both teams fared in this trade.Calgary Flames Eliot J. Schechter / Getty ImagesNegotiating is all about power, and Brad Treliving appeared powerless earlier this week. The sharks undoubtedly circled when word leaked that Tkachuk told the Flames general manager that he wouldn't sign a long-term extension in Calgary a mere week after the Flames lost superstar Johnny Gaudreau to the Columbus Blue Jackets via free agency.According to The Athletic, Tkachuk's preferred destinations included the Panthers, Nashville Predators, Dallas Stars, Vegas Golden Knights, and St. Louis Blues. The return package is typically substantially better if the player is dealt to a place where he's willing to sign long term. So while the market for Tkachuk didn't technically shrink to just five teams, Treliving was in a bind.A few days later, Treliving emerged with one of the best playmakers in the entire NHL in Huberdeau, a top-pairing blue-liner in Weegar, a first-rounder, and a decent forward prospect. Given the circumstances, it's hard to envision a better return for Tkachuk. Really, this is a fantastic trade for Calgary, and it can be upgraded to home-run status if Huberdeau, 29, and Weegar, 28, end up signing extensions. (Both become unrestricted free agents next summer.)Treliving delayed an unwelcome rebuild for at least one season by replacing talent with talent. The organization will have a giant chip on its shoulder as it attempts to win the Pacific Division and contend for the Stanley Cup in 2022-23 despite losing two cornerstone pieces within 10 days. The underappreciated Huberdeau, who last year garnered the fifth-most Hart Trophy votes after finishing first in assists (85) and tied for second in points (115), fills a huge chunk of the void left by Gaudreau and Tkachuk departing.As an aside, don't be surprised if this franchise-altering trade entices Calgary to go hard after UFA Nazem Kadri. The Flames, who currently have $9.3 million in available cap space, according to CapFriendly, would first need to make a move or two, as RFAs Andrew Mangiapane and Oliver Kylington remain unsigned. However, the two-way Kadri seems like a perfect candidate to fill the second-line center spot in coach Darryl Sutter's lineup card. Joel Auerbach / Getty ImagesPractically speaking, Huberdeau should have no issues finding chemistry with Elias Lindholm, the last remaining member of Calgary's vaunted top line. Huberdeau's ex-running mate, Aleksander Barkov, is a Selke Trophy-caliber center like Lindholm, while Lindholm has plenty of experience playing with dynamic, pass-first wingers after years of sharing the ice with Gaudreau.Weegar is a right-shot defenseman coming off a career year offensively (44 points in 80 games). The 6-foot, 200-pounder is an elite transition player. Although he's prone to making the odd glaring error, his underlying numbers are very strong at both ends of the ice. With Weegar, Rasmus Andersson, Noah Hanifin, Chris Tanev, Nikita Zadorov, and Kylington, Calgary boasts a veteran-laden defense corps that's equal parts brute force and legitimate skill.The 2025 first-rounder is the cherry on top. The Flames, who also have their own firsts in 2023, 2024, and 2025, can use this draft capital to reel in another NHL star or sit tight and see how everything unfolds in the new era.Grade: AFlorida Panthers Bruce Bennett / Getty ImagesTkachuk's a unicorn. He's a top offensive producer. He's responsible defensively. He's captain material. And he annoys opponents to no end.So, of course, Panthers GM Bill Zito put in a call to explore a trade for the 24-year-old. The fact that Zito actually acquired such a unique player and locked him up through his prime is a win for Florida, a franchise with a small fan base and only one playoff series win since 1996. In a vacuum, I like this trade for the Panthers. It's splashy, and Tkachuk's contract is fair for both sides.But, man, did Zito give up a ton for Tkachuk and a conditional fourth-rounder. Trading Weegar immediately makes the Panthers' blue line worse, and sending Calgary a 2025 first-rounder means Florida doesn't have an opening-round pick until 2026. (The club sacrificed its 2023 and 2024 firsts at the 2022 trade deadline for Claude Giroux and Ben Chiarot, both of whom are now gone.)If the trade had been Tkachuk for Huberdeau, one for one, it would have been a no-brainer considering Huberdeau's contract status and the team's lack of success in the Huberdeau-Barkov-Aaron Ekblad era. But now, the Panthers have bid farewell to Huberdeau, Weegar, Giroux, Chiarot, and Mason Marchment this summer while gaining Tkachuk and a couple of depth pieces. For a 122-point team trying to win a Cup, that's too much talent out the door. Icon Sportswire / Getty ImagesThere's also the long game to consider here. If the Panthers are trying to be more methodical after going all-in last season, losing unceremoniously in the second round, and then switching coaches, this trade makes some sense. Huberdeau and Weegar were presumably not re-signing, so why not bring in a young star to mix up the group dynamics on and off the ice?Tkachuk joins Barkov ($10 million AAV), goalie Sergei Bobrovsky ($10M), and Ekblad ($7.5M) as handsomely paid Panthers signed through at least 2025. Forwards Sam Reinhart, Sam Bennett, Carter Verhaeghe, and Anton Lundell, defenseman Gustav Forsling, and goalie Spencer Knight are all quality second-tier players under the age of 27. Even after the roster shakeup, this team can still earn a top-three spot in the Atlantic Division.As for Tkachuk himself, well, there's little to dislike about this entire situation. Sure, the home-rink atmosphere isn't the same in Sunrise as in Calgary. But otherwise, he's filled his bank account with $76 million, escaped the snow, and joined a competitive team. Once Gaudreau left Calgary, Tkachuk's departure seemed inevitable, and he's the biggest winner here.Grade: BJohn 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 Calgary Flames have traded star forward Matthew Tkachuk and a conditional 2025 fourth-round draft pick to the Florida Panthers in exchange for Jonathan Huberdeau, MacKenzie Weegar, Cole Schwindt, and a conditional 2025 first-round draft pick, the Flames announced Friday.Florida subsequently inked the winger to an eight-year deal through the 2029-30 season, the Panthers announced. Tkachuk's new contract is worth $76 million, according to Andy Strickland of Bally Sports Midwest.The draft selection heading to Calgary is lottery-protected, according to Frank Seravalli of Daily Faceoff."Matthew is a tenacious, physical competitor who possesses a tremendously unique skill set," Panthers general manager Bill Zito said in a statement. "He is a consistent elite offensive contributor and has emerged as one of the most complete and dynamic young players in the National Hockey League. We are thrilled to be able to add a generational talent to our lineup."Tkachuk reportedly informed the Flames earlier this week that he had no intentions of signing a new long-term deal with the club. The 24-year-old apparently provided Calgary with a list of teams he'd sign a long-term contract with, including the Panthers.The Flames selected Tkachuk sixth overall in 2016. The American is coming off a career year in which he posted 42 goals and 62 assists en route to an eighth-place finish in the NHL's scoring race.Meanwhile, Huberdeau will fill Johnny Gaudreau's spot on Calgary's top line after the latter bolted in free agency. Huberdeau was fifth in voting for the Hart Trophy last season, registering a league-leading 85 assists and 115 points over 80 appearances.Weegar also had a strong 2021-22 campaign, tallying 44 points, 156 blocks, and 179 hits across 80 games as he earned some down-ballot votes for the Norris Trophy.Both Huberdeau and Weegar are set to hit unrestricted free agency next summer."On behalf of the entire Florida Panthers organization, we would like to thank Jonathan and MacKenzie for their immense contributions to the Florida Panthers, both on and off the ice, during their tenures in South Florida," Zito said in a statement. "They have both blossomed into exceptional athletes and people. Their contributions as players and people made an indelible mark on our franchise, and we wish them both continued success in their future."Schwindt made his NHL debut last season, going pointless in three appearances. The right winger was a third-round selection of the Panthers in 2019.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It appears Matthew Tkachuk always had his heart set on leaving Calgary, regardless of whether Johnny Gaudreau stayed or not."It had nothing to do with it," Flames general manager Brad Treliving told reporters Saturday, including Sportsnet's Eric Francis. "Matthew's decision was not tied to Johnny's whatsoever."Calgary traded Tkachuk, along with a conditional fourth-round pick, to the Florida Panthers on Friday night in exchange for Jonathan Huberdeau, MacKenzie Weegar, Cole Schwindt, and a conditional first-rounder. The deal came just over a week after Gaudreau left in free agency to sign with the Columbus Blue Jackets.Treliving said the trade came together quickly. Reports Wednesday indicated that Tkachuk, a restricted free agent who could've become an unrestricted free agent in 2023, informed the Flames he wouldn't re-sign long term."A week ago, this was not a plan that we had," Treliving said, per The Athletic's Hailey Salvian. "We were not looking to move Matthew Tkachuk, but we were put in a situation where we had to do the best for the organization."Treliving explained the Flames' situation using a humorous analogy."You can crawl into the fetal position and suck your thumb. Or you can deal with it. We're going to deal with it," he told The Fan 960's Pat Steinberg.However, Treliving quickly dismissed the notion that star players don't want to play in Calgary."The city has taken some body shots," he said. "Quite frankly, it pisses me off. It's a wonderful community. We've got a top team in the league. People have the right to pick and choose where they want to go, but as a community and organization, we do not have to apologize for anything."The Flames are coming off a 111-point season - the second-best in franchise history. Losing Tkachuk and Gaudreau certainly stings, but adding Huberdeau and Weegar should help Calgary remain a contender in 2022-23.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Hockey Canada is urging the authorities to open an investigation after learning on Thursday of an alleged group sexual assault from 2003 involving members of the 2002-03 national junior team.The organization says it first heard of a rumor about "something bad at the 2003 World Juniors" two weeks ago but was unable to find out any more details after hiring a third-party investigator.TSN's Rick Westhead then contacted Hockey Canada with more details of the alleged assault on Thursday evening. Westhead spoke to multiple witnesses and Conservative MP John Nater, who holds similar information about the alleged incident.Halifax was the co-host city of the 2003 IIHF World Junior Championship, and Hockey Canada said it reached out to Halifax Regional Police immediately after hearing from Westhead.Halifax Regional Police said it received a report related to the alleged sexual assault on Thursday evening and that it would be conducting a "thorough investigation," according to The Athletic's Katie Strang.Hockey Canada added it will cooperate with and support the authorities in any way it can."Hockey Canada is committed to bringing an end to the culture of silence in hockey," the organization wrote in a statement. "That is why we are publicly calling for anyone with knowledge of this incident to come forward to police, and we are being transparent in how we learned of this alleged assault and the steps we are taking to address it."Three sources who claim to have seen a video allegedly showing half a dozen players having non-consensual sex with a woman during the 2003 tournament in Halifax told Westhead they would testify in private before a government committee.The NHL addressed the alleged incident with a statement a couple hours later."We were made aware earlier today of the horrific allegations against members of the 2002-03 Canadian National Junior Team," the league wrote. "The National Hockey League will look into the allegations and will respond appropriately."Hockey Canada has been under intense scrutiny after details emerged about an alleged sexual assault involving members of the 2018 world junior team.A woman says she was assaulted by eight unnamed CHL players in June of that year following a Hockey Canada gala event in London, Ontario. The lawsuit wasn't heard in court. It was filed in April 2022 and settled in May.While testifying about the settled sexual assault lawsuit before the House of Commons in June, outgoing Hockey Canada CEO Tom Renney said the organization has dealt with one or two allegations of sexual assault per year over the past five or six years.Hockey Canada released another statement on Wednesday saying it would no longer use a fund maintained by membership fees to settle sexual assault claims.Prime Minister Justin Trudeau recently spoke out against Hockey Canada; the organization has also lost government funding and corporate sponsorships in light of the alleged 2018 sexual assault."I think right now it's hard for anyone in Canada to have faith or trust in anyone at Hockey Canada," he said earlier this week, according to the Canadian Press' Joshua Clipperton."What we're learning is absolutely unacceptable."Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Winnipeg Jets forward Pierre-Luc Dubois accepted a one-year, $6-million qualifying offer from the team on Friday.Dubois potted 28 goals and 32 assists in 81 contests this past season. He'll remain a restricted free agent after this deal expires.The 24-year-old reportedly informed the Jets in June that he plans to test unrestricted free agency when eligible in 2024. His agent, Pat Brisson, revealed earlier this month that the Quebec native would like to play for the Montreal Canadiens.Dubois attended the 2022 NHL Draft in Montreal because he believed a trade to the Habs would be completed on the draft floor, sources told The Athletic's Arpon Basu and Murat Ates.The Jets acquired Dubois and a 2022 third-round pick from the Columbus Blue Jackets in exchange for Patrik Laine and Jack Roslovic in 2021.Dubois just wrapped up a two-year pact with an average annual value of $5 million.Selected third overall by the Blue Jackets in the 2016 draft, Dubois has 102 goals and 137 assists in 361 career contests.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Columbus Blue Jackets traded forward Oliver Bjorkstrand to the Seattle Kraken on Friday in exchange for a third- and fourth-round selection in the 2023 draft.Bjorkstrand led the Blue Jackets with 28 goals in 2021-22, and his 57 points ranked second on the team.The Blue Jackets had to shed some cap space after adding Johnny Gaudreau and re-signing Patrik Laine on lucrative deals. Bjorkstrand has four years remaining on his current deal and carries a cap hit of $5.4 million."It was a difficult decision to trade Oliver, who has given so much to our organization over the past seven years," Blue Jackets general manager Jarmo Kekalainen said.Bjorkstrand's deal includes a 10-team no-trade list that kicks in for the 2022-23 campaign.Picked by Columbus in the third round of the 2013 draft, Bjorkstrand has 111 goals and 123 assists in 382 games, all with the Blue Jackets.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Another core piece has fallen into place for the Columbus Blue Jackets.The Blue Jackets signed restricted free-agent star Patrik Laine to a four-year deal on Friday with an average annual value of $8.7 million."One of our priorities this summer was signing Patrik Laine to a contract extension," general manager Jarmo Kekalainen said. "He is a special player, one of the truly elite goal scorers in the National Hockey League, and he has fit in extremely well with our group since his arrival."Laine had until 5 p.m. ET on Friday to accept his one-year, $7.5-million qualifying offer, but the two sides were able to agree to a long-term pact.The Blue Jackets acquired Laine from the Winnipeg Jets in a swap that sent forward Pierre-Luc Dubois north of the border in 2021.Laine logged 26 goals and 30 assists in 56 games during the 2021-22 season and produced at a point-per-game rate for the first time in his career. The sniper has eclipsed the 30-goal mark three times, including when he lit the lamp 44 times with the Jets in 2017-18.The 24-year-old ranks 14th in goals and ninth in power-play tallies since entering the league in 2016-17.Laine played out the 2021-22 campaign on a one-year pact worth $7.5 million.A Jets second-overall pick in 2016, Laine has racked up 176 goals and 151 assists in 407 career contests.It's been an exciting offseason for Blue Jackets fans. Columbus also landed coveted free-agent star Johnny Gaudreau on a seven-year, $68.25-million contract.The Blue Jackets failed to make the playoffs for the second straight season this past campaign after finishing in sixth place of the Metropolitan Division with a record of 37-38-7.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New Jets head coach Rick Bowness refuted the notion that there's some serious unrest within Winnipeg's dressing room."I really believe in this team," Bowness said during a recent interview with NHL Network. "I know there's some culture issues that people are making a big deal about, I don't think it's nearly, nearly as bad as what's being perceived about our organization."The Jets failed to qualify for the playoffs for the first time since 2017 after finishing in sixth place of the Central Division with a record of 39-32-11.Star forward Mark Scheifele made headlines when he questioned his future with the organization after the Jets' 2021-22 campaign ended, while veteran center Paul Stastny said the players had to have more respect for each other.Meanwhile, power forward Pierre-Luc Dubois reportedly told the Jets that he plans to test unrestricted free agency when eligible in 2024."When you lose your way like they did last year for whatever reason, I'm not here to criticize, things just get blown out of proportion," Bowness said."From everything the players tell me - Josh Morrissey, Mark Scheifele, Blake Wheeler - it's a very close-knit group, much more so than is perceived."Bowness, 67, stepped down as head coach of the Dallas Stars shortly after the team was eliminated from the playoffs. He said he fielded calls from some rebuilding teams regarding associate or assistant coach roles, but he wasn't interested."You can't fix the Xs and Os on the ice until the culture itself is straightened out, and it's tight," Bowness said. "I feel so much better about the team just talking to the players, that it is a much closer group than is perceived about us, and it is a very good hockey club."Shortly after being announced as the new bench boss of the Jets, Bowness vowed to lead them back into the postseason.A veteran head coach of 639 games, Bowness also spent time behind the bench of the original Jets before they relocated, the Boston Bruins, Ottawa Senators, New York Islanders, and then-Phoenix Coyotes.He helped lead the Stars to a Stanley Cup Final appearance in 2020.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The San Jose Sharks picked David Quinn to replace Bob Boughner as their next head coach, ESPN's Kevin Weekes reports.Quinn, who reportedly agreed to a three-year contract, will return to an NHL bench for the first time since 2020-21. He spent three seasons as the New York Rangers' bench boss but was fired after the team failed to make the playoffs during the pandemic-shortened campaign.He holds a career record of 96-87-25.Before coaching the Rangers, he spent five seasons behind the bench at Boston University. The 55-year-old posted a 105-69-21 mark, including a national championship game appearance in 2015.Quinn also coached Team USA at the 2022 Olympics, guiding the Americans to a fifth-place finish.Mike Vellucci of the Pittsburgh Penguins and Spencer Carbery of the Toronto Maple Leafs were the other finalists for the Sharks' vacancy, according to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.San Jose enters the 2022-23 campaign with a new general manager as well. Former NHLer Mike Grier was hired earlier this month to replace Joe Will, becoming the league's first-ever Black GM.The Sharks have failed to make the playoffs in three straight campaigns after missing the postseason just twice between 1998-2019.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Pittsburgh Penguins avoided arbitration with restricted free-agent winger Kasperi Kapanen after signing him to a two-year deal with an average annual value of $3.2 million.Kapanen's arbitration hearing was set for July 30. He just wrapped up a three-year contract with an identical cap hit.The 25-year-old put up 11 goals and 21 assists in 79 games during his second season in Pittsburgh in 2021-22. He also chipped in with five power-play points.Kapanen has eclipsed the 30-point mark in four straight campaigns. His best statistical season came in 2018-19 when he scored 20 goals for the first time in his career, but he hasn't replicated that same success since.The speedy Finn also logged 11 goals during the 2020-21 season, but he did it in 39 fewer games compared to 2021-22.Kapanen said one of his goals this offseason is to regain his confidence."Just kinda get my swagger back and get back to the things that make me feel confident," he said, according to team beat reporter Michelle Crechiolo. "Work on those, come out next year and try to be dominant."I think I have all the tools for it. As long as I'm better mentally, then I think I'll be really dangerous."The Penguins selected Kapanen in the first round of the 2014 draft before trading him to the Toronto Maple Leafs as part of the Phil Kessel deal in 2015.Kapanen has 152 points in 321 career NHL games.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Matthew Tkachuk informed the Calgary Flames that he won't sign a long-term deal with the club, sources told The Athletic's Jeremy Rutherford and Hailey Salvian.The restricted free-agent forward hasn't officially asked for a trade, but a move is now likely to happen, Rutherford and Salvian add.Tkachuk reportedly provided the Flames with a list of teams he'd sign a long-term contract with, which included the St. Louis Blues, Vegas Golden Knights, Florida Panthers, Nashville Predators, and Dallas Stars.The Flames filed for club-elected salary arbitration with Tkachuk on Monday, making him ineligible to sign an opposing team's offer sheet. It also means he can no longer sign his $9-million qualifying offer.The deadline to accept qualifying offers is July 22, and arbitration hearings are being held between July 27 and Aug. 11. Filing for arbitration gives the Flames more time to negotiate a deal for the 24-year-old, which would involve a sign-and-trade or moving his rights. His hearing is set for Aug. 11, but Calgary is expected to trade Tkachuk beforehand, one source told Rutherford and Salvian.If Tkachuk goes through an arbitrator, he would be awarded a one-year deal that can't be worth less than $9 million, according to CapFriendly.The New Jersey Devils and New York Islanders have also previously expressed interest in Tkachuk.A St. Louis native, Tkachuk's father, Keith, spent about half of his 18-year NHL career with the Blues.Tkachuk earned himself a handsome payday after potting a career-high 42 goals and 62 assists in 82 games this past season. His 104 points ranked second on the team.The Flames selected Tkachuk sixth overall in the 2016 draft and he has 382 points in 431 career games.It appears more than likely that Tkachuk will follow ex-teammate Johnny Gaudreau south of the border. Gaudreau left the Flames in free agency and inked a seven-year, $68.25-million deal with the Columbus Blue Jackets.The Flames finished atop the Pacific Division with a sparkling 50-21-11 record. The Edmonton Oilers eliminated Calgary in the second round of the playoffs.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Nashville Predators signed free-agent forward Nino Niederreiter to a two-year, $8-million contract, the club announced Thursday.Niederreiter finished with the third-most goals (24) on the Carolina Hurricanes last season.The 29-year-old spent the last four campaigns with the Hurricanes following a lengthy stay with the Minnesota Wild.Niederreiter has scored 20-plus goals five times during his NHL career. He's registered 368 points over 732 games between the Hurricanes, Wild, and New York Islanders.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

NHL free agency opened up just over a week ago. Although there are still some name-brand players available - most notably Nazem Kadri and John Klingberg - the majority of the top talent has found a new home.Let's take a look at how that has impacted the market, focusing on some of the biggest risers and fallers.TEAMODDS (July 21)ODDS (July 11)Colorado Avalanche+400+425Toronto Maple Leafs+750+900Florida Panthers+900+1100Tampa Bay Lightning+1000+1000Carolina Hurricanes+1200+1500Vegas Golden Knights+1600+1100Edmonton Oilers+1800+1700Minnesota Wild+1800+2000Pittsburgh Penguins+2000+2700New York Rangers+2000+2000St. Louis Blues+2200+2700Boston Bruins+2500+3000Calgary Flames+2500+2000Los Angeles Kings+3500+3500New York Islanders+3500+3100Washington Capitals+3500+4000Dallas Stars+4500+4000Vancouver Canucks+4500+5000Nashville Predators+5000+4000Winnipeg Jets+5000+6500Detroit Red Wings+5500+7500Ottawa Senators+5500+5000New Jersey Devils+7000+5000Anaheim Ducks+8000+7500Buffalo Sabres+8000+7500Columbus Blue Jackets+8000+10000Philadelphia Flyers+10000+6000Seattle Kraken+17500+6000San Jose Sharks+17500+7500Chicago Blackhawks+22500+10000Montreal Canadiens+22500+10000Arizona Coyotes+40000+50000RisersCarolina Hurricanes (+1200)The Hurricanes have been one of the league's better teams for a handful of years now. Natural finishing ability - or a lack there of - was perhaps the biggest thing holding them back.GM Don Waddell has certainly tried to address that in recent weeks, most notably with the additions of Max Pacioretty and Brent Burns. It's fair to say both players have passed their peaks but they are still very good; particularly offensively.Pacioretty has amassed 43 goals in 87 games over the last two seasons in Vegas; he remains one of the best pure scorers in the NHL when healthy.Burns brings real pop to the back end as well. He has netted at least 10 goals in eight straight seasons in which he's appeared in more than 60 games. He's one of the best volume shooting defenders in the league and is as durable as they come.With those two joining the organization for pennies on the dollar - and quality depth scorer Ondrej Kase signing for $1.5 million - the Hurricanes have more than adequately replaced the departures of Vincent Trocheck and Tony DeAngelo.Detroit Red Wings (+5500)The Red Wings are done being complete pushovers. They've made that loud and clear with the moves we have seen this summer.Free-agent signings David Perron (27 goals, 57 points) and Andrew Copp (21 goals, 53 points) will nicely complement the stars the team already has in place up front. Not to mention, they'll provide sandpaper and make the Wings tougher to play against.While Ben Chiarot, Olli Maatta, and Mark Pysyk have limitations with the puck, they should help the Red Wings improve in the defensive zone.Ville Husso is a nice upgrade in goal as well. He's coming off a breakout season in which he ranked top-10 in save percentage - and high-danger save percentage - at five-on-five.The Red Wings are still unlikely to make a ton of noise this season - hence the +5500 Cup odds - but they've really improved.FallersVegas Golden Knights (+1600)The Golden Knights were a huge disappointment this past season, missing the playoffs outright in a year they entered heavily favored to win the division.Although better health next season should help the cause, they haven't exactly had a confidence-inducing offseason. Their only move of note saw them trade Pacioretty - who averaged 35 goals per 82 games over four years with the team - for nothing but cap space, something they are still very short on.They've made no additions to the team, a huge chunk of their core - including Mark Stone, Jonathan Marchessault, Reilly Smith, Alex Pietrangelo, Alec Martinez, and Robin Lehner - is on the wrong side of 30 and they have to adjust to a new coaching staff.Vegas still figures to be good; but the betting market is understandably a little skeptical based on what we've seen from them this summer.Calgary Flames (+2500)I'm surprised the Flames' odds haven't dipped much further than +2500. They just lost their most dynamic player, Johnny Gaudreau, to free agency and recouped nothing for the 100-plus point winger.Now their other star winger, Matthew Tkachuk, appears unwilling to extend and will likely be traded sooner than later as a result. He would obviously fetch quality assets in return but nothing - or nobody - of his caliber.A Flames team losing two members of arguably the league's best line last season is going to take a step back no matter who replaces them.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.

Johnny Gaudreau just walked as an unrestricted free agent. Now, Matthew Tkachuk has reportedly informed the Flames he won't sign a long-term deal. Where does Calgary go from here?Tkachuk is a restricted free agent, but he can become an unrestricted free agent in 2023. He may get painted as a villain in the city of Calgary, but he's actually doing the Flames a favor by letting them know his plans ahead of time. General manager Brad Treliving now has ample time to strike a deal.But which direction will Treliving try and guide the Flames? Below, we assess his two options.Retool on the flyThe Flames are coming off a 111-point season, the second-best mark in franchise history. Losing Gaudreau for nothing is obviously detrimental, but if they can hit a home run on a Tkachuk return package, it's not beyond the realm of possibility that they could remain competitive again in 2022-23 and beyond. Calgary hasn't lost anyone else of significance, and the team's foundation is its goaltending and defense.This would mean demanding a return package that includes a young, controllable player who can still help the team in the present. Getting such a player isn't impossible, but it's easier said than done.Tkachuk was also kind enough to reportedly list the teams he'd sign an extension with. Those clubs include:

After months of hearing his name crop up in trade rumors, versatile forward J.T. Miller is still a member of the Vancouver Canucks and, according to his agent, Brian Bartlett, he wouldn't necessarily mind keeping it that way."I do think there's a realistic path for an extension with the Canucks," Bartlett said, according to The Athletic's Harman Dayal. "J.T. loves it in Vancouver. He feels like the team is improving, he loved his role there, his family likes the city."He would be on board with an extension. The part that we can't answer is at what value or level the team places on him. From our end, from J.T.'s end, there's a path forward on an extension, but it takes two to tango, I guess."Miller had a stellar 2021-22 campaign in his third full season in Vancouver, potting a career-high 32 goals and 67 assists to lead the Canucks with 99 points.He can become an unrestricted free agent next offseason and has likely earned a handsome raise compared to his current team-friendly $5.25-million cap hit.Sources told Daily Faceoff's Frank Seravalli earlier this month that the Canucks and Miller's camp are far apart in negotiations. President of hockey operations Jim Rutherford said in April that Vancouver would know by the draft if it could keep Miller long term.Despite the trade speculation, Bartlett made it clear that Miller hasn't asked for an out.General manager Patrik Allvin said he believes the team has made a fair offer to retain Miller's services, noting that he has a bit more time to come to a resolution."Well, in a perfect world, I'd love to get it solved before the season either way," Allvin said, per Dayal. "But I think that's in a perfect world, and we all know we're not living in a perfect world regarding pro sports. Our hard deadline is the trading deadline at this point, but I'm hopeful that we'll come to a solution here."Allvin added the organization would need to discuss its direction if Miller doesn't have an extension leading up to the deadline.Miller's camp said it's willing to continue negotiating throughout the year.Selected by the New York Rangers in the first round of the 2011 draft, Miller has 454 points in 637 career NHL games.The Canucks have some other key deals looming on the horizon. Captain Bo Horvat is also entering the final season of his contract before becoming an unrestricted free agent, while Elias Pettersson can become a restricted free agent after the 2023-24 campaign.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New Jersey Devils avoided a salary arbitration hearing with restricted free-agent goaltender Vitek Vanecek by signing him to a three-year deal with an average annual value of $3.4 million.Vanecek was one of the 24 restricted free agents to file for salary arbitration before Sunday's deadline.New Jersey acquired Vanecek and the 46th overall pick from the Washington Capitals ahead of the second day of the 2022 NHL Draft in exchange for the No. 37 and No. 70 selections."It feels really good, they have a future, young guys, there's an opportunity for me to play lots of games," he said shortly after signing his new deal, according to team beat reporter Amanda Stein. "I'm really happy for it. I will battle with (Mackenzie) Blackwood and that's what I need."Washington scooped Vanecek up in the second round of the 2014 draft. The 26-year-old spent the first two seasons of his NHL career in the U.S. capital.The Czechia native logged a .908 save percentage and 2.67 goals against average across 42 showings in 2021-22 while owning a record of 20-12-6.However, Vanecek struggled in the first two games of the Capitals' first-round playoff matchup against the Florida Panthers. He ultimately lost the postseason starting job to Ilya Samsonov after authoring a .863 save percentage and 4.21 goals against average versus the high-flying Cats.Vanecek owns a career .908 save percentage and six shutouts in 79 outings.Blackwood, 25, has one year remaining on his deal and carries a $2.8-million cap hit. He put up an .892 save percentage and 3.39 goals against average in 25 appearances during the 2021-22 campaign.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Columbus Blue Jackets eventually won the Johnny Gaudreau sweepstakes, but this summer's most coveted free agent admitted he came close to signing with the New Jersey Devils on July 13."The day of, I was only really talking to two (teams)," Gaudreau said during an appearance on "Spittin Chiclets." "I was pretty much signed with a different team, most of the day I hadn't heard from Columbus, and then all of a sudden they called at like 4 p.m., and I told my agent, 'I want to go here. Just try to get this done. This is the spot I want to be right here.'"I was super thankful Columbus called during that late hour in the afternoon," he added. "I think I was trying to get a deal done with the Devils, and then Columbus called."The star winger hails from New Jersey, and the Devils were believed to have offered him a seven-year deal that carried an average annual value of over $9 million, according to The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun.Gaudreau's desire to be closer to his loved ones drew him away from the Calgary Flames, but distance ultimately gave the Blue Jackets an edge over the Devils for him and his wife while they expect their first child."I always said I wanted to play closer to home, but (Columbus) wasn't too close to where I'm getting bombarded with friends and family, basically an open-door policy, come in whenever you want," he said. "That's the way we kind of are down the shore here. … If we did it all year, I think it would've gotten a little out of hand at times."Gaudreau ultimately opted to sign a seven-year, $68.25-million pact with the Blue Jackets. The 28-year-old said he was surprised by how much his decision shocked the hockey world and by the negative reaction from some Flames fans."I didn’t think I was gonna get it as bad as I have," he said. "I obviously thought there was gonna be some fans not happy, but I didn't think I was gonna hear about it as much as I have."I get it, they're a very passionate fanbase … they love their Flames, and the city of Calgary loves hockey. I understand it's been hard on a lot of people, but I still love that place. … It sucks having to leave. I wish them all the best, and hopefully, they can get over it soon here."The talented playmaker had a spectacular end to his tenure north of the border thanks to a stunning 2021-22 campaign that saw him crack the 40-goal mark for the first time in his career. Among Calgary's single-season records, his 75 assists and 115 points this past campaign both rank second in team history.Gaudreau sits fifth all-time in the Flames' record books with 609 points in 602 games.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Calgary Flames filed for club-elected salary arbitration with restricted free-agent winger Matthew Tkachuk on Monday.

Veteran defenseman Andrej Sekera retired from the NHL after 16 seasons Monday."My hockey career is over," Sekera told Slovakian newspaper SME, per NHL.com. "I've had some offers as a free agent, but still, I decided to quit."A big reason was my son had some medical issues during the last year. After everything we went through, I realized the best (thing) would be if I devoted more time to my family. I thought maybe it would turn around somehow, but that did not happen."Sekera spent the first seven years of his career in Western New York after being drafted by the Buffalo Sabres in the third round in 2004. Following brief stints with the Carolina Hurricanes and Los Angeles Kings, he joined the Oilers in 2015 and spent four campaigns in Edmonton. He played for the Dallas Stars in his final three seasons.The 6-feet, 200-pound blue-liner skated in 842 career games, registering 253 points. Sekera only recorded three seasons of at least 30 points, but he was criminally underrated during his prime years.

After 16 seasons in the booth for the Chicago Blackhawks, Eddie Olczyk will join the Seattle Kraken's broadcast team on ROOT Sports beginning in the 2022-23 campaign, he announced Monday."It was not an easy decision. But Chicago is home, it'll always be home," he told The Athletic's Mark Lazerus. "But I just felt like I needed to take a step back and pursue other opportunities that presented (themselves)."Olczyk is expected to continue his role as lead color commentator on national broadcasts for TNT.The Blackhawks issued the following statement on his departure.

The San Jose Sharks re-signed restricted free-agent goaltender Kaapo Kahkonen to a two-year contract, the team announced Monday.The deal carries an average annual value of $2.75 million, per Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.Kahkonen was one of 24 RFAs to file for salary arbitration before Sunday's deadline."Kaapo has shown potential to be a No. 1 goaltender in the NHL and impressed us when he joined our team in the last part of the season," general manager Mike Grier said in a statement. "We are excited to have him with us."The 25-year-old posted a .912 save percentage and a 2.87 goals against average in 36 games last season, split between the Sharks and the Minnesota Wild. San Jose acquired him, along with a fifth-round pick, in exchange for defenseman Jacob Middleton at last year's trade deadline.Kahkonen, a 6-foot-2 Finn, was originally a fourth-round pick by the Wild in 2014. He owns a .908 save percentage in 65 NHL appearances across three seasons.The Sharks now have three NHL-caliber goaltenders under contract for the coming season: Kahkonen, James Reimer, and Adin Hill. It's possible, however, that one is traded before the 2022-23 campaign gets underway.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Montreal Canadiens re-signed restricted free-agent goaltender Sam Montembeault to a two-year, one-way contract, the team announced Monday.The deal is worth $1 million per season, according to TVA Sports' Renaud Lavoie.The 25-year-old posted an .891 save percentage and a 3.77 goals against average in 38 appearances with the Habs last season.Montembeault was originally a third-round pick by the Florida Panthers in 2015. The Becancour, Quebec, native spent the first two years of his career in Sunrise before Montreal claimed him off waivers in October 2021.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Twenty-four restricted free agents filed for salary arbitration before Sunday's 5 p.m. ET deadline, the NHLPA announced.Here's the complete list:PlayerTeamMason AppletonWPGEthan BearCARJesper BrattNJLawson CrouseARIMorgan GeekieSEAMathieu JosephOTTKaapo KahkonenSJKasperi KapanenPITKeegan KolesarVGKOliver KylingtonCGYMaxime LajoieCARSteven LorentzSJIsac LundestromANAZack MacEwenPHINiko Mikkola*STLAndrew MangiapaneCGYMatthew PhillipsCGYJesse PuljujarviEDMTyce ThompsonNJYakov TreninNSHVitek VanecekNJJake WalmanDETKailer YamamotoEDMPavel ZachaBOS*Signed after filingArbitration hearings will be held from July 27 to Aug. 11. The deadline for club-elected salary arbitration notification is July 18 at 5 p.m. ET.Matthew Tkachuk, Pierre-Luc Dubois, and Patrik Laine are among the notable RFAs who didn't file for arbitration.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Toronto Maple Leafs re-signed restricted free-agent forward Pierre Engvall to a one-year, $2.25-million contract, the team announced Sunday.Engvall is receiving a $1-million raise from his previous contract. He'll be an unrestricted free agent after the 2022-23 campaign.The speedy, 6-foot-5 winger is coming off a breakout season in which he tallied 15 goals and 20 assists in 78 games while averaging 13:17 time on ice per contest. He was used primarily in a bottom-six checking role, posting strong defensive metrics. Evolving-Hockey.comThe Maple Leafs selected Engvall in the seventh round in 2014.Toronto now projects to be $1.5 million over the salary cap, per CapFriendly, with a roster of 22 players. The Leafs will likely have to make a trade to become cap compliant, especially since they still have one RFA remaining in defenseman Rasmus Sandin.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Former CHL players accused of sexually assaulting a woman in 2018 will cooperate with the NHL's investigation into the incident."Our clients will fully participate in the NHL investigation," attorney Kaleigh Davidson, one of the lawyers representing the players, told TSN's Rick Westhead. "Interviews are currently in the process of being arranged."The lawyers also said the NHL shouldn't discipline their clients because any sexual contact between the players and the woman was consensual."That would be a very dangerous precedent to set," she said. "If players can be sanctioned for engaging in consensual sexual activity, the question becomes where do we draw the line? Employers should not be making judgment calls about what consensual sexual activity is acceptable based on perceptions about what fits within highly personal and subjective social norms, particularly when these norms change over time."In a lawsuit filed in April, a woman said eight CHL players - including some members of Canada's 2018 world junior team - sexually assaulted her following a Hockey Canada event in London, Ontario, in June 2018. The plaintiff asked the judge to award $3.55 million, but the suit was settled out of court for an unknown amount in May. The allegations weren't proven in court, and none of the defendants filed a response.Hockey Canada is reopening its investigation into the alleged assault, and the woman involved said she would cooperate. However, the lawyers declined to say whether the players would partake in Hockey Canada's investigation.The NHL has informed the attorneys involved that the league wants its investigation finished before training camps begin in the fall, a source told Westhead.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Edmonton Oilers signed forward Mattias Janmark to a one-year, $1.25-million contract, the team announced Sunday.Janmark recorded 25 points in 67 games with the Vegas Golden Knights last season. He's averaged 13 goals and 18 assists per 82 contests in his six career NHL campaigns with the Dallas Stars, Chicago Blackhawks, and Golden Knights.The 29-year-old Swede projects to provide some depth to Edmonton's bottom-six forward group.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Pittsburgh Penguins dealt defenseman John Marino to the New Jersey Devils for blue-liner Ty Smith and a 2023 third-round draft pick Saturday.Marino collected one goal and 24 assists while logging 20:38 of average ice time in 81 games this past season, his third in the NHL. The 25-year-old is on the books through 2026-27 at a cap hit of $4.4 million.Smith finished seventh in Calder Trophy voting for the 2021 campaign. He followed it up by producing five goals and 15 assists over 66 contests in 2021-22. The 22-year-old's average ice time fell by nearly three minutes in his second season, from 20:07 to 17:30.The trade gives the Penguins a bit of wiggle room under the cap, as Smith is still on his entry-level pact at $863,333 through next season before potentially becoming a restricted free agent.Pittsburgh now has about $3.3 million in space with only RFA Kasperi Kapanen left to sign. Pittsburgh didn't make any splashes when free agency opened Wednesday, but the club did retain Kris Letang and unexpectedly re-signed Evgeni Malkin before the frenzy began.New Jersey had approximately $25 million in cap space entering Wednesday and still has roughly $13 million after signing Ondrej Palat and trading RFA Pavel Zacha for Erik Haula. However, the team has four RFAs remaining, including breakout star Jesper Bratt and goaltender Vitek Vanecek, who was acquired in a July 8 trade with the Washington Capitals.The Devils selected Smith 17th overall in 2018. The Edmonton Oilers chose Marino in the sixth round - 154th overall - three years earlier.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Montreal Canadiens re-signed unrestricted free-agent forward Rem Pitlick to a two-year deal, the team announced Saturday.The contract carries a cap hit of $1.1 million, per Sportsnet's Eric Engels.Pitlick is coming off a stellar campaign in which he finished 11th among rookie skaters in goals (15) and points (37) in 66 games split between the Habs and Minnesota Wild. Montreal claimed him off waivers from the Wild in January.The 25-year-old was originally a third-round pick by the Nashville Predators in 2016.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Pierre-Luc Dubois has his eyes set on suiting up for his boyhood team one day.His agent, Pat Brisson, said Wednesday that Dubois would like to play for the Montreal Canadiens."Montreal is a city he would probably … I can talk about it because he doesn't have a contract at the moment - he's a restricted free agent," Brisson told TVA Sports in French, as translated by The Athletic. "Montreal is a place, a city he'd like to play in. That's all I can say about that."Dubois was born in Ste-Agathe-Des-Monts, Quebec, but grew up in Rimouski.The 24-year-old center reportedly told the Winnipeg Jets that he plans to test unrestricted free agency when he's eligible in 2024.Dubois even attended the 2022 NHL Draft in Montreal because he believed a trade to the Habs would be completed on the draft floor, sources told The Athletic's Arpon Basu and Murat Ates. The Canadiens reportedly offered three players to the Jets for Dubois but were unsuccessful. Winnipeg is apparently holding up a deal by asking for a player Montreal refuses to move.This isn't the first time the Habs have pursued Dubois. It's been rumored that at the 2016 draft - under former general manager Marc Bergevin - the Canadiens had a deal in place to send P.K. Subban to the Vancouver Canucks if Dubois made it to pick No. 5. However, the Columbus Blue Jackets selected him third overall.As Brisson noted, Dubois is a restricted free agent, so the Jets have him under team control for another two seasons.Dubois, a 6-foot-3, 218-pound power forward, recorded 28 goals and 32 assists in 81 games for Winnipeg last season.The Jets acquired Dubois and a third-round pick from Columbus in January 2021 in exchange for Patrik Laine and Jack Roslovic.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Ron Hextall was wheeling and dealing Saturday. The Pittsburgh Penguins general manager made a series of trades that drastically shook up his team's defensive core.First, the Penguins sent John Marino to the New Jersey Devils for Ty Smith and a third-round pick. Then, they shipped Mike Matheson and a fourth-rounder to the Montreal Canadiens for Jeff Petry and Ryan Poehling.Below, we hand out grades to all three teams involved in these deals.Penguins Bruce Bennett / Getty Images Sport / GettyHere's a better visual of exactly what the Penguins just did:InOutD Ty SmithD John MarinoD Jeff PetryD Mike MathesonF Ryan Poehling4th-round pick3rd-round pickAlso of importance: Pittsburgh saved about $2 million in cap space with the transactions. But was it worth it? Here's the team's current projected blue-line depth chart:LDRDBrian DumoulinKris LetangMarcus PetterssonJeff PetryP.O. JosephJan RuttaTy SmithChad RuhwedelSince the Penguins swapped Marino for Petry, who'll be on the second pairing behind Letang, let's compare the two right-handed defensemen: Evolving-Hockey.comRight now, Petry is better than Marino - especially offensively. But Petry is also 34 years old, signed for three more years at a $6.25-million cap hit, and is coming off his worst season in recent years.Marino is 25, signed to a cap hit of $4.4 million for the next five seasons, and has proven himself as a defensive-minded top-four blue-liner who can handle tough assignments.It's entirely possible Marino is better than Petry by next season. While joining a contender may help Petry, Marino could take a step offensively to round out his game.The Penguins are clearly in win-now mode, but they may regret replacing Marino with a player who's trending in the wrong direction.As for the remaining parts of the trades, Matheson is no slouch, either. He's a solid two-way defender with size (6-foot-2) and skating ability. The 28-year-old is signed for four more years at a $4.875-million cap hit. Between him, Pettersson, and Dumoulin, someone likely had to go with Joseph knocking on the door. Matheson is arguably the best of the three veterans, so him being dealt does sting a bit.Smith and Poehling are both former first-round picks, but neither has lived up to the hype so far. Despite already having two NHL seasons under his belt, Smith may be destined for the minors so he can further develop his game. He's still just 22, after all. Poehling, 23, projects to play on the fourth line.Grade: C+

The Nashville Predators signed goaltender Kevin Lankinen to a one-year pact worth $1.5 million, the team announced Thursday.Lankinen, 27, became an unrestricted free agent after playing out the final season of a two-year pact with a cap hit of $800,000.The Finnish product appeared in 32 contests for the Blackhawks this past season, amassing an 8-15-6 record with a .891 save percentage and 3.50 goals against average.Lankinen has a career .901 save percentage in 69 showings, all with Chicago.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Nashville Predators added some depth up front, inking Zach Sanford to a one-year contract worth $850,000.Sanford produced nine goals and eight assists over 62 games with the Ottawa Senators this season before being traded to the Winnipeg Jets in March. The 27-year-old forward collected four points - all assists - across 18 contests with the Central Division squad following the trade.The five-year veteran spent the previous four-plus campaigns with the St. Louis Blues, helping them win the Stanley Cup in 2019.Sanford began his career with the Washington Capitals, who shipped him to the Blues in the Kevin Shattenkirk swap of 2017. The Capitals drafted Sanford 61st overall in 2013.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Toronto Maple Leafs signed versatile forward Calle Jarnkrok to a four-year contract with an average annual value of $2.1 million, the team announced Friday.The deal includes a limited no-trade clause, according to TSN's Chris Johnston.Jarnkrok recorded 12 goals and 18 assists in 66 games split between the Seattle Kraken and Calgary Flames last season. Calgary picked him up from Seattle at the trade deadline, but he notably struggled with the Flames, failing to score in 17 contests.The Kraken scooped up the Swede in the expansion draft from the Nashville Predators, where Jarnkrok spent the first eight years of his career.Jarnkrok, who has experience playing both center and wing, has been a consistent middle-six contributor in his career, averaging 15 goals and 20 assists per 82 games. The 30-year-old's underlying numbers over the last three seasons are fairly average: Evolving-Hockey.comEvolving-Hockey projected Jarnkrok would sign a four-year deal with an AAV of $4.4 million.The Maple Leafs currently have $757,000 in cap space with a roster of 21 players. They still have two restricted free agents to sign in Pierre Engvall and Rasmus Sandin, so a move to clear cap space may be on the horizon.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Montreal Canadiens are shipping defenseman Jeff Petry to the Pittsburgh Penguins.Petry and forward Ryan Poehling are headed to Pittsburgh, while Montreal receives blue-liner Mike Matheson and a 2023 fourth-round draft pick.This is the Penguins' second trade Saturday. They acquired Petry less than three hours after swapping rearguards with the New Jersey Devils. Pittsburgh sent John Marino to the Devils for Ty Smith and a 2023 third-rounder.Petry is under contract through 2024-25 at a $6.25-million cap hit, according to CapFriendly. The Canadiens aren't retaining any salary in the trade, per Sportsnet's Eric Engels.The 34-year-old played the last seven-plus seasons in Montreal and was a key contributor for much of his tenure. He helped the club make an improbable run to the Stanley Cup Final in 2021, averaging over 24 minutes per game in the playoffs.Petry had long been rumored to be a trade candidate as the Canadiens' new regime hasn't shied away from reshaping the roster. The 12-year veteran began his career with the Edmonton Oilers, who traded him to Montreal in March 2015 after he played four-plus campaigns in the Alberta capital.The grizzled veteran declined this past campaign but enjoyed several productive years beforehand. Petry scored at least 10 goals and notched 40 points or more in each of the previous four seasons.Poehling played a career-high 57 games for Montreal in 2021-22, posting nine goals and eight assists while averaging 12:12 of ice time. The Canadiens drafted him 25th overall in 2017. Poehling's entering the final season of the two-year contract he inked with the Habs last August.Matheson registered a career-high 31 points in 74 games with the Penguins this past campaign. The 28-year-old has played six-plus NHL seasons; the last two with Pittsburgh after starting off with the Florida Panthers.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

CBC Calgary news anchor Andrew Brown conveyed how many Calgary Flames fans have likely been feeling since Johnny Gaudreau spurned the only NHL team he'd ever played for in favor of the Columbus Blue Jackets on Wednesday.Brown snuck a not-so-subtle reference to Gaudreau's decision into his sign-off Thursday night.

Johnny Gaudreau has answered the question on every hockey fan's mind: Why the Columbus Blue Jackets?"I've gotten to play here many times, and every time it's a lot of fun to play here," Gaudreau said Thursday at his introductory press conference. "There's a good, young group here, and that attracted me too. Me and my wife thought it was a really good fit for us. ... It was somewhere that I had circled on my list for a while now."Gaudreau, this summer's biggest free agent, sent shockwaves across the hockey world by signing a seven-year, $68.25-million deal with Columbus on Wednesday. The move ended a 9-year stint with the Calgary Flames, who reportedly offered more money.For Johnny Hockey, the decision came down to a desire to be closer to home."I always dreamed about playing a tad closer to home," Gaudreau said. "It didn't matter where I was signing. I think our decision was it was best for us not to go back to Calgary. Then we decided what to figure out, what the best option (was) for us, and Columbus was right up at the top of the list."Gaudreau hails from New Jersey. The Devils, Philadelphia Flyers, and New York Islanders were all believed to be in the mix for his services, but Blue Jackets general manager Jarmo Kekalainen said he couldn't turn down the opportunity to add a player of Gaudreau's caliber."We're usually pretty careful on the first day of free agency," Kekalainen said. "When this opportunity was in front of us, we were not careful at all. We went right for it."Columbus has long been labeled an undesirable destination for players, especially after the star trio of Artemi Panarin, Sergei Bobrovsky, and Matt Duchene elected to walk away from the club in free agency in 2019."I get a rash every time I hear the negative comments about Columbus. It's so unfair," Kekalainen said.The Blue Jackets missed the playoffs this past season, their first under new head coach Brad Larsen. Gaudreau arrives with the mindset that the club is ready to be competitive again."I didn't come to Columbus to check out the views," he said. "I came here to win hockey games."Gaudreau should instantly make the Blue Jackets a better team. The 28-year-old has notched 609 points in 602 career games, including a personal-best 115 last season with the Flames.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

As the hockey world waits for news on high-profile unrestricted free agents Nazem Kadri and John Klingberg - and many, many other UFAs - theScore's John Matisz checks in with some analysis on a wild start to the offseason.Gaudreau deal reveals human side Derek Leung / Getty ImagesLet's discuss Johnny Gaudreau and the Columbus Blue Jackets.Putting aside the on-ice component for a moment, the big-picture takeaway for me is that too often we - media, fans, really anyone not in an NHL player's camp or NHL front office - lose sight of the fact that players are human beings. Humans are complicated creatures, which means the factors we value in the unrestricted free agent courting process may not perfectly align with those of the player.The typical factors include money and term, market appeal, proximity to home, connections to staff, and window to contend. After Gaudreau turned down huge money and term (eight years, $10.5 million per season) from the Calgary Flames, reports suggested the 115-point winger would sign with a team out east. It was labeled a "family decision." This led us to believe the New Jersey native would join the nearby Devils, Philadelphia Flyers, or New York Islanders, with all three clubs presumed to be offering giant contracts.Gaudreau then stunned the hockey world by inking an under-market deal (seven years, $9.75 million per) with the low-key Blue Jackets, a franchise that's, let's face it, endured a relatively anonymous existence. Columbus is an eight-hour drive from Gaudreau's hometown, the contract isn't anything special, the weather's fine, there are no connections to staff, and the team isn't overly competitive at the moment. In other words, committing to the Blue Jackets to close out his prime didn't make a ton of sense on the surface. Icon Sportswire / Getty ImagesThen we learned it wasn't one or two factors that convinced Gaudreau to put pen to paper. Instead, it was the overall fit - or a blend of many factors, from being "a little closer" to Jersey and his pregnant wife signing off on the city and lifestyle to the potential of the roster and familiarity with a few players, including longtime friend Eric Robinson. And although the contract didn't set any records, Gaudreau's still getting plenty of coin and security. We can't forget he's a shy, chill person, so the smaller-market feel is a positive, too.Man, the decision sure adds up once the player explains himself, doesn't it?These players don't owe anybody anything when they become unrestricted. They've earned the right to choose their next destination. The team and city they ultimately pick can be obvious to the public, random, or somewhere in between. Because it's their process, and we're not in their head.Who's to say Johnny Hockey can't be to Columbus what Artemi Panarin has been for the New York Rangers - the marquee UFA signed mid-rebuild? It's working out pretty well for Panarin and the Rangers right now.League-wide offseason trends ... so far Bruce Bennett / Getty ImagesThe opening day of free agency was a whopper.According to PuckPedia, teams spent $927 million in total contract value and $279 million in total cap hit on Wednesday alone. Both of those figures are higher than opening days in 2021, 2020, and even 2019, the year prior to the pandemic turning the world upside down and, in turn, flattening the salary cap.Though Wednesday's flood slowed to a trickle Thursday and Friday, deals were still being filed. Let's take a look at three macro trends from this week.1. Salary cap flexibility remains a general manager's best friendFor years now, smart NHL GMs have left room between the lower and upper limits of the salary cap to bail out cap-strapped teams in exchange for draft picks and prospects or to keep their own books tidy for future business.In the early days of the 2022 offseason, the Carolina Hurricanes, Detroit Red Wings, and Ottawa Senators have all weaponized cap space in some way.The Hurricanes acquired 2017 Norris Trophy winner Brent Burns and 66% of his cap hit in a five-piece trade with the San Jose Sharks. GM Don Waddell then took six-time 30-goal scorer Max Pacioretty and promising young defenseman Dylan Coghlan off the Vegas Golden Knights' hands for "future considerations." (Yes, the Hurricanes gained two quality NHLers for no cost.)Carolina doesn't make those moves if Waddell isn't one or two steps ahead."They traded (Tony) DeAngelo. They let (Nino) Niederreiter go to market. They let (Vincent) Trocheck go, too. So all of a sudden they had all of this cap space," said Hart Levine, who runs PuckPedia. "They basically got Burns for free and at a $5.28-million hit. Who wouldn't want Burns at that number? Then they trade for Pacioretty and Coghlan - for free. That's pretty good work."Added Levine: "It just goes to show that teams have assets as in players, assets as in draft picks, and assets as in cap space. It seems simple and obvious, but a lot of teams just don't think of it that way." David Berding / Getty ImagesSteve Yzerman sure thinks that way. The Red Wings GM sat tight during the previous three offseasons, refusing to burden the organization with unnecessary contracts. Finally ready to insulate his young core with veteran NHLers, Yzerman has added goalie Ville Husso, forwards Andrew Copp, Dominik Kubalik, and David Perron, and defensemen Ben Chiarot, Olli Maatta, and Mark Pysyk since the draft. His restraint in the past allowed him to pounce this year and beat out rival GMs handcuffed by cap issues.Senators GM Pierre Dorion used the trade market and free agency to load up on forwards Alex DeBrincat and Claude Giroux, as well as goalie Cam Talbot. The franchise has the local market buzzing."It's nice to see them ninth in cap space, not near the top where they've been for years," Levine said of the respectable $71.7 million the Senators already have earmarked for 2022-23.2. Barely any six- or seven-year deals signed by UFAsThe longest a UFA who hits the open market can sign for is seven years. Since Wednesday, only two players - Gaudreau and Trocheck - have locked in for the max term, and not a single UFA has signed for six years. For context, six contracts containing six- or seven-year terms were signed in the first three days of free agency in 2021. (Mind you, the first three days of 2020 played out like 2022; just two deals.)3. Large, rugged defenseman market still boomingThe following UFA defensemen received four-year deals: Chiarot ($4.75 million AAV), Josh Manson ($4.5M AAV), Matt Benning ($1.25M AAV), and Erik Gudbranson ($4M AAV). Jan Rutta, Nikita Zadorov, Ilya Lybushkin, and Brendan Smith also inked multi-year contracts. All eight are big, physical dudes. Despite reports of their demise, the rugged defenseman lives on - and well.Attention shifts to Western Conference Andy Cross / Getty ImagesEastern Conference teams have absolutely owned the last couple of weeks. The rest of the offseason could be heavy on Western Conference content.In Colorado, Nathan MacKinnon is eligible to sign an extension. The superstar center, whose bargain seven-year deal expires next summer, is reportedly in talks with Avs management. Since the Stanley Cup Final, the Avs have re-signed Valeri Nichushkin, Artturi Lehkonen, Darren Helm, Andrew Cogliano, and Manson and traded for Alexandar Georgiev. Meanwhile, Darcy Kuemper, Nicolas Aube-Kubel, and (maybe, probably) Kadri have left for other clubs."On my next deal," MacKinnon told Forbes in 2019, "I'll take less again. Because I want to win with this group." Now that he's won a Cup, how does MacKinnon feel? Will he take a hometown discount or still try to cash in?In Calgary, arbitration-eligible restricted free-agent forward Matthew Tkachuk remains unsigned. Tkachuk received a $9-million qualifying offer from the Flames earlier this week. Moving forward, the 104-point man can sign a long-term deal and possibly be named team captain, sign a one-year contract and walk straight into 2023 free agency as a UFA, or accept a spicy offer sheet from another team.JT Miller's on top of mind in Vancouver as the 99-point center nears the final year of a bargain deal paying him $5.25 million annually. Trade rumors have swirled around Miller for months, though Canucks GM Patrick Allvin said Wednesday he's not in a rush to swap Miller and may re-up him.Blake Wheeler's a question mark in Winnipeg. Daily Faceoff reported earlier this month that the Jets are exploring the trade market on their captain. Wheeler would be difficult to move, given he's well past his prime and has two years left on a deal carrying a $8.25-million AAV and modified no-trade clause.Something to cheer for in Chicago Derek Leung / Getty ImagesIf it wasn't obvious heading into July, it is now - the Chicago Blackhawks have opted for a scorched-earth rebuild. Twenty-somethings DeBrincat, Kubalik, Kirby Dach, and Dylan Strome are all gone. Patrick Kane might be next.This excavation has left one of the NHL's top fan bases with little to cheer for.Enter Jalen Luypen, a late-round find who's on the verge of signing a three-year entry-level contract with the Blackhawks. The fiery forward likely won't see NHL ice for a couple of years, but there's no doubt he'll become a fan favorite at the AHL level sooner than later. Modeling his game after former Hawks winger Brandon Hagel, Luypen parlays an in-your-face style with scoring touch around the net and attention to detail elsewhere on the ice.Luypen, selected in the ninth round of the 2017 WHL Draft and seventh round of the 2021 NHL Draft, was never a standout talent growing up in British Columbia. However, he's developed his game to a point where he bagged 34 goals in 88 games this past season for the WHL champion Edmonton Oil Kings."I never fit in," Luypen recalled of his journey through the minor hockey system. "I was always the outsider, the last cut from the top team in the area. Coaches would tell me, 'We just thought you weren't good enough.' They'd always come up with an excuse. I'd remember it, put it in the back of my mind, and get to work. I've always wanted to prove those people wrong."You can see this underdog mentality in the way Luypen chases down loose pucks, celebrates goals, and yaps at opponents. Luypen's 5-foot-10, 165 pounds, and doesn't possess otherworldly skill. He must continue competing with a chip on his shoulder in order to jump to the next level."I've always played with an edge. Especially being a smaller guy, I know I have to bring that element and just compete super hard every night," Luypen said. "I want to get to the end goal, which is to play in the NHL. Signing a contract will be just another stepping stone. Nothing's ever given."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 Colorado Avalanche signed depth defenseman Brad Hunt to a two-year contract, the team announced Friday.Financial terms were not disclosed.Hunt spent last season with the Vancouver Canucks, where he racked up 17 points in 50 games while averaging 15 minutes per night.The undrafted 33-year-old also had stints with the Edmonton Oilers, St. Louis Blues, Nashville Predators, Vegas Golden Knights, and Minnesota Wild over his career.Colorado boasts one of the league's deepest blue lines, headlined by the likes of Cale Makar, Devon Toews, Josh Manson, and Bowen Byram. The Avalanche had approximately $3.9 million in cap space before signing Hunt, according to Cap Friendly.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Toronto Maple Leafs shored up their depth on the blue line by inking defensemen Victor Mete and Jordie Benn to matching one-year deals worth $750,000 on Thursday.Mete, 24, became an unrestricted free agent after the Ottawa Senators decided not to tender him a qualifying offer.The 5-foot-9 Ontario native logged seven assists in 37 games with the Senators this past season while averaging 14:37 per contest.Selected by the Montreal Canadiens in the fourth round of the 2016 draft, Mete has 43 points in 236 career contests.Benn, 34, spent the 2021-22 season with the Minnesota Wild, putting up one goal and seven assists in 39 games while playing about 15 minutes a night.A veteran of 595 NHL games, the 6-foot-2 Benn has also suited up for the Dallas Stars, Canadiens, Vancouver Canucks, and Winnipeg Jets, amassing 135 points.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Washington Capitals inked forward Dylan Strome to a one-year deal worth $3.5 million, the team announced Thursday.Strome, 25, became an unrestricted free agent when the Chicago Blackhawks opted not to tender him a qualifying offer, which would have been worth $3.6 million.The Ontario native ranked third on the Blackhawks this past season with a career-high 22 goals, 17 of which came at even strength. He logged 48 points in 69 games while averaging 17:26 of ice time per contest. He can line up at either center or wing and could potentially play up the middle as the Capitals are dealing with the long-term absence of veteran center Nicklas Backstrom.Strome was a healthy scratch at times during the 2021-22 season, and his name frequented the rumor mill all campaign long.Selected third overall by the Arizona Coyotes in 2015, Strome has 170 points in 273 career games.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Ottawa Senators signed restricted free-agent center Josh Norris to an eight-year deal with an average annual value of $7.95 million, the team announced Thursday.His contract includes a limited no-trade clause that kicks in during the final four years of the pact, according to CapFriendly.Norris, 23, had a dynamite 2021-22 campaign in Canada's capital. His 35 goals led the Senators and his 55 points in 66 games ranked third on the team.He averaged 18:35 of ice time per contest in his second full season at the NHL level."We're very pleased to come to a long-term agreement with Josh," Senators general manager Pierre Dorion said. "He's a versatile forward who continues to mature into an exceptional NHL player. His scoring prowess has already shown to be a considerable asset for us and one that will help us reach the next level."Initially selected by the Sharks in the first round of the 2017 draft, the youngster was part of the package that brought veteran defenseman Erik Karlsson to San Jose from Ottawa in 2018.Norris has 52 goals and 38 assists in 125 games, all with the Senators.Ottawa still has to make decisions on Alex Formenton, Mathieu Joseph, and Erik Brannstrom, who are all restricted free agents.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New Jersey Devils brought in two-time Stanley Cup champion Ondrej Palat on a five-year contract with a cap hit of $6 million, the team confirmed Thursday.Palat recorded 18 goals and 31 assists in 77 games last season. He's averaged 55 points per 82 contests in his 10-year NHL career - all of which he spent with the Tampa Bay Lightning. Palat has posted stellar underlying metrics over the last three seasons, too. Evolving-Hockey.comThe 31-year-old has also established himself as a clutch playoff performer. He tallied 11 goals and 10 assists in 23 postseason games in 2022. For his career, he's registered 94 points in 138 playoff tilts.Palat isn't the biggest winger - listed at 6-feet, 194 pounds - but he isn't afraid to go to the dirty areas and play a heavy game. He racked up 124 hits last season.The Devils were rumored to be among the clubs pursuing Johnny Gaudreau, so it appears Palat is their consolation prize.New Jersey is a young team looking to make a leap, so Palat will also be counted on for his championship pedigree and veteran leadership.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Hockey Canada will reopen a third-party investigation into the alleged sexual assault involving members of the 2018 world juniors team, it announced Thursday in an open letter that promised changes."We know we have not done enough to address the actions of some members of the 2018 National Junior Team, or to end the culture of toxic behaviour within our game," the governing body said.It added: "Reopening the investigation is a step towards addressing the disappointment so many feel about the outcome of the process we followed."Hockey Canada encouraged players to participate in the previous probe, but not all of them did. Players must cooperate in the new investigation or face immediate bans from all Hockey Canada-related events.After the investigation is complete, it will be referred to an independent panel of judges who will determine the consequences, which may include a lifetime ban from Hockey Canada.The governing body also announced mandatory sexual violence training for all high-performance players, coaches, team staff, and volunteers. Hockey Canada will also undergo a full governance review and create a new confidential complaint mechanism.The woman who said eight players assaulted her at a Hockey Canada-sanctioned event in London, Ontario, will participate in the renewed investigation of the incident, her lawyer confirmed to TSN's Rick Westhead.None of the players involved were conclusively identified. A lawsuit was filed in April 2022 and settled the following month before reaching court.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.