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Montreal Canadiens Re-Sign Xavier Ouellet

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The Montreal Canadiens have re-signed depth defenseman Xavier Ouellet, inking him to a two-year, two-way contract. The contract will carry an NHL salary of $725K in 2020-21 and $750K in 2021-22.

Ouellet, 27, actually has 172 NHL games under his belt, even though he rarely stays up in the NHL for more than a few games at a time. His only full season was in 2016-17 when he suited up 66 times for the Detroit Red Wings, and he has played in 31 games with Montreal since arriving in 2018. More importantly, he’s been a leader and rock for the Laval Rocket, where he wore the “C” the last two seasons.

The minor leagues will be where he’s headed again, but having a defenseman with that much NHL experience stashed in the AHL is valuable. He can come up when injuries strike and faces little chance of being claimed on waivers upon his return.

Pittsburgh Penguins Re-Sign Sam Lafferty

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After making a qualifying offer to restricted free agent Sam Lafferty, the Pittsburgh Penguins have now come to terms on a contract extension with the young forward. The team has announced a two-year, $1.5MM contract for Lafferty. The 25-year-old will be an unrestricted free agent when the deal expires following the 2021-22 season.

While Lafferty’s new $750K AAV is actually a reduction from his prior NHL cap hit of $768K, it is a one-way contract that promises the local product more guaranteed money than his entry-level deal. Lafferty’s low cap hit will also make him a more valuable asset to the cap-strapped Penguins this year. Lafferty played 50 games with Pittsburgh in his rookie season, recording 13 points, and he will look to win and retain a full-time role again next season. If he can provide positive contributions on a consistent basis, the Penguins will appreciate his affordable impact.

Lafferty is still waivers-exempt and could potentially be sent down to the AHL,but  it is a safe bet that he is in Pittsburgh for good. GM Jim Rutherford stated the following in the team’s press release announcing Lafferty’s extension: “We have been very pleased with Sam’s development. His size and speed are big advantages in today’s game, and we like what he brings to our lineup.”

2020 NHL Entry Draft Results

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It’s been more than three months since the 2020 NHL Entry Draft was originally be scheduled to be held, but the day has finally arrived. Rather than a Friday night and Saturday event held in front of a capacity crowd at an NHL venue, it is instead a Tuesday and Wednesday affair and an entirely virtual format. However, the results will be the same. A new generation of future NHLers will hear their names called, beginning with 31 top prospects tonight and another 186 hopefuls tomorrow. Below are the picks for the ongoing and completed rounds, with updated selections:

Round One

  1. New York Rangers – F Alexis Lafreniere, Rimouski (QMJHL)
  2. Los Angeles Kings – F Quinton Byfield, Sudbury (OHL)
  3. Ottawa Senators (from SJS) – F Tim Stutzle, Manheim (DEL)
  4. Detroit Red Wings – F Lucas Raymond, Frolunda (SHL)
  5. Ottawa Senators – D Jake Sanderson, USNTDP (USHL)
  6. Anaheim Ducks – D Jamie Drysdale, Erie (OHL)
  7. New Jersey Devils – F Alexander Holtz, Djurgardens (SHL)
  8. Buffalo Sabres – F Jack Quinn, Ottawa (OHL)
  9. Minnesota Wild – F Marco Rossi, Ottawa (OHL)
  10. Winnipeg Jets – F Cole Perfetti, Saginaw (OHL)
  11. Nashville Predators – G Yaroslav Askarov, St. Petersburg (KHL)
  12. Florida Panthers – F Anton Lundell, HIFK (Liiga)
  13. Carolina Hurricanes (from TOR) – F Seth Jarvis, Portland (WHL)
  14. Edmonton Oilers – F Dylan Holloway, Univ. of Wisconsin (NCAA)
  15. Toronto Maple Leafs (from PIT) – F Rodion Amirov, Ufa (KHL)
  16. Montreal Canadiens – D Kaiden Guhle, Prince Albert (WHL)
  17. Chicago Blackhawks – F Lukas Reichel, Berlin (DEL)
  18. New Jersey Devils (from ARI) – F Dawson Mercer, Chicoutimi (QMJHL)
  19. New York Rangers (from CGY) – D Braden Schneider, Brandon (WHL)
  20. New Jersey Devils (from VAN via TBL) – D Shakir Mukhamadullin, Ufa (KHL)
  21. Columbus Blue Jackets – F Yegor Chinakhov, Omsk (KHL)
  22. Washington Capitals (from CAR via NYR, CGY) – F Hendrix Lapierre, Chicoutimi (QMJHL)
  23. Philadelphia Flyers – F Tyson Foerster, Barrie (OHL)
  24. Calgary Flames (from WSH) – F Connor Zary, Kamloops (WHL)
  25. Colorado Avalanche – D Justin Barron, Halifax (QMJHL)
  26. St. Louis Blues – F Jake Neighbours, Edmonton (WHL)
  27. Anaheim Ducks (from BOS) – F Jacob Perreault, Sarnia (OHL)
  28. Ottawa Senators (from NYI) – F Ridly Greig, Brandon (WHL)
  29. Vegas Golden Knights – F Brendan Brisson, Chicago (USHL)
  30. Dallas Stars – F Mavrik Bourque, Shawinigan (QMJHL)
  31. San Jose Sharks (from TBL) – F Ozzy Wiesblatt, Prince Albert (WHL)

Round Two

32. Detroit Red Wings – D William Wallinder, MODO (Allsvenskan)
33. Ottawa Senators – F Roby Jarventie, Ilves (Liiga)
34. Buffalo Sabres (from SJS) – F J.J. Peterka, Munchen (DEL)
35. Los Angeles Kings – D Helge Grans, Malmo (SHL)
36. Anaheim Ducks – F Sam Colangelo, Chicago (USHL)
37. Minnesota Wild (from NJD via NSH) – F Marat Khusnutdinov, St. Petersburg (KHL)
38. San Jose Sharks (from BUF) – F Thomas Bordeleau, USNTDP (USHL)
39. Minnesota Wild – D Ryan O’Rourke, Sault Ste. Marie (OHL)
40. Winnipeg Jets – F Daniel Torgersson, Frolunda (SHL)
41. Carolina Hurricanes (from NYR) – F Noel Gunler, Lulea (SHL)
42. Nashville Predators – F Luke Evangelista, London (OHL)
43. Florida Panthers – F Emil Heineman, Leksands (SHL)
44. Ottawa Senators (from TOR) – D Tyler Kleven, USNTDP (USHL)
45. Los Angeles Kings (from EDM via DET) – D Brock Faber, USNTDP (USHL)
46. Chicago Blackhawks (from PIT) – G Drew Commesso, USNTDP (USHL)
47. Montreal Canadiens – F Luke Tuch, USNTDP (USHL)
48. Montreal Canadiens (from CHI) – F Jan Mysak, Hamilton (OHL)
49. Arizona Coyotes – Forfeited
50. Calgary Flames – D Yan Kuznetsov, Univ. of Connecticut (NCAA)
51. Detroit Red Wings (from VAN via LAK) – F Theodor Niederbach, Frolunda (SuperElit)
52. Pittsburgh Penguins (from CLB via OTT) – G Joel Blomqvist, Karpat (Liiga)
53. Carolina Hurricanes – F Vasili Ponomaryov, Shawinigan (QMJHL)
54. Philadelphia Flyers – D Emil Andrae, HV71 (SHL)
55. Detroit Red Wings (from WAS) – F Cross Hanas, Portland (WHL)
56. San Jose Sharks (from COL) – F Tristen Robins, Saskatoon (WHL)
57. Tampa Bay Lightning (from STL via MTL) – F Jack Finley, Spokane (WHL)
58. Boston Bruins – D Mason Lohrei, Green Bay (USHL)
59. Toronto Maple Leafs (from NYI via OTT) – F Roni Hirvonen, Assat (Liiga)
60. New York Rangers (from VGK via LAK) – F Will Cuylle, Windsor (OHL)
61. Ottawa Senators (from DAL) – F Egor Sokolov, Cape Breton (QMJHL)
62. Tampa Bay Lightning – F Gage Goncalves, Everett (WHL)

Round Three

  1. Detroit Red Wings – D Donovan Sebrango, Kitchener (OHL)
  2. Toronto Maple Leafs (from OTT) – D Topi Niemela, Karpat (Liiga)
  3. Minnesota Wild (from SJS via DET) – D Daemon Hunt, Moose Jaw (WHL)
  4. Los Angeles Kings – F Kasper Simontaival, Tappara (Liiga)
  5. Anaheim Ducks – D Ian Moore, St. Mark’s (USHS)
  6. Vegas Golden Knights (from NJD) – D Lukas Cormier, Charlottetown (QMJHL)
  7. Carolina Hurricanes (from BUF) – D Alexander Nikishin, Spartak Moscow (KHL)
  8. Detroit Red Wings (from MIN) – D Eemil Viro, TPS (Liiga)
  9. Ottawa Senators (from WIN) – G Leevi Merilainen, Karpat (U20 Liiga)
  10. Calgary Flames (from NYR) – D Jeremie Poirier, Saint John (QMJHL)
  11. Nashville Predators (from PHI) – D Luke Prokop, Calgary (WHL)
  12. Florida Panthers – F Ty Smilanic, USNTDP (USHL)
  13. Colorado Avalanche (from TOR) – F Jean-Luc Foudy, Windsor (OHL)
  14. San Jose Sharks (from EDM) – F Daniil Gushchin, Muskegon (USHL)
  15. Pittsburgh Penguins – G Calle Clang, Rogle (SuperElit)
  16. Columbus Blue Jackets (from MTL) – D Samuel Knazko, TPS (U20 Liiga)
  17. Chicago Blackhawks – F Landon Slaggert, USNTDP (USHL)
  18. Calgary Flames (from ARI via COL, WSH) – D Jake Boltmann, Edina (USHS)
  19. Chicago Blackhawks (from CGY) – D Wyatt Kaiser, Andover (USHS)
  20. Vancouver Canucks – D Joni Jurmo, JYP (Liiga)
  21. Los Angeles Kings (from CLB via OTT, TOR) – F Alex Laferriere, Des Moines (USHL)
  22. New Jersey Devils (from CAR) – G Nico Daws, Guelph (OHL)
  23. Tampa Bay Lightning (from PHI via SJS) – F Maxim Groshev, Nizhnekamsk (KHL)
  24. St. Louis Blues (from WAS via MTL) – F Dylan Peterson, USNTDP (USHL)
  25. Florida Panthers (from COL) – F Justin Sourdif, Vancouver (WHL)
  26. St. Louis Blues – D Leo Loof, Farjestad (SuperElit)
  27. Boston Bruins – F Trevor Kuntar, Youngstown (USHL)
  28. New York Islanders – F Alexander Ljungkrantz, Brynas (SHL)
  29. Vegas Golden Knights – F Jackson Hallum, St. Thomas (USHS)
  30. New York Rangers (from DAL) – F Oliver Tarnstrom, AIK (Allsvenskan)
  31. Tampa Bay Lightning – D Jack Thompson, Sudbury (OHL)

Round Four

  1. Philadelphia Flyers (from DET via TBL) – F Zayde Wisdom, Kingston (OHL)
  2. Florida Panthers (from OTT) – D Michael Benning, Sherwood Park (AJHL)
  3. Calgary Flames (from SJS via MTL, BUF) – G Daniil Chechelev, Chekhov (MHL)
  4. Detroit Red Wings (from LAK) – F Sam Stange, Sioux City (USHL)
  5. San Jose Sharks (from ANA via MTL) – F Brandon Coe, North Bay (OHL)
  6. New Jersey Devils – F Jaromir Pytlik, Sault Ste. Marie (OHL)
  7. Edmonton Oilers (from BUF via SJS) – F Carter Savoie,  Sherwood Park (AJHL)
  8. Nashville Predators (from MIN) – D Adam Wilsby, Sodertalje (Allsvenskan)
  9. Montreal Canadiens (from WIN) – F Jack Smith, St. Cloud (USHS)
  10. New York Rangers – G Dylan Garand, Kamloops (WHL)
  11. Anaheim Ducks (from NSH via PHI) – D Thimo Nickl, Drummondville (QMJHL)
  12. Florida Panthers – D Zach Uens, Merrimack College (NCAA)
  13. Toronto Maple Leafs – G Artur Akhtyamov, Kazan (MHL)
  14. Detroit Red Wings (from EDM) – G Jan Bednar, Karlovy Vary (Czech)
  15. Pittsburgh Penguins – F Lukas Svejkovsky, Medicine Hat (WHL)
  16. Montreal Canadiens – F Blake Biondi, Hermantown (USHS)
  17. Chicago Blackhawks – D Michael Krutil, Praha (Czech)
  18. Arizona Coyotes – D Mitchell Miller, Tri-City (USHL)
  19. Los Angeles Kings (from CGY) – G Juho Markkanen, SaiPa (U20 Liiga)
  20. Vancouver Canucks – F Jackson Kunz, Shattuck St. Mary’s (USHS)
  21. Columbus Blue Jackets – F Mikael Pyyhtia, TPS (U20 Liiga)
  22. Carolina Hurricanes – F Zion Nybeck, HV71 (SHL)
  23. Tampa Bay Lightning (from PHI) – D Eamon Powell, USNTDP (USHL)
  24. Washington Capitals – F Bogdan Trineyev, Dynamo Moscow (MHL)
  25. Colorado Avalanche – F Colby Ambrosio, Tri-City (USHL)
  26. St. Louis Blues – F Tanner Dickinson, Sault Ste. Marie (OHL)
  27. New Jersey Devils (from BOS) – D Ethan Edwards, Spruce Grove (AJHL)
  28. New York Islanders – F Alex Jefferies, Gunnery (USHS)
  29. Toronto Maple Leafs (from NYR) – D William Villeneuve, Saint John (QMJHL)
  30. Dallas Stars – F Antonio Stranges, London Knights (OHL)
  31. Montreal Canadiens (from TBL) – F Sean Farrell, Chicago (USHL)

Round Five

  1. Vegas Golden Knights (from DET) – G Jesper Vikman, AIK (SuperElit)
  2. Edmonton Oilers (from OTT via SJS) – F Tyler Tullio, Oshawa (OHL)
  3. New York Rangers (from SJS) – F Evan Vierling, Barrie(OHL)
  4. Los Angeles Kings – F Martin Chromiak, Kingston (OHL)
  5. Anaheim Ducks – F Artyom Galimov, Kazan (KHL)
  6. New Jersey Devils – F Artem Shlaine, Shattuck St. Mary’s (USHS)
  7. Buffalo Sabres –F Matteo Costantini, Buffalo (OJHL)
  8. Detroit Red Wings (from MIN) – D Alex Cotton, Lethbridge (WHL)
  9. Winnipeg Jets – D Anton Johannesson, HV71 (SuperElit)
  10. New York Rangers – F Brett Berard, USNTDP (USHL)
  11. Philadelphia Flyers (from NSH) – F Elliot Desnoyers, Moncton (QMJHL)
  12. Montreal Canadiens (from FLA) – G Jakub Dobes, Omaha (USHL)
  13. Toronto Maple Leafs – F Dmitry Ovchinnikov, Novosibirsk (KHL)
  14. Edmonton Oilers – F Maxim Berezkin, Yaroslavl (KHL)
  15. Colorado Avalanche (from PIT) – F Ryder Rolston, Waterloo (USHL)
  16. Los Angeles Kings (from MTL via CAR) – D Ben Meehan, Cedar Rapids (USHL)
  17. Chicago Blackhawks – D Isaak Phillips, Sudbury (OHL)
  18. Arizona Coyotes – F Carson Bantle, Madison (USHL)
  19. Calgary Flames – F Ryan Francis, Cape Breton (QMJHL)
  20. Vancouver Canucks – D Jacob Truscott, USNTDP (USHL)
  21. Columbus Blue Jackets – D Ole Bjorgvik-Holm, Mississauga (OHL)
  22. Minnesota Wild (from CAR via STL) –F Pavel Novak, Kelowna (WHL)
  23. Tampa Bay Lightning (from PHI) – F Jaydon Dureau, Portland (WHL)
  24. Washington Capitals – F Bear Hughes, Spokane (WHL)
  25. Pittsburgh Penguins (from COL) – F Raivis Ansons, Baie-Comeau (QMJHL)
  26. St. Louis Blues – D Matthew Kessel, Univ. of Massachusetts (NCAA)
  27. Boston Bruins – D Mason Langenbrunner, Eden Prairie (USHS)
  28. New York Islanders – F William Dufour, Drummondville (QMJHL)
  29. Florida Panthers (from VGK via TOR) – D Kasper Puutio, Everett (WHL)
  30. Dallas Stars – F Daniel Ljungman, Linkoping (SHL)
  31. Ottawa Senators (from TBL) – F Eric Engstrand, Malmo (SHL)

Round Six

  1. Detroit Red Wings – D Kyle Aucoin, Tri-City (USHL)
  2. Tampa Bay Lightning (from OTT) – F Nick Capone, Tri-City (USHL)
  3. Ottawa Senators (from SJS) – F Philippe Daoust, Moncton (QMJHL)
  4. Carolina Hurricanes (from LAK) – F Lucas Mercuri, Salisbury (USHS)
  5. Anaheim Ducks – F Albin Sundsvik, Skelleftea (SHL)
  6. New Jersey Devils – F Benjamin Baumgartner, Davos (NLA)
  7. Dallas Stars (from BUF via CAR, FLA) – F Yevgeni Oksentyuk, Flint (OHL)
  8. St. Louis Blues (from MIN) – G Will Cranley, Ottawa (OHL)
  9. Winnipeg Jets – D Tyrel Bauer, Seattle (WHL)
  10. New York Rangers – F Matt Rempe, Seattle (WHL)
  11. Nashville Predators – D Luke Reid, Chicago (USHL)
  12. Colorado Avalanche (from FLA) – F Nils Aman, Leksands (SHL)
  13. Toronto Maple Leafs – F Veeti Miettinen, Espoo (U20 Liiga)
  14. Edmonton Oilers – F Filip Engaras, Univ. of New Hampshire (NCAA)
  15. Pittsburgh Penguins – F Chase Yoder, USNTDP (USHL)
  16. Montreal Canadiens – F Alexander Gordin, St. Petersberg (KHL)
  17. Chicago Blackhawks – F Chad Yetman, Erie (OHL)
  18. Arizona Coyotes – F Filip Barklund, Orebro (SuperElit)
  19. Calgary Flames – F Rory Kerins, Sault Ste. Marie (OHL)
  20. Vancouver Canucks – F Dmitry Zlodeyev, Moscow (MHL)
  21. Columbus Blue Jackets – D Samuel Johannesson, Rogle (SHL)
  22. Toronto Maple Leafs (from CAR) – D Axel Rindell, Kukurit (Liiga)
  23. Philadelphia Flyers – F Connor McClennon, Winnipeg (WHL)
  24. Washington Capitals – G Garin Bjorklund, Medicine Hat (WHL)
  25. Toronto Maple Leafs (from COL) – F Joe Miller, Blake (USHS)
  26. Ottawa Senators (from STL) – F Cole Reinhardt, Brandon (WHL)
  27. Boston Bruins – F Riley Duran, Lawrence Academy (USHS)
  28. New York Islanders – D Matias Rajaniemi, Pelicans (Liiga)
  29. Vegas Golden Knights –D Noah Ellis, Des Moines (USHL)
  30. Dallas Stars – G Remi Poirier, Gatineau (QMJHL)
  31. Tampa Bay Lightning – G Amir Miftakhov, Kazan (KHL)

Round Seven

  1. Detroit Red Wings – Kienan Draper, St. Andrew’s (CAHS)
  2. Chicago Blackhawks (from OTT via MTL) – D Louis Crevier, Chicoutimi (QMJHL)
  3. Toronto Maple Leafs (from SJS) – D John Fusco, Dexter (USHS)
  4. Los Angeles Kings – F Aatu Jamsen, Pelicans (U20 Liiga)
  5. Vancouver Canucks (from ANA) – D Viktor Persson, Brynas (SuperElit)
  6. Arizona Coyotes (from NJD) – F Elliot Ekefjard, Bjorkloven (Allsvenskan)
  7. Buffalo Sabres – D Albert Lyckasen, Linkoping (SuperElit)
  8. St. Louis Blues (from MIN) – D Noah Beck, Fargo (USHL)
  9. Toronto Maple Leafs (from WIN) – F Wyatt Schingoethe, Waterloo (USHL)
  10. San Jose Sharks (from NYR) – F Alex Young, Canmore (AJHL)
  11. New York Rangers (from NSH) – G Hugo Ollas, Linkoping (SuperElit)
  12. Florida Panthers – F Elliot Ekmark, Linkoping (SuperElit)
  13. Carolina Hurricanes (from TOR) – F Alexander Pashin, Ufa (KHL)
  14. Edmonton Oilers – F Jeremias Lindewall, MODO (SuperElit)
  15. San Jose Sharks (from PIT) – F Adam Raska, Rimouski (QMJHL)
  16. Nashville Predators (from MTL via PHI) – F Gunnarwolfe Fontaine, Chicago (USHL) 
  17. Detroit Red Wings (from CHI via STL) – F Chase Bradley, Omaha (USHL)
  18. Arizona Coyotes – F Ben McCartney, Brandon (WHL)
  19. Calgary Flames – D Ilya Solovyov, Saginaw (OHL)
  20. San Jose Sharks (from VAN via NYR) – F Linus Oberg, Orebro (SHL)
  21. Anaheim Ducks (from CLB) – F Ethan Bowen, Chilliwack (BCHL)
  22. Carolina Hurricanes – D Ronan Seeley, Everett (WHL)
  23. Nashville Predators (from PHI) – F Chase McLane, Tri-City (USHL)
  24. San Jose Sharks (from WAS) – F Timofey Spitserov, Culver Academy (USHS)
  25. Washington Capitals (from COL via PIT) – F Oskar Magnusson, Malmo (SHL)
  26. Florida Panthers (from STL via TOR) – G Devon Levi, Carleton Place (CCHL)
  27. Toronto Maple Leafs (from BOS) – F Ryan Tverberg, Toronto (OJHL)
  28. New York Islanders – G Henrik Tikkanen, HIFK (U20 Liiga)
  29. Vegas Golden Knights – F Maxim Marushev, Kazan (KHL)
  30. Buffalo Sabres (from DAL) – F Jakub Konecny, Praha (U20 Czech)
  31. Tampa Bay Lightning – F Declan McDonnell, Kitchener (OHL)

New Jersey Devils Re-Sign Three Players

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The New Jersey Devils have re-signed a trio of minor leaguer players, inking Brett Seney, Ben Street and Joshua Jacobs to new deals. Seney and Jacobs will each be back on one-year, two-way contracts worth $700K at the NHL level, while Street has managed to secure a one-year, two-way deal that pays $750K in the NHL.

Seney, 24, played 51 games for the Devils in 2018-19 but was back to logging big minutes in the minor league this season. A sixth-round pick of the Devils in 2015, he has 53 NHL games under his belt and will likely be used as an injury replacement once again. The undersized forward has good skill, scoring 44 points in 61 games for the Binghamton Devils.

Street, the captain of those AHL Devils, has the most NHL experience of the three. A true journeyman, he went undrafted and has bounced around the professional ranks for the last decade, suiting up for the Calgary Flames, Colorado Avalanche, Detroit Red Wings, Anaheim Ducks, Wheeling Nailers, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, Abbotsford Heat, Lake Erie Monsters, San Antonio Rampage, Grand Rapids Griffins and San Diego Gulls before arriving in the Devils organization in 2019-20. He scored 42 points in 49 games for Binghamton and played just three games for New Jersey.

Jacobs, the only defender of the three, was actually a second-round pick of the Devils back in 2014 but has played just three NHL games so far in his career. Instead he has spent the last several years in the minor leagues manning an AHL blue line, the same place he’ll likely play next season.

Tampa Bay Lightning Win 2020 Stanley Cup Championship

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The Tampa Bay Lightning were crowned NHL champions and hoisted the Stanley Cup on Monday night with a 2-0 shutout win over the Dallas Stars in Game Six. This title feels as if it has been a long time coming for the Lightning, whose young core fell to the Chicago Blackhawks in the 2015 Cup Final and a few years later survived a heart-breaking first-round upset sweep at the hands of the Columbus Blue Jackets last season. With a flat salary cap set to blow up the roster this off-season, it almost seemed inevitable that this Lightning team would emerge victorious with the franchise’s second championship before the impressive group was torn apart. It also seems fitting that such a truly talented and title-worthy team will go down in history for winning the “bubble Cup”.

Tampa Bay won the Cup in style this postseason, too. The Bolts were one of just two teams to actually earn their regular season seeding in the round robin, entering the Eastern Conference playoffs as the No. 2 seed. Their path to victory first included vengeance against the Blue Jackets in a five-game series that included a historic five-overtime win in Game One and another overtime win to seal the series. Tampa then took on their greatest rival, the President’s Trophy-winning Boston Bruins, and made quick work of the talented team in five games, again clinching the series in extra time with a double-overtime victory. Next up were the New York Islanders, who had upset higher seeds in each of their first two series and had smother opposing defenses. The Isles couldn’t keep it going against the Lightning though, falling in six games with Tampa again winning the final game in overtime. Finally, the Stanley Cup Final arrived with a match-up against the Dallas Stars, who had defeated championship favorites Colorado and Vegas en route to the title bout. However, Dallas could not keep the upset streak going, with Tampa Bay taking the series in six games with a decisive shutout victory.

The Conn Smythe Trophy was a three-horse race on the Lightning side, with forwards Brayden Point and Nikita Kucherov and defenseman Victor Hedman all playing at a historic level. It was the Hedman though who received the award for postseason MVP, due in no small part to his ten goals, third-most for a defenseman in postseason history. Hedman totaled 21 points while averaging more than 26 minutes per night of solid defense in an outstanding all-around effort. Kucherov logged more assists than anyone not named Wayne Gretzky or Mario Lemieux in league history and led all postseason participants with 33 points, which would have been enough to take the Conn Smythe almost any other year. With 32 points, including a league-leading 13 goals, Point was also invaluable to the team’s success. Finally, no team can win the Cup without a stellar performance in goal, and Andrei Vasilevskiy played every minute for Tampa and led the playoffs in save percentage

Also deserving plenty of praise and recognition for this Stanley Cup victory are the NHL and NHLPA, who made the postseason possible in light of difficult circumstances. The Coronavirus pandemic shut down the league back in March and nearly five months later the league and players’ association were able to work together to put together an expanded playoff format that produced months of exciting playoff hockey. After 64 days in the bubble, across two cities, there were zero positive COVID tests, allowing for the postseason to proceed without a hitch. Without this expert oversight, there easily could have been no Stanley Cup champion this season. Hockey fans will never forget what the league and its players, especially those on the Tampa Bay Lightning, were able to accomplish in this incredible summer postseason.

NHL Issues Update On COVID-19 Testing

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In the penultimate update, the NHL has released a statement on the COVID-19 testing being done in the bubble.  For the ninth straight week, there have been zero positive tests.  Their statement reads as follows:

The NHL completed the ninth week of its Phase 4 Return to Play with no positive test results for COVID-19 among the 773 tests administered. Testing was administered on a daily basis to all members of the Clubs’ 52-member travelling parties, including Players, during the period from September 20-26. The NHL has administrated 33,174 tests to Club personnel, including players, since the start of Phase 4 with zero positive tests. The NHL will issue its final update on COVID-19 testing results following the conclusion of the Stanley Cup Final. The League will not be providing information on the identity of any individuals or Clubs.

With just a few days left until the championship is awarded, the league seems destined to get through their return to play without experiencing another outbreak, though things can obviously change in an instant.

Free Agent Focus: Columbus Blue Jackets

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With free agency now just a couple weeks away, teams are looking ahead to when it opens up.  There will be several prominent players set to hit the open market while many teams have key restricted free agents to re-sign. While the Columbus Blue Jackets have no UFA’s of note, they still have their work cut out for them with a laundry list of RFA’s, including several core players.

Key Restricted Free Agents

F Pierre-Luc Dubois – Getting Dubois, 22, locked up long-term is the core objective of the Blue Jackets’ off-season. Over the three seasons of his entry-level contract, Dubois totaled 158 points in 234 games, including a 61-point campaign in 2018-19 and a 57-point pace this season. He also wrapped up his contract on a high note, recording ten points in ten playoff games this year. For a team that is lacking in center depth and elite scoring talent, Dubois is critical to the short-term and long-term success of the Blue Jackets.

The problem is balancing Dubois’ long-term potential and dollar value with the team’s limited cap space for next season With no unrestricted free agents departing the lineup, the Blue Jackets have limited funds to work with against the flat cap. Yet, they also don’t want to settle for a more affordable short-term contract and risk Dubois continuing to improve and increasing his price on a new contract. Negotiations are already underway and the goal stated by both sides is to stick with a lengthy term and to get the deal done before free agency opens to provide the club with some cap clarity.

If a long-term extension can be reached, don’t be surprised to see an AAV of upwards of $8MM or more. If the two sides instead opt for a short-term deal given the fiscal constraints of the current NHL economy, Dubois is still likely set to make $6.5MM or more against the cap on his next deal.

F Josh Anderson – It’s difficult to know where the status quo lies between the Blue Jackets and Anderson. The last time that these two sides sat down to negotiate a contract, it was a contentious affair that ended in a late-summer, below-market contract that left Anderson unhappy and fueled trade rumors. Those flames were stoked by a 27-goal, 47-point season for Andersson in 2018-19 in which the young power forward greatly outplayed his contract. Yet, the tables turned again this season, as Anderson missed much of the year due to injury and was unproductive even when active. The season tanked Anderson’s trade value and at least some of his bargaining power and left his future with Columbus up in the air.

The latest twist in this saga was Anderson’s recent proclamation that he hopes to sign long-term in Columbus. This runs counter to his previous sentiment, but could end up working in the Blue Jackets’ favor. Given their cap crunch this off-season, the team could benefit from deflating the AAV on an Andersson extension by extending the term. Anderson could also return to form and again be a bargain for the club. The risk of course is that his injury troubles persist or he is unable to rediscover his scoring touch. Given the uncertainty of this off-season and Andersson’s health and performance, this seems like a case that is more likely to be settled in salary arbitration than with a long-term deal. While a one-year arbitrator’s decision might risk Andersson leaving as an unrestricted free agent next summer, the Blue Jackets would likely be happy to get an affordable deal done for Anderson and to have another year to consider whether they want to re-sign or trade the big winger.

D Vladislav Gavrikov – Since joining Columbus in the 2019 playoffs, Gavrikov has done nothing but prove that he is a solid two-way defenseman. While his lack of NHL experience makes it difficult to project his long-term value, Gavrikov has at least earned a raise and some security in his next contract. It’s unclear what the expectations are for Gavrikov’s new deal, but the Blue Jackets have all of the leverage. Due to his limited experience, Gavrikov falls under Section 10.2(c) of the CBA as a restricted free agent who is not eligible to sign an offer sheet. Barring a trade, Columbus is the only NHL team that Gavrikov can play for and they can more or less dictate the terms of the next contract. With that said, Gavrikov has proven to be a reliable top-four defenseman and the Blue Jackets are not going to play games. Expect the team to work out a short-term deal with Gavrikov and potentially trade one of their other seven one-way defensemen to cement his role as a core piece on the blue line.

Other RFAs: F Paul Bittner, F Marko Dano, F Maxime Fortier, F Jakob Lilja, F Ryan MacInnis, F Justin Scott, F Devin Shore, F Kole Sherwood, F Calvin Thurkauf, D Gabriel Carlsson, D Ryan Collins, D Michael Prapavessis, G Matiss Kivlenieks

UFAs: D Dillon Simpson, D Doyle Somerby

Projected Cap Space

CapFriendly lists the Blue Jackets as having 22 of 23 roster spots already filled for next season, including 19 one-way contracts. As a result, it should not be a surprise that their cap space is limited, with CapFriendly projecting just over $7MM to spare. The concern though is that Dubois and Gavrikov – at the very least – will be on the roster and should combine for well over $7MM. And that is not even including any free agent or trade additions for a team that has vowed to be active on the forward market. Fortunately, the team will get a bit of a break in the form of Brandon Dubinsky, who is not healthy enough to play again. Dubinsky’s $5.85MM cap hit will be wiped out, bringing Columbus’ true cap space total to around $13MM. While most of that will still be taken up by RFA signings, it will give the club some more flexibility to change up the roster if they so desire.

Negotiation Notes: Ovechkin, Malkin, NHLPA

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When the new league year begins, the Washington Capitals and franchise icon Alex Ovechkin are expected to enter contract talks as soon as possible. Ovechkin is entering the final year of his contract, but can sign an extension as early as October 9. Talks should run smoothly for the superstar and the only team he’s ever played for; TSN’s Pierre LeBrun reports that Ovechkin will once again negotiate the deal by himself. Ovechkin represented himself in contract talks last time around, all the way back in 2008, and landed a whopping 13-year, $124MM contract. Long-time friend and teammate Nicklas Backstrom was also successful negotiating an extension with the Capitals earlier this season. Ovechkin has no reservations about sitting down at the table by himself with GM Brian MacLellan and company to work out what could very well be the final contract of his storied career.

  • Pittsburgh Penguins star Evgeni Malkin is still two years away from free agency, but sources tell The Athletic’s Rob Rossi and Josh Yohe that there is already mutual interest between player and team in an extension. Specifically, the two side are eyeing a three-year term, which would keep Malkin in Pittsburgh through the 2024-25 season, after which he would likely retire. Sidney Crosby’s current contract, a 12-year pact, is also set to expire that off-season. The dynamic duo will be 38 and 37 respectively at that time, so expect a changing of the guard in Pittsburgh to occur that off-season.
  • In more current and pressing negotiations, TSN’s Darren Dreger reports that the NHLPA is creating a player committee to work with the NHL on the logistics of the 2020-21 season. The two sides are expected to meet after the end of the Stanley Cup Final in the hopes that there can be concrete progress prior to the NHL Draft and the opening of free agency. With the “when” and “how” of the coming season still very much up in the air there is plenty of work for both sides before a suitable plan can be rolled out to the public.

NHL Announces First And Second All-Star Teams, All-Rookie Team

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Following the announcements of the final five NHL regular season awards, the league also revealed their three all-league rosters: the First-Team All-Stars, the Second-Team All-Stars, and the All-Rookie Team. Below are the 2019-20 honorees:

First All-Star Team (link)

G: Connor Hellebuyck, Winnipeg Jets
D: Roman Josi, Nashville Predators
D: John Carlson, Washington Capitals
LW: Artemi Panarin, New York Rangers
C: Leon Draisaitl, Edmonton Oilers
RW: David Pastrnak, Boston Bruins

The 2020 First-Team All-Stars are a historic group, the first time since the inaugural all-league honors in 1930-31 that all six honorees are first-time members of the team. Unsurprisingly, this team also covers most of the league’s major awards with Draisaitl taking home the Hart, Ted Lindsay, and Art Ross, Josi winning the Norris, Hellebuyck winning the Vezina, and Pastrnak earning the Rocket Richard.

Second All-Star Team (link)

G: Tuukka Rask, Boston Bruins
D: Alex Pietrangelo, St. Louis Blues
D: Victor Hedman, Tampa Bay Lightning
LW: Brad Marchand, Boston Bruins
C: Nathan MacKinnon, Colorado Avalanche
RW: Nikita Kucherov, Tampa Bay Lightning

The President’s Trophy-winning Boston Bruins finish with a league-best three players on All-Star rosters. Their division rival, and current Stanley Cup finalist, the Tampa Bay Lightning are the only other team with more than one inclusion on the all-star rosters. Noticeably absent from either all-star teams are future Hall of Famers Sidney Crosby of the Pittsburgh Penguins and Alex Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals. This is just the third time since 2005-06 that at least one of the pair have not been on a postseason All-Star team, while they have both have been selected in the same year eight times in the past 15 years.

All-Rookie Team (link)

G: Elvis Merzlikins, Columbus Blue Jackets
D: Cale Makar, Colorado Avalanche
D: Quinn Hughes, Vancouver Canucks
F: Victor Olofsson, Buffalo Sabres
F: Dominik Kubalik, Chicago Blackhawks
F: Nick Suzuki, Montreal Canadiens

The rookie elite, led by Calder Trophy-winner Makar, is an older group than usual. Merzlikins, Olofsson, and Kubalik, all 25 or older, played in Europe for a considerable amount of time before jumping to North America as a polished product, while Makar and Hughes each played a pair of seasons in the NCAA and Suzuki aged out of juniors before turning pro. Nevertheless, the first-year pros were all impressive and still have many  quality years ahead of them.

Ottawa’s Andreas Englund Signs In Allsvenskan

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The Ottawa Senators may have lost one of their defenseman as Vasterviks IK announced (translation required) they have signed defenseman Andreas Englund, who is expected to hit restricted free agency on Oct. 9. The Ottawa Sun’s Bruce Garrioch reports that the deal has an out-clause in which he can return to the Senators, but only if the team gives him a qualifying offer next month, which is no certainty. The wording on the announcement also suggests the Allsvenskan team hopes to keep him around permanently.

“24-year-old Andreas Englund played in (Ottawa) last season but his contract has now expired so he is now a free agent,” according to the press release.

Englund did manage to play a career high in games played in the NHL this season. He appeared in 24 games for the Senators, who drafted the blueliner in the second round back in 2014. However, the blueliner was also placed on waivers on multiple occasions throughout the year and didn’t see much time on the ice in Ottawa regardless. Englund averaged just 10:54 of ATOI and due to his lack of offensive ability, many believe that he doesn’t have the ability to win himself a permanent spot as a top-six defenseman in the NHL. That, along with a number of new faces on Ottawa’s defense this year, including a permanent role for Erik Brannstrom, a healthy Christian Wolanin and the overseas signing of Artem Zub, there may not be a place in the NHL for Englund, leaving many questions whether the team will hand him a qualifying offer.

Englund has played in the Allvenskan before when he played for Djurgardens Stokholm squad and then followed that year up with two years in the SHL before coming over to North America. He does have some size at 6-foot-4, but lacks significant offensive skill as he managed just three assists in 24 NHL games and went scoreless in 22 AHL games and his career high in AHL scoring has been 14 points (back in 2018-19).

 

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