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Calgary Flames vice president of hockey operations and assistant general manager Chris Snow died Saturday after a lengthy battle with ALS. He was 42.

"Today we hugged Chris for the last time and said goodbye as he went to give four people the gift of life by donating his kidneys, liver and lungs," Snow's wife, Kelsie, wrote on social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter. "We are deeply broken and deeply proud. In life and in death, Chris never stopped giving. We walk forward with his light guiding us."

Snow was diagnosed with ALS in 2019. His father, two uncles, and cousin also died of the disease, according to The Canadian Press.

Snow continued to work for the Flames after his diagnosis despite his health challenges.

He was a sportswriter before he became a hockey executive. He and Kelsie met while they were both working in the sports department at the Boston Globe, and the couple married in 2007. The Minnesota Wild hired him as their director of hockey operations one year earlier.

The Flames brought him in as director of hockey analysis in 2011, and promoted him to assistant GM eight years later. Snow was then elevated to vice president in May when Craig Conroy took over as GM.

"Chris was my friend," Conroy wrote in a statement. "He taught us all so much by how he confronted ALS with grace, positivity, and hope. ... He fought with courage and determination for every day he had with Kelsie, (and children) Cohen and Willa, making countless memories with them over these past five years.

"We will never replace a person like Chris; we simply pay tribute to him by moving forward with the same passion that he brought to his life each day."

We love you Snowy ❤️ pic.twitter.com/VICIR3r6rb
— Calgary Flames (@NHLFlames) September 30, 2023

Kelsie shared Wednesday that Snow went into cardiac arrest and suffered a "catastrophic" brain injury as a result.

"My chest feels cracked open and hollowed out," she said. "Chris is the most beautiful, brilliant person I'll ever know and doing life without him feels untenable. Hug your people."

He remained on life support until the donation of his organs could be arranged.

Snow, who was a staunch advocate for ALS research and awareness, received a standing ovation at last year's NHL Awards while presenting the Norris Trophy.

NHL commissioner Gary Bettman hailed Snow as a "remarkable man" in a statement mourning his death.

The Senators recently offered Pinto a contract in the one-year, $1-million range, sources told Friedman. The player is reportedly looking for a deal around $2.5 million.

General manager Pierre Dorion indicated the team hoped to sign Pinto prior to the start of training camp earlier in September.

Ottawa has significant leverage in negotiations with Pinto. The 22-year-old is a restricted free agent without arbitration rights. He's also not eligible for an offer sheet due to a lack of pro seasons.

Pinto tallied 20 goals and 35 points in 82 games last season with the Senators. He was named Rookie of the Month for October after a hot start to the campaign, scoring six goals in eight contests.

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Anaheim Ducks forward Alex Killorn is expected to miss four-to-six weeks after sustaining a fractured finger in preseason action against the San Jose Sharks, the team announced Saturday.

The Ducks signed Killorn to a four-year, $25-million contract on the opening day of free agency in July.

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NHL teams' offensive attacks seem to get scarier and scarier every year, so we're going through the six lines we think will be the most lethal in 2023-24.

For this edition of the exercise, we focused solely on lines we expect to be consistent trios with a high chance of getting substantial ice time together. There are some new lines featured here, but each one includes an established duo from the 2022-23 campaign.

With that out of the way, let's get to it.

Statistics guide:
GP = Games played together
TOI = Total time on ice together
GF% = Goals for percentage
xGF% = Expected goals for percentage
SCF% = Scoring chances for percentage

All chart figures are 2022-23 regular-season numbers as a line at five-on-five unless otherwise indicated

6. Hagel-Point-Kucherov ⚡

Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / Getty

GP	TOI	GF%	XGF%	SCF%
81	619	51.4	55.7	58.7

Combined cap hit: $20.5 million

Come on now, we couldn't omit a trio that combined for 111 goals and 272 points last season. Bolts head coach Jon Cooper has a tendency to load up his top unit by slotting Steven Stamkos into the mix, but Brayden Point and Nikita Kucherov played most of 2022-23 with Brandon Hagel to make up the Lightning's most utilized line.

Point and Kucherov are the obvious star attractions of this trio. The former placed fifth in goals league-wide (51) last season, while the latter tied Boston Bruins sniper David Pastrnak for the third-most points in the NHL (113).

An electric winger with three 100-point seasons under his belt, Kucherov is the last player not named Connor McDavid or Leon Draisaitl to win the Art Ross Trophy. Point, meanwhile, has the 10th-most goals (218) in the league since his debut in 2016-17. Hagel isn't just a hanger-on, though: He scored a career-high 30 goals in 2022-23, matching Kucherov for the third-most tallies on the Bolts. That's amazing value given Hagel carries a cap hit of $1.5 million (that'll change in 2024-25 when he'll get a $5-million raise).

The Lightning narrowly outscored opponents 36-34 with Hagel, Point, and Kucherov on the ice at five-on-five last season. That may be surprising given their offensive talent, but they also owned the worst on-ice save percentage (.896) out of all the other lines on this list that played together in 2022-23.

5. Barbashev-Eichel-Marchessault ⚔️

Dave Sandford / National Hockey League / Getty

GP	TOI	GF%	XGF%	SCF%
21	221	61.9	44.6	43.8

Combined cap hit: $20 million

Excluding a line that just helped the Vegas Golden Knights win their first Stanley Cup championship simply wouldn't be wise.

The trio of Ivan Barbashev, Jack Eichel, and Jonathan Marchessault became a staple in Sin City after Vegas acquired the Russian from the St. Louis Blues in February. Sure, the threesome didn't put up the most dominant underlying numbers during its limited regular-season tenure, but that was just a practice run, a precursor to the amount of damage it'd deal in the postseason. To put it plainly, this line caused problems in the spring.

Eichel was a beast in his first-ever postseason appearance and led the entire league with 26 points in 22 games. Marchessault won the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP after going off for 13 goals - tying Draisaitl for the most in the NHL - and 25 points. Barbashev proved to be a perfect complementary piece and wreaked havoc with 18 points while ranking second on the team with 64 hits.

On a collaborative front, the unit owned a commanding 72.7 GF%, 54.6 xGF%, and 54.4 SCF% at five-on-five in the playoffs. It's no wonder the Golden Knights signed Barbashev to a five-year, $25-million extension in June. Let's see what these guys can do together once they get a full season under their belts.

4. Bertuzzi-Matthews-Marner 🍁

Mark Blinch / National Hockey League / Getty

Combined cap hit: $28.04 million

We have yet to see this trio in any real action because Tyler Bertuzzi just signed on as a free agent, but the NHL is well aware of the damage Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner can do together. In 540 minutes with the high-octane duo on the ice at five-on-five last season, the Toronto Maple Leafs owned 57.1% of the shot attempts and 58.7% of the expected goals while outscoring opponents 33-20. Known for his wizardry as a setup man, Marner assisted on nearly half of Matthews' 40 goals in 2022-23 and led the team with 99 points in 80 games.

Matthews and Marner made their debuts in 2016-17. Since then, Matthews leads the NHL with 299 goals, while Marner's 386 assists are the fourth most in the league. Combining one of the NHL's top goal-scorers with one of the best playmakers just makes sense. Bertuzzi - a physical, snotty pest - is an upgrade on Michael Bunting, who was stapled to Matthews' wing the past two seasons.

Bertuzzi, 28, was handcuffed by two separate hand injuries in 2022-23, mustering eight goals and 30 points in 50 regular-season games as a result. But he emerged as a beautiful, gritty force of nature for the Boston Bruins in the playoffs (albeit for one round), putting up five goals and 10 points in seven games. He netted a career-high 30 goals during the 2021-22 campaign as a Detroit Red Wing while spending most of his time on a line with the tremendously talented Dylan Larkin and Lucas Raymond. Matthews and Marner have a more elite edge. If Bertuzzi turns out to be the go-to left-winger on Toronto's top line beyond the preseason, he can reach new heights.

3. Hyman-McDavid-Brown 🛢️

Combined cap hit: $18.775 million

This line features the best player on the planet, so of course it wound up on the podium of these rankings. There's nothing to say about McDavid that hasn't already been said: The Edmonton Oilers superstar scored an outlandish 153 points last season, there's nothing he can't do, blah blah blah.

Riding on his line is one of the best jobs in the NHL, a fact that Zach Hyman must be well aware of. He's posted his two best statistical seasons - highlighted by a 36-goal, 83-point performance in 2022-23 - since his arrival in Edmonton while spending the majority of his time at McDavid's side. But Hyman is more than just a benefactor of the McDavid show: Around 45% of McDavid's points last season came on the power play, while nearly 70% of Hyman's offensive production came at even strength. The Oilers were also outscored 17-26 with McDavid on the ice at five-on-five without Hyman. Edmonton does most of its damage on the man advantage, so the fact that Hyman does his best work at five-on-five is a big help.

Rounding out this trio is new addition Connor Brown, who is known for being a workhorse and has already been praised by McDavid as the "perfect addition" to the Oilers: They were linemates with the OHL's Eerie Otters and combined for 227 points in 2013-14. Brown won't blow you away with his NHL point totals, but to be fair, neither did Hyman, whose previous career high was 41 points before his move out west. Brown and Hyman also have four seasons' worth of experience playing together from their time with the Maple Leafs.

Even if Evander Kane ends up taking the spot on McDavid's left wing instead of Hyman, the line would still belong on this list. Kane spent the bulk of his time last season with Draisaitl, but he and McDavid generated excellent results together in 2021-22, with the Oilers dictating 63.8% of the goals and 57% of the expected goals with the duo on the ice at five-on-five.

2. Robertson-Hintz-Pavelski 🌟

Richard Rodriguez / Getty Images Sport / Getty

GP	TOI	GF%	XGF%	SCF%
73	759	68.4	58.8	59.7

Combined cap hit: $19.7 million

It takes a lot to beat McDavid's line on this list, but Jason Robertson, Roope Hintz, and Joe Pavelski have earned this. The Dallas Stars' top unit led all lines in ice time last season while putting up some gaudy numbers.

The trio simply drives offense at an alarming rate. Dallas outscored opponents 52-24 with Robertson, Hintz, and Pavelski on the ice at five-on-five in 2022-23, operating at bonkers clips of 4.11 goals for and 1.9 goals against per 60 minutes. If that wasn't enough, the line also helped the Stars dictate over 60% of the high-danger goals and chances. In layman's terms, it was obscenely difficult to not get scored on with this threesome off the bench, which is the effect you want your top line to have when you're in hot pursuit of the Cup.

Two members of the line enjoyed career years last season, too, with Hintz potting 75 points in 73 games and Robertson going off for 46 goals and 109 points in 82 contests. Pavelski was no slouch, either, producing at a 0.94 point-per-game rate in his 17th NHL season. Together, they combined for 111 goals - almost 40% of the Stars' 281 tallies - while making up three of the team's top four scorers.

Unlike some of the other lines on these rankings, Robertson, Hintz, and Pavelski won't need any time to gel: They've amassed almost 1,800 minutes of experience together over three seasons. The Stars are a wagon, and their three-headed dragon of a top line is a huge reason why.

1. Drouin-MacKinnon-Rantanen ⛰️

Michael Reaves / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Combined cap hit: $22.675 million

Along with the Oilers, the Colorado Avalanche were the only team to boast multiple 100-point-getters in 2022-23, and both of them are on this line.

Nathan MacKinnon hit the century mark for the first time in his career last season despite missing 11 games, while Mikko Rantanen posted the first 50-goal season in franchise history since Milan Hejduk in 2002-03. Their production was key for the Avalanche, who were decimated by injuries but still finished in first place of the Central Division.

Any line that has both MacKinnon and Rantanen has a shot to take the No. 1 spot on this list - it doesn't really matter who's with them. Artturi Lehkonen took the most reps alongside them last season, but we're giving first crack at the 2023-24 job to new acquisition Jonathan Drouin. He and MacKinnon were teammates on the QMJHL's Halifax Mooseheads for two seasons, combining for 111 goals and 287 points in 184 games and winning the Memorial Cup. Drouin's NHL career hasn't panned out as well as MacKinnon's, but he was in need of a fresh start after a rough stint in Montreal. There's no guarantee their reunion works out, but wouldn't it be cool if it did?

For transparency's sake: Gabriel Landeskog is out for the season again, so the Avalanche may not want to load up their top line like this. But, in Colorado's first Landeskog-less season in 2022-23, MacKinnon and Rantanen were each other's most common linemate at five-on-five, so there's a real chance it happens again.

Other lines to watch that missed the cut:

Nick Schmaltz-Barrett Hayton-Clayton Keller, Coyotes
Jesper Bratt-Jack Hughes-Tyler Toffoli, Devils
Quinton Byfield-Anze Kopitar-Adrian Kempe, Kings
Jordan Eberle-Matty Beniers-Jared McCann, Kraken
Brady Tkachuk-Tim Stutzle-Claude Giroux, Senators
Kirill Kaprizov-Ryan Hartman-Mats Zuccarello, Wild

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The Minnesota Wild inked forwards Mats Zuccarello and Marcus Foligno to new deals Friday.

Zuccarello agreed to a two-year contract extension with an average annual value of $4.125 million, the team announced. Several hours later, Foligno re-upped on a four-year pact at $4 million annually.

The Norweigan had one year left on a contract signed in 2019 that carries a $6-million cap hit. He'll be 38 years old at the expiration of his new deal, which includes a no-move clause in both years, according to the Star Tribune's Sarah McLellan.

Zuccarello tallied 22 goals and 67 points in 78 games last season to rank second on the Wild in scoring. His 20:12 average time on ice was the highest mark of his 13-year career. Since joining the Wild in 2019, he's produced 72 goals and 218 points in 255 contests. He leads the team in assists with 146 over this span.

The veteran has had a career resurgence since the arrival of Kirill Kaprizov in the abbreviated 2021 campaign. After scoring just 37 points in 65 games the previous season, Zuccarello has recorded 181 in 190 since Kaprizov's debut. The duo has played over 2,200 minutes at five-on-five in three seasons, and Minnesota has outscored the opposition 119-86 in that time, according to Natural Stat Trick.

Foligno is entering the final season of a three-year contract carrying an AAV of $3.1 million. He turned 32 in August.

Johansson's NHL career has not been promising to this point - he owns an .887 save percentage in 35 appearances across four seasons. But it's much less inspiring behind him. There's 22-year-old prospect Hugo Alnefelt and 29-year-old journeyman Matt Tomkins, who've combined to make seven career NHL saves.

The Lightning won't be going big-game hunting to find a Vasilevskiy replacement. The netminder's $9.5-million cap hit can be placed on LTIR while he's out, but the team will need that space for when he's back. So the Bolts, who are extremely close to the cap, will have to scrape the bottom of the bargain bin to find someone to pair with Johansson in the meantime.

The ideal candidate brings NHL experience, the ability to be somewhat competent, and as low a salary as possible - ideally around $1 million or less. Below, we present our most realistic options.

Editor's note: The Columbus Blue Jackets claimed Spencer Martin on Friday.

Brian Elliott, free agent

Bringing back Elliott makes sense. He spent the last two seasons as Vasilevskiy's backup, so he'd be a familiar face in the room, and he's familiar with the Lightning's defensive system. The former William M. Jennings Trophy winner also brings 543 games of NHL experience and was a high-level starter earlier in his career. As an unrestricted free agent, the Lightning don't have to give up assets to get him, and he'd likely come in for the league minimum if he's willing to play another year.

On the downside, there's a reason Elliott remains unsigned. He's 38 years old and coming off a down season in which he posted an .891 save percentage in 22 games. It's also unclear what kind of game shape he's in after failing to latch on to an NHL training camp. But it's worth a phone call at the very least.

Jaroslav Halak, free agent

Halak is in a similar situation as Elliott. As a free agent, he'd likely be happy to sign for the league minimum - especially to join a Cup contender. But he's also 38 years old.

While he doesn't share the same familiarity with the organization, he's been a better goalie in recent years. The two-time Jennings winner recorded a .903 save percentage and stopped 4.04 goals above expected in 25 games as Igor Shesterkin's backup with the Rangers a year ago.

Sam Montembeault/Cayden Primeau, Canadiens

Francois Lacasse / National Hockey League / Getty

Montreal has three intriguing goalies on their roster. Jake Allen is the best of the bunch, but his $3.85-million cap hit is too rich for the Lightning to take on.

However, Montembeault, 26, could be available via trade. He only carries a $1-million cap hit and was stellar for the Habs last season in 40 games. His .901 save percentage wasn't overly pretty, but he stopped 16.78 goals above expected - the 13th-best among NHL goalies.

And then there's Primeau, who has not performed as well in limited NHL opportunities (.871 save percentage in 21 games), but he's only 24 and has been decent in the AHL. And he only carries an $890,000 cap hit for the next two years. If the Habs don't want to carry three goalies, they could risk losing him for nothing on waivers.

Flipping Montembeault or Primeau for a minor asset may be the best option for the rebuilding Canadiens.

Anthony Stolarz, Panthers

Norm Hall / National Hockey League / Getty

Spencer Knight appears ready to return to the NHL after entering the player assistance program last season. With Sergei Bobrovsky still under contract in Florida, Stolarz would be the odd man out. At $1.1 million, the 29-year-old is the highest-paid goalie on this list.

The Panthers likely wouldn't trade him to a division rival, but they'll have to subject him to waivers unless they plan to keep three goalies in the fold. Brandon Montour and Aaron Ekblad are both likely headed for LTIR to begin the year, so cap room wouldn't be an issue in that decision.

The Lightning are 20th in the NHL's waiver priority order, so there'd be no guarantee Stolarz would make it to them in that circumstance. But the Bolts would likely be thrilled if he did.

Stolarz, who's massive at 6-foot-6 and 243 pounds, has been one of the league's best backups over the last two seasons. With the basement-dwelling Ducks, he posted a .909 save percentage and 6.78 goals saved above expected across 47 games.

Martin Jones, Maple Leafs

Jones' only path to the Leafs' opening night lineup is an injury to either Ilya Samonsov or Joseph Woll. If that duo stays healthy, Jones is likely bound for waivers. As it stands, he's on a one-year deal with a $875,000 cap hit.

The 33-year-old has been one of the NHL's worst goalies in recent years: Jones posted an .886 save percentage in 48 games with the Kraken last year. But, he was once a quality starter with the San Jose Sharks, which could be attractive for the Bolts.

Like Florida, Toronto probably wouldn't trade their No. 3 goalie to the Lightning to help out a rival, but the Bolts could possibly pluck the veteran netminder off of waivers.

Alex Lyon, Red Wings

Eliot J. Schechter / National Hockey League / Getty

The Panthers wouldn't have gone on their improbable Stanley Cup Final run without Lyon. He was lights out down the stretch to get them into the playoffs, starting in the club's final eight games of the regular season to collect a 6-1-1 record and a .943 save percentage.

That's obviously a small sample size, and Lyon came down to earth in the playoffs, allowing Bobrovsky to retain the No. 1 job. The 30-year-old signed a two-year deal with a $900,000 cap hit with Detroit in the offseason, but the Red Wings could expose him to waivers if he loses the backup goalie battle to James Reimer.

Alex Stalock, Ducks

Stalock was one of the NHL's best stories last season. He was limited to just one game across the 2020-21 and 2021-22 campaigns due to a myocarditis diagnosis, but he bounced back with a .908 save percentage in 27 games with the lowly Blackhawks a year ago, earning a Bill Masterton Trophy nomination.

The 35-year-old signed a one-year, $800,000 deal with Anaheim over the summer. But if the club wants to keep 23-year-old Lukas Dostal as John Gibson's backup to begin the year, it's possible Stalock could end up on waivers.

Louis Domingue, Rangers

Joe Sargent / National Hockey League / Getty

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New York Rangers goaltender Igor Shesterkin is embracing a happier approach to the upcoming season after a self-proclaimed poor attitude hindered his performance in 2022-23.

"I just want to be positive every day because last season I was so mad at myself because I didn't play like I want," Shesterkin told NHL.com's Dan Rosen. "I hope this season will be the other way, and I will be more happy and enjoy more to talk with you guys."

Shesterkin was among the league's top netminders last season with 37 wins and a .916 save percentage. However, it was a notable step back from his dominant Vezina-winning 2021-22 campaign when he led the NHL in save percentage (.935), goals against average (2.07), and goals saved above average (44.9).

The 27-year-old admitted he had difficulty handling the regression.

"Oh yeah, I was too hard on myself, for sure," Shesterkin said. "I think you remember how I was every practice, so mad, and I didn't want to talk too much with anybody except my family."

Four years into his fight, Snow, the vice president of hockey operations and assistant general manager for the Calgary Flames, is seen checking a chore off the to-do list.

"Chris has almost no use of his hands and arms, but here he is today, mowing the lawn after he got home from work. Where there's a will …" Snow's wife, Kelsie, wrote as she shared the video on X, previously Twitter, on July 20.

Chris has almost no use of his hands and arms but here he is today, mowing the lawn after he got home from work. Where there’s a will … #SnowyStrong #EndALS pic.twitter.com/Z8pJiXoglp
— Kelsie Snow (@kelsieswrites) July 20, 2023

Earlier this week, Snow went into cardiac arrest and suffered a catastrophic brain injury caused by a lack of oxygen. The 42-year-old father of two is on life support while organ donation is being arranged, Kelsie said Thursday.

"Chris is the most brilliant, beautiful person I'll ever know, and doing life without him feels untenable," she wrote Wednesday. "Hug your people."

Snow's legacy will start with his children, Cohen and Willa, and their impact on the world. It'll extend to the ALS community, which has witnessed Snow undergo experimental treatment and live three years beyond the 12-month prognosis he was given after being diagnosed in 2019.

"I can no longer drink any liquids. Can't bathe myself. Can't dress myself. Can't drive. Can't speak above a whisper," Snow wrote in June. "And yet I'm as energized as ever and the healthiest I've been since last summer. I've come to view health and disability as two very different things."

But the Massachusetts native's legacy will reach even further, stretching to hockey fans and anybody else across the world who read, watched, or listened as the Snow family courageously documented the crushing setbacks and moments of optimism. Snow, who joined the Flames in 2011 after time with the Minnesota Wild and years as a sports journalist, taught us about the fragility of life.

He taught us about priorities. About bravery. About hope in bleak times.

"Never heard him complain once about this," Flames general manager Craig Conroy said through tears Thursday at a press conference announcing Mikael Backlund as captain.

"It doesn't seem right not to have Snowy here with me," Conroy added. "I was fortunate enough to bring Cohen. Little Snowy's here, and that means more than you know."

A GoFundMe page has been set up for the family. You can donate here.

Can Graves be valuable safety valve?

After the dust settled on the Erik Karlsson trade, many wondered how Pittsburgh would deploy him and Kris Letang on power-play. So far, both are skating on the top unit.

Next was the topic of pairings for the offensively minded wild cards. So far, it's trusty Marcus Pettersson with Karlsson and trusty Ryan Graves with Letang.

Graves, a 6-foot-5, 220-pound specimen, is a low-key signing on the back end. Pittsburgh inked the former Devil to a six-year, $27-million contract because he profiles as a model safety valve for Letang (or Karlsson).

Safety valve doesn't mean plodding or surly. Graves isn't overly physical. He prefers to use his length and strong skating to efficiently retrieve pucks for the breakout, and while defending the rush, close gaps and create turnovers.

"A good stick, good feet, and long range is really hard to play against," Graves explained in a recent interview. "It can be frustrating for opponents. So that's where I'm at - that's what brings me the most success, as opposed to going out there and running around and being a big bruiser.

"I try to play tough in front of my own net. I want people to think it's going to be hard to come into the crease. But, no, I'm not going to be a guy who's running around looking for big hits all the time. It's usually counterproductive."

What outsiders might not realize about NHLers of Graves' size is that the smooth skating doesn't come naturally. It's been a progression - from uncoordinated as a junior to satisfactory as an early pro to explosive now.

"It's been a grind for me to get to this point," Graves said of his skating. "I was clumsy at a younger age, where I was tall, lanky. It took a lot of hours of power skating and really working on technique to get to where I am now. There were a couple of long summers of working on skating mechanics, with no pucks on the ice. Like, really working at it, drill after drill, day after day."

The work has paid off. And while the preseason hasn't been entirely smooth for Graves-Letang, there's potential in that pair. Pettersson-Karlsson, too.

Zadina's big bet on himself

Amid an offseason of high-profile trades, signings, and firings, Filip Zadina quietly placed a career-defining bet on himself. On July 7, Zadina and the Red Wings mutually agreed to terminate the final two years of his three-year deal.

The forward walked away from $4.56 million in guaranteed money to become an unrestricted free agent and, at 23 years old, pick his next home.

Zadina went on to sign a one-year, $1.1-million deal with the rebuilding Sharks. The 2018 sixth overall pick has a chance to earn a top-six role and time on the power play's first unit. Zadina, who suffered a minor injury in preseason action Wednesday, told Sportsnet in August that he was "in a circle" in Detroit, with injuries and AHL demotions causing several false starts.

The Sharks offer a soft landing that could benefit the player and the team.

"I see a determined hockey player," Sharks forward Logan Couture told theScore last week of Zadina. "He looks like he's in great shape. I think he's got something to prove. He did it for an opportunity."

When we talked, Couture hadn't spoken at any great length with Zadina about what transpired in Detroit. Even without insider knowledge, the longtime Shark and captain thinks there's a glass-half-full perspective.

"If you play up to your abilities and you believe in yourself, you'll make the money back in a contract down the road anyways," Couture said of the rare move to walk away from guaranteed money. "I'm sure that's probably crept into his mind or something that he's thought about as well."

Zadina was a prolific goal-scorer during his draft year, potting 44 in 57 QMJHL games. His final stat line with Detroit: 28 goals and 40 assists in 190 games.

Bedard ready to get on with it

Sidney Crosby, Connor McDavid, and Connor Bedard were in Las Vegas for a preseason media event earlier this month. It may have been the first time all three generational talents were in the same building at the same time.

Nobody except Crosby and McDavid can truly relate to what Bedard has experienced over the past year. Like Bedard, they went through the lottery, combine, and draft as the guaranteed top pick. Like him, they got pulled in every direction for press conferences, photoshoots, and endorsements. Like him, their rookie point projection was a popular subject on sports-talk radio.

It's a lot of hype and not a lot of playing hockey. "People are probably getting sick of seeing me all the time. I would be," Bedard, 18, said in Vegas.

McDavid, now 26 and entering his ninth season, remembers that feeling well.

"You just want to start playing," the Oilers captain recalled. "The longer it goes, the longer you're thinking about it. I know for me I was starting to have doubts in terms of, 'Why is there all this (hype)?' You feel good about your game, you know you're a good player, but it's like, 'This feels like this is a little bit above and beyond,' and I'm sure he's gotten to that point as well."

Luckily, Crosby and McDavid have passed down a pearl or two of wisdom.

"You've gotta say no sometimes," said Bedard, who picked up two points Thursday in his preseason debut. "You've gotta focus on hockey - which is not a problem for me. They've given me some good advice. They're guys who have gone through a similar thing up until this point. So it's good to hear from them on that."

Parting shots

Captain figures: It's looking like the season will start with 27 team captains. Anaheim, Arizona, Chicago, Philadelphia, and Seattle are the only clubs without one. (You'll notice a trend: Aside from Seattle, those teams aren't ready to win.) Of the 27 captains, five are new, including Boston's Brad Marchand, while five have worn the 'C' for at least a decade. Crosby, in Year 17 as Pittsburgh's leader, is two seasons from tying Detroit's Steve Yzerman for longest-serving captain ever. It's amusing talking to NHLers about the importance of having a captain. Generally, if a player is on a team with a captain, they'll say it's an amazing and necessary component of team culture. If a player is on a team without a captain, they'll say it's mostly symbolic and the room is filled with unofficial captains anyway.

I can't believe Brad Marchand is captain of the Boston Bruins. Incredible times. Im pretty sure in his first-ever game wearing a letter he got suspended and then had to miss the Winter Classic lmao
— Pete Blackburn (@PeteBlackburn) September 20, 2023

Kingly depth: Los Angeles doesn't have the NHL's best center or the best one-two punch down the middle. What the Kings do boast is the best one-through-four depth, with Anze Kopitar, Pierre-Luc Dubois, Phillip Danault, and Blake Lizotte filling the lineup card. Kopitar is a brilliant two-way player, Dubois injects scoring punch and size, and Danault is the defensive specialist. Meanwhile, Lizotte is the perfect fourth-line center for the modern game. The undrafted 25-year-old pursues pucks like his life is on the line. Lizotte has enough skill to chip in offensively and is a force on the penalty kill. "He's like a little bee out there. He never stops," Dubois said recently. "Never stops" would be a fitting label for the Kings' center depth. Look out, Pacific Division.

Blake Lizotte is 5'8". Blake Lizotte is in the NHL because he plays with PASSION.

The energy on this goal is infectious. The relentless forecheck. Gets right back up after getting knocked down. The celebration. It's unreal.

Kids...if you want to make it...play with passion. pic.twitter.com/xvR7TXqwdn
— Topher Scott (@HockeyThinkTank) January 19, 2022

Tick, tock: It's Sept. 29, and two of the four remaining unsigned restricted free agents play for the same team. The Ducks, who have $16.6 million in salary cap space despite overspending on role players in free agency, continue to negotiate with 22-year-old forward Trevor Zegras and 21-year-old defenseman Jamie Drysdale. Neither player has much leverage (no arbitration rights; Drysdale missed all but eight games last year), so I understand why GM Pat Verbeek would try to "win" these negotiations. But dragging them on might do more harm than good. Doesn't Anaheim want to take a step forward in its rebuild this year? Find a way to bridge both guys and move on.

If the Ducks have to make final roster cuts by October 9 (the eve of the NHL regular season) they'd have 20 days of training camp. Zegras and Drysdale have already missed 25% of training camp & have yet to be coached by Cronin on the new systems. Tougher to coach/teach in season.
— Duck Podcast (@DuckPodcast) September 25, 2023

The 50-year-old spent seven seasons with new Senators owner Michael Andlauer with the OHL's Hamilton Bulldogs from 2015-22. As the team's president and general manager, Staios won two OHL titles and was named the league's best GM in his final season with the Bulldogs.

"I'm so excited that Steve is joining me in Ottawa to lead our hockey operations," Andlauer said in a statement. "I have worked with Steve for many years and know first-hand that he will strengthen our team with his hockey acumen, attention to detail, commitment to excellence, and enthusiasm for the game and its players."

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Just because an NHL team is good doesn't mean it's exciting to watch, and vice versa. Several clubs that made the Stanley Cup Playoffs last season wound up in the bottom 16 of this series, and there's more than one squad in the top 16 that might very well miss out on the postseason.

That's why it's important to remember the distinction between a great team and a genuinely entertaining one. This isn't like a typical power rankings that evaluates the strength of each club in relation to one another. It's entirely about how appealing the squads are and how much they make the average viewer put down what they're doing and turn on the game.

Here's who we consider the 16 most watchable NHL teams as we approach the start of the upcoming campaign:

16. Chicago Blackhawks

The rebuilding Blackhawks would have no business being in the top 16 if not for a certain No. 1 overall pick. Fans will surely tune in just to watch Connor Bedard, even if Chicago loses more often than not. He's dominated at every level - including internationally - so it won't be surprising if he justifies the hype sooner rather than later.

15. Buffalo Sabres

Looking for a team that's sure to be fun even if they don't make the playoffs? Look no further. Highly touted goaltending prospect Devon Levi is primed to take the reins behind a gifted Sabres core featuring Tage Thompson, Rasmus Dahlin, Dylan Cozens, and Calder Trophy finalist Owen Power. Buffalo may still experience some growing pains, but this squad should give hometown and out-of-state fans alike plenty to talk about.

14. New York Rangers

The Rangers boast one of the best playmaking defensemen in the NHL in Adam Fox, one of the best goaltenders in Igor Shesterkin, and a solid collection of forwards that includes Artemi Panarin, Mika Zibanejad, and Chris Kreider. That hasn't translated into much success, but there's enough talent on this team to ensure that they'll be at least moderately compelling yet again.

13. Seattle Kraken

Christopher Mast / National Hockey League / Getty

The Kraken were one of the league's best stories in 2022-23, exceeding expectations in their second season. Only three teams scored more goals than Seattle (Jared McCann's out-of-nowhere 40 certainly helped), but the club ranked 20th in shots per game, suggesting a little luck was involved. Regardless, the Kraken should be worth a gander in 2023-24 as Calder Trophy winner Matty Beniers and the rest of the squad continue to grow.

12. Boston Bruins

To say this isn't the same Bruins team that set numerous records last season would be an understatement. Boston's franchise fixtures at center - Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci - both retired this summer and the club's two big trade deadline prizes - Tyler Bertuzzi and Dmitry Orlov - signed elsewhere as free agents. David Pastrnak, Brad Marchand, and Charlie McAvoy are still aboard, but a sizeable drop-off in excitement is expected here.

11. Tampa Bay Lightning

There was a time when not putting the Lightning at or near the top of this list would've seemed absurd. But this Tampa Bay squad isn't on the same level as the ones that claimed the Stanley Cup in 2020 and 2021 and made the final in 2022. Nikita Kucherov, Steven Stamkos, Brayden Point, and Victor Hedman are still doing their thing, but only Point is under 30 among them - and now Andrei Vasilevskiy is out for the first two months of the season.

10. Los Angeles Kings

Landing Pierre-Luc Dubois from the Winnipeg Jets was a bit of a coup for the Kings, who were already one of the more aesthetically pleasing clubs in the NHL in terms of their style of play. Los Angeles has also successfully injected youth into the mix alongside a veteran core. The Kings were a top-10 team in scoring as well as the key underlying categories last season.

9. Pittsburgh Penguins

The Penguins' status as must-see TV had dwindled in recent years, and they missed the playoffs for the first time in nearly two decades last season. But, in August, Pittsburgh's new dual executive Kyle Dubas landed Erik Karlsson in a blockbuster trade. The Pens will initially play both the reigning Norris Trophy winner and Kris Letang on PP1. As a great man once said, "Get your popcorn ready."

8. Dallas Stars

The Stars have been known for their defense for years, and they're still elite on that front. But Dallas is now one of the best offensive teams in the league as well. Superstar winger Jason Robertson, skilled center Roope Hintz, ultra-dependable rearguard Miro Heiskanen (who exploded production-wise last season after primarily dominating on the blue line in prior campaigns), and promising youngster Wyatt Johnston give this team plenty of intrigue.

7. Florida Panthers

The Panthers were exciting long before their surprising run to the Cup Final, and they haven't changed a whole lot in the offseason. Florida led the NHL in shots on goal and ranked sixth in goals. The Cats also placed in the top five in both expected goals for percentage and scoring chances for percentage at five-on-five, which shows how well they can drive play. They won't have defensemen Aaron Ekblad or Brandon Montour to start the season, but there's enough skill in Sunrise to ensure the Panthers remain one of the league's most tantalizing teams.

6. Toronto Maple Leafs

Yet another playoff disappointment led to a significant change in the Maple Leafs front office, and new general manager Brad Treliving brought in what Mitch Marner called "snot, piss, and vinegar" with the questionable signing of Ryan Reaves along with Bertuzzi and Max Domi. Toronto's Core Four will still make the club worth watching, but the new emphasis on grit may not be a recipe for additional entertainment value.

5. Vegas Golden Knights

Ethan Miller / Getty Images Sport / Getty

The defending Cup champs are obviously one of the most enticing squads in the league, but just because they won it all doesn't mean they're No. 1 in watchability. Vegas was average in terms of scoring and puck possession during the 2022-23 regular season, although they played without Mark Stone for about half of it. But the captain's supporting cast, which includes Jack Eichel, returns largely intact, so the Golden Knights should be one of the NHL's most riveting teams.

4. Carolina Hurricanes

The Hurricanes were the league's best puck possession squad in 2022-23, authoring the top expected goals for percentage and scoring chances for percentage at five-on-five. Carolina ranked 15th in goals per game but placed third in shots, so this club likely would've lit the lamp more with better luck. Stellar forwards Sebastian Aho and Andrei Svechnikov, along with the Canes' rock-solid defensive corps, make this team dependable both in terms of the viewing experience and their play on the ice.

3. New Jersey Devils

What if one of the NHL's most enjoyable teams added a two-time 30-goal scorer? That's exactly what happened when the Devils acquired Tyler Toffoli in a trade with the Calgary Flames in late June. Toffoli - who also racked up 28 tallies over only 52 games during the abbreviated 2021 season - adds to the appeal this can't-miss club already had. Jack Hughes, Nico Hischier, and Co. dominate possession and own an elite offense, making them an absolute blast to observe.

2. Edmonton Oilers

Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. It's really that simple when it comes to the Oilers. Even the most casual fans will gleefully flip over to Edmonton games just to see what the best player in the world and his superstar teammate can pull off next. But it's not just the dynamic duo: The Oilers had the best offense in the NHL last season in terms of goal-scoring, and 104-point man Ryan Nugent-Hopkins was a big reason for that.

1. Colorado Avalanche

Codie McLachlan / Getty Images Sport / Getty

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Connor Bedard did anything but disappoint in his first taste of the preseason, but the gifted Chicago Blackhawks rookie believes there's plenty of room for improvement.

"I think I could be a lot better," he said, according to the Chicago Sun-Times' Ben Pope. "I don't think I personally played great."

Bedard made several memorable plays in the Blackhawks' 2-1 win over the St. Louis Blues on Thursday night.

The No. 1 pick in June's draft didn't take too long to start skating circles around his opponents.

Connor Bedard wowing the crowd in just his second NHL preseason shift. #Blackhawks pic.twitter.com/pueOByPIVF
— Charlie Roumeliotis (@CRoumeliotis) September 29, 2023

Then, in the second period, Bedard helped facilitate Chicago's first goal, drawing the primary assist on Philipp Kurashev's tally.

IT'S ONLY PRESEASON BUT WE SCORED pic.twitter.com/TZQFbBvNOH
— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) September 29, 2023

He capped off the night by setting up Andreas Athanasiou's overtime winner with a slick saucer pass.

THE OT GOAL FOR YOUR VIEWING PLEASURE pic.twitter.com/DTVtvyQjve
— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) September 29, 2023

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As the new NHL season approaches, we've already put together power rankings, offseason grades, and even team rankings by tiers. But what about assessing the clubs purely from an entertainment standpoint?

That's the goal of this exercise, which, as always, is entirely about how watchable each squad will be, regardless of how well they actually perform. It could be a superstar or two (or more), a high-flying style of play, or a promising young core that might make you want to check out these squads.

However, we begin the countdown by looking at the lower half of the league and the teams lacking that absolute must-see quality for one reason or another.

Here are the 16 clubs we foresee being the least watchable in the upcoming season:

32. San Jose Sharks

The Sharks were a bottom-feeder in 2022-23, and then they traded Erik Karlsson for an underwhelming return in August. Logan Couture and Tomas Hertl aren't bad players, but there's really no good reason to flip over to a San Jose game now that the reigning Norris Trophy winner and potent forward Timo Meier are gone.

31. Philadelphia Flyers

John Tortorella's club hasn't been very entertaining (intentionally, anyway) since he took the reins, and we don't see that changing anytime soon. The Flyers aren't completely devoid of talent, but they're still recovering from inept former general manager Chuck Fletcher wreaking havoc on the roster. "I've got to get home to catch the Flyers tonight" isn't a phrase we expect to hear fans utter often, if at all, this season.

30. Montreal Canadiens

Cole Caufield was on a 46-goal pace before a shoulder injury and subsequent surgery ended his season 46 games in. It'll be worth watching the diminutive dynamo to see if he can pick up where he left off. But aside from that, the Canadiens are well into their rebuilding phase. Only Nick Suzuki and Juraj Slafkovsky stand out as other Habs to keep tabs on.

29. Columbus Blue Jackets

Ben Jackson / National Hockey League / Getty

The Blue Jackets weren't going to be very watchable under Mike Babcock, even with Johnny Gaudreau and Patrik Laine in the fold. Now, they're free from Babcock's clutches (and phone inspections), so they might play with a little more spirit under Pascal Vincent. Youngsters Kent Johnson and Adam Fantilli could also impress, but that won't entice throngs of casual fans to tune in regularly.

28. St. Louis Blues

The Blues clearly aren't what they once were - a perennially competitive Stanley Cup contender. St. Louis ranked 27th in expected goals for percentage and 26th in scoring chances for at five-on-five in 2022-23. The team also shipped out past core members Ryan O'Reilly and Vladimir Tarasenko in February. As legendary bluesman B.B. King would say, the thrill is gone.

27. Nashville Predators

The Predators had a weird offseason, and their roster now leaves something to be desired aside from their three stars. Roman Josi, Filip Forsberg, and Juuse Saros are great players, but Nashville ranked 28th in goals per game last season. And it did that with leading scorer Matt Duchene, who it replaced with Ryan O'Reilly. Granted, Forsberg and Josi missed time due to injuries, but this Preds squad won't be on too many PVRs this time around.

26. Arizona Coyotes

The Coyotes uncharacteristically acquired some talent in the summer, bringing in Jason Zucker, Matt Dumba, and Sean Durzi. They also feature underrated star Clayton Keller, the NHL's 2022-23 rookie points per game leader Matias Maccelli, and promising newcomer Logan Cooley, who scored an incredible goal in his preseason debut. But this is still the Coyotes we're talking about. While there's more to like about the team now, Arizona still isn't worth planning your TV-watching schedule around on a regular basis.

25. Washington Capitals

Alex Ovechkin's pursuit of Wayne Gretzky's all-time goals record is really the only reason to watch the Capitals these days. It's a decent reason, and the 38-year-old can still take over a game from time to time. However, the rest of Washington's core isn't aging as gracefully, and the Caps' days as a can't-miss club are now a thing of the past.

24. Detroit Red Wings

Alex DeBrincat was reportedly unhappy that he wasn't a first-liner in Ottawa, and it looks like he'll get that opportunity with his hometown Red Wings. Putting the two-time 41-goal scorer next to Dylan Larkin could generate some highlights, but the rest of Detroit's roster is riddled with mediocre players possessing little upside.

23. Anaheim Ducks

Trevor Zegras is a threat to produce a viral highlight at any given time - assuming the restricted free agent eventually re-signs. Troy Terry, Mason McTavish, and 2023 second overall pick Leo Carlsson are also interesting. The Ducks still need to produce more consistently, but they should be a little more compelling than last season when they finished with the NHL's worst record.

22. Vancouver Canucks

The Canucks didn't control play at five-on-five last campaign, ranking near the bottom of the NHL in xGF% in those situations. But Vancouver did have a good power play, sitting 11th in the league in that department. Elias Pettersson and Quinn Hughes are bona fide stars, but the Canucks won't be consistently watchable until they can roll their success with the man advantage over to even-strength play.

21. New York Islanders

Mike Stobe / National Hockey League / Getty

The Islanders always seem to be a better team than they are a watchable one. The defense-first club ranked 22nd in goals per game in all situations and 20th in xGF% at five-on-five in 2022-23. That should improve with midseason trade acquisition Bo Horvat in the lineup for the balance of the upcoming campaign. Mathew Barzal is no slouch, either. But this club doesn't exactly boast a thrilling style of play, and it's been that way for years.

20. Calgary Flames

The Flames were the third-best possession team in the league last season, but having the most overtime or shootout losses in the NHL caused them to miss the playoffs by two points. Darryl Sutter's gone, but so is the team's 2022-23 leading scorer, Tyler Toffoli, who Calgary traded to the New Jersey Devils in June. While the Flames should play more freely under Ryan Huska, they won't have as much punch on offense as they did a season ago.

19. Winnipeg Jets

The Jets seem destined to be less exciting this campaign, even though they're not planning to trade Mark Scheifele and Connor Hellebuyck for now. Winnipeg ranked 21st in goals per game in 2022-23, and it's hard to see that improving after trading Pierre-Luc Dubois and buying out Blake Wheeler. Gabe Vilardi has upside, but Alex Iafallo and Rasmus Kupari are basically replacement-level players. Even if Winnipeg makes the playoffs, it likely won't be among the most electric teams in the league.

18. Minnesota Wild

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The Tampa Bay Lightning will begin the 2023-24 campaign without their workhorse goaltender, as Andrei Vasilevskiy will miss approximately two months after undergoing back surgery on Thursday, the team announced.

He underwent a microdiscectomy to address a lumbar disc herniation. The timeline means he'll likely miss the first 20 games of the regular season.

Head coach Jon Cooper initially described Vasilevskiy's injury as day-to-day and didn't view the ailment as a long-term issue.

Vasilevskiy is a two-time Stanley Cup champion, the 2021 Conn Smythe Trophy winner, and the 2019 Vezina Trophy recipient. He led the league in wins in five of the last six seasons. The 29-year-old posted a .915 save percentage and a 2.65 goals-against average in 60 games last season.

We haven't seen a single repeat winner over the past 15 years. The last player to string together back-to-back Norris wins was Nicklas Lidstrom in 2005-08.

Where does the value lie in this year's race? Let's take a closer look.

Player	Odds
Cale Makar	+200
Adam Fox	+600
Rasmus Dahlin	+800
Miro Heiskanen	+1200
Quinn Hughes	+1200
Erik Karlsson	+1300
Charlie McAvoy	+1600
Roman Josi	+1600
Dougie Hamilton	+2000
John Carlson	+3000
Josh Morrissey	+3000
Victor Hedman	+3000
Evan Bouchard	+3500
Moritz Seider	+3500
Jakob Chychrun	+4000
Luke Hughes	+5000
Brandon Montour	+6000
Brent Burns	+6000
Devon Toews	+6000
Owen Power	+6000

Rasmus Dahlin (+800)

Dahlin took a massive step forward last season, setting career highs in goals (15) and points (73) while helping the Sabres to their highest win total in more than a decade.

Dahlin wasn't a power-play merchant or an empty-calorie offensive producer who gave it all back at the other end of the ice. He tied for seventh among defensemen in five-on-five points, recording more than stars like Roman Josi, Quinn Hughes, and Miro Heiskanen. Dahlin also drove play at a high level, leading the Sabres in expected goals for percentage at five-on-five.

Really, Dahlin did it all. The only thing lacking was team success to help compensate for the gap in production between him and the winner, Erik Karlsson.

Besides maybe Cale Makar, it's unlikely any blue-liner will finish an obvious tier above the rest in points. If Dahlin can put together another 70-plus-point campaign on a high-flying Sabres team that fights its way back to relevancy, he will garner a lot of attention.

Miro Heiskanen (+1200)

For years, many people - myself included - gushed about Heiskanen's game. His effortless skating, stout defense, and ability to log all the ice time he was given without seeming to tire always stood out. What was missing was the offense. Everyone thought he had the tools to be a prolific point producer, but he had to go out and do it.

Heiskanen finally made that leap last year, piling up 73 points in 79 games for a very strong Stars team. That wasn't enough to make him a Norris finalist, but he was on the radar, finishing one voting point outside of the top six.

Heiskanen is one of the best defenders in the sport. If he can replicate that sort of production, he'll get a lot of votes as a dominant two-way force.

Evan Bouchard (+3500)

My true wild card is Bouchard. He put up 40 points last season while playing second fiddle to Tyson Barrie on the Oilers' power play for much of the year.

With Barrie out of the picture and Darnell Nurse somewhat limited in his playmaking abilities, Bouchard should be Edmonton's full-time power play quarterback in 2023-24. That carries a ton of weight.

It's no exaggeration to say the Oilers are one of the best power-play teams I've ever seen. They are historically dominant and will remain so as long as they have Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl at the peak of their powers.

Hodgson caught Stone near the end boards as the latter reached for a loose puck. A lengthy skirmish erupted in the aftermath as Vegas came to the defense of its leader.

Hayden Hodgson drills Mark Stone along the end boards and a melee ensues.#GoKingsGo #VegasBorn #VGKvsLAK pic.twitter.com/MB2RNWxvjp
— LA Royalty (@LARoyalty1967) September 28, 2023

Stone didn't mince words after the contest, which ended in a 4-3 overtime win for the Kings.

"That's probably the last time I'll ever play against that guy," Stone told reporters, including FOX 5 Vegas' Vince Sapienza. "Not really much of a player, so I'll leave it at that."

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The Calgary Flames announced a two-year extension for Mikael Backlund on Tuesday and also named him the 21st captain in franchise history. The deal is worth $4.5 million per season.

"Mikael Backlund is our captain. He has been our captain for some time. Today we are excited to extend Mikael for two more seasons and officially add the captaincy to his jersey," general manager Craig Conroy said.

"We look forward to his continued leadership on the ice, in the locker room and in our community."

Backlund was entering the final year of his contract before hitting unrestricted free agency. The 34-year-old signed a six-year, $32.1-million deal with the Flames in 2018.

He was one of several key players on Calgary's roster set to enter the 2023-24 campaign on an expiring contract. Elias Lindholm, Noah Hanifin, Nikita Zadorov, and Chris Tanev are all eligible to sign extensions as well.

Backlund reportedly said over the summer that he wanted to play out the upcoming season before committing to a new deal with the Flames, but he reversed course after seeing how the club operated under new head coach Ryan Huska.

Backlund said in a statement that he's proud to be the leader of the "historic franchise."

Let's see the top of the oddsboard and then take a closer look at three goaltenders I see value in backing to unseat last season's winner, Linus Ullmark.

Player	Odds
Ilya Sorokin	+400
Igor Shesterkin	+600
Juuse Saros	+600
Connor Hellebuyck	+700
Andrei Vasilevskiy	+800
Jake Oettinger	+1100
Filip Gustavsson	+1800
Linus Ullmark	+1800
Alexandar Georgiev	+2500
Carter Hart	+3000
Jacob Markstrom	+3000
Jeremy Swayman	+3000
Thatcher Demko	+3000

Ilya Sorokin (+400)

Sorokin checks all the boxes for a potential award-winning goaltender. He consistently posts elite save percentages, he wins a lot more than he loses - despite limited offensive support, he is 17 games above NHL .500 (which excludes overtime losses) the past two years - and he carries an insane workload.

Sorokin played in 62 games a season ago, which was more than all but Connor Hellebuyck and Juuse Saros. And there is every reason to expect another monster workload this year.

With the Islanders opting to bring back almost the exact same roster, their margin for error in terms of trying to make the playoffs is slim. They simply don't have enough talent to breeze through the regular season. That means they'll need Sorokin in the net as often as possible in order to seriously contend for a playoff spot.

Although many goaltenders see rather extreme variance in their numbers on a year-to-year basis, Sorokin is a rare exception. He's posted save percentages of .924 and .925 as a starter. He ranks top three in both total save percentage and high-danger save percentage in that span.

He is as reliable as they come and has been knocking on the door of a Vezina. It's only a matter of time.

Jake Oettinger (+1100)

Oettinger is one of the NHL's brightest young stars - no pun intended - at his position. He is already one of the better goaltenders in the league and he's still getting better.

Oettinger has played three NHL seasons. Each year his save percentage has risen, as has his workload.

He is coming off a monstrous 2022-23 campaign in which he posted a 37-11-11 record and .919 save percentage. Although it wasn't enough for a Vezina nomination, there's plenty of reason to believe he'll be in the mix in 2023-24.

The Stars are clearly willing to give him all the starts he can handle. With only $1 million committed to journeyman backup goaltender Scott Wedgewood, that is surely their plan once again.

Dallas is one of the best defensive teams in the NHL - last year, it ranked sixth in expected goal suppression - so Oettinger shouldn't see many high-quality chances on any given night. That'll make it easier to post strong numbers.

The Stars can also score in bunches, so Oettinger won't leave many wins on the table due to a lack of run support.

Alexandar Georgiev (+2500)

Georgiev is a mouthwatering dark horse to bring home some hardware. His debut season with the Avalanche couldn't have gone much better, with Georgiev posting a 40-16-6 record and .919 save percentage over 62 games.

The Avalanche are fairly heavily invested in Pavel Francouz as a platoon candidate, but he has dealt with a lot of injury problems and appears to be out of the picture for a while to start this year. That means another heavy workload for Georgiev, who proved he could handle it a season ago.

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Washington Capitals defenseman Joel Edmundson is expected to miss four-to-six weeks after undergoing a procedure to stabilize a fractured hand, the team announced Wednesday.

Edmundson sustained the injury during a scrimmage on Sunday.

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The only thing worse in fantasy sports than missing out on a breakout talent one year is to overcorrect the following season and end up with a bust.

Here are five candidates to be wary of in your fantasy draft who could be in store for regression after posting great 2022-23 campaigns.

Jamie Benn, LW, Dallas Stars

Benn turned back the clock last season with 33 goals and 78 points to finish second on the Stars in scoring. It was the first time he eclipsed the 30-goal, 70-point mark in five campaigns.

As a result of the 34-year-old's return to form, he's naturally a player to be hesitant to take early in fantasy drafts. Benn's average draft position in Yahoo leagues is 75.7 - ahead of Kevin Fiala, Johnny Gaudreau, and teammate Joe Pavelski.

Benn's 13.1% five-on-five on-ice shooting percentage was the highest in the league among those who played more than 50 games. However, Benn averaged 7.7% in this statistic from 2018-22.

In addition to Benn's five-on-five luck likely to regress, the Stars added more offensive depth this summer in the form of Matt Duchene. That means more competition for offensive opportunities at five-on-five and on the man advantage.

Benn can still be a useful asset in fantasy this season, but he's being drafted too early when other higher-end forwards are still on the table. After an unexpected bounce-back campaign, Benn's ceiling is what he accomplished last year. Pass on the veteran in his current slot and opt for a player with a clearcut shot to operate in their team's most advantageous situations.

Andrei Kuzmenko, LW, Vancouver Canucks

Jeff Vinnick / National Hockey League / Getty

Kuzmenko burst onto the scene last year, making his awaited North American debut following a superb career in the KHL. The Russian exceeded expectations with the Canucks, racking up 39 goals and 74 points to set team records as a first-year NHLer.

While Kuzmenko remains in an excellent spot on Elias Pettersson's wing, there's a significant warning sign that he could be in for regression as a sophomore.

Kuzmenko's 39-goal campaign came off the back of a sky-high 27.3% shooting percentage. It's the highest single-season shooting percentage by a player since 2004 and the top mark by a 30-goal scorer since Sergei Makarov in 1990-91.

It's doubtful Kuzmenko will operate at such a clip again this campaign. Looking at the 10 highest single-season shooting percentages from 2018-22, no player increased their goal output the following year. Even Leon Draisaitl's and Brayden Point's goal productions dipped after scoring at 20-plus percent rates during this span.

Kuzmenko's average draft position in Yahoo leagues is 110.9, putting him ahead of other left-wingers like Jonathan Huberdeau, Cole Caufield, and Filip Forsberg.

Readjust your hopes if you expect Kuzmenko to build on his previous season and crack the 40-goal plateau.

Josh Morrissey, D, Winnipeg Jets

It's an understatement to say Morrissey exploded on offense in 2022-23. He recorded 16 goals and 76 points from the Jets' backend, more than doubling his previous career high.

Morrissey never received Norris Trophy votes in his six previous full-time campaigns before vaulting into second in scoring among defenders last season.

The 28-year-old will remain a workhorse on Winnipeg's blue line with minimal competition for prime minutes on the power play. However, it isn't realistic to expect Morrissey to continue scoring at such a drastically different rate than he did before last season.

With Morrissey going around No. 70 in Yahoo drafts, opt for the higher-end upside of Evan Bouchard or safer options in Brent Burns or John Carlson.

The Calgary native will be a useful asset in fantasy this season, but he likely won't hit the massive highs of the previous campaign to be worthwhile as the No. 11 defenseman off the board.

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, C/LW, Edmonton Oilers

Andy Devlin / National Hockey League / Getty

Nobody predicted a 100-point season from Nugent-Hopkins coming into the 2022-23 campaign. Thanks largely to a historic Oilers power play, the former No. 1 draft pick set career highs with 37 goals and 104 points.

Since the 2007-08 season, no 100-point player scored a higher percentage of their points on the man advantage than Nugent-Hopkins last campaign. A whopping 62.5% of his points a year ago came on the power play.

Of course, Nugent-Hopkins isn't just a power-play scorer. His 39 points at five-on-five were in line with the likes of Gaudreau and Mark Scheifele. But neither of those two is sniffing the top 30 in Yahoo drafts like Nugent-Hopkins.

Nugent-Hopkins will need the Oilers' power play to be at the level it was last season for him to be a worthwhile pick at his average draft position of 32.5 - a higher slot than Steven Stamkos and Artemi Panarin.

Yes, Edmonton's man advantage is outrageous and will likely lead the league again, but we're talking about the highest success rate for a power play in NHL history. It's unrealistic to expect the Oilers to repeat that, making Nugent-Hopkins an unnecessary risk at that stage in drafts.

Linus Ullmark, G, Boston Bruins

China Wong / National Hockey League / Getty

There isn't enough to say about Ullmark's remarkable 2022-23 campaign - just look at his eye-watering .938 save percentage and 40 wins in 49 appearances.

That earned him the Vezina Trophy last season and slots him as the No. 6 goaltender off the board in Yahoo leagues. Despite how well Ullmark performed a year ago, that isn't a risk worth taking.

The odds of the Bruins replicating their historic 135-point regular season from 2022-23 are incredibly low. Boston lost its top centers, Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci, to retirement and deadline additions Tyler Bertuzzi and Dmitry Orlov to free agency.

The Bruins need to be one of the top teams in the league to justify taking Ullmark as a top-30 player, and that isn't likely with the immense competition in the Atlantic Division.

The former Vegas Golden Knights and New York Rangers bench boss recently told The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun that he is "eager" to coach again and will be paying close attention if any vacancies arise throughout the 2023-24 campaign.

Gallant spent the past two campaigns in the Big Apple, amassing a 99-46-19 record. The Rangers made the Eastern Conference Final in his first season behind the bench but tumbled out of the first round this past spring, losing a seven-game series to the New Jersey Devils.

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Longtime NHL goalie Cory Schneider is hanging up his pads after 16 years in professional hockey, he announced Sunday.

"I'm at peace with it," Schneider told Phil Stacey of the Salem News. "I'll miss my teammates and the intensity of playing, but it's the right time for me."

The 37-year-old played for the Vancouver Canucks, New Jersey Devils, and New York Islanders across 13 NHL campaigns. At his peak, he was one of the game's best goalies.

From 2010-11 to 2015-16 (his last three seasons in Vancouver and first three in New Jersey), Schneider played in 260 games and owned a .926 save percentage and 2.13 goals against average - both best among NHL goalies who made at least 100 appearances during that stint.

Schneider backed up Roberto Luongo after breaking into the NHL with the Canucks. They shared the Jennings Trophy in 2010-11 and led Vancouver to the Stanley Cup Final that season.

"Vancouver was the high point for me," Schneider said. "They drafted me (26th overall in 2004), and the organization had great people, I had great teammates, and we came within one game of bringing the city its first Stanley Cup."

But it was with the Devils that Schneider became a true workhorse goalie. He also had big shoes to fill in New Jersey, eventually taking over for Martin Brodeur as the team's No. 1 netminder. Schneider ranked third among NHL goalies with 228 starts during his first four seasons with the Devils.

"New Jersey was a great place for my family and I," Schneider said. "My kids were both born there, I had some great teammates, and it was a terrific place to play."

Injuries slowed Schneider's career, and the Devils bought him out in 2020. He joined the Islanders organization for the final three years of his career, playing in one NHL game while spending the rest of his time in the AHL.

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