In locking up Sean Monahan to a seven-year contract extension Friday, the Calgary Flames secured an integral part of their future, and now, the focus shifts to Monahan's linemate and partner in crime: Johnny Gaudreau.

Flames general manager Brad Treliving recognizes the importance of reaching a deal with the team's leading scorer, but is approaching the situation with patience.

Related: Gaudreau won't negotiate with Flames during World Cup

"There's some uniqueness when you have two young players like this, relatively the same age, coming out at the same time," Treliving said, according to Sean Leahy of Yahoo Sports. "Is there some uniqueness? Sure there is. Does one impact the other? It's like we talked about earlier, there's a marketplace. ... We'll continue to work away. ... That's all you do. You pick away at it every little day. You try to find common ground."

Monahan, too, is eager for his teammate to sign.

"It takes time. I'm positive he's going to be here for Oct. 12 and be playing for the Calgary Flames," Monahan said. "I'm not worried about it and obviously Brad's doing work on that part. I'm just looking forward to getting up to the World Cup and playing with him there and continue that chemistry into the season."

Monahan and Gaudreau have proven to be one of the most dynamic duos in the NHL since uniting, contributing a combined 267 points over the past two seasons.

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North America is going to look good at the World Cup, at least.

Goalie Matt Murray, who recently backstopped the Pittsburgh Penguins to a Stanley Cup win, put his mask on display Friday, and, quite simply, it's a beauty.

Murray played for Canada at the World Under-18 tournament, but will be making his major international debut at the World Cup, albeit with a makeshift team.

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The Calgary Flames have rewarded Sean Monahan for a tremendous first three NHL seasons, and firmly believe there are many more to come.

The 21-year-old signed a seven-year contract extension worth a reported $6.375 million per season on Friday, and general manager Brad Treliving says it's money well committed.

"We look at this as securing Sean for the prime years of his career," Treliving added.

Over three seasons since being drafted sixth overall by the Flames in 2013, Monahan has scored 80 goals and added 79 assists in 237 appearances, good for a points per game average of 0.67.

"This is where I wanted to be and a seven-year commitment is huge," Monahan said at a press conference. "I wouldn't want to be anywhere else."

"Now we can get going and try to win a championship here."

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The hockey world continues to wait with bated breath on Jimmy Vesey.

The 23-year-old NCAA player of the year continues to consider his options after meetings with eight teams earlier in the week - his agent Peter Donatelli said a decision is not likely going to happen today, but should be done this weekend, according to Brian Hedger of NHL.com.

Donatelli also debunked reports that his client had narrowed the field to the New York Rangers and Chicago Blackhawks, as well as the belief he turned down the Detroit Red Wings because he wants to play closer to home.

"Where he picks will be based purely on a hockey decision," the agent said.

The Boston Bruins, Buffalo Sabres, New Jersey Devils, New York Islanders, Pittsburgh Penguins, and Toronto Maple Leafs are also believed to be in consideration.

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Adam Henrique is attempting to add "goalie pad designer" to his resume.

The New Jersey Devils center attempted to help backup goaltender Keith Kinkaid's quest for a new look for the upcoming season, placing forward Stephen Gionta's face on a famous body image of Seinfeld character George Costanza.

Kinkaid is apparently open to the idea.

Meanwhile, Gionta was rather speechless.

Yet another example of how Henrique is sneakily one of the most entertaining hockey players on Twitter.

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The Ontario Hockey League has announced player safety initiatives that could shape the future of the game.

Most notably, the league has lowered the threshold prior to automatic disciplinary action from 10 fights per player per season to three fights per player per season.

What this means is players will be subject to an automatic two game suspension for each fight exceeding the threshold. If a player is instigated upon, however, that fighting major is not included in the player’s total number of fights.

On top of that, a new penalty for blind side hits has been introduced, whereby the officials can asses a minor, a major, and game misconduct or match penalty based on the nature of the specific incident in question.

“As the number one development league in the world for the NHL and CIS, the OHL continually challenges ourselves to improve the on-ice environment and evolve the game for the benefit of the most important people in our game, our players,” said OHL commissioner David Branch.

The Western Hockey League and Quebec Major Junior Hockey League may soon follow suit, meaning the number of players with significant experience engaging in fisticuffs moving on to the pro level could soon be greatly diminished.

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Rickard Rakell of the Anaheim Ducks has been selected to replace injured St. Louis Blues forward Alexander Steen on Sweden's World Cup roster.

The unsigned restricted free agent recorded 20 goals and 23 assists in 72 games for the Ducks in 2015-16, a sign of things to come, according to the Swedish coach:

Steen, who underwent shoulder surgery in June, isn't expected to return to the ice until the start of the NHL regular season.

Rakell, 23, won gold and silver medals with the Swedish junior team in 2012 and 2013, respectively.

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Goalies have a unique perspective on the game, meaning Cory Schneider knows better than anyone what the New Jersey Devils gave up in trading Adam Larsson.

"(Larsson) really committed himself to playing as tough a defense as he could," Schneider told Chris Ryan of NJ.com. "As a goaltender, as a player, you appreciated the style of game he played."

Eyebrows were raised around the hockey world when the Edmonton Oilers sent star winger Taylor Hall to the Devils in a straight-up deal for Larsson, but Schneider is well aware of the hole left on New Jersey's blue line.

"It's hard to replicate that, you don't find players like that very easily. That's why Edmonton had to give up such a good player to get him, because they're hard to come by," Schneider said.

"It will definitely create a hole for us, but we're hoping that there's some guys here that can fill that void and have a chance to step up."

Schneider has somewhat quietly become one of the NHL's best goalies since becoming an unquestioned number one option in New Jersey. While the addition of Hall is huge up front, the impact of Larsson's departure on the team's overall defense remains to be seen.

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The Pittsburgh Penguins have officially announced the signing of forward Thomas DiPauli to a two-year, entry-level contract.

Originally drafted by the Washington Capitals in the fourth round (100th overall) of the 2012 NHL Draft, DiPauli became a free agent on Aug. 16, and a deal with the Penguins was initially reported by multiple sources on Thursday.

The 22-year-old appeared in 37 games for the University of Notre Dame this past season, notching 14 goals and 18 assists.

In 145 career games at the NCAA level, DiPauli recorded 30 goals and 48 assists. His offensive upside will bring added depth to the Stanley Cup champions' already loaded forward corps.

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The Calgary Flames have signed one of their high-profile restricted free agents to a long-term contract.

On the heels of the most productive season of his young career, 21-year-old center Sean Monahan has signed a seven-year contract extension.

The deal is believed to be worth $44.625 million over the course of the seven-year term.

According to Eric Francis of the Calgary Sun, Monahan's agent, Pat Morris, said the negotiations dragged deep into the summer due to "differences of opinion and other players having signed".

So who are these previously signed young players that Monahan is set to rise above in terms of average annual salary?

From Francis:

Morris is referring to other top young centers in the game who also needed deals after wrapping up successful three-year entry-level contracts like (Aleksander) Barkov, who signed for six years and $35.5 million ($5.9 million annual average value).

Winnipeg’s Mark Scheifele (8 years/$49 million, $6.125 AAV), Colorado’s Nathan MacKinnon (7 years/$44.1 million, $6.3 AAV) and Nashville’s Filip Forsberg (6 years/$36 million, $6 million AAV) were all signed long ago, leaving Monahan, who has outperformed them all.

Indeed, Monahan recorded 80 goals and 159 points over the course of his three-year, entry-level contract - the highest totals among the group mentioned above.

Next up for the Flames will be the signing of 23-year-old Johnny Gaudreau, whose deal will likely be even more lucrative than Monahan's.

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