The KHL sent a message Thursday: Zero tolerance.

Damir Ryspaev, who started a massive brawl during an exhibition game Aug. 8, has been banned for life for his actions, the league announced.

The Barys Astana defenseman can't appeal the ban, the league added, but said "it may be reversed if the disciplinary committee agrees to review any statement from the individual concerned."

KHL president Dmitry Chernyshenko said the following in a statement:

In hockey there has always been space for a fair fight between equal opponents under the principles of fair play. But in hockey, as in any other professional sport, the can be no place for the outright violence displayed by Barys defenseman Damir Ryspaev in the game against KHL newcomer Kunlun Red Star. We are constantly working to attract a new audience and broaden the game’s geographical reach and Ryspaev’s behavior is not merely harmful in a sporting context, it also blackens the image of the league. As directors of the league, we could not allow this incident to go unpunished and so we have taken this decision.

Ryspaev's agent said he'll appeal to the KHL's disciplinary committee, according to Yahoo Sports' Sean Leahy, who cites a Russian report.

Ryspaev's played 23 games in the KHL, recording no points and 194 penalty minutes - more than eight per contest.

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A trip to the "Mr. Hockey" statue in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan could soon take on a more significant meaning.

The family of Gordie Howe - who was cremated after his death on June 10 - has requested the legend's ashes be interred in the base of the statue bearing his likeness outside the SaskTel Centre, according to The Canadian Press.

Saskatoon city official Catherine Gryba made the following comments in a release:

It's only appropriate that we do what we can to remember this great athlete, Saskatonian, and Canadian.

We've been speaking with the Howe family and will take the appropriate steps to safeguard and respect Gordie and Colleen's ashes. They will be encased in a special concrete vessel with a commemorative plaque on top to protect them.

Howe's wife Colleen passed away in 2009.

In order for the family's request to be approved and the statue declared an official cemetery, the city will file an application to the province of Saskatchewan.

Howe grew up in Saskatoon, and will be feted by the Saskatoon Blades, who play at the SaskTel Centre, on Sept. 25.

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Brendan Gallagher can't wait to get back to work.

The 24-year-old's barely taken any time off this summer, training in British Columbia after playing for Canada at the World Championship. A week of golf, a couple of days to get over some jet lag, that's it. Otherwise, Gallagher's all about the coming season - and he's looking forward to it.

"I think everyone's starting to miss it," Gallagher told canadiens.com's Matt Cudzinowski. "You start to get antsy around this time of year."

A superpest, Gallagher's going to have some competition as the most agitating Canadien, thanks to the addition of Andrew Shaw.

"Bringing in a guy like Shea Weber who has won gold medals, Shaw who has two Stanley Cups, and (Alexander) Radulov whose had a lot of success no matter where he played, getting to play with those guys is something I'm excited about."

Gallagher said that after a tumultuous 2015-16 season in Montreal, it's now on the players to do their jobs.

"The exciting part is that everyone starts with zero points in the standings," Gallagher added. "Last year doesn't matter anymore, unless you're the Pittsburgh Penguins. Everyone starts from scratch and you go from there."

The Canadiens are tied for first, in other words.

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Jimmy Vesey isn't the only unrestricted college free agent looking for work.

Former Washington Capitals draft pick Thomas DiPauli hit the market Tuesday at midnight ET, and he's reportedly already set to sign with the Pittsburgh Penguins, according to AZSports' Craig Morgan.

A Notre Dame product, DiPauli had 14 goals and 18 assists in 37 games last season. He was drafted 100th overall in 2012.

Nothing's official yet, according to The Washington Post's Isabelle Khurshudyan, but it certainly appears DiPauli won't be staying with the Capitals.

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While the hockey world awaits the decision of Harvard standout Jimmy Vesey, many are speculating about how much impact the 23-year-old will have on whichever team he finally picks.

Vesey, the reigning Hobey Baker winner as the NCAA's best player, is a coveted prospect for his complete game driven by offensive skill, which many believe can translate to the pro level.

Though he seems like a surefire prospect at this point of his career, many college free agents over the years have failed to live up to the hype after being courted by multiple teams.

Here are three examples:

Justin Schultz

Although he rejuvenated his career with the Pittsburgh Penguins last postseason, Schultz's breakthrough to the NHL didn't go as expected.

Schultz used the same clause Vesey did in spurning the Anaheim Ducks, the team that drafted him 43rd overall in 2008, and joined the Edmonton Oilers after his final season at Wisconsin in 2012.

The Oilers anticipated Schultz to be the top defenseman they had long coveted, but average offensive numbers and below average defensive play made for disaster in Edmonton.

Sure, maybe he just needed a better team, but in hindsight, Schultz's initial impact was underwhelming.

Drew LeBlanc

Who? You might ask.

While LeBlanc's recruiting process to the NHL didn't garner the attention on the same level of Schultz or Vesey, the Chicago Blackhawks inked him out of St. Cloud State in 2013, coming off a 50-point season that earned him the Hobey Baker Award.

Yes, the Blackhawks have a pretty tough roster to crack, but LeBlanc amassed just two games with the pro club in 2013, and spent the next two seasons with their AHL affiliate in Rockford, collecting 28 points over 117 games.

Matt Gilroy

Perhaps the most comparable buzz to Vesey's was Gilroy's, as the Boston University product was highly courted after winning the Hobey Baker and National Championship.

He ultimately chose the New York Rangers, signing a two-year, $3.5-million contract in 2009.

After two seasons with the Rangers, Gilroy signed with the Tampa Bay Lightning, and spent time with the Ottawa Senators and Florida Panthers, bouncing from the AHL to NHL regularly.

All told, Gilroy produced respectable defensive numbers but only contributed 48 points in 225 contests, failing to live up to the No. 1 defenseman reputation bestowed upon him as a college free agent.

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There was no shortage of star power involved in a recent slew of meetings hosted by free-agent forward Jimmy Vesey and his representatives.

Following a report that captain John Tavares was in attendance for the New York Islanders' pitch to the NCAA standout, Chicago Blackhawks winger and reigning Art Ross Trophy and Hart Trophy winner Patrick Kane accompanied team representatives to their meeting, according to Mark Divver of The Providence Journal.

Meanwhile Vesey's agent, Peter Fish, confirmed no decision is coming Thursday.

"Just taking everything in from the past couple of days and trying to digest and sort through," he texted DJ Bean of WEEI.

Eight teams are believed to be in the mix for Vesey's services, with the Blackhawks, Boston Bruins, New Jersey Devils, New York Rangers, New York Islanders, Pittsburgh Penguins, and Toronto Maple Leafs joining the Buffalo Sabres - who held Vesey's rights up until Aug. 16 - in the pursuit.

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Lagging contract negotiations won't deter a pair of young defensemen from playing in the World Cup of Hockey.

Washington Capitals restricted free agent Dmitry Orlov will suit up for Russia "no matter what," his agent, Mark Gandler, told Isabelle Khurshudyan of the Washington Post.

The same goes for Jacob Trouba of the Winnipeg Jets, who will represent Team North America.

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

Orlov and Trouba are just two high-profile RFAs set to play at the World Cup without contracts from NHL clubs, joining Johnny Gaudreau, Sean Monahan, and Nikita Kucherov.

Earlier in August, it was reported that unsigned RFAs will be indeed be insured to play in World Cup.

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The Las Vegas NHL franchise has announced the hiring of Murray Craven as senior vice president.

Under his new title, Craven will be responsible for the development of a practice facility, ensuring T-Mobile Arena is NHL ready, identifying and maintaining the team’s American Hockey League affiliate, and overseeing projects delegated by general manager George McPhee.

Craven, who spent 18 NHL seasons playing left wing, has served as an advisor to owner Bill Foley's Black Knight Sports & Entertainment group for the past two years.

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The St. Louis Blues continue to plan for a future that includes Vladimir Sobotka.

General manager Doug Armstrong said in July that Sobotka would return to Missouri, but reports in Russia have him remaining in the KHL. His agent, however, confirmed his client's return to the U.S.

"I spoke to the agent (Wednesday), and he said (Sobotka) will be here," Armstrong told The St. Louis Post-Dispatch's Jeremy Rutherford.

The 29-year-old has an out clause in his KHL contract, and Rutherford writes that there's a paperwork delay in having the forward's contract terminated.

Sobotka spent the last two seasons in Russia, scoring 28 goals. He last played for the Blues in 2013-14, registering nine goals and 33 points in 61 games. He's under contract with the Blues for one more season, scheduled to earn $2.725 million.

A fourth-round pick by the Boston Bruins in 2005, Sobotka's played 381 games in the NHL, scoring 35 goals and adding 88 assists. He has 12 points in 40 career playoff games.

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Bruce Boudreau is no longer with the Anaheim Ducks, but his legacy lives on among the coaching staff.

More specifically, Boudreau left a lasting impression on Sudarshan Maharaj, who was named Anaheim's new goalie coach after serving as a consultant and working with the AHL's San Diego Gulls last season.

A native of Trinidad, Maharaj says an encounter with Boudreau during the coach's playing days with the Toronto Maple Leafs permanently turned him onto the game.

As it happened, Boudreau tossed a puck over the glass that was caught by Maharaj, who was attending his first NHL game as a young boy. The rest, as they say, is history.

"I told Bruce that story," Maharaj explained to William Douglas of The Color of Hockey. "He was shocked that I remembered. I said 'Are you crazy? That’s a life-changing moment. It was one of my greatest experiences. My very first hockey game and a Toronto Maple Leafs player dropped a puck for me.' To this day, if I ever see a young child in the stands I’ll always throw a puck."

Maharaj served as the New York Islanders' goalie coach from 2003 to 2006, and goaltending consultant for the team from 2009 to 2012. He's most recently worked closely with John Gibson, who's set to take over the starting gig for the Ducks in 2016-17.

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