This year's No. 1 pick in the draft is not only expected to jump into the team's roster as an 18-year-old rookie, but will start at his native position at center and not be eased into the league by playing on the wing, head coach John Hynes said, according to NHL.com's Mike Morreale.
Hischier tallied 38 goals and 86 points in 57 games with the Halifax Mooseheads of the QMJHL in his first taste of North American hockey. With Travis Zajac, Pavel Zacha, and Brian Boyle allotted as the club's other three centers, the Devils should be solid down the middle of the ice this season and beyond.
The sides are set to go to arbitration Saturday with the Predators having offered Arvidsson a two-year deal that would pay him $2.75 million in both years, while Arvidsson is seeking a one-year deal worth $4.5 million, according to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.
Arvidsson is coming off a career year with 31 goals and 61 points in 80 games - both team highs. Despite quickly proving to be an important part of the Predators roster, Arvidsson hadn't played a full NHL season prior to this year, with a combined eight goals and 16 points in 62 games over the previous two years.
The 24-year-old is among four Predators who remain restricted free agents, including Ryan Johansen.
The $27.5-million contract will keep Parayko with the Blues through the 2021-22 season, buying his first two seasons of unrestricted free agency. The two sides narrowly avoided salary arbitration, where Parayko was reportedly seeking a one-year, $4.85-million deal.
Selected 86th overall in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft, Parayko totaled 68 points in 160 regular-season games through his first two NHL seasons. He added four goals and 12 points in 31 playoff games. His 23:44 average ice time in the 2016-17 postseason ranked third among Blues' skaters, behind defensemen Alex Pietrangelo and Jay Bouwmeester.
Parayko specializes with the man advantage, having scored seven of his 13 career goals with 10 of his 55 assists coming via the power play. His role is expected to expand next season - and for the next five - after defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk was moved at the 2016-17 trade deadline and later signed with the New York Rangers in free agency.
Parayko saw a significant expansion in his defensive usage last season compared to his rookie campaign. As a sophomore, he began 50.4 percent of his shifts in the defensive zone, after starting in his own end just 48.8 percent of the time as a rookie. He owns a positive Corsi For rating of 52.8 percent for his career.
Depth defender Joel Edmundson is now the Blues' only defenseman not signed beyond the upcoming season. Parayko is the team's lone defender signed past the 2019-20 campaign.
Seventeen of the NHL's 31 head coaches were hired within the past two seasons, but that doesn't mean there is more changeover on the horizon. Murmurings about a coaching change could begin shortly into the 2017-18 season if the following three teams get off to a slow start.
Paul Maurice, Winnipeg Jets
The Jets might be the most underachieving team in the league, which could lead to Maurice losing his job.
In his first full season as the Winnipeg's bench boss, he led the Jets to 99 points and a playoff berth. Since that 2014-15 campaign, they have gone 75-74-15.
Goal-scoring hasn't been the problem, though, keeping the puck out of the net has. The Jets haven't been able to find an answer in goal, even though the defense in front of the crease - Dustin Byfuglien, Tyler Myers, Toby Enstrom, and Jacob Trouba - is particularly strong.
The addition of Steve Mason is an upgrade between the pipes, but will it be enough to save Maurice's job?
Jared Bednar, Colorado Avalanche
Jared Bednar's first season behind an NHL bench didn't exactly go how he drew it up. The Avalanche were the worst team in the salary cap era, posting a record of 22-56-4.
Coaches will usually get at least three seasons to prove themselves, but given the magnitude of how bad the Avalanche were last year, Bednar's leash could be shorter than most.
Furthermore, Bednar was hired on Aug. 25, 2016, just two weeks after previous coach Patrick Roy resigned. This gave Joe Sakic, the team's executive vice president and general manager, slim pickings when it came to hiring a coach. Had Sakic been able to choose from a longer list of coaches at the beginning of the offseason, he might not have even hired Bednar at all.
Bill Peters, Carolina Hurricanes
Peters has three seasons under his belt as the head coach of the Hurricanes, compiling a record of 101-103-42 with no playoff appearances.
The club's mediocrity has largely been accepted because it has been in rebuild mode. However, the Canes possess a deep crop of talented forwards, one of the best defense corps in the league, and now a solution in the crease with the offseason addition of Scott Darling.
The acquisition of Justin Williams signifies the team's executive vice president and general manager, Ron Francis, believes this team is ready to win now. If they get off to a 9-10-5 start like they did a season ago, it could cost Peters his job.
Kyle Okposo's NHL brethren were thrilled to see him back on the ice.
The Buffalo Sabres winger played his first game Wednesday night since an undisclosed illness forced him to be hospitalized in intensive care, and to miss the final six games of this past season.
Okposo played in Da Beauty League, a summer tournament based in Minnesota featuring many NHL players who hail from the state.
"Obviously seeing a teammate go through something like that and struggle to get healthy is tough," Sabres forward Hudson Fasching told NHL.com's Jessi Pierce postgame. "He's such a good guy and going through a lot with that whole deal, trying to figure out what was wrong. I'm just happy he's healthy and happy for him to get back."
Parise echoed those sentiments.
"Really good (to see him out there)," the Wild forward said. "I've spent a lot of time with him this summer. It sounded like a pretty scary thing to happen, so for him to be out here and skate, it was great. I'm sure for him mentally it feels good but for us as friends, it's really good to see."
"I guess this was kind of his return back to the scene and to the public," Parise added. "He didn't play (in Da Beauty League) last year, so I don't think he knew what to expect either, so I think he was pretty surprised with the turnout also."
Brock Nelson told Pierce he's also spent time with his former New York Islanders teammate recently and was encouraged by Okposo's progress.
"It was pretty scary when that news came out (that he was hospitalized), everyone was pretty concerned and wished him the best," Nelson said. "But I've seen him a lot this summer and he seems to be doing well, which is good, and it was good to see him back out there (Wednesday), too."
Last month, Sabres general manager Jason Botterill effectively said he expects Okposo to be ready for training camp, and that he looked great both physically and mentally.
The Arizona Coyotes are rooting for one of their most high-profile fans following a devastating revelation.
Coyotes president and CEO Steve Patterson expressed his support for U.S. Senator John McCain after the Arizona lawmaker's office revealed he was diagnosed with a brain tumor following surgery to remove a blood clot above his left eye.
Senator McCain is a patriot, a hero & part of our family. He's been a fighter his entire life & we know he won't stop now. - @SWPattersonpic.twitter.com/ITfj2S6RVh
The Florida Panthers signed 2017 first-round pick Owen Tippett to a three-year entry-level contract, the team announced Wednesday. He was selected 10th overall in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft.
The 18-year-old Tippett led the OHL's Mississauga Steelheads with 44 goals and 75 points in 60 regular season games during the 2016-17 campaign. His 44 regular-season goals ranked fourth in the OHL. He went on to contribute 19 points in 20 playoff games.
The Florida Panthers signed 2017 first-round pick Owen Tippett to a three-year entry-level contract, the team announced Wednesday. He was selected 10th overall in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft.
The 18-year-old Tippett led the OHL's Mississauga Steelheads with 44 goals and 75 points in 60 regular season games during the 2016-17 campaign. His 44 regular-season goals ranked fourth in the OHL. He went on to contribute 19 points in 20 playoff games.
