After seven seasons in Washington, Marcus Johansson is excited to begin his new opportunity in New Jersey.

While the 26-year-old is leaving a top team in the Capitals to join an up-and-coming Devils squad, the Swedish forward is nonetheless enthusiastic about what lies ahead for his new club.

"It's a good group, a group of young guys, (a) team and organization that's heading in the right direction," Johansson told Tom Gulitti of NHL.com. "It feels like coming there now you're part of that almost from the start. I'm feeling really good about this. It's going to be a fun year."

Related: Johansson embraces new role with 'underdog' Devils

Johansson is coming off of a career year with the Capitals, in which he posted 24 goals and 34 assists. He believes he'll have the opportunity to build on those totals with the Devils.

"That's a chance to take the next step as well as a player. I'm excited for new opportunities and new challenges," Johansson added. "You get there and you don't really know anything, I don't know anyone, which is kind of fun too."

Johansson's addition wasn't the only move by the Devils this offseason. The club also added veteran center Brian Boyle in free agency, just days after selecting forward Nico Hischier with the top pick in the draft.

On Sunday, the Devils made one more summer signing, agreeing to terms with University of Denver free-agent blue-liner Will Butcher, the 2017 Hobey Baker winner.

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Danis Zaripov is free to move to the NHL.

The 36-year-old became available following a two-year ban issued by the International Ice Hockey Federation last month after he tested positive for a banned substance.

While Zaripov is ineligible to continue in the KHL this season, the door appears to be open for him to take his talents to North America.

Bill Daly, the NHL's deputy commissioner, said in a statement Monday: "Mr. Zaripov has appealed the IIHF suspension to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, and his appeal remains pending. In addition to filing such appeal, Mr. Zaripov also applied to the NHL for a separate determination as to his eligibility for play in the NHL, and with regard to what effect, if any, the League was prepared to accord the IIHF Suspension.

"Following due consideration of all of the available evidence, it has been determined that Mr. Zaripov is hereby deemed eligible to sign and play professional hockey in the NHL, effective immediately, and without imposition of any NHL-imposed suspension or penalty."

Daly added that the key to Zaripov's acceptance into the NHL is that the banned substance - pseudoephedrine - is not included on the league's prohibited substances list.

Zaripov spent the past four seasons with Metallurg Magnitogorsk of the KHL, which has won two of the past four Gagarin Cups, awarded to the playoff champion. He appeared in 56 games in 2016-17, finishing fourth in team scoring with 45 points.

Zaripov has never played in the NHL, and last skated in North America during the 1998-99 season as a junior with the WHL's Swift Current Broncos.

Zaripov later released a statement through the NHLPA: "I look forward to continuing my professional hockey playing career in North America, and today I am very grateful to the senior management of the NHL for its decision, which provides me the opportunity to do so. Even though I now have a chance to play in the best league in the world, I plan to continue my appeal at the Court of Arbitration for Sport to prove my case and clear my name."

According to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman, the New York Rangers and Vegas Golden Knights are expected to be in the running to sign Zaripov, who is now considered an unrestricted free agent by the NHL.

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Will Butcher says he can contribute to the New Jersey Devils right away.

"I think my game is NHL-ready," he told reporters Monday. "I like to play an up-tempo game."

Devils head coach John Hynes apparently put the club over the top in the Butcher sweepstakes.

"I hit it off with (head) coach Hynes," the 22-year-old defenseman said. "He’s a strong hockey mind and a strong coach.”

The Hobey Baker Award winner's revelation came after he was asked what the tipping point was in his decision, according to The Associated Press' Stephen Whyno.

Butcher also confirmed Monday that the Devils, Buffalo Sabres, Los Angeles Kings, and Vegas Golden Knights were the four finalists for his services, and said he envisions himself with the Devils for the long term, not just for the length of the two-year, entry-level deal he agreed to on Sunday.

He notched 37 points in 43 games before leading the University of Denver to the national championship this past spring.

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Earlier in August, Tampa Bay's trio of professional sports franchises - the Lightning, Rays, and Buccaneers - released a joint statement to announce they'll dedicate funds to assist in the removal of a Confederate monument in the city after the race based protests in Charlottesville, Va.

Lightning forward J.T. Brown, in particular, made sure to be involved, donating $1,500 to the cause without fear of being scolded for his decision.

"Stick to sports? I've heard it," Brown told Emily Kaplan of ESPN. "I heard it last year. I've heard it now after this. I'm not afraid of backlash. Everybody has their opinion on what people should say and when they should say it. But if everybody stuck to what they're supposed to do, we wouldn't have made the strides we made to get to where we are."

Brown made headlines last year after he responded to John Tortorella saying he'd bench players who sat for the national anthem in the wake of Colin Kaepernick's protests.

The 27-year-old said his newborn daughter is one of the main reasons he strives to be involved in creating an inclusive community.

"My wife and I had conversations," Brown said. "How will I explain this to my daughter? At what age? You don't want to dance around it, but she might have questions I don't have answers to. With relocating the statue, we are creating a more inclusive environment for the community. Not just for my daughter's sake - for everybody else, too."

Brown entering is sixth campaign with the Lightning in 2017-18. Last season, he suited up in 64 contests, tallying three goals and three assists.

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No Philadelphia Flyer will wear No. 88 ever again.

The Flyers will retire Eric Lindros' jersey on Jan. 18, 2018 prior to a game against the Toronto Maple Leafs, the team announced Monday.

One of the most physically dominant players in NHL history, Lindros tallied 659 points in 486 career games with the Flyers, winning the Hart Trophy in the 1994-95 season, and carrying the team all the way to the 1997 Stanley Cup Final. The Big E was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame as part of the 2016 class.

The jersey retirement may seem like a long time coming, but the organization historically waits until a player is inducted into the Hall of Fame before retiring their jerseys, according to Dave Isaac of the Courier-Post.

Lindros, of course, was touched by the organization's decision.

"I am deeply humbled and honored that the Flyers are going to retire my jersey," said Lindros. "I am so thankful to the entire organization for this incredible recognition. I look forward to sharing this moment with my family, friends, teammates, and of course Flyers fans, who mean so much to me."

Lindros will join exclusive company as only the sixth Flyer to have his jersey retired. His No. 88 will join the numbers of Bernie Parent, Mark Howe, Barry Ashebee, Bill Barber, and Bobby Clarke in the Wells Fargo Center rafters.

"Eric has made an incredible and lasting impact on the Flyers organization, our fans, and the game of hockey as a whole," Flyers President Paul Holmgren said. "We could not be more proud to raise his number 88 to the rafters. We look forward to what is anticipated to be a historic night for the Flyers."

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Will Butcher might be in for a frosty reception in his unofficial debut with the New Jersey Devils.

The 22-year-old defenseman, who decided Sunday to join the Devils on an entry-level contract, plans on playing for New Jersey in the Prospects Challenge in Buffalo next month, according to NHL.com's Mike Morreale.

Butcher reportedly spoke with the Buffalo Sabres, along with several other clubs, before making his decision.

The Sabres were spurned by a high-profile college free agent for the second straight year, following Jimmy Vesey's decision last summer to sign with the New York Rangers rather than join Buffalo, which acquired his negotiating rights in a trade with the Nashville Predators.

The third annual Prospects Challenge will run Sept. 8-11 at Buffalo's HarborCenter and will feature young players from the Sabres, Devils, Pittsburgh Penguins, and Boston Bruins.

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Not every NHL player is bound to make progress in the upcoming season.

A trio of forwards in particular won't improve upon the career highs they set in 2016-17.

Here are three players who won't be on the scoresheet as often this season after breakout campaigns a year ago:

Nazem Kadri

The forgotten youngster after the big three in Toronto - Auston Matthews, William Nylander, and Mitch Marner - the Maple Leafs center made a name for himself in 2016-17 as he came up with 32 goals on the season.

It marked a career high for Kadri, whose previous best came when he potted 20 goals during the 2013-14 season - the only other season in which he has cracked the 20-goal plateau.

Look for reduced production from Kadri this year, whose unlikely to repeat last season's success. One reason is that Matthews is expected to take on a bigger role up the middle, alleviating Kadri of some of those minutes. Matthews took on more responsibility as last season progressed and will grab the top center duties out of the gate in October.

T.J. Oshie

A lot of things went right for Oshie last season. On a Presidents' Trophy-winning Capitals squad, the Washington forward was surrounded by elite talents in Alex Ovechkin, Nicklas Backstrom, and Evgeny Kuznetsov, among others.

While those three will return alongside Oshie next season, other factors are not as likely to repeat. Most of all, the 30-year-old winger is no longer on the verge of free agency with the chance to cash in.

With big money on the line, Oshie came up with a career-high 33 goals in 2016-17, doing so in just 68 games. That production came with the help of a 23 percent shooting percentage - nine points higher than his previous best. In the end, the performance landed Oshie a $46-million extension through 2025, which will pay him when his prime years have become a thing of the past.

Patrick Eaves

It was an interesting season for Eaves, who netted 21 goals in 59 games with the Dallas Stars, then finishing his season with the Anaheim Ducks following a trade deadline deal that sent him to Orange County.

Surprisingly, Eaves' production did not slow down upon his arrival in Anaheim - in fact, it only continued to climb, as he potted 11 goals and added three assists through 20 contests with the Ducks. All in all, he wrapped the season with 79 games played and 32 goals to his credit.

It marked Eaves' best goal-scoring output since he tallied 20 in his debut season with the Ottawa Senators more than a decade ago. It's not often you have a career year at 33, and it's even less likely Eaves will build on that success this coming season.

(Photos courtesy: Action Images)

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