Another member of the Tkachuk family appears in line to make the NHL.

Brady Tkachuk reportedly informed Boston University head coach Albie O'Connell that he intends to sign a pro contract with the Ottawa Senators this season, according to ESPN's John Buccigross.

The forward was drafted fourth overall by the Senators in June and was expected to decide whether or not he would return to college by Sunday.

The 18-year-old is coming off his freshman year at Boston University, where he put up eight goals and 31 points in 40 games.

He'll become the latest Tkachuk to make his mark in the NHL after his father, Keith, and brother, Matthew (who plays for the Calgary Flames).

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Rene Fasel is preparing for the best, the worst, and everything in between.

TSN's Gord Miller - who on Friday hosted a panel featuring Fasel at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup in Edmonton - reports the IIHF president has told the IOC that there are four men's hockey options "on the table" for the 2022 Olympics in Beijing.

The first option: like from 1998 through 2014, NHL players participate in the men's hockey tournament.

The second: like the 2018 Olympics, only amateur/professional players with no contractual NHL affiliation are eligible to participate.

The third: Only under-23 players (presumably just those without an NHL contract) participate.

Fourth: No men's hockey.

Fasel's first option seems like a long shot right now. NHL commissioner Gary Bettman and his owners seem unwilling to shut down the season for an event being held overseas and is keen on the idea of transferring to the Summer Games.

"I don’t know that we want to go to China," Bettman said in February at the MIT Sloan Sports Analytics Conference. "I think going to the Olympics is incredibly disruptive on a season."

He added, "I’ve asked the IOC, I said, 'Why don’t you put us in the summer?' You know, just for you history buffs, that the first participation of hockey in the Olympics was in 1920 in Antwerp in the Summer Games. We’d be happy to go in the summer. I’m sure the players would be thrilled to go in the summer."

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The Mark Hunter watch is officially over.

The ex-NHL executive is headed back to the London Knights to assume the role of general manager, the Ontario Hockey League club announced Friday.

"I am very happy to be back in London," Hunter said in a press release. "We have a strong group within our organization and I look forward to returning to work with everyone to develop an even stronger team for our fans and for our city and the community."

Hunter, 55, left the Toronto Maple Leafs this spring after a four-year tenure, first as director of player personnel and then as assistant GM. The former NHL player and the team "mutually agreed to part ways" in the wake of Kyle Dubas' promotion to the GM chair in May.

There was much speculation this offseason over Hunter's next step. Many believed the New York Islanders made sense as a potential NHL fit, given Hunter's ties to their new GM, old Leafs boss Lou Lamoriello. However, a return to the OHL should surprise no one.

Hunter, part owner and vice-president of the Knights, bumps Rob Simpson into an associate GM role. Simpson was London's general manager for the past two seasons following four years as assistant GM, including two-and-a-half under Hunter.

"Rob and I will be working together every day in order to achieve the goals of our organization," Hunter said. "He has done an outstanding job in all facets of his position and I look forward to continuing to work with him on all elements within our organization.

"We are excited for this upcoming season and look forward to bringing another competitive team forward to entertain and excite our fans."

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If this is the end of the road for Brian Gionta, he'll look back fondly over his 16-year-long NHL career.

The 39-year-old has spent the offseason training in his native Western New York, and while he hasn't ruled out the possibility of suiting up next season, it appears it would need to be a near unimaginable opportunity for him to do so.

"I'm still training with the group of guys who are here," Gionta told NHL.com's Dave Stubbs. "At this point, it's basically to hang around them and stay in shape. But I'm prepared (for retirement) unless something very out of the ordinary and significant came through."

Gionta's time in the big leagues began in 2001 and included stints with the New Jersey Devils, Montreal Canadiens, Buffalo Sabres, and a short encore with the Boston Bruins.

A Stanley Cup win with the Devils in 2003 marked his biggest accomplishment, though his 48-goal output with New Jersey three years later is also deserving of applause, as the feat still stands as a franchise record.

Last season, Gionta spent much of the year practicing with the Sabres' AHL club in Rochester in preparation of PyeongChang 2018, where he competed with Team USA before inking a deal with the Bruins in February.

If he has skated in his final NHL game, Gionta will wrap his 1,026-game career with 291 goals and 304 assists. Not too shabby for a diminutive player who many pundits pegged as having little chance of making waves in pro hockey.

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A Friday meeting offered the latest on the Senators' plan to build a new arena in downtown Ottawa.

While the get-together between team ownership and city officials largely focused on the site plan, zoning amendments, and the requirement of public consultation, it also served as the first major update on the file since January when the Senators reached a principle agreement to redevelop the LeBreton Flats neighborhood for a new arena.

The Senators and Trinity Development Group are continuing to work toward a master agreement with the National Capital Commission as part of their joint venture known as RendezVous LeBreton. That new phase in the project could take up to 18 months.

While an estimated cost for the project hasn't been revealed, Ottawa mayor Jim Watson already ruled out the possibility of using public funds.

"We want to be a willing partner," Watson told Jon Willing of the Ottawa Citizen on Friday. "They understand obviously that we don't have the funds to fund paying for an arena and they're fully appreciative of my position on that."

On the Senators' side, there's no concern about footing the bill.

"We are fully capable of funding our portion of what we need to accomplish and I think that as a team effort here that everything is required can get done," Senators owner Eugene Melnyk told Willing.

While the plan is for the Senators to move from Kanata to the city's downtown core, Melnyk said there shouldn't be any concern about the team's long-term future in the Canadian capital.

"The one thing that is constant always is we're here to stay in Ottawa for a very, very long time," Melnyk added. "We want to make sure the LeBreton project, if accomplished, is a success for many, many years, for our children's children, and that's the way we're looking at it."

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Defenseman Ryan Ellis and the Nashville Predators are working towards a contract extension, according to general manager David Poile.

The longtime GM told ESPN Radio 102.5 in Nashville on Thursday that the club is engaged in "consistent and continual conversations" with Ellis' camp regarding a new deal.

Ellis, a key member of arguably the best defense corps in the NHL, who's currently on his honeymoon, is entering the final season of a five-year contract worth $2.5 million annually.

An alternate captain, right-handed all-situations blueliner, and regular 30-point getter, many believe the 27-year-old has been underpaid for years.

Ellis' boss seems to agree.

"Ryan just got married, so we'd like to give him a gift," Poile said.

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Defenseman Ryan Ellis and the Nashville Predators are working towards a contract extension, according to general manager David Poile.

The longtime GM told ESPN Radio 102.5 in Nashville on Thursday that the club is engaged in "consistent and continual conversations" with Ellis' camp regarding a new deal.

Ellis, a key member of arguably the best defense corps in the NHL, who's currently on his honeymoon, is entering the final season of a five-year contract worth $2.5 million annually.

An alternate captain, right-handed all-situations blueliner, and regular 30-point getter, many believe the 27-year-old has been underpaid for years.

Ellis' boss seems to agree.

"Ryan just got married, so we'd like to give him a gift," Poile said.

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Henrik Zetterberg's status for next season remains up in the air.

The Detroit Red Wings captain has long struggled with back injuries, dating back to the 2014 season when he missed the final 24 games of the regular season, plus three playoff contests, following back surgery.

However, Zetterberg has not missed any time in the past three seasons. While the hope is that he can dress for the upcoming campaign, his status remains uncertain.

"There's a real unknown right now with Henrik Zetterberg," Red Wings general manager Ken Holland told The Athletic's Craig Custance.

The 37-year-old signed a 12-year, $73-million contract with the Red Wings in 2009, and has three years remaining on the pact. The deal is heavily front-loaded, and will see him earn just $5.35 million over the final three seasons.

"I am anxious to know where Henrik Zetterberg is at. He's a bit of an unknown as far as health," Holland added, per the Detroit Free Press' Helene St. James. "Have talked to his agent - he has had (a) tough summer. He hasn't been able to train anywhere near (the level of) past summers. I'm hoping he'll play."

MLive.com's Ansar Khan first reported about internal doubt within the Red Wings' organization over Zetterberg suiting up this season due to his injury history.

If the two-time All-Star is unable to play, the Red Wings can place him on the long-term injured reserve, relieving the team of his $6.08-million cap hit.

Zetterberg finished second in team scoring last season with 56 points.

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