Winnipeg Jets head coach Paul Maurice knows the tension surrounding Patrik Laine and Kyle Connor's contract negotiations will only increase as the club gets closer to convening for the 2019-20 season.

"The pressure on both sides kind of comes at the same time, that the closer you get to the season, the more pressure comes on the team and the player to get a contract signed," Maurice told NHL.com's Tim Campbell. "We'll see that mount and we're hopeful (they'll be signed) by the time the puck drops. You want everybody at camp, absolutely, but you really hope everybody's done by the time the season starts."

Winnipeg's training camp begins Sept. 13. Laine and Connor are two of several star restricted free agents around the league who've yet to put pen to paper this offseason.

"Everybody wants these contracts done but we all knew this was going to be late, that it wasn't going to happen early because they're almost moving en masse. I think once one or two go, they'll all line up," Maurice said.

The Jets have over $16.1 million in available cap space to sign the two young wingers, along with goalie and fellow RFA Eric Comrie, according to Cap Friendly.

Laine was wildly inconsistent in 2018-19 but still managed to pot 30 goals for the third consecutive season to start his career. Connor, who's carved out a prominent role for himself on the Jets' top line alongside Mark Scheifele and Blake Wheeler, posted a personal-best 34 goals and 66 points in 82 games.

Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Washington Capitals forward Tom Wilson said his club will undoubtedly support Evgeny Kuznetsov in light of the Russian's four-year IIHF suspension for testing positive for cocaine.

"We're going to have his back," Wilson told Sportsnet's Luke Fox at BioSteel Camp on Tuesday.

"Hopefully he can get through it. It's never something you like to see in the media, but I'm sure he'll learn. He'll grow as a person and a player. We're focused on (the) Capitals. Whatever happens with the international stuff, it's none of our business.

"I know he takes a lot of pride in playing for his country."

Kuznetsov failed a doping test at the World Championship in May. He isn't facing an NHL suspension since the league doesn't view cocaine as a performance-enhancing substance. Instead, he'll be enrolled in the NHL/NHLPA's substance-abuse education and counseling program. He'll meet with commissioner Gary Bettman at a later date.

The 27-year-old has won world junior and World Championship gold with Russia over his international career, but his recent ban would prevent him from suiting up at the 2022 Olympics should NHLers participate.

Kuznetsov registered 21 goals and 51 assists in 76 games for the Caps last season.

Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Calgary Flames captain Mark Giordano is hoping to see teammate Matthew Tkachuk - one of the league's many unsigned restricted free agents - when training camp opens on Sept. 12.

"Obviously, I’m trying to make light of the situation but as it gets closer to camp, hopefully the business side of it works out," Giordano told the Calgary Sun's Kristen Anderson.

"It always ends up working out but you just want it sooner rather than later, if possible. I don’t think I’ve seen an offseason quite like this one where so many RFAs are in the same boat."

Tkachuk, the sixth overall pick in the 2016 draft, enjoyed a breakout season in 2018-19, tallying 34 goals and 77 points. He's also been part of the Flames' checking line since entering the league in 2016-17, proving his worth at both ends of the ice.

"There’s no question to how much he means to our team, everybody knows that," Giordano said of Tkachuk. "He's a guy who brings it every night, he battles. From that side of it, we know what he means to our team. He's a huge part of our team. Listen, there's time still. Both sides, you know they both want to get it done."

Meeting Tkachuk's demands could prove difficult, as Calgary has just $7.76 million remaining in projected cap space, according to CapFriendly, and also has to sign fellow RFA Andrew Mangiapane.

Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It's all about value.

After bringing you four undervalued teams to consider last week, let's visit the other end of the spectrum by identifying three clubs that sportsbooks are overvaluing based on headline-catching offseasons:

Toronto Maple Leafs under 102.5

A lot of people - led by the Kyle Dubas Stans - are high on the Maple Leafs this season after an active summer. However, it's time to pump the brakes. After finishing with 100 points last season, did the roster actually improve this offseason?

Let's start by addressing the elephant in the room: Mitch Marner. The restricted free agent tallied a team-high 94 points last season but remains unsigned and entrenched in a bitter contract dispute that's threatening to drag into October. Is anyone truly confident that Marner will sign in time for training camp? Dubas hasn't provided much reason for optimism given last year's situation with William Nylander. And considering Marner was Toronto's most valuable player in 2018-19, even a month without him could drastically impact the team's point total.

The Leafs will already be without Zach Hyman (knee surgery) to start the season, making a Marner holdout that much more important to avoid. Their depth will be tested, and looking down the roster I'm not sure that's a good thing. Exchanging Nazem Kadri for Alex Kerfoot is at best a wash, and that's operating under the assumption that Kerfoot can play center. It would leave Toronto thin down the middle if he can't. Meanwhile, Nick Shore and Jason Spezza were brought in, but the latter was a healthy scratch at times with Dallas, while the former spent last season in the KHL and has never scored more than six goals in an NHL season.

By trading Kadri, the Leafs also lost their last bit of grit. As talented as this roster is, it's small and soft throughout the lineup. You could notice a shift in how teams attacked the Leafs down the stretch last season, getting pucks deep and wearing them out by grinding down low. It resulted in a 10-10-5 record to close out the season. Does that sound like a 103-point team?

On the back end, Tyson Barrie and Cody Ceci should help shore up a top-four group that will also have Jake Muzzin for a full season. However, Jake Gardiner - a very useful player for Toronto, Game 7 deficiencies aside - along with strong penalty killers in Nikita Zaitsev and Ron Hainsey are all gone. Morgan Reilly is coming off a career year in which he posted an unsustainably high shooting percentage, while Travis Dermott is also set to miss at least the first month of the season.

The Maple Leafs are still a very good hockey team, but there are too many question marks to back them increasing their point total in an Atlantic Division that improved over the summer.

Minnesota Wild under 87.5

The Wild just went through one of the most embarrassing offseasons in NHL history. Former GM Paul Fenton's disastrous campaign was exposed by the Athletic's Michael Russo, and he was fired after just one year in charge. To make matters worse, Bill Guerin was only hired a week ago as the replacement, inheriting a bad roster and minimal flexibility to make changes before the season.

So please, someone tell me how this team is expected to be better after finishing 2018-19 with 83 points? Nino Niederreiter, Mikael Granlund, and Charlie Coyle are all gone from a roster that produced just 211 goals, while Mats Zuccarello is the only reinforcement in that area.

At this point, the first line is closer to moving into Del Boca Vista than moving the Wild into a playoff spot, while goaltender Devan Dubnyk already turned back into the pumpkin he was in Edmonton. Minnesota will be lucky to finish with 80 points.

New Jersey Devils under 90.5

Ray Shero went on a warpath this summer to improve his hockey team. He definitely succeeded, but probably not to the extent that people seem to think. P.K. Subban and Wayne Simmonds will help sell tickets, but these are two guys on the wrong side of 30 and coming off down years - not exactly inspiring.

Nico Hischier is now joined by fellow first overall pick Jack Hughes to form what should be an electric one-two punch at center, and of course, 2017-18 NHL MVP Taylor Hall is healthy. But Hall, an unrestricted free agent after this season, still needs a new contract. It could prove to be a big distraction if he doesn't get one before opening night.

The biggest issue surrounding the Devils, however, and the reason everyone should be skeptical about them making a massive jump up from 72 points last season, is the situation in net. Young Mackenzie Blackwood has a grand total of 23 NHL games on his resume and his best single-season save percentage in the AHL was .907. How many times have we seen goaltending hold back exciting teams? The Devils will be fun to watch, but please don't bet on them getting 10 more wins than last season.

Follow Alex on Twitter at @alexjmoretto

Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Jesse Puljujarvi sweepstakes are still wide open after the restricted free-agent forward signed a one-year deal on Tuesday morning to play in Finland's top league this season.

Since Puljujarvi's contract includes an NHL opt-out clause - allowing him to join a team before Dec. 1 - Edmonton Oilers general manager Ken Holland doesn't believe the move will have much impact on his trade market.

"I don't know that him signing in Finland has a huge effect on the situation," Holland told Sportsnet's Mark Spector. "I've had conversations with numerous clubs that have had interest, some interest, in acquiring Jesse. And I have had, probably in the last 10 days, two or three new teams reach out to me. Teams whose position have changed, and are checking into the Puljujarvi situation.

"I'll do a deal if I feel good that I'm making a deal in the best interests of the Edmonton Oilers."

Puljujarvi, a former fourth overall pick of the Oilers, requested a trade out of Edmonton earlier this summer, but Holland hasn't found an offer to his liking. The 6-foot-4 winger has always had tantalizing potential, but he's produced just 37 points in 139 career NHL games.

Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Ottawa Senators are looking to lock up another piece of their young core.

The club has "had discussions" with defenseman Thomas Chabot about a contract extension, general manager Pierre Dorion told the Ottawa Sun's Bruce Garrioch.

Dorion didn't want to reveal any more than that.

"In the case of Colin White, we were able to keep everything very confidential and we were able to get a contract done," Dorion said. "We don’t think talking publicly about any contract negotiations, whether it’s Chabot or any pending UFA, does us any good.

"But we understand the importance of our young core and having them in Ottawa as long as possible."

Last week, the Sens inked White, a restricted free-agent forward, to a six-year deal that carries a $4.75-million cap hit. Chabot, meanwhile, has one year left on his entry-level contract before becoming an RFA next summer.

Regardless of when Chabot signs his next contract, he could receive quite the payday. The 22-year-old blue-liner enjoyed a breakout season in 2018-19, recording 55 points in 70 games. His 0.79 points per game ranked eighth among all NHL defensemen.

Chabot's contract could ultimately be dictated by the deals that are expected to be signed by fellow rearguards Charlie McAvoy and Zach Werenski. Both RFAs are in need of a new deal for the upcoming campaign. Werenski is reportedly seeking a three-year bridge contract worth at least $15 million.

Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Edmonton Oilers restricted free-agent forward Jesse Puljujarvi has signed a one-year deal with Karpat in the top Finnish league, the team announced Tuesday.

The contract is for the entire season, but it includes an opt-out clause that allows Puljujarvi to return to the NHL anytime before Dec. 1 - the latest date the CBA allows a player to join a roster without clearing waivers.

The Oilers made Puljujarvi the fourth overall pick in the 2016 NHL Draft, but he's mustered just 37 points in 139 career games.

Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.