The CEO of Seattle's NHL franchise says the organization will continue to hold off on revealing the team name amid widespread protests against police brutality as well as the coronavirus pandemic.

"It's not the right time," Tod Leiweke told The Seattle Times' Geoff Baker on Tuesday. "Vegas did it a year out. We've got ample time, and the thing this organization will never be is tone-deaf. So we've got to pick the right time, and we've got to make sure all of our ducks are in a row."

Leiweke added that the team may wait until October to announce its name and that it has started designing logos and uniforms for several possible names. He also noted the club is working through "myriad" trademarking issues.

"If you do just one (name), then you've left yourself hostage to any sort of challenge," Leiweke said. "So we've had to do multiple (trade)marks, and that's about where we are."

The Seattle franchise won't begin play until 2021-22. The regular season normally begins in October, but it remains to be seen how the schedule will be affected if the 2020-21 campaign begins later than usual because of delays in 2019-20.

Leiweke said Tuesday that the reopening of KeyArena following renovations is expected to be postponed at least two months until late in the summer of 2021 due to the coronavirus. That timeline is not expected to affect the team's on-ice debut.

Seattle general manager Ron Francis said last July that the club was aiming to unveil its name in early 2020, but that plan was put on hold in March amid the COVID-19 outbreak.

The Vegas Golden Knights revealed their name and logo in November 2016 before beginning play in the fall of 2017.

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Waterloo Regional Police, the Ontario Hockey League, and the Kitchener Rangers are investigating allegations that a Rangers player forced younger teammates to do cocaine at a rookie party in 2016, according to The Canadian Press.

Eric Guest, who played for the Rangers from 2016-2019, said Monday that one veteran player forced Guest and another younger player to try the drug in a bathroom. Guest said he was 16 at the time.

"It was him and then me and another young kid and we were locked in that bathroom and he said, 'you are not allowed out of this bathroom until you do this,'" Guest said in a video shared on Instagram.

Guest did not disclose any names, but he said the older player had already been drafted to the NHL at the time of the incident.

The Rangers issued a statement Tuesday saying they became aware of the allegations Monday night and contacted local authorities.

"These allegations involve former players with our team and are extremely serious and potentially criminal conduct," the team said, adding that it will cooperate with the OHL's investigation.

Guest split the 2019-20 season between the Caledonia Corvairs and the London Nationals of the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League.

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Jason Botterill inherited a tough situation with the Buffalo Sabres when he was brought on as general manager in 2017. Though he made a handful of big moves over the last three years, he was simply unable to make the team a top contender in the league quickly enough. The Sabres still haven't made the playoffs since 2011.

As his time with the Sabres came to an end Tuesday, let's take a look at some of the decisions that ultimately led to his dismissal.

Trading Evander Kane to San Jose

Kane showed consistent goal-scoring ability with Buffalo but wasn't an absolute game-changer. During his three seasons with the team from 2015-18, he potted 20, 28, and 20 goals, respectively. In 2017-18, Kane's contract year, Botterill dealt him to the San Jose Sharks at the trade deadline.

Buffalo received a decent haul for Kane, but the return didn't help the team immediately; the Sabres received an AHL-level player, Danny O'Regan, and a 2019 first- and fourth-round pick.

Meanwhile, Kane quickly made an impact in San Jose. After a successful stint with the Sharks to end the season, Kane was rewarded with a seven-year, $49-million extension. In the first season of his new deal, he put together one of the best campaigns of his career, recording 30 goals and 56 points while leading the league in penalty minutes with 153.

Since Buffalo traded him away, Kane's career has been on an upward trajectory. Still only 28 years old, he's the type of secondary scorer the Sabres are dearly missing.

Parting ways with Ryan O'Reilly

The Sabres made a big splash by bringing in O'Reilly during the 2015 offseason in hopes that he would help the franchise turn a corner. Buffalo swiftly signed him to a seven-year extension, and the dynamic two-way center's impact was immediate. He posted some of the best numbers of his career during his three years with the team.

Despite his individual success on the ice, O'Reilly soured on the Sabres rather quickly. After the 2017-18 season, he said that he'd lost his love for the game of hockey multiple times because the Sabres kept on losing. With five years remaining on O'Reilly's contract, Botterill traded him to the St. Louis Blues in the 2018 offseason for a first- and second-round pick, Tage Thompson, Vladimir Sobotka, and Patrik Berglund.

O'Reilly won the Stanley Cup in his first season with the Blues, taking home the Conn Smythe Trophy in the process. He also tied his career high in goals while posting a career-best 77 points. He recently said that winning the Cup and playing in St. Louis "completely revamped" his career.

With a glaring lack of depth down the middle behind Eichel, Botterill was then faced with the tough task of filling O'Reilly's spot in the lineup. A true No. 2 center has yet to emerge in Buffalo.

Jeff Skinner's monster contract

After arriving via a trade with the Carolina Hurricanes, Skinner demonstrated his offensive prowess in his first season with the Sabres, potting a career-best 40 goals in his 63-point 2018-19 campaign. The club seemed to have found a top-line talent worthy of flanking Eichel, but the then-26-year-old was set to become an unrestricted free agent.

The decision to sign Skinner was understandable considering his fit alongside Eichel, but the framework of the deal was questionable from the get-go. The franchise hadn't rostered a 40-goal scorer since 2008-09 and was stuck in a near-decade-long postseason drought, which put more pressure on Botterill to reach an agreement while likely decreasing his negotiating power.

In the end, Botterill inked Skinner to a splashy eight-year, $72-million pact - just $1 million short of Eichel's annual salary - that made him the sixth-highest-paid winger in the league at the time. Skinner recorded 14 goals and a career-low 23 points in 59 games, making his mammoth contract instantly regrettable.

Questionable moves in 2020

With the Sabres trending in the wrong direction, Botterill made a couple of desperation moves in the second half of the season to try to salvage the campaign.

In January, he dealt defenseman Marco Scandella to the Montreal Canadiens for a fourth-round pick and then flipped that fourth-rounder to the Calgary Flames for a declining Michael Frolik. Botterill apparently undervalued Scandella, as the Canadiens traded the rearguard to the St. Louis Blues six weeks later for a 2020 second-round pick and a conditional fourth-rounder in 2021. Meanwhile, the 32-year-old Frolik registered just one goal over 19 games for the Sabres.

With Buffalo six points out of a playoff spot at the trade deadline, Botterill sent a conditional fifth-round pick with the potential to convert into a fourth-rounder to the New Jersey Devils for another aging rental piece in Wayne Simmonds. The club lost its next six games in regulation and Simmonds chipped in with just one assist.

Failing to deliver for Eichel

Signing Jack Eichel for the long haul was an absolute no-brainer, but the minute Botterill inked him to an eight-year, $80-million contract, the clock began to tick. The deal cemented the Sabres' commitment to building a contender around the blue-chip center, but as the team continued to show virtually no improvement, it was a matter of time before Eichel spoke up.

Eichel's frustration appeared to reach its boiling point last week. The Sabres missed the postseason for the fifth straight time since he was drafted second overall, despite this year's format expanding to include 24 clubs, and the captain described his tenure as "a tough past five years" and said he was "fed up with the losing."

Shipping out Kane and O'Reilly - superior forwards compared to any of Eichel's recent teammates except Skinner - for minimal returns didn't exactly send a winning message, and Botterill's attempt to plug-and-play inferior talent around Eichel yielded similarly disappointing results over the previous three campaigns.

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It appears the New York Islanders won't be returning to Nassau Coliseum for the 2020-21 season after all.

Billionaire Mikhail Prokhorov, whose Onexim Sports and Entertainment operates the arena under a lease from Nassau county, is planning to shut down the venue while it searches for investors to carry on operations and pick up the debt that remains on the building, according to sources of Bloomberg's Patrick Clark.

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced in February that the Islanders would be returning to the Coliseum for all home games during the 2020-21 campaign before moving into their new building at Belmont Park the following season.

The Coliseum closed in 2015 for renovations and former Islanders owner Charles Wang moved the franchise's home games to the Barclays Center in Brooklyn. In 2017, Cuomo arranged for the club to share home contests between the two locations.

Originally opened in 1972, the Islanders have called the Coliseum home for the majority of 40 years and captured each of their four consecutive Stanley Cups in the 1980s in the building.

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Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Tuesday the federal government will work with the NHL if it wishes to use a hub city in the country.

"We have indicated that we are comfortable with moving forward on an NHL hub in one of three Canadian cities that are asking for it," Trudeau said. "Obviously, the decision needs to be made by the NHL and the cities and provinces in the jurisdiction. Canada is open to it as long as it is OK by the local health authorities.”

Trudeau's comments come after he announced that border restrictions for non-essential travel between Canada and the United States are extended through July 21. The extension won't affect the league's plans to return, as players have already been crossing the border in both directions since the beginning of Phase 2, according to Sportsnet's Chris Johnston.

The league is expected to use two cities to host 24 teams for a potential return. The NHL expressed an interest in staging games in a Canadian city but is awaiting a decision from the federal government on whether players will be subject to the mandatory 14-day quarantine period upon entering the country.

Trudeau's announcement seems to indicate players won't need to strictly follow the quarantine rules in place. It's been reported the Canadian government would consider "extending the quarantine area" to include team facilities.

Vancouver, Edmonton, and Toronto have reportedly expressed interest in hosting teams. British Columbia health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry gave approval last week for Vancouver's plan to host teams, according to City News' Mike Hall.

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The 2019-20 NHL campaign remains on pause, but it's never too early to look ahead to the offseason. With that in mind, theScore's hockey editors are evaluating the best players who could be available in unrestricted free agency, whenever it begins.

Forwards | Defensemen (June 18) | Goaltenders (June 20)

Justin Williams, Joe Thornton, and Mikko Koivu are not included in this list because they're unlikely to hit the open market if they play in 2020-21.

1. Taylor Hall

Position: LW
Age: 28
2019-20 cap hit: $6M
Current team: Arizona Coyotes

Hall's production has taken a dip since he joined the Coyotes, but that's hardly surprising given Arizona's emphasis on defense and lack of further star power beyond Phil Kessel, whose goal-scoring has also dried up in the desert. Regardless, Hall is the cream of the pending UFA forward crop.

Coyotes general manager John Chayka confirmed he'd spoken to the 2017-18 Hart Trophy winner's agent as of late March, and the GM later said the league's hiatus wouldn't stop him from offering Hall a long-term deal. It's still unclear whether Hall will re-sign or test the market, though, and he'll have a lengthy list of suitors if he opts for the latter.

2. Mike Hoffman

Position: LW, RW
Age: 30
2019-20 cap hit: $5.1875M
Current team: Florida Panthers

Hoffman is one of the NHL's most reliable snipers and boasts a career goals-per-game rate identical to Hall's. Though he's not as skilled a facilitator as Hall and has recently logged far less ice time in a far more potent offense, the Panthers winger would be a solid consolation prize for a team that fails to land the No. 1 forward on this list.

Still, clubs should be wary of giving a long-term contract to a player who turns 31 in November.

3. Tyler Toffoli

Position: LW, RW
Age: 28
2019-20 cap hit: $4.6M
Current team: Vancouver Canucks

The Canucks have more than just Toffoli to worry about this offseason, with No. 1 netminder Jacob Markstrom also requiring a new deal. If they fail to ink Toffoli to a fresh contract - or simply opt not to - he'll be one of the most coveted forwards on the market.

The former Los Angeles Kings winger produced 10 points in as many games after L.A. dealt him to the Canucks, and his ice time increased by over 90 seconds per contest with his new team. Toffoli drives possession better than most players on this list, and unlike many of them, he's still in his prime.

4. Evgenii Dadonov

Position: LW, RW
Age: 31
2019-20 cap hit: $4M
Current team: Panthers

Dadonov is one of the most underrated scorers in the NHL, having quietly potted 28 goals and at least 65 points in each of the two seasons prior to this one. He was on pace to net 30 markers before the pause, though he benefited from playing mostly alongside elite linemates Aleksander Barkov and Jonathan Huberdeau.

Dadonov can fill the net and plays the possession game well enough to warrant a top-six role, but his age should make teams wary of giving him too much money or term.

5. Mikael Granlund

Position: LW, RW
Age: 28
2019-20 cap hit: $5.75M
Current team: Nashville Predators

Granlund isn't the player he once was with the Minnesota Wild, but the Predators winger proved he can still light it up in spurts by pouring in 13 goals over 26 games from late December to late February.

Though he may not deserve consistent top-line minutes, Granlund is relatively young compared to the majority of players on this list and belongs in the top six of most NHL lineups. The Finnish forward shouldn't be overlooked if he's available in free agency.

6. Ilya Kovalchuk

Position: LW, RW
Age: 37
2019-20 cap hit: $700K
Current team: Washington Capitals

Kovalchuk enjoyed a well-documented resurgence in 2020, producing 13 points in 22 games with the Montreal Canadiens before chipping in four points in seven contests with the Capitals.

The former superstar struggled with the Kings before they traded him to the Canadiens in early January, and his advanced age can't be ignored. Signing him to another league-minimum contract, however, would involve minimal risk. A reunion with the Canadiens wouldn't be surprising, nor would the possibility of numerous other teams expressing interest.

7. Vladislav Namestnikov

Position: C, LW, RW
Age: 27
2019-20 cap hit: $4M
Current team: Colorado Avalanche

Namestnikov centered the Avalanche's top line right before the league halted play, though he typically lines up on the wings. The versatile Russian will turn 28 in November, putting him on the younger side relative to his fellow potential UFA forwards.

Despite playing for three different teams in 2019-20, Namestnikov has proven he can contribute wherever he's deployed. He's shown promise in his brief tenure with Colorado, notching four goals and six points in nine games for the club.

8. Tyler Ennis

Position: LW, RW
Age: 30
2019-20 cap hit: $800K
Current team: Edmonton Oilers

Ennis has long been one of the league's most underappreciated players. His 0.53 points per game in 2019-20 tied for sixth among pending UFA forwards who played at least 21 games, and tied for fifth when excluding Kovalchuk, who played only 46 contests before the pause.

9. Craig Smith

Position: C, RW
Age: 30
2019-20 cap hit: $4.25M
Current team: Predators

Smith ranks fourth among pending UFA forwards in goals scored in 2019-20 and boasts impressive possession metrics. He's notched at least 20 markers in five of his previous eight campaigns and was on pace to do it again before the suspension of the season.

The veteran forward produced despite limited playing time this year and could certainly provide an offensive boost to a team's bottom six.

10. Carl Soderberg

Position: C, LW
Age: 34
2019-20 cap hit: $4.75M
Current team: Coyotes

Soderberg doesn't post gaudy offensive numbers and his age is a concern. Still, he remains a fairly dependable depth player, and he comes with added value because he can regularly play center. Soderberg's underlying figures aren't great, but he'll likely garner some interest as a pivot with playoff experience.

11. Josh Leivo

Position: LW
Age: 27
2019-20 cap hit: $1.5M
Current team: Canucks

Leivo hasn't played since suffering a broken kneecap in mid-December, but he should be able to return for the postseason and provide a boost for both the Canucks and his free-agent value. The winger was fitting in quite well with Vancouver before his injury, and his agent will undoubtedly get some calls if the team lets him walk in the offseason.

12. Alex Galchenyuk

Position: C, LW
Age: 26
2019-20 cap hit: $4.9M
Current team: Minnesota Wild

Galchenyuk clearly wasn't a fit with the Pittsburgh Penguins, but he showed some life with the Wild, notching seven points in 14 games while averaging nearly 15 minutes of ice time per contest.

13. Erik Haula

Position: C, LW
Age: 29
2019-20 cap hit: $2.75M
Current team: Panthers

Injuries have plagued Haula since his career-best season in 2017-18, but he still managed to produce half a point per game in 2019-20 while playing 41 of his 48 contests with the Carolina Hurricanes.

14. Jesper Fast

Position: RW
Age: 28
2019-20 cap hit: $1.85M
Current team: New York Rangers

Fast was on pace to set career highs in goals and points before the pause, and though his new personal bests (14 goals, 34 points) wouldn't be eye-popping figures, he's capable of providing scoring depth in a middle-six role.

15. Derick Brassard

Position: C, RW
Age: 32
2019-20 cap hit: $1.2M
Current team: New York Islanders

Brassard has suited up for seven teams over his 13 NHL campaigns, and though his career is clearly on the decline, he'd hardly be the worst free-agent depth option at center.

16. Wayne Simmonds

Position: RW
Age: 31
2019-20 cap hit: $2.5M
Current team: Buffalo Sabres

The New Jersey Devils retained 50% of Simmonds' initial $5-million cap hit when they traded him to the Sabres, and it's hard to imagine the former 30-goal scorer taking anything but a pay cut in 2020-21. He still offers a rare mix of physicality and skill, though the latter has diminished over the years.

17. Derek Grant

Position: C
Age: 30
2019-20 cap hit: $700K
Current team: Philadelphia Flyers

Grant's production in limited action this season is impressive, but his underlying numbers aren't at all flattering, nor is his inflated 2019-20 shooting percentage (16) that will surely regress.

18. Conor Sheary

Position: LW, RW
Age: 28
2019-20 cap hit: $3M
Current team: Pittsburgh Penguins

Expect Sheary to be somewhat overlooked if he hits the market; he struggled with the lowly Sabres before they traded him back to the high-flying Penguins. The diminutive forward could be a bargain if he can rediscover the success he enjoyed with Pittsburgh earlier in his career.

19. Jason Spezza

Position: C, RW
Age: 37
2019-20 cap hit: $700K
Current team: Toronto Maple Leafs

Spezza won't be a hot commodity, but the veteran center still has some value as a bottom-six forward. Though his playing time dipped to career-low levels in 2019-20, he still drove possession by posting rates of 50% or better in Corsi For, expected goals for, and scoring chances for.

20. Brian Boyle

Position: C, LW
Age: 35
2019-20 cap hit: $940K
Current team: Panthers

Boyle can't drive possession the way Spezza and many other forwards can, but he offers plenty of experience and character. Injured since Feb. 1, he was nearing a return before the hiatus and could be worth a look in free agency.

(Cap figures source: CapFriendly)

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The Buffalo Sabres relieved Jason Botterill of his duties as general manager and replaced him with senior vice president of business administration Kevyn Adams, the team announced Tuesday.

"This morning, we informed Jason Botterill he will no longer be the general manager of the Sabres," owners Terry and Kim Pegula said in a statement.

"This decision was made after many candid discussions with Jason during a full review of our hockey operation. We recognized we have philosophical differences regarding how best to put ourselves in a position to compete for a Stanley Cup. So, we decided to make this change."

Pegula said in May that Botterill would be back with the club as general manager for the 2020-21 campaign.

Botterill was named general manager in May 2017. The Sabres missed the playoffs and finished 25th or lower in league standings during all three years of his tenure.

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