Mike Hoffman, one of the top unrestricted free agents left on the open market, is considering taking a one-year contract, reports Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.

The flat salary cap - as well as the financial repercussions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic - has drastically affected the free-agent market. There are numerous NHL teams up against the salary cap and others who may have internal budgets set by ownership due to the economic uncertainty.

Taylor Hall, who was the top free-agent forward, took a one-year, $8-million contract with the Buffalo Sabres - likely with hopes of cashing in next offseason.

Hoffman, who led all UFAs in points, may end up taking a similar route. The 30-year-old winger recorded 29 goals and 30 assists in 69 games with the Florida Panthers last season. Since becoming an NHL regular in 2014-15 with the Ottawa Senators, Hoffman has averaged 28 goals per season.

Consistent snipers are generally coveted on the open market, but it's worth noting Hoffman's contributions on the ice don't extend far beyond his goal-scoring ability. His five-on-five expected goals for percentage has been below 50% in each of the past five seasons, coming in at 46.3 in 2019-20, according to Natural Stat Trick.

HockeyViz's isolated five-on-five impact illustrates Hoffman's lack of play-driving ability over the past four seasons.

Plus is good in offensive zone (top row), negative is good in the defensive zone (bottom row)

Hoffman's former Panthers teammate, Evgenii Dadonov, inked a three-year, $15-million contract with the Senators on Thursday. Florida still has over $11-million in projected cap space, per CapFriendly, so perhaps a reunion is in order.

In addition to Hoffman, Mikael Granlund, Anthony Duclair, Andreas Athanasiou, Erik Haula, Sami Vatanen, and Travis Hamonic headline the best remaining available UFAs.

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The New York Rangers agreed to terms with defenseman Tony DeAngelo on a new contract, the club announced Thursday.

It's a two-year contract carrying an average annual value of $4.8 million, reports TSN's Pierre LeBrun.

DeAngelo was a restricted free agent. He tied for fourth among NHL blue-liners with 53 points over 68 games in 2019-20.

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The New York Rangers have signed goaltender Alexandar Georgiev, the club announced Thursday.

It's a two-year contract carrying an annual cap hit of $2.425 million, according to CapFriendly.

Georgiev was a restricted free agent. He had a salary arbitration hearing scheduled for Oct. 31.

The 24-year-old went 17-14-2 with a .910 save percentage and 0.12 goals saved above average over 34 games in 2019-20. He split time in the Rangers' crease with Henrik Lundqvist and Igor Shesterkin, the latter of whom he's expected to back up next season.

Georgiev is coming off his rookie pact, which carried an annual cap hit of $792,500. He's spent three NHL seasons with New York since the team signed him as an undrafted free agent in 2017.

He is the only Bulgarian-born player in NHL history.

The Rangers bought out the final year of Lundqvist's deal on Sept. 30.

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The Ottawa Senators inked forward Evgenii Dadonov to a three-year deal worth $15 million, the team announced Thursday.

The deal pays Dadonov $3.5 million in 2020-21, $5 million in 2021-22, and $6.5 million in the final season and includes a 10-team modified no-trade clause, according to TSN's Pierre LeBrun.

Dadonov spent the previous three seasons with the Florida Panthers and recorded 25 goals and 47 points over 69 games in 2019-20.

The 5-foot-11 winger will help bolster Ottawa's offense, which ranked 25th last season. He's hit the 25-goal mark in three consecutive campaigns and notched a career-best 28 tallies and 70 points across 82 games in 2018-19.

The 31-year-old also brings a veteran presence to a youthful club, as he's just one of three players on the Senators' active roster who's over the age of 29.

Though Dadonov is best known for his offensive bona fides, the Russian talent has been a relatively reliable two-way player at even strength over the previous three campaigns, according to HockeyViz's isolated impact data. (Red/positive is good in the offensive zone, while blue/negative is good in the defensive zone.)

The Senators still have $21.43 million in projected cap space next season and remain slightly below the lower limit of $60.2 million, according to CapFriendly. However, forwards Connor Brown, Rudolfs Balcers, and Chris Tierney are all restricted free agents in need of new deals.

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Joe Thornton is staying sharp overseas while mulling his next move in the NHL.

The 41-year-old has joined HC Davos of the National League in Switzerland and will suit up for the club Saturday, the team announced Thursday.

Thornton still has a desire to return for a 23rd NHL season; he will remain with Davos to prepare for the upcoming campaign, according to Sportsnet's Chris Johnston. The NHL has targeted Jan. 1 as a potential starting date for the 2020-21 season, and Thornton hasn't played a game since the San Jose Sharks' last contest on March 11.

The Toronto Maple Leafs and Thornton reportedly have mutual interest in a potential agreement. The future Hall of Famer has spent the last 15 seasons with the Sharks and contributed seven goals and 24 assists over 70 games in 2019-20.

The signing marks Thornton's third stint with HC Davos. He played with the club during the NHL lockouts in 2004-05 and 2012-13, helping the club win a championship in 2005 while leading that postseason in scoring.

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One of the CHL's three leagues is temporarily suspending play in its primary province, while another is aiming to begin the season after the calendar flips.

The QMJHL postponed games involving its East and West Division teams until Oct. 28, the league announced Wednesday. All Maritimes Division clubs will continue playing except for the Moncton Wildcats - though their weekend games are on hold until further notice - because local authorities declared that city an "orange zone" over the weekend, thereby prohibiting organized sports.

"With half of the Quebec-based teams located in red zones, it became almost impossible to operate in these circumstances," the league said in a statement.

Meanwhile, the WHL said its 2020-21 campaign is scheduled to start Jan. 8, 2021, with all regular-season games taking place within the boundaries of each of its four divisions. The league previously stated in June it was targeting Oct. 2, but that was delayed because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The QMJHL began its 2020-21 season in early October. The OHL announced in September it was targeting Dec. 1 to start the next campaign.

All three leagues postponed and ultimately canceled the remaining 2019-20 schedule following the outbreak in March.

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A scary scene ended without injury in upstate New York.

No one was hurt after a Zamboni caught fire at Bill Gray's Regional Iceplex in Rochester on Wednesday night, according to WHAM.

Here are two more angles:

A hose on the vehicle broke, causing fluid to leak onto the motor, arena management told WHAM. The local fire department put out the fire after being called to the facility.

No players were on the ice at the time.

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