The Seattle Kraken hired Jason Botterill to be an assistant general manager to GM Ron Francis and Norm Maciver as director of player personnel, the organization announced Tuesday.
Botterill was the general manager of the Buffalo Sabres for the past three years before being fired in June. The team didn't make the postseason during his tenure. However, Botterill was previously an extremely successful assistant GM for 10 years with the Pittsburgh Penguins, helping to oversee three Stanley Cups.
"Jason brings a great deal of experience and has worked with some of the best in the business," Francis said. Botterill previously worked alongside the likes of Jim Rutherford, Cliff Fletcher, and Ray Shero.
Botterill will work alongside Rick Olczyk, who was already hired as an assistant general manager, as the organization prepares for the expansion draft on July 21.
"Everyone in hockey is extremely excited about what's happening in Seattle, and I am thrilled for this unique opportunity," Botterill said. "I'm looking forward to working with the diverse and talented group that Ron has assembled."
Maciver spent the last 14 seasons working with the Chicago Blackhawks, during which the club also won three Stanley Cups. He played in 500 NHL games as a defenseman and was a teammate of Francis' for three seasons.
"Norm ... brings a lot of experience and knowledge," Francis said. "I know him from our playing days and am pleased to reunite with him. He will do a fantastic job as we build out our team."
Colin Wilson has retired from the NHL following 11 seasons, the NHLPA announced Tuesday.
The forward played nine games for the Colorado Avalanche during the 2019-20 campaign. He said last year that his career was likely over after the veteran didn't heal properly from a double hip surgery and struggled to walk, resulting in another procedure.
Wilson also opened up in The Players' Tribune last year about his ongoing battle with OCD since his rookie season in 2010.
The Nashville Predators selected the now 31-year-old seventh overall in 2008. He spent eight years in Nashville before signing with the Avalanche in 2017. Wilson amassed 113 goals and 173 assists in 632 career games.
The race for the Art Ross is a compelling storyline each NHL season. Under this year's unique circumstances - particularly a shorter campaign and realigned divisions - the pursuit for the scoring title should be as intriguing as ever.
Health will be the most important factor for this season's scoring champion, so let's hope and assume a full season is in the cards for those who made this list.
5. Auston Matthews, Maple Leafs
Mark Blinch / National Hockey League / Getty
2019-20 stats: 70 GP, 47 G, 33 A, 25 PPP
After establishing career highs in goals, points, and points per game last season, Matthews is poised for another massive season as the centerpiece of the Maple Leafs' high-octane attack.
Matthews ranked ninth in scoring in 2019-20 and was one goal away from earning a three-way tie for the Rocket Richard Trophy. After Toronto fired head coach Mike Babcock and replaced him with Sheldon Keefe, Matthews averaged almost two extra minutes of ice time at all strengths. If that lasts for the entire 2021 season, the young sniper should easily be among the league's most prolific producers.
Another factor benefiting Matthews' Art Ross chances is the Leafs' position in the North Division. Toronto is arguably the most talented team in Canada, and Matthews has put up some incredible numbers over his four-year career versus his closest rivals, including 22 points in 15 games against the Ottawa Senators and 17 points in 14 games against the Montreal Canadiens.
4. Jack Eichel, Sabres
Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / Getty
2019-20 stats: 68 GP, 36 G, 42 A, 27 PPP
This could finally be the year the stars align for Eichel. That's not to suggest the Sabres captain hasn't produced in his career, but Eichel played at an MVP level last season, and some key roster reinforcements could help the 24-year-old fully breakout.
Eichel can now lineup alongside a fellow star in Taylor Hall, Buffalo's shocking offseason acquisition. If they're both healthy, that duo has the potential to be scary good at five-on-five and on the power play, where they'll likely be joined by Sam Reinhart, Victor Olofsson, and Rasmus Dahlin. There are plenty of points to be had with that unit on the ice.
Bringing in Eric Staal to play behind Eichel should free up some ice. Staal isn't the player he once was, but the Sabres' second line is much stronger with him in the fold. Opponents now have more to think about when they take on Buffalo instead of zoning in on Eichel for 25 minutes per night.
3. Leon Draisaitl, Oilers
Andy Devlin / National Hockey League / Getty
2019-20 stats: 71 GP, 43 G, 67 A, 44 PPP
Draisaitl was on a 127-point pace before the season shut down. He ended the campaign by winning the Art Ross and Hart trophies, led all skaters in points, points per game, and power-play points, and was the NHL's most utilized forward. That's quite an act to follow. It wouldn't be surprising to see him lead the league in scoring again, but it's only natural he regresses a touch.
The Oilers found a ton of success when they separated Draisaitl and Connor McDavid at five-on-five late in 2019, and Draisaitl's stats surprisingly improved. The German sniper collected plenty of points sharing a power play with McDavid after the split, but Draisaitl shot 21.7% at all strengths over that span, and that number just isn't sustainable.
Draisaitl stands to be among the league leaders in points again this year, but he probably won't be as dominant. He posted an incredible 1.55 points per game last season, but no player has put up a rate over 1.5 in back-to-back seasons since Jaromir Jagr at the turn of the century.
2. Connor McDavid, Oilers
Lars Baron / National Hockey League / Getty
2019-20 stats: 64 GP, 34 G, 63 A, 43 PPP
It's hard to bet against McDavid in a scoring race, particularly if he's healthy all season. Edmonton's captain hasn't claimed the Art Ross in two seasons after winning the trophy in 2017 and 2018, earning runner-ups for the award in his most recent campaigns despite posting 1.49 and 1.52 points per game rates.
McDavid's ridiculous talent and production levels could have us eating our words for ranking him No. 2 on our list. He could be extra motivated to dominate in 2021 after the heavily-favored Oilers were embarrassingly ousted during the play-in round this past summer.
Despite all he's capable of, we still think McDavid will finish behind our next candidate.
1. Nathan MacKinnon, Avalanche
Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / Getty
2019-20 stats: 69 GP, 35 G, 58 A, 31 PPP
You can debate MacKinnon versus McDavid all day long, but the Avalanche forward is in a better position to succeed this season. This juggernaut Colorado team was placed in the realigned West Division for 2021, meaning MacKinnon will have seven games apiece against the Anaheim Ducks, Los Angeles Kings, San Jose Sharks, Arizona Coyotes, and Minnesota Wild. Simply put, he should feast.
MacKinnon established himself as one of the league's most dominant players years ago, and he's coming off his most impressive showing yet. The 25-year-old was on pace for 109 points when the regular season halted, then added 25 points in 15 playoff games.
He's capable of dominating for a full season, and we think this is the year MacKinnon claims a scoring crown and perhaps even more hardware.
Former Edmonton Oilers coach and longtime executive John Muckler has died at 86 years old, the team announced.
Muckler played a pivotal role in the organization's dynasty throughout the 1980s. He was an associate coach on the Oilers' staff for their Stanley Cup championships in 1984 and 1985 before his promotion to assistant head coach. He won two more rings in 1987 and 1988 in that role before winning a fifth as head coach in 1990.
"He was tough, strict, but most importantly fair, and he helped lay the groundwork to make our team more accountable to each other which propelled us to become champions," Wayne Gretzky said in the release. "A wonderful family man and great friend, he personally took my career to another level, and I will always cherish the hours we talked, from breaking down defenses to raising a family. Rest in peace, John, you will be missed."
Muckler also held coaching or managerial positions with the Minnesota North Stars, Buffalo Sabres, Vancouver Canucks, New York Rangers, Ottawa Senators, and then-Phoenix Coyotes.
He was a finalist for the Jack Adams Award in 1994 with Buffalo, and helped build a Senators team that reached the Stanley Cup Final in 2007.
Quebec's public health department will allow the Montreal Canadiens to play home games at the Bell Centre this season, a spokesperson confirmed to The Canadian Press.
"The five provinces concerned and the Public Health Agency of Canada have made recommendations to the NHL teams for the resumption of their activities and the conduct of the 2021 season," said the spokesperson for Quebec's Health and Social Services Ministry. "We have accepted their revised protocol. We are in agreement with the start of training camp on Sunday and the return to play in mid-January, if all goes well."
British Columbia and Alberta have also green-lit home games for NHL teams in those provinces. Manitoba and Ontario haven't given official responses, leaving the Winnipeg Jets, Ottawa Senators, and Toronto Maple Leafs in limbo.
Training camps for all 31 teams are now open, and the regular season is scheduled to start on Jan. 13.
Montreal opens its 2021 campaign with a six-game road trip through Toronto, Edmonton, and Vancouver. The Habs won't play at home until Jan. 28.
Patrik Laine declined Monday to directly address his representatives' reported offseason suggestion that a trade might be best for his client and the Winnipeg Jets.
When asked about the subject, the Finnish forward focused on the present while talking to the assembled media for the first time since the 2019-20 campaign concluded.
"I'm here, aren't I? That's the only thing I'm worried about right now. I'm not in charge of what other people are saying."
Patrik Laine addresses the comments made by his agent saying that a trade from the Jets would be mutually beneficial for the player and team. pic.twitter.com/o9iPPBDQZL
"I don't worry about that stuff," Laine said. "Even Wayne Gretzky got traded. People get traded all the time. It's (a) part of the game you need to be aware of. Right now, I'm just worried about working hard here, being the best player I can be, and (helping) these other guys be at their best."
In October, TSN's Pierre LeBrun reported Laine's agents, Mike Liut and Andy Scott, believed it "probably would be mutually beneficial to both the player and the team if Patrik Laine is traded." LeBrun added that there was "clear communication" between the winger's camp and Jets general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff about the matter.
A few weeks before that, it was reported that the Jets were "serious" about a potential Laine trade.
The 22-year-old collected 28 goals and a career-high 35 assists over 68 games in 2019-20, his fourth NHL season. Winnipeg drafted him second overall in 2016.
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The Hart Trophy market has been incredibly rewarding for bettors during the last six seasons, with Sidney Crosby (3-1) being the last to win league MVP at shorter than 10-1 odds back in the 2013-14 season.
Can Connor McDavid or Nathan MacKinnon buck that trend this season, or will another generously priced star rise to the occasion?
PLAYER
ODDS
Connor McDavid
+460
Nathan MacKinnon
+600
Artemi Panarin
+1000
Leon Draisaitl
+1200
Auston Matthews
+1500
Brayden Point
+1500
Jack Eichel
+1500
Elias Pettersson
+1600
Alexander Ovechkin
+1700
Mitch Marner
+1700
Brad Marchand
+1800
Sebastian Aho (CAR)
+2300
Evgeni Malkin
+2500
Sidney Crosby
+2500
Patrick Kane
+2700
David Pastrnak
+2800
Connor Hellebuyck
+2900
Taylor Hall
+2900
Jonathan Huberdeau
+3100
Mikko Rantanen
+3200
Patrice Bergeron
+3200
Aleksander Barkov
+3500
Steven Stamkos
+3500
Matthew Barzal
+3600
Cale Makar
+4200
Mark Scheifele
+4200
Mark Stone
+4200
Mika Zibanejad
+4200
Nico Hischier
+4200
Quinn Hughes
+4200
John Tavares
+4500
Blake Wheeler
+4800
Carey Price
+4800
Carter Hart
+4800
John Carlson
+4800
Johnny Gaudreau
+4800
Ryan O'Reilly
+4800
Sean Couturier
+4800
Listing players 50-1 or shorter.
Nathan MacKinnon (+600)
Twice a runner-up in Hart voting (2018 and 2020), MacKinnon is primed for a monster season. His 93 points last year were 43 more than the second-most on the Colorado Avalanche, making him the clear catalyst on an NHL powerhouse.
To secure the hardware, he'll have to ensure Colorado lives up lofty expectations, meaning a dominant regular season, a West Division title, and perhaps a Presidents' Trophy. It's all very attainable for what is a truly stacked roster with MacKinnon leading the way.
The 25-year-old brings a fiery intensity to his game and could go scorched earth this year to avenge last season's early playoff exit.
Jack Eichel (+1500)
For a lot of players on this oddsboard, the path to capturing the award is a bit murky. For many, a career year simply won't be enough. But for Eichel, it's relatively straightforward, and that makes him a nice value at this price.
If Eichel can produce at a slightly higher clip than last season and lead the Buffalo Sabres to their first playoff berth since 2010-11, he's going to be at the forefront of the MVP conversation.
He's finally got a running mate on the top line in former Hart Trophy winner Taylor Hall, so it's well within reason to expect a jump in production from Eichel after he put up 78 points in 68 games last season - a 94-point pace over 82 contests. He turned Jeff Skinner into a 40-goal scorer in 2018-19, so imagine what he can do with Hall.
The roadblock here is the Sabres will play in a very tough East Division - in which there are no weak links - and lack the depth and goaltending to compete with many of the top teams. However, if the Sabres make the playoffs this year, it's going to be on Eichel's back.
Andrei Svechnikov (+9000)
While there's a ton of talent atop the oddsboard, it's hardly far-fetched for an off-the-radar player to swoop in and win the award. Leon Draisaitl (2020), Hall (2018), and Patrick Kane (2016) were all significant longshots to win the Hart Trophy when they claimed the honor.
Svechnikov took a big step forward from his rookie to sophomore season, jumping from 0.24 goals per game and 0.45 points per game to 0.35 and 0.90, respectively. Entering his third NHL campaign, Svechnikov could break out in a big way as a cornerstone of one of the league's most potent lines on a Carolina Hurricanes team poised to make the jump from playoff hopefuls to Cup contenders.
At five-on-five, the Hurricanes had a Corsi for percentage of 56.9 (ninth-best) and expected goals for per 60 minutes of 3.1 (fifth-best) when Svechnikov was on the ice last season. He's a dynamic offensive player primed for another statistical leap in his third season, as he now possesses the confidence to match his ability.
Alex Moretto is theScore's supervising editor of sports betting. A journalism graduate from Guelph-Humber University, he has worked in sports media for over a decade. He will bet on anything from the Super Bowl to amateur soccer, is too impatient for futures, and will never trust a kicker. Find him on Twitter @alexjmoretto.
