Sullivan added that he doesn't know how long it will take for Kapanen's issues to be resolved.
The 24-year-old Finn was acquired in an offseason trade with the Toronto Maple Leafs for a package that included a 2020 first-round pick (Rodion Amirov) and prospect Filip Hallander.
Kapanen recorded 13 goals and 23 assists in 69 games with the Maple Leafs last season. He was projected to start the upcoming campaign on Pittsburgh's top line with Sidney Crosby and Jake Guentzel.
"To start with them is pretty special," he said, according to the Toronto Sun's Lance Hornby. "I feel young again."
Thornton has played center almost exclusively throughout his 22-year NHL career, but he's fine with moving to left wing.
"I played like a rover in San Jose," the veteran continued, according to the Toronto Sun's Terry Koshan. "I feel comfortable there."
Thornton also added that he played left wing in Switzerland with HC Davos, according to NHL.com's Mike Zeisberger.
Thornton is among the game's best all-time playmakers, so pairing him with one of the league's top snipers in Matthews could pay dividends. However, there are questions regarding whether Thornton can keep up with Toronto's young guns.
The future Hall of Famer tallied seven goals and 24 assists in 70 games with the San Jose Sharks last season.
General manager Jim Rutherford believes he can keep the Pittsburgh Penguins' Stanley Cup window open in the latter stages of the Sidney Crosby era by making a splash in free agency.
The Pens only project to hold $5.4 million in cap space next offseason, according to CapFriendly. However, they could have nearly $35 million in flexibility after the 2022 campaign when Evgeni Malkin, Kris Letang, Bryan Rust, and others come off the books. That might be when Rutherford plans to strike.
"The key to this as we go forward a couple of years down the road will be plugging in an impact player into the lineup. Maybe a couple of impact players. Not just a good player, but an impact guy," Rutherford told The Athletic's Josh Yohe. "It's hard to get the truly impactful guys, players like Crosby, Malkin, and Letang. But the time will come when we'll have to add one of those types of players.
"It's something we'll probably have to do through free agency. We'll have to find the right year to do it, but the time will come when we'll need to find a truly impactful player who is probably in his mid-20s. As the years go on and some of the veterans eventually move out of our lineup, we'll have to get two, three guys in their mid-20s. Impactful players. We can do it."
It's typically difficult to add high-impact players in their mid-20s through unrestricted free agency. Most players are in their late-20s or early-30s when they hit the open market. Nevertheless, the 2022 UFA class includes a long list of players who should still be in their primes. Here are the most noteworthy:
Player
Position
2022 Age
Aleksander Barkov
C
26
Mika Zibanejad
C
29
Sean Couturier
C
29
Filip Forsberg
LW
27
Johnny Gaudreau
LW
28
Seth Jones
D
27
Ryan Pulock
D
27
Morgan Rielly
D
28
John Klingberg
D
29
*Age as of July 1, 2022
Of course, many of these players could re-sign with their current clubs before reaching free agency. However, the idea that a superstar free agent would be intrigued by possibly playing with Crosby and Malkin in the duo's final years isn't lost on Rutherford.
"Nope," the Hall of Fame executive said with a laugh.
When considering which NHL teams to watch, several factors come into play.
While better teams are always easier on the eyes, it should be noted that watchability isn't purely about the top clubs. Instead, this is all about how entertaining they'll be.
The two teams atop this list have been among the league's most electrifying for some time, but there are other squads - including a pair of New York-based franchises - that are now appointment viewing after years of mediocrity.
Here's how we rank the 31 NHL teams purely in terms of watchability:
1. Colorado Avalanche
There are just so many reasons to grab your popcorn and tune in to an Avalanche game. Nathan MacKinnon is one of the NHL's best and most exciting players, and his line with Gabriel Landeskog and Mikko Rantanen remains one of the league's most explosive units. Cale Makar is a burgeoning star on the back end who's already worth the price of admission.
The supporting cast of Nazem Kadri and Andre Burakovsky is a lot of fun, too. Colorado's roster oozes talent - even moreso after adding Brandon Saad and Devon Toews. There's little doubt this is the NHL's most watchable team.
2. Tampa Bay Lightning
Heading into the 2020-21 season, the Lightning were all but locked in at No. 1 on this list, but losing arguably their most dynamic player makes them slightly less appealing. That being said, the defending Stanley Cup champions are still primed to be one of the league's absolute best and most entertaining squads.
It will be interesting to see how they fare without Nikita Kucherov for the regular season and with Steven Stamkos coming off an injury that derailed his 2019-20 campaign. Those subplots and Tampa Bay's deep collection of skill ensure the team will again be one of the NHL's most intriguing.
3. Vegas Golden Knights
The Golden Knights have been enjoyable to follow since they entered the league, but this edition of the club promises to be the most riveting. Alex Pietrangelo joins a deep group that already includes Max Pacioretty, Mark Stone, and Shea Theodore, making Vegas more enticing than ever. The goalie drama is just the icing on the cake.
4. Edmonton Oilers
Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / Getty
Even if the Oilers only boasted Connor McDavid they'd rank highly on this list. But Leon Draisaitl has proven he's much more than just McDavid's sidekick, following up his stellar 2018-19 by winning the Hart and Art Ross last season. Edmonton doesn't have a ton of depth, but its two-headed monster frequently provides ample incentive to watch the team.
There's long been one big reason to watch Capitals games, as Alex Ovechkin is always worth your eyes for two-and-a-half hours; Evgeni Kuznetsov, John Carlson, and Nicklas Backstrom provide entertainment of their own. However, it remains to be seen how exciting they'll be under new head coach Peter Laviolette.
8. New York Rangers
Bruce Bennett / Getty Images Sport / Getty
The Rangers were a blast last season, with Artemi Panarin, Mika Zibanejad, Chris Kreider, and Co. providing frequent highlights and playing aesthetically pleasing hockey. With top prospect Alexis Lafreniere coming aboard and Igor Shesterkin regularly manning the crease, this team on the rise will be a show worthy of Broadway.
9. Vancouver Canucks
The Canucks lost a bunch of key players in free agency and are putting a lot of faith in Thatcher Demko and Braden Holtby. However, Vancouver's core led by Elias Pettersson and Quinn Hughes has cemented the club as one of the NHL's most watchable squads, and that should remain the case despite downgrades elsewhere on the roster.
10. Buffalo Sabres
Taylor Hall and Jack Eichel? Enough said. That combination alone instantly makes the Sabres must-watch material, and many will be checking out their games out of curiosity. Buffalo also has Rasmus Dahlin and the Eric Staal-Jeff Skinner reunion going for it. It's hard to believe, but this is suddenly one of the NHL's most compelling clubs.
11. Calgary Flames
The Flames boast one of the most talented top-six forward groups in the NHL. Though they've underachieved as a team of late, their games always provide a reason to watch, from Johnny Gaudreau's skill to Matthew Tkachuk's tenacity. Calgary's goaltending upgrade of Jacob Markstrom should mean more team victories, and winners are always more appealing.
12. Philadelphia Flyers
Chase Agnello-Dean / National Hockey League / Getty
The Flyers should be competitive this season after proving to be one of the NHL's best clubs in 2019-20. Carter Hart is one of the league's most promising goalies, and Sean Couturier is rock-solid at both ends. Don't overlook the Flyers due to the lack of superstars. They've got depth and are a sneaky fun watch.
13. Boston Bruins
The Bruins' vaunted top line is still a big draw, but after losing Torey Krug and Zdeno Chara in free agency, the club doesn't project to be as thrilling as it was in past seasons. Boston should still be fairly competitive, but this squad won't have the same sizzle, especially with David Pastrnak banged up to begin the campaign.
14. Pittsburgh Penguins
Much like the Bruins, the Penguins still possess some otherworldly talent, but questionable offseason moves have left them with a depleted supporting cast. Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin can still turn heads, but Pittsburgh doesn't have the allure it once had.
15. Carolina Hurricanes
The Hurricanes may not be the best team in the NHL, but they should once again be a whole lot of fun. Sebastian Aho is a star, Andrei Svechnikov can seemingly pull off "The Michigan" at will, and the "Bunch of Jerks" boast a deep defensive group led by Dougie Hamilton.
16. Dallas Stars
Len Redkoles / National Hockey League / Getty
Sometimes a great team isn't necessarily the most exciting one - the Stars are a prime example of that. Dallas' defense, stellar goaltending, and surprising contributions from key veterans helped the team advance to the Stanley Cup Final last season. They enter 2020-21 with Tyler Seguin and Ben Bishop out long term, so that won't help them in terms of watchability.
17. St. Louis Blues
The Blues are still a good team - they have much of the same core that won the Stanley Cup in 2019. But, going from Vladimir Tarasenko to Mike Hoffman and from Pietrangelo to Torey Krug makes them less exciting. It may hurt the club in the win column, too.
18. Montreal Canadiens
The Canadiens made some big splashes this offseason and are primed to take a step forward with some new faces in 2020-21. Tyler Toffoli, Josh Anderson, and promising import Alexander Romanov could turn an already interesting Montreal squad led by Carey Price into one that warrants regular viewing.
19. Chicago Blackhawks
Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews entertained fans for years, but Toews is now out indefinitely, and the Blackhawks are in a rebuilding phase after a tumultuous offseason. As captivating as Kane is, Chicago won't be nearly as watchable this season, and the club's likely struggles will make it tough to follow the star sniper.
20. Florida Panthers
Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / Getty
The Panthers ranked sixth in the NHL in goals per game last season, but that was with Hoffman and Evgenii Dadonov in the fold. Both players departed in free agency, and while Aleksander Barkov and Jonathan Huberdeau move the needle to a degree, it's simply not enough.
21. New York Islanders
The Islanders almost pride themselves on being a dull, yet competitive team. New York does have one standout sparkplug with unsigned dynamo Mathew Barzal (who has yet to report to camp), but the club lost a slew of players in the offseason and ranked in the bottom third of the league offensively in 2019-20.
22. Ottawa Senators
The Senators project to be far more watchable than their record may indicate. A young group led by Brady Tkachuk and Thomas Chabot will be bolstered by uber-prospect Tim Stuetzle, who'll still be glowing after a stellar World Junior Championship.
23. Minnesota Wild
The Wild are the epitome of mediocre and have been for a long time. However, they will have one tantalizing new reason to watch their games because of highly touted newcomer Kirill Kaprizov.
24. Columbus Blue Jackets
Elsa / Getty Images Sport / Getty
The Blue Jackets have their moments (just ask the Maple Leafs) and their share of skilled players, including goaltending phenom Elvis Merzlikins. However, John Tortorella's style of play doesn't lend itself to entertainment, and trading the underrated Pierre-Luc Dubois would only exacerbate that.
25. Nashville Predators
Remember when the Predators were truly relevant? Those days are behind them, and though they possess more than a few talented players, their style of play and subpar performance in 2019-20 suggest more of the same is in store this season.
26. New Jersey Devils
It's going to be another long season for the Devils, whose division got even tougher in the NHL's 2020-21 realignment. Jack Hughes, Nico Hischier, and P.K. Subban provide reason for optimism, but few fans will be itching to watch this team.
27. San Jose Sharks
Evander Kane is popcorn-worthy, but can Erik Karlsson stay healthy? It wasn't long ago the Sharks were a perennial contender that couldn't be ignored, but San Jose is far from competitive now and likely won't be for a while.
28. Arizona Coyotes
Jeff Vinnick / Getty Images Sport / Getty
The Coyotes had a dreadful offseason for several reasons, but the biggest regret will be Hall's departure. Arizona wasn't very intriguing before losing its marquee player, and the team just won't be watchable without him. That is, unless they're rocking those sweet Kachina jerseys.
29. Detroit Red Wings
The NHL's worst team in 2019-20 will probably be a difficult watch this season, but new arrivals Bobby Ryan, Vladislav Namestnikov, and Marc Staal - along with a healthy Anthony Mantha - will keep them from being the least interesting squad.
30. Los Angeles Kings
Quinton Byfield can't get to L.A. soon enough. It's unclear whether he'll begin the season in the NHL, and he may need a bit of seasoning before he's ready to dominate at the highest level. In the meantime, the Kings won't have much to write home about.
31. Anaheim Ducks
The Ducks were the the league's fifth-worst team last season, and there's little reason to believe they'll be an easier watch in 2020-21. Tuning in to see John Gibson get bombarded every game is hardly incentive to make time for Anaheim, despite the goaltender's best efforts.
Pierre-Luc Dubois declined to confirm his apparent desire to be traded when asked about it Sunday, but the Columbus Blue Jackets forward said he hopes the situation doesn't linger in the dressing room.
"I'm going to be the best player I can be, the best teammate I can be, (and) the best person I can be," Dubois told reporters. "I don't want it to be a distraction, so I think that's the only way.
"I think if I go out there and I work hard in practices, have a good attitude, work hard in games, (and) play well, I think it's not a distraction. It's if I don't do those things that it could become (one), but I know the attitude I'm going to have. I know that I'm going to work hard, and I know I'm going to have a good attitude and be a good teammate. So I hope it's not a distraction."
The 22-year-old, who was a restricted free agent, signed a two-year, $10-million extension with Columbus on Thursday. Soon afterward, it was reported his camp preferred a short-term deal to give general manager Jarmo Kekalainen time to trade him and that the relationship between Dubois and the team soured during the recently concluded talks.
Dubois didn't directly respond when asked to elaborate on the report, instead repeatedly stating the negotiations "will remain private."
Meanwhile, Blue Jackets head coach John Tortorella revealed Sunday that he hasn't spoken to Dubois, but they plan to deal with the situation as a team.
"I think it's important that it belongs in the room where everybody's involved with it and understanding what's going on," Tortorella said. " ... Not only this situation but others as the year goes on, we talk about it as men, and we talk about it in a group setting."
Tortorella added that he's focusing on the players who are committed to remaining with the club.
"I'm not disappointed. I am going to ... put time into the people that want to be here. This isn't new for us .... We're not going to overthink this. We're going to have a conversation, everybody's going to understand where everybody stands ... and then we're going to get about our business and get ready to play."
The Blue Jackets have previously been in similar situations, as both Artemi Panarin and Sergei Bobrovsky indicated they weren't interested in re-signing before leaving for other clubs in free agency in 2019. However, those two stars were pending UFAs.
The Isles currently have just $3.9 million in projected cap space, according to CapFriendly, but the club can create an additional $6 million in flexibility once Johnny Boychuk is placed on long-term injured reserve. The veteran blue-liner recently ended his playing career due to an eye injury.
Trotz is preparing to begin the season without his No. 1 center.
"You have to make sure you're adaptable," he said. "We're going to worry about who we can put on the ice."
Trotz did say Barzal is currently on Long Island. If the two sides can come to an agreement, he should be able to join the team almost immediately.
Barzal is the heartbeat of the Islanders' attack. New York finished with the league's 23rd-ranked offense last season, but Barzal racked up a team-leading 60 points in 68 games.
The Chicago Blackhawks re-signed restricted free-agent center Dylan Strome to a two-year contract with an average annual value of $3 million, the team announced Sunday.
Strome is expected to serve as the Blackhawks' top center to begin the season, with Kirby Dach expected to miss the entire campaign with a fractured wrist and Jonathan Toews out indefinitely with an illness.
"We believe Dylan is ready to take the next step in his career and build off the strides he has made in his first two years in Chicago," said Blackhawks president of hockey operations and general manager Stan Bowman. "He has great offensive instincts and brings creativity and skill to our team. We are thrilled he is now signed and able to join us tomorrow for the start of training camp."
The 23-year-old's career has taken off ever since the Arizona Coyotes traded him to Chicago in November 2018, along with Brendan Perlini, in exchange for Nick Schmaltz. Strome has tallied 29 goals and 60 assists in 116 career games with the Blackhawks.
Strome was selected third overall by the Coyotes at the 2015 draft.
British Columbia joined Alberta as the lone Canadian provinces to approve NHL games for the upcoming season.
B.C. Premier John Horgan made the announcement Sunday.
After speaking with @fr_aquilini yesterday about the NHL’s return-to-play plan, I’m pleased to confirm the enhanced health measures being put in place for the upcoming season mean games can safely be played here in BC.
Alberta green-lit NHL games Thursday. Canada's federal government gave the go-ahead for training camps north of the border that same day.
Manitoba, Ontario, and Quebec haven't consented to teams in those provinces hosting games. On Thursday, a Manitoba government spokesperson told The Canadian Press that negotiations were ongoing.
The seven Canadian NHL clubs will play in the same division as part of the NHL's 2020-21 realignment.
