Nazem Kadri hopes the NHL will do more to acknowledge and support its players in the fight against racism.

"I think with what's going on in the world today with the injustice and the racism issue, I think that it's an important thing to come together and unify as players," the Colorado Avalanche forward said Wednesday. "From a player standpoint, I know we all stick together."

He continued: "From a league standpoint, I think we'd like to maybe see a little more acknowledgment and having them address the situation and know that they stand with their players."

Kadri stood side by side in solidarity with Jordan Greenway, Matt Dumba, and Pierre-Edouard Bellemare before the Avalanche played the Minnesota Wild in an exhibition game earlier Wednesday. All four players are racial minorities.

Several NHL players and clubs have shown support for the Black Lives Matter movement since exhibition games began Tuesday.

"Hockey's a great game and we're all trying to make it better," Kadri said. "We're trying to make the game more diverse and the diversity in the game doesn't happen with racism still going on, so that's an important thing for us to address."

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Mike Babcock has found his next coaching gig.

The former Toronto Maple Leafs coach will join the University of Vermont men's hockey team for the 2020-21 season as a volunteer adviser to the coaching staff, the school announced Wednesday.

"Mike and I have been connected for over 15 years (winning a gold medal together at the 2004 World Championship) and our network goes back even further to our McGill University experience," said Vermont head coach Todd Woodcroft. "He is a premier coach across any athletic platform and as a coaching staff we are very fortunate to be able to draw from his experiences. Mike's knowledge, his network, and, above all else, the modern lens he uses to look at the game of hockey will help accelerate the progression of our entire program."

The Maple Leafs fired the veteran coach early in the 2019-20 season after a lackluster start to the campaign. Babcock will not take a salary with the University of Vermont, but his contract with Toronto runs through the 2022-23 season with an average annual value of $6.25 million, according to CapFriendly.com.

Babcock has coached 1,301 NHL games and won a Stanley Cup with the Detroit Red Wings in 2008. He's also coached Team Canada at various international tournaments, winning gold medals at the Olympics, IIHF World Junior Championship, and IIHF World Championship.

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The matchup between the New York Rangers and Carolina Hurricanes is arguably one of the most unpredictable of all the play-in series. There's enough talent on both teams to make some serious noise in the playoffs, but only one will advance.

The Hurricanes finished the regular season with a better record, but this series may be more even than many think. Let's break it down.

Schedule

*If necessary

Tale of the tape

Season series

The Rangers dominated the Hurricanes, sweeping the season series 4-0. New York didn't even concede a point to Carolina, winning all four games in regulation.

Key players to watch

Sebastian Aho

It's hard to believe Aho turned only 23 years old last week. The young Finnish star has now strung together two straight elite seasons, recording 68 goals and 151 points over his last 150 games. In what should be a high-flying series, the Hurricanes will need Aho to be at the top of his game.

The majority of the Hurricanes' scoring comes from their top line, which features Aho centering Andrei Svechnikov and Teuvo Teravainen. The trio combined for 77 markers this season, accounting for 40% of the club's goals. Among forwards who have logged 800-plus minutes of ice time this season, Aho ranks eighth in Corsi For rating at 56.79. Teravainen and Svechnikov rank just ahead of him in sixth and seventh, respectively.

Aho creates magic, and he proved himself in his first taste of the playoffs last season, posting 12 points in 15 contests. The Hurricanes play a sound defensive game, but they'll depend on Aho and the top line to generate offense.

Mika Zibanejad

Most will focus on Hart Trophy nominee Artemi Panarin when analyzing the Rangers, but Zibanejad deserves a lot of attention, too. It's clear what Panarin brings to the table, but Zibanejad showed this season he's just as dangerous when hot.

The 27-year-old led the Rangers with 41 goals despite playing only 57 games. The center's goals-per-game rate (0.72) was the NHL's best this season. He was arguably the league's hottest player before the campaign was paused on March 12, racking up 25 goals and 44 points in the 31 games since Jan. 1.

New York now hopes Zibanejad picks up where he left off, as beating the Rangers will be much more difficult if he catches fire.

Hurricanes can win if ...

The Hurricanes need to stick to their identity. Carolina is a pesky team that can play both sides of the puck extremely well and strike at any moment.

The Canes are one of the league's best possession teams. They rank 11th in goals for and 11th in goals against. Their power play is the league's eighth-best, while the team's penalty kill ranks fourth.

Carolina is an extremely balanced squad, and the Hurricanes can play a different style depending on their opponent or the game situation. The Rangers will certainly have their hands full.

Rangers can win if ...

It may be a tough pill to swallow for Rangers fans, but rookie netminder Igor Shesterkin needs to be in net for most of the series for New York to have a chance. The Russian phenom only played in 12 games this season, but he went 10-2-0 with a great .932 save percentage.

The Rangers allowed a lot of goals while spending plenty of time in the defensive zone this campaign. They ranked 23rd in goals against per game (3.14), 28th in five-on-five Corsi For (46.73%), and allowed the ninth-most shots on goal (1,789).

As good as Henrik Lundqvist has been in the past, the Hurricanes will test the Rangers often. Yes, he played extremely well in three games against Carolina this season. But the 38-year-old is coming off his worst statistical campaign. Nearly eight months after his last game versus Carolina, it will be a whole new story in the qualifying round.

With a guaranteed back-to-back game in the series, Lundqvist should get at least one start. Overall, though, Shesterkin is much more capable of weathering the storm in a short series with little room for error.

X-factors

Jaccob Slavin

When Dougie Hamilton went down with a broken leg in January, Slavin stepped up to fill the gap on the blue line, playing significant minutes in mostly a shutdown defensive role. But he also chipped in offensively with six goals and 30 assists.

He ranked sixth among all players in shorthanded ice time, and Slavin is a large reason why Carolina boasts one of the league's best penalty kills. With Hamilton nursing a new injury and possibly unavailable for most of the qualifying round, Slavin will need to step up once again.

Tony DeAngelo

DeAngelo produced a breakout year with the Rangers this season, recording 15 goals and adding 38 assists in 68 games. He finished the campaign ranked fourth among all defensemen in points.

The 24-year-old can be a bit of a defensive liability. He starts nearly 60% of his shifts in the offensive zone, but that's not necessarily an issue. If he can continue his elite offensive play and help keep the puck in the Hurricanes' zone as much as possible, DeAngelo will be a very valuable asset for the Rangers.

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As players and staff trickle into the Edmonton and Toronto secure zones on Sunday, pictures showing the inside of the bubbles have begun to emerge.

When the league announced the details of its in-game presentation earlier this week, it revealed there will be LED lights, monitors, and stages surrounding the ice to enhance the experience for viewers.

Here's what the rinks will look like in Edmonton and Toronto:

Many wondered what logos will be at center ice, and we now know what Edmonton's ice will feature:

There's been talk of lounges in the arenas, where players can hang out and watch other games when they're not playing. Here's one in Edmonton:

The Nashville Predators were one of the first teams to arrive in Edmonton, and there were touching surprises waiting for the players in their rooms:

Meanwhile, in Toronto, barriers have been set up around the bubble to ensure players can get to and from Scotiabank Arena safely:

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Arizona Coyotes owner Alex Meruelo will ask NHL commissioner Gary Bettman to adjudicate the split between the organization and former general manager John Chayka, sources told Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.

It was revealed earlier Sunday that Chayka terminated his contract with the team despite having three years remaining. The exact reason for his departure is unclear.

A disruption in the relationship between Chayka and ownership occurred after Meruelo was approached around a month ago by another NHL owner for permission to speak to Chayka about a job opportunity, according to Friedman. Meruelo initially denied the request but eventually allowed it to happen.

That conversation involved an ownership group with teams in other leagues, which meant Chayka could have involvement in those teams, according to Friedman.

Coyotes ownership insists that Chayka's breach of his contract won't allow him to serve as president of hockey operations or general manager of another team in the league for the life of his deal, according to AZcoyotesinsider.com's Craig Morgan.

The Coyotes released a statement condemning Chayka's actions, saying that he "quit" and that the organization is "disappointed" in him. Chayka responded by saying that "the situation created by ownership" made it impossible for him to remain the team's general manager.

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Chicago Blackhawks goaltender Corey Crawford has been included on the team's 31-player postseason roster, a source told The Athletic's Scott Powers.

The veteran netminder has been deemed "unfit to participate" in the team's training camp since it began July 13, although no reason has been given for his absence. Crawford didn't participate in the team's voluntary workouts that began June 8, either.

The 35-year-old appeared in 40 games this season after missing 80 contests over the last two seasons due to concussions. He put together a 16-20-3 record with a 2.77 goals-against average and .917 save percentage.

Captain Jonathan Toews expressed confidence in the team's backup goalies if Crawford is unable to go when the Blackhawks take on the Edmonton Oilers in the qualifying round.

"We do feel confident in (Malcolm Subban), we do feel confident in (Collin Delia)," Toews said after practice Thursday, according to NHL.com's Tracey Myers. "Those guys are ready for the opportunity, they've played well when they've gotten NHL starts before. That's all we can really do is play our best defensive hockey, help out our goaltenders. We know those guys can do the job, and whatever happens to (Crawford), it's not fair to put that level of pressure on him right now."

Subban and Delia didn't start a game for Chicago this season. Subban was acquired from the Vegas Golden Knights at the trade deadline, while Delia spent the entire season in the AHL.

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The NHL revealed a detailed plan on Thursday for the final phase of its return to play, including information about general rules and safety measures, life in the bubble for players and staff, and how broadcasts and game presentations will look.

The league will test every person - players, team staff, event staff, and hotel staff - in the bubble daily and expects to receive results within 24 hours.

A fencing system will run through and enclose the entirety of the bubbles to keep everyone inside. There will be 97 security guards and health ambassadors throughout the secure zones in Toronto and 125 in Edmonton.

The JW Marriott, Sutton Place Hotel, and Delta Hotels will be used in Edmonton. All three are within walking distance to Rogers Place Arena.

In Toronto, players and staff will be housed at Hotel X and the Fairmont Royal York Hotel.

The players will have access to a number of amenities in both cities. Select restaurants will already be in the secure zones, but some pop-ups will also be created with the help of local chefs and restaurants. They will all be open early in the morning until late at night, and a variety of options will be available.

Players and staff will also have access to a concierge system that will work with outside delivery companies to provide those in the bubble with food, pharmaceutical needs, and other goods.

There will be space for indoor and outdoor activities, include ping pong, movie theaters, tennis, basketball, and pickleball. Each city will have at least 15 workout facilities and outdoor areas for people to train. Players in Toronto will also have access to BMO Field.

Each arena will have dedicated lounges where players can stay after games to watch other contests. Hotels are also fitted with pools and patios, which players will have access to.

The league will use video, audio, and lighting to its advantage to ensure that each game looks different from the previous one. There will be LED screens, monitors, and stages around the ice to create a unique look for television audiences.

Regular NHL broadcasts utilize 20 cameras per game, whereas broadcasts for the upcoming playoffs will use 32. Teams will have their personal goal songs, goal horns, in-arena music compilations, and videos.

The league also partnered with EA Sports to use its library of in-game sounds for crowd noise. It also received videos from fans of all 24 teams that will replicate team-specific chants.

The qualifying round of the 24-team tournament is set to kick off on Aug. 1. Teams are expected to arrive in their respective hub cities by July 26.

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The Columbus Blue Jackets have been practicing for nearly two weeks now, and head coach John Tortorella doesn't love what he's seen from some of his players.

"My concern is some of the people that we are going to need to make a difference for us to win a series, I don't think they're ready right now," Tortorella said after practice Thursday, according to NHL.com's Craig Merz. "I don't think they're doing the things they need to do right now to get ready for that series. Not a bunch. A few. A couple."

Columbus is gearing up to take on the Toronto Maple Leafs in the best-of-five play-in round. The Blue Jackets finished the season with a 33-22-15 record and enter the qualifying round as the ninth seed in the Eastern Conference.

"For the most part, I've liked what I've seen here," Tortorella continued. "It's just the two or three guys that are pretty important people. It's a concern of mine. ... I'm not so sure we get total concentration out of some key people. That's what we're working to try to get."

The Blue Jackets hit the ice Thursday after a day off. Tortorella stopped practice and yelled at the team after 30 seconds of the opening drill, according to Merz.

Tortorella was recently named a finalist for the Jack Adams Trophy, though he's entering unknown territory with the upcoming playoff format after spending nearly five months away from hockey.

"This isn't getting ready for the regular season and then trying to find your game in 15 games during the regular season. This is a sprint. And I think some guys have been dead-on right from the start," Tortorella said. "Other guys, not so much. I think we're in single digits right now as far as getting ready to play. I don't want us to fall into this trap of wading in. We need to be ready to go."

The first game of the series is on Aug. 2.

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Despite having the seventh-best record in the entire league, the Pittsburgh Penguins find themselves in a series against the 24th overall Montreal Canadiens with a playoff berth at stake.

All signs point to the Penguins having the edge, but absolutely anything can happen in hockey, especially in a best-of-five series. Let's take a look at the upcoming matchup between these two teams.

Schedule

*If necessary

Tale of the tape

Season series

The Canadiens dropped two out of three of their matchups with the Penguins this season, but things were actually pretty even between the two clubs. Montreal won 4-1 in the first meeting, lost 3-2 in overtime in the second, and lost 4-1 in the final match. Goaltender Carey Price started all three games, while Sidney Crosby missed two of them due to injury.

Montreal last matched up with Pittsburgh in the second round of the 2010 postseason. The Canadiens shocked the high-flying Penguins and defeated them in seven games.

Key players to watch

Carey Price

It's no surprise that all eyes will be on Price. For years, he's been the Canadiens' backbone. The Habs often only go as far as Price can take them. When he's at the top of his game, Montreal has shown that it is capable of winning in the playoffs.

Price's play hasn't been all that consistent over the past three seasons, but he's still shown flashes of brilliance. That inconsistency could be due to fatigue - since the beginning of the 2016-17 season, Price has started the fourth-most games in the league (232). He's also been tasked with backstopping a team that's prone to defensive lapses. The four months of rest the 32-year-old received during the season's hiatus could just be what he needed to regain his MVP form.

Sidney Crosby

It also comes as no surprise that Crosby will be the No. 1 player to watch from Pittsburgh. He missed a handful of games due to injury this season but should enter the play-in round fully rested and ready to go. The captain's playoff resume is well-known as he sets out to pursue a fourth Stanley Cup.

In 40 career regular-season games against the Canadiens, Crosby recorded 19 goals and 52 points. Since 2008-09, the Penguins star ranks first in the league in playoff points (154) and points per game (1.11) among players with at least 90 games played. It's hard to believe that Crosby will turn 33 in August, but his play has yet to show any sort of meaningful decline - which means we should see a vintage performance from the star.

Canadiens can win if ...

The Canadiens face the tough task of slowing down the Penguins' lethal top six. With Crosby and Evgeni Malkin down the middle, Montreal needs to find a way to neutralize the pair of superstars and the skilled players that surround them.

A lot of things have to go right for Montreal to take this series. The Canadiens are usually able to muster up some goals, but they're often buried by their poor play on defense and special teams. Price can only do so much, and the players in front of him will need to step up to limit the Penguins' chances.

Penguins can win if ...

Despite battling through injuries to key players all season long, the Penguins still managed to finish near the top of the league in goals per game. One thing that didn't click as usual for Pittsburgh was its power play, which finished 16th in the league. Over the past three seasons, Pittsburgh's power play was the third-best in the league, converting at a 23.8% rate.

If Pittsburgh can get its special teams back on track, it will do wonders. Montreal's penalty kill has been one of the worst in the league over the past three years, and it will be difficult for the Canadiens to suppress Pittsburgh's power play. The Penguins' man-advantage unit was missing the majority of its mainstays throughout the season. Now that they're expected to be mostly healthy, the power play has a good chance to rebound, which gives the Penguins a significant advantage.

X-factors

Phillip Danault

Danault is easily the Canadiens' most unheralded player. His point totals over the years may not match other No. 1 centers around the league, but what he brings on both sides of the puck is extremely valuable. As the team's top center, he will be tasked with containing either Crosby or Malkin for the majority of the time he's on the ice.

The Canadiens' top line consists of Tomas Tatar, Brendan Gallagher, and Danault, who rank first, second, and third in the league, respectively, in Corsi For percentage. That is largely due to Danault's elite defensive skills, and the stat is even more impressive considering that Danault begins 54.12% of his shifts in the defensive zone.

Whether the Canadiens can shut down the Penguins to some extent depends in significant part on Danault.

Jake Guentzel

Guentzel missed a good chunk of the season after undergoing shoulder surgery in December. Considering he hasn't played a hockey game in over six months, his game could have a bit of rust - but at this point, many players are in the same boat.

He is the Penguins' leading goal-scorer (60) over the past two regular seasons and the leading goal-scorer (24) in the playoffs over the past three seasons. If he can find his game quickly during the qualifying series, the Penguins will be that much harder to beat.

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Former Vancouver Canucks defenseman and coach Jack McIlhargey died at age 68 after battling cancer, the team announced Monday.

McIlhargey spent time with the Canucks as a player from the 1976-77 season until 1979-1980. He played in 167 games with the club, amassing 24 points and over 400 penalty minutes.

He also logged a five-year stint with the Philadelphia Flyers and two seasons with the Hartford Whalers. McIlhargey appeared in 393 career games, totaling 47 points and 1,102 penalty minutes.

The Flyers released the following statement:

After retiring from playing, McIlhargey rejoined the Canucks in 1985 as an assistant coach, and he went on to spend the next 20 years coaching and scouting at various levels within the organization. He finished his coaching career as a Flyers assistant from 2007 to 2010.

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