Darnell Nurse believes his uncertain contractual status will soon be a thing of the past.

The Edmonton Oilers defenseman is coming off his entry-level deal and remains a restricted free agent, but is optimistic about signing a new pact as training camp looms.

Oilers general manager Peter Chiarelli shares Nurse's optimism, or at least he did in early August. "He is a player we want to get signed and we will sign," he told 630 CHED, according to Paul Gazzola of the team's website. "... There are just different leverage points and it's no accident that there is a long list of restricted free agents (in the NHL). It happens every year and Darnell is in that group."

Nurse had a breakout season in 2017-18, posting career highs of six goals and 20 assists. The 23-year-old finished second on Edmonton in ice time, seeing more than 22 minutes a night, and projects to be relied upon even more heavily this year following the devastating injury to fellow blue-liner Andrej Sekera.

"We keep a consistent dialogue but there's a little bit of a lull," Chiarelli added. "Generally, they're important players if you look at the list and the teams keep working away at it. It's not really in the limelight and you don't hear about it because it's a bit of a slower process."

The Oilers open the season against the New Jersey Devils on Oct. 6.

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Auston Matthews is under contract for only one more year, and that could still be the case when the Toronto Maple Leafs open the regular season on Oct. 3.

The superstar forward was eligible to sign a new deal as of July 1, and while he's indicated that negotiations have begun, he's mostly remained in the background of those discussions.

"I don't know if I'll sign a new contract before the season or not," Matthews told NHL.com's Dave Hogg. "I'm not really involved with the talks. That's something being dealt with by my agents and team management. They've told me that it will get done when it gets done, and that's fine."

What that new contract could look like remains unknown. However, Matthews and his camp have a few comparables at their disposal, including Buffalo Sabres center Jack Eichel ($10 million), Edmonton Oilers star Connor McDavid ($12.5 million), and Maple Leafs summer addition John Tavares ($11 million).

While there is no doubt that a Matthews extension is a priority for Maple Leafs general manager Kyle Dubas, the team also has a more pressing matter at hand: the contract status of fellow young forward William Nylander, who remains a restricted free-agent.

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A one-year contract doesn't mean Kevin Hayes isn't long for the Big Apple.

In an ideal world, the veteran forward would retire as a member of the New York Rangers. He says that his future with the club shouldn't be forecasted entirely by his recently inked one-year extension.

"I'm a Boston kid, but I absolutely love New York City and I would love to be there my entire career," Hayes told NHL.com's Dan Rosen. "At the moment, (a one-year contract) was best for both sides. We couldn't really come to a long-term agreement and a one-year deal is what came out of it.

"I'm not treating it like I'll be out of there in February or at the end of the year. Everyone keeps saying UFA at the end of the year, but that had nothing to do with the decision."

As Hayes notes, unless he signs a new contract before next July 1, he'll be free to sign with another club next summer, but the 26-year-old isn't setting his sights anywhere but Manhattan, while interest in retaining his services appears to be shared by team management.

"In a perfect world, Kevin Hayes is here after one more year and we keep going with him. Everything goes the way he wants it to and we do," Rangers general manager Jeff Gorton told Rosen. "We certainly have (cap) room to keep him and move forward, it's just a matter of the contract. As we went through the process, the one-year deal seemed to be the best fit for what we're doing right now."

In 76 games with the Rangers last season, Hayes netted a career-high 25 goals, and while his offensive contributions certainly can't be overlooked, he's also focused on growing his game and providing even more value for his team.

"Points and goals, that stuff is cool individually, but that's not why we play," Hayes added. "You have to be the right player on and off the ice every day. You have to show the coaches and the organization that you're a leader.

"I'm not really too worried about scoring 25 or 30 goals. I would like to, but it's not really a priority for me. It's showing up to the rink every day and showing the young guys what it takes to be a pro. I've had these talks with (Gorton) and (Rangers head coach David Quinn). I think it'll all come together."

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The feeling around the Buffalo Sabres locker room is that the offseason changes are going to lead to a bounce-back season.

Jack Eichel is one player who feels that way, and he points to the shake-ups made this summer by general manager Jason Botterill as a reason to believe in Buffalo this season.

"There's a lot of new faces in there. So I think a lot of the people with a sour taste in their mouths from the last few years have either gotten over it or aren't in the locker room anymore," Eichel told NHL.com's Amalie Benjamin. "I think it's a good opportunity for us to just prove ourselves to the league and prove ourselves to ourselves."

"I think just the mood around the room and the mood talking to guys is a lot better. I think we're confident that if we do the right things, we can be more successful than we were the last few years. I think it's going to be a good year."

While drafting star blue-liner Rasmus Dahlin first overall was the highlight of the summer for the Sabres, it wasn't the only major move for the club.

Veteran center Ryan O'Reilly was shipped to the St. Louis Blues for a bevy of assets, including a pair of forwards in Vladimir Sobotka and Patrik Berglund, while the team also added Jeff Skinner in a deal with the Carolina Hurricanes.

It's these sorts of additions that inspire Eichel's positive outlook, even after the Sabres finished with just 62 points last season.

"I think you always have to be optimistic," Eichel said. "You look at teams last year like Colorado, New Jersey, teams that may have struggled the year before but had great years last year with making some changes and obviously I think maybe changing a mindset and creating a different culture. I think that those are some teams that we can try and model our season after."

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The Calgary Flames pulled off a blockbuster trade this offseason by dealing defenseman Dougie Hamilton to the Carolina Hurricanes in exchange for young blue liner Noah Hanifin.

But before Hanifin, a restricted free agent, can suit up for his new team, he must put pen to paper on a new contract, which is apparently imminent.

While speaking with NHL.com's Dan Rosen, Hanifin said he's "super close" to signing with Calgary and has no qualms about a deal materializing before players report to training camp on Sept. 9.

Flames general manager Brad Treliving appears to share Hanifin's confidence, telling Rosen, "We're very excited to have Noah."

The fifth overall pick of the 2015 draft, Hanifin entered the NHL as an 18-year-old and completed all three seasons of his entry-level contract with the Hurricanes. He led all Carolina defensemen with 32 points last season.

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You haven't heard the last from the Tampa Bay Lightning.

After falling to the eventual Stanley Cup champion Washington Capitals in the Eastern Conference Final, the Lightning are ready to enter the coming season with a renewed focus.

"We feel we have unfinished business," Lightning superstar Nikita Kucherov told The Athletic's Joe Smith. "We're close. One day it's going to come, for sure. It's just going to blow up."

Last season, five wins were the difference between glory and defeat as the Lightning fell in the deciding game of the third round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the second time in three seasons.

Not only did Tampa Bay fall short of expectations - many pundits picked the Lightning to hoist the Stanley Cup - the team hasn't been able to seal the deal in recent seasons. An injury-riddled campaign saw Tampa Bay miss the 2017 postseason, one year after losing to the Penguins in the conference finals. In 2015, the Lightning advanced to the Stanley Cup Final only to fall to the Chicago Blackhawks.

But the difference between devastating defeat and winning it all can be overcome, as Kucherov points to countryman Alex Ovechkin and how his Washington Capitals finally won the Stanley Cup after repeated postseason flops and early exits. Kucherov believes the Lightning can use the Capitals' play last spring as a blueprint.

"Their whole team was unbelievable in the playoff run. Every line was fired up and they were playing the best hockey they ever played," Kucherov said. "I'm not sure some of those guys will ever play the same hockey they played in that series. You have to have every guy ready, from your leaders to other guys. Everyone has to be ready to play your best hockey."

The Russian sniper is confident that the Lightning aren't far off from reaching the winner's circle, and that a bevy of changes aren't needed in order to do so.

"We have to be more consistent in our game, more calmed down if things don't go well," Kucherov added. "Always believe in ourselves. Down three goals? You can finish the game the right way."

There will be plenty of internal and external pressure on the Lightning this season, as many pundits are tabbing Tampa Bay as one of the favorites to claim the 2019 Stanley Cup.

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Ottawa Senators assistant general manager Randy Lee has resigned from the organization, the team announced on Tuesday.

The club also announced that a search is underway for Lee's replacement.

Lee's resignation comes after the franchise suspended him in June while awaiting a court ruling on his harassment charge.

The Ottawa native was charged with second-degree harassment in late May after making lewd comments toward and rubbing the shoulders of a 19-year-old male shuttle bus driver while attending the NHL draft combine in Buffalo.

"My hearing in Buffalo has been postponed until September 13. While my case continues to be reviewed by the courts, I do wish to address my future with the Senators," Lee told TSN's Ian Mendes. "My suspension has given me more time to spend with my loved ones than ever before. For the past 23 years, my family has taken a back seat to my career. My focus now is on putting them first.

"At the same time, I have to think about my obligations to the hockey team. They need an assistant general manager who can focus completely on the coming season. Until this matter is behind me, however, I'm not in a position to (do) that. For this reason - in consultation with the Ottawa Senators and my family - I have chosen to resign as assistant general manager of the Ottawa Senators and general manager of the Belleville Senators."

Lee's first court date was on June 4, and he pleaded not guilty to the charges. If convicted, he faces a possible fine and up to 15 days in jail.

The 56-year-old had been with the Senators since 1995, beginning as the team's video coach. In 2009, he was named director of hockey operations, and then received a promotion to assistant GM midway through the 2013-14 season.

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The NHL's collective bargaining agreement can be terminated in September 2019, and players haven't forgotten what happened the last time the CBA expired.

"We will be having lots of discussions with players over the course of the ensuing season, starting in the fall, about what that means and how we approach it and what's on players' minds and so on," NHLPA executive director Donald Fehr told The Athletic's Katie Strang. "And players are cognizant of the fact that in the last negotiations they made a series of significant concessions. And we'll sort of leave it at that."

Triggering the CBA's opt-out clause would end the current agreement following the 2019-20 season, two years ahead of its September 2022 expiration. The league and the players' association each have the right to opt out on different dates next September.

Fehr, who has been the head of the NHLPA since 2010, led the players through negotiations - and a lockout - five years ago. A deal was finally reached in January 2013, resulting in an abbreviated 48-game season and several changes to the CBA. Those changes included an even split of hockey-related revenue (players received 57 percent in the previous arrangement), a reduction in the maximum length of contracts, and a cap on salary variance through each year of a contract.

While the players may seek some modifications to the agreement, owners could be comfortable continuing down the current path. In November 2016, the NHL offered to extend the CBA through 2025 in exchange for allowing players to participate in PyeongChang 2018. The proposal was ultimately rejected.

However, at least two major issues could make the NHL more amenable to a deal this time.

The first is the potential entry of a Seattle expansion team, which could begin play in 2020-21. The new club would have to pay a $650-million fee, which is not included in the current calculation of hockey-related revenue. Those new dollars would be evenly split among the owners of current franchises, excluding the Vegas Golden Knights.

Additionally, several players' contracts include significant signing bonuses during the 2020-21 season. These must be paid regardless of whether or not a season is played, and it's difficult to imagine owners being thrilled to write those checks if league revenue streams are stopped by another lockout.

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The Edmonton Oilers have agreed to terms on a one-year contract with free-agent defenseman Jakub Jerabek, the team announced Monday.

Jerabek joins the Oilers after splitting last season between the Montreal Canadiens and Washington Capitals. The 27-year-old appeared in two playoff games for the Stanley Cup-winning Capitals, picking up one assist.

A native of the Czech Republic, Jerabek signed with the Canadiens this past offseason as an undrafted free agent after spending the previous year in the KHL. He's tallied two goals and six assists across 36 career NHL games.

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John Klingberg believes a new voice in the room could be just what he needs to help take his game to the next level.

The Dallas Stars defenseman has already played under two coaches in only four seasons in the NHL, and will soon skate for his third bench boss in Jim Montgomery when training camp opens next month.

But Klingberg believes Montgomery, who is making his NHL debut after spending the last five seasons at the University of Denver, can help round out his game.

"I want to be 'the guy,' sure," Klingberg told NHL.com's Mike Zeisberger. "But if I'm going to be a true, true No. 1, I have to play more defensive minutes. That's maybe something I have a chance to do this year. I want to take that next step and prove to the coaches that they can trust me defensively as well."

While Klingberg has been no stranger to scoring, wrapping last season with 67 points, he's often been criticized for his apparent flaws in the defensive end. That point was driven home when Klingberg, who finished one point shy of the league lead for points by defensemen, finished a distant sixth in Norris Trophy voting, receiving just a single first-place ballot.

The 26-year-old led all Dallas defensemen with more than 24 minutes a game, while averaging more than three minutes nightly on the man advantage. However, he was infrequently called upon for more defensive assignments, as his ice time on the penalty kill ranked seventh among Stars rearguards.

Furthermore, Klingberg received plenty of favorable ice time last season as he started nearly 55 percent of his shifts in the offensive zone. Only 18 defenders (less than one per team) exceeded that number, while the next closest Stars defenseman trailed Klingberg by more than three percent.

As the blue-liner looks to build his game, he had the opportunity to share his ideas with Montgomery, who spent some time in Klingberg's native Sweden to not only meet the defenseman, but also better familiarize himself with his new lineup. In all, it appears the brief introduction went over well.

"The great thing is, the coach knows what I think and I know what he thinks," Klingberg said. "We're already a step ahead of the game."

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