The Ottawa Senators have suspended assistant general manager Randy Lee until his harassment charge is ruled upon in court, general manager Pierre Dorion announced Friday.

Lee was charged with second-degree harassment in late May after allegedly making lewd comments toward and rubbing the shoulders of a 19-year-old male shuttle bus driver in Buffalo. Lee was there to attend the scouting combine. Last week, he pleaded not guilty, and he'll be back in court July 6.

Here's Dorion's full statement:

As our hockey club's initial statement made clear, our Hockey Team - and our organization as a whole - will always hold our leaders, coaching staff, players and employees to the highest standards of behaviour.

Harassment in any form is unacceptable, whether it occurs inside or outside the work place. As a result, and with all the care and caution required in such cases, we have spent the past two weeks listening carefully to, and consulting with our community, our fan base and our partners to understand their expectations on the matter.

At the same time, we have worked with authorities in Buffalo, as well as with Randy Lee's lawyer, to ensure that Randy be granted the due process to which he is entitled. Until now, the Senators had never been made aware of a complaint against Randy, whether before or during his 23-year career with the team. He must be allowed to address the allegations against him through the court system.

That said, the questions that must be answered by Randy are unlikely to be addressed until his next court date - on July 6, 2018 - we believe the best way to live our values and enforce our standards of behaviour is to suspend Randy Lee until the allegations against him are ruled upon by the courts.

The suspension is effective immediately and applies both to Lee's work with the Ottawa Senators and our AHL team in Belleville.

The suspension means Lee will not be in attendance at next weekend's NHL draft. It also affects the team's American Hockey League affiliate in Belleville, where Lee serves as general manager.

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John Tavares is focused on an extension with the New York Islanders and has been having daily discussions with the club, according to TSN's Darren Dreger.

A deal between Tavares - who becomes an unrestricted free agent on July 1 - and the Islanders could reportedly happen quickly. However, if contracts talks stall, he will have the opportunity to consider options during his interview period, Dreger adds.

Over the last few weeks, general manager Lou Lamoriello has been meeting with Tavares and has outlined his vision for the Islanders' future, according to Dreger.

There will certainly be no shortage of teams throwing their name in the ring to try and sign Tavares if he does indeed hit the open market. The advantage the Islanders have is that they can offer him an eight-year extension, whereas outside clubs can only offer as much as a seven-year contract.

Tavares is coming off a six-year, $33-million deal and is in line for a raise that is likely to be in the $10 million annually range. This past season was his second-most productive in terms of offense, which saw the 27-year-old post 37 goals and 84 points in 82 games.

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The Edmonton Oilers have agreed to a two-year contract with forward Drake Caggiula, the team announced Thursday.

Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

In his second year with the team, the 23-year-old posted career highs in both goals and points with 13 and 20, respectively, in 67 games.

Caggiula just completed a two-year, $2.7-million contract and was set to become a restricted free agent on July 1.

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The Washington Capitals are preparing to explore the trade market and gauge interest in backup goaltender Philipp Grubauer.

Grubauer would like to be a No. 1 goalie, and Capitals general manager Brian MacLellan will look for a trade partner to help make that happen, he said at the team's locker clean out Wednesday, according to Isabelle Khurshudyan of The Washington Post.

With few high-end goalies set to become free agents, there should be no shortage of demand for the German netminder. In fact, both the New York Islanders and Carolina Hurricanes have reportedly shown interest.

The 26-year-old posted a 15-10-3 record with a 2.35 goals-against average and .923 save percentage this season. In 101 career games, he's put up a 2.29 goals-against average and .923 save percentage.

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The Texas Stars lived to see another day thanks to a 5-2 win over the Toronto Marlies in Game 6 of the Calder Cup Finals, forcing a pivotal Game 7.

The Stars did the bulk of their damage in the second period. After a scoreless first, the club went off for three goals from Curtis McKenzie, Travis Morin, and Austin Fyten.

After the Marlies got on the board early in the third frame with a goal by Calle Rosen, the Stars responded with a shorthanded tally from Sheldon Dries to restore the three-goal lead. Dries marker also saw Garret Sparks, who allowed four goals on 17 shots, replaced by Calvin Pickard.

The teams exchanged goals from Justin Holl and Colin Markison in the final five minutes.

Stars goaltender Mike McKenna was the difference in the end as the 35-year-old turned away 43 of the 45 Marlies shots thrown his way.

Game 7, with the Calder Cup on the line, goes Thursday in Toronto.

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Winning changes everything.

After uncertainty surrounding his future with the Washington Capitals, it appears Barry Trotz is more confident than ever that he will return as head coach next season.

"We'll talk," Trotz said, according to NHL.com's Adam Kimelman. "We're going to enjoy this with the players. I love the players, I love D.C., my family loves it here. We'll get something done."

This past April, Capitals general manager Brian MacLellan admitted that the team would wait until the end of the playoffs before deciding whether or not to re-sign Trotz, whose contract expires July 1.

Following the team's Cup win, MacLellan made it clear he had made up his mind about Trotz when he told reporters that if the 55-year-old wanted to return to the Capitals, the team would have him back.

Trotz has spent the last four seasons with the Capitals amassing a record of 205-89-34 in the regular season and 36-27 in the playoffs, along with back-to-back Presidents' Trophies in 2016 and 2017, while winning hockey's ultimate prize just one week ago.

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It doesn't look like Oliver Ekman-Larsson is going anywhere.

The Arizona Coyotes defenseman is eligible to sign an extension as of July 1, and it looks like he may do so, as Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reports a few teams that asked about him were told he's off the market.

In mid-May, Craig Morgan of Arizona Sports reported that Ekman-Larsson and the Coyotes were discussing an eight-year extension that would pay the 26-year-old more than $8 million a season.

Ekman-Larsson has one year left on his six-year, $33-million contract and is set to become an unrestricted free agent at the end of next season.

Since the 2013-14 campaign, Brent Burns is the only defenseman in the league who's scored more than Ekman-Larsson's 85 goals. During the Swede's eight-year career, he's put up 102 goals and 290 points in 576 games.

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The NHL's silly season is right around the corner.

With teams on the brink of the annual tradition of overpaying in free agency, so too approaches the buyout window, in which some clubs will look to rid themselves of past contract blunders.

Here's a look at each team's most likely candidate to be bought out over the next month.

Click here for Eastern Conference candidates

Central Division

Chicago Blackhawks: Brandon Saad

Blackhawks fans might call for the head of Brent Seabrook, but the fact is he'd still be owed between $3.3 million and $6.8 million to not play for the team. As for Saad, buying him out would allow them to nearly wipe out his entire contract.

For a team strapped for cash it makes the most sense, the question is will Stan Bowman be willing to buy out a player he gave Artemi Panarin up for just one year ago?

Colorado Avalanche: Colin Wilson

Wilson has not been able to replicate his 2015 success where he potted 20 goals and 42 points with the Nashville Predators. The Avalanche are on the up swing and in order to further progress they might be better off spending their money on someone more reliable.

Dallas Stars: Jason Spezza

After putting up a respectable 50 points in 2017, Spezza saw his production nearly slashed in half with 26 points in 10 more games. Spezza was made a healthy scratch on several occasions, so things could be done for him in Dallas.

Minnesota Wild: Tyler Ennis

Making $4.6 million, Ennis was still made a healthy scratch down the stretch and for four of the Wild's five playoff games. Over the last three seasons he's scored just 16 goals in 147 games. Enough said.

Nashville Predators: Nick Bonino

The likelihood of the Predators buying out anyone is low, but if they are to buy out someone, Bonino makes the most sense. Bonino is a third- or fourth-line center making over $4 million and just put up his lowest point total in six years.

St. Louis Blues: Vladimir Sobotka

The Blues may have just brought Sobotka back from the KHL, but Doug Armstrong has gone on record saying that he's going to be active in free agency and the trade market in the hopes of bolstering the team's forward core. If that's the case, cap space and roster space up front will be needed and Sobotka makes the most sense to go.

Winnipeg Jets: Dmitry Kulikov

Paying over $4 million for a bottom-pairing defenseman just doesn't make sense. With Jacob Trouba, Connor Hellebuyck, and Josh Morrissey among the team's nine pending RFAs, the club could use some extra cash.

Pacific Division

Anaheim Ducks: Corey Perry

Perry's days as a dependable 30-goal scorer appear to be in the rear-view mirror. What's more, he's struggled come playoff time the last couple seasons and at $8.625 million it might be worth turning the page on Perry. His buyout would see him get paid for six years but for four of those he'll be owed just over $2 million.

Arizona Coyotes: Marcus Kruger

Kruger doesn't necessarily break the bank for the Coyotes, but with just one goal in 48 games last season with the Carolina Hurricanes (a more skilled team), Arizona might be better off ridding itself of his contract and spending the money elsewhere.

Calgary Flames: Troy Brouwer

Brouwer gets paid the fourth-most among Flames forwards, but this past season finished ninth among them with just six goals. A buyout would save the team $3 million this season, which would certainly go a long way.

Edmonton Oilers: Zack Kassian

As is the growing trend among buyout cases, Milan Lucic might seem like the best candidate, but the Oilers would still have to pay him between $3.2 million and $5.7 million for the next five years.

Kassian on the other hand averages the least amount of ice time among all regular forwards and his production reflects that.

Los Angeles Kings: Dion Phaneuf

Phaneuf had a decent stint in L.A. after being acquired from the Ottawa Senators, but for a team that needs to free-up money in an attempt to bolster its offense, Phaneuf might have to serve as a scapegoat.

San Jose Sharks: Paul Martin

The Athletic's Kevin Kurz reported on Saturday that there is a "strong possibility" that Martin gets bought out. After spending time between the main club and in the AHL last season and the potential to save just shy of $3 million in 2018-19, it certainly makes sense.

Vancouver Canucks: Ben Hutton

Loui Eriksson is the contract the team should try to get off the books, but with it so heavily weighted in signing bonuses, it doesn't make sense for the club. Meanwhile, Hutton's production has declined over the last two seasons, and didn't even manage to score a goal this past campaign.

Vegas Golden Knights: Tomas Tatar

The Golden Knights paid a ton to acquire Tatar at the deadline, but after under-performing and serving as a healthy scratch mostly during the playoffs, it might be in the team's interest to free-up more cap space to do some big-game hunting in free agency or via trade. Cough ... cough ... Erik Karlsson.

(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)

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Silly season is right around the corner.

With teams on the brink of the annual tradition of overpaying in free agency, so too approaches the buyout window, in which some teams will look to rid themselves of past contract blunders.

Here's a look at each team's most likely candidate to be bought out over the next month.

Metropolitan Division

Carolina Hurricanes: Scott Darling

Darling made it quite clear this season he isn't cut out to be a No. 1. Under Tom Dundon, the team will be looking to make a splash, and that includes a new goalie tandem.

Columbus Blue Jackets: Brandon Dubinsky

This season, Dubinsky saw a 25-point drop, a consequence of scoring half the goals he did in 2017. He was also reported to be dealing with a personal issue that could be career-ending; a buyout might be best for all parties.

New Jersey Devils: Travis Zajac

Zajac is currently the longest-serving Devils player, but his production has taken a drastic hit and $5.75 million is a lot of money to put up for fewer than 15 goals a season.

New York Islanders: Casey Cizikas

Andrew Ladd would make sense here, but he gets a lot of his money in signing bonuses, which doesn't make a buyout very feasible. As for Cizikas, who hasn't hit double-digit goals his entire career, buying him out saves nearly $2.5 million.

New York Rangers: Marc Staal

Staal is not the No. 2 defenseman he once was. With just eight points this year, his offensive numbers aren't there. The Rangers are already vowing to make changes to their core, and he could be the next to go.

Philadelphia Flyers: Andrew MacDonald

The near-$4 million in cap space the Flyers would open up in buying out MacDonald is a better asset off the ice than he has been on it. The Flyers have ample defensive prospects in their system more deserving of a spot in the lineup.

Pittsburgh Penguins: Carl Hagelin

Once part of the infamous HBK line, Hagelin has never been as successful again as he was during the Penguins' 2016 playoff run. With 30 goals over the last three years and a $4-million cap hit, the Penguins could better use that money.

Washington Capitals: Brooks Orpik

In Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final against the Vegas Golden Knights, Orpik scored his first goal in 220 games, that about says it all. Given his high cap hit and the fact the Capitals will be looking to lock up John Carlson at season's end, a buyout could be in the cards.

Atlantic Division

Boston Bruins: Adam McQuaid

McQuaid has served as a healthy scratch this year, playing just 38 games (mostly due to injury) while averaging the least amount of ice time among Bruins defensemen who have played at least 15 games.

Buffalo Sabres: Zach Bogosian

Bogosian has no business making over $5 million per season. The Sabres need a drastic upgrade to their defense corps, so what better way than by losing Bogosian and adding projected No. 1 pick Rasmus Dahlin?

Detroit Red Wings: Darren Helm

The Red Wings have a number of names that could appear on this list, but Helm is probably the one least likely to rebound in his production. The club could also afford to get a little younger.

Florida Panthers: Jamie McGinn

The Panthers' forward contingent is still chock-full of young talent and with more in the system likely to challenge for roster spots, the team is going to need to make room. The extra $2.33 million doesn't hurt.

Montreal Canadiens: Karl Alzner

Alzner's deal has been flawed since it was signed. He's a bottom-pairing defenseman being paid way out of that pay range. Buying him out will help the Canadiens better address their defense corps.

Ottawa Senators: Marian Gaborik

Whether due to injury or a drop in play, Gaborik's production has not been there for the past four seasons. Of course, saving over $3 million is just the kind of move Eugene Melnyk wants his team to make.

Tampa Bay Lightning: Dan Girardi

The Lightning need to shed some salary with four pending RFAs, and Girardi would see the team shed salary without losing an overly valuable asset.

Toronto Maple Leafs: Matt Martin

The fact is that Martin isn't getting playing time and is taking up $2.5 million in salary. Though buying him out won't save the Maple Leafs a ton of cash, at this point, it's better for both parties to take different directions.

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Alex Ovechkin firmly cemented his name among the greatest to ever play the sport with his first-ever Stanley Cup and Conn Smythe Trophy wins on Thursday.

In adding those two pieces of hardware to his trophy case, Ovechkin joins Wayne Gretzky, Mario Lemieux, and Bobby Orr as the only players in NHL history to win three Hart Trophies (regular-season MVP) and a Conn Smythe.

With a goal in Game 5, Ovechkin now has 117 playoff points to go along with 1,122 during his career in the regular season.

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