June is an incredibly busy month for the NHL, but that doesn't mean we can't look ahead to what's coming. Free agency begins at 12 p.m. ET on July 1, and we're ranking the top 80 unrestricted free agents in a seven-post series ahead of the madness.

We're working our way up from No. 80 to No. 1, with that, here are the 65-51 ranked UFAs heading into July 1:

65. Jay McClement (F)

Age on Oct. 1: 34
2016-17 Cap Hit: $1.2M

Jay McClement played an average of 11:23 a night and managed just eight points in 65 games with the Carolina Hurricanes this season.

He might provide great intangibles, but he'll fill out a fourth line and that's about it.

64. Tommy Wingels (F)

Age on Oct. 1: 29
2016-17 Cap Hit: $2.475M

Tommy Wingels has seen his point totals drop in each of the past three seasons and he was a healthy scratch a number of times following his deal to the Ottawa Senators in January.

He's likely heading into free agency just hoping to find work.

63. Lauri Korpikoski (F)

Age on Oct. 1: 30
2016-17 Cap Hit: $1M

There aren't a ton of things that Lauri Korpikoski does well, if we can be honest.

He posted 10 goals or more just twice since the 2011-12 season and collected 20 points in 69 games this past campaign while averaging just 12:24 of ice time. Like a lot of players on this list, he might help to fill out a bottom trio, but don't expect much outside of that.

62. Dominic Moore (F)

Age on Oct. 1: 36
2016-17 Cap Hit: $900K

Dominic Moore is entering the final years of his career.

However, he's a player that still gives his all every shift. He will slot in on a fourth line somewhere with the ability to play up and down the lineup.

61. Matt Cullen (F)

Age on Oct. 1: 40
2016-17 Cap Hit: $1M

His age is the biggest knock against him, but Matt Cullen posted a solid 13 goals and 31 points during the regular season, which is great value at $1 million.

He might hang them up at the end of the year or he might give it another go. If he re-ups for another season he might be able to give you 10 goals, and if you're OK with that for a third or fourth liner then he might be a nice depth addition.

60. P.A. Parenteau (F)

Age on Oct. 1: 34
2016-17 Cap Hit: $1.25M

P.A. Parenteau's production took a hit last season after posting 20 goals on a dismal Toronto Maple Leafs team in 2015-16. He still managed 13 goals, but was a non-factor after being acquired by the Nashville Predators.

He can still put the puck in the net here and there, but don't expect another 20-goal season, those days are dead and gone.

59. Matt Hunwick (D)

Age on Oct. 1: 31
2016-17 Cap Hit: $1.2M

His play during the regular season was forgettable, but during the postseason following Roman Polak's freak injury, Matt Hunwick appeared to really step up for the Maple Leafs.

He could slot in on a third pairing, but don't expect too much from the aging rear guard.

58. Nate Thompson (F)

Age on Oct. 1: 32
2016-17 Cap Hit: $1.6M

He's not going to give you much offensively, but on the other side of the puck Nate Thompson provides some value.

He kills penalties, throws the body, and blocks shots. He's a defensive forward who won't break the bank. Expect him to put pen to paper somewhere.

57. Kyle Quincey (D)

Age on Oct. 1: 31
2016-17 Cap Hit: $1.25M

Kyle Quincey is a steady, reliable defender. He might fly under the radar, which, for a defenseman, can be as much of a compliment as it is a criticism.

He blocks a lot of shots, can contribute occasionally on the scoreboard, and over his career has averaged over 20 minutes of ice time per game. He's a decent depth option for a strong defense corps.

56. Darcy Kuemper (G)

Age on Oct. 1: 27
2016-17 Cap Hit: $1.55M

Darcy Kuemper hasn't received much attention in terms of backup options ever since Devan Dubnyk came to Minnesota.

For a time he looked to be on track to be the next great backup turned starter, but he stumbled along the way. That being said, he's still young, has something to prove, and can be nabbed at a good price.

55. Chad Ruhwedel (D)

Age on Oct. 1: 26
2016-17 Cap Hit: $575K

You probably wouldn't know Chad Ruhwedel's name if Kris Letang was healthy.

The Pittsburgh Penguins defender has helped his club stay afloat on the back end and has been a steady contributor, collecting a solid 10 points in 34 games during the regular season.

Helping his club reach the Stanley Cup Final - despite only playing six games - might help boost his notoriety and give him some pull in the market.

54. Derek Ryan (F)

Age on Oct. 1: 30
2016-17 Cap Hit: $600K

Despite being 30-years-old, Derek Ryan just got his first real taste of the NHL this season.

He fared admirably, tallying 29 points in 67 games and was a positive possession player. He won 55.5 percent of the faceoffs he took and also contributed on the power play.

He might not have a lot of NHL experience, but with a little more ice time Ryan could prove to be a great bargain pickup.

53. Ales Hemsky (F)

Age on Oct. 1: 33
2016-17 Cap Hit: $4M

To put it lightly, Ales Hemsky's time in Dallas was not great.

He failed to exceed the 40-point mark in any of his three seasons, with injuries playing a big part. Nevertheless, there is still some skill there and if healthy he has the ability to tally 40 or more points.

He will make less than his $4 million per season - that's for sure - so as a depth third line option Hemsky could add value.

52. Jordan Weal (F)

Age on Oct. 1: 25
2016-17 Cap Hit: $650K

The Philadelphia Flyers and Jordan Weal are negotiating a potential extension. And while he played a career-high of just 23 games, Weal tore up the AHL.

He could try to test the free agent market, but even with his high AHL stats, he's unlikely to command much more than his previous $650,00 deal.

51. Shane Doan (F)

Age on Oct. 1: 40
2016-17 Cap Hit: $3,876,134

Shane Doan is driving the bus here.

He might hang them up, he might return to the Coyotes, he might try to join a contender for one last chance at a Cup. Only he knows.

Whatever he chooses, he shouldn't break the bank.

Free Agent Rankings

• 80-66

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A win in Game 6 for the Nashville Predators will be a bittersweet for Pekka Rinne. On one hand, he will get to play for the Stanley Cup. On the other, he will have to return to PPG Paints Arena.

The veteran netminder has had a strong postseason for the most part, but there isn't an arena he despises more than the one the Penguins call home.

For the second time this series, the Predators starter was pulled, further inflating his already poor numbers in Pittsburgh. Whether it be during the regular season or the postseason, the Penguins have not been kind hosts to Rinne.

Career regular season in Pittsburgh

Career playoffs in Pittsburgh

In all, Rinne has a career save percentage of .822 in Pittsburgh while allowing 24 goals on 135 shots.

If the Predators and Rinne can be confident about one thing, it's that Rinne has been stellar at home in these playoffs, holding a 9-1 record with a 1.44 goals-against average and a .949 save percentage, so there should be no short of confidence heading into Game 6.

But if they return to Pittsburgh for a Game 7, that might be another story.

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It's here.

The Stanley Cup Final kicks off Monday at 8 p.m. ET, and at first glance, it might look like a bit of a mismatch. The Pittsburgh Penguins entered the postseason as the reigning champs with the second-best record during the regular season.

Meanwhile, the Nashville Predators scored a wild-card berth and proved that once the playoffs begin, the successes and failures of the regular season are left behind.

Related: Pittsburgh opens as heavy favorite over Nashville

With both teams having proven to be worthy finalists, this series should be everything fans could possibly ask for.

Here is what you need to know ahead of Game 1:

How they got here

Penguins

Pittsburgh's climb back to the final saw it square off against three familiar playoff foes.

The Penguins made quick work of the inspired Columbus Blue Jackets in the first round, dispatching them in just five games. In Round 2, they met the Presidents' Trophy-winning Washington Capitals, a series deemed by many to represent the unofficial Stanley Cup Final.

After a back-and-forth series, the Penguins prevailed in Game 7, pushing their record to 3-0 against the Capitals in their last three playoff meetings.

Finally, there was the Ottawa Senators - or the boring Sens as some called them. Ottawa didn't make life easy on the Penguins, taking 1-0 and 2-1 series advantages. However, on the back of Chris Kunitz, Pittsburgh won its second Game 7 of the playoffs, needing double overtime to improve to 4-1 in postseason series against the Senators since 2007.

Predators

The Predators appeared to be doomed before the playoffs even began, with the team pitted against the Western Conference-leading Chicago Blackhawks in Round 1.

However, Nashville stunned arguably the hottest team of the past decade, sweeping Chicago in four games while allowing just three goals against.

Next up was the St. Louis Blues, which despite playing Nashville to four one-goal affairs, just couldn't crack the Predators' defense. It took six games, but Nashville bested the Blues to advance to the third round for the first time in franchise history.

Finally, the Predators had to claw their way past the Anaheim Ducks. The Ducks became the first team to score more than three goals against the Predators this postseason when they tallied five in Game 2.

After losing Ryan Johansen to a surprise injury prior to Game 5, things didn't look good for the Predators, but they played inspired hockey in outscoring Anaheim 9-4 over Games 5 and 6 to punch their ticket to their first Stanley Cup Final.

Toe-to-toe

The series marks a clash between an offensive juggernaut and arguably the strongest defense corps in the NHL.

While the Penguins might have the more potent offense, the Predators have done a great job of smothering the opposition through three rounds.

Nashville also heads into the final having not trailed in a series at any time during the playoffs.

Season series

The two-game season series was somewhat of a wash. Each team earned a victory, with Matt Murray getting the edge over Pekka Rinne in Game 2 of the series - a 4-2 Penguins win.

Looking back to the regular season, it's hard to give one team an edge over the other.

Injuries

Penguins

For the Penguins, the lack of Kris Letang continues to sting, but his absence is something that the club has learned to play through over the years. Patric Hornqvist's return to the lineup would certainly be welcomed.

Predators

It's no secret that the omission of Johansen is devastating for the Predators. The team got by without him for the final two games against the Ducks, but his 13 points in 14 games will be missed.

On the other hand, while Mike Fisher also missed the team's last two contests, he has begun skating with the team and a return in the final appears likely.

Positional advantages

Forwards

Advantage: Pittsburgh

This shouldn't come as a surprise, as a forward contingent including the likes of Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Phil Kessel is likely to challenge most in the league.

The Penguins are the only team averaging more than three goals per game in the playoffs. Given that no defenseman on the team has more goals than Justin Schultz's three, it's pretty clear that Pittsburgh's forwards are doing the bulk of the scoring.

Defense

Advantage: Predators

Defense, however, is a completely different story. The Penguins' defense corps doesn't come close to that of the Predators. In fact, four of the Predators' top eight point producers in the playoffs have been defensemen.

Related: 3 stats that show how good Ryan Ellis has been this postseason

The quartet of Ryan Ellis, Roman Josi, P.K. Subban, and Mattias Ekholm sits second, third, fifth, and eighth, respectively, in playoff scoring among defensemen.

Going head-to-head, the Predators have the overwhelming advantage. The Penguins' entire defense corps has tallied just eight goals, while Ellis and Josi alone have nine between them.

Goaltending

Advantage: Tie

With all the talk that Rinne is likely the Predators' pick for the Conn Smythe Trophy, you would think that Nashville would have the clear advantage between the pipes, but that's not necessarily the case.

Ever since Murray stole the net back from Marc-Andre Fleury in Game 3 against the Senators, the rookie netminder - yes, he's still considered a rookie - has been lights-out.

Related: Penguins' Murray could win 2 Stanley Cups as a rookie

He's given up just seven goals on 130 shots - good enough for a .946 save percentage - while averaging just 1.35 goals against per game, marks that are actually better than Rinne's .941 and 1.70 - albeit in a much smaller sample size.

Both goalies have been incredible, and heading in, it's hard to take one over the other. With each club earning a distinct advantage in the positions mentioned above, it's quite clear that the series could come down to which goaltender can outduel the other.

What's on the line

Heading into the final, it is safe to presume that the Predators have more to prove than the Penguins.

After numerous solid regular seasons, the Predators were finally able to crack the second-round barrier that had proven to be an overwhelming task in the past.

For a franchise that is just now starting to get the recognition it deserves - thanks in large part to a deeply loyal fan base - a Stanley Cup would mean the world.

A win would put Peter Laviolette into the discussion of the NHL's top coaches. Despite a Cup to his name and a winning pedigree, he never seems to be mentioned in the same conversation as the Joel Quennevilles and Mike Babcocks of the league.

Then there is Subban. A Stanley Cup would be the ultimate prize for a player unfairly maligned in Montreal. Some may have questioned whether a team can win with him and his personality. This would finally put those conversations to rest.

Pittsburgh captured the Cup last season with a roster nearly identical to its current makeup and is a well-established contender. The team is largely playing for history, attempting to be the first club to win back-to-back Cups since the Detroit Red Wings in 1997 and 1998.

Schedule

(Photos courtesy: Action Images)

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On Monday, the 2017 Stanley Cup Final will kick off.

The Pittsburgh Penguins return to the dance, surprising very few on their quest for a Stanley Cup repeat. Meanwhile, the Nashville Predators will take part in their first finals after entering the playoffs as the 16-seed.

The Predators' rise has truly been the most shocking part of the 2017 playoffs. They swept the Western Conference's top seed, the Chicago Blackhawks, and upended the Pacific Division-winning Anaheim Ducks en route to a finals berth.

The Predators' run through the first three rounds has been nothing short of remarkable, and a victory over the Penguins would be the cherry on top. With that in mind, here is a sampling of some of the most shocking moments in Stanley Cup Final history:

McSorley's illegal stick

In 1993, after dropping the first game of the series, the Montreal Canadiens looked to be in deep trouble, with the Los Angeles Kings once again leading 2-1 with just minutes remaining in regulation.

It was then that the Canadiens took a major risk, calling for a stick measurement on Kings defenseman Marty McSorley. McSorley's curve was indeed deemed illegal, and after Canadiens goaltender Patrick Roy was pulled, Montreal took to the ice with a 6-on-4 advantage.

With the extra skaters, Eric Desjardins scored his second goal of the game to tie things at 2-2 heading to overtime. Desjardins would go on to score the game-winning goal less than a minute into overtime, completing the hat trick and evening the series at a game apiece.

Montreal would win the next three contests to take the Stanley Cup in five games. As fate would have it, no Canadian team has won the Cup since.

Kariya 'off the floor on the board'

The hit that Scott Stevens laid on Paul Kariya in Game 6 of the 2003 Stanley Cup Final sent immediate panic to not just the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim - oh how we miss that name - but the entire NHL.

Midway through the second period, Kariya was knocked unconscious - on yet another brutal open-ice hit by Stevens, reminiscent of the one he laid on Eric Lindros - and had to be slowly helped off the ice and to the dressing room. It looked as though he was likely done for the series.

Eleven minutes later, though, he returned to the ice and immediately made an impact. Kariya wired an absolute rocket over the catching glove of Martin Brodeur to give the Mighty Ducks a 4-1 lead. The team would take Game 6 by a 5-2 margin thanks to Kariya's unbelievable comeback.

Unfortunately for the Mighty Ducks, the Devils would prevail in Game 7 to win the Cup.

Bob Baun scores on broken ankle

Before there was Kariya, there was Bob Baun.

In 1964, with the Toronto Maple Leafs facing elimination against the Detroit Red Wings, defenseman Bob Baun blocked a Gordie Howe shot and was forced to leave on a stretcher.

Surprisingly, Baun would return to the game, later scoring the overtime winner to force a Game 7. The Maple Leafs would emerge victorious, winning 4-0 - with Baun continuing to play through pain - capturing their third straight Stanley Cup.

What is so incredible about Baun's return is that that after the series, he learned that his ankle had indeed been fractured. #BecauseItsTheCup.

Brett Hull scores controversial Cup winner vs. Sabres

It's a goal that will go down in as arguably the most controversial in NHL history.

Game 6 of the 1999 Stanley Cup Final between the Dallas Stars and Buffalo Sabres saw both clubs go to triple overtime, with the Stars leading the series three games to two.

With just over five minutes remaining in the period, on a scramble in front of the Sabres' net, Brett Hull corralled the puck and stuffed it past Dominik Hasek, ending the game and giving the Stars their first and only Stanley Cup win.

However, many feel that the goal shouldn't have counted since Hull's foot was in the crease, and at the time, Rule 78-b stated: "...a player of the attacking side not possessing the puck may not stand in the goal crease." Of course, the argument on the play is what is considered having possession?

Nevertheless, the goal would stand, but for some, the debate continues.

Maple Leafs rally from 3-0 deficit to win Stanley Cup

The Maple Leafs entered the 1942 Stanley Cup Final as the overwhelming favorites after finishing the regular season with the second-best record to the New York Rangers.

However, in the finals, the Red Wings shocked the Maple Leafs, taking the first three games of the series and putting Toronto's Cup hopes on thin ice. But that's when things turned around.

The Maple Leafs won the next three games by a combined score of 16-6, before taking Game 7 at Maple Leaf Gardens by a 3-1 score - in front of a then Canadian record 16,218 people - to capture the team's first Stanley Cup in 10 years.

The win marked the first time a major professional sports team had rallied from a 3-0 series deficit to win a seven-game series.

(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)

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In the end there was only so much Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, and Mark Letestu could do.

The Edmonton Oilers were ousted by the Anaheim Ducks in Game 7 on Wednesday night and were left wanting more from some of their secondary weapons.

The three men listed above can't be faulted in the playoffs and especially in the second round. The trio combined for 16 of the Oilers' 34 goals in the postseason, accounting for 47.1 percent of Edmonton's tallies.

As for their second-round series, the three scored 12 of the team's 24 goals - or half. Those performances are remarkable and deserve to be applauded, but for the remainder of the Oilers' cast, what happened?

Here's how a handful of forwards fared on the score sheet in the team's 13 games:

What hurts most is that during the regular season these five players combined for 75 goals and 172 points.

The Oilers took a huge step this campaign in returning to the playoffs for the first time in 11 years, but the club will head into the offseason wanting more, more from players who had been there during the regular season.

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The Toronto Maple Leafs signed defenseman Nikita Zaitsev to a seven-year, $31.5-million contract extension on Tuesday, the team announced.

Zaitsev is coming off his first season in the league after signing in the offseason as a free agent following seven seasons in the KHL.

The 25-year-old played in all 82 games during the regular season, finishing third in rookie points by a defenseman and second among Maple Leafs blue-liners with 36.

In addition to Zaitsev, the Maple Leafs also announced the signing of forward Ben Smith to a one-year, $650,000 deal. Smith managed just two goals and two assists in 36 games with the Maple Leafs, but with 40 games played split between the Maple Leafs and Colorado Avalanche he is now eligible for the expansion draft.

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The second round of the NHL playoffs is nearly one week old, and through 11 games the New York Rangers are the only club without a win.

It's a sign that things are tight in the second round and every team has gotten strong contributions from somewhere. However, it's not always the big goal or even the strong performances that impact a series most.

Here are five players making their marks on the second round:

Braden Holtby

Holtby's rollercoaster three games against the Pittsburgh Penguins have made this Eastern Conference matchup a compelling one.

Holtby had a forgettable Game 1, giving up three goals on 21 shots - including two to Sidney Crosby in less than a minute - and followed that up with an even worse Game 2 that saw him replaced to start the third period.

However, he rebounded in a big way Monday, going nearly perfect until a late Penguins surge. In the end, he helped the Capitals earn an overtime win and get back into the series.

Jean-Gabriel Pageau

Even if Pageau doesn't do another thing the rest of the postseason, he can still be credited with a game for the ages.

The Ottawa Senators forward scored four goals Saturday, including the double-overtime winner in a wild 6-5 comeback. Pageau scored two goals in the final 3:19 to send the game to overtime where he finished it off just over 23 minutes later.

A Rangers win would've halved the series and given New York home-ice advantage, but now the pressure is on the Metropolitan club to respond at Madison Square Garden. All thanks to a kid they call the "Honey badger."

Jakob Silfverberg

Silfverberg might be public enemy No. 1 in Edmonton.

The Anaheim Ducks forward has scored in each of the first three games and was monumental in the Ducks' 6-3 win Sunday.

Related: Silfverberg proving to be playoff hero with Ducks

Silfverberg posted two goals and an assist to give him six tallies and eight points in seven playoff games. He's gaining a knack for elevating his play in the postseason and the Ducks are all the better for it.

The Ducks are still in a 2-1 hole, but things could quickly even up if Silfverberg keeps doing his thing.

Ryan Ellis

As everyone predicted, the Nashville Predators are cruising along in the second round thanks to their leading scorer, Ellis.

Wait, what?

Yes, the Predators defender paces the club with eight points in seven games and has not gone pointless since Game 1 of Round 1. He's posted two goals and four points in the first three games against the St. Louis Blues and helped his team jump out to a 2-1 series lead.

The Predators are getting incredible contributions from their defense this postseason and Ellis is leading the pack.

Sidney Crosby

Crosby was riding a six-game point streak before being knocked out of Monday's contest by Matt Niskanen just 2:11 in.

He netted two goals in 52 seconds in Game 1 to help the Penguins cruise to a 3-2 victory and followed that up with two helpers in Game 2.

However, his biggest impact was likely felt in his absence in Game 3, as the Penguins chased the game for nearly 52 minutes before an epic comeback. In the end, though, the Capitals prevailed, but we could be talking about a 3-0 series deficit had Crosby been given the opportunity to extend his point streak.

(Photos courtesy: Action Images)

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The Los Angeles Kings could be following in the Chicago Blackhawks' footsteps.

After Chicago dealt backup goaltender Scott Darling - who will become an unrestricted free agent July 1 - to the Carolina Hurricanes on Friday, a couple of teams have reportedly inquired about acquiring Ben Bishop's rights, according to TSN's Pierre LeBrun.

Bishop was acquired from the Tampa Bay Lightning this season in the Kings' last-ditch effort to reach the playoffs and to act as insurance with Jonathan Quick returning from an injury that kept him out for the majority of the season.

Ultimately, the trade did very little for the team, as Bishop went just 2-3-2 in seven games, posting a forgettable .900 save percentage and a 2.49 goals-against average.

Nevertheless, Bishop remains an elite netminder and is just three years removed from a Vezina Trophy nomination.

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No one could be happier with the play of Marc-Andre Fleury this postseason than the Pittsburgh Penguins brass, except maybe the brain-trust in Las Vegas.

Fleury has put to rest any doubts about his postseason performance and is playing his best playoff hockey since the 2007-08 campaign. He's made general manager Jim Rutherford look like a genius for not dealing him this season.

Many expected that Fleury's days in Pittsburgh would be numbered with the impending NHL expansion draft. Matt Murray proved last season and through most of this regular season that he is the franchise's goalie of the future, leaving doubts about Fleury's role.

However, an injury to Murray later and now Fleury is shining bright in the spotlight.

The problem now is that Fleury has a no-movement clause, so he must be protected by the Penguins. And since the team can only protect one goalie, it's a near certainty that Murray will be plucked by the Vegas Golden Knights unless they do something about it.

This means the next biggest Fleury fan might be George McPhee - and not just because the Penguins have a 1-0 lead against his former club - since the Golden Knights general manager likely understands that Fleury's great play puts the Penguins in a rather uncomfortable situation, one that could benefit his club.

So how do the Penguins attack this conundrum? Here are some of the possible outcomes that could arise at season's end and how they could impact these two clubs and these two netminders:

Penguins hold on to Fleury, Vegas gets Murray

(Photo courtesy: Action Images)

We'll get the most unlikely scenario out of the way first.

Fleury has been great this postseason and anyone who caught Game 1 against the Washington Capitals on Thursday night can attest that Fleury was the reason the Penguins got the win.

Related: The wild, the weird, and the woolly from thrilling Pens-Caps Game 1

He has been great, and with Rutherford appearing to have a hard time letting him go, there is the chance that he has done enough to get back in the Penguins' good graces and prove that he can still be their goalie for years to come.

The Golden Knights would be ecstatic with this scenario. Not only would they get a fairly proven No. 1 goalie in Murray, but they'd get one who is just 22 years of age. Those talents don't come along very often, almost never. He would be a great first addition for the new franchise.

Penguins are forced to trade Fleury, possibly to Vegas

The most likely scenario is that, somehow, the Penguins trade Fleury to ... someone?

The Penguins are smart enough to understand what they have in Murray, and as great as Fleury has been, he is 10 years older and his best years are likely behind him.

So, regardless of how loyal Rutherford might be to Fleury, there's only so much he can do. He could try to swing a deal with a club in need of a No. 1 goalie. The Winnipeg Jets and Dallas Stars certainly come to mind.

Another possible partner, the Golden Knights. Here me out on this one.

Of course, between the two the Golden Knights would take Murray, but if the Penguins trade Fleury to Vegas on a deal skewed in the Golden Knights' favor - maybe including a high draft-pick - they could help Vegas score a strong netminder and provide some aid to their roster build, since they will certainly rely heavily on the draft in their first couple seasons.

It's a risky ploy, but with two desperate teams, it can't be ruled out.

Penguins, Golden Knights agree to deal that keeps Murray, Fleury in Pittsburgh

(Photo courtesy: Getty Images)

This kind of deal is exactly what could make the pending expansion draft so exciting. Vegas can make deals with teams so they don't pluck certain players from their roster. It's a fantastic rule.

It's hard to imagine what that would take in this instance, since - as mentioned - Murray could be a franchise goalie. But I'm not a general manager, I just play one on the internet.

Maybe Pittsburgh could package something mighty that Vegas would accept in order to look for a goalie elsewhere. One would think that would start with a first-round pick and include at least a good prospect or two - and even that might not be enough.

It would be a lot for Pittsburgh to give up, but it all comes down to how much the Penguins and Golden Knights value the two goaltenders.

Things are going to get interesting.

Of course, there could be a Plan D here that changes all of this, but as it stands now the Penguins will have a lot to consider at season's end.

The team is clearly over the moon with how the man they call "Flower" has played, but as it stands now, this strong performance will make things much more complicated for Pittsburgh in one month's time.

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After an unforeseen first-round sweep at the hands of the Nashville Predators, word on the street is that the sky is falling in Chicago.

Who could've seen that coming, certainly not the entire ESPN panel ... and yours truly, who not only predicted a first-round win by the Blackhawks, but a Stanley Cup victory.

Instead, the NHL's most successful dynasty of the last decade was ousted in four games and - for the second straight year - in the opening round.

With that considered, it's not all that surprising that many are starting to feel that the Blackhawks' heyday is in the rear-view mirror. And with three Stanley Cups in six years from 2010-2015, it's most likely true.

However, to think that the Blackhawks will plummet from the top of the league standings is an outrageous assertion, and here is why:

The numbers back it up

What shouldn't be forgotten is that the Blackhawks had the third-best record in the league this season, behind just the Washington Capitals and Columbus Blue Jackets.

They paced the Western Conference standings and, against all 29 opponents, had a points percentage of under .500 against just six. In fact, the Tampa Bay Lightning and Washington Capitals were the only teams not to lose to the Blackhawks this season.

In terms of goal scoring, the Blackhawks finished with the ninth-most tallies - averaging 2.93 goals per game - while boasting six 20-goal scorers, the most of any team.

Then there's the goaltending, which has been no slouch either. This season, the Blackhawks allowed the 11th-fewest goals against per game, but had the fifth-best team save percentage.

Corey Crawford and Scott Darling are not a bad tandem.

Sweep by Preds more of an anomaly

More important than the other reasons not to discredit the Blackhawks is the simple fact that their failed postseason appears to be more of a one-off than anything.

During the regular season, the Blackhawks were dominant against the Predators, going 4-1-0 and outscoring them 20-13, including three games where the Blackhawks scored five.

This isn't to take anything away form the Predators, but it's clear the Blackhawks got the better of Pekka Rinne during the regular season.

Factor in that the Predators had only won three playoff series' in their previous 18 seasons, and it's also quite clear that history wasn't on the Blackhawks side this time around.

Just look at that roster

In the end, the clearest reason why the Blackhawks will still be a team to be feared is their ridiculous roster.

They are still very much the envy of the league with Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane - the league's MVP last season - Duncan Keith, Brent Seabrook, Artemi Panarin, Marian Hossa ... the list goes on.

This roster has proven itself time and again that there's no quit and that they are among the best in the league - hell, they did as much during the regular season.

Not many predicted this fate for the Blackhawks, and it's easy to see why. However, despite their loss, the Blackhawks remain a lethal franchise and they aren't going anywhere anytime soon.

(Photos courtesy: Action Images)

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