It's the dead of summer and, following seven offseason hirings, all 31 NHL teams have a head coach for the 2019-20 season. With the optimistic press conferences firmly in the rearview mirror, we thought it'd be fun to assess the fit of each new coach and team in advance of training camp. Ordered by date of hire and rated out of five shirt-and-tie combos, consider the following a new-coach fit index.

Joel Quenneville, Panthers

Hired: April 8 by general manager Dale Tallon

Despite landing high-profile free-agent goalie Sergei Bobrovsky, recruiting Quenneville feels like the largest splash of Tallon's offseason. Players ultimately win games, but Quenneville offers a certain level of credibility and stability Florida desperately needs (plus, he looks like the logo). Tallon has gone on record saying he didn't want to fire Bob Boughner but decided to pull the trigger to make room for Quenneville. The GM finally has his guy, and Quenneville - a player's coach, three-time Stanley Cup champion, and the NHL's second-winningest bench boss - has his next project and a boatload of cash. The hefty contract, reported at $5.25 million a season for five years, raises expectations for a club that has missed the playoffs in three straight years and 16 of the past 18 seasons. Interestingly, only three Panthers players - Aaron Ekblad, Michael Matheson, and Bobrovsky - are signed through 2023-24, the final year of Quenneville's contract. While some pieces, like cornerstones Aleksander Barkov and Keith Yandle, aren't going anywhere anytime soon, Tallon - and, by extension, Quenneville - has the freedom to shake up the on-ice personnel if things go south early in the "Q" era.

Fit: 👔👔👔👔
Style: Comfortable

Alain Vigneault, Flyers

Hired: April 15 by GM Chuck Fletcher

In contrast to the black-and-white Quenneville hiring in Florida, Vigneault's move to Philadelphia is more nuanced. Sure, Vigneault is accomplished - he led an NHL bench for 16 seasons and made it to the Stanley Cup Final with two of his three teams (Canucks in 2011, Rangers in 2014). But no matter the hire or the look of the lineup, something about the consistently inconsistent Flyers doesn't inspire a ton of confidence. Injuries galore, underachieving stars, poor goaltending - things seem to spiral swiftly and often in Philly, regardless of who's behind the bench, and it's difficult to project how Vigneault might react in a dire situation. That said, after signing a five-year deal reportedly worth $25 million, Vigneault checked off one box for inquisitive fans, stating the Flyers will play a modern brand of hockey that emphasizes pushing the pace on offense and relentless puck pursuit on defense. His experienced assistants, Michel Therrien and Mike Yeo, should be a boon, as long as there aren't too many cooks in the kitchen. And if Carter Hart blossoms into a franchise goalie, Vigneault's won half the battle for an NHL coach. There's plenty to like on the surface, but this match remains inconclusive.

Fit: 👔👔 1/2
Style: Complicated

Todd McLellan, Kings

Hired: April 16 by GM Rob Blake

This is a classic case of two parties that need each other. By hiring McLellan, the Kings added a veteran NHL coach who'll inject purpose into a club that's lost its way. Meanwhile, McLellan gets a chance at redemption following an underwhelming tenure in Edmonton. Blake and McLellan are familiar with each other on professional and personal levels, with the former having played under the latter in San Jose. The coach should get a long leash. The term and money - five years, $5 million per season - suggests both McLellan and the team are committed to a proper rebuild. Stars Anze Kopitar and Drew Doughty are locked up long term, and thus probably sticking around. However, the 2018-19 Kings sorely lacked speed and creativity on offense and structure on defense, and the vast majority of the L.A. roster is in a state of flux. McLellan enters the fold as management continues a teardown. Most of what he's inheriting won't be around for long.

Fit: 👔👔👔 1/2
Style: Convenient

Ralph Krueger, Sabres

Hired: May 15 by GM Jason Botterill

On one hand, hiring Krueger is a tidy piece of business. The 59-year-old ex-Oilers coach is a great communicator and deep thinker who has a completely different resume than other candidates. On the other hand, Botterill is sticking his neck out a bit by entrusting a relatively unknown commodity to clean up a mess. Buffalo hasn't come particularly close to making the postseason during Jack Eichel's career and they own the league’s longest playoff drought (eight years). Those competing forces make the Krueger hire fascinating. It seems like a helluva pickup for an organization that's been salivating for a proven leader - but asking a former chairman for a pro soccer club with little NHL experience to turn around your team's fortunes is definitely risky.

Fit: 👔👔👔 1/2
Style: Bold

D.J. Smith, Senators

Hired: May 23 by GM Pierre Dorion

Managing external and internal expectations is crucial for coaches, especially new hires, and expectations for Ottawa on the ice couldn't be lower heading into the season. The Senators might be the least talented team in the league; nobody's predicting they'll accumulate more wins than losses in 2019-20. And behind the bench, the expectations are low, too, since the 42-year-old Smith is a rookie NHL head coach. Talk about a match made in heaven for the Mike Babcock protege. Smith, who led the Oshawa Generals to the 2015 Memorial Cup, will work daily with a young group while playing the style of hockey he prefers. He didn't have much leverage, though, meaning that notoriously frugal Sens owner Eugene Melnyk didn't have to empty the coffers to table him a three-year offer. The icing on the cake? The Toronto infusion. Smith's transition should be eased by the presence of ex-Leafs Connor Brown, Tyler Ennis, Nikita Zaitsev, and Ron Hainsey, four players Dorion acquired this offseason.

Fit: 👔👔👔👔
Style: Sharp

Dave Tippett, Oilers

Hired: May 28 by GM Ken Holland

Among the seven offseason coaching hires, Holland tapping Tippett to right the ship in Edmonton might be the biggest boom-or-bust scenario. For starters, Tippett arrives via a management role with the Seattle expansion franchise and hasn't stood behind an NHL bench since 2016-17; that's not so long ago, sure, but it wasn't yesterday. What new ideas, if any, will he incorporate? Will those ideas work? Will he deploy Leon Draisaitl on Connor McDavid's wing, or prefer him centering his own line? Can he fix that woeful penalty kill? Will he get a save from his goaltending duo? Oilers fans are sick of losing. The roster is top-heavy and deeply flawed, and the front office didn’t significantly improve it this summer. McDavid is 22, and with just one playoff series under his belt, his patience must be wearing thin. Tippett, who signed a three-year contract at a reported $2.75 million annually, will be the superstar's third coach. A fragile situation plus a popular veteran leader equals a toss-up.

Fit: 👔👔 1/2
Style: Promising

Dallas Eakins, Ducks

Hired: June 17 by GM Bob Murray

Eakins has a theoretical advantage over every other coach on this list in regards to hitting the ground running. An internal hire, he's graduating from a four-year stint with the Ducks' AHL affiliate to replace Randy Carlyle, and his familiarity with the club's young core - Sam Steel, Troy Terry, Ondrej Kase, etc. - should help push players' development into new territory. Murray had Eakins in his back pocket from the moment Carlyle was fired in February, but waited until June to announce the promotion. The delay was attributed in part to an unwillingness to separate Eakins from his post with the San Diego Gulls, yet it's noteworthy that Murray continued to consider outside options after the AHL season wrapped. Clearly, there was some trepidation, although the 52-year-old Eakins - a health freak, a down-to-earth coach, and a forward thinker - is a breath of fresh air for Anaheim. He's been open about learning from past mistakes - namely, the ones he made in Edmonton during his only other NHL head coaching gig - and will be advised by a smart guy in ex-Kings bench boss Darryl Sutter. Eakins and the Ducks' marriage has promise.

Fit: 👔👔👔 1/2
Style: Conservative

John Matisz is theScore's national hockey writer.

Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

At this past weekend's TeamSnap Hockey Coaches Conference in Toronto, theScore chatted with a group of high-level coaches to gain some insight into their profession as it evolves alongside the sport itself.

The participants:

• Pete DeBoer, San Jose Sharks head coach (NHL)
• Rikard Gronborg, ZSC Lions head coach (Switzerland)
• Greg Powers, Arizona State head coach (NCAA)
• Todd Woodcroft, Winnipeg Jets assistant coach (NHL)
• Mike Kelly, Vegas Golden Knights assistant coach (NHL)
• Reid Cashman, Washington Capitals assistant coach (NHL)

The conversations, lightly edited for brevity and clarity, were held individually and compiled to form the discussion below.

What’s the No. 1 challenge facing today's high-level coaches?

DeBoer: "I honestly believe the biggest challenge for all of us going forward is analytics, and what role analytics is going to play and what we're doing at ground level. They're important, but to what extent? How much are you using them? How much is overuse? How much do the players want, without overextending it?

"A version of analytics has been around since probably (legendary Canadiens coach) Toe Blake tracked scoring chances against or odd-man rushes. Coaches have been doing that forever. Now we’ve got this pile of information on every play that happens in a game, and there’s some important, valuable information in there, but it’s all about how you filter through that and what you give to the players. For every yin, there’s a yang. If you’re good in one area, you’re going to give up something in another area."

Gronborg: "Doing the daily work and believing in something that you set out to achieve. There's going to be a lot of push and pull out there, a lot of influences that want to get in there. If you really believe in what you're doing, really believe in waking up in the morning and taking on the challenges, I think you're in good shape, no matter what level you're at. The coaches of the Toronto Maple Leafs - (Mike) Babcock and the rest of the coaches - can attest. There's a lot of pressure in a lot of different situations. How do you handle that? You do the daily work and believe in what you're doing, and make everyone in the locker room believe in the daily work as well."

Cashman: "I think the No. 1 challenge is getting your players to trust you - and I say that in a positive way ... If you don’t get a player who believes you'll be able to maximize his abilities, I think you're going to have a tough time coaching him.

"For me, as a (defense) corps, we’re all going to be connected, and then individually you and I will figure out the best way to maximize your abilities. What does that mean? Well, do you need extra work before practice? Do you like to be in the weight room before practice? Is there stuff going on at home? As a university coach, how are classes going? Can I help you with classes? And now you trust me because you know that I want to help you as a human being, and then as a hockey player."

Woodcroft: "I'll back up to my first year in the NHL, in 2000. Seeing the evolution of the voice that the players have now. It has evolved from authoritative - well, authoritative is not the right word, but it wasn’t really a democracy before. The players would do what the coaches told them to do, and they would often do it without asking questions and understanding why. Now, the players are in partnership with the coaches. The best coaches, I think, are the ones that have the idea that they're managers also, and that the 23 guys on your roster are people too. They have lives outside hockey.

"Society now, with social media and the pressures these guys have - I could have scored that goal, I could have made that save, why was this guy on the ice, what the hell is wrong with this power play - everyone has an opinion. That sometimes bleeds into the players’ lives and influences players. Our job as coaches is to manage expectations and manage the notion that we’re a team and that the team is insular."

Powers: "Oof. That’s a loaded question. I think, especially for older coaches, it’s understanding that you’ve got to coach guys differently today. You can't just blanket-treat players anymore. You have to get to know them. What makes each individual player tick? Everybody's motivated in a different way. With all the distraction - social media, technology - you almost have to peel back the onion more to really get to know what makes a kid go. It's an ongoing process for me."

How does your organization manage analytics and team culture? What’s the optimal fit?

Gronborg: "I call it the 'package.' Every day, when a player shows up, we give him a (verbally communicated) package. Some packages have statistics and analytics in them, but mostly it's going to be about what we're doing on the ice. You shouldn't burden them too much with analytics. At the same time, I like to take those numbers and say, 'We're really successful here. We're not so successful here, so let’s change that.' That’s information. As coaches, one thing we need to do is boil everything down."

Kelly: "(In Vegas), we have a guy who works in the analytics department who's played at the college level - Dustin Walsh. He does a really good job at giving (the coaching staff) meaningful data. He'll ask us what we want, and we'll ask for a basic outline back. So he'll give us about three-to-four pages of information before the game and then after the game.

"It's funny. His numbers align really well with how we saw the game, and so it's good that after we come back the next day we have the report. It’s sitting there, and you can go, 'Yeah, I was right. This is what I saw.' Sometimes it's not the same, but there could be reasons for it. Or, there might be a number there that doesn’t really reflect what happened accurately. But I’d say 95 percent of the time they're right on."

Woodcroft: "For myself, it's an easy answer ... If you're neglecting something (like analytics) - whether you don't understand it, or you think it's silly, or whatever - you’re probably doing your team a disservice.

"(Winnipeg coach) Paul Maurice is a master of using analytics as a narrative, as a way to weave through the team we're going to play and how we're playing. We focus a lot on how we play, and we'll use analytics accordingly. I think analytics is not just the recent thing, I think it’s the future as well.

"If you have money to spend outside the (player salary) cap, it’s going to make your team better. Teams that have huge financial war chests will have an advantage, being able to put a ton of resources into analytics. Teams that maybe don’t have the luxury of spending all of that money on it, I think down the road will probably suffer. You saw in the '80s. (There were) teams that didn't have goalie coaches, video coaches, and strength coaches, and then they understood it was the wave of the future and started hiring these guys full time. Now teams have two goalie coaches, two video coaches, three or four strength coaches. There's no cap off the ice. The best teams spend smartly outside the cap, whether it's player development, or the best things your team can eat, or sleep doctors."

What do you think is, or will be, the next tactical trend in coaching circles? Example: Five forwards on a power-play unit.

Gronborg: "I’m looking more at the complete game and involving all players in all situations. Yeah, you have defensemen and forwards, you have centers out there, whatever, but it's a free-flowing game, so why not involve them all?

"Everyone is so tight, everyone is so scouted nowadays. Let’s switch it up a little bit, let’s challenge the norms a little bit by making movements and formations nobody's used to.

"They're so used to 'left defenseman,' 'right defenseman' and playing a certain position. It's pretty easy to defend that. But what happens if you spread out, what happens if you go in patterns they're not used to? A little bit of positionless hockey, especially in the offensive zone (could be the trend)."

Cashman: "I think defensemen need to become more involved in the offensive zone. With how teams defend so low (in the zone), smothering five guys low, the open ice is up high. I think you need to teach defensemen to take advantage of that open ice, and not just get a puck, roll your head, and shoot it. Take it, attack that open ice, and create options.

"We preach options (in Washington). Put yourself in a position to have multiple options. If the (point) shot is there and the best option, take the shot. But if it’s not and there’s a bunch of open ice, take it instead."

Powers: "Generally, the best coaches have always been the best thieves, right? There's no need to reinvent the game. I think the game is simple.

"Obviously, you always look at NHL games and watch special teams. The drop (pass) on the (power-play) breakout was really hot for a while - kinda slowing it down and changing sides - but (penalty kills) are so advanced now that forecheckers have figured that out. Now, coming up with speed is almost coming back (into the mainstream) ... I think that coaching is so advanced, and players are so prepared now because of it, that you almost have to have different plans ready. Maybe two units that do two completely different things and both are prepared to flip-flop to what the other is doing."

If you had a hockey-playing 10-year-old son or daughter, would you encourage playing other sports in the summer months or double down on hockey? Is 10 too young for specialization?

Cashman: "A 10-year-old? I do not think they should be specializing. If my daughter wants to do one camp in the summer where she gets on the ice because she loves hockey, yeah, I think you can do a camp. I think it's crazy when 10-year-olds are chasing tournaments all over North America in the summertime and playing 100 games in a calendar year. They're not practicing, they’re not developing other skills as an athlete. To be the best athlete you can be, you need to maximize your athleticism. And to do that you need to play multiple sports."

Kelly: "I think, in a perfect world, people would play a number of different sports. But we don't live in a perfect world anymore. It depends on how seriously they want to be about a sport. If they just kinda like a sport, go out and play as many sports as you can. Unfortunately, it's gotten to the point where competitive hockey players - just like competitive ball players, competitive soccer players - are playing hockey 12 months a year, or 11 months a year. So, if you want to keep up, that's what you have to do. I don't have to agree with it, but it is what it is. We live in a different world. Just because we did it one way doesn’t mean it's the be-all, end-all."

Powers: "100 percent other sports … You want athletes that know how to compete, not robots. I think the hockey community is now trying to produce these robotic players that are machines. I think there's something to be said for creativity and compete. The best way to develop that is to play other sports."

Woodcroft: "Certain games are invasion games. Hockey is an invasion game. So I think people who play soccer have an excellent advantage crossing over. Plus, you talk about learning to solve problems spatially in different sports. In basketball: boxing out. Soccer: creating two-on-ones. And, with athleticism, it's not just sports. Climb a tree, swim, be athletic. If you're an 8-year-old, 9-year-old, 13-year-old, your body is still developing. Learn. Go to gymnastics, or try out parkour."

John Matisz is theScore's national hockey writer.

Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

At this past weekend's TeamSnap Hockey Coaches Conference in Toronto, theScore chatted with a group of high-level coaches to gain some insight into their profession as it evolves alongside the sport itself.

The participants:

• Pete DeBoer, San Jose Sharks head coach (NHL)
• Rikard Gronborg, ZSC Lions head coach (Switzerland)
• Greg Powers, Arizona State head coach (NCAA)
• Todd Woodcroft, Winnipeg Jets assistant coach (NHL)
• Mike Kelly, Vegas Golden Knights assistant coach (NHL)
• Reid Cashman, Washington Capitals assistant coach (NHL)

The conversations, lightly edited for brevity and clarity, were held individually and compiled to form the discussion below.

What’s the No. 1 challenge facing today's high-level coaches?

DeBoer: "I honestly believe the biggest challenge for all of us going forward is analytics, and what role analytics is going to play and what we're doing at ground level. They're important, but to what extent? How much are you using them? How much is overuse? How much do the players want, without overextending it?

"A version of analytics has been around since probably (legendary Canadiens coach) Toe Blake tracked scoring chances against or odd-man rushes. Coaches have been doing that forever. Now we’ve got this pile of information on every play that happens in a game, and there’s some important, valuable information in there, but it’s all about how you filter through that and what you give to the players. For every yin, there’s a yang. If you’re good in one area, you’re going to give up something in another area."

Gronborg: "Doing the daily work and believing in something that you set out to achieve. There's going to be a lot of push and pull out there, a lot of influences that want to get in there. If you really believe in what you're doing, really believe in waking up in the morning and taking on the challenges, I think you're in good shape, no matter what level you're at. The coaches of the Toronto Maple Leafs - (Mike) Babcock and the rest of the coaches - can attest. There's a lot of pressure in a lot of different situations. How do you handle that? You do the daily work and believe in what you're doing, and make everyone in the locker room believe in the daily work as well."

Cashman: "I think the No. 1 challenge is getting your players to trust you - and I say that in a positive way ... If you don’t get a player who believes you'll be able to maximize his abilities, I think you're going to have a tough time coaching him.

"For me, as a (defense) corps, we’re all going to be connected, and then individually you and I will figure out the best way to maximize your abilities. What does that mean? Well, do you need extra work before practice? Do you like to be in the weight room before practice? Is there stuff going on at home? As a university coach, how are classes going? Can I help you with classes? And now you trust me because you know that I want to help you as a human being, and then as a hockey player."

Woodcroft: "I'll back up to my first year in the NHL, in 2000. Seeing the evolution of the voice that the players have now. It has evolved from authoritative - well, authoritative is not the right word, but it wasn’t really a democracy before. The players would do what the coaches told them to do, and they would often do it without asking questions and understanding why. Now, the players are in partnership with the coaches. The best coaches, I think, are the ones that have the idea that they're managers also, and that the 23 guys on your roster are people too. They have lives outside hockey.

"Society now, with social media and the pressures these guys have - I could have scored that goal, I could have made that save, why was this guy on the ice, what the hell is wrong with this power play - everyone has an opinion. That sometimes bleeds into the players’ lives and influences players. Our job as coaches is to manage expectations and manage the notion that we’re a team and that the team is insular."

Powers: "Oof. That’s a loaded question. I think, especially for older coaches, it’s understanding that you’ve got to coach guys differently today. You can't just blanket-treat players anymore. You have to get to know them. What makes each individual player tick? Everybody's motivated in a different way. With all the distraction - social media, technology - you almost have to peel back the onion more to really get to know what makes a kid go. It's an ongoing process for me."

How does your organization manage analytics and team culture? What’s the optimal fit?

Gronborg: "I call it the 'package.' Every day, when a player shows up, we give him a (verbally communicated) package. Some packages have statistics and analytics in them, but mostly it's going to be about what we're doing on the ice. You shouldn't burden them too much with analytics. At the same time, I like to take those numbers and say, 'We're really successful here. We're not so successful here, so let’s change that.' That’s information. As coaches, one thing we need to do is boil everything down."

Kelly: "(In Vegas), we have a guy who works in the analytics department who's played at the college level - Dustin Walsh. He does a really good job at giving (the coaching staff) meaningful data. He'll ask us what we want, and we'll ask for a basic outline back. So he'll give us about three-to-four pages of information before the game and then after the game.

"It's funny. His numbers align really well with how we saw the game, and so it's good that after we come back the next day we have the report. It’s sitting there, and you can go, 'Yeah, I was right. This is what I saw.' Sometimes it's not the same, but there could be reasons for it. Or, there might be a number there that doesn’t really reflect what happened accurately. But I’d say 95 percent of the time they're right on."

Woodcroft: "For myself, it's an easy answer ... If you're neglecting something (like analytics) - whether you don't understand it, or you think it's silly, or whatever - you’re probably doing your team a disservice.

"(Winnipeg coach) Paul Maurice is a master of using analytics as a narrative, as a way to weave through the team we're going to play and how we're playing. We focus a lot on how we play, and we'll use analytics accordingly. I think analytics is not just the recent thing, I think it’s the future as well.

"If you have money to spend outside the (player salary) cap, it’s going to make your team better. Teams that have huge financial war chests will have an advantage, being able to put a ton of resources into analytics. Teams that maybe don’t have the luxury of spending all of that money on it, I think down the road will probably suffer. You saw in the '80s. (There were) teams that didn't have goalie coaches, video coaches, and strength coaches, and then they understood it was the wave of the future and started hiring these guys full time. Now teams have two goalie coaches, two video coaches, three or four strength coaches. There's no cap off the ice. The best teams spend smartly outside the cap, whether it's player development, or the best things your team can eat, or sleep doctors."

What do you think is, or will be, the next tactical trend in coaching circles? Example: Five forwards on a power-play unit.

Gronborg: "I’m looking more at the complete game and involving all players in all situations. Yeah, you have defensemen and forwards, you have centers out there, whatever, but it's a free-flowing game, so why not involve them all?

"Everyone is so tight, everyone is so scouted nowadays. Let’s switch it up a little bit, let’s challenge the norms a little bit by making movements and formations nobody's used to.

"They're so used to 'left defenseman,' 'right defenseman' and playing a certain position. It's pretty easy to defend that. But what happens if you spread out, what happens if you go in patterns they're not used to? A little bit of positionless hockey, especially in the offensive zone (could be the trend)."

Cashman: "I think defensemen need to become more involved in the offensive zone. With how teams defend so low (in the zone), smothering five guys low, the open ice is up high. I think you need to teach defensemen to take advantage of that open ice, and not just get a puck, roll your head, and shoot it. Take it, attack that open ice, and create options.

"We preach options (in Washington). Put yourself in a position to have multiple options. If the (point) shot is there and the best option, take the shot. But if it’s not and there’s a bunch of open ice, take it instead."

Powers: "Generally, the best coaches have always been the best thieves, right? There's no need to reinvent the game. I think the game is simple.

"Obviously, you always look at NHL games and watch special teams. The drop (pass) on the (power-play) breakout was really hot for a while - kinda slowing it down and changing sides - but (penalty kills) are so advanced now that forecheckers have figured that out. Now, coming up with speed is almost coming back (into the mainstream) ... I think that coaching is so advanced, and players are so prepared now because of it, that you almost have to have different plans ready. Maybe two units that do two completely different things and both are prepared to flip-flop to what the other is doing."

If you had a hockey-playing 10-year-old son or daughter, would you encourage playing other sports in the summer months or double down on hockey? Is 10 too young for specialization?

Cashman: "A 10-year-old? I do not think they should be specializing. If my daughter wants to do one camp in the summer where she gets on the ice because she loves hockey, yeah, I think you can do a camp. I think it's crazy when 10-year-olds are chasing tournaments all over North America in the summertime and playing 100 games in a calendar year. They're not practicing, they’re not developing other skills as an athlete. To be the best athlete you can be, you need to maximize your athleticism. And to do that you need to play multiple sports."

Kelly: "I think, in a perfect world, people would play a number of different sports. But we don't live in a perfect world anymore. It depends on how seriously they want to be about a sport. If they just kinda like a sport, go out and play as many sports as you can. Unfortunately, it's gotten to the point where competitive hockey players - just like competitive ball players, competitive soccer players - are playing hockey 12 months a year, or 11 months a year. So, if you want to keep up, that's what you have to do. I don't have to agree with it, but it is what it is. We live in a different world. Just because we did it one way doesn’t mean it's the be-all, end-all."

Powers: "100 percent other sports … You want athletes that know how to compete, not robots. I think the hockey community is now trying to produce these robotic players that are machines. I think there's something to be said for creativity and compete. The best way to develop that is to play other sports."

Woodcroft: "Certain games are invasion games. Hockey is an invasion game. So I think people who play soccer have an excellent advantage crossing over. Plus, you talk about learning to solve problems spatially in different sports. In basketball: boxing out. Soccer: creating two-on-ones. And, with athleticism, it's not just sports. Climb a tree, swim, be athletic. If you're an 8-year-old, 9-year-old, 13-year-old, your body is still developing. Learn. Go to gymnastics, or try out parkour."

John Matisz is theScore's national hockey writer.

Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

TORONTO - Mike Gillis was recently recommended a book called "Tape to Space: Redefining Modern Hockey Tactics." The former NHL general manager hasn't finished it, but he felt compelled to scribble down a passage from the book’s forward.

"The ever-present malaise within this sport, the crushing weight of consensus, the warm safety blanket of inactions that consumes the ruling class in hockey..." Gillis said on Friday, reciting his favorite part to the 200-plus attendees at the TeamSnap Hockey Coaches Conference held at Ryerson University.

"That is outstanding," he continued. "Like anything, if you want to be good at something, you need to take risks and you need to think a little differently about every possible opportunity, and you have to push the competitive boundary, no matter what it is."

Gillis was considered a progressive hockey executive during his time running the Vancouver Canucks from 2008 to 2014. As a trained lawyer, ex-player agent, and lifelong learner, he stood out. Five years later, with his hair grayer, beard longer, and brain fuller, he appears refreshed and enlightened.

Which begs the question: Does the 60-year-old have ambitions of returning to the NHL?

"I do, but in a fairly specific role," Gillis said. "I’m really interested in analytics, sports science, human performance, and how to blend those things into a high-functioning organization. As a general manager of a team you’re really myopic, really focused on your team performance, individual performance, coaching performance, and I like that part of the job. But right now I'm a little more interested in how you build an organization and how you see results, how you measure results, and being really high functioning."

During an on-stage Q&A and a subsequent interview, Gillis shared a wide range of opinions and anecdotes at the conference. Let's run through the best stuff.

The reeducation

To say Gillis has expanded his horizons since being fired would be an understatement. His only post-Canucks hockey job listed online is a two-year board of directors role with Geneva of the Swiss league.

Instead of focussing on hockey, he's quite literally traveled across the planet.

An incomplete list of his adventures: He's visited various laboratories centered around persuasion and virtual reality at Stanford University in California; learned about cognitive awareness at the Nike Sport Research Lab in Oregon; participated in a business school think tank at the University of Michigan; studied how KHL teams develop players; checked out the Campus BioTech in Switzerland; and flown to China, Spain, Australia, among other locales, all in search of information about how to optimally run a modern sports team.

"The top organizations are really focused on the daily training environment," Gillis said, offering a main takeaway from his world tour. "They are trying to push the envelope in every possible element, from the time a player shows up until the time that player leaves. It's becoming (obvious) that the top teams have a far more holistic viewpoint of how to run these teams."

Gillis' view of the NHL and its teams' organizational structures has evolved. For instance, he now believes the typical workflow within front offices is inefficient, with the GM stretched far too thin while often overseeing the entire hockey operations department.

"One of the biggest issues NHL teams have is that a lot of that responsibility resides with one person," he said. "That one person over time gets worn out and makes poor decisions."

Ideally, Gillis said, an NHL team would employ four assistant GMs, similar to the setup many elite soccer clubs in England have adopted. That would shift some pressure away from the GM and allow for a group of people - not a single person - to influence the club's direction.

Hockey's scouting system is ripe for modernization, according to Gillis. "It needs to be transformed," he said, because "there's too much groupthink. There's not enough evidence. The analytics are poor. There's no real predictiveness in drafting. If you're bad enough to (draft) in the top 10, you're probably getting a good player, but you might not because you picked the wrong one."

What's more, the combine interview, a fixture of the annual scouting process, is "absolutely useless" by Gillis' estimation. The conversation between a teenager and representatives from his prospective employer frequently includes more canned than candid answers. Alternatively, the 2011 GM of the Year thinks teams should be spending draft capital on vision analysis and cognitive awareness testing.

As for a pet peeve, Gillis can barely contain his frustration with the NHL's late-morning practice.

Games and workouts start at opposite times of the day for no logical reason, he said, suggesting 4 p.m. as an alternative practice time. "When I played in 1978, we practiced at 11 o'clock in the morning. Why?" he added. "There's nothing to support that practice time. No science, no data."

When asked to look into his crystal ball, Gillis served up another tradition-bucking idea. Sure, in 2019 the odd coach will throw five forwards over the boards on the power play. But Gillis said that in the not-too-distant future, perhaps we'll see someone toss out an all-forwards formation in even-strength situations.

"I can envision teams playing with five forwards all the time to increase that speed and opportunity for offense," Gillis said. "Defensively, players now are learning defensive responsibilities at such an early age that I think it's really detrimental to the game. I just see this push toward more offense."

Canucks, in hindsight

The Gillis era in Vancouver was highly successful. It featured Alain Vigneault and John Tortorella behind the bench, and with the Sedin twins and Roberto Luongo in their primes, the Canucks amassed a 261-146-51 record while winning two Presidents' trophies and making a trip to the 2011 Stanley Cup Final.

Although Gillis said his tenure wasn't perfect, the Canucks were undoubtedly ahead of the curve with their use of sports science and analytics, tracking players' sleeping patterns off the ice and zone starts on the ice to gain competitive edges. Generally, that approach worked, leading to wins for the team, and fat contracts for the players.

"We decided to create a culture that was borne out of science," Gillis said of Vancouver's solution to the travel challenge facing west-coast franchises. The staff, he recalled, convinced players "that we would prolong their careers and they'd have better careers because we used technology and science. And, to their credit, the top guys were very eager to get to that upper echelon of play and very eager to win."

Gillis shared an interesting sports science note about Luongo, a surefire Hall of Famer. The recently retired netminder dealt with "a degree of performance anxiety" and, based off his hormone levels, the club would notice him go through "almost a physical change" ahead of certain games.

"We were always trying to figure out a way to get him over that hurdle," Gillis said. "We went to a lot of different places and talked to a lot of different people ... He's a really sensitive guy with a great sense of humor, and his sense of humor would go away and his sensitivity would increase."

Another example of Vancouver going against the grain late last decade was naming Luongo the captain during a period when teams didn't even think about giving the "C" to the goalie. The non-traditional choice was mocked endlessly, and the experiment lasted just two years. Would Gillis do it again?

"We got benefit out of it," he said. "I didn't like all the scrutiny and the difficulty it caused, in hindsight. So, not sure. I would think about it a lot harder and a lot longer, knowing what I know now. But we didn't know that, that we'd get a reaction like that. We were just trying to help our team and make it better, and help our goalie."

"It wasn't a problem between (Luongo) and the organization," Gillis continued. "It was certain guys in the media made a big deal out of it, and they also made a big deal out of (the Canucks) signing Mats Sundin. You can't even calculate the benefit we got out of that guy. He was such a professional. He was Swedish. We had (Alex) Edler, the Sedins, we had other European content, and they all respected this guy, had huge admiration for him. They got to see how he lived his daily life."

On several occasions Friday, Gillis mentioned that leaders are made, not born. Even though he might have been talking about Sundin, the Sedins, rugby's All Blacks team, or NFL head coach Pete Carroll, the assessment also applies to Gillis himself.

It's clear the journey he's been on since being fired as Canucks GM - ending a decades-long run of playing, representing, or managing in pro hockey - has helped him see the forest before the trees.

"Leadership comes in the form of how you run your life," Gillis said. "It’s a determination to be the best. How you display that on a daily basis. Your preparation. Your willingness to perform. And it also comes in understanding that everything’s a process."

John Matisz is theScore's national hockey writer.

Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Ready or not, here's a smoldering, midsummer opinion:

Ron Francis may or may not be the right man for the general manager job in Seattle.

That's not meant to be a sorry attempt at being facetious or a shortcut to nonpartisanship, but simply is the truth about Francis' new gig as the GM of the still-to-be-named NHL expansion franchise. The historic hiring, made official Thursday during a press conference held near the site of the club's future arena, could very well work out wonderfully, or horribly, or just fine.

It would feel insincere to genuinely hand out an endorsement or file a complaint, as Francis' body of work as an NHL GM has been equal parts solid, unspectacular, and restrictive. His time running the Carolina Hurricanes was, on aggregate, one giant shoulder shrug; Francis didn't do a whole lot of trading and signing, but when he did do something, it turned out well more often than not.

From March 2014 to April 2018, Francis oversaw four drafts and four seasons, during which the Canes never finished better than 10th in the Eastern Conference standings. Terrible goaltending and a lack of offensive firepower spoiled incredible underlying numbers, and with new ownership came a change in direction and Francis' unceremonious exit.

On one hand, he was perhaps too patient and risk-averse, a mentality that ultimately cost him his GM powers a few months after Tom Dundon purchased the team from longtime owner Peter Karmanos. Sometimes, the long game gets tiresome. The team made little progress in the standings over that four-year period and wasn't projected to go deep in the 2019 playoffs. It made some changes in the post-Francis era, received decent goaltending, rode the wave of the Storm Surge, and made it to the Eastern Conference Final.

On the other hand, Francis inherited a non-playoff team in desperate need of a rebuild and he didn't rush anything, adding one brick at a time while operating under a tight budget. And, don't forget, that last part - money - is kind of important in pro sports. Circumstances restricted Francis from flexing financial might. All things considered, the roster, though not overly competitive, was in respectable shape when Francis' successor, Don Waddell, received the keys.

At the draft table, Francis had his home runs (Sebastian Aho 35th overall in 2015) and his miscalculations (Haydn Fleury seventh overall in 2014 when William Nylander and Nikolaj Ehlers were still available), but nothing so extreme that he's the subject of widespread praise or criticism. The 56-year-old Hall of Fame player nailed some, missed the mark on others, and the jury's still out on the rest. Overall, he's probably worthy of a B grade in regard to drafting.

Scott Darling, who was thought to be the savior in net but didn't pan out, was probably Francis' biggest contractual splash at $16.6 million over four years following a trade with the Blackhawks. Teuvo Teravainen, another former Blackhawk who broke out for 76 points last season, was undoubtedly his finest trade-related score. The most notable name shipped out of town was Eric Staal; it was a deal with the New York Rangers that netted Carolina two second-round picks and some fellow named Andrei Saarela.

In the hockey operations department, Francis is rightly lauded for empowering Eric Tulsky, a former nanotechnologist who's risen to a vice president position with the Canes, and for tapping Mike Vellucci, the veteran coach/manager who this spring led the franchise's AHL affiliate to a championship. Bill Peters, now behind the Flames' bench, didn't find success with the Canes but is widely considered to be a quality coach. Francis, the NHL's all-time assist leader among players not named Wayne Gretzky, apparently has an eye for off-ice talent.

So, how does this all relate to the Seattle NHL team, which is slated to enter the league in the 2021-22 season? For starters, Francis' process-oriented approach is a nice match for a club looking to hire coaches, scouts, and other staffers, and find players through the expansion draft. He's the first real face of the franchise (sorry, Dave Tippett), a well-connected hockey man, and spokesperson. He has 12 years of hockey ops experience to lean on and will, at the very least, be thorough in all of his decisions.

Things will get interesting, though, when Francis has a roster assembled. He'll have the financial backing this time, as the ownership group, led by billionaire David Bonderman and Hollywood producer Jerry Bruckheimer, have so far shown they have deep pockets and a willingness to invest. It'll be easier to recruit free agents to Seattle since it's the shiny new toy and there's no state income tax.

Francis' contract is reportedly for five years - two seasons of the leadup to the first game in 2021 and then three real seasons of hockey. You could argue he wasn't given a fighting chance in Carolina. On the surface, it seems like his leash in Seattle will be a long one.

It may end up taking nearly a decade between two teams, but we should finally know what Francis, NHL GM, is made of.

John Matisz is theScore's national hockey writer.

Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The first three days of July have come and gone, and the hockey world is left with more questions than answers in regard to offer sheets.

What did the Canadiens, who convinced star forward Sebastian Aho to sign an offer sheet Monday, actually accomplish aside from causing a minor stir in Carolina?

Will the reaction (the Hurricanes matching the five-year, $42.3-million deal with little hesitation) be chalked up as evidence that offer sheets aren’t effective in 2019?

Or, did Habs general manager Marc Bergevin simply play his cards wrong against Canes GM Don Waddell? Would a more lucrative deal of, say, $50 million over five years have changed the dynamic of the situation and have led to a precedent-setting outcome?

In the wake of a hectic week of transactions, there’s plenty to unpack beyond the muddy offer-sheet drama. NHL teams completed 11 trades over the past week, while the first three days of July produced 143 contracts, $732 million in future earnings, and 267 contract years, according to CapFriendly. Jake Gardiner, Marcus Johansson, and a small group of free agents may still be available, but the bulk of offseason activity has passed.

Now that the dust has settled, let’s reflect on the week’s biggest developments.

Metro Division disrupted in major way

You could argue that a team like the Central Division’s Stars or the Atlantic’s Panthers should be crowned the offseason’s biggest winner to date, but there are a handful of legitimate cases across the league. It's a toss-up.

In terms of pure chaos, though, the Metropolitan is the center of attention, hands down. It’s the one division that’s been rocked the hardest since the draft.

The Rangers’ rebuild hit fast forward with the landmark acquisition of Artemi Panarin; New Jersey added Wayne Simmonds a couple of weeks after the club scooped up Jack Hughes first overall and P.K. Subban via trade; the Flyers may have overpaid Kevin Hayes, but he will be a difference-maker; Carolina quietly picked up Erik Haula from Vegas and James Reimer from Florida.

In other words, the three Metro teams that missed last year’s playoffs, plus Carolina, who made it to the conference finals, have bulked up. As for the five playoff teams:

The Blue Jackets are worse after losing Panarin, Matt Duchene, Sergei Bobrovsky, and Ryan Dzingel. They did, however, sign Gustav Nyquist, and still look good on paper; although the Penguins shed Phil Kessel and gained Alex Galchenyuk and Brandon Tanev, the team can never be counted out until Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin begin to fade; the Islanders missed out on Panarin and whiffed on a Robin Lehner extension, but snagged Semyon Varlamov and re-signed captain Anders Lee; Washington didn’t make any groundbreaking moves, but have much of their 2018 Stanley Cup lineup intact.

The Metro could easily send five teams to the 2020 playoffs, but it’s become difficult predicting who those teams might be.

Nobody in better shape than Avalanche

Take a glance around the NHL and think about how the landscape might look in five years. There isn't a franchise in better shape than the upstart Avalanche, especially if you trust GM Joe Sakic’s vision and consider the following information:

• The core is extremely young. Nathan MacKinnon, Mikko Rantanen (RFA), J.T. Compher (RFA), Cale Makar, Samuel Girard, Conor Timmins, and Martin Kaut are all under 25 years old, while Gabriel Landeskog and Philipp Grubauer are 26 and 27, respectively.

• Sakic’s addressed a lack of forward depth this offseason by adding a second-line center (Nazem Kadri), two middle-six wingers (Joonas Donskoi, RFA Andrei Burakovsky), and a fourth-line center (Pierre-Edouard Bellemare) through two trades and two signings.

• Colorado boasts a league-high $27.2 million in cap space for the 2019-20 season. Not a single albatross contract is on the books.

• There’s more talent coming down the pipe. Both Bowen Byram and Alex Newhook - picked fourth and 16th overall, respectively, in last month's draft - are highly touted, and in the next three drafts, the Avs own 20 selections, including all three first-rounders.

All of this is incredibly promising for an Avs team that, despite making the playoffs in consecutive seasons, is just getting started. Colorado is positioned to cleanly transition from playoff team to contender over the next couple of seasons. And by the tail end of MacKinnon’s contract, which expires after 2022-23, they could be a powerhouse. The future is blindingly bright.

Maple Leafs stickhandle out of trouble

With Mitch Marner negotiations ongoing, GM Kyle Dubas managed to turn over a chunk of Toronto’s 2018-19 roster in only a few days.

Departing are defensemen Gardiner (destination unknown), Nikita Zaitsev (Ottawa), Ron Hainsey (Ottawa), and Calle Rosen (Colorado), as well as forwards Connor Brown (Ottawa) and Kadri (Colorado). Arriving are defensemen Tyson Barrie (Colorado), Cody Cedi (Ottawa), Ben Harpur (Ottawa), and Kevin Gravel (UFA), as well as forwards Alex Kerfoot (Colorado), Jason Spezza (UFA), Nick Shore (UFA), and Kenny Agostino (UFA).

For those keeping score at home, that’s eight players in, six players out since July 1.

Rewinding to draft weekend in mid-June, Andreas Johnsson and Kasperi Kapanen signed extensions to get ahead of a potential offer-sheet conundrum, and Patrick Marleau left via trade to create cap space.

The only real stinger for the Leafs following all of these interconnected transactions is the loss of their 2020 first-round pick. Toronto's operating through a short-term lens and didn't have much choice but to ship out a first-rounder as they dance around the incoming $81.5-million salary cap.

Then on Thursday, Kerfoot and Ceci, both RFAs, signed four- and one-year deals, respectively, making Marner the lone player on the 23-man roster without a contract. Sure, Dubas could try to upgrade his No. 2 goalie in the leadup to training camp, but that takes a back seat to the Marner negotiations.

The young executive's salary-clearing work since the draft leaves the club with, after some LTIR and AHL assignments, roughly $9.5 million in cap space. Starting the 2019-20 season without a dark cloud hovering over the team obviously would be the ideal scenario. Perhaps a two-year bridge deal for Marner - something in the neighborhood of $9.5 million a season - works? If that's not enough for Marner's camp then Dubas isn't out of the woods yet.

Overall, it’s been an efficient offseason for the Leafs, an organization that's doubled down on its allegiance to skilled players. It's early in the process, but right now the Leafs' 18-man depth chart (not projected lines, as Marner remains unsigned, and Hyman and Dermott are injured) looks something like this:

Handing out best/worst honors

Early July usually generates both tire-pumping and head-scratching signings. Below is a collection of the best and worst signings:

Best one-year deal - Devils netting Wayne Simmonds at $5 million. He’s slowing down and has battled injuries but could use the change of scenery, so this show-me deal makes sense for both parties.

Worst one-year deal - Blackhawks grabbing Robin Lehner at $5 million. Nice get but what if the Vezina Trophy finalist, who’ll be 28 in training camp, decides to walk away next summer?

Best contract now, and in the future - Sharks re-upping Timo Meier for four years on a $6-million cap hit. Already a stud at 22 years old, the Swiss power forward will easily turn this extension into a bargain.

Worst contract now, and in the future - Penguins forking over $3.5 million per season for six years to Brandon Tanev. A perfectly useful forward is now overpaid and overcommitted - good for player, bad for team.

Best reclamation project - Stars inking Corey Perry to a one-year deal at $1.5 million with $1.75 million in performance bonuses. The ex-Hart Trophy winner is incentivized to produce, and can help out the power play.

Worst reclamation project - Panthers devoting $5.5 million a season for three years and a modified no-trade clause to Anton Stralman. He’ll help that defense corps, but the package is a little rich for a 32-year-old suited for third-pairing work.

Best aligning of timelines - Rangers landing Artemi Panarin for seven years at $11.6 million annually. He's the perfect poster boy for New York's burgeoning core, which now includes Kaapo Kakko, Adam Fox, and Jacob Trouba.

Worst aligning of timelines - Wild signing Mats Zuccarello to a five-year, $30-million deal. Weird fit, since the soon-to-be 32-year-old is a player who should be the final piece to the puzzle, and Minnesota's not exactly close to contending for a Stanley Cup.

Best big splash - Predators snagging Matt Duchene for seven years and $8 million per season. It cost the team P.K. Subban, which sucks, but the price tag is reasonable for the best center on the UFA market.

Worst big splash - Canucks acquiring Tyler Myers for five years at $6 million per season. The former Calder Trophy winner solidifies the back end, yet the length and AAV are far too generous for his talent level.

John Matisz is theScore's national hockey writer.

Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Quick-hit analysis of important NHL signings and trades completed Monday, July 1, updating live as each transaction rolls in.

Signing: Devils add Wayne Simmonds (1 year, $5 million)
Analysis: New Jersey GM Ray Shero is keeping the good times rolling. A week after selecting Jack Hughes with the No. 1 pick and trading for PK Subban, Shero has reeled in another quality player to his rising squad. Simmonds, a 30-year-old net-front winger - who's not quite the same player he used to be but is still effective - will be motivated to prove the hockey world wrong after a mediocre 2018-19 season. In that respect, the one-year deal is harmless for the Devils; if it doesn't work out for the player, the team, or both, you neatly part ways. The money isn't outrageous, either. Smart signing all around.

Signing: Blue Jackets get Gustav Nyquist (4 years, $22 million)
Analysis: Columbus GM Jarmo Kekalainen famously went all-in on 2018-19, and today, he pays for it. Artemi Panarin and Matt Duchene are officially gone, and Nyquist won't replace the offense the team lost. Though, as a serial 40-to-60-point winger, the former Shark will contribute something of substance. The 29-year-old's annual salary ($5.5 million) is far from an overpay, so this is an OK kickback for losing two headliners.

Signing: Sharks lock up Timo Meier (4 years, $24 million)
Analysis: With Pavelski coming off the books ahead of a small bump in the salary cap, Sharks GM Doug Wilson could afford a nice extension for RFA Meier. The Swiss power forward is a key part of the present and future core in San Jose, and there's little doubt he'll earn every cent of the $6 million he's now owed through the 2022-23 season. Meier, 22, had a breakout campaign last year - producing 81 points in 98 total games - but is projected to take yet another step in 2019-20. Solid work here to avoid a potential offer sheet.

Signing: Stars grab Joe Pavelski (3 years, $21 million)
Analysis: Dallas GM Jim Nill won the Pavelski bidding war, and the deal is totally justifiable as a $7-million annual cap hit and medium-term commitment. Pavelski is turning 35 in July, so having him on board for two seasons would've been ideal. The longtime Shark had plenty of leverage, however, so that's why it stretched to three and his age-38 campaign. Pavelski adds an extra layer of offense to the Stars, who already had Tyler Seguin, Jamie Benn, Alexander Radulov, Roope Hintz, and, as of Monday, Corey Perry. It's crystal clear the organization is ready to push its chips to the middle of the table and go all-in for a Stanley Cup.

Signing: Panthers bring in Sergei Bobrovsky (7 years, $70 million)
Analysis: Bob is taking his talents to South Beach. The biggest name on the UFA goalie market is joining a Panthers squad that struck out on Columbus buddy Artemi Panarin. Bobrovsky, a 31-year-old two-time Vezina Trophy winner, is now the second-highest-paid goalie in the world, with his $10 million in annual earnings trailing only Carey Price by $500,000. This deal looks alright in the short term, especially as the Cats push for the playoffs in 2019-20, but it may be an albatross by the time Years 5, 6, and 7 arrive. On the flip side, the length of the contract could work out fine because elite prospect Spencer Knight should be climbing the pro ranks over the next few years. Transitioning from Bobrovsky to Knight toward the end of the deal would be ideal for Florida. That giant cap hit might give the club problems, though.

Signing: Stars nab Corey Perry (1 year, $1.5 million)
Analysis: He may be 34 years old and a step or two slower than his former self, but Perry is a reclamation project worth betting on. And why not at that term and money? The Stars, a team constantly looking for secondary scoring, are bringing in a former Hart Trophy winner, Stanley Cup champion, and Olympic gold medalist. Perry's incentivized to produce, too, with his new contract topped up by $1.75 million in performance bonuses. It remains to be seen where Perry will slot into Dallas' lineup, though the right wing on Roope Hintz's second line could be a place to start.

Signing: Predators score Matt Duchene (7 years, $56 million)
Analysis: Everything's copacetic in Nashville. The Predators and Duchene get what they want: the team acquires the UFA market's top center for only $8 million per season and the player finds a long-term home. Duchene, 28, had many suitors - including the Canadiens, his favorite team as a kid - but chose a city he loves, an excellent tax situation, and a pretty good roster. The Predators underachieved last year, losing in the first round, and sorely lacked a creative playmaker like Duchene. And while PK Subban and his $9-million cap hit had to be sacrificed, GM David Poile must be smiling from ear to ear.

Signing: Penguins ink Brandon Tanev (6 years, $21 million)
Analysis: Raising eyebrows league-wide, Tanev's cashing in with this agreement with the Penguins. Two days after Jim Rutherford traded Phil Kessel to Arizona, the GM gives a hefty package to Tanev, a depth forward who kills penalties and registered 29 points last season with the Jets. Tanev's 27 years old and the contract runs through the 2024-25 season. Both the length and the $3.5-million annual cap hit seem a little high for someone who'll play down the lineup.

Signing: Rangers land Artemi Panarin (7 years, $81.5 million)
Analysis: After adding Kaapo Kakko, Adam Fox, and Jacob Trouba earlier this offseason, the Rangers have inked the biggest name of the 2019 UFA class. Panarin is a dynamic game-breaker worth every penny of the $11.642 million he'll earn annually in New York. He's now the highest-paid winger in the league. A strong connection to Rangers president John Davidson, who held the same position with the Blue Jackets for the entirety of Panarin's time in Columbus, certainly didn't hurt, and skating under the bright lights of Madison Square Garden and living in the Big Apple are healthy bonuses. The final contenders for Panarin were reportedly the Islanders, Panthers, and Blue Jackets.

Signing: Maple Leafs tap Jason Spezza (1 year, $700,000)
Analysis: Toronto native Spezza is coming home for around the league minimum. It's a low-risk move by the Leafs, who now have their fourth-line center and a 58 percent faceoff guy. If he can stay healthy and is used properly, Spezza can be a nice depth piece, even if his play has dropped off dramatically since his prime years with the Senators. It would also make sense if the 36-year-old finds a spot on the second power-play unit.

Signing: Wild snag Mats Zuccarello (5 years, $30 million)
Analysis: Zuccarello, a highly sought-after second-tier UFA forward, is headed to Minnesota by way of the Dallas Stars. In a vacuum, signing Zuccarello is a tremendous move by Wild GM Paul Fenton. They need offensive catalysts. However, the term - five years, which will bring the Norwegian to his age-37 season - is a bit rich, especially considering Minnesota is already one of the oldest teams in the league. There's a lot to love about Zuccarello, a feisty top-six winger with finishing ability, but this contract reeks of future remorse.

Signing: Blue Jackets re-sign Ryan Murray (2 years, $9.2 million)
Analysis: As unrestricted free agents leave Columbus en masse, GM Jarmo Kekalainen locks one of the club's RFAs into a two-year pact. Murray, a 25-year-old who's battled injuries since being selected second overall in the 2012 draft, will make $4.6 million in 2019-20 and 2020-21. He had arbitration rights. Next on the list is blue-liner Zach Werenski, who should be a more difficult negotiation given the star-studded RFA market.

Trade: Rangers ship Jimmy Vesey to Sabres for 3rd-rounder in 2021
Analysis: New York Rangers GM Jeff Gorton continues to throw players overboard in the name of rebuilding. Vesey, a 30-point winger with one season remaining on a two-year, $4.55-million deal, is once again a member of the Buffalo Sabres. Three summers ago, as Vesey was set to become a free agent, the Sabres sent a third-round pick to the Nashville Predators for the Harvard standout's rights. Buffalo, then under GM Tim Murray, was unable to sign Vesey, who eventually found a fit with the Rangers. It's come full circle, with current Sabres GM Jason Botterill sending a third to New York halfway through Vesey's second contract. The 26-year-old will likely slot into Buffalo's middle-six forward group.

Signing: Blue Jackets re-up Joonas Korpisalo (1 year, $1.15 million)
Analysis: With longtime Columbus Blue Jackets starting goalie Sergei Bobrovsky expected to leave for the Florida Panthers via free agency, Korpisalo nets a show-me deal. The 25-year-old has a .907 save percentage in 90 career NHL games and will share the Jackets' netminding duties with prospect Elvis Merzlikins in 2019-20. Both are set to become restricted free agents next summer. This signing is a small but necessary piece of business as the organization embarks upon the post-Bobrovsky era.

Trade: Maple Leafs send Nikita Zaitsev, Connor Brown, and Michael Carcone to Senators for Cody Ceci, Ben Harpur, Aaron Luchuk, 3rd-rounder in 2020
Analysis: Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Kyle Dubas made out well in a deal centered around dumping a poor contract (Zaitsev's $4.5 million annually for five years). Brown - who's tough to lose as a sweetener - would have ideally stayed in Toronto, but shipping his $2.1-million cap hit to the Ottawa Senators clears up even more space. The return - two potential third-pairing blueliners in Ceci and Harpur, a minor-league forward in Luchuk, and a mid-round pick - is decent, all things considered. The pick helps offset Brown's departure. From the Sens' perspective, it's not the sexiest move by GM Pierre Dorion, considering the two core pieces, Zaitsev and Ceci, aren't drastically different players and the one going to Ottawa is signed through 2023-24. Coach DJ Smith knows Zaitsev and Brown from his time behind the Leafs bench, which should bode well for proper usage and deployment with the Senators.

John Matisz is theScore's national hockey writer.

Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Phil Kessel is a Coyote. Alex Galcheyuk is a Penguin. What a time to be alive.

In case you missed it, here are the full details of Saturday night's five-piece trade:

The gist: Arizona general manager John Chayka got the best player in the deal, and Pittsburgh GM Jim Rutherford got a reasonable return for a player who didn't see eye to eye with the organization. It's fair to say the Coyotes are the short-term winners, while there's a decent chance the Penguins look like thieves a few years down the road. The long-term X-factor is Joseph's development.

Now for some deeper thoughts on the pre-free agency swap:

Kessel's fit in Arizona

With Kessel's persona and his butting of heads with Rutherford and head coach Mike Sullivan commanding the bulk of the post-trade oxygen, what seems to have been lost in the shuffle is how freaking good Kessel is.

The Penguins just traded a guy who ranks eighth in total goals and fourth in even-strength tallies since he broke into the NHL in 2006-07. Kessel, who turns 32 in October, has bagged 23-37 goals for 10 straight non-lockout seasons and posted 92 and 82 points the past two campaigns. He's extremely durable, not missing a regular-season game since 2009-10, and was dominant in Pittsburgh's two Stanley Cup runs, contributing 22 points in 2016 and another 23 in 2017.

The Kessel-Coyotes fit is harmonious. Arizona is bereft of talent up front. Clayton Keller, the team's only dynamic forward, led last year's squad with 47 points. As a team, the Coyotes scored 2.55 goals per game to finish tied for 28th in the NHL. Kessel and his all-world wrist shot immediately become the yin to Keller's yang, taking some of the weight off the 20-year-old playmaker's shoulders as either a linemate or second-line threat. Bonus: Kessel's $6.8-million cap hit, which runs through 2022, is great value.

Of course, the fact that Rick Tocchet - whom many considered the "Phil whisperer" during the Penguins' Cup years - now patrols the Coyotes' bench is a massive factor here. Their relationship fuelled trade discussions, and there will be no surprises in training camp. The familiarity should allow for a smooth transition for both team and player, and ice time, be it at even strength or on the power play, probably won't be an issue.

Away from the rink, the anonymity of playing in the desert - not hockey-mad markets like his previous stops in Boston, Toronto, and Pittsburgh - is a boon for Kessel, who doesn't care for media and isn't in love with the spotlight. Really, it's a match made in heaven on a number of levels.

Galchenyuk's fit in Pittsburgh

Despite being 25 years old and a veteran of 400 NHL games, Galchenyuk is still a difficult player to get a handle on. He was maligned in Montreal, has suffered through multiple serious injuries, and though he isn't a bust, per se, he's failed to live up to the lofty expectations of a third overall pick.

A cynic might suggest Galchenyuk's never going to wow you. By the time a player hits his mid-20s, he is what he is; there's little room for vast improvement. In that sense, he's a second-line forward good for 40-55 points a season who can play center or the wing. Unfortunately for Pens fans, Galchenyuk doesn't drive possession and isn't a strong defensive player.

An optimist might suggest Galchenyuk's move to Pittsburgh will launch him to new heights. A second change of scenery in as many years (the Coyotes acquired Galchenyuk for Max Domi in June 2018), and a spot alongside Evgeni Malkin or Sidney Crosby, sounds promising. There's realistic hope there.

As for Joseph, the Penguins addressed a need. Only 19, he's a 6-foot-2 left-handed defenseman more than capable of transitioning the puck to Pittsburgh's talented forwards. The question is, what's his ceiling? Joseph, a 2017 first-rounder, will most likely start in the AHL.

What are the Coyotes doing?

The 2018-19 Coyotes were a weird team. They received Vezina-caliber goaltending from Antti Raanta and boasted an excellent penalty kill, but were plagued by poor health and an inability to score at 5-on-5 or on the power play. A solid squad on paper, Arizona missed the postseason by four points.

It’s been seven years since the Coyotes played playoff hockey. The Chayka era, which officially started when he was promoted to the GM chair in May 2016, is entering its fourth season. And though he's wheeled and dealed at a league-high rate - mainly picking up small pieces and taking on dead contracts - the Kessel acquisition is Chayka's finest work to date.

What appears to be different this summer is the organization's willingness to move the needle. Last week, Chayka picked up quality middle-six forward Carl Soderberg from Colorado, and the team has apparently expressed interest in some highly sought-after unrestricted free agents, including Joe Pavelski. For once, the Coyotes are big-game hunting.

On the eve of free agency, Arizona is right up against the salary cap, with CapFriendly listing its available space for 2019-20 at $1.7 million. In the coming days, will the team dump to save money, stand pat, or shop some more?

What are the Penguins doing?

There's no denying the Penguins are worse now than they were a couple of days ago. Kessel moved up and down the lineup, but served largely as the third line's offensive engine for four highly productive years. All of a sudden, the bottom six looks just, well, OK.

From a payroll perspective, Pittsburgh has an extra $1.9 million to spend in free agency since Galchenyuk, a UFA in 2020, earns $4.9 million in 2019-20. That's no small chunk of change as Rutherford attempts to once again extend the Pens' Cup window. One day, Sidney Crosby, Kris Letang, and Malkin won't have enough left in their tanks to lead this team to glory, and Pittsburgh's GM would rather not look back on their early 30s with regret.

Now that the Kessel drama is over, Rutherford could pivot to the pursuit of a free-agent forward. The Pens are one of several teams reportedly interested in the reclamation project that is Corey Perry; the 34-year-old Cup champ is searching for a new home after being bought out by the Ducks.

Let's not forget, too, that a Jason Zucker-for-Kessel trade seemed all but finalized a few weeks ago. Does Rutherford circle back to Wild GM Paul Fenton and pitch a new package? Or have his priorities shifted? Rutherford did send Olli Maatta and his $4-million salary to Chicago before the draft to kickstart a retool on the blueline. Perhaps he's not be done tinkering with the back end.

Based on Rutherford's track record, the Pens will do something else this summer, though cap space limits their scope. Galchenyuk may be their quote-unquote big splash.

John Matisz is theScore's national hockey writer.

Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

As of Monday at 12 p.m. Eastern, NHL free agents can officially sign with new teams. With the leadup switching from days to hours, theScore's making educated guesses on the landing spots for this year's most intriguing unrestricted free agents still available. Here we go:

Artemi Panarin

Finally, after almost a calendar year of speculation, Panarin's long-term NHL home will be determined in the coming days. Panarin, who turns 28 in October, will likely command seven years and an annual salary in the $11 million-$12 million range. The dynamic playmaking Russian is the shiny prize of the 2019 UFA class.

Florida appears to be the front-runner here - and why not? General manager Dale Tallon's pitch is pretty stellar: a young core led by Aleksander Barkov, a familiar coach in Joel Quenneville, sunny coastal weather, anonymity around town, and ownership willing to spend. These aren't your older brother's Panthers.

The Rangers and Islanders are second-tier favorites in the Panarin sweepstakes, while the Avalanche are believed to be a third-tier option. As expected, the Blue Jackets don't have a horse in this race, despite the team and Panarin advancing to the franchise's first-ever second-round appearance.

Prediction: Panthers

Confidence level: 8.5/10

Joe Pavelski

A few months back, who saw Pavelski, one of the faces of the Sharks franchise, moving on from San Jose this offseason?

Well, with Erik Karlsson's massive eight-year deal finalized and second contracts for Timo Meier and Kevin Labanc on deck, GM Doug Wilson might not have enough dough to re-sign the team's captain. Pavelski, who turns 35 next month, wants fair value ($5 million-$7 million) and the big prize (a Stanley Cup). Wilson can't deliver the former, and who knows about the latter.

The Stars and Lightning have pitched Pavelski in person and check off the "contender" box, whereas the Wild and Blackhawks, two clubs in the middle of the pack, also have his ear. Several more teams surely want to be in the running, which should be no surprise. Pavelski's coming off a 38-goal campaign, can play both center and wing, and is beloved by teammates.

When there's no clear-cut favorite for the UFA's services, the tie goes to the ideal spot. The Lightning enjoy a fantastic tax situation in Florida and won 62 of 82 games last year. Sure, they didn't make it out of the first round, but there's no doubt Pavelski sees a glorious opportunity on the right wing alongside either Steven Stamkos or Brayden Point.

Prediction: Lightning

Confidence level: 5/10

Sergei Bobrovsky

One of the offseason's rare certainties is Bobrovsky is going to get paid handsomely, no matter where he winds up. He'll be only 31 this fall, possesses enough talent to upgrade a good team to very good or a very good team to great, and plays the game's most valuable position. Don't be surprised if the two-time Vezina Trophy winner signs a seven-year, $70-million contract.

The Panthers, who welcomed elite goaltending prospect Spencer Knight into the fold at the draft before saying goodbye to the retiring Roberto Luongo, are in a period of transition between the pipes. Backup James Reimer might even be on his way out. Bobrovsky, along with his buddy Panarin, appears to be Miami-bound. The timing's right, too, as Knight could ease into the starter’s role during the back half of Bobrovsky's deal.

What's most intriguing about Bobrovsky's UFA status is not necessarily the destination - it's been more or less settled as either the Panthers or Islanders - it's the reaction to his contract details. Does the loser in that two-team pool overpay for Robin Lehner, the second-best goalie on the market? And how does Lehner's contract affect the likes of Semyon Varlamov, Mike Smith, Curtis McElhinney, and the rest of a deep-but-muddied goalie class?

Prediction: Panthers

Confidence level: 7.5/10

Anders Lee

As Erik Karlsson and Jeff Skinner re-upped with their teams prior to the late-June window shopping period for UFAs, it felt like it was only a matter of time before Anders Lee did the same. Yet here we are ...

Lee, the Islanders' captain, continues to debate his options. The Isles are in the mix for an extension, certainly among the favorites to lock up the soon-to-be 28-year-old, but it's far from a guarantee. Supposedly not caving during negotiations thus far, GM Lou Lamoriello is tempting Lee to take his talents elsewhere. The Chicago Blackhawks, Colorado Avalanche, and his hometown Minnesota Wild have all been pegged as possible landing spots.

This is Lee's chance to cash in on a journey that's taken him from the 152nd overall pick in the 2009 NHL draft to 425 career games. A high-character forward who bags 50-60 points per year, he's due for a healthy annual raise from $3.75 million, perhaps doubling his yearly earnings with this new contract. The Avs have ample cap space, are on the rise, and bring him a little closer to home. Here's thinking GM Joe Sakic gets frisky and reels in Lee.

Prediction: Avalanche

Confidence level: 3/10

Jake Gardiner

Game 7 troubles and back injury aside, Gardiner is cruising into July 1 with suitors galore and $7 million per year in his sights. He's the best left-handed defenseman on the UFA market, and after the dust settles, could end up being the highest-paid UFA blue-liner, period. Tyler Myers is Gardiner's only true contender in regards to positional bragging rights.

Gardiner has to make a key decision on location. It's big, pressure-filled Canadian market versus laidback American market. For instance, the Canucks and Canadiens are reportedly eager to at least discuss a deal, but his time in Toronto - while overall successful - may have him looking stateside.

The Wild, Panthers, and Kings are believed to be interested, and all three are relatively tame markets. The Stars, yet another low-key locale, would make a ton of sense from a hockey perspective. Gardiner, a smooth-skating puck mover, could replace former Leafs teammate Roman Polak on Dallas' second defense pairing. Can GM Jim Nill acquire both Gardiner and a forward in free agency? Would he settle for one? Strike out? Keep it locked on the Stars.

Prediction: Stars

Confidence level: 4/10

Matt Duchene

Predators GM David Poile has telegraphed it, stating in the wake of the PK Subban trade that he's ready to bolster his forward group in a significant way. Duchene himself has dropped hints, with his links to Nashville - including a passion for country music and the purchase of a rental property in the area - no secret.

The stage is set for the Preds to win the Duchene courting war, even though the Canadiens are lurking - with Duchene meeting Habs brass earlier this week - and the Blue Jackets earning a passing glance. It's a perfect marriage between team and player - Nashville gets the No. 1 center it's coveted for several years, while the 27-year-old will both receive his big payday and join a contender after enduring his fair share of losing.

Food for thought: If the two biggest names on the UFA forward market choose Nashville (Duchene) and Florida (Panarin), do the Canadiens, Rangers, and Islanders - teams apparently jonesing for a stud forward - put away their wallets and take the L? Or do they double down on pursuing second-tier guys like Mats Zuccarello, Lee, and Pavelski and battle the Stars, Avalanche, and Wild for the best of the rest?

Prediction: Predators

Confidence level: 8.5/10

Corey Perry

Perry is 34, dressed for 31 games last season, and the final two years of his contract were recently bought out by the Ducks. For an ex-Hart Trophy winner and Stanley Cup champion, his stock is pretty low. But, given Perry's top skill is scoring goals, interest remains high. He's earned a shot at redemption.

Perry, along with Jason Spezza, Wayne Simmonds, and Dion Phaneuf - fellow UFAs who have made millions upon millions but are past their prime - can approach free agency from a unique angle. They can find a home with a contender on a cheap deal and limited role and hope a deep playoff run is on the horizon. Or, they can sign with a poor team for more money and more ice time and hope to get moved to a Cup-chasing team at the trade deadline.

Both scenarios have pros and cons. The latter route may be better on the ego. Get your money, find your mojo, go from there. Under these circumstances, the Oilers, Red Wings, or Kings would suit Perry. Considering Edmonton boasts Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, perhaps there's a fit there.

Prediction: Oilers

Confidence level: 3/10

John Matisz is theScore's national hockey writer.

Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NHL's annual awards ceremony, the official nightcap to the 2018-19 season, goes Wednesday in Las Vegas. I'll admit, as a first-time voter, I'll be paying closer attention this time around. Funny how the ego works, eh?

Of the marquee regular-season awards determined by a voting body, the Professional Hockey Writers Association handles the Hart, Norris, Calder, Selke, and Lady Byng, while the general managers, broadcasters, and players decide the Vezina Trophy, Jack Adams Award, and Ted Lindsay Award, respectively.

(The PHWA also votes on the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy, which is "given to the player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to hockey." I would be shocked if Islanders goalie Robin Lehner doesn't win. He's a finalist alongside the Sharks' Joe Thornton and the Blue Jackets' Nick Foligno. Lehner, Foligno, and Blackhawks goaltender Corey Crawford were my picks.)

Before submitting my ballot April 10, I stressed over every last detail, considered a season's worth of on-ice action, parsed through all the advanced statistics publicly available, bounced thought processes off people I trust, and accounted for certain contextual factors. If I'm being honest, I found the lower selections for most awards harder to pick than the winner or runner-up.

All right, here goes nothing:

Hart Trophy

Ballot

1. Nikita Kucherov, Lightning
2. Sidney Crosby, Penguins
3. Brad Marchand, Bruins
4. Connor McDavid, Oilers
5. Ryan O'Reilly, Blues

Rationale

Kucherov finished with 128 points, or 12 more than his closest peer, and was a tap-in for the award "given to the player judged to be the most valuable to his team." Dangerous every time he hopped over the boards, the Russian was the engine for a Tampa Bay team that scored 325 goals and won 62 games. Amazingly, Kucherov tied the league's single-season record for most assists by a winger (87).

From there, my attention turned to McDavid, who posted 116 points on a club that missed the playoffs by a wide margin. I docked him for the miss, but couldn't justify dropping him from my Hart ballot altogether. McDavid ended up in the No. 4 slot because Crosby (100 points) had a tremendous two-way season with the playoff-bound Penguins and Marchand (100 points) carried the injury-ravaged Bruins to the NHL's third-best record.

As for O'Reilly, he was one of only a few Blues skaters who played to his potential from October through April. The steady hand in trying times, he contributed a respectable 77 points and was a nightmare on both sides of the puck at five-on-five. (As it turns out, O'Reilly didn't shrivel under the playoff spotlight, dominating in all three zones en route to a Conn Smythe.) While it was easy to identify St. Louis' regular-season MVP, crowning one in Calgary proved too hard - hence the exclusion of Johnny Gaudreau/Mark Giordano.

Announced finalists: Crosby, Kucherov, McDavid

Best guess at winner: Kucherov

Norris Trophy

Ballot

1. Mark Giordano, Flames
2. Brent Burns, Sharks
3. Kris Letang, Penguins
4. Victor Hedman, Lightning
5. Morgan Rielly, Maple Leafs

Rationale

Giordano checked off all the boxes for "the defenseman who demonstrates throughout the season the greatest all-round ability in the position." The Flames captain had the goals and assists (17 and 57 for 74 points), possession stats (57 percent of shots, 61 percent of goals), and versatility (five of his 24 nightly minutes were dedicated to special teams), and all at 35 years old.

For the Norris runner-up, I alternated between Burns and Letang before ultimately landing on Burns and his position-leading 83 points. As evidenced by his gaudy underlying numbers and hefty workload, Letang dragged Pittsburgh's ragtag defense corps into the postseason. However, he played 65 games versus Burns' 82. Tie goes to the healthier player.

Filling out Nos. 4 and 5 was a struggle, too. I wanted to give a nod to Hedman and his fine work with Tampa Bay. Rielly had a breakout season, and it was basically a coin flip between him and the Capitals' John Carlson. I deemed Rielly's season slightly more impressive since his partner (Ron Hainsey) paled in comparison to Carlson's (Michal Kempny). Consider Rielly 5A and Carlson 5B.

Announced finalists: Burns, Giordano, Hedman

Best guess at winner: Giordano

Calder Trophy

Ballot

1. Elias Pettersson, Canucks
2. Jordan Binnington, Blues
3. Miro Heiskanen, Stars
4. Rasmus Dahlin, Sabres
5. Brady Tkachuk, Senators

Rationale

Pettersson was transformative in Vancouver, and a relatively easy selection for the player who is "most proficient in his first year of competition in the NHL." The so-called Alien lived up to the hype, exceeding expectations generated by his time marinating in Europe. Pettersson paced all rookies in goals (28), assists (38), and points (66) despite missing 11 games.

If Binnington, St. Louis' stone-faced savior between the pipes, had been called up earlier and appeared in 40-45 games, not 32, I think his Calder case would have been just as strong as Pettersson's - or even stronger, thanks to that eye-popping .927 save percentage. That's not what happened, however, so Binnington fit nicely in the two-spot.

Heiskanen and Dahlin were both deserving of third, though Heiskanen's starring role for a playoff-bound team tipped the scales. Dahlin, who recorded 44 points and looked poised from Day 1 in Buffalo, could have won this trophy in another year. Meanwhile, Tkachuk and his 22 goals flew under the radar. Anthony Cirelli, Andreas Johnsson, and Andrei Svechnikov all unfortunately missed the cut. What a rookie class.

Announced finalists: Binnington, Dahlin, Pettersson

Best guess at winner: Pettersson

Selke Trophy

Ballot

1. Mark Stone, Senators/Golden Knights
2. Crosby
3. Patrice Bergeron, Bruins
4. O'Reilly
5. Sean Couturier, Flyers

Rationale

Stone's three-zone mentality and consistent execution in both Ottawa and Las Vegas gave him the pole position for the award recognizing "the forward who best excels in the defensive aspects of the game." The rangy winger ranked exceptionally high in on/off stats, expected goals, and goals above replacement. And, as per tradition, Stone led the NHL in takeaways, with 122.

All things being equal, Bergeron was the guy. His shot/goal suppression metrics were off the charts and the eye test supports the data. Yet, as with McDavid and the Hart and Letang and the Norris, I bumped Bergeron down the list because of games played. He dressed for only 65, so Stone and Crosby shimmied to the front of the line. It's not Bergeron's fault he suffered an injury, but workload is an important part of the equation, especially in a year with several worthy candidates. O'Reilly, to me, was the obvious No. 4, and Couturier narrowly nabbed the final spot over the Hurricanes' Sebastian Aho.

Announced finalists: Bergeron, O'Reilly, Stone

Best guess at winner: Bergeron

Lady Byng Trophy

Ballot

1. Aleksander Barkov, Panthers
2. Samuel Girard, Avalanche
3. O'Reilly
4. Rielly
5. Evgenii Dadonov, Panthers

Rationale

Barkov was the runaway choice as "the player adjudged to have exhibited the best type of sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct combined with a high standard of playing ability." The big Finn, who is universally respected, had an incredible penalty differential of plus-31, drawing 35 calls while taking just four. Oh, and he racked up a cool 96 points.

I whittled down the list of Byng candidates by asking a few questions: What position does he play? How many and what kind of infractions (penalty minutes/fines/suspensions) did he accrue? How many games did he play and what was his role? Was he an impact player?

Girard and Rielly were propped up because they're defensemen and by nature thrust into potential penalty-taking situations more frequently than forwards. O'Reilly landed in third because he was often deployed in a defensive role and still had a friendly stick. Dadonov (eight penalty minutes in 82 games) nudged out guys like Sean Monahan (12 PIM in 78 GP) and Matt Duchene (8 PIM in 73 GP) based off per-game rates. Honestly, after Barkov, there were about 10 perfectly reasonable options.

(Side rant: Why are writers determining the NHL's most sportsmanlike player? The award should be voted on by those who interact with the players at ice level. I appreciate the voting role and am honored to contribute, but wouldn't coaches, players, and/or officials be better suited for the job?)

Announced finalists: Barkov, Monahan, O'Reilly

Best guess at winner: Barkov

NHL All-Star Team

NHL All-Rookie Team

John Matisz is theScore's national hockey writer.

Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.