"We're close," MacLellan told reporters after the first round of the NHL draft in Dallas on Friday night, according to ESPN's Greg Wyshynski. "Hopefully we get something done in the next couple of days."
The Ottawa Senators chose defenseman Jacob Bernard-Docker with the 26th overall pick in the 2018 NHL Draft.
Jacob Bernard-Docker
Position: D Height: 6 feet Weight: 187 lbs Age: 17 Club: Okotoks Oilers (AJHL) Nationality: Canadian
GP
G
A
P
49
20
21
41
Bernard-Docker earned Most Outstanding Defenseman honors in the AJHL this spring, and he has committed to the University of North Dakota for next season.
He was ranked 33rd in NHL Central Scouting's final list of North American skaters, rising from a No. 62 midterm position.
There was very little mystery about this pick, and there's a reason for that.
Svechnikov was the No. 1-ranked North American skater in Central Scouting's midterm rankings, and he held on to the top spot in the final edition, on the strength of a sensational first season in the OHL.
He proved to be quite deserving of that No. 1 distinction, scoring nearly a goal per game in the regular season, then adding five goals and 11 points in eight playoff games with the Colts.
The Russian winger is an elite finisher who can body opponents off the puck, and he has tremendous hockey IQ.
"His hockey sense and vision (are) top end, allowing him to seemingly score at will because he can read the ice and find the right play," theScore's NHL prospects expert, Hannah Stuart, wrote in a Svechnikov profile back in April.
John Tavares is expected to decide on Day 2 of the NHL draft whether to take advantage of the free-agency interview period that opens Sunday, TSN's Darren Dreger reports.
New York Islanders general manager Lou Lamoriello said Thursday that there's zero chance of a sign-and-trade involving the team captain.
Last week, Dreger reported that Tavares was focused on extension talks with the club.
The superstar forward would be the biggest name on the market if he were to test unrestricted free agency July 1.
The Golden Knights were the big winners at the NHL Awards in Las Vegas on Wednesday night, but there were plenty of other deserving recipients.
Here are all the winners from this year's ceremony:
Ted Lindsay Award
Connor McDavid wasn't a finalist for the Hart Trophy, but he did take home the next-best thing, capturing the Lindsay Award as the league's most outstanding player - as voted on by his peers - for the second consecutive year, and becoming the first to win it twice before the age of 22.
Daniel and Henrik Sedin added one final piece of hardware to their extensive trophy cases, earning the award that recognizes humanitarian contributions.
William Karlsson snagged this one after finishing his breakout 43-goal regular season with only 12 penalty minutes.
Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy
New Jersey Devils forward Brian Boyle was a worthy recipient of the 2018 Masterton Trophy after overcoming a leukemia diagnosis in training camp and returning to score 10 goals in his first 25 games.
EA Sports NHL 19 cover athlete
P.K. Subban will be on the cover of EA Sports' NHL franchise for the first time after being named the poster boy for NHL 19.
Golden Knights head coach Gerard Gallant was the obvious choice here after helping Vegas become the most successful NHL expansion team ever.
Mark Messier Leadership Award
Vegas defenseman and resident Deryk Engelland earned this honor - given annually to the player who exemplifies great leadership qualities to his team on and off the ice during the regular season, and plays a role in his community growing the game of hockey - for being a fixture in the community following the tragic shooting in Las Vegas and for his leadership with the Golden Knights.
The accolades just kept pouring in for the Golden Knights, and general manager George McPhee was the clear choice here, after overseeing the construction of the best NHL expansion roster of all time.
Willie O'Ree Community Hero Award
Late Humboldt Broncos coach Darcy Haugan was the inaugural recipient of this honor, which is presented to the individual who, through the game of hockey, has positively impacted his or her community, culture, or society.
Haugan died in the bus crash that killed 16 Broncos players and staff members back in April.
Late Humboldt Broncos coach Darcy Haugan is the first-ever recipient of the Willie O'Ree Community Hero Award, presented to the individual who, through the game of hockey, has positively impacted his or her community, culture, or society.
He died in the bus crash that claimed the lives of 16 Broncos players and staff members in April.
"Haugan left a lasting impact in Humboldt, Sask., as well as every other community that was fortunate enough to have him as a resident or involved in junior hockey," the NHL wrote in a release. "He changed the lives of many of his players, always being there for each one of them and never hesitating to give them a second chance. He fought for his team and had their backs - he was the coach and mentor everybody wanted.
"Haugan believed strongly that the game is not about making hockey players; it is about making amazing human beings. He did just that, building up young leaders who also developed strong hockey skills along the way. His presence would fill the room and his love for the game was undeniable. Haugan died doing what he loved, surrounded by the young people he dedicated his life to. Haugan left behind, in all of those he touched, his spirit and passion for the game, his love for his beautiful family, and his example of dedication to his community."
He was 42 years old and in his third season coaching the Broncos when the crash occurred.
Los Angeles Kings forward Anze Kopitar won the Frank J. Selke Trophy as the NHL's top defensive forward for the second time in three years Wednesday night.
He played a major part in the Kings' league-best penalty kill and led all Los Angeles forwards in shorthanded ice time per game, while leading all NHL forwards in overall ice time per contest and posting career highs in goals (35), assists (57), and points (92).
The star Slovenian center last took home the honor in 2016.
P.K. Subban will be the face of the NHL in video-game form.
The star Nashville Predators defenseman was announced as the cover athlete for EA Sports' NHL 19 at the NHL Awards in Las Vegas on Wednesday night.
"Growing up, and still to this day, my friends and I love seeing who is on the cover and ultimately getting to play the game," Subban said in a press release. "Being the cover athlete for NHL 19, for me, represents growth within our sport, embracing different personalities, and showing that anything is possible. I'm honored to be able to sport the Smashville colors on this year's cover."
Gary Bettman insists he isn't worried about the fate of the Ottawa Senators amid a pair of ongoing scandals involving the franchise.
"There's always going to be some issue somewhere that has to be dealt with," the NHL commissioner told reporters, including The Canadian Press' Joshua Clipperton, following a Board of Governors meeting ahead of the NHL Awards in Las Vegas on Wednesday.
"The headstone has been written over the years for many franchises under a variety of circumstances and none of the burials ever took place. It's a moment in time," Bettman added.
The commissioner has been forced to intervene with other franchises over the years, but he doesn't see the need to do that yet in Ottawa.
"We don't think the club is anywhere close to cardiac arrest ... there's no issue up there," Bettman said. "I think it's more sensationalized than anything else."
Last week, Melinda Karlsson, the wife of Senators defenseman Erik Karlsson, applied for a peace bond against Monika Caryk, the fiancee of then-Senators forward Mike Hoffman, alleging a harassment campaign that came to a head after the Karlssons' son, Axel, was stillborn in March.
Senators assistant general manager Randy Lee was arrested and charged with harassment following an alleged incident involving a hotel shuttle driver in Buffalo ahead of the NHL scouting combine. Lee was initially allowed to remain in his executive role but was then suspended by the club until the resolution of his case.
He's due back in court on July 6, meaning he'll miss the NHL draft this weekend in Dallas.
There have also been rumblings that the club might some day be put up for sale, a notion that Bettman attempted to squash before Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final last month when he insisted Senators owner Eugene Melnyk is committed to the franchise.
The Stanley Cup will pay a visit to Humboldt, Sask. along with several NHL players in August.
An event jointly held by the NHL and NHLPA to help the community will take place in Humboldt on Aug. 24, the league and the players association announced Tuesday, according to NHL.com's Tom Gulitti.
The event will occur in conjunction with Saskatchewan-born and raised Washington Capitals forward Chandler Stephenson bringing the Cup there that day, as he said he would in the afterglow of the Capitals' championship victory earlier this month.
