It took a little longer than planned, but the lists finally came out.
After making fans and the media wait an extra half hour Sunday morning, the NHL released the lists of protected and available players for all 30 teams not named the Vegas Golden Knights ahead of the upcoming expansion draft.
Here's who each team is protecting heading into Wednesday's proceedings:
"(NMC)" denotes that the player has a no-movement clause in his contract.
Calgary will send the rights to defensive prospect Brandon Hickey and a conditional third-round pick to the Coyotes, and netminder Chad Johnson is also going to Arizona in the deal, reports TSN's Pierre LeBrun.
The third-round pick becomes a second-rounder if the Flames make the playoffs, reports Arizona Sports' Craig Morgan.
The Coyotes will retain 25 percent of Smith's salary, according to McKenzie. The 35-year-old has two seasons left on his contract at an annual cap hit of about $5.67 million.
Earlier this offseason, Smith submitted a list of eight teams to which he'd agree to be dealt, according to LeBrun.
The Flames' goaltending situation was uncertain entering the summer, as both Johnson and Brian Elliott are pending unrestricted free agents.
Smith went 19-26-9 with a 2.92 GAA and .914 save percentage in 55 games behind a porous Coyotes defense in 2016-17.
He'll depart the desert ranked third on the franchise's all-time save percentage and GAA lists, having faced the most shots and having made the most saves in club history.
June is an incredibly busy month for the NHL, but that doesn't mean we can't look ahead to what's coming. Free agency begins at 12 p.m. ET on July 1, and we're ranking the top 80 unrestricted free agents in a seven-post series ahead of the madness.
Here are the top 10 UFAs on the market this summer:
10. Patrick Eaves (F)
Age on Oct. 1: 33 2016-17 Cap Hit: $1M
Eaves had the most productive season of his 12-year career in 2016-17, exploding for 32 goals and 51 points in a campaign split between the Dallas Stars and Anaheim Ducks.
He certainly deserves a raise, but given his age and the fact that last season's offensive production was an anomaly, it'll be tough for teams to justify ponying up when there are several younger - and yet more proven - options out there.
9. Michael Stone (D)
Age on Oct. 1: 26 2016-17 Cap Hit: $4M
Stone didn't wow anyone with his offensive contributions on the back end in 2016-17, but until last season's 36-point output, he'd never really been known as a point producer at the NHL level.
He wasn't effective from a possession standpoint, either, posting a 42.6 percent even-strength Corsi For rating in 45 games with the putrid Arizona Coyotes and then a 45.5 mark in 19 regular-season contests with the Calgary Flames.
But hey, teams desperate for a second- or third-pairing defenseman could probably do worse.
8. Sam Gagner (F)
(Photo courtesy: Getty Images)
Age on Oct. 1: 27 2016-17 Cap Hit: $650K
Gagner had a resurgent season with the Columbus Blue Jackets, tying a career high with 18 goals and posting his highest assist total (32) since his rookie campaign in 2007-08.
That production certainly justifies paying him more than the $650,000 salary he earned in 2016-17, and he's a solid option for teams looking to add depth to their bottom six.
7. Nick Bonino (F)
Age on Oct. 1: 29 2016-17 Cap Hit: $1.9M
Bonino exploded for 18 points in 24 playoff games last year playing alongside Carl Hagelin and Phil Kessel on Pittsburgh's "HBK line," but he came back down to earth this season, posting 18 goals and 37 points in 80 regular-season contests.
That's about what teams should expect from the center, who was in the Penguins' bottom six when healthy this season because Pittsburgh has a couple of other stars down the middle (Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin - you may have heard of them).
Can Bonino produce like his "HBK" days in the right situation? Sure, but teams will want to know he's fully healthy before committing to him this summer.
6. Karl Alzner (D)
Age on Oct. 1: 28 2016-17 Cap Hit: $2.8M
Unlike the man occupying the No. 1 spot on this list, Alzner's value comes primarily from his defensive prowess, which is a much tougher sell than offense on the free-agent market.
That shouldn't prevent clubs from taking a look at the underrated blue-liner, who'll be a UFA for the first time in his career after spending his first nine NHL campaigns with the Washington Capitals.
Alzner's other main selling point is his durability. Remarkably, he hasn't missed a regular-season game since 2009-10, his second season, marking a string of 540 consecutive contests.
5. Martin Hanzal (F)
Age on Oct. 1: 30 2016-17 Cap Hit: $3.1M
The Minnesota Wild gave up three picks to get Hanzal at the deadline knowing full well he was a rental, and he played well after the trade.
Hanzal notched 13 points and posted a 58.6 even-strength Corsi For percentage in 20 regular-season games, adding a goal in the playoffs for the Wild before they were bounced by the St. Louis Blues in five games.
The 30-year old is a solid two-way player, and he proved what he can bring to a contending team this spring.
4. Joe Thornton (F)
Age on Oct. 1: 37 2016-17 Cap Hit: $6.75M
The bearded one showed he still had plenty left in the tank this past season, finishing second on the San Jose Sharks in assists (43) and fourth in points (50) at an age when few players are still active, let alone productive.
That production will likely decline again in 2017-18, but Thornton should still crack 40-45 points while providing his typically solid playmaking abilities.
He's probably going to have to take a pay cut, but he proved this season he can still contribute, and his wealth of experience will be invaluable whether he returns to the Sharks or joins a new organization for the first time in over a decade.
3. Alexander Radulov (F)
(Photo courtesy: Action Images)
Age on Oct. 1: 30 2016-17 Cap Hit: $5.75M
Radulov made a successful return to North America this past season, equaling his rookie goal total (18), setting his NHL career high with 36 assists, and finishing with 54 points - four off his career-best mark set with the Nashville Predators nearly a decade ago.
The veteran forward is past his prime, but proved he can still score and help generate offense. There's also no denying his skill or his passion, and he'll surely be a coveted free agent this summer as a result.
2. T.J. Oshie (F)
Age on Oct. 1: 30 2016-17 Cap Hit: $4.175M
Oshie might actually be the best player available in this summer's free-agent class, even if a certain teammate of his from this past season is more highly coveted based on his position.
It's no surprise that Oshie scored a career-high 33 goals and posted the second-best point total (56) of his nine-year NHL tenure, given that he played with Alex Ovechkin and Nicklas Backstrom on the Capitals' top line - but he played with them for a reason.
Oshie is a proven sniper, can play both center and right wing, and likely still has a few productive seasons left in him.
1. Kevin Shattenkirk (D)
Age on Oct. 1: 28 2016-17 Cap Hit: $4.25M
That Shattenkirk is the top UFA this summer illustrates the lack of depth in this free-agent class as a whole, and let's not kid ourselves - someone's going to overpay him.
Still, the veteran blue-liner carries value as a point-producer and power-play quarterback, and while an expensive, long-term deal is probably ill-advised, legitimate top-pairing defensemen don't grow on trees.
Shattenkirk has driven possession in all but one of his seven NHL seasons, and while there are concerns about his defensive abilities, that won't stop a team from rewarding him with a significant new deal.
We knew this year's championship round would start Monday (and sure, we also knew the dates for all seven potential games), but all of the loose ends were tied up when the Penguins eliminated the Ottawa Senators in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Final on Thursday night.
The Penguins will have home-ice advantage by virtue of having a better record during the regular season.
Here are the dates and times as well as the TV info for the Cup Final.
Players often say it's "just another game," but there's no denying Game 7 brings out the best in them.
The Pittsburgh Penguins will host the Ottawa Senators in a winner-take-all matchup Thursday night, with a berth in the Stanley Cup Final on the line.
Both teams feature plenty of players who've come up big throughout these playoffs and in postseasons past.
Here are a few players who should have a significant impact in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Final:
Evgeni Malkin
Malkin has been the most productive Penguin in the playoffs, posting 24 points in 18 games, or five more than Sidney Crosby in one more game played.
The Russian sniper scored Pittsburgh's lone goal in Game 6, and he's chipped in six points over the first six contests in this series.
It's not just his recent success that makes him a prime candidate to influence this game, either. Malkin also has six points in six career Game 7s, and the Penguins are 4-2 in those contests.
Evgeni Malkin has a history of showing up in Game 7s for the #Penguins (eg, 2 assists in Gm7 of CF vs TB a year ago), sits tied for 3rd here pic.twitter.com/xexCtRi3Eg
Look for No. 71 to bring his A-game Thursday night.
Craig Anderson
The Senators need yet another stellar performance from Anderson, but he could very well give them one.
Both Anderson and Penguins goaltender Matt Murray have looked sharp this spring, the latter albeit in a smaller time frame since returning from injury.
But given the Senators' lack of firepower and their well-documented defensive style, Anderson's play is far more critical to his team's success, and he's largely held up his end of the bargain in this postseason.
The 36-year-old was lit up and pulled from Game 5, but he's posted a .938 save percentage in the series, and is coming off a 45-save effort in Game 6.
Phil Kessel
Kessel is on a point-per-game pace in the playoffs, with 18 points in as many games, and five of those came in the first six games of the conference final.
He scored the winner in Game 2 against the Senators and has three points in five career Game 7s.
Kessel's ice time was unusually low in Games 4 and 5 (14:46 and 12:56, respectively), but it ballooned back up to his customary 19 minutes (18:58, to be precise) in Game 6.
Look for him to play that much or more in Game 7, and he should continue to use his speed and skill to crack through Ottawa's neutral zone congestion.
Considering the Penguins have home ice, the edge in the experience department, more dynamic scorers, and stabilized goaltending once again, it's Pittsburgh's game to lose.
Leon Draisaitl is in line for a hefty raise, and he certainly deserves it.
The 21-year-old broke out in a big way this season, helping the Edmonton Oilers make the playoffs for the first time in 11 years, then shining in the postseason.
Draisaitl is a pending restricted free agent, having just completed the third year of his entry-level deal.
The Oilers will have the right to match if another team decides to file an offer sheet, but general manager Peter Chiarelli said Tuesday that getting Draisaitl signed is one of the club's top priorities this summer.
Here's a look at the factors at play in his looming negotiations:
The body of work
Draisaitl has taken steps forward in each of his three NHL seasons, finishing second on Edmonton with 29 goals and 77 points while playing every game in 2016-17.
He posted six goals and 16 points in 13 playoff contests this spring, including a five-point explosion in a Game 6 blowout of the Anaheim Ducks.
The 2014 third overall pick notched 19 goals and 51 points in 72 games last season.
He doesn't have a permanent position at the moment, but there's no doubt he provides a valuable blend of size and skill up front.
The comparables
Draisaitl is likely looking at a new deal with a starting point in the $6 million per season range, based on contract extensions recently signed by other players of his ilk.
There are several previous long-term pacts that could be used to set the bar for his next contract:
Player
Team
Length (Yrs)
Value ($M)
AAV
Johnny Gaudreau
Flames
6
40.5
6.75
Mark Scheifele
Jets
8
49
6.125
Filip Forsberg
Predators
6
36
6
Aleksander Barkov
Panthers
6
35.4
5.9
Gaudreau is on the high end here, and while he doesn't align with Draisaitl in terms of size or preferred position, his deal is still useful as a reference point.
Forsberg signed his deal last June after leading the Nashville Predators in scoring with 33 goals and 64 points.
Barkov has plenty in common with Draisaitl, as a left-shooting center over six feet tall who weighs over 210 pounds.
His extension came in January 2016, so his cap hit is lower than the other deals because of a lower cap and the natural escalation of salaries since then, but he was in the midst of a 28-goal, 59-point campaign at the time.
That Connor guy
Chiarelli wants to get Draisaitl's deal done, but he has a bigger fish to fry first.
The Oilers GM said Tuesday that he wants to sign Connor McDavid to an extension beforehand, which is understandable even though the Hart Trophy finalist and soon-to-be Art Ross Trophy recipient won't be an RFA until after next season.
McDavid is probably going to cost the Oilers at least $10 million per season, but they should still have room to reward Draisaitl for his steady development.
One likely concern for the Draisaitl camp, though, is that their client's production this season was largely tied to McDavid, who he flanked on the right wing for the majority of the campaign.
The counterpoint will surely be that Draisaitl showed he can succeed without McDavid, too.
The German forward produced when head coach Todd McLellan separated him from McDavid and used him as a center late in the Oilers' playoff run, but it remains to be seen whether the long-term plan puts him back on the wing or down the middle.
The Eastern Conference Final certainly isn't decided after one game, but the Pittsburgh Penguins have some work to do to avoid dropping the first two contests on home ice.
Ottawa frustrated Pittsburgh in Game 1 on Saturday night, grinding out a 2-1 victory in overtime and throwing the Penguins off their game in several ways.
Here are a few things Pittsburgh needs to do to turn the tide in Game 2:
Stop getting outshot
Ottawa fired seven more shots on net than Pittsburgh in the opening game, and while that's nothing new for the Penguins of late, it's a trend that needs to be addressed going forward.
Pittsburgh has been outshot in 10 consecutive games, including all seven against the Washington Capitals and the final two contests in their first-round series against the Columbus Blue Jackets.
The Penguins have proven they're capable of winning in the playoffs without holding the edge in shots on goal, but it should be a focal point now that they're up against a Senators club that plays a trapping style that limits scoring opportunities.
Score on the power play
(Photo courtesy: Action Images)
It'll be easier said than done against the Senators' dramatically improved penalty kill, but the Penguins have to produce on the man advantage.
Pittsburgh has the best power-play success rate in the playoffs among the four remaining clubs and had the third-best mark in the regular season, but failed to score on all five of their opportunities in Game 1.
Four of those failed power-play chances came in the first period (with the fourth carrying over into the second), including a two-man advantage for 45 seconds.
"We (had) an opportunity there to grab a lead," Penguins head coach Mike Sullivan said postgame, according to Kevin Gorman of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. "I just think we didn't execute. The movement wasn't there. The passes weren't crisp."
Surely, that will be an area of focus in Game 2.
Don't forget what they do best
The Senators have been using a 1-3-1 formation that clogs the neutral zone, evoking memories of the New Jersey Devils' vaunted but controversial neutral-zone trap of the 1990s and 2000s.
Say what you want about Ottawa's strategy, but it's working, and the Penguins obviously have to figure out a way to counter it.
Pittsburgh practiced cluttering up the neutral zone Saturday (here's the video evidence, via the Tribune-Review's Bill West), but this is not the solution.
The Penguins shouldn't change their game to mirror their opponent. Stick with what's worked all season and in the previous playoff rounds - speed, skill, and goaltending.
Pittsburgh has the first two in spades, and one difficult game shouldn't be the impetus for an ill-advised departure from their bread and butter.
The New Jersey Devils won the NHL draft lottery Saturday night, securing the first overall pick in June. The Philadelphia Flyers and Dallas Stars also made significant jumps, and will pick second and third overall, respectively.
The Devils had the fifth-highest odds, entering the lottery with an 8.5 percent chance of landing the top pick, while the Flyers and Stars made even bigger leaps up the draft board.
Philadelphia had only a 2.4 percent chance of getting the second overall pick, and the Stars came into the lottery with only a 6.4 percent shot at getting the No. 3 selection.
The Colorado Avalanche had the best odds of receiving the first overall pick, but fell to fourth, while the Vancouver Canucks slipped to fifth despite having the second-highest odds of nabbing the No. 1 selection.
It was also a disappointing draw for the expansion Vegas Golden Knights, who, along with the Arizona Coyotes, came in holding the third-highest odds of moving up to the top spot.
Here's the full order for the first 15 picks in the 2017 draft:
Pick
Team
1
New Jersey Devils
2
Philadelphia Flyers
3
Dallas Stars
4
Colorado Avalanche
5
Vancouver Canucks
6
Vegas Golden Knights
7
Arizona Coyotes
8
Buffalo Sabres
9
Detroit Red Wings
10
Florida Panthers
11
Los Angeles Kings
12
Carolina Hurricanes
13
Winnipeg Jets
14
Tampa Bay Lightning
15
New York Islanders
The draft will take place June 23 and 24 at the United Center in Chicago.
The honor is given annually to the coach judged to have contributed the most to his team's success.
Under Babcock, the Leafs made the playoffs for the first time since 2013, and for the first time in a non-lockout season since 2004 after finishing dead last in the league in 2015-16. He's never won this award, but was a finalist in 2008 and 2014 with the Detroit Red Wings.
McLellan led the Oilers into the postseason for the first time since 2006, and kept them in the hunt for the Pacific Division title until the final day of the regular season. He was also nominated in 2009 while with the San Jose Sharks.
Tortorella helped the Blue Jackets set franchise records for wins and points in a season. Columbus finished with the fourth-best record in the NHL after posting the fourth-worst mark in 2015-16. He's a four-time finalist who won the award in 2004 with the Tampa Bay Lightning.
