If Callahan recovers within the expected time frame, he would miss training camp, preseason, and the first month of the regular season.
The 33-year-old is no longer the offensive threat he once was, as injuries, age, and poor footspeed have caught up with him. He was relegated to fourth-line duties for most of the 2017-18 campaign, tallying five goals and 13 assists in 67 games.
Callahan still has two years remaining on his contract with an annual cap hit of $5.8 million.
Capitals head coach Barry Trotz was not a fan of Brayden McNabb's hit on Evgeny Kuznetsov, which knocked Washington's No. 1 center out of Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final in the first period.
Trotz described the play as a "questionable hit" from the Vegas Golden Knights defenseman, according to TSN's Frank Seravalli. Trotz added that he thought the hit was high, and said "the league will look at it."
Evgeny Kuznetsov, the Caps' No. 1 center and leading point-getter so far this postseason, left the game in the first period after taking a hit from Brayden McNabb and did not return. This bumped Nicklas Backstrom up to the top line and Eller up to the second line, and he did not disappoint.
First, Eller buried Washington's opening goal into the yawning cage after two nice passes from Andre Burakovsky and Michal Kempny. Then, while taking Kuznetsov's spot on the power play, he fed Alex Ovechkin with a cross-crease pass to give the Caps the lead. For an encore, he started the rush on Brooks Orpik's goal, setting him up with a beautiful no-look dish.
That gave Eller three points in the game, making him directly responsible for each of Washington's goals. And this wasn't the first time this postseason Eller stepped up in the absence of a key center.
When Backstrom was out for the final game against the Pittsburgh Penguins in the second round and the first three games of the Eastern Conference Final against the Tampa Bay Lightning, Eller was the team's unsung hero, collecting five points in those four games, three of which were wins.
Eller signed a five-year contract extension in February with an average annual value of $3.5 million. Coming off a career-high 38-point season, he now has 17 points in 21 playoff games. It's safe to say that contract is looking like a bargain now, given the demand for quality two-way centers around the league.
Properly addressing the middle of the ice has eluded Mark Bergevin since the beginning of his tenure as general manager of the Montreal Canadiens. In a desperation effort to fill a top-line center role last season, the Habs shifted newly acquired Jonathan Drouin from left wing to the middle, and it came with some mixed results.
Drouin finished the season with a minus-28 rating (third-worst on team, 11th-worst in NHL), won just 42.5 percent of his faceoffs at even strength, and his possession numbers hovered around 50 percent despite an offensive-zone start percentage of nearly 60, per Hockey-Reference. His point total also fell from 53 in 2016-17 to 46 last season.
Bergevin admitted the learning curve of playing center was difficult for Drouin at times.
"As we speak today, there is a lack in the middle. (Drouin), well, I would say in the first half he had a hard time adjusting to center," he told NHL.com's Mike Zeisberger. "As the season progressed, well, is he the perfect centerman? Is he Sidney Crosby? Of course not. But can he fill a role at times? Yes he can. We'll have to address some of our needs, sure."
Despite the 23-year-old's turbulent season, Bergevin isn't ready to call the Drouin-at-center experiment a failure.
"At the same time, there is a perception that (Drouin) failed there. I'm not ready to say that. He played some center in junior and he played some (with the Tampa Bay Lightning). Other than goaltending, I think center is probably the hardest position to fill. It takes some time and some mileage to play that position to a degree where you could really help your team win. So I'm not going to write him off there. But we have options we can look at as we speak."
Drouin did show progression manning the middle of the ice as the season wore on, collecting 13 points in his last 15 games, and improving his faceoff win percentage to a respectable 48.7 percent during that span.
Going about improving the center position could once again prove difficult for Bergevin this offseason. Though his team holds the third overall pick, the top end of the draft is filled with wingers and defenseman, not centers. On the free-agent market, John Tavares and Paul Stastny are the only capable No. 1 centers - but both will be highly sought after.
With one free-agent winger off the board in Evander Kane, another is starting to gain attention.
Ilya Kovalchuk's agent, J.P. Barry of Creative Artists Agency, is "in discussions with teams" interested in bringing Kovalchuk back to the NHL, reports TSN's Darren Dreger.
Kovalchuk came off the voluntary retired list on April 15 - the day he turned 35 years old - officially becoming an unrestricted free agent. He and his camp can negotiate with any NHL team, but can't officially put pen to paper until July 1.
The New York Rangers are just one team that has officially gauged interest in Kovalchuk thus far, as GM Jeff Gorton stated a month ago that the club has "checked in" with him.
Kovalchuk was one of the game's elite talents before bolting for the KHL after the 2012-13 campaign, compiling 816 points in as many games with the Atlanta Thrashers and New Jersey Devils. He continued to be highly productive with SKA St. Petersburg, potting 31 goals and adding 32 assists in 51 games this past season.
There appears to be a rift between Pittsburgh Penguins head coach Mike Sullivan and star forward Phil Kessel, and the latter's displeasure with the former's lineup decisions during the playoffs is apparently at the forefront.
Kessel was reportedly furious that he didn't play on a line with Evgeni Malkin on a regular basis during the playoffs, according to Josh Yohe of The Athletic. Instead, Kessel spent the bulk of his postseason on a unit centered by either Derick Brassard or Riley Sheahan - something he felt was not conducive to team or personal success.
Sullivan believes Kessel's attitude about the lineup was selfish, Yohe wrote, while adding that multiple people in the Penguins organization believe Kessel was "pouty" about the situation.
Kessel had just one goal in 12 playoff games, and while he did notch eight assists, only two of them were at even strength.
Many assumed some sort of ailment had hindered Kessel's production during the postseason, but Sullivan told the media the forward wasn't dealing with a "significant injury" after the Pens were eliminated by the Washington Capitals in the second round. Kessel never commented on the matter.
(Photo courtesy: Getty Images)
Yohe also stated that Kessel is "the first guy off at practice most days and presumably spends more time at Rivers Casino than he does breaking down game film," so it's not surprising that some of his tendencies may drive a coach up a wall, even if he's popular among his teammates.
And Sullivan's power with the Penguins is "almost unlimited," according to Yohe. General manager Jim Rutherford has the final say, but he often defers to Sullivan and has a great amount of respect and praise for his coach.
Yohe believes Sullivan doesn't like Kessel very much, and that the feeling is mutual.
He added that the Penguins aren't "actively seeking a trade involving Kessel, but they're willing to listen if anyone makes an offer."
After a career-best 92-point season with a reasonable $6.8-million cap hit for the next four years (the Toronto Maple Leafs retain $1.2 million annually), there would presumably be no shortage of suitors for the 30-year-old.
Tom Wilson's hit on Jonathan Marchessault has been one of the biggest talking points in what was a wild Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final, but Wilson himself doesn't understand all the hoopla.
"It's a good hit," he told TVA Sports' Renaud Lavoie. "I don't know why there's so much media attention."
For those who missed it, here's a look at the check.
While Wilson avoided contact with the head, he did catch Marchessault well after he got rid of the puck.
Wilson also avoided supplemental discipline from the hit, as he won't have a hearing for the incident.
Wilson claimed Marchessault told him it was a good hit after he got up, though Marchessault said postgame that he expected the league to "take care" of the situation.
In order to make it to the Stanley Cup Final, a team's top players need to be its best players when things matter most. That's certainly been true for the Vegas Golden Knights and the Washington Capitals.
Marchessault, Smith, and Karlsson are first, second, and third on Vegas in playoff points, and the only three Golden Knights with double-digit points.
Meanwhile, Kuznetsov and Ovechkin are first and second in playoff points league-wide, while Wilson has 11 points despite serving a three-game suspension.
Both lines have proven crucial to the success of their teams, but what's really fascinating is the contrast between their styles of play.
Golden Knights
Karlsson, Marchessault, and Smith could be the quickest line in the NHL. Beyond pure speed, they all have outstanding agility, and are quick to pounce on loose pucks and apply pressure to opposing puck carriers. These three epitomize Vegas' team slogan of "play fast."
While their offensive creativity is well-known, this line doesn't get enough credit on the defensive side of the puck. Karlsson, Marchessault, and Smith finished first, third, and sixth, respectively, on the team in takeaways in the regular season, even though the latter missed 15 games. They're great at turning defense into offense, as evidenced here (with the help of a bad change).
Nobody on this line was a household name heading into the season, but it's no fluke that they're all simultaneously enjoying career years. They played together virtually all season long, building outstanding chemistry - making three players with speed, skill, creativity, and high motors even more dangerous.
Capitals
The Capitals have a more traditional top line in the sense of a playmaker in the middle (Kuznetsov), a sniper on one wing (Ovechkin), and a hulking power forward on the other (Wilson). What sets them apart is the fact they all play their roles to perfection.
Kuznetsov loves having the puck on his stick and is great at carrying the play from his own zone into the attacking end. He has slick hands and great vision, and he's very smart.
Ovechkin's famous shot is arguably the best of all time, and he can unleash a rocket from anywhere, as seen below.
Lastly, Wilson may be the most feared hitter in the game. Sometimes he goes over the top and takes penalties, but that type of recklessness strikes fear into the opposition. He and Ovechkin - no slouch physically either - have been human wrecking balls this postseason, ranking first and second in hits.
Having two of the most gifted offensive players in the game (Kuznetsov, Ovechkin) on a line that also boasts two of the most physical (Ovechkin, Wilson) makes the unit an absolute nightmare to defend.
In order to make it to the Stanley Cup Final, a team's top players need to be its best players when things matter most. That's certainly been true for the Vegas Golden Knights and the Washington Capitals.
Marchessault, Smith, and Karlsson are first, second, and third on Vegas in playoff points, and the only three Golden Knights with double-digit points.
Meanwhile, Kuznetsov and Ovechkin are first and second in playoff points league-wide, while Wilson has 11 points despite serving a three-game suspension.
Both lines have proven crucial to the success of their teams, but what's really fascinating is the contrast between their styles of play.
Golden Knights
Karlsson, Marchessault, and Smith could be the quickest line in the NHL. Beyond pure speed, they all have outstanding agility, and are quick to pounce on loose pucks and apply pressure to opposing puck carriers. These three epitomize Vegas' team slogan of "play fast."
While their offensive creativity is well-known, this line doesn't get enough credit on the defensive side of the puck. Karlsson, Marchessault, and Smith finished first, third, and sixth, respectively, on the team in takeaways in the regular season, even though the latter missed 15 games. They're great at turning defense into offense, as evidenced here (with the help of a bad change).
Nobody on this line was a household name heading into the season, but it's no fluke that they're all simultaneously enjoying career years. They played together virtually all season long, building outstanding chemistry - making three players with speed, skill, creativity, and high motors even more dangerous.
Capitals
The Capitals have a more traditional top line in the sense of a playmaker in the middle (Kuznetsov), a sniper on one wing (Ovechkin), and a hulking power forward on the other (Wilson). What sets them apart is the fact they all play their roles to perfection.
Kuznetsov loves having the puck on his stick and is great at carrying the play from his own zone into the attacking end. He has slick hands and great vision, and he's very smart.
Ovechkin's famous shot is arguably the best of all time, and he can unleash a rocket from anywhere, as seen below.
Lastly, Wilson may be the most feared hitter in the game. Sometimes he goes over the top and takes penalties, but that type of recklessness strikes fear into the opposition. He and Ovechkin - no slouch physically either - have been human wrecking balls this postseason, ranking first and second in hits.
Having two of the most gifted offensive players in the game (Kuznetsov, Ovechkin) on a line that also boasts two of the most physical (Ovechkin, Wilson) makes the unit an absolute nightmare to defend.
The Edmonton Oilers have added to their coaching staff by hiring Glen Gulutzan, Trent Yawney, and Manny Viveiros as assistant coaches, the team announced Friday.
Gulutzan spent the last two seasons as the head coach of the Calgary Flames, leading them to a playoff berth in 2016-17. He previously worked as an assistant with the Vancouver Canucks for three years, and was head coach of the Dallas Stars for two seasons, missing the playoffs in both years.
Yawney played 593 NHL games as a defenseman with the Chicago Blackhawks, Flames, and St. Louis Blues. He became head coach of the Blackhawks in 2005-06, but was let go midway through the following season. He's spent the last four seasons as an assistant coach with the Anaheim Ducks.
Viveiros had a cup of coffee in the NHL, skating in 29 games with the Minnesota North Stars in the '80s. He led the Swift Current Broncos to a WHL championship as the club's head coach this spring.
