Will Smith is turning pro, after all.

The San Jose Sharks signed their top prospect to an entry-level deal, he announced via the club Tuesday.

It's a standard three-year pact for a 19-year-old carrying a cap hit of $950,000 and an NHL salary of $855,000, per PuckPedia.

After not turning pro immediately after his campaign with Boston College ended, there was speculation that Smith would spend another season with the Eagles.

A dynamic offensive center, Smith led the NCAA with 46 assists and 71 points in 2023-24, though he wasn't one of the three finalists for the Hobey Baker Award.

He also shined on the international stage, racking up nine points in seven games for the United States at the 2024 World Junior Championship en route to a gold medal. He donned the stars and stripes again at the 2024 World Championship but failed to record a point in five appearances as the Americans were bounced from the tournament in the quarterfinals.

The Sharks drafted Smith with the No. 4 pick at the 2023 NHL Draft. The team holds the first overall pick in the 2024 draft and is widely expected to select Boston University center Macklin Celebrini.

Given the lack of talent on San Jose's roster, Smith will likely get an opportunity to carve out a significant NHL role in 2024-25.

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Dallas Stars sniper Jason Robertson entered Game 3 on Monday without a goal in his last 10 contests. He left Rogers Place in Edmonton with three goals on the night, including the game-winner.

Robertson believes that the drought-ending first goal gave him he confidence to score the next two.

"I got the first one and then I'm like, okay, I'm going to shoot everything," he said postgame. "It's one of those things. You just gain confidence."

The shoot-everything mentality paid huge dividends, as Robertson's hat-trick goal came from a sharp angle in which most players would likely opt to pass or hang on to the puck. Instead, Robertson got Oilers goalie Stuart Skinner to bite on an inside fake, which created a tiny sliver of an opening to bank the puck off the netminder and in.

"It's a lot of work with our goalies in practice," Robertson said. "We learn stuff. I can credit my goalie coach on that one. Just making a play there. I don't know if I would've done that if I didn't score two goals."

Tyler Seguin, who assisted on a pair of Robertson's goals, thought his linemate might even pot another after scoring what he described as a vintage "Robo" goal.

"Honestly, I thought he was going to maybe get four," Seguin said postgame about Robertson. "He was just having one of those nights. His third goal was the most 'Robo' goal you're going to score."

Also pivotal to Robertson's big night was the return of his center, Roope Hintz, who assisted on two of Robertson's goals in his first game back from injury. Hintz hadn't played since May 13 in Round 2.

"Everyone notices his presence on the ice," Robertson said of Hintz. "You can see that speed."

The Oilers jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first period before the Stars scored three straight. Edmonton tied it late in the second before Robertson's winner in the third. Miro Heiskanen added the empty-netter for a 5-3 win.

Robertson is now up to six goals and 10 assists in 16 games this postseason.

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Dallas Stars sniper Jason Robertson entered Game 3 on Monday without a goal in his last 10 contests. He left Rogers Place in Edmonton with three goals on the night, including the game-winner.

Robertson believes that the drought-ending first goal gave him he confidence to score the next two.

"I got the first one and then I'm like, okay, I'm going to shoot everything," he said postgame. "It's one of those things. You just gain confidence."

The shoot-everything mentality paid huge dividends, as Robertson's hat-trick goal came from a sharp angle in which most players would likely opt to pass or hang on to the puck. Instead, Robertson got Oilers goalie Stuart Skinner to bite on an inside fake, which created a tiny sliver of an opening to bank the puck off the netminder and in.

"It's a lot of work with our goalies in practice," Robertson said. "We learn stuff. I can credit my goalie coach on that one. Just making a play there. I don't know if I would've done that if I didn't score two goals."

Tyler Seguin, who assisted on a pair of Robertson's goals, thought his linemate might even pot another after scoring what he described as a vintage "Robo" goal.

"Honestly, I thought he was going to maybe get four," Seguin said postgame about Robertson. "He was just having one of those nights. His third goal was the most 'Robo' goal you're going to score."

Also pivotal to Robertson's big night was the return of his center, Roope Hintz, who assisted on two of Robertson's goals in his first game back from injury. Hintz hadn't played since May 13 in Round 2.

"Everyone notices his presence on the ice," Robertson said of Hintz. "You can see that speed."

The Oilers jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first period before the Stars scored three straight. Edmonton tied it late in the second before Robertson's winner in the third. Miro Heiskanen added the empty-netter for a 5-3 win.

Robertson is now up to six goals and 10 assists in 16 games this postseason.

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Dallas Stars sniper Jason Robertson entered Game 3 on Monday without a goal in his last 10 contests. He left Rogers Place in Edmonton with three goals on the night, including the game-winner.

Robertson believes that the drought-ending first goal gave him the confidence to score the next two.

"I got the first one and then I'm like, 'OK, I'm going to shoot everything,'" he told Sportsnet postgame. "It's one of those things. You just gain confidence."

The shoot-everything mentality paid huge dividends, as Robertson's hat-trick goal came from a sharp angle on which most players would likely opt to pass or hang on to the puck. Instead, Robertson got Oilers goalie Stuart Skinner to bite on an inside fake, which created a tiny sliver of an opening to bank the puck off the netminder and in.

"It's a lot of work with our goalies in practice," Robertson said. "We learn stuff. I can credit my goalie coach on that one. Just making a play there. I don't know if I would've done that if I didn't score two goals."

Tyler Seguin, who assisted on a pair of Robertson's goals, thought his linemate might even pot another after scoring what he described as a vintage "Robo" goal.

"Honestly, I thought he was going to maybe get four," Seguin said postgame about Robertson. "He was just having one of those nights. His third goal was the most 'Robo' goal you're going to score."

Also pivotal to Robertson's big night was the return of his center, Roope Hintz, who assisted on two of Robertson's goals in his first game back from injury. Hintz hadn't played since May 13 in Round 2.

"Everyone notices his presence on the ice," Robertson said of Hintz. "You can see that speed."

The Oilers jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first period before the Stars scored three straight. Edmonton tied it late in the second before Robertson's winner in the third. Miro Heiskanen added the empty-netter for a 5-3 win.

Robertson is now up to six goals and 10 assists in 16 games this postseason.

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Multiple teams around the NHL have called the Carolina Hurricanes regarding the availability of forward Martin Necas, sources told The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun.

The 25-year-old is a restricted free agent with arbitration rights who can become an unrestricted free agent in 2026. Evolving-Hockey projects Necas will earn $8.8 million annually on an eight-year contract.

Keeping Necas could prove difficult for the Hurricanes considering Seth Jarvis and Jack Drury are also RFAs who are due for raises. Plus, the team has multiple notable UFAs, including Jake Guentzel, Teuvo Teravainen, Jordan Martinook, Brady Skjei, and Brett Pesce. The team is reportedly attempting to keep Guentzel and Skjei.

Necas produced 24 goals and 29 assists in 77 games this past season as a winger. He recorded a career-high 71 points in 82 games in 2022-23 while splitting time between center and wing.

Necas helped Czechia win gold at the 2024 World Championship, collecting seven points in five games.

"We'll see what's going to happen," Necas said after Czechia's victory on Sunday when asked about the trade rumors. "I don't really care right now. What's going to happen is going to happen. My agent is going to deal with that. We're going to figure it out. Now I'm going to celebrate this medal and I'm going to enjoy it for a while."

The Hurricanes reportedly dangled Necas in trade discussions involving Elias Pettersson before the Swede ultimately signed an extension with the Vancouver Canucks this season. Necas was reportedly also included in trade offers to the Calgary Flames for Matthew Tkachuk in 2022.

Carolina would want a star-caliber player back in any package for Necas, LeBrun added.

The Hurricanes drafted Necas 12th overall in 2017.

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Florida Panthers head coach Paul Maurice clearly has no sympathy for the modest dent that was put into Jacob Trouba's wallet on Monday.

The New York Rangers captain was fined $5,000 - the maximum allowable under the league's collective bargaining agreement - for elbowing Panthers forward Evan Rodrigues in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Final, the NHL's Department of Player Safety announced.

"Take the hat, pass it around. Poor lad, poor Jake. He won't be able to eat," Maurice joked while speaking with reporters.

Maurice coached Trouba for six seasons with the Winnipeg Jets.

A $5,000 fine for Trouba, who makes $8 million per season, is equivalent to someone with a $100,000 salary getting fined about $62.50 - so roughly a parking ticket.

Officials reviewed the play for a major penalty but ultimately handed Trouba a minor for elbowing.

Rodrigues was able to stay in the game.

Trouba has been under the microscope for several questionable hits in his 11-year career, but the defenseman has only been suspended twice. This marks the third time he's been fined.

The Rangers won their second straight game in overtime Sunday to take a 2-1 series lead.

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Edmonton Oilers forward Adam Henrique is back in the lineup for Game 3 of the Western Conference Final after missing the last seven contests with a lower-body injury, head coach Kris Knoblauch announced Monday.

Ryan McLeod will be a healthy scratch to make room for Henrique.

Here are the projected forward lines:

Edmonton's prized trade-deadline acquisition, Henrique collected six goals and three assists in 22 games with the Oilers during the regular season and has added two points in six playoff contests. He last played in Game 2 of the second round against the Vancouver Canucks.

McLeod was a mainstay as the Oilers' third-line center during the regular season, contributing 12 goals and 18 assists in 81 games. He's been quiet in the playoffs, though, failing to record a point in 14 contests.

"It's a reset," Knoblauch said. "Clouder is going to be part of this team. Whether he comes in the next game or the following one, we're going to see him sooner than later."

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It may not be the color they had envisioned, but Team Sweden is taking home a medal at the 2024 World Championship.

Sweden beat Canada 4-2 in the bronze-medal game on Sunday, securing a medal for the first time since winning back-to-back golds in 2017-18.

Carl Grundstrom was a catalyst for the Swedes, scoring two goals, including the game-winner.

Sweden opened the scoring in the first period with a rip by Grundstrom. Canada responded with a second-period tally by Dylan Cozens for his tournament-leading ninth goal.

Canada pulled ahead in the third period with a strike from Pierre-Luc Dubois, but the lead was short-lived, as Sweden captain Erik Karlsson countered moments later with a rocket of his own.

Grundstrom then potted the game-winner for Sweden with a long-range drive before Marcus Johansson added an empty-netter for good measure.

It's the first time Canada hasn't medaled at the tournament since finishing fourth in 2018. The Canadians won gold in 2023 and 2021, as well as silver in 2022 and 2019. The 2020 tournament was canceled due to COVID-19.

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Switzerland upset defending champion Canada 3-2 in a shootout on Saturday at the World Championship to advance to the gold-medal game against host Czechia.

Sven Andrighetto notched the shootout winner.

Swiss goalie Leonardo Genoni stopped Dylan Cozens in the fifth round to secure the victory.

Switzerland jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first period off a pair of power-play goals from Kevin Fiala and Nino Niederreiter. Fiala uncorked a lethal one-timer before Niederreiter deflected home Roman Josi's point blast two minutes later.

Canada finally solved Genoni late in the second period with a greasy net-front goal by Brandon Tanev to cut the lead in half. Captain John Tavares slung one five-hole on the power play with two minutes left in regulation to force overtime.

Both teams had power plays during the 10-minute, three-on-three overtime but failed to capitalize. Connor Bedard was the only Canadian to score in the shootout.

Genoni was sensational in the game, stopping 42 of 44 shots in the victory. The 36-year-old has never played professionally in North America but owns a wealth of experience overseas and on the international stage. Entering Saturday, he owned a .926 save percentage and a 1.94 goals-against average in 39 career games at the World Championship.

Switzerland has never won the tournament in its 86-year history. It won silver three times in 2018, 2013, and 1935.

Canada won the tournament in 2023 and was looking to win back-to-back gold medals for the first time since 2015-16.

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The Columbus Blue Jackets hired Don Waddell as general manager, president of hockey operations, and alternate governor, the team announced Tuesday.

Reports on Saturday indicated Waddell would join the Blue Jackets as the team's top hockey operations executive.

Waddell resigned from his post as president and GM of the Carolina Hurricanes on Friday.

The Blue Jackets fired GM Jarmo Kekalainen in February. President of hockey operations John Davidson served as interim GM in the meantime.

Davidson will now transition to a senior adviser and alternate governor role.

"I've known Don for many years, and he is one of the great gentlemen in our business," Davidson said. "He is a very smart, dedicated professional who has shown a great ability to bring people together to work towards a common goal and achieve success. I believe this is a great day for our organization and our fans."

The Blue Jackets have missed the playoffs in four straight years and have only qualified for the postseason six times in their 23 seasons. They've never advanced past Round 2.

During Waddell's six years as GM of the Hurricanes, the team made the playoffs every season, won three straight division titles from 2021-23, and made the conference finals in 2019 and 2023.

However, Waddell didn't find quite the same level of success in his previous GM gig. He held that position with the Atlanta Thrashers from 1998-2010, overseeing a single postseason appearance in 2007 when the club was swept in Round 1.

Waddell will join a franchise that boasts a talented young core led by 2023 No. 3 pick Adam Fantilli. The Blue Jackets hold the No. 4 pick in the 2024 draft.

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