The Chicago Blackhawks are shifting their attention toward the future.

The team released a statement to season-ticket holders Tuesday and admitted they're focused on rebuilding the roster.

"We recently said goodbye to a pair of popular, two-time champions and acquired some new players via trade and free agency," the statement read. "We understand it was tough to see those respected veterans go and realize you may have some questions about our direction. We'd like to address that direction and share why we're hopeful for the future of Blackhawks hockey.

"We're committed to developing young players and rebuilding our roster. We want more than another window to win; we want to reach the summit again, and stay there - an effort that will require a stockpile of emerging talent to complement our top players."

The Blackhawks veteran core reportedly voiced their frustration last week with the team's moves this offseason. Chicago allowed perennial puck-stopper Corey Crawford to walk in free agency, dealt goal-scorer Brandon Saad, and opted not to extend qualifying offers to Drake Caggiula and Slater Koekkoek.

Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews, who said the team's moves came "as a shock," and superstar Patrick Kane each have three years remaining on their contracts.

General manager Stan Bowman said he spoke with Toews, Kane, Brent Seabrook, and Duncan Keith to ensure everyone is on the same page.

"We had a very good discussion, in-depth discussion about where we're going," Bowman said, according to NBC Sports' Charlie Roumeliotis. "I think part of this communication here is to clear up some miscommunications or perceptions.

"It's really not a rebuild in a (sense) of 'we're tearing this down and we're just getting rid of all the players.' Sometimes you do have to make difficult decisions to trade away popular players and it's hard for our veterans who've been together."

The Blackhawks upset the Edmonton Oilers in four games in the best-of-five play-in round in 2019-20. Chicago missed the playoffs in each of the previous two seasons before this past campaign.

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Legendary broadcaster Mike "Doc" Emrick announced his retirement Monday, and the hockey world is celebrating the 74-year-old's storied career and already missing his distinct voice.

Here are kind words from the many people Emrick impacted over his 47-year career, along with some of his most memorable calls.

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The Vancouver Canucks signed forward Adam Gaudette to a one-year contract worth $950,000, the team announced Monday.

"Adam has been an excellent young player for us and we are happy to have him continue his progress for another year in Vancouver," said general manager Jim Benning. "We look forward to his intensity and compete level continuing to be a great source of energy for our team."

The 24-year-old recorded career highs with 12 goals and 21 assists over 59 games during the final year of his entry-level deal in 2019-20.

Vancouver selected Gaudette in the fifth round of the 2015 draft. The 6-foot-1 pivot has amassed 17 goals and 45 points through 120 career contests.

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Mike "Doc" Emrick is signing off after a legendary career in the broadcast booth.

Emrick finished his journey with NBC while working from home this postseason, and the 74-year-old expressed gratitude as he reflected on his career.

"I hope I can handle retirement OK, especially since I’ve never done it before," he said Sunday, according to the New York Post's Phil Mushnick. "But I’ve just been extremely lucky for 50 years. And NBC has been so good to me, especially since the pandemic, when I was allowed to work from home in a studio NBC created.

"Now, into my golden years, this just seemed to be the time that was right."

Emrick began his career in sports broadcasting in 1973 with American radio station WHLS. The Indiana native then became the first voice of the New Jersey Devils when the club joined the league prior to the 1982-83 season. He's been the lead voice for NHL games on NBC and NBC Sports since moving to the network full time in 2011.

In 2004, Emrick became the first of now five media members to receive the NHL's Lester Patrick Award. He also received the Foster Hewitt Memorial Award from the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2008.

Emrick has won six national Emmy Awards for excellence in sports broadcasting, and he became the first media member to be inducted into the United States Hockey Hall of Fame in 2011.

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The Calgary Flames have signed forward Andrew Mangiapane to a two-year deal worth $4.85 million, the team announced Friday.

Mangiapane was a restricted free agent and had an arbitration hearing set for Oct. 20. His new deal carries an average annual value of $2.425 million.

The 24-year-old tallied career highs with 17 goals and 15 assists over 68 games in 2019-20 after signing a one-year pact worth $715,000 with the Flames last offseason. He added two goals and five points through 10 playoff contests.

Calgary selected Mangiapane in the sixth round of the 2015 NHL Draft.

The Flames have just under $4 million in projected cap space with one remaining restricted free agent in defenseman Oliver Kylington, according to CapFriendly.

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The Ottawa Senators inked forward Evgenii Dadonov to a three-year deal worth $15 million, the team announced Thursday.

The deal pays Dadonov $3.5 million in 2020-21, $5 million in 2021-22, and $6.5 million in the final season and includes a 10-team modified no-trade clause, according to TSN's Pierre LeBrun.

Dadonov spent the previous three seasons with the Florida Panthers and recorded 25 goals and 47 points over 69 games in 2019-20.

The 5-foot-11 winger will help bolster Ottawa's offense, which ranked 25th last season. He's hit the 25-goal mark in three consecutive campaigns and notched a career-best 28 tallies and 70 points across 82 games in 2018-19.

The 31-year-old also brings a veteran presence to a youthful club, as he's just one of three players on the Senators' active roster who's over the age of 29.

Though Dadonov is best known for his offensive bona fides, the Russian talent has been a relatively reliable two-way player at even strength over the previous three campaigns, according to HockeyViz's isolated impact data. (Red/positive is good in the offensive zone, while blue/negative is good in the defensive zone.)

The Senators still have $21.43 million in projected cap space next season and remain slightly below the lower limit of $60.2 million, according to CapFriendly. However, forwards Connor Brown, Rudolfs Balcers, and Chris Tierney are all restricted free agents in need of new deals.

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Joe Thornton is staying sharp overseas while mulling his next move in the NHL.

The 41-year-old has joined HC Davos of the National League in Switzerland and will suit up for the club Saturday, the team announced Thursday.

Thornton still has a desire to return for a 23rd NHL season; he will remain with Davos to prepare for the upcoming campaign, according to Sportsnet's Chris Johnston. The NHL has targeted Jan. 1 as a potential starting date for the 2020-21 season, and Thornton hasn't played a game since the San Jose Sharks' last contest on March 11.

The Toronto Maple Leafs and Thornton reportedly have mutual interest in a potential agreement. The future Hall of Famer has spent the last 15 seasons with the Sharks and contributed seven goals and 24 assists over 70 games in 2019-20.

The signing marks Thornton's third stint with HC Davos. He played with the club during the NHL lockouts in 2004-05 and 2012-13, helping the club win a championship in 2005 while leading that postseason in scoring.

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The Montreal Canadiens signed netminder Jake Allen to a two-year, $5.75-million extension, the team announced Wednesday.

There's one year remaining on his current contract at $4.35 million. The 30-year-old's new deal will kick in prior to the 2021-22 campaign.

The Canadiens acquired Allen from the St. Louis Blues in September for a pair of 2020 draft picks and a seventh-round selection in 2022.

He posted personal bests in 2019-20 with a .927 save percentage and a 2.15 goals-against average over 24 appearances with the Blues.

Starting Canadiens puck-stopper Carey Price is also under contract for six more seasons, with an annual cap hit of $10.5 million.

Montreal has a league-leading $14.85 million invested in its goaltenders next season.

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The Carolina Hurricanes are exploring potential trade options for defenseman Jake Gardiner, according to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.

The Hurricanes, who ranked 11th in the league with 3.19 goals per game in 2019-20, are looking to add a goal-scorer, Friedman adds.

Gardiner, 30, has three years remaining on his contract with an average annual value of $4.05 million. He inked a four-year pact with Carolina last offseason.

The Hurricanes currently have six blue-liners, including Gardiner, under contract next season and will likely come to terms with restricted free-agent defenseman Haydn Fleury.

Gardiner recorded four goals and 24 points while averaging a career-low 16:40 of ice time through 68 games with the Hurricanes in 2019-20.

Carolina has roughly $5 million in projected cap space for next season, according to CapFriendly.

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Contract negotiations between the Montreal Canadiens and forward Brendan Gallagher have broken off, Gallagher's agent Gerry Johannson confirmed Tuesday, according to TSN's Pierre LeBrun.

Gallagher, 28, has one year remaining at $3.75 million on his current deal and becomes an unrestricted free agent after the 2020-21 campaign.

The pesky winger is due for a pay raise after playing some of his best hockey in recent years. He reached the 30-goal mark in each of the previous two campaigns and was on pace to do so over 82 games again in 2019-20.

Gallagher co-led the Canadiens with 22 goals and added 21 assists while averaging 16:55 in ice time over 59 games this season. He added four points in nine playoff contests.

Canadiens general manager Marc Bergevin has made several key changes to the club's forward group this offseason. He dealt Max Domi to the Columbus Blue Jackets for forward Josh Anderson and signed winger Tyler Toffoli to a four-year, $17-million deal Monday.

Montreal currently has just five forwards under contract beyond the 2020-21 campaign.

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