Jacksonville Jaguars All-Pro cornerback Jalen Ramsey made waves in the hockey world recently, claiming in a tell-all interview with ESPN's Mina Kimes that he could probably crack the NHL with six months of training.

Cue the outrage.

With training camp for the 2018-19 season around the corner, several prominent NHLers were asked about Ramsey's claim, and it's safe to say they disagree.

"I think it's insulting to our league," Buffalo Sabres star Jack Eichel told Emily Kaplan of ESPN. "For us as players, we've dedicated our lives to be playing in the NHL. To think after six months you could come play arguably one of the hardest sports in the world? I mean, I think it's ridiculous he would say that. It's ignorant."

St. Louis Blues sniper Vladimir Tarasenko shared Eichel's disbelief.

"I can bet any money in the world there's no chance he can play in the NHL in six months. It's impossible. Him saying that ... it de-classes our sport," he said.

Chris Kreider of the New York Rangers tried his best to apply some logic to the hypothetical scenario, but still wasn't buying it.

"It's funny to me," Kreider said. "I think he's an unbelievable athlete, but skating is a skill set unto itself - just like running is, just like swimming is. Think of someone who has never swam before. If you've never been in the water before, no matter how good of an athlete you are, chances are, you're not going to be an Olympic-caliber swimmer in six months."

Among all the critics, Stanley Cup champion Evgeny Kuznetsov stood as the lone optimist.

"I would like to see that, for sure," he said. "He can come; we can help him. It's cool if an athlete wants to try something new."

Ramsey does have quite the athletic resume, to his credit. He's emerged as arguably the best shutdown corner in the NFL since being drafted fifth overall by the Jags in 2016 and had a prolific track and field career at Florida State on top of his football duties.

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Coming off his second reconstructive knee surgery in as many years, 39-year-old Joe Thornton isn't concerned with any ill effects as he gears up for his 14th season with the San Jose Sharks.

Thornton missed the final 35 games of the regular season and all of the Sharks' playoff run after tearing his ACL and MCL in his right knee in January, nine months after doing the same to his left. Back-to-back injuries of such severity could spell doom for anyone's career, but Thornton, a future Hall of Famer who's never been particularly fleet of foot, is expecting to be the same player he's always been once back in uniform.

"They've said that since I've been 16 years old, and I think I've had a pretty good career," Thornton told Kevin Kurz of The Athletic when asked about his speed.

"I think when I'm out there I dictate the play. It doesn't matter who I play against, I usually dictate the play. I've had that criticism for 22 years. I think I've kept up pretty good."

Thornton managed to record 36 points in 47 games last season and signed a one-year contract worth a reported $5 million in July. He's expected to be in the lineup when San Jose's season opens Oct. 3 versus the Anaheim Ducks and is just seven games shy of reaching the 1,500 mark for his career.

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Edmonton Oilers defenseman Darnell Nurse won't be participating in the club's upcoming training camp without some financial security.

Nurse, the only Oilers player currently without a contract, recently said he's optimistic a deal will get done before camp opens in mid-September, but he confirmed Wednesday he won't be attending if he remains a restricted free agent.

"No, I wouldn't come to camp without a contract, but hopefully we get something done before camp so I can be out there (on the) first day. That's the goal," Nurse told reporters, via Sportsnet.

Nurse is coming off the final year of his entry-level contract and is one of three prominent RFA defenseman across the league in need of a new deal, along with Shea Theodore of the Vegas Golden Knights and Josh Morrissey of the Winnipeg Jets.

The Oilers have just under $4 million available in cap space to work out a new pact with Nurse, per Cap Friendly. The 23-year-old is coming off his most productive season at the NHL level, suiting up in all 82 games while registering 26 points and logging over 22 minutes per contest.

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Despite a season's worth of turmoil, Matt Duchene isn't rejecting the possibility of signing a long-term deal with the Ottawa Senators.

With one season left on his contract, the forward is eligible to sign an extension at any point, and while he and general manager Pierre Dorion haven't begun negotiations, the 27-year-old is open to committing to the nation's capital.

"I'd love for it to work," Duchene told NHL.com on Tuesday. "(Ontario) is my home province, three hours from home, Canadian city. Would be awesome if things could work out for sure."

Duchene arrived in Ottawa last November via trade after a drawn-out split with the Colorado Avalanche - who surprisingly went on to qualify for the postseason while the Senators tumbled to a 30th-place finish.

Amid the organizational hardships, Duchene managed to play some strong hockey, registering 23 goals and 26 assists in 68 contests with Ottawa.

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Nate Schmidt and those close to him vehemently disagree with his suspension for violation of the NHL/NHLPA Performance-Enhancing Substances Program, which resulted in a 20-game ban Sunday afternoon.

Schmidt, the Vegas Golden Knights, and his agent each issued strongly worded statements on the matter shortly after news of the ban broke.

From the Golden Knights:

While we respect the NHL/NHLPA Performance Enhancing Substances Program and are committed to its success, we strongly disagree with the suspension. We firmly believe that the presence of a trace of the banned substance was accidental and unintentional. Based on our conversations with Nate, analysis from independent medical experts and sworn testimony from the parties involved, we believe it is clear Nate was not able to reasonably ascertain how the substance entered his body.

Nate is an honest person with high moral character and great integrity. We will stand by him and support him during this time.

Lastly, Schmidt's agent Matt Keator:

Schmidt is eligible to participate in training camp, but can't suit up in any preseason games. The 27-year-old will also forfeit nearly $500,000 in salary, per TSN's Frank Seravalli, and can return Nov. 18 versus the Edmonton Oilers.

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Nate Schmidt and those close to him vehemently disagree with his suspension for violation of the NHL/NHLPA Performance-Enhancing Substances Program, which resulted in a 20-game ban Sunday afternoon.

Schmidt, the Vegas Golden Knights, and his agent each issued strongly worded statements on the matter shortly after news of the ban broke.

From the Golden Knights:

While we respect the NHL/NHLPA Performance Enhancing Substances Program and are committed to its success, we strongly disagree with the suspension. We firmly believe that the presence of a trace of the banned substance was accidental and unintentional. Based on our conversations with Nate, analysis from independent medical experts and sworn testimony from the parties involved, we believe it is clear Nate was not able to reasonably ascertain how the substance entered his body.

Nate is an honest person with high moral character and great integrity. We will stand by him and support him during this time.

Lastly, Schmidt's agent Matt Keator:

Schmidt is eligible to participate in training camp, but can't suit up in any preseason games. The 27-year-old will also forfeit nearly $500,000 in salary, per TSN's Frank Seravalli, and can return Nov. 18 versus the Edmonton Oilers.

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Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Nate Schmidt has been suspended without pay for the first 20 games of the 2018-19 season for violating the terms of the NHL/NHLPA performance enhancing substances program, the league announced Sunday.

More to come.

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NHL commissioner Gary Bettman is set to be inducted into the Sports Broadcasting Hall of Fame as part of the 2018 class.

Bettman joins a list of 11 professionals to be enshrined in December, which will also feature Jim Nantz, Bob Costas, and Dick Vitale, among others.

Over his time as commissioner, Bettman has orchestrated multi-billion dollar deals with NBC Sports and Rogers Communications and helped create the NHL Network.

Bettman was also named as an inductee to the Hockey Hall of Fame in June.

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Following wrist, groin, and two hernia surgeries this offseason, Calgary Flames pivot Sean Monahan is feeling good as the NHL season inches closer.

"I feel like a new man right now," Monahan told Aaron Vickers of NHL.com. "I'm more flexible, more mobile, meaner and stronger, so I think it's a good feeling to be healthy."

With the Flames out of the playoff picture late last season, Monahan was shut down after 74 games to get an early start on his recovery. Despite limited appearances, the 23-year-old matched his career best with 31 goals and set a new personal points benchmark in 2017-18.

Monahan's health will be paramount to the new-look Flames as they seek a return to the postseason in 2018-19. Over the offseason, Calgary brought in Bill Peters as its new head coach, orchestrated a blockbuster that sent out Dougie Hamilton for Noah Hanifin, and signed perennial 20-goal sniper James Neal, who could find his way onto Monahan's line alongside Johnny Gaudreau.

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The Philadelphia Flyers and winger Wayne Simmonds have held preliminary talks about a new contract, he told theScore's John Matisz at BioSteel Camp on Wednesday.

While discussions have started, Simmonds is focused primarily on his health heading into the final season of his six-year, $23.85-million contract.

"I've gotta get healthy, first and foremost, and show (them) that I am the player that I was, I think, two years ago," Simmonds said, according to Matisz.

Following the Flyers' first-round playoff elimination in April, Simmonds revealed a ridiculous list of injuries he played through in 2017-18.

The 30-year-old still managed to suit up in 75 contests last season, recording 24 goals and 46 points - his lowest total in both categories in a full campaign since 2011-12.

When fully healthy, Simmonds is one of the premier producers at his position. Since 2013-14, Simmonds' 144 goals rank sixth among all right-wingers. If he can get back on track next season, it's safe to say he'll be in line for a raise from his modest $3.975 million cap hit.

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