Bruce Boudreau expects a big bounce back from Eric Staal.

The new head coach of the Minnesota Wild is already penciling in his lines for the upcoming season, envisioning the former Carolina Hurricanes captain playing with one of the faces of the franchise, Boudreau told Paul Allen of KFAN Sports Radio on Thursday.

Maybe I'm out in left field, but I think Eric is going to have a great year. I think there's been circumstances for the last two years that haven't been well, but I am pretty sure that he is really excited about coming to Minny, and he is really excited about playing.

He's going to start off with Zach (Parise), and probably Charlie Coyle on the right. Eric and Charlie are big men. Zach works harder than anybody around. I think it's going to be a highly successful line. At least I'm hoping it will be.

Staal recorded 13 goals and 39 points in 83 games split between the Hurricanes and New York Rangers this past season, the lowest output of his career since his rookie year (31 points in 2013-14).

The 31-year-old signed a three-year, $10.5-million contract with the Wild and appears primed for an opportunity to produce for his new team.

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With "Suicide Squad" set to hit the big screens worldwide, now seems like an appropriate time to compare today's NHL stars with the villainous - or heroic - cast.

While these NHLers aren't a part of any secret government-led agency (that we know of), here's five players in the game today that share some similar traits.

Deadshot - Alex Ovechkin

While Deadshot is the expert marksman of the Suicide Squad, Ovechkin is the penultimate sniper of a generation, maybe even of all time. Sure, Deadshot's ammunition might be jacketed lead, compared to Ovechkin's vulcanized rubber, but when Ovi unloads his clip, you can hardly tell the difference.

Joker - Brad Marchand

Like the Joker, Marchand is most effective when under the skin of his adversaries. Marchand's personality and antics have put him in trouble before, and whether he's scoring goals, taking and/or drawing a penalty, the pesky Boston Bruins forward tends to do so wearing a devious grin.

Harley Quinn - Brent Burns

Quinn's character is described as a fan favorite, who's funny, crazy, and scary. While the only scary thing about Burns may be his lack of teeth, the rest is spot on.

Related: What would the Suicide Squad look like if it was made up of MLS stars?

Rick Flag - Jonathan Toews

Every team needs somebody in charge.

Flag is tabbed as the all-business leader of the Suicide Squad; sounds a lot like Toews to the Chicago Blackhawks, no? Captain Serious' notorious work-first approach has become his most recognizable trait as a player.

Killer Croc - Milan Lucic

Few players can impose their will physically like Lucic can, earning him the same reputation as Killer Croc. Thankfully, the new Edmonton Oilers bodyguard doesn't have any reptilian features, although if he did, that might help foes stay away from Connor McDavid.

Related: What would the Suicide Squad look like if it was made up of NFL stars?

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Quebecor Inc.'s sports and entertainment division has a new boss, but the mandate remains the same - bring a NHL team back to Quebec City.

Pierre Dion, Quebecor president and CEO, is taking over the sports division with a continued focus on the success of the Videotron Centre and securing a NHL team as a tenant, the company announced Thursday.

Although the NHL passed on a recent Quebec City expansion application in favor of adding only Las Vegas, Dion said commissioner Gary Bettman recognizes "the quality of the arena, the solid foundation of the Quebec City economy, and (the) qualifications of Quebecor to run a successful team," according to Vicky Fragasso-Marquis of the Canadian Press.

The 18,259-seat arena opened in 2015 and is the home of of the Quebec Remparts of the QMJHL.

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Every day this week, theScore's hockey editors evaluated NHL teams on a different organizational level. Here are the final results, based partially on each club's composite score with an emphasis on the key management roles.

• Farm systems
• Head coaches
• General managers
• Owners
• Final rankings

N/A: Las Vegas

The NHL's newest franchise is starting to take shape, but there's still plenty of work to do. Owner Bill Foley hired experienced general manager George McPhee earlier this month, but the club still needs a coaching staff, a farm system and a name.

30. Columbus Blue Jackets

The Blue Jackets have some tantalizing prospects, but they're deficient in all of the key management positions, and that could be why Columbus has made only two playoff appearances in its 15-year history.

29. Colorado Avalanche

Ownership has shown faith in the Joe Sakic-Patrick Roy regime, and that's been an issue given some questionable moves and the inherent flaws in Roy's system.

28. Vancouver Canucks

The Canucks have no problem spending, but they don't often spend well. When Jim Benning isn't tampering, he's mortgaging the future for less than inspiring returns.

27. Ottawa Senators

The Senators have a new GM, a new head coach who was away from the league for four years, and a prospect pool that leaves plenty to be desired. Throw in Eugene Melnyk's reluctance to spend big and there are far too many organizational question marks.

26. Edmonton Oilers

It's the same old story with the Oilers, who have more than enough youth but not enough skill at all levels of the organization. Peter Chiarelli lost the Taylor Hall trade badly and the Milan Lucic contract could come back to haunt him.

25. Carolina Hurricanes

Carolina's ownership situation is anything but stable, and while the Hurricanes have a wealth of prospects, management hasn't done enough to keep the club competitive.

24. Montreal Canadiens

Canadiens management overreacted to a dismal season caused primarily by Carey Price's injury and Michel Therrien's mishandling of the lineup. The P.K. Subban trade was a major blunder, and signing Andrew Shaw to a long-term deal only raised more questions.

23. New York Rangers

New York's fall from grace isn't entirely general manager Jeff Gorton's fault, but he was involved in many of former GM Glen Sather's moves, and several unsavory contracts have hamstrung the Rangers' ability to improve.

22. Calgary Flames

There's a lot to like about the future of the Flames, who are assembling a talented, young core. Brad Treliving also landed a veteran goaltender, but new head coach Glen Gulutzan is largely unproven.

The Rangers rely too much on Henrik Lundqvist and don't have any eye-popping prospects.

21. New Jersey Devils

Ray Shero hasn't yet been able to duplicate the success he enjoyed with the Pittsburgh Penguins, and the Devils have been mired in relative mediocrity since he took over for Lou Lamoriello.

The acquisition of Hall will help, and a couple of promising prospects are on the way, but it'll take more than that to return the club to prominence.

20. Philadelphia Flyers

The Flyers have some encouraging pieces, but the direction of new ownership is unclear and Ron Hextall failed to fulfill his offseason goal of adding secondary scoring.

19. Anaheim Ducks

The Ducks are better than this on the ice, but management isn't doing them any favors. Randy Carlyle's hiring was a puzzling move by Bob Murray, who's much better at negotiating contracts than choosing a head coach.

18. Boston Bruins

The 2011 Stanley Cup championship is now a distant memory, and the current Bruins regime has made plenty of head-scratching decisions that have put them on a downward trajectory.

17. Buffalo Sabres

The Evander Kane trade looks like a mistake in hindsight, but a wealthy owner and the youthful trio of Jack Eichel, Sam Reinhart and Rasmus Ristolainen give the Sabres hope for the future.

16. Los Angeles Kings

The Kings' organization has fallen short of expectations since their two recent championships, both in terms of on-ice performance and its handling of off-ice conduct.

15. Minnesota Wild

Bruce Boudreau should keep the Wild competitive, but the prospect cupboard is bare and Chuck Fletcher needs to get creative if Minnesota is ever going to take a significant step forward.

14. Arizona Coyotes

The Coyotes' future home is always in question, but they have a terrific collection of prospects and a bright general manager who isn't much older than them.

13. New York Islanders

Like the Coyotes, the Islanders aren't entirely sure where they'll end up playing games. New York has a nice crop of talent on the way, but their NHL roster hasn't been able to fully break through.

12. Detroit Red Wings

The Red Wings have long been a model of consistency, but several questionable signings this summer will make it difficult for Detroit to stay competitive as the youth movement continues.

11. Winnipeg Jets

Winnipeg is teeming with potential, boasting encouraging prospects at every position. The new Jets have found stability in a once volatile market and the future looks bright, but it's not going to happen overnight.

10. Florida Panthers

The Panthers are a team on the rise, and ownership is committed to keeping the club in Florida. They've locked up their core and could be primed for prolonged success.

9. Dallas Stars

The Stars' duo of average, expensive goaltenders aren't the answer in the long run, but securing Jamie Benn's services for eight additional years was essential. Dallas still has bright staffers in the front office and behind the bench.

8. St. Louis Blues

The Blues were smart to let David Backes walk and Robby Fabbri looks like a keeper, but the uncertain future of Kevin Shattenkirk could hang over St. Louis and Ken Hitchcock in the head coach's final season.

7. Nashville Predators

The Subban trade was a coup for David Poile and the Predators' management team. It should only further the gains they've made in building both a competitive club and a passionate fanbase in the Music City.

6. San Jose Sharks

San Jose's run to the Cup Final was no accident, and the Sharks' days of intraorganizational bickering are long gone. The franchise is in good shape moving forward and should continue to blossom in Silicon Valley.

5. Washington Capitals

The Capitals are as stable upstairs as they are the ice, and their lack of notable prospects is forgivable considering their depth at the NHL level and how consistently competitive they've been.

4. Pittsburgh Penguins

Pittsburgh is rock-solid at the top of the management ladder, and Jim Rutherford's decisions proved to be instrumental in an unlikely championship season.

3. Chicago Blackhawks

With elite staff members in every key management role, it's little wonder the Blackhawks continue find ways to win despite a lengthy list of salary cap casualties.

The organization's handling of alleged off-ice conduct has been questionable at times, and the franchise took a step back with a first-round exit in the spring, but the club built by owner Rocky Wirtz has been a modern dynasty in the cap era.

2. Tampa Bay Lightning

Steve Yzerman and the rest of the Lightning management cadre turned a potentially nightmarish offseason into a dream come true, expertly addressing their myriad contractual priorities.

Yzerman and owner Jeff Vinik have built an annual Cup contender guided by the steady hand of head coach Jon Cooper, and the Lightning should continue to contend for years to come, especially with Steven Stamkos locked in long-term.

1. Toronto Maple Leafs

No organization has better positioned itself for future success than the Maple Leafs. Ownership has deep pockets, the front office has done a tremendous job stockpiling prospects at all levels, Mike Babcock is a seasoned head coach and team president Brendan Shanahan's vision is coming into focus.

Smart hiring, shrewd trading and skilled drafting have transformed what was seemingly a moribund franchise into one that now commands league-wide respect. They're building from the ground up and showing a level of patience that's unprecedented in their market.

It's been a long, painful road, but the Leafs finally appear primed to become a competitive club, and management deserves to be lauded for flawlessly executing the plan.

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If you have an old hockey card collection somewhere in your attic, you might want to fish it out.

A Wayne Gretzky rookie card just sold for a whopping $465,000 at the National Sports Collectors Convention in Atlantic City, NJ.

The huge bid is a record for the most paid for any single hockey card, according to ESPN's Darren Rovell.

So to those whose parents who might have thrown their collection out years ago, or simply sold their cards for $0.50 each at a garage sale, sorry about your luck.

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Life in the Western Conference isn't easy for a player like Logan Couture.

The San Jose Sharks forward took to The Players' Tribune on Thursday to take an in-depth look at the five toughest defensemen he's faced, which quickly makes things seem easier in the East.

Couture's list includes teammate Brent Burns, Nashville Predators blue-liner Roman Josi, Calgary Flames captain Mark Giordano, and the Chicago Blackhawks duo of Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook.

As tough as that opposition is, Couture managed nine of his 36 points in seven games against the Blackhawks, Flames, and Predators last season.

On top of the five defensemen, Couture also took the time to recognize two of the toughest two-way forwards in Anze Kopitar and Jonathan Toews.

The West is stacked.

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Zach Bogosian still remembers the time Willie Mitchell's shot sent a fan to the hospital.

The Buffalo Sabres defenseman shared a letter he wrote as an 8-year-old after going to a game where Mitchell - 13 years the elder of Bogosian - shattered the glass close to where he was sitting.

It's quite the story and for a child just eight years of age, pretty great penmanship Zach.

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The impending start of the KHL season isn't changing Tobias Rieder's immediate plans.

The unsigned restricted free agent may be toying with the idea of heading over to Europe should he fail to reach a new deal with the Arizona Coyotes, but that decision wouldn't come until after he plays at the World Cup, his agent told Craig Morgan of Arizona Sports.

Morgan has reported Rieder's camp is looking for a two-year deal worth an average annual value of $2.75 million, which the Coyotes don't appear interested in meeting at this point.

The 23-year-old scored 14 goals and added 23 assists for the Coyotes in 2015-16 while playing out the final season of his entry-level contract, and will suit up for Europe at the international tournament in Toronto this September.

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