Warning: Story contains coarse language

Nearly two months after irking John Tortorella with a comment he made after signing with the Pittsburgh Penguins, Jack Johnson claims he was simply praising his new club.

"I was paying a compliment to Pittsburgh," the Penguins defenseman, and former Columbus Blue Jackets blue-liner, told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's Jason Mackey on Wednesday. "They’ve won two Stanley (Cup championships) in the past three years. It is a winning organization. I was expressing how excited I am to be here. Nothing more."

Johnson, who spent six-plus seasons with the Blue Jackets, said the following to reporters after agreeing to a five-year, $16.25-million contract with the Penguins on July 1.

“I've been really wanting to be a part of a winning culture and a place where the expectations to win are as high as they can be. I don't think I could have asked for a better opportunity here.”

Penguins general manager Jim Rutherford also drew the ire of Tortorella when he said he knew why Johnson wasn't playing at the end of the season, and that it wasn't due to his play.

Neither utterance sat well with the Columbus head coach, who took both as shots at him and the organization as a whole.

"All I know is, this organization, from the lawyers, the front office, (president of hockey operations John Davidson), the managers, the coaches, players ... has done nothing but try to help Jack," the Blue Jackets bench boss told The Athletic's Aaron Porzline at the time. "And for (Johnson) to backhand slap us like this is utter bullshit, and he should know better.

"No one wishes anything bad to happen to him and his family," Tortorella continued. "We wish him the best. But for him to put it the way he put it today is bullshit. And to have a general manager question our decision-making from three hours away, he must be a fucking magician."

Johnson posted 11 points in 77 games while ranking fourth on the Blue Jackets in average ice time at 19:33 last season.

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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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Brett Connolly isn't interested in going to the White House should the Washington Capitals be feted by U.S. President Donald Trump.

"Personally, I don’t think I’m going to go ... it has nothing to do with politics," Connolly told reporters, including theScore's John Matisz, at BioSteel camp Wednesday. "For me, I just don’t think it’s the right thing to do.

“Everyone is entitled to their opinion," he added. "I think there’ll be a few guys not going, too. Like I said, it has nothing to do with politics, it’s about what’s right and wrong, and we’ll leave it at that.”

Devante Smith-Pelly said back in June that he already had his mind made up and criticized the president for his "racist and sexist" rhetoric.

Related - Smith-Pelly: Easy decision to forgo White House visit if Caps get invite

Several Capitals, including Alex Ovechkin, Nicklas Backstrom, and Evgeny Kuznetsov, said they would go if invited.

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TORONTO - Waiting isn't Joel Ward's favorite pastime, but it's all he can do right now.

It's late August - professional tryout season - and the 37-year-old right-winger is jobless. An unrestricted free agent since July 1, Ward told theScore Tuesday he's "waiting to hopefully solidify something" before NHL training camps open in mid-September.

The veteran of more than 800 NHL games won't let himself think about life outside the best hockey league in the world. Plan B options, such as playing in Europe or retirement, aren't top of mind.

"Haven't really thought about it," Ward said at the annual BioSteel Camp. "I think we're all fighting for contracts, for sure, so I think the main thing is to stay patient and just be ready."

Ward's three-year, $9.825-million contract with the San Jose Sharks ended in unflattering fashion this spring. First, he was asked to waive his modified no-trade clause at the trade deadline. Then, following an injury-laden regular season in which he posted 12 points in 52 games, head coach Peter DeBoer sat him for all 10 playoff contests.

A good soldier on seven previous NHL playoff squads, Ward admits it was a tough stretch in his professional life.

"I definitely wanted to play ... it was unfortunate, I suffered a pretty tough (shoulder) injury down the stretch and it was hard to get back in (the lineup)," he said. "You always want to be playing, regardless of the sport. You always want to get out there and help your squad win. But, it's part of the game sometimes and it definitely gave me some good fire in the belly to get after it this summer."

Forward Scottie Upshall was in a similar spot during last year's BioSteel Camp. He ultimately signed with his old club, the St. Louis Blues, after Robby Fabbri went down with a season-ending injury in late September. This offseason, Upshall signed a PTO with the Oilers and will fight for a job in camp.

Clubs prioritize speed, skill, and youngsters in the modern NHL. It's abundantly obvious this time of year, when tryout agreements start trickling in. Here's the full PTO list as of Wednesday morning, according to CapFriendly.com:

Now, Ward's willingness to stick it out this late in the summer shouldn't come as a giant surprise. He's been unwanted in the past. The 6-foot-1, 225-pounder went undrafted and didn't make the NHL until his mid-20s, but is sitting on 356 career points and more than $25 million in earnings.

He has strung together a notable NHL career, dressing for 809 regular season and playoff games for the Minnesota Wild, Nashville Predators, Washington Capitals, and Sharks. Last season, Ward was one of only two NHLers who honed their craft in the Canadian University ranks (Derek Ryan was the other).

"Looking back, you just hope to play one (NHL) game," he said of a four-year stint at the University of Prince Edward Island. "One turned into a couple more and it just kept going from there. Once you get a taste of it, you want to stay."

Following four years of major junior, another four in university, and three more in the AHL, Ward found a 10-year home in the NHL. Can he squeeze out one more?

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Those in charge of the potential NHL franchise in Seattle will get their chance to impress the league in the not too distant future.

“We now know that in early October we’re going to see the executive committee," Tod Leiweke, the president and CEO of the prospective team, told 950 KJR on Tuesday. "We believe that will be on October 2nd in New York City ... We then go in front of the entire membership of the NHL to make our case, and we’re going to be ready."

Leiweke reiterated that he isn't underestimating the importance of the meeting.

“We are not taking anything for granted," he said. "It would be an incredible honor to be the 32nd franchise, so we’re going to be prepared for that day and that test. We are right now building a spectacular presentation that we’ve been working on for weeks. I’ve never prepared like this for a presentation or meeting, and I’ve had a few in my career. This is an important moment because we owe it to the city to do our best.”

Leiweke left his previous post as the NFL's COO in March and was hired in his current role in April. He joined his brother Tim, the CEO of Oak View Group, which will serve as the team's owners if a franchise is granted.

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The NHL draft brings with it a new crop of rookies and the hype that follows them. And in all that excitement, some young players, who have spent time with an NHL squad but still retain their rookie eligibility, get lost in the shuffle.

Here are four rookies who have already felt the pressure of competing against NHL-caliber players and are ready to make a splash in 2018-19.

Related: Ranking the top NHL rookies for 2018-19

(Position eligibility according to Yahoo)

Lias Andersson, C, Rangers

The seventh overall pick of the 2017 NHL Entry Draft closed out his season with the New York Rangers after splitting time in Sweden and the AHL for the majority of the year. Andersson will now have a chance to make the big club out of training camp and could even compete for the second-line center role behind incumbent No. 1 Mika Zibanejad, who has missed time in each of the last two seasons. Andersson should be flanked by a pair of veteran wingers, which will only help him make the leap from prospect to pro.

Valentin Zykov, LW, Hurricanes

Zykov should be provided with an opportunity to play extended minutes and grow as a player, as the Carolina Hurricanes enter yet another rebuild. The 2013 second-round pick debuted with a two-game appearance in 2016-17, scoring a goal while averaging just over six minutes of ice time. He led the AHL with 33 goals and 54 points last season and could reward Carolina's patience if he's able to stick on the top line for a full campaign.

Dylan Sikura, RW, Blackhawks

Sikura was a top-10 Hobey Baker finalist in his final year at Northeastern. He notched 22 goals and 54 points over 35 games and earned a five-game stint with the Chicago Blackhawks to finish the season. Chicago's roster has recently become rather top-heavy, but the 2014 sixth-rounder could be on the fast track to offensive success if he's able to crack the top six, now that he's fully developed at the NCAA level.

Logan Brown, C, Senators

Brown opened last season on the Ottawa Senators' roster but was quickly returned to the OHL, where he totaled 48 points over 32 games. At 6-foot-6 and 220 lbs, he's the prototypical power forward and should be able to offer fantasy managers value with shots on goal and penalty minutes, even if the point production doesn't come immediately. He's definitely worth a late-round flier in banger leagues, in which he'd be credited with hits and blocked shots, but he could even warrant consideration in deeper standard leagues with ice time so readily available in Ottawa.

Related: 5 rookies who can make a fantasy impact this season

(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)

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Matt Stajan is heading across the pond.

The longtime NHL forward signed a contract with the Munich Red Bulls in Germany, the club announced Wednesday, as reported by Sportsnet's Chris Johnston.

Stajan was an unrestricted free agent who spent the last eight-plus seasons with the Calgary Flames after being traded there by the Toronto Maple Leafs in January 2010.

Despite serving in a bottom-six role for most of his career, the 34-year-old played 1,003 NHL games, chipping in 146 goals and 413 points.

He racked up a career-high 40 assists and 55 points with the Leafs in 2008-09. Toronto selected him 57th overall in 2002.

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Franchise icon Martin Brodeur has returned to the New Jersey Devils, rejoining the organization as executive vice president of business development, the team announced Wednesday.

Brodeur spent the last three years as assistant general manager with the St. Louis Blues, resigning from the role Tuesday.

With New Jersey, Brodeur will report to president Hugh Weber and "work across all departments to identify, capitalize, and develop on business opportunities for the Devils, Prudential Center, and the outlying community," per the team's release.

"It feels fantastic to be back home here in New Jersey," Brodeur said. "This unique opportunity will allow me to build on existing relationships in the business community and take on a new challenge in my career. I've been able to work in all facets of the game of hockey and have had a growing interest in the business surrounding the game. Working with Hugh and his team will be beneficial for all of us. Over 20 years in in New Jersey, I was lucky enough to make connections that I can now use to help the Devils grow, not only in this area but beyond."

As a goalie, Brodeur was the face of the Devils for 21 years, winning three Stanley Cups, four Vezina Trophys, and the Calder Trophy in 1994. He had his No. 30 retired by the club in 2016, and will be inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in November.

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