Vancouver Canucks general manager Jim Benning denied a report that circulated over the weekend indicating the club was exploring trading forward Brock Boeser.

"I have no intention of trading Brock Boeser. I haven't had one conversation about that, so I don't know where this stuff comes from," Benning said Monday as the club officially opened training camp.

Boeser fielded a question on the rumor as well.

"I had a chat with Jim and he told me he hasn't discussed trading me with anyone. I felt like that was very unnecessary by the media, especially the timing of it," he said.

Boeser, 23, is in the first season of a three-year, $17.625-million contract he signed last summer. He's battled injuries in each season of his professional career and managed to post 45 points in 57 games in 2019-20.

The Canucks open their qualifying-round series versus the Minnesota Wild on Aug. 2.

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The Ottawa Senators are looking to the past in an effort to rebrand ahead of the 2020-21 season, according to The Athletic's Hailey Salvian.

The team has already sent new-look jerseys and logo mockups to the NHL for approval, a source told Salvian. The logo is reportedly nearly identical to the one the Senators used from 1997-2007, a two-dimensional design featuring a centurion in profile.

The mockup for the team's new home jersey is black with two red bands on the arms, while the away jersey mockup is white with red bands on the arms and black forearms, Salvian reports.

Ottawa will reportedly also introduce a new third jersey, but details of its appearance haven't been confirmed.

The Senators have struggled to fill the stands in the last few seasons and are poised to enter a new era with a ton of young talent in the organization. Ottawa also holds nine picks in the first three rounds of the upcoming 2020 NHL Draft, including the third and fifth overall selections.

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The NHL recorded 43 positive COVID-19 tests during the second phase of its return-to-play plan, the league announced Monday.

Over 600 players voluntarily reported to team facilities since June 8 and 4,932 tests were administered. Of those 600 players, 30 returned positive tests.

The league is also aware of 13 players who tested positive while not reporting during Phase 2.

Seven players who were taking part in Phase 2 tested positive during the last week, while one player who didn't report tested positive.

All players who tested positive have self-isolated and followed proper safety protocols. The NHL will continue to test players and provide weekly updates after Phase 3 kicked off on Monday morning.

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The Minnesota Wild have named Dean Evason as the fifth full-time head coach in franchise history, the team announced Monday.

Evason also signed a two-year extension with the franchise through the 2021-22 season.

The 55-year-old assumed head coaching duties in an interim capacity this season after Minnesota fired former bench boss Bruce Boudreau in February. Evason led the Wild to an 8-4-0 record before the league halted play on March 12.

"Dean has done a fantastic job as our interim head coach and deserves this opportunity," general manager Bill Guerin said. "I look forward to watching our team under his leadership going forward."

Evason is in his second season with Minnesota after joining the team as an assistant coach in June 2018. He previously spent six years as head coach of the AHL's Milwaukee Admirals (2012-18) and also served as an assistant with the Washington Capitals from 2005-12.

The Wild open training camp Monday under Phase 3 of the NHL's return-to-play protocol. Minnesota is set to play the Vancouver Canucks in a best-of-five play-in series once the qualifying round of the 24-team playoff (Phase 4) begins Aug. 1.

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Montreal Canadiens prospect Alexander Romanov will join the club for training camp once his mandatory quarantine ends following his flight from Russia, the team announced Sunday.

Romanov, who is likely to sign, will not be eligible to play in the postseason but can travel to Toronto with his teammates once Phase 4 begins, according to Sportsnet's Eric Engels.

The move would burn the first year of Romanov's entry-level contract, Engels adds.

Montreal and Romanov agreed to a three-year contract in May, but no start date for the deal was determined due to the uncertainty surrounding the NHL season at the time.

Romanov was drafted 38th overall in 2018 and is widely considered one of the world's top defensive prospects. He registered seven points in 43 games with CSKA Moscow of the KHL this past season and was a part of the media All-Star team at the 2020 world juniors.

The Canadiens are scheduled to begin their play-in series versus the Pittsburgh Penguins on Aug. 1.

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In an effort to replicate an authentic playoff atmosphere, teams involved in the NHL's expanded postseason have begun emailing season-ticket holders, asking them to record 30-second video clips cheering for their favorite clubs and players, according to ESPN's Greg Wyshynski.

The clips will be used during games inside empty arenas in Toronto and Edmonton, as well as on broadcasts and social media networks. Emails to fans include specific guidelines on proper ways to film, and how to avoid potential copyright violations, Wyshynski adds.

Teams that have begun contacting their fans include the Boston Bruins, Calgary Flames, Chicago Blackhawks, Colorado Avalanche, Florida Panthers, New York Rangers, and Winnipeg Jets. Each group of fans received requests for generic "We Want The Cup!" chants, along with clapping "Let's Go!" cheers.

"For this, for the first three seconds, you should pretend that you are anticipating the goal, and then explode into your celebration," the instructions read, according to Wyshynski.

Fans were also asked to provide audio of specific cheers for players on their teams. For example, Bruins fans were asked to chant "Tuukk!" as TD Garden normally does after goaltender Tuukka Rask makes a save.

Other team-specific cheers include Rangers fans shouting "Bread-Man!" in support of winger Artemi Panarin, and Blackhawks fans providing 30 seconds of a "slow clap" along with "30 seconds of how you act/cheer during the national anthem at a home game."

The NHL is set to begin Phase 3 (training camps) of its restart plan Monday with Phase 4 (playoffs) slated to start Aug. 1 in Toronto and Edmonton.

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At least three Montreal Canadiens players have recently tested positive for COVID-19, sources told The Athletic's Arpon Basu.

Player names are unable to be disclosed due to the NHL's policy regarding COVID-19 disclosure, Basu adds.

More to come.

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