Even if they wanted to, the Edmonton Oilers can't use a buyout on veteran defenseman Andrew Ference.

The 37-year-old has not been cleared to play following hip surgery in March, meaning he's exempt from having the final year of his contract bought out, agent Kurt Overhardt confirmed.

"He's not cleared to play ice hockey and a cartilage repair takes a long time," Overhardt told Jim Matheson of The Edmonton Journal. "He's nowhere near being cleared so it's not even an issue. If you are hurt, you're hurt. He has to be able to run, he has to be able to skate."

The Oilers would have saved $2,166,667 in cap space for 2016-17 if Ference had been healthy.

Ference was limited to six games due to injury last season, and may not have a guaranteed spot on the roster if and when he's cleared to return. Whether his captaincy is removed in the meantime remains to be seen.

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At a funeral service attended by family, fans, and some of hockey's most distinguished names, the late Gordie Howe was honored by son Murray Howe in a near half-hour eulogy.

"I asked my dad a few years ago what he would like me to say at his funeral," Murray said Wednesday at the packed Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament in Detroit, according to Helene St. James of the Detroit Free Press.

"He said, 'Say this: Finally, the end of the third period.' Then he added, 'I hope there is a good hockey team in heaven.'"

"Dad," Murray continued. "All I can say is, once you join the team, they won't just be good, they will be great."

Murray then offered several superlatives to describe his father, who passed away on June 10 at age 88, describing him as humble, tough, wise, graceful, powerful, prompt, eternally positive, patient, accepting, and selfless.

"We filled his final days, surrounding him with friends and family, and he knew he was loved," Murray said near the end of his eulogy. "Mr. Hockey left the world with no regrets. And although he did not lead the league in church attendance, his life has been the epitome of a faithful servant."

The full eulogy can be viewed here:

(Courtesy: NHL.com)

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The Pittsburgh Penguins paraded through town Wednesday, celebrating the fourth Stanley Cup championship in franchise history with a delirious crowd that topped out at 400,000 fans.

With friends and family with him in the truck bed, captain Sidney Crosby led the pick-up motorcade through town, hoisting the prize for fans lining the parade route.

The Phil Kessel and Carl Hagelin clans were riding together before they stole the show - with linemate Nick Bonino - upon arriving on the stage.

Meanwhile, Matt Murray quickly got the hang of this whole celebrity thing ...

... while Bryan Rust stayed hydrated.

Some fans arrived more than 12 hours before the Penguins began to roll through the streets. It was time obviously well spent.

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Teuvo Teravainen didn't see it coming.

The 21-year-old forward was caught off guard by the trade that sent him from the Chicago Blackhawks to the Carolina Hurricanes on Wednesday.

Related: Blackhawks trade Bickell, Teravainen to Hurricanes for 2 draft picks

"(The deal was) a surprise, of course," Teravainen told Mark Lazerus of the Chicago Sun-Times. "It was just a normal day, (and) then that (happened)."

Teravainen was sent to the Hurricanes along with veteran forward Bryan Bickell - and his $4-million cap hit - for a second-round pick in the upcoming draft and a third-rounder in 2017.

"With Chicago (and) their cap situation, you never know, but I was not expecting anything," Teravainen said.

The Blackhawks gave themselves $10 million in cap space before signing pending restricted free agent Richard Panik to a one-year deal later Wednesday.

Andrew Ladd, Dale Weise, Tomas Fleischmann, and Christian Ehrhoff are Chicago's notable pending UFAs, while Andrew Shaw is set to become a restricted free agent if he's not signed to an extension by July 1.

Related: Teravainen a painful cap casualty for Blackhawks

Teravainen offered gratitude to his former club Wednesday.

"(It was) special to be part of such a great organization and fans and everything, such great players. I just want to thank everyone," he said.

He scored 13 goals and added 22 assists in his first full season with the Blackhawks in 2015-16, posting 44 points in his first 115 NHL games over three campaigns beginning in 2013-14.

Chicago drafted Teravainen 18th overall in 2012.

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The Chicago Blackhawks and winger Richard Panik have agreed to terms on a one-year contract extension, the club announced Wednesday.

Panik was rescued from the minor leagues in January in a trade with the Toronto Maple Leafs. He went on to feature in 30 games for Chicago - even making spot appearances in the top six - and scored six goals and eight points.

He also chipped in with three helpers in the postseason.

The Blackhawks opened up almost $5 million in cap space with the trades of Bryan Bickell and Teuvo Teravainen earlier Wednesday, helping keep Panik in the fold.

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Nick Bonino and Carl Hagelin were successful in their attempts to embarrass the star linemate they meshed so incredibly well with this year at the team's Stanley Cup parade, calling Phil Kessel "The Thrill" and "The Legend."

Phil responded in true Phil fashion, cracking a bashful smile and shaking his head before doing his talking with another hoist.

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