Dallas Stars general manager Jim Nill plans to stay the course with goaltender Kari Lehtonen.

Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman sited a conversation with Nill in his latest 30 Thoughts column, where Nill closed the book on the suggestion the team could buy out his contract.

"No, we’re not buying him out," Nill said, according to Friedman. "That last game is not a full reflection of the season. Nobody remembers the game before where he stood on his head. He's disappointed, and the team is disappointed. We finished second overall, and everybody is focused on the playoffs. Something went right too, you’ve got to be careful."

The 32-year-old had a questionable postseason going 6-3-0 in 11 games posting a .899 save percentage and a 2.81 goals-against average. He fared slightly better in the regular season a .906 save percentage and a 2.76 goals-against average.

Lehtonen has another two years remaining on his contract, with a cap hit of $5.9 million per season.

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Andrew Ladd appears set to become an unrestricted free agent, with a big decision to make in regards to his future.

Acquired by the Chicago Blackhawks prior to the NHL's most recent trade deadline, Ladd doesn't expect to re-sign with the club, mainly due to cap restrictions.

"When we spoke after the season, they said it would be tough," Ladd told Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet via a phone conversation Tuesday. "The likelihood is they don't have the room to make it work."

His criteria for a new team?

"Can the family go somewhere where my wife and kids enjoy life? That’s a big element. From my standpoint, I want to win and compete for a Cup."

Ladd added he's not closing the door on a potential return to Winnipeg, where he served as captain of the Jets up until the move to Chicago.

The 30-year-old is coming off a five-year deal that carried an average annual valuation of $4.4 million.

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WINNIPEG - Winnipeg Jets defenceman Grant Clitsome has announced his retirement. Clitsome said in a statement posted Wednesday on the Jets' website that a back injury has forced him out of the game. The 31-year-old Ottawa native last playe...

The Arizona Coyotes have decided not to sign forward Conner Bleackley, allowing him to re-enter this month's NHL Entry Draft.

The club had until Wednesday to sign Bleackley and by not doing so will now receive a supplemental second-round pick in this year's draft, giving them eight selections in total.

"We're going to take the compensation pick," General manager John Chayka said, according NHL.com's Mike Morreale. "There's a lot of value in that pick. That's not to diminish anything Conner has done or the type of player he is. He had a good Memorial Cup. He's a good player, but at this point (the draft pick) is a more valuable asset for us."

Bleackley was drafted by the Colorado Avalanche in the first round, 23rd overall in 2014, but was dealt to the Coyotes this season along with Alex Tanguay and Kyle Wood in exchange for Mikkel Boedker and Eric Gelinas.

The 20-year-old is coming off his fourth full season with the Red Deer Rebels of the Western Hockey League, where he had 13 goals and 46 points in 55 games.

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Winnipeg Jets defenseman Grant Clitsome has announced his retirement from professional hockey.

"It’s tough when something unexpected, and out of your control, suddenly ends your career," he said in a statement released Wednesday. "Despite the circumstances, I am very grateful to have had the opportunity to fulfill my childhood dream and play in the NHL.

"I would also like to thank the Winnipeg Jets organization for treating me so well from day one. It truly was a special place to play and I’m proud to retire as a Jet."

Clitsome also thanked the Columbus Blue Jackets, who drafted him 271st overall in 2004.

The 31-year-old appeared in 205 NHL games, recording 15 goals, 56 assists, and 98 penalty minutes.

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San Jose Sharks forward Matt Nieto will return from an eight-game absence on Wednesday.

The 23-year-old has been sidelined with an upper-body injury since Game 6 of his club's second-round series against the Nashville Predators, but told reporters on Wednesday he will be in the lineup for Game 2.

Nieto says his parents will come up from Long Beach to San Jose for Games 3-4 but won't be in Pitt tonight

— Helene Elliott (@helenenothelen) June 1, 2016

Nieto is expected to replace veteran forward Dainius Zubrus, according to NHL.com's Tom Gulitti.

The Sharks are hoping to knot the series at 1-1 after the Pittsburgh Penguins escaped with a 3-2 victory in Monday's opener.

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PITTSBURGH, Pa. - Penguins forward Bryan Rust will be a game-time decision for Game 2 of the Stanley Cup final. Rust left the series opener on Monday at the midway point of the third period after he was in the head by San Jose winger Patrick ...

Pittsburgh Penguins rookie forward Bryan Rust was the man of the hour following Wednesday's morning skate.

This is quite the crowd to talk to Rust. pic.twitter.com/oFwixBSLf8

— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) June 1, 2016

The star treatment comes amid questions about his availability for Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final after a hit to the head courtesy of San Jose Sharks forward Patrick Marleau in Game 1.

According to head coach Mike Sullivan, Rust remains a game-time decision but seems optimistic.

"(I'm) just seeing how things go and how I feel after skate and moving through this afternoon," Rust told the throng of reporters. "So far, so good."

Rust said obviously he wants to play, but reiterated they need to take it through the afternoon and see how he feels come game-time. -MC

— Pens Inside Scoop (@PensInsideScoop) June 1, 2016

Related: Penguins' Sundqvist, Bennett ready to play if Rust unavailable for Game 2

He added the following in regards to the hit.

"The hit is what it is. The league looked at it. They dealt with it. They did what they thought was right. I didn’t really take much time to look at it or think about it."

Marleau received a two-minute minor penalty for the hit.

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The 2015-16 season has not yet concluded, but already Carolina Hurricanes head coach Bill Peters is mulling over next year's roster.

Peters insinuated as much in response to Finnish prospect Sebastian Aho, who he believes stands a strong shot of cracking next year's roster.

"I'd be shocked if he can't come in and make our hockey team," said Peters.

Aho is coming off a stellar 2015-16 season that saw him contribute five goals and 14 points in seven games en route to Finland capturing gold at the World Junior Hockey Championship. He also had 45 points in 45 games for Karpat of Liiga in Finland, and another seven points in 10 games in Finland's silver-medal performance at the World Championship last month.

The 18-year-old was drafted by the Hurricanes in the second round last season, and should aid the Hurricanes who were goal deprived this in 2015-16, finishing 27th in the league with just 2.39 goals per game.

"I'm excited about next year," said Peters. "We have a lot of things going in the right direction"

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The Carolina Hurricanes have signed defenseman Josh Wesley to a three-year entry-level contract worth an average of $625, the team announced.

The deal will pay Wesley - who was drafted by the Hurricanes in the fourth round in 2014 - an average of $625,000 at the NHL level, and includes a $210,000 signing bonus.

The 20-year-old is the son of former Hurricane and the club's current director of defenseman development, Glen Wesley. He is coming off his third season in the Ontario Hockey League, which he split between the Flint Firebirds and Niagara IceDogs, totaling five goals and 18 points in 57 games.

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