Ken Holland wasn't given an opportunity to lure Steven Stamkos away from the Tampa Bay Lightning.

The Detroit Red Wings general manager said Stamkos and his representatives never met with them during the negotiating window before he re-signed.

"Through the interview process, we never talked to him or his camp," Holland told SiriusXM NHL Network Radio on Thursday.

Stamkos - who would have been by far the biggest name on the market - agreed to an eight-year, $68-million extension with the Lightning last week, two days before free agency officially began.

The Red Wings reportedly had him at the top of their wish list, but they settled for their second choice, Frans Nielsen.

Detroit inked the 32-year-old forward - who collected 20 goals and 52 points in 2015-16 for the New York Islanders - to a six-year, $31.5-million deal on July 1.

The Buffalo Sabres and Toronto Maple Leafs both met with Stamkos before he opted to stay in Tampa Bay.

- With h/t to Chris Nichols

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Sabres forward Evander Kane is facing non-criminal harassment charges after an incident outside a Buffalo bar, according to The Buffalo News' Lou Michel, citing police sources.

The charges stem from a June 24 incident where Kane is alleged to have grabbed two women, one by the neck, outside Bottoms Up around 3 a.m. ET. Video surveillance of the incident exists, according to Michel's police sources, who also allege that Kane "yanked the hair and grabbed the throat of a third woman, but she has not come forward to press charges."

Kane's attorney Paul J. Cambria said his client denies any wrongdoing:

Evander steadfastly maintains that he did not do anything wrong. We have seen the videos and they do not support that Kane did anything wrong. I am sick and tired of anonymous sources making inflammatory allegations. If you claim something happened, don't hide in the shadows. Anonymous sources are worthless. The courtroom is where the truth comes out.

Earlier this year, Kane was the focus of an investigation into a possible sexual assault in December 2015. No criminal complaint was filed, and authorities concluded that nothing illegal occurred.

Last week, Sabres general manager Tim Murray said that Kane must behave better, regardless of whether he's cleared with respect to the latest allegations. He plans to meet with the 24-year-old once the legal process is concluded.

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Kyle Okposo is staying in New York state, but he's officially a member of the Buffalo Sabres now. And he couldn't be happier about it.

The former New York Islanders sniper put on a Sabres jersey for the first time Thursday when he was introduced to the media at a press conference, and he's nothing but excited about up-and-coming Buffalo's prospects.

"We're going to be a good team for a long time, and it's going to be a fun organization to play in," Okposo said, according to the Buffalo News' John Vogl.

In fact, that was Okposo's message to prized collegiate free-agent Jimmy Vesey, whose rights were acquired by the Sabres last month. Vesey plans to hit the market on Aug. 15, but is scheduled to meet with the Sabres on Thursday.

"When you have the Pegulas at the helm, it's going to be a great organization," Okposo added. "We're going to be contenders. That's something that isn't always there on teams. I know that personally. We went through a really tough stretch with the Island. There's not going to be those rough times ahead. We're going to be good."

Now 28, Okposo played his first full season with the Islanders in 2008-09, his first of four straight last-place finishes. New York turned the corner in the lockout-shortened 2013 season, making the playoffs, but were eliminated in the first round. They missed the playoffs in 2014, before qualifying again the last two seasons. Okposo has seven goals and eight assists in 24 postseason games.

While he's leaving behind John Tavares, Okposo is joining a club that boasted four 20-goal scorers last season in Jack Eichel, Sam Reinhart, Ryan O'Reilly, and Evander Kane.

"There's so much skill, and the future is bright. I really believe that we can win here, and that's what sold me," Okposo said. "That's why you play the game. You play the game to win a Stanley Cup, to win a championship, to raise banners. I think this team has the ability to do that."

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The Buffalo Sabres are getting their chance to woo Jimmy Vesey.

The highly coveted prospect told NHL.com's Amalie Benjamin that he will have his first formal sit-down with the Sabres on Thursday in Boston.

It will be the first time the two sides have met in person since free agency opened July 1.

Buffalo acquired his negotiating rights from the Nashville Predators last month. The prized winger was dealt after refusing to sign with the Predators, and his camp says he doesn't plan on signing with any NHL team before Aug. 15, when he officially becomes a free agent.

Vesey is playing with Sabres forward Jack Eichel in the Foxboro Pro League this summer. Mark Divver of the Providence Journal reported that Chicago Blackhawks general manager Stan Bowman was on hand to watch Vesey on Wednesday night.

He finished his fourth season at Harvard by winning the Hobey Baker Award as the nation's top collegiate hockey player.

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The Toronto Maple Leafs will turn back the clock in style next season.

The club announced plans to celebrate its 100th NHL campaign in a number of ways Thursday.

The Leafs will bring back the Toronto St. Pats uniforms on March 18, 2017, when they host the Chicago Blackhawks at Air Canada Centre. The franchise was known as the St. Pats from 1919-27 before Conn Smythe renamed them the Maple Leafs.

The St. Pats jerseys will be worn for the first time since 2002.

The centennial celebration will also include the addition of Dave Keon, Tim Horton, and Turk Broda to Legends Row and the NHL Centennial Classic - an outdoor game between the Leafs and the Detroit Red Wings at Toronto's BMO Field.

The 18 player banners hanging in the rafters at the ACC will also be updated, and the original ones will be sent to the players' home towns, according to Postmedia's Lance Hornby.

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The New Jersey Devils signed forward Kyle Palmieri to a five-year, $23.25-million contract extension Thursday.

The deal carries an average annual value of $4.65 million, with a breakdown as follows:

Palmieri tied Adam Henrique for the team lead with 30 goals and led all New Jersey skaters with 57 points in 2015-16.

The 25-year-old avoided arbitration by signing the new contract. He was the lone Devil to file before the deadline Tuesday.

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