Third pick is nice, but first or second would be better.

The Columbus Blue Jackets have spoken to the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Winnipeg Jets about potentially trading up in the draft, according to Aaron Portzline of the Columbus Dispatch.

Portzline reports the asking price for the No. 1 pick is steep, but not completely out of reach, like it apparently was when the Edmonton Oilers held it last year with Connor McDavid projected to go first overall.

The Maple Leafs and Jets hold the first and second overall picks respectively and are expected to select Auston Matthews and Patrik Laine.

If the Blue Jackets stand pat with the No. 3 pick, they're expected to select forward Jesse Puljujarvi.

Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

With the Carolina Hurricanes re-signing Cam Ward and the Toronto Maple Leafs acquiring and signing Frederik Andersen this week, the goaltending market is growing increasingly thin.

With that, teams have reached out to the Minnesota Wild to inquire about goaltender Darcy Kuemper.

"Darcy is a player that - I’ll be candid - some teams have asked us about,” general manager Chuck Fletcher said, according to Chad Graff of the Twin Cities Pioneer Press.

Despite the interest, though, Fletcher admits he's reticent to deal the 26-year-old especially with the team's history of injuries at the position.

"With our track record of injuries to our goaltenders, I’m a little hesitant to get aggressive in shopping him, is the best way to put it," Fletcher said. "I also want to be fair to Darcy. He’s been a real good goaltender, and a real good teammate, and clearly the net right now is Devan (Dubnyk's). If we have an opportunity to move him and get a fair return, we’ll look at it, but I don't want to be too aggressive in that regard and leave us short in that position.

"It’s such a very important position. We're comfortable if we can get the right return in moving him, but we’re also comfortable in having him come back, and work with Devan to form a great one-two punch. If that means he leaves us next summer, then that’s the price we pay. You just want to make sure you have enough depth in goal."

Kuemper - who posted a 2.43 goals-against average and a .915 save percentage last season in 21 games - will become a restricted free agent July 1.

Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

While the Ottawa Senators first-round pick might sit outside the top 10, the club still feels it holds value.

The Senators hold the 12th selection, and with the value placed on picks at the top of this year's draft, general manager Pierre Dorion admits he'll have to be blown away by an offer if he's to move it.

"For us to move away from No. 12, it will take a significant trade," said Dorion, according to Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun. "I doubt it. That’s why I say if I had to bet, I’d bet on No. 12."

As for the pick itself, Dorion admits he likely won't do anything out of the norm.

"Unfortunately, I am going to go with the same boring line of best player available," Dorion said. "Let’s say we had a need on defence and we passed on a forward that could be outstanding and helped us down the road then we’d really feel bad about it.

"I’m extremely comfortable at No. 12," Dorion said. "I’m extremely comfortable with taking the player that we’re going to take. I really am comfortable. The thing is, if you’re picking closer to No. 1 that player has a better chance of playing right away, when you’re closer to No. 12 that player might be a year away."

Friday will tell who exactly that player will be.

Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Florida Panthers have themselves a replacement for Brian Campbell.

The club agreed to terms with pending free agent Keith Yandle on a seven-year, $44.45-million contract, according to ESPN's Pierre LeBrun.

The deal includes a no-movement clause through the first six seasons, and a limited no-trade clause in the final season, according to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.

The Panthers acquired Yandle's rights from the New York Rangers on Monday for a pair of draft picks, one of them conditional on Yandle signing with Florida. With the deal, the Panthers' fourth-round selection in 2017 is now guaranteed to New York.

Yandle is the second big-ticket defenseman who was scheduled to hit unrestricted free agency but didn't make it, joining Alex Goligoski who was traded to and subsequently signed by the Arizona Coyotes.

A thin blueline free-agency crop is now that much thinner.

Yandle will be 30 when next season begins and is coming off a productive year. He scored five goals and had 42 assists in 19:58 of ice time per game. He had a 50.3 Corsi For rating, according to Hockey Reference.

He'll quarterback the power play in Florida with his left-handed shot and strong passing ability. Three times in his career he's put up 50 or more points in a season.

With the move, the Panthers are clearly showing they don't expect their Atlantic Division-winning season to be a one-hit wonder. As for Rangers fans, they're probably going to be talking a lot about Dan Girardi in the coming days.

Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Sidney Crosby didn't win the Hart Trophy on Wednesday night, but he did take home a consolation prize.

Related: Patrick Kane becomes 1st American-born player to win Hart Trophy

The Pittsburgh Penguins captain was named to the NHL's First All-Star Team, which recognizes the best players at each position over the entire 2015-16 season.

Here's the entire first team:

A pair of San Jose Sharks made the Second All-Star Team:

Voting for the 2015-16 All-Star and All-Rookie team is conducted by the Professional Hockey Writers Association at the end of the regular season.

Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NHL announced its All-Rookie Team for the 2015-16 season, and it was headlined by the three Calder Trophy finalists: Shayne Gostisbehere, Connor McDavid, and Artemi Panarin.

Panarin won the Calder on Wednesday night.

Here's the full squad:

Gibson was an All-Star in 2015-16 and finished with a .920 save percentage. He's the Anaheim Ducks' undisputed No. 1 goalie after the trade of Frederik Andersen to the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Gostisbehere was integral to the Philadelphia Flyers' turnaround last season, and finished with an impressive 46 points. He scored four overtime goals, and finished second in Calder voting.

Colton Parayko had a strong season for the St. Louis Blues, finishing second among rookie defensemen in goals (nine) and points (33).

Jack Eichel, the second overall pick by the Buffalo Sabres at least year's draft, finished second among rookies with 24 goals and 56 points.

McDavid's exploits with the Edmonton Oilers were well documented. He was better than a point-per-game player in his freshman season, and had a five-point night against the Maple Leafs in February.

Panarin was a force with the Chicago Blackhawks, finishing first in every major statistical category among rookies. That's why he took home the trophy.

Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.