It appears the New York Islanders won't be returning to Nassau Coliseum for the 2020-21 season after all.

Billionaire Mikhail Prokhorov, whose Onexim Sports and Entertainment operates the arena under a lease from Nassau county, is planning to shut down the venue while it searches for investors to carry on operations and pick up the debt that remains on the building, according to sources of Bloomberg's Patrick Clark.

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced in February that the Islanders would be returning to the Coliseum for all home games during the 2020-21 campaign before moving into their new building at Belmont Park the following season.

The Coliseum closed in 2015 for renovations and former Islanders owner Charles Wang moved the franchise's home games to the Barclays Center in Brooklyn. In 2017, Cuomo arranged for the club to share home contests between the two locations.

Originally opened in 1972, the Islanders have called the Coliseum home for the majority of 40 years and captured each of their four consecutive Stanley Cups in the 1980s in the building.

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Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Tuesday the federal government will work with the NHL if it wishes to use a hub city in the country.

"We have indicated that we are comfortable with moving forward on an NHL hub in one of three Canadian cities that are asking for it," Trudeau said. "Obviously, the decision needs to be made by the NHL and the cities and provinces in the jurisdiction. Canada is open to it as long as it is OK by the local health authorities.”

Trudeau's comments come after he announced that border restrictions for non-essential travel between Canada and the United States are extended through July 21. The extension won't affect the league's plans to return, as players have already been crossing the border in both directions since the beginning of Phase 2, according to Sportsnet's Chris Johnston.

The league is expected to use two cities to host 24 teams for a potential return. The NHL expressed an interest in staging games in a Canadian city but is awaiting a decision from the federal government on whether players will be subject to the mandatory 14-day quarantine period upon entering the country.

Trudeau's announcement seems to indicate players won't need to strictly follow the quarantine rules in place. It's been reported the Canadian government would consider "extending the quarantine area" to include team facilities.

Vancouver, Edmonton, and Toronto have reportedly expressed interest in hosting teams. British Columbia health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry gave approval last week for Vancouver's plan to host teams, according to City News' Mike Hall.

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The 2019-20 NHL campaign remains on pause, but it's never too early to look ahead to the offseason. With that in mind, theScore's hockey editors are evaluating the best players who could be available in unrestricted free agency, whenever it begins.

Forwards | Defensemen (June 18) | Goaltenders (June 20)

Justin Williams, Joe Thornton, and Mikko Koivu are not included in this list because they're unlikely to hit the open market if they play in 2020-21.

1. Taylor Hall

Position: LW
Age: 28
2019-20 cap hit: $6M
Current team: Arizona Coyotes

Hall's production has taken a dip since he joined the Coyotes, but that's hardly surprising given Arizona's emphasis on defense and lack of further star power beyond Phil Kessel, whose goal-scoring has also dried up in the desert. Regardless, Hall is the cream of the pending UFA forward crop.

Coyotes general manager John Chayka confirmed he'd spoken to the 2017-18 Hart Trophy winner's agent as of late March, and the GM later said the league's hiatus wouldn't stop him from offering Hall a long-term deal. It's still unclear whether Hall will re-sign or test the market, though, and he'll have a lengthy list of suitors if he opts for the latter.

2. Mike Hoffman

Position: LW, RW
Age: 30
2019-20 cap hit: $5.1875M
Current team: Florida Panthers

Hoffman is one of the NHL's most reliable snipers and boasts a career goals-per-game rate identical to Hall's. Though he's not as skilled a facilitator as Hall and has recently logged far less ice time in a far more potent offense, the Panthers winger would be a solid consolation prize for a team that fails to land the No. 1 forward on this list.

Still, clubs should be wary of giving a long-term contract to a player who turns 31 in November.

3. Tyler Toffoli

Position: LW, RW
Age: 28
2019-20 cap hit: $4.6M
Current team: Vancouver Canucks

The Canucks have more than just Toffoli to worry about this offseason, with No. 1 netminder Jacob Markstrom also requiring a new deal. If they fail to ink Toffoli to a fresh contract - or simply opt not to - he'll be one of the most coveted forwards on the market.

The former Los Angeles Kings winger produced 10 points in as many games after L.A. dealt him to the Canucks, and his ice time increased by over 90 seconds per contest with his new team. Toffoli drives possession better than most players on this list, and unlike many of them, he's still in his prime.

4. Evgenii Dadonov

Position: LW, RW
Age: 31
2019-20 cap hit: $4M
Current team: Panthers

Dadonov is one of the most underrated scorers in the NHL, having quietly potted 28 goals and at least 65 points in each of the two seasons prior to this one. He was on pace to net 30 markers before the pause, though he benefited from playing mostly alongside elite linemates Aleksander Barkov and Jonathan Huberdeau.

Dadonov can fill the net and plays the possession game well enough to warrant a top-six role, but his age should make teams wary of giving him too much money or term.

5. Mikael Granlund

Position: LW, RW
Age: 28
2019-20 cap hit: $5.75M
Current team: Nashville Predators

Granlund isn't the player he once was with the Minnesota Wild, but the Predators winger proved he can still light it up in spurts by pouring in 13 goals over 26 games from late December to late February.

Though he may not deserve consistent top-line minutes, Granlund is relatively young compared to the majority of players on this list and belongs in the top six of most NHL lineups. The Finnish forward shouldn't be overlooked if he's available in free agency.

6. Ilya Kovalchuk

Position: LW, RW
Age: 37
2019-20 cap hit: $700K
Current team: Washington Capitals

Kovalchuk enjoyed a well-documented resurgence in 2020, producing 13 points in 22 games with the Montreal Canadiens before chipping in four points in seven contests with the Capitals.

The former superstar struggled with the Kings before they traded him to the Canadiens in early January, and his advanced age can't be ignored. Signing him to another league-minimum contract, however, would involve minimal risk. A reunion with the Canadiens wouldn't be surprising, nor would the possibility of numerous other teams expressing interest.

7. Vladislav Namestnikov

Position: C, LW, RW
Age: 27
2019-20 cap hit: $4M
Current team: Colorado Avalanche

Namestnikov centered the Avalanche's top line right before the league halted play, though he typically lines up on the wings. The versatile Russian will turn 28 in November, putting him on the younger side relative to his fellow potential UFA forwards.

Despite playing for three different teams in 2019-20, Namestnikov has proven he can contribute wherever he's deployed. He's shown promise in his brief tenure with Colorado, notching four goals and six points in nine games for the club.

8. Tyler Ennis

Position: LW, RW
Age: 30
2019-20 cap hit: $800K
Current team: Edmonton Oilers

Ennis has long been one of the league's most underappreciated players. His 0.53 points per game in 2019-20 tied for sixth among pending UFA forwards who played at least 21 games, and tied for fifth when excluding Kovalchuk, who played only 46 contests before the pause.

9. Craig Smith

Position: C, RW
Age: 30
2019-20 cap hit: $4.25M
Current team: Predators

Smith ranks fourth among pending UFA forwards in goals scored in 2019-20 and boasts impressive possession metrics. He's notched at least 20 markers in five of his previous eight campaigns and was on pace to do it again before the suspension of the season.

The veteran forward produced despite limited playing time this year and could certainly provide an offensive boost to a team's bottom six.

10. Carl Soderberg

Position: C, LW
Age: 34
2019-20 cap hit: $4.75M
Current team: Coyotes

Soderberg doesn't post gaudy offensive numbers and his age is a concern. Still, he remains a fairly dependable depth player, and he comes with added value because he can regularly play center. Soderberg's underlying figures aren't great, but he'll likely garner some interest as a pivot with playoff experience.

11. Josh Leivo

Position: LW
Age: 27
2019-20 cap hit: $1.5M
Current team: Canucks

Leivo hasn't played since suffering a broken kneecap in mid-December, but he should be able to return for the postseason and provide a boost for both the Canucks and his free-agent value. The winger was fitting in quite well with Vancouver before his injury, and his agent will undoubtedly get some calls if the team lets him walk in the offseason.

12. Alex Galchenyuk

Position: C, LW
Age: 26
2019-20 cap hit: $4.9M
Current team: Minnesota Wild

Galchenyuk clearly wasn't a fit with the Pittsburgh Penguins, but he showed some life with the Wild, notching seven points in 14 games while averaging nearly 15 minutes of ice time per contest.

13. Erik Haula

Position: C, LW
Age: 29
2019-20 cap hit: $2.75M
Current team: Panthers

Injuries have plagued Haula since his career-best season in 2017-18, but he still managed to produce half a point per game in 2019-20 while playing 41 of his 48 contests with the Carolina Hurricanes.

14. Jesper Fast

Position: RW
Age: 28
2019-20 cap hit: $1.85M
Current team: New York Rangers

Fast was on pace to set career highs in goals and points before the pause, and though his new personal bests (14 goals, 34 points) wouldn't be eye-popping figures, he's capable of providing scoring depth in a middle-six role.

15. Derick Brassard

Position: C, RW
Age: 32
2019-20 cap hit: $1.2M
Current team: New York Islanders

Brassard has suited up for seven teams over his 13 NHL campaigns, and though his career is clearly on the decline, he'd hardly be the worst free-agent depth option at center.

16. Wayne Simmonds

Position: RW
Age: 31
2019-20 cap hit: $2.5M
Current team: Buffalo Sabres

The New Jersey Devils retained 50% of Simmonds' initial $5-million cap hit when they traded him to the Sabres, and it's hard to imagine the former 30-goal scorer taking anything but a pay cut in 2020-21. He still offers a rare mix of physicality and skill, though the latter has diminished over the years.

17. Derek Grant

Position: C
Age: 30
2019-20 cap hit: $700K
Current team: Philadelphia Flyers

Grant's production in limited action this season is impressive, but his underlying numbers aren't at all flattering, nor is his inflated 2019-20 shooting percentage (16) that will surely regress.

18. Conor Sheary

Position: LW, RW
Age: 28
2019-20 cap hit: $3M
Current team: Pittsburgh Penguins

Expect Sheary to be somewhat overlooked if he hits the market; he struggled with the lowly Sabres before they traded him back to the high-flying Penguins. The diminutive forward could be a bargain if he can rediscover the success he enjoyed with Pittsburgh earlier in his career.

19. Jason Spezza

Position: C, RW
Age: 37
2019-20 cap hit: $700K
Current team: Toronto Maple Leafs

Spezza won't be a hot commodity, but the veteran center still has some value as a bottom-six forward. Though his playing time dipped to career-low levels in 2019-20, he still drove possession by posting rates of 50% or better in Corsi For, expected goals for, and scoring chances for.

20. Brian Boyle

Position: C, LW
Age: 35
2019-20 cap hit: $940K
Current team: Panthers

Boyle can't drive possession the way Spezza and many other forwards can, but he offers plenty of experience and character. Injured since Feb. 1, he was nearing a return before the hiatus and could be worth a look in free agency.

(Cap figures source: CapFriendly)

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The Buffalo Sabres relieved Jason Botterill of his duties as general manager and replaced him with senior vice president of business administration Kevyn Adams, the team announced Tuesday.

"This morning, we informed Jason Botterill he will no longer be the general manager of the Sabres," owners Terry and Kim Pegula said in a statement.

"This decision was made after many candid discussions with Jason during a full review of our hockey operation. We recognized we have philosophical differences regarding how best to put ourselves in a position to compete for a Stanley Cup. So, we decided to make this change."

Pegula said in May that Botterill would be back with the club as general manager for the 2020-21 campaign.

Botterill was named general manager in May 2017. The Sabres missed the playoffs and finished 25th or lower in league standings during all three years of his tenure.

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Chicago Blackhawks star winger Patrick Kane doesn't believe any illegitimacy should be attached to the 2020 Stanley Cup champions.

"To win a Stanley Cup, I think that's an amazing opportunity for any hockey player," Kane said on ESPN's "Return to Sports" special Monday. "And I don't think anyone is really worried about the viewing if someone won a championship, or an asterisk, if you'd like to say."

Unable to complete the regular season due to the coronavirus pandemic, the NHL is using an expanded 24-team format to provide bubble clubs a chance at the playoffs. The top four teams in each conference will play each other for seeding. Simultaneously, squads seeded fifth to 12th in each conference will pair off in a best-of-five play-in series to advance to the first round of the postseason. From there, traditional best-of-seven series will take place for four rounds.

"It's unprecedented times, and us as players, I think anytime you get a chance to compete for a Stanley Cup, you're doing that and taking advantage fully of it," Kane added.

Kane's Blackhawks finished 12th in the Western Conference. They would've been a long shot to make the postseason under normal circumstances, but they'll get a chance to do so against the fifth-seeded Edmonton Oilers.

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It appears Todd Reirden will go with experience over youth in the Washington Capitals' crease when the NHL returns to action.

"I think going into it ... it's Braden Holtby's job to lose, and I feel confident in him," Washington's head coach told reporters Monday. "I felt confident with where things were going right before the pause in terms of how his game was coming around, and I think he'll get the first crack at it."

Holtby went 25-14-6 with an .897 save percentage and minus-16.76 goals saved above average in 48 regular-season games before the pause. The 30-year-old showed some improvement down the stretch, however, going 4-1-1 with a .906 save percentage over his final six contests.

Ilya Samsonov, who turned 23 in February, outperformed Holtby in 2019-20, albeit over a smaller sample size. The rookie went 16-6-2 with a .913 save percentage and 2.3 goals saved above average across 26 games for Washington, including 22 starts.

Holtby, a pending unrestricted free agent, has spent his entire 10-year career with the Capitals and backstopped them to their lone championship in 2018.

"Obviously Braden Holtby's body of work (on) playoff teams speaks for itself, and how he definitely helped our team to win our first-ever Stanley Cup and was a huge, huge part of that," Reirden said.

Washington will take part in a round-robin tournament with the Eastern Conference's other three top-seeded squads - the Boston Bruins, Tampa Bay Lightning, and the Philadelphia Flyers. This round, along with the corresponding Western Conference round-robin, will determine the seeding for the opening playoff matchups.

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Any sporting event can achieve greatness, but there's something extra special when it takes place at a marquee venue. The best buildings in sports add an extra level of excitement to any competition. How well do you know some of these iconic venues? Find out by taking the quiz below.

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The AHL's newly established return-to-play committee includes a handful of NHL general managers as well as the owner of a Canadian club.

Boston Bruins GM Don Sweeney, Steve Yzerman of the Detroit Red Wings, Edmonton Oilers GM Ken Holland, David Poile of the Nashville Predators, Toronto Maple Leafs GM Kyle Dubas, and Winnipeg Jets chairman Mark Chipman will serve on a 13-member task force formed by the NHL's top developmental league Monday.

The group, which will be chaired by outgoing AHL president and CEO David Andrews, will aim to provide "expert leadership and strategic direction to the AHL in planning for the league's return to play in the 2020-21 season."

The task force won't have any responsibility to initiate the AHL's return to play, but it will provide "strategic leadership" to the league to create a process that garners significant support in the AHL and the NHL.

The AHL canceled the rest of its 2019-20 campaign in May amid the coronavirus pandemic.

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