One month out from the start of training camp, the Detroit Red Wings still remain uncertain as to whether or not Henrik Zetterberg will be healthy enough to suit up this season.
The 37-year-old has been dealing with back issues and in turn has been unable to do any training this offseason, leaving the 2018-19 campaign up in the air.
"He's had a hard summer and I don't think his back is reacting great," head coach Jeff Blashill said Wednesday, according to Ted Kulfan of The Detroit News. "Certainly we'll know more in a month (at training camp), but as of today, there's a lot of doubt as to whether his back will be healthy enough to play."
Zetterberg did manage to get into the lineup for all 82 games last season, but as Blashill explained, it wasn't easy for the veteran center.
"As you know, Hank wasn't able to practice for half the year," Blashill said. "He was able to gut it out through those last two months where he wasn't able to practice. There were nights I didn’t think he'd able to play and he did play."
Zetterberg hasn't missed a game since the 2014-15 campaign. He still has two more years remaining after this season on his current 12-year, $73-million contract, which holds an annual average value of just under $6.1 million.
A who's who of NHL players with American ties will play in a benefit game to raise money for the late Jim Johannson's family and USA Hockey later this month.
Here's the full list of participants in the Stars and Stripes Showdown, which will take place on Aug. 26 in Plymouth, Michigan:
Players
NHL Team
Player
Anaheim Ducks
Patrick Eaves
Anaheim Ducks
Cam Fowler
Boston Bruins
Anders Bjork
Boston Bruins
Charlie McAvoy
Buffalo Sabres
Matt Hunwick
Buffalo Sabres
Jake McCabe
Calgary Flames
Johnny Gaudreau
Calgary Flames
Noah Hanifin
Calgary Flames
Matthew Tkachuk
Chicago Blackhawks
Alex DeBrincat
Chicago Blackhawks
Patrick Kane
Chicago Blackhawks
Connor Murphy
Colorado Avalanche
J.T. Compher
Columbus Blue Jackets
Cam Atkinson
Columbus Blue Jackets
Seth Jones
Columbus Blue Jackets
Zach Werenski
Detroit Red Wings
Danny DeKeyser
Detroit Red Wings
Luke Glendening
Detroit Red Wings
Jimmy Howard
Detroit Red Wings
Dylan Larkin
Minnesota Wild
Zach Parise
Minnesota Wild
Ryan Suter
New York Islanders
Anders Lee
New York Rangers
Brady Skjei
Ottawa Senators
Craig Anderson
Ottawa Senators
Colin White
Ottawa Senators
Patrick Sieloff
Philadelphia Flyers
James van Riemsdyk
Toronto Maple Leafs
Connor Carrick
Toronto Maple Leafs
Auston Matthews
Vegas Golden Knights
Alex Tuch
Winnipeg Jets
Kyle Connor
Winnipeg Jets
Andrew Copp
Winnipeg Jets
Connor Hellebuyck
Winnipeg Jets
Jacob Trouba
Coaches
Team
Coach
Detroit Red Wings
Jeff Blashill
New Jersey Devils
John Hynes
New York Rangers
David Quinn
Wisconsin Badgers (NCAA)
Tony Granato
All proceeds from the game will go to the USA Hockey Foundation's Jim Johannson Legacy Fund - which was established to benefit grassroots community hockey programs across the United States - and the Ellie Johannson College Fund.
Jim Johannson died in his sleep at the age of 53 in January. He was the assistant executive director of USA Hockey and had been serving as the general manager of the 2018 U.S. Olympic men's hockey team.
Fantasy leagues are won and lost at the draft, and while you never truly know what you're going to get from any player, some selections are riskier than others.
Injury history, shooting percentage, and changes of scenery are all contributors to what makes certain picks bigger gambles than others. Below are five candidates for the 2018-19 season that will require careful consideration when you're on the clock.
Carey Price, G, Canadiens
The case against: Price is coming off a rotten 2017-18 season which was derailed by injuries and inconsistent play. His .900 save percentage was easily the lowest mark of his career, and at 30-years-old, there's no guarantee he returns to his old form. Plus, with Shea Weber out and a lack of offensive firepower up front, it's hard to imagine the Canadiens' skaters helping out their netminder.
The case for: He's still Carey Price. Last year went just about as bad as it could have. He's only one season removed from a Vezina caliber year where he posted a .923 save percentage and 37 wins. Price is one of the most dominant goalies of his generation, and even if his teammates don't perform, there's a chance he does well individually. Plus, if he plummets down the draft order, he could serve as an elite backup with other names flying off the board in the earlier rounds.
Ilya Kovalchuk, LW, Kings
The case against: The Los Angeles Kings and fantasy owners alike will be eager to see how long it takes Kovalchuk to re-adjust to the NHL game after five seasons in Russia, and the 35-year-old will face pressure to perform in both instances. While he was brought in to help the Kings' attack, questions surrounding his usage and chemistry with new teammates will need to be answered before Kovalchuk can be considered a worthwhile early-round pick.
The case for: Kovalchuk is one of this generation's most prolific producers, registering 816 points in as many games before returning home to the KHL, where his numbers were even gaudier. If he stays healthy and finds his way onto Anze Kopitar's flank, there's a good chance he takes the NHL by storm again.
William Karlsson, C, Golden Knights
The case against: Whoever scooped Karlsson off the waiver wire early last season hit the jackpot, as his 43 goals stunned the hockey world. However, a 23.4 shooting percentage is a major red flag for impending regression.
The case for: Karlsson's motivation to perform is right in front of him, as the Golden Knights opted for a one-year contract rather than a long-term commitment. If he wants to prove he's a big-time producer worth building around, now's the time.
Anders Lee, LW, Islanders
The case against: Lee no longer has the opportunity to play alongside John Tavares, which significantly hurts his value. Even after pouring in 74 goals over the past two seasons, Lee's fantasy outlook is largely in limbo without the former captain in the picture.
The case for: Lee's role in the Islanders' top six isn't going to change with Tavares in Toronto, and there's a strong possibility Calder Trophy winner Mat Barzal slots in on the top line. The 21-year-old has the talent to create space and ample opportunities for Lee to bury a good chunk of goals.
Sean Couturier, C, Flyers
The case against: Was it a flash in the pan, or did Couturier suddenly develop into an offensive force in his seventh season in the NHL? Despite his incredible 2017-18 campaign, Couturier's larger career resume as a 30-40 point player makes his status at the top of draft boards a risky consideration.
The case for: Part of Couturier's emergence as an offensive threat last season (31G, 45A) was due to his pairing with Claude Giroux, who also set career-highs across the board on the Flyers' top line. Philadelphia keeping the duo together would certainly help Couturier's value as fantasy owners debate whether to roll the dice on last season's breakout star.
In speaking with Ben Kuzma of The Province, Canucks general manager Jim Benning confirmed the two sides have kicked off preliminary discussions on a contract extension, with more talks scheduled for next week.
"We haven't got down to talking term," Benning said. "We plan to circle back and I'm not sure where it's going to go, but we want to see if we can get somewhere. There's no time frame on it.
"Brock is going to see the best matchup line and best defensive pair, but I don't expect a drop-off. He has pushed himself hard to pick up where he left off and there are other contracts coming up in the league in the next six months that could drive up the price - I understand that part of it. But it has to make sense for everybody."
Despite being limited to just 62 appearances last season, and missing the final 16 games of the year with a back injury, Boeser led the Canucks with 29 goals. That total ranked second among all freshmen and was two back of Winnipeg Jets rookie Kyle Connor for top spot.
Boeser, 21, has one year remaining on his entry-level contract that carries a $925,000 cap hit plus an additional $850,000 in performance bonuses.
Vancouver selected Boeser with the 23rd pick in the 2015 draft.
John Tavares has left Long Island, but the biggest change to hit New York this offseason may have been the departures of general manager Garth Snow and head coach Doug Weight.
The new faces will help restore the credibility of the franchise, according to Islanders legend Bryan Trottier.
"The credibility aspect, absolutely, instantaneously it's there," Trottier, a four-time Stanley Cup winner with the Islanders, told NHL.com's Dave McCarthy. "The media can't argue with their experiences and that's always been a little bit of a problem with the Islanders because if they don't do well, everybody's all over them. So now with Lou there, he's got credibility. Barry's got credibility.
"How do you second-guess a guy like (former Islanders coach) Al Arbour, a guy like Scotty Bowman, a guy like Barry Trotz? Those guys have years and years and years of experience."
While Trotz's Stanley Cup win with the Capitals was the first of his career, he brings no shortage of a winning history, as his 762 coaching victories rank fifth all time (and just 20 back of Arbour).
Lamoriello, meanwhile, has three Stanley Cup rings to his name from nearly three decades at the helm of the New Jersey Devils. He's also coming off a three-year stint as GM of the Maple Leafs that saw the legendary executive reshape the club into a championship contender. Of course, Lamoriello had a handful of intriguing building blocks with the Maple Leafs, but the Islanders have their fair share of impressive young talent as well.
"For (Mathew Barzal) to be an Islander and to have the kind rookie season he had, he's not disappointing anyone," Trottier added. "He's a down-to-earth kid and tying my rookie assist record was great. Sharing a record with a young, skilled kid like this is awesome. I see wonderful things for Mathew in the future and for the Islanders."
Should Barzal and the Islanders qualify for the playoffs this year, it will mark just the fourth time the franchise has done so in the past 12 seasons.
