Preds’ Ellis has knee surgery; Poile ‘hopeful’ of training camp return

Nashville Predators rearguard Ryan Ellis has undergone knee surgery, the team announced Friday.

Ellis is coming off a career year in which he registered 16 goals and 38 points in 71 regular-season games, while also playing a key role in Nashville's Stanley Cup run where he racked up 13 points in 22 contests.

This past season was a coming out party for the 26-year-old former first-round pick of general manager David Poile. Despite the timing of the surgery, Poile is hopeful that Ellis will be ready in time for training camp.

Ellis suffered an undisclosed injury during Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final.

Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Report: Panthers sign Dadonov to 3-year deal

The Florida Panthers and winger Evgeny Dadonov agreed to a three-year deal Friday that carries an annual average value of $4 million, according to TSN's Bob McKenzie.

Dadonov had been previously rumored to be following in the footsteps of countryman Vadim Shipachyov and heading to Vegas, but instead will be plying his trade with the team that drafted him 71st overall in 2007.

The 28-year-old spent the last five seasons in the KHL, most recently racking up 30 goals and 66 points for SKA St. Petersburg - good enough for fifth in league scoring.

Dadonov last suited up in the NHL during the 2011-12 season, registering three points in 15 games for the Panthers.

Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Report: Panthers finalizing 1-year extension with Alex Petrovic

The Florida Panthers are finalizing a one-year contract extension for defenseman Alex Petrovic worth approximately $1.8 million, TSN's Bob McKenzie reports.

Petrovic played out the final year of a two-year, $2.1 million contract in 2016-17, and was slated for restricted free agency at season's end.

In just 49 games last season, Petrovic, 25, notched one goal and 13 assists, averaging 18:09 per game.

Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Report: Negotiations stalled between Canadiens, Markov

The Montreal Canadiens and Andrei Markov have hit a wall in their ongoing contract negotiations, and it appears the veteran defenseman will test the market as an unrestricted free agent, reports Sportsnet's Eric Engels.

Markov reportedly requested a two-year contract worth $12 million earlier in June, and is eligible to sign anywhere he chooses come July 1.

The 38-year-old has spent 16 seasons with the Canadiens since being drafted 162nd overall in 1998. While he's stated his desire to remain with the Habs, his demands might be too steep for Marc Bergevin. The general manager needs to make a choice on Alexander Radulov, as well as craft a new contract for RFA Alex Galchenyuk, while negotiations loom involving an extension for all-world netminder Carey Price.

Markov's certainly lost foot speed with age, but has remained reliable in Montreal's top four. In 62 games last season, Markov averaged 21:50 of ice time, while contributing six goals and 30 assists.

Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Report: Rangers in talks with Pavelec

When the New York Rangers dealt netminder Antti Raanta and forward Derek Stepan to the Arizona Coyotes last week, it did two things.

It helped alleviate some of the club's salary cap issues, as Stepan has four years remaining on his deal with a $6.5-million annual cap hit, but it also opened up a glaring hole in the blue paint behind aging starter Henrik Lundqvist.

According to TSN's Darren Dreger, New York has had ongoing discussions with 29-year-old goalie Ondrej Pavelec to address that need.

Related: Rangers trade Stepan, Raanta to Coyotes for No. 7 pick

Pavelec has spent his entire 10-year career in the Atlanta/Winnipeg organization and is coming off an injury-riddled season in which he split time between the AHL and NHL, only suiting up for eight games with the Jets.

In 379 career contests, Pavelec owns a record of 152-158-47 to go along with 17 shutouts and a 2.87 goals-against average.

Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Kane’s reaction to Panarin deal was ‘pretty emotional’

Over the past two seasons, few duos have been as dangerous as Patrick Kane and Artemi Panarin, as the two terrorized opposing defensemen with a chemistry that not many teammates in the NHL could match.

That chemistry translated to off the ice, as well.

So when Panarin was dealt last week to the Columbus Blue Jackets in exchange for former Blackhawk Brandon Saad, it's understandable that Kane was caught slightly off guard.

"My first reaction was pretty emotional," Kane said Friday on Sportsnet's The FAN 590. " ... It’s too bad that we didn’t have that success in the playoffs to build on that even more, but as time goes on you understand the trade, and obviously we got a hell of a player back in (Brandon) Saad, and he’s gonna bring a lot to our lineup as well."

Success in the playoffs, no. But, the pair did kill it in the regular season.

Over 162 regular-season games, Panarin racked up 61 goals (Kane assisted 45 of them) and 90 helpers. Over that same span, Kane put in his two best offensive seasons, registering 80 goals and 195 points to go along with a Hart Trophy.

In only two years in Chicago, Panarin was able to elevate Kane's game and cement himself as one of the most dangerous offensive players in the NHL. A fact that isn't lost on No. 88.

"Me and Artemi are very close. I mean, not only on the ice but off the ice as well," Kane said. "We like to kind of goof around with each other and I think he’s a great kid.

"He’s gonna have a great future. And, you know, sad to see him go, no doubt."

Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Sabres GM Botterill, Eichel’s camp begin extension talks

Since being named Buffalo Sabres general manager in May, Jason Botterill has been a busy man.

Botterill left his gig with the Pittsburgh Penguins to take over the Sabres from Tim Murray, and has already made a significant impact with his new club. He closed the deal on a one-year contract with Russian defenseman Viktor Antipin, and acquired Nathan Beaulieu, Marco Scandella and Jason Pominville via trades. Not to mention, Botterill navigated the Sabres through the expansion and entry drafts earlier this month.

However, with all that in tow, one important - but not yet urgent - task remains: an extension for franchise cornerstone Jack Eichel.

Eichel has one year remaining on his entry-level deal, but can begin negotiating a new contract July 1, and Botterill believes conversations with the 20-year-old's agent, Peter Fish, are headed in the right direction.

"Our conversations over the last month or so with Peter Fish have gone very well," Botterill told John Vogl of The Buffalo News. "It's a situation of understating we've had a lot going on in the organization, but we've clearly told Peter we understand how important Jack is to our organization here moving forward.

"When the time is right, I'm sure we'll be able to get a deal done."

Last season, Eichel led the Sabres with 24 goals and 57 points, despite playing just 61 games. While he might not earn the reported $13 million his draft partner Connor McDavid will, Eichel is a superstar and will surely be rewarded handsomely for an impressive two-year chapter to begin his NHL career.

Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Report: Flames re-sign Michael Stone to 3-year, $10.5M deal

The Calgary Flames continue to bolster their back end, as they have re-signed defenseman Michael Stone to a three-year contract with an average annual value of $3.5 million, according to TSN's Bob McKenzie.

Stone, 27, was acquired by the Flames prior to the 2017 trade deadline from the Arizona Coyotes. Between the two teams, he tallied 15 points in 64 games with a 43.5 Corsi For percentage while averaging 19:49 minutes per night.

This move comes about a week after the Flames traded for defenseman Travis Hamonic from the New York Islanders, giving them one of the deepest blue lines in the league.

With Mark Giordano, Dougie Hamilton, T.J. Brodie, and Hamonic already in the fold, Stone will be one the highest paid bottom-pairing defensemen in the league.

In fact, the Flames are the only team with five blue-liners making $3.5 million or more against the cap.

With Stone re-signing before July 1, the Coyotes

Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Nolan Patrick ruled out of on-ice action at Flyers’ development camp

The Philadelphia Flyers and their fans will have to wait to see top prospect Nolan Patrick take to the ice.

Patrick, who was drafted second overall at the NHL Entry Draft on June 29, will not be participating in the on-ice portion of next week's development camp, general manager Ron Hextall announced Friday.

The young forward underwent abdominal surgery on June 13th in relation to an injury he dealt with this past junior season. He will be able to resume full activity in four-to-six weeks.

Patrick was cleared to participate in off-ice testing at the NHL Combine in late May. He was limited to 33 games last season with the Brandon Wheat Kings due to a sports hernia followed by a separate leg injury.

Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.