Several household hockey names known for putting up strong fantasy numbers struggled mightily in the 2017-18 campaign.

In many instances, it might have been a sign of career regression, but these five stars are likely to bounce back this season:

Max Pacioretty, Canadiens

Pacioretty is coming off his least productive season since becoming a full-time NHLer during the 2011-12 campaign.

The 29-year-old posted just 17 goals in 64 games after scoring no fewer than 30 in the previous four seasons. That dropped his point total from 67 to 37.

The scoring woes can be blamed in part on bad puck luck. Pacioretty registered his lowest shooting percentage (eight percent) since the 2009-10 season, when he split time between the NHL and AHL. Playing most of his minutes alongside Phillip Danault and Andrew Shaw, who combined for 18 goals, didn't set him up for success, either.

Pacioretty is expected to slot in next to Jonathan Drouin and Brendan Gallagher this season, which should lead to more offensive success.

It's also possible he'll be traded to a contender before the offseason concludes. Either way, expect his numbers to improve in a contract year.

Jason Spezza, Stars

Spezza will look to put a dreadful 2017-18 behind him.

The 35-year-old Dallas Stars forward had the worst statistical season of his career aside from his rookie campaign, in which he played just 33 games. He put up just eight goals and 26 points in 78 games after recording 15 and 50 in 68 games in the 2016-17 season.

Spezza averaged 3:10 less ice time per game last season compared to 2017 and his shooting percentage dropped to 5.8 percent, good for 460th in the NHL among those who played at least 25 games. It didn't help that he was moved from his native center to the wing for parts of the season.

New coach Jim Montgomery has already expressed interest in having Spezza move back to center, and he has high expectations for the veteran. He might not have another 60-point season, but he should manage more than 26.

Brandon Saad, Blackhawks

After returning to the team he spent his first three seasons with, Saad put up the lowest point total of his career (35) in a full season, with six fewer goals and 18 fewer points than the season prior. He tallied just one point on the power play, despite logging the fifth-most time with the man advantage among Blackhawks forwards.

Saad appears to be a victim of the team's overall regression last season, as he was coming off three straight 50-plus-point campaigns. The 25-year-old played alongside captain Jonathan Toews, who put up the lowest goal total of his career (20) and his lowest point total (52) in a full season.

With more puck luck (he recorded a career-worst 7.6 shooting percentage last season) and a return to form from his teammates, Saad can easily return to his former 50-point self.

Bryan Little, Jets

Little managed to produce less year over year in 2017-18 despite playing in 23 more games.

The 30-year-old put up 21 goals and 47 points in 59 games during the 2016-17 season and followed that up this past year with 16 goals and 43 points while playing all 82.

One of the biggest reasons for the drop appears to be a lack of opportunities. Little took just 10 more shots last year than he did in 2016-2017 despite playing in far more games.

He saw fewer chances once the Jets acquired Paul Stastny from the St. Louis Blues, as he was moved down to the team's third line. He went from playing alongside Patrik Laine and Nikolaj Ehlers to seeing regular minutes with Mathieu Perreault and Jack Roslovic.

With Stastny gone, Little's expected to move back into a top-six role, and the extra minutes should boost his production.

T.J. Oshie, Capitals

The 2017-18 season wasn't a disaster for Oshie - heck, the guy won the Stanley Cup - but there's no getting around the fact that he had a down year.

The 31-year-old recorded 18 goals and 47 points in 74 games after reaching a career-high 33 goals and 56 points in six fewer games in 2016-17.

The biggest difference year over year looks to be his linemates. In 2016-17, Oshie played 513 minutes at even strength alongside Nicklas Backstrom and Alex Ovechkin. This past year, he played just 50 minutes with that duo and split the majority of his time with either Evgeny Kuznetsov and Jakub Vrana or Backstrom and Andre Burakovsky. He had less lineup stability and fewer minutes alongside the team's superstars.

Of course, Oshie contributed 21 points in 24 playoff games, so perhaps we've already seen proof he'll have a stronger 2019 season.

(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)

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Adding a perennial 30-goal candidate in Jeff Skinner gives Buffalo Sabres head coach Phil Housley an abundance of possible lineup combinations that he can roll out this coming season.

In addition to Skinner, the Sabres have several other new faces up front thanks to the acquisition of Conor Sheary and the Ryan O'Reilly blockbuster trade that brought in Patrik Berglund, Vladimir Sobotka, and Tage Thompson.

In the midst of a busy offseason in Buffalo, here are the Sabres' five most interesting lineup possibilities:

Option 1: Stacked 1st line

Skinner, Eichel, and Reinhart would form quite the prolific top unit. All three are highly skilled, will make plays, and can finish. This leaves questions marks in the bottom nine, though.

Option 2: Top-6 balance

A top-line role would be nothing out of the ordinary for Sheary, as he spent ample time in Pittsburgh flanking Sidney Crosby. This would allow Skinner to slide down to the second line, providing dynamic playmaking rookie Casey Mittelstadt with a legitimate finisher.

Option 3: Total lineup balance

It may shock some to see Evan Rodrigues on the top line, but he and Eichel had great chemistry as linemates at Boston University and have played together on occasion in the NHL. Having both Sheary and Kyle Okposo on the third line creates excellent scoring depth.

Option 4: Offensive duos

Each of these four lines has two offensive-minded players. Thompson and his 6-foot-5 frame would get a glorious to chance to find some of his untapped offensive potential alongside Skinner and Eichel. The versatile Berglund would be able to provide defensive support to Mittelstadt. Sobotka is probably better suited for the wing but is more than capable of centering this third line.

Option 5: Ease Mittelstadt in

It's important to remember Mittelstadt is still a teenager, and it's possible he could struggle with the defensive responsibilities of a center in his first season. Starting a career on the wing isn't uncommon, and it would allow the Sabres to form an exciting top trio. Berglund, Sobotka, and Thompson are all capable of centering, but Thompson gets the call down the middle in this lineup.

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Jeff Skinner isn't afraid of the harsh Buffalo winters.

Skinner, who was dealt to the Sabres on Thursday, waived a full no-movement clause to approve the trade to head to Western New York.

"It excited us that Jeff had a full no-trade - and he came to Buffalo," Sabres general manager Jason Botterill said, according to NHL.com's Mike Zeisberger. "You want guys that want to play in your city."

The fact that Skinner wants to play in Buffalo could increase the possibility of the forward signing a long-term extension with the Sabres. He's set to become an unrestricted free agent at season's end, though Botterill says there have been no initial talks with Skinner and his camp, Zeisberger adds.

Skinner agreeing to the trade was no spur-of-the-moment decision either, as moving closer to his hometown of Toronto was always a priority.

"Buffalo was always a team high on his list," Hurricanes general manager Don Waddell said regarding Skinner relocating closer to home, per theScore's John Matisz.

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The Carolina Hurricanes have traded forward Jeff Skinner to the Buffalo Sabres in exchange for forward Cliff Pu, a 2019 second-round pick, a 2020 third-round pick, and a 2020 sixth-round pick, the team announced Thursday.

Skinner is entering the final year of his contract, which carries a $5.725-million cap hit, and will be an unrestricted free agent next summer.

The former seventh-overall pick is coming off a slightly down season offensively last year, collecting 24 goals and 49 points. However, he did set a career-high with 93 takeaways - good enough for second in the NHL.

The 26-year-old is just one year removed from a career-high 37-goal season, in which he also recorded a career-high 63 points.

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The Detroit Red Wings want to lock up Dylan Larkin, as the Detroit Free Press' Helene St. James reports the two sides are negotiating a five- or six-year agreement.

A restricted free agent, Larkin led the Red Wings in scoring last season with 63 points. He's also emerged as the team's top option at center after he began his career on the wing.

"I feel pretty confident that something will get done before training camp," Larkin told St. James. "No worries about it."

Given his production and the length of a potential deal, Larkin is looking at a substantial raise. He's coming off his three-year entry deal that carried a $925,000 annual cap hit, plus another $1.5 million in performance bonuses, according to CapFriendly.

As it stands, the Red Wings have just $2.8 million in cap space, meaning the team will need to find some financial wiggle room to fit in Larkin.

Teams can exceed the salary cap by 10 percent in the offseason. Detroit can also free up more dollars once Johan Franzen, who carries a $3.95-million cap hit, is placed on long-term injured reserve. Franzen hasn't played since October 2015 due to battles with concussions, and is under contract for the next two seasons.

The Red Wings selected Larkin with the 15th pick in the 2014 draft. He's tallied 56 goals and 84 assists in 242 career games.

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The Calgary Flames have placed winger Troy Brouwer on unconditional waivers for the purpose of a buyout, the team announced Thursday.

Brouwer joined the Flames via free agency in 2016, inking a four-year, $18-million contract. Buying him out means he'll cost Calgary $1.5 million in each of the next four seasons, according to Cap Friendly.

The 32-year-old struggled mightily in his tenure with the Flames, registering just 47 points in 150 games.

Clearing Brouwer's salary creates extra space for the Flames to sign restricted free agent Noah Hanifin to an extension, as he's the lone player on the roster without a contract for next season.

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Jim Benning says he had nothing to do with Trevor Linden's decision to leave the Vancouver Canucks.

The general manager's statement comes after a report indicated Linden left the organization following a power struggle against Benning and owner and chairman Francesco Aquilini. Linden had served as president of hockey operations since 2014.

"Trevor was my boss. I had no part of this decision," Benning told Sportsnet's Iain MacIntyre. "I've worked in this business for 27 years and if you talk to people from other teams, I'm an honest, straight-forward guy. I work hard.

"We always had a really good relationship. Always. We had the same plan and that plan hasn't changed - drafting and developing to get to where we need to be. We were always on the same page on that."

The Canucks described Linden's separation as amicable, while Benning, who signed a multi-year extension in February, added the organization currently has no plan to fill the vacancy.

"I don't know what happened between Trevor and ownership, and it's not my place to ask," Benning added. "I've got a job to do building this hockey team. I've never been into politics. I have a hard enough time finding a defenseman who can help our power play. I don't have time for politics ... If people think I had anything to do with Trevor leaving, that's just wrong."

Meanwhile, other reports have speculated that Linden was not in favor of the team's offseason moves, particularly the free-agent signings of Antoine Roussel and Jay Beagle, both of whom inked four-year deals. The former president may have preferred a slow and steady rebuild, while ownership could be angling for home playoff dates in the nearer term.

Vancouver last advanced to the postseason in 2015, while the team hasn't won a playoff series since its run to the Stanley Cup Final four years earlier. Although the playoffs could be a long shot in 2018-19, Benning still sees value in adding veteran voices to the locker room given the leadership and support these players can offer to young talent ready to step into the NHL.

"If we were thinking about making the playoffs next season, we'd have signed James Neal or David Perron or someone like that. But we didn't," Benning said. "Every year we're going to add one or two good, young players and at some point, we're going to be really good. But we can't rush this process."

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Vegas Golden Knights center William Karlsson is looking to parlay a career season into a major payday, as the restricted free agent is seeking $6.5 million annually in arbitration, according to Sportsnet's Chris Johnston.

The Golden Knights, on the other hand, have offered $3.5 million. Generally, arbiters pick a number in the middle of the two asks, but a third-party decision won't be needed if Vegas and Karlsson can reach an agreement before his hearing on Saturday.

Karlsson was left unprotected by the Columbus Blue Jackets in the expansion draft, and after recording just 50 points in 183 career games, the 25-year-old exploded for the Golden Knights, obliterating his previous bests with 43 goals and 78 points in 82 contests. His dream season yielded the Lady Byng Trophy and some consideration for the Selke, but there's concern as to whether Karlsson can even come close to repeating his stunning production, as he led the league with an astronomical 23.4 shooting percentage.

Vegas certainly has the space to provide Karlsson a lucrative deal, as they have a projected $13 million in available money (Cap Friendly) after their summer's work, which was highlighted by signing free-agent pivot Paul Stastny.

If Karlsson were to fetch what he's after, he'd tie Derek Stepan and teammate Stastny as the 20th richest center in the NHL in terms of cap hit, ahead of the likes of Nathan MacKinnon, Mark Scheifele, and Sean Monahan.

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