Nova Scotia won’t name street after Sidney Crosby until he retires

It appears as though Sidney Crosby won't be getting a street named after him in his home province of Nova Scotia anytime soon.

The city of Halifax had discussed renaming Dartmouth's Forest Hills Parkway to Sidney Crosby Parkway, but the staff is now advising against it. Crosby does not yet meet the existing criteria for commemorative naming because he's not retired, according to the Canadian Press' Alex Cooke.

A report states that while staff acknowledges "the broad range of positive impacts that Sidney Crosby's athletic achievements have on the local community," renaming the street after him would conflict with municipal policies, Cooke adds.

Exceptions cannot be made, even for a player like Crosby, who has won three Stanley Cups and two Olympic gold medals.

Other ideas are being floated around in order to commemorate his impact on the community, including the declaration of "Sidney Crosby Day," installing a public art project in his honor, and naming an existing Cole Harbour park after him.

The Cole Harbour native is not only one of the greatest hockey players ever, but he's arguably the most notable person born and raised in Nova Scotia.

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Brady Tkachuk cracks Senators’ opening-night roster

It might have been a foregone conclusion, but it's now official: Brady Tkachuk will open the season with the Ottawa Senators.

Senators head coach Guy Boucher confirmed Saturday that his forward group is set, according to Sportsnet's Kyle Bukauskas, meaning prospects Tkachuk, Alex Formenton, and Colin White have all made the team out of camp.

Tkachuk, the fourth overall selection in June's draft, scored a goal and averaged 16 minutes of ice time in three preseason games with Ottawa.

The 19-year-old left winger decided in August to leave the college ranks after one season at Boston University to sign a contract with the Senators. He inked his entry-level deal a couple of days later.

Formenton was a second-round pick in 2017, and White was selected 21st overall by Ottawa in 2015.

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Dubas confirms Maple Leafs don’t want to trade Nylander

Kyle Dubas is making it clear that he doesn't intend to deal William Nylander.

The Toronto Maple Leafs general manager confirmed his stance regarding the restricted free agent forward to the Toronto Star's Kevin McGran on Friday.

"I’ve been asked: ‘Do you want to trade him right now?’ And the answer is, ‘No,’" Dubas said. “Circumstances can change. But it’s not in any plan or any discussion we’ve had that we’re going to trade any of these players."

Dubas added that both sides in the contract negotiation want more than just a bridge deal.

"The long term is where both parties, our camp and their camp, have been focused on,” the GM said.

TSN's Pierre LeBrun reported Friday that the Carolina Hurricanes called the Leafs inquiring about Nylander but were told he wasn't going to be traded.

The Leafs currently have a little more than $13 million in cap space, but Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner both have one season left before potentially becoming RFAs themselves.

Marner's agent Darren Ferris said Friday his client will delay talks if he doesn't have an extension by Wednesday night's regular-season opener against the Montreal Canadiens.

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Agent: Marner to delay contract talks if not extended by season opener

If an extension doesn't materialize in the coming days, don't expect Mitch Marner to revisit contract talks until the end of the season.

That's the message from Darren Ferris, the agent of the Toronto Maple Leafs forward who appeared on TSN 1050's "Leafs Lunch" on Friday.

"We've had some very productive discussions so far and if nothing's done by the start of the season, then we'll wait until next summer and we'll get back at it again," Ferris said.

Marner has one year remaining on his entry-level contract, meaning he can become a restricted free agent next summer.

A Marner extension is just one challenge Toronto could face in the offseason. There's also a decision to be made on superstar center Auston Matthews, who can also become a restricted free agent.

Fellow young star William Nylander, who made his NHL debut one season prior to Marner and Matthews, remains unsigned.

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Bettman: Blue Jackets in consideration as future hosts of outdoor game

A future NHL outdoor game could be coming to the Buckeye State.

The Columbus Blue Jackets are one of eight clubs to have never participated in a Winter Classic or Stadium Series game, but that may not be the case for much longer.

"It's obvious that the (Blue Jackets are) competitive, that they're playing exciting hockey and the fans are reacting in positive ways," NHL commissioner Gary Bettman told The Athletic's Aaron Portzline. "It's even at the point internally - we're not there yet - (but) we've even started focusing on the possibility of an outdoor game. We view Columbus as a great success story.

"It's on our radar screen of places we haven't been. We want to be as inclusive as possible, and (as) we view the success the Blue Jackets are having on and off the ice, the discussions become more frequent."

The commissioner also spoke to some of the criteria the NHL looks for in identifying host markets for its iconic outdoor event.

"We look for a mix," Bettman said. "Part of it is to assure we get a national (TV) rating. Part of it is to ensure that when we play in a 70,000-seat facility there's no doubt it will be sold out. We try to be opportunistic. It's a function of market. It's a function of team history and fan base, and it's a function of performance at the time."

Two major factors seem to play into Columbus' favor, including a suitable venue in the 102,000-seat Ohio Stadium, and the fact that the Blue Jackets have emerged as one of the NHL's top teams after years of futility.

The Blue Jackets finished with 97 points last season to mark their second straight appearance in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Meanwhile, many pundits have pegged the team to make a third consecutive trip to the dance this spring.

Columbus has previously hosted two major NHL events, including the 2007 Entry Draft and the 2015 All-Star Game. The Blue Jackets joined the NHL in 2000.

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Rangers sending down Andersson, keeping Howden after latest camp cuts

Brett Howden appears poised to make the New York Rangers' final roster.

The young center, acquired from the Tampa Bay Lightning at last year's trade deadline in the deal for former captain Ryan McDonagh, made it through the latest round of training camp cuts Friday.

With three injured skaters among the 26 players remaining at camp, Howden is expected to make the Rangers' 23-man roster.

The 20-year-old picked up 24 goals and 51 assists in 49 appearances with the WHL's Moose Jaw Warriors last season. The Lightning selected Howden 27th overall in 2016.

However, the news Friday wasn't as positive for another former first rounder.

Lias Andersson, the Rangers' seventh-overall pick in 2017, will begin the year with the AHL's Hartford Wolf Pack after being considered a strong candidate to make the team's final roster. The 19-year-old split the 2017-18 campaign between the AHL, the Swedish Hockey League, and a seven-game stint with the Rangers.

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Ranking the 5 best defense and goaltending combos

As the saying goes, "Defense wins championships," and five squads stand above the rest with the best blue lines and netminders that the NHL has to offer. Here are the five best combinations of defense and goaltending entering the 2018-19 campaign:

5. Columbus Blue Jackets

Jim McIsaac / Getty Images Sport / Getty
Left Defense Right Defense
Zach Werenski Seth Jones
Ryan Murray David Savard
Gabriel Carlsson Markus Nutivaara
  • You'd be hard pressed to find a team with a more dominant top pairing than the Columbus Blue Jackets, who called on the duo of Zach Werenski and Seth Jones for more than 22 minutes a night last season. The middle pairing also offers some intrigue in former second overall pick Ryan Murray and underrated right-hand shot David Savard. Depth will be a challenge for Columbus, with two youngsters holding down the bottom pair. Dean Kukan and Scott Harrington will also push for minutes.
Goaltenders
Sergei Bobrovsky
Joonas Korpisalo
  • The future of Sergei Bobrovsky, who is an unrestricted free agent after this season, remains one of the major question marks hanging over the Blue Jackets as the campaign opens. The Russian goaltender has made it known that he's not interested in negotiating midseason, furthering the issue. While the two-time Vezina Trophy winner is crucial to the Blue Jackets' success, could the team turn to budding netminder Joonas Korpisalo more often this season in preparation of a possible future without Bobrovsky?

4. Winnipeg Jets

Left Defense Right Defense
Josh Morrissey Jacob Trouba
Ben Chiarot Dustin Byfuglien
Dmitry Kulikov Tyler Myers
  • More and more, coaches are stressing a balance of left- and right-handed defenders on the blue line, but the mix is a little off when it comes to the Winnipeg Jets. The team boasts three top-level caliber defenders in Jacob Trouba, Dustin Byfuglien, and Tyler Myers on its right side, but there's something to be desired on the left behind young rearguard Josh Morrissey. Luckily, Jets GM Kevin Cheveldayoff has left plenty of cap space, so adding a top-four left shot could be a possibility. Meanwhile, expect Joe Morrow and Tucker Poolman to also see frequent looks this season.
Hannah Foslien / Getty Images Sport / Getty
Goaltenders
Connor Hellebuyck
Laurent Brossoit
  • After a so-so 2016-17 season, Connor Hellebuyck looked to be relegated to second-stringer following Steve Mason's addition as a free agent. But when the latter struggled, the former ran with the top job, losing just 11 of his 67 games and earning a Vezina Trophy nomination. The Jets netminder will need to be just as effective this season, particularly with new backup Laurent Brossoit an unlikely option to fill in for more than spot duty. Should Brossoit struggle as the No. 2, Winnipeg could turn to farmhand Eric Comrie.

3. San Jose Sharks

Ezra Shaw / Getty Images Sport / Getty
Left Defense Right Defense
Joakim Ryan Brent Burns
Brenden Dillon Erik Karlsson
Marc-Edouard Vlasic Justin Braun
  • Given Brent Burns and star addition Erik Karlsson are both right-handed, they're unlikely to pair together - save for the powerplay. That's not necessarily a bad thing for coach Peter DeBoer. With both defensemen capable of holding down big minutes, there's a good chance either will be on the ice for up to 50 minutes a game – good luck to the opposition. That's not to overlook Marc-Edouard Vlasic, one of the game's most effective defensive blue-liners. For depth, the Sharks will call on seventh defenseman Tim Heed.
Goaltenders
Martin Jones
Aaron Dell
  • The results are there for Martin Jones, if not underwhelming. The Sharks netminder hasn't cracked a .920 save percentage across three seasons as San Jose's starter. Jones' .915 save percentage finished a pedestrian 13th league-wide among netminders who suited up for at least 50 games in 2017-18. Look for his numbers to see an uptick this season, especially with another top defenseman now clearing pucks away from his crease. Aaron Dell has emerged as a reliable backup.

2. Tampa Bay Lightning

Left Defense Right Defense
Victor Hedman Dan Girardi
Ryan McDonagh Anton Stralman
Braydon Coburn Mikhail Sergachev
  • While the Tampa Bay Lightning were unsuccessful in acquiring Karlsson, it's hard not to see their blue line as the deepest in the Eastern Conference, even without the former Ottawa Senators captain. It begins with reigning Norris Trophy winner Victor Hedman, who took home the award for the first time last season. There's also deadline addition Ryan McDonagh, who has since inked a seven-year extension and will anchor the middle pairing. Mikhail Sergachev impressed as a rookie in 2017-18, as his 40 points finished second among freshmen rearguards. The Lightning will turn to Slater Koekkoek for depth with Jake Dotchin's future undetermined.
Rob Carr / Getty Images Sport / Getty
Goaltenders
Andrei Vasilevskiy
Louis Domingue
  • Last year was a tale of two seasons for Lightning starter Andrei Vasilevskiy. Despite posting 44 wins in 65 games, more than half came before January, when Vasilevskiy sported a .935 save percentage and 2.02 goals-against average. However, in the season's second half, the Russian netminder's GAA spiked to 3.20, while his save rate slipped to a mediocre .905. He'll need to find consistency throughout 2018-19 if the Lightning are to live up to their billing as a strong Stanley Cup favorite. Louis Domingue stabilized in a backup role after being added from the Arizona Coyotes last season.

1. Nashville Predators

Frederick Breedon / Getty Images Sport / Getty
Left Defense Right Defense
Roman Josi Ryan Ellis
Mattias Ekholm P.K. Subban
Matt Irwin Yannick Weber
  • Here it is – the NHL's most impressive blue line. Headlined by the underrated Roman Josi and recently extended Ryan Ellis. There's also defensive stalwart Mattias Ekholm and the exciting P.K. Subban. Once again, the Nashville Predators are a Stanley Cup favorite who will prove to be a handful for the opposition when coach Peter Laviolette calls on either of his top two pairings. There's also veteran blue-liner Dan Hamhuis, who is back in Nashville for a second stint. He can hold down a bottom pairing role, while Anthony Bitetto can also sub in when needed.
Goaltenders
Pekka Rinne
Juuse Saros
  • It took 10 seasons, but Pekka Rinne finally laid claim to the Vezina Trophy last season on the back of a 42-win campaign. With the 35-year-old entering the 2018-19 campaign on the final year of his contract, he'll be looking to guide the Predators to the franchise's first Stanley Cup. While Rinne is no doubt on the back nine of his career, the Predators are in safe hands with budding Finnish goaltender Juuse Saros, who could see more action this season as the club readies for an eventual future without Rinne.

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