Golden Knights’ Tuch expected to miss 6 months after shoulder surgery

Vegas Golden Knights forward Alex Tuch is expected to miss six months after undergoing shoulder surgery, the team announced Friday.

With the 2021-22 NHL season slated to start in October, Tuch is unlikely to play until January or February.

General manager Kelly McCrimmon said Tuch's shoulder bothered him throughout the season, but the team initially believed that surgery wouldn't be necessary, Ben Gotz of the Las Vegas Review-Journal reports.

Tuch had 33 points in 55 games during the 2020-21 campaign before registering nine points in 19 playoff contests. He scored a career-best 1.17 goals per 60 minutes, according to Natural Stat Trick.

The 25-year-old carries a $4.75-million cap hit. The Golden Knights will be cap compliant once placing him on long-term injured reserve, The Athletic's Jesse Granger notes. Vegas could then sign restricted free agents Nolan Patrick and Dylan Coghlan.

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Avalanche re-sign Jost to 2-year contract

The Colorado Avalanche re-signed Tyson Jost to a two-year contract, the team announced Friday.

The deal carries an average annual value of $2 million, reports Sportsnet's Chris Johnston.

Jost, 23, appeared in 54 games with the Avalanche last season. He recorded seven goals and 10 assists.

"Tyson took a big step last year and was a key contributor to our team. He has worked hard to improve his game and earn a spot in our lineup," general manager Joe Sakic said. "Tyson is a guy with a lot of character who competes at a high level day in and day out. We are excited to have him under contract for another two seasons."

Colorado drafted Jost with the 10th pick in the 2016 NHL Draft. He's appeared in 262 career games, totaling 39 goals and 50 assists.

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Krejci leaves Bruins after 14 seasons to play in Czech Republic

David Krejci's time with the Boston Bruins has come to an end.

The 35-year-old announced on Friday that he's heading overseas to play in his home country of the Czech Republic. He's spent the last 14 seasons with the Bruins.

"Since the end of the season, as I have thought about my future, it has become clear that I need to make a difficult decision for my family and I," Krejci said. "At this point in my career and life, I need to return to the Czech Republic and play in front of my family who sacrificed so much to help me achieve my NHL dreams. I want to play in front of my parents, brother, and friends. I want my children to live where I grew up, and spend time with so many Czech family members who love them and create lifelong memories."

Krejci has spent his entire career with the Bruins since being drafted by the club in the second round in the 2004 NHL Draft. He's scored 215 goals and added 515 assists in 962 career games. He helped guide the club to a Stanley Cup victory in 2011 when he had 23 points in 25 playoff games.

He's been a model of consistency for the Bruins over his career, producing year in and year out. Last season, he managed eight goals and 36 assists in 51 games. He hit the 50-point mark in eight different campaigns and notched 60-plus six times.

"So for now, I want to thank all the Bruins fans for the support they have shown my family and I over the last 14 years," he said. "I will forever be thankful.

"This is not goodbye, I will not be a stranger. I will be a Bruin forever. I will see you at the TD Garden soon, and I will always bleed black and gold."

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Kevyn Adams: Sabres ‘don’t feel any pressure’ to trade Eichel

Buffalo Sabres general manager Kevyn Adams isn't in a rush to trade his franchise star Jack Eichel.

"What’s critically important to make sure is clear is that we’re in control of this process,” Adams said Thursday, according to The Athletic's John Vogl. “We have a player under contract. We don’t feel any pressure. If there’s a deal out there that we feel is the right thing for the Buffalo Sabres that’s going to help us improve - whether that’s improve right away or improve down the road, those are all the things weigh - we’d be open to it.

“But we’re not in a position where we feel we’re just going to do something to do it. That doesn’t make any sense.”

Eichel has been the subject of trade rumors for months. After how his neck injury was treated, the 24-year-old expressed there's a disconnect between him and the club. His status for the upcoming season is still uncertain.

Earlier this week, Eichel's agents said they expect the forward will be traded in the "near future." They were responding to Adams saying he would have "no problem" with Eichel still being with the club to begin training camp.

Adams confirmed he's still often discussing a potential trade with teams, and there's still a market for Eichel. But with the majority of this year's top free agents now signed, the number of potential suitors appears to be dwindling.

Eichel has recorded 139 goals and 216 assists over 375 career games. There are five years remaining on his contract with a $10-million cap hit per season, and a no-movement clause that kicks in after the upcoming campaign.

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NHL Rumor Mill – July 30, 2021

NHL Rumor Mill – July 30, 2021 Check out the latest on Vladimir Tarasenko and Jack Eichel plus updates on the Stars and Senators in today’s NHL rumor mill. ARE THE HURRICANES, DEVILS, ISLANDERS INTERESTED IN TARASENKO? THE ATHLETIC: Jeremy Rutherford speculates the St. Louis Blues’ signing left winger Brandon Saad yesterday might spark a […]

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – July 30, 2021

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – July 30, 2021 Alex Ovechkin looks forward to chasing Wayne Gretzky’s goal record, the Blue Jackets sign Zach Werenski to a long-term contract extension, and the Blues sign Brandon Saad. Get the details plus other notable trades and signings in today’s NHL morning coffee headlines. NBC SPORTS WASHINGTON: Alex Ovechkin […]

Blue Jackets sign Werenski to 6-year, $57.5M extension

The Columbus Blue Jackets have signed defenseman Zach Werenski to a six-year contract extension with an average annual value of $9.583 million, the team announced Thursday.

Werenski has made a huge impact in the five seasons he's been in Columbus. The 24-year-old is the Jackets' all-time leader in goals (65) by a blue-liner. Since his debut in 2016, he's tied for third among NHL defensemen in goals and 19th in points (189).

"The city of Columbus has been so good to me, it's close to home and my family, and as I thought about it, it was really a no-brainer," Werenski said. "I'm a Blue Jacket. I want to continue to be a Blue Jacket and do everything I can to bring a Stanley Cup here."

The Michigan native has one season left on a three-year contract that carries a cap hit of $5 million, meaning his new deal will kick in for the 2022-23 campaign.

The extension includes a full no-movement clause in the second through fifth seasons, and in the sixth year, it modifies to a 10-team trade list, according to Sportsnet's Chris Johnston.

Werenski's 2020-21 season ended early due to a sports hernia, but he registered 20 points in 35 contests while playing an average of 24:22 per game.

The 6-foot-2 left-handed shot will be without his main defensive partner moving forward, as Seth Jones was traded to the Chicago Blackhawks on July 23.

Werenski was drafted eighth overall by the Blue Jackets in 2015.

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Bettman ‘stunned’ by Habs’ decision to draft Logan Mailloux

NHL commissioner Gary Bettman didn't mince words when talking about the Montreal Canadiens' controversial selection of Logan Mailloux during last week's draft.

"I was stunned. Surprised wouldn't begin to explain my reaction," Bettman said on "The Power Play with Steve Kouleas" on Thursday. "I'm a dad of two daughters, I have four granddaughters. What was done was horrific."

Mailloux was charged and fined in Sweden last fall for invasion of privacy and defamation after taking a photo of a woman without consent during a sexual encounter and distributing it.

He put out a statement last Tuesday asking teams not to draft him, writing that he hadn't "demonstrated strong enough maturity or character to earn that privilege."

Three days later, the Habs selected him 31st overall.

"Everybody's focusing on the player - he said he didn't want to be drafted, the Canadiens drafted him anyway," Bettman said. "There's no mechanism not to be drafted, it's not within the player's control in any circumstance to decide when he wants to be drafted."

Bettman acknowledged Canadiens owner Geoff Molson's statement on the selection, adding that the situation is going to "require evaluation going forward."

"I don't think anybody should lose sight of the impact of what happened on the victim and the victim's family," Bettman said. "While (Molson) said the Canadiens and Logan are going to try and make good, we're gonna have to see what that means moving forward in all contexts."

Bettman added: "They’re going to continue to see how this evolves, how he progresses ... and at the appropriate time, we may be called on if and when they want him to play and he wants to play."

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Golden Knights ship Reaves to Rangers for 3rd-round pick

The Vegas Golden Knights traded enforcer Ryan Reaves to the New York Rangers in exchange for a 2022 third-round pick, the team announced Thursday.

Reaves has a reputation as the league's toughest customer. The 6-foot-1, 225-pound heavyweight appeared in 37 games with the Golden Knights last season, tallying one goal, four assists, and 27 penalty minutes. The latter was low by his standards, but he's typically so feared it can be tough for him to get a fight.

The 34-year-old has one season left on his contract with a $1.75-million cap hit.

Newly minted Rangers general manager Chris Drury has made a clear effort to add sandpaper to his club in his first offseason at the helm. The team has already brought in checking wingers Barclay Goodrow and Sammy Blais, as well as towering defensemen Patrik Nemeth and Jarred Tinordi.

The Rangers notably got into a line brawl with the Washington Capitals last season after Tom Wilson sucker-punched Pavel Buchnevich and rag-dolled Artemi Panarin.

Wilson and Reaves have fought each other twice before, according to HockeyFights.com. Reaves manhandled Wilson in their last bout in 2014. Wilson wrestled Reaves to the ice in their first tilt in 2013.

The Caps and Rangers are set to meet in the 2021-22 season opener.

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Canadiens sign Mathieu Perreault to 1-year deal

The Montreal Canadiens have signed free-agent forward Mathieu Perreault to a one-year deal worth $950,000, the team announced Thursday.

The 33-year-old Quebec native spent the last seven seasons with the Winnipeg Jets. He recorded 19 points in 56 games while averaging 11:43 of ice time this past campaign.

Perreault is a versatile, two-way player who can slot in at both center and winger, providing a boost to the Canadiens' depth.

Perreault, who played three minor-league seasons in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, was drafted by the Washington Capitals in 2006. He's also suited up for the Anaheim Ducks. Perreault has 343 points in 683 career NHL games.

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