With one season remaining on his current contract, the 25-year-old is now signed through the 2025-26 season.
"Oliver is a gifted player that has shown steady improvement throughout career to this point and we couldn't be happier that he will be a Blue Jacket for a very long time," general manager Jarmo Kekalainen said." "He is a dangerous offensive player, and we believe he will be an even more impactful player for us as he continues to develop and mature in this league."
Bjorkstrand led the Blue Jackets with 21 goals last season despite missing 21 games due to injury and added 15 assists. Since being selected in the third round by the Blue Jackets in 2013, he's appeared in 246 games and has totaled 65 goals and 68 assists.
The Seattle Kraken hired Jason Botterill to be an assistant general manager to GM Ron Francis and Norm Maciver as director of player personnel, the organization announced Tuesday.
Botterill was the general manager of the Buffalo Sabres for the past three years before being fired in June. The team didn't make the postseason during his tenure. However, Botterill was previously an extremely successful assistant GM for 10 years with the Pittsburgh Penguins, helping to oversee three Stanley Cups.
"Jason brings a great deal of experience and has worked with some of the best in the business," Francis said. Botterill previously worked alongside the likes of Jim Rutherford, Cliff Fletcher, and Ray Shero.
Botterill will work alongside Rick Olczyk, who was already hired as an assistant general manager, as the organization prepares for the expansion draft on July 21.
"Everyone in hockey is extremely excited about what's happening in Seattle, and I am thrilled for this unique opportunity," Botterill said. "I'm looking forward to working with the diverse and talented group that Ron has assembled."
Maciver spent the last 14 seasons working with the Chicago Blackhawks, during which the club also won three Stanley Cups. He played in 500 NHL games as a defenseman and was a teammate of Francis' for three seasons.
"Norm ... brings a lot of experience and knowledge," Francis said. "I know him from our playing days and am pleased to reunite with him. He will do a fantastic job as we build out our team."
Colin Wilson has retired from the NHL following 11 seasons, the NHLPA announced Tuesday.
The forward played nine games for the Colorado Avalanche during the 2019-20 campaign. He said last year that his career was likely over after the veteran didn't heal properly from a double hip surgery and struggled to walk, resulting in another procedure.
Wilson also opened up in The Players' Tribune last year about his ongoing battle with OCD since his rookie season in 2010.
The Nashville Predators selected the now 31-year-old seventh overall in 2008. He spent eight years in Nashville before signing with the Avalanche in 2017. Wilson amassed 113 goals and 173 assists in 632 career games.
Sweden's last loss in the opening round of the world juniors came against the USA on Dec. 31, 2006.
The two sides exchanged goals and chances all game long, but Russia took the lead when Kirill Kirsanov scored halfway through the third period.
With the goalie pulled in the dying minutes, Sweden's Noel Gunler tipped home Alexander Holtz's blast from the point to tie things up and send the game to overtime. That's when Russia eventually delivered the dagger in the final seconds while on the power play.
Elmer Soderblom was named the player of the game for Sweden, while Rodion Amirov earned the honor for the Russians.
The game was Russia's final contest of the preliminary round. The country now awaits the results of Thursday's matchup between Sweden and the United States, when the group's final standings will be clear. The winner of Thursday's clash between Canada and Finland will now face the Czech Republic in the quarterfinals.
The Stars released their official roster for training camp on Wednesday, and Johns was designated as an injured player who's not participating.
The blue-liner missed the 2018-19 campaign and the first 47 games last season due to post-traumatic headaches stemming from a concussion suffered in March 2018. He appeared in four games throughout the Stars' run to the Stanley Cup Final, but left in Game 1 of the first round and didn't return during the postseason.
The 28-year-old is entering the final campaign of his three-year, $7.1-million deal inked in 2018. He was named as one of the three finalists for the Masterton Trophy this past season alongside Bobby Ryan and Oskar Lindblom.
Johns will likely be put on the long-term injured reserve soon. His cap hit for this season is $2.35 million.
The Devils don't consider the injury a long-term issue, and they believe Hischier's recovery will take a matter of days or weeks, Friedman adds. He didn't undergo surgery.
New Jersey selected the 21-year-old first overall in 2017, and he's spent the last three seasons with the team, accumulating 51 goals and 84 assists in 209 career games.
With the season set to begin on Jan. 13, it's unclear if Hischier will miss any time beyond training camp.
Team Canada was dominant once again, defeating Switzerland 10-0 on Tuesday for the country's third win at the world juniors.
Quinton Byfield led the way with two goals and four assists as Canada outshot Switzerland 52-15. Goaltender Devon Levi stayed in net for the entire game, earning a 15-save shutout.
The players of the game were Byfield and Simon Knak.
Canada has now won its first three games of the tournament by a combined score of 29-3. The nation will face Finland on New Year's Eve in its final game of the preliminary round. First place could be on the line if Finland is able to beat Slovakia on Wednesday.
Switzerland, which has now lost its first three games of the tourney, will clash with Germany on Wednesday.
New Jersey Devils defenseman P.K. Subban and Olympic gold medal-winning skier Lindsey Vonn announced on Tuesday that their relationship has come to an end. The couple became engaged last August.
The pair shared pictures on Instagram, posting nearly identical messages declaring they will move forward separately.
"Lindsey is one of the most kind and caring people I know. I will always treasure our time as a couple together and the many laughs we shared," Subban wrote.
"After much consideration, we have decided to move forward separately. We will always remain friends and love each other immensely. We ask that you respect our privacy during this time."
The wedding, which Vonn recently said in an interview with Access Hollywood was originally scheduled for July, was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The restricted free agent remains at home in Columbus, waiting to either be traded or given a new contract. The team has already explored trade possibilities, and if a deal doesn't come to fruition, Roslovic must sign a new contract to attend camp.
Lemieux said no progress has been made on either front. Even if a new pact is reached, Roslovic will need to quarantine for seven days upon re-entering Canada.
The Jets hold virtually no cap space, but they could open up some room by placing Bryan Little on the LTIR.
Roslovic, 23, posted career highs of 12 goals and 17 assists last season while primarily being deployed as a bottom-six forward and averaging 14:54 minutes per game.
The first few picks of a fantasy draft typically gain the most attention, but they are also normally the easiest to make. It's hard to make a truly bad decision when choosing between the league's biggest stars in the opening rounds.
Generally, the way to win your league is by hitting on players late in the draft who will provide top-end value. Here are seven sleepers who can lead your fantasy team to a title.
Brandon Saad, LW/RW, Avalanche
Jana Chytilova/Freestyle Photo / Getty Images Sport / Getty
2019-20 season stats
GP
G
A
P
2021 Yahoo ADP
58
21
12
33
167.7
Saad has quietly been a steady producer throughout his career, hovering around the 20-goal and 50-point mark each year. He's in an excellent situation this year, playing on a stacked Colorado Avalanche team. Saad figures to kick off the season on the second line with Nazem Kadri and Andre Burakovsky, and the trio should combine to provide some much-needed secondary scoring to the club. If he finds himself on the ice with Nathan MacKinnon, he'll be even better. Saad's a versatile winger who will look to be a key player for one of the league's top teams.
Josh Anderson, RW, Canadiens
Jamie Sabau / National Hockey League / Getty
2019-20 season stats
GP
G
A
P
2021 Yahoo ADP
26
1
3
4
178.9
Expectations are sky-high for Anderson with the Montreal Canadiens after he inked a seven-year, $38.5-million deal. Anderson ranked 43rd in the league in hits and added 46 goals and 77 points during the 2017-18 and 2018-19 seasons. He's adamant that he's fully recovered from the shoulder injury that limited him last season, which means the bruising winger can return to his days of delivering in multiple categories. Montreal desperately needs someone to step up and score goals this season, and all eyes will be on Anderson to answer the call.
Kaapo Kakko, RW, Rangers
Jared Silber / National Hockey League / Getty
2019-20 season stats
GP
G
A
P
2021 Yahoo ADP
63
10
13
23
163.5
Kakko's rookie season was rather forgettable for a second overall pick, but it can really only get better. He looked like one of the best players on the New York Rangers' roster when the club briefly partook in the league's return to play during the summer. The Rangers have an abundance of wingers, but Kakko will certainly be given a chance to crack the top six, and if he can secure his spot, he has the potential to put up some serious numbers.
Alex Tuch, LW/RW, Golden Knights
Andy Devlin / National Hockey League / Getty
2019-20 season stats
GP
G
A
P
2021 Yahoo ADP
42
8
9
17
166.9
Tuch led the Vegas Golden Knights in goals (eight) during the team's postseason run and did so while playing less than 16 minutes per game. He was hampered by an injury during the regular season but set career highs of 20 goals and 32 assists the year before. The 24-year-old contributes in multiple categories across the board and is poised for another solid season on one of the league's most dominant puck-possession teams. He can find himself playing a much bigger role if Max Pacioretty or Jonathan Marchessault is moved before the season due to cap concerns.
Robert Thomas, C/RW, Blues
Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / Getty
2019-20 season stats
GP
G
A
P
2021 Yahoo ADP
66
10
32
42
N/A
Thomas continues to fly under the radar as he enters his third NHL campaign. It isn't exactly clear where Thomas will be slotted in the lineup this upcoming season, but he could find himself skating on the top line with Vladimir Tarasenko set to miss some time. He's still just 21 years old and coming off a strong sophomore season after a solid rookie campaign. He could be one of the biggest bargain picks of the year.
Matt Grzelcyk, D, Bruins
Mark Blinch / National Hockey League / Getty
2019-20 season stats
GP
G
A
P
Yahoo Fantasy ADP
68
4
17
21
167.5
It remains to be seen whether Zdeno Chara will return to the Boston Bruins for another year, but Grzelcyk will be in line for a massive increase in workload if the veteran walks away. Grzelcyk could have the first crack at playing alongside Charlie McAvoy on the team's top defensive pairing and also be tasked with manning the second power-play unit. The 26-year-old set a career high of 21 points last season and will look to build on that with a much larger role.
Kevin Shattenkirk, D, Ducks
Bruce Bennett / Getty Images Sport / Getty
2019-20 season stats
GP
G
A
P
Yahoo Fantasy ADP
70
8
26
34
154.0
After a few underwhelming seasons, Shattenkirk looked like his old self last year. He finished the campaign with the 39th-most shots on goal among defensemen (131) and was tied for 31st in points in just under 19 minutes of ice time per game. He followed that up with a dominant postseason, during which he posted 13 points in 25 games and was an integral player on the Tampa Bay Lightning's Stanley Cup-winning squad. He seems set to start the season paired with Cam Fowler on the Anaheim Ducks and should be fed offensive-zone starts and power-play time as a result.
