The New Jersey Devils signed restricted free-agent forward Jesper Bratt to an eight-year contract carrying an average annual value of $7.875 million, the team announced Thursday.

He signed a pair of bridge deals after his entry-level contract before landing a long-term pact. His previous contract was a one-year agreement worth $5.45 million, and he's now the Devils' third-highest-paid player behind Dougie Hamilton ($9 million AAV) and Jack Hughes ($8 million).

Bratt has produced back-to-back 73-point campaigns and recorded a career-high 32 goals in 2022-23. He was a central figure as New Jersey made the playoffs for the first time since 2018 this past season.

"It was always a priority to keep Jesper Bratt here long term and both parties are thrilled that a deal was completed," general manager Tom Fitzgerald said in a statement. "I value and commend the commitment Jesper made to this organization. We believe that he is a special player and a key member of our core group of talent who will contribute towards the team's long-term success and organizational goal of bringing the Stanley Cup back to New Jersey."

The Devils drafted the Sweden native 162nd overall in 2016.

New Jersey has more than $26 million in cap space after Bratt's new deal, according to CapFriendly. However, the Devils only have 13 players signed for next season. Prized trade-deadline acquisition Timo Meier headlines a list of key RFAs that also includes Michael McLeod, Yegor Sharangovich, Jesper Boqvist, and Mackenzie Blackwood.

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Jack Eichel waited eight years to get his first taste of the NHL playoffs - and he definitely made the most of it.

After hoisting the Stanley Cup on home ice on Wednesday night, the Vegas Golden Knights superstar admitted there were times in his career when he had a difficult time envisioning himself reaching hockey's summit.

"I think it's only human nature to have some doubt creep in when you don't make it to (the) playoffs for an extended period of time," Eichel said following the Game 5 victory, per ESPN's Greg Wyshynski. "You're wondering if it will ever happen. So many people go through their whole career without having the opportunity to hoist the Stanley Cup. It's the hardest thing in the world (to win)."

The Buffalo Sabres selected Eichel second overall in 2015 and, during his tenure, the club never finished higher than sixth in its division. After landing with the Golden Knights via blockbuster trade in 2021, Vegas proceeded to miss the playoffs for the first and only time in its six-year history.

Eichel was the 2023 playoffs' leading scorer with 26 points in 22 games - including eight assists in the Stanley Cup Final. He placed second in Conn Smythe voting as a result of his efforts.

Vegas winger Jonathan Marchessault, this year's playoff MVP, believes Eichel was equally deserving of the title.

"Honestly, ever since he came here, we were just a different team," Marchessault said. "He's a game-changer for the group. And this trophy could have definitely went to him. I could never have that without him."

Marchessault added: "First playoff and first (Stanley Cup) win for him, right? That's a pretty good average."

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The Pittsburgh Penguins hired Jason Spezza as assistant general manager, the team announced Wednesday.

Spezza reunites with new Penguins president of hockey operations Kyle Dubas. Spezza stepped down from his role in the Toronto Maple Leafs' front office shortly after Dubas was fired in May.

"After a decorated playing career, Jason fully immersed himself on the management side of the game learning all facets of hockey operations this past season while with Toronto," Dubas said in a statement.

"He showed tremendous work ethic, curiosity, and ability to build relationships throughout all departments at the team facility. His move from the roster to the front office staff also helped make the hockey operations department, coaching staff, and playing roster a more cohesive and collaborative unit. We are thrilled to have Jason join the Pittsburgh Penguins today as he will add a great perspective to our club, and we are excited to watch him reach his potential in management."

Spezza retired from a 19-year playing career in 2022 and immediately became a special assistant to Dubas in Toronto. He will assist Penguins management in all hockey operations departments in his new role.

The Penguins haven't named a full-time general manager since they cleaned house after missing the playoffs. Dubas is serving in the role on an interim basis.

Pittsburgh has roughly $20.2 million in cap space this offseason and a roster size of 15, per CapFriendly. The club's most critical decision is what to do with goaltender Tristan Jarry, who is an unrestricted free agent July 1.

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Florida Panthers defenseman Aaron Ekblad broke his foot, dislocated his shoulder twice, and a tore his oblique throughout the Stanley Cup Playoffs, head coach Paul Maurice told TNT following Tuesday's Game 5 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights.

Ekblad only missed one game throughout Florida's run to the final - Game 4 against the Boston Bruins in Round 1. Maurice said Ekblad broke his foot in the club's opening series but didn't clarify when the other injuries occurred.

The 27-year-old notched eight points across 20 postseason games and averaged nearly 24 minutes per contest.

Ekblad wasn't the only Panthers defenseman who battled significant injuries, as Maurice revealed Radko Gudas suffered a high-ankle sprain that normally would have required six weeks of rehab. The gritty blue-liner ultimately missed a single period as Florida fell three wins short of capturing the Stanley Cup.

Panthers superstar Matthew Tkachuk was held out of Game 5 due to a broken sternum.

Maurice didn't offer recovery timelines for his injured players but said some are in jeopardy of missing the start of the 2023-24 campaign, according to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.

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The Edmonton Oilers signed veteran forward Derek Ryan to a two-year contract worth $900,000 annually, the team announced Tuesday.

Ryan was due for unrestricted free agency July 1. Nick Bjugstad, Mattias Janmark, and Devin Shore are the remaining pending UFAs on Edmonton's roster.

The Oilers have approximately $5 million in cap space after inking Ryan, according to CapFriendly. Re-signing restricted free-agent defenseman Evan Bouchard is the club's top in-house priority this offseason.

Ryan, 36, appeared in 80 games this season, collecting 13 goals and seven assists while averaging 11:10 per contest. The forward won at least 50% of his draws for the eighth consecutive campaign.

He's been with the Oilers for the past two years following stints with the Carolina Hurricanes and Calgary Flames.

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Toronto billionaire Michael Andlauer is set to become the new owner of the Ottawa Senators, reports Postmedia's Bruce Garrioch.

The agreement in principle, which is reportedly worth $950 million, is pending approval from commissioner Gary Bettman and the NHL's executive board.

Andlauer is a minority shareholder of the Montreal Canadiens and a member of the NHL's board of governors. However, he'll have to sell his stake in the Habs for the deal to go through.

The long-winding sale of the Senators was reportedly down to Andlauer and Jeffrey and Michael Kimel of Harlo Capital, a group that also included Canadian singer The Weeknd as of last week.

Four groups made bids by the May 15 deadline.

The NHL was pleased with Andlauer's long-term vision for the franchise, and he supports the idea of a new downtown arena, sources told Garrioch. The Senators signed a memorandum of understanding with the National Capital Commission (NCC) for a new rink at LeBreton Flats last year.

The Senators went up for sale in November. The only stipulation in the deal was to keep the club in Ottawa. Anna and Olivia Melnyk, daughters of late Senators owner Eugene, are expected to keep a 10% stake in the team.

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Mark Stone's season, and perhaps even his career, could've been in significant jeopardy when he underwent a second back surgery in less than nine months this February.

Now one win away from hoisting the Stanley Cup, the Vegas Golden Knights captain discussed his unlikely recovery, saying he was determined to return.

"I was going to do whatever it took to get back for the playoffs," Stone said, per ESPN's Greg Wyshynski. "I wasn't sure if it was going to be in Game 1 or Game 5 or Game 10. I was going to do whatever it took to get back."

Stone added, "You talk to a lot of guys, they don't usually just get one back surgery. They usually get two, because as much as you think you know the problem, sometimes you don't.

"And unfortunately, (surgery) didn't work the first time, but (I) saw a different surgeon … (and had) minor things done. And I feel great."

Stone was limited to 37 games in the 2021-22 campaign due to back issues. He underwent his first procedure in May 2022. He returned to the lineup to start the current campaign but was sidelined on Jan. 12 after re-injuring himself.

The Golden Knights shut him down indefinitely with no firm timeline for a return but were still able to secure the top spot in the Western Conference.

"We were in first place when I got hurt," Stone said. "I knew we had a good team, and I wanted to be part of it. Especially when the team kept winning. I wanted to be back there with the guys. Long, hard days. But you just put your head down, and you get going."

Stone returned for Vegas' playoff opener against the Winnipeg Jets and has 21 points in 21 contests this spring. He's been a force in the Stanley Cup Final, registering six points in four games against the Florida Panthers.

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The Vegas Golden Knights are doing their best to keep cool leading up to Tuesday night's Game 5 but know it'll be easier said than done with an opportunity to win the Stanley Cup on home ice looming.

"Everybody knows what's going to be there," forward Chandler Stephenson said, per The Athletic's Jesse Granger.

"It's different. It's a different game than the other ones. There's a lot more emotion, a lot more everything."

Vegas took a 3-1 series lead over the Florida Panthers with a narrow victory Saturday. With two full days between games, the Golden Knights are embracing the opportunity to win the organization's first championship instead of letting nerves distract them.

"You can't not (think about it)," Adin Hill said. "It's the ultimate goal in hockey, so there's no way you can shut that off in your mind. You're thinking about that. At the same time, it's about staying in the moment, focusing on the next play or the next shift."

Added head coach Bruce Cassidy: "They understand what's at stake.

"They understand (Sunday) is a day off to clear your mind. If that means discussing certain things with family members, about the Stanley Cup, or whatever you want to talk about, then that's OK. That's what we're playing for. I don't think there's any taboos with that. You just can't bring that to the rink on Monday at practice or Tuesday when it's time to play."

Only one team in NHL history has erased a 3-1 series deficit in the Stanley Cup Final: the 1942 Toronto Maple Leafs. However, the Panthers can rely on recent experience to pull off a miraculous comeback after digging themselves out of the same hole in Round 1 against the league-leading Boston Bruins.

The Golden Knights capitalized on both series-clinching opportunities in Rounds 1 and 2 but took three tries to eliminate the Dallas Stars in the Western Conference Final after jumping out to a 3-0 lead.

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Goaltender Connor Hellebuyck isn't interested in signing an extension with the Winnipeg Jets, according to The Athletic.

Hellebuyck has one season remaining on his current contract at $6.16 million and is eligible to ink a new deal with Winnipeg as of July 1. He's widely considered to be a top trade candidate this summer.

Jets star center and restricted free agent Pierre-Luc Dubois also reportedly informed the franchise recently that he isn't willing to sign an extension and is seeking a move elsewhere.

Hellebuyck is coming off a dominant 2022-23 campaign, posting a .920 save percentage and 31.1 goals saved above average across a league-leading 64 starts. His efforts earned him a Vezina Trophy nomination for the third time in the last six seasons.

The Jets drafted Hellebuyck in the fifth round in 2012, and the 30-year-old has been the club's primary netminder since 2016-17. He owns a career 238-154-37 record along with a .916 save percentage and has helped guide Winnipeg to the postseason in five of the past six years.

The Vegas Golden Knights eliminated the Jets in the first round this spring. Between trade rumors surrounding its top players and a current roster size of 15 players, Winnipeg is expected to undergo significant changes before the 2023-24 season.

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New Jersey Devils general manager Tom Fitzgerald is committed to ramping up contract talks with restricted free-agent forward Timo Meier this week.

"We would love nothing better to tie him up long term," Fitzgerald said, per NHL.com's Mike Zeisberger. "That's our goal. That's what (agent) Claude (Lemieux) and I will go through."

"I want them to understand what New Jersey is, what the organization is, the living - I think New Jersey is a diamond in the rough - the travel, all the positive things. Give him a chance to settle in and go: 'OK, I hope you want to be here.' Those are some of the things we'll go through."

The Devils acquired Meier from the San Jose Sharks prior to this season's trade deadline. New Jersey sent a package of three draft picks and four players to San Jose to add the highly sought-after right winger to supplement its first playoff appearance since 2019.

Meier collected 14 points in 21 regular-season games with the Devils, then produced an underwhelming playoff run with only four points in 11 appearances before New Jersey was bounced by the Carolina Hurricanes in Round 2.

"It's really hard to come in and understand a new system," Fitzgerald said. "As a player, I've done it twice. It's really hard. Our system's hard, too. The (defensive) zone; it's difficult to understand. And it takes some time. Coaches say it takes at least 20 games to get used to a system, so you evaluate your team after 20 games, right? And for sure, it took some adjustment."

The Devils have an estimated $34 million in cap space this offseason, per CapFriendly. However, New Jersey only has a roster size of 12 at the moment, and Jesper Bratt, Michael McLeod, and Yegor Sharangovich are among additional key RFAs in need of new contracts like Meier.

If the Devils can't agree on a long-term deal with Meier this summer, the qualifying offer to retain his RFA rights for an additional season is $10 million.

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