The St. Louis Blues have signed restricted free agent Robert Thomas to a two-year deal carrying a $2.8-million average annual value, the team announced Tuesday.

Thomas' entry-level contract expired after the 2020-21 season. He'll be an RFA again when his new deal comes to an end.

The Blues drafted Thomas 20th overall in 2017. He's recorded 87 points in 169 career games, and he helped the club capture its first Stanley Cup in 2019.

St. Louis now has all of its players under contract ahead of the start of training camp Thursday.

Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Seattle is taking kindly to the Kraken's inaugural digs.

The NHL's newest franchise set a league record for most sales of a newly released jersey in its first five days of availability, NHL chief brand officer Brian Jennings told ESPN's Greg Wyshynski.

The previous record was set by the Vegas Golden Knights, who released their look as the NHL's 31st club in 2017.

"Vegas set a pretty high bar. The Kraken are blowing through it, hourly. It's a hot market right now," Jennings said.

The Kraken had a five-day period beginning Sept. 15 to sell the threads at their official team stores and online. Availability is now set to increase.

The top Kraken jersey-sellers include Philipp Grubauer, Brandon Tanev, Jamie Oleksiak, and Jordan Eberle.

Seattle's debut season kicks off Oct. 12.

Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Columbus Blue Jackets signed goaltender Elvis Merzlikins to a five-year contract extension worth $27 million, the team announced Tuesday.

Merzlikins will play out the 2021-22 campaign on his current deal, which pays him $4 million. His extension kicks in for 2022-23.

"Goaltending is a position of strength for our team and Elvis Merzlikins has been an important part of that over the past two seasons so we are very excited to have agreed to terms on a contract extension that will keep him in Columbus for at least the next six years," said general manager Jarmo Kekalainen.

He added: "He is big, athletic, and has a tremendous passion for the game and we believe he will be an integral part of our success in the coming years."

Columbus drafted Merzlikins in the third round in 2014. He broke into the NHL in 2019-20 and has posted a .920 save percentage across 61 appearances.

Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Edmonton Oilers will retire Kevin Lowe's No. 4 jersey prior to their Nov. 5 clash with the New York Rangers, the team announced Monday.

Lowe played 15 seasons (1979-1992) as a defenseman with the Oilers and won five Stanley Cups. He added another championship ring to his collection with the Rangers in 1994.

The 62-year-old was a member of the Hockey Hall of Fame's 2020 class. Lowe is currently an alternate governor for the Oilers and has previously served as head coach and general manager.

Seven players have already seen their numbers retired by Edmonton, including Al Hamilton (3), Paul Coffey (7), Glenn Anderson (9), Mark Messier (11), Jari Kurri (17), Grant Fuhr (31), and Wayne Gretzky (99).

Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Divisions: Metropolitan | Central (Sept. 21) | Pacific (Sept. 22) | Atlantic (Sept. 23)

With the NHL offseason all but wrapped up, we're handing out grades for all 32 teams. The four-part series begins with an in-depth look at each club in the Metropolitan Division.

Some contract figures are reported. Most players on two-way deals have been omitted.

Carolina Hurricanes

Key arrivals

Key departures

Re-signed

Rookies who could crack the lineup

The Hurricanes had an absurdly eventful offseason, easily the busiest in the NHL. We've done our best to break it down into a few separate parts.

The good

Carolina signed Svechnikov to a max-term deal at an affordable rate, which was a tidy piece of business. The 21-year old is a superstar in the making and an integral part of Carolina's attack.

Bear is a nice addition to a defensive corps that lost a huge piece.

The bad

The Hurricanes traded Nedeljkovic, a Calder Trophy finalist and seemingly the stable future in goal for a pick and player the club ultimately let walk. It was a peculiar decision at best.

They also let Hamilton hit the open market, which could prove to be a costly mistake. He joined a division rival at a cheaper cost than several inferior blue-liners signed this offseason. Not only is Hamilton elite at shot suppression, he's one of the league's best offensive defensemen.

The uncertain

Bringing in Andersen and Raanta aboard carries a lot of risk. Both goalies have been capable starters in the NHL but are injury prone and a few years removed from their best work. Retaining Nedeljkovic and finding a cheaper backup would have been the more sensible approach.

The Hurricanes insist they didn't give an offer sheet to Kotkaniemi out of spite for Montreal's attempt to poach Sebastian Aho a few years back, but the hockey world isn't convinced. Why else would you give a low-ceiling offensive player $6.1 million per season? If Kotkaniemi doesn't pan out, this could be remembered as an all-time blunder.

The unnecessary

Signing DeAngelo after the Rangers bought him out drew plenty of ire from fans across the league. What has the controversial blue-liner done to prove he deserves another chance?

Grade: D+

Columbus Blue Jackets

Key arrivals

Key departures

Re-signed

* Extension beginning in 2022-23

Rookies who could crack the lineup

The Blue Jackets weren't big players in free agency but were still active throughout the offseason. Columbus got a great haul in trading Jones to Chicago and added three projected impact players in the first round of the draft. Its top prospects won't be in the NHL lineup in October but could join for a late-season showcase.

Werenski's extension is pricey, but it was important for Jarmo Kekalainen to secure a core player to a long-term deal after losing so many in recent years. Laine will need a new contract next year, but a fresh start under a new head coach could provide the spark he needs.

Bringing Voracek back seems like a lateral move, but it saves the organization money during its rebuild. Perhaps the veteran playmaker can be the one to feed Laine's lethal one-timer on the power play.

Grade: B

New Jersey Devils

Key arrivals

Key departures

Re-signed

Rookies who could crack the lineup

The Devils took significant strides toward contending with a slew of shrewd moves. Hamilton, of course, was the biggest splash of the summer and he'll anchor New Jersey's top defensive pairing for several years to come. Adding Graves for a second-round pick and a prospect is another move that significantly bolsters the Devils' back end, which has been a weakness for years.

New Jersey also pounced on Tatar, who was somehow available after the initial wave of free-agent signings. His presence on the wing, likely alongside Jack Hughes or Nico Hischier, provides the Devils a veteran presence with strong play-driving and offensive ability. Scoring depth was an area Tom Fitzgerald needed to address in order to progress his rebuild this year.

Last but not least, Jonathan Bernier and Mackenzie Blackwood form a formidable duo in goal. The Devils strengthened their lineup at every position this summer, and it should pay major dividends for a team on an upward trajectory.

Grade: A

New York Islanders

Key arrivals

Key departures

Re-signed

Rookies who could crack the lineup

N/A

Most of the Islanders' work this summer was to retain restricted free agents, and, as usual, general manager Lou Lamoriello managed to keep the cost to a minimum. Some were surprised at Pelech's eight-year contract, but he's an underrated rock on New York's top pairing and a tremendous fit in Barry Trotz's system.

Six years for Cizikas is a lot, but the cost is low and he plays a significant role as well. Everywhere else, the deals are fair for an Islanders team that's missed the Stanley Cup Final by a hair in back-to-back seasons.

Lamoriello's reunion with Parise was the flashiest move New York made this offseason. He's a low-risk, high-reward project and should be motivated as ever to gun for a ring after his stunning buyout from Minnesota.

Grade: B+

New York Rangers

Key arrivals

Key departures

Re-signed

Rookies who could crack the lineup

The Rangers have a terrific core in place and are poised to benefit from Gerard Gallant's hiring as head coach. However, Chris Drury's first offseason in charge was a weird one. The rookie GM overpaid for a depth piece in Goodrow, then dealt a third-round pick for Reaves. Ownership wanted to get tougher after last season's Tom Wilson debacle, so Drury's hand might have been forced, but prioritizing an enforcer for a high-octane team that needs defensive help isn't the wisest course of action.

Hauling Blais and a second-rounder for Buchnevich was also underwhelming. Blais is only under contract for one season and Buchnevich was an underrated piece of New York's offense in a breakout 2020-21. His demands as a restricted free agent may have priced some teams out of the trade market, but it feels like the Rangers could have done better in moving on from the talented winger.

Drury's best work this summer was locking up Shesterkin. His deal is team-friendly and should pay off immediately.

Grade: C-

Philadelphia Flyers

Key arrivals

Key departures

Re-signed

Rookies who could crack the lineup

Like the Hurricanes, the Flyers occupied plenty of the spotlight this offseason. Philadelphia made a handful of blockbuster trades while also retaining several key in-house pieces with contract extensions. And also like the Hurricanes, some of Philly's moves were good, while others were head-scratchers.

Ellis is a star and will help stabilize a defensive unit that struggled last season. Moving on from Patrick only four years after drafting him second overall is disappointing for the organization, but Philly came away with the best player in the three-way trade that ultimately sent Patrick to Vegas.

The Ristolainen trade is where the Flyers' offseason vision becomes murky. The former Sabres blue-liner is one of the league's worst defenders by several metrics, and Philly gave up a first- and second-round pick to acquire one year of his services. Shipping Gostisbehere and two picks to Arizona for future considerations was another puzzling trade by Chuck Fletcher. Surely, he could have gotten something in return for a player of Gostisbehere's stature.

Fletcher does deserve credit for locking up Couturier and Farabee to long-term deals at fair prices. Hart's contract will provide strong value as well if the young netminder rediscovers his form.

Grade: C+

Pittsburgh Penguins

Key arrivals

Key departures

Re-signed

Rookies who could crack the lineup

It was a quiet offseason in Pittsburgh, as the perennially cap-strapped Penguins had little financial flexibility to make any moves of significance. Losing McCann and Tanev hurts the Pens' depth, but Ron Hextall managed to scoop up some cheap replacements and remain cap compliant. Role players will be of the utmost importance early in 2021-22, as Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin will be sidelined to start the year.

Pittsburgh's biggest need heading into the summer was goaltending, as Tristan Jarry's dismal playoff performance sunk the club in the first round. There were lots of reliable netminding options available, but the Penguins stayed the course and hired a new goalie coach instead of signing someone new. How that decision pans out will likely determine the fate of the club's season.

Grade: C

Washington Capitals

Key arrivals

Vanecek was re-acquired after being claimed by Seattle in the expansion draft.

Key departures

Re-signed

Rookies who could crack the lineup

The Capitals were another team with a subdued offseason. Rumors swirled about the club potentially trading Evgeny Kuznetsov, but nothing materialized. A deal involving the Russian pivot could have awarded Washington some much-needed cap space, but the club ultimately allocated its dough toward Ovechkin's shiny extension. Hard to fault them for that.

Ovi's new deal, though expected, was one of the biggest stories of the offseason. Five more years of the captain in Washington means Wayne Gretzky's goal record is officially in danger, and with nothing else of theirs to grade, we commend the Capitals for providing the hockey world with the opportunity to witness history.

Grade: C+

(Salary source: Cap Friendly)

Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

San Jose Sharks forward Evander Kane believes he'll be cleared in the NHL's investigation of his estranged wife's allegations that he gambled and threw his own games.

"Obviously (the accusations are) incredibly false. It's unfortunate that transpired, and it's unfortunate that those false allegations were made," Kane told ESPN's Linda Cohn.

"I understood the magnitude of them immediately," he added. "I know (they're) not true. I know none of what she was saying was true. I was very confident, comfortable with knowing that I was going to be exonerated and am going to be exonerated of those allegations."

Kane's wife, Anna, shared the allegations on Instagram in July. He denied the claims, and the NHL promptly announced it would investigate. The results of the league's probe are expected to be released before training camps open next week.

The veteran is adamant he's never gambled on an NHL game, but he told Cohn his addiction led to him filing for bankruptcy earlier this year.

"When you have a problem, sometimes you can't control your decision-making at that time. I think that was an example of my problem getting the better of me. I had a gambling problem. And when you have a gambling problem, just like a drinking problem or a drug problem, sometimes you can't control your actions," Kane said.

"You just keep digging a deeper hole," he continued. "At the end of the day, it's something that I went through and I'm looking forward to moving (on)."

Kane is under contract with the Sharks for four more seasons at $7 million per campaign. He led with club with 49 points over 56 games in 2020-21, but reports surfaced this offseason that San Jose tried to trade the 30-year-old and several teammates don't want him back.

There's a modified no-trade clause in his contract for the remainder of the deal that only allows him to be moved to three teams of his choosing.

Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Toronto Maple Leafs and Buffalo Sabres will battle in the 2022 Heritage Classic at Tim Hortons Field in Hamilton on March 13, the league announced Thursday.

The venue is the home of the CFL's Hamilton Tiger-Cats. It typically holds 23,000 spectators but can be expanded to 40,000 depending on the event.

"We are excited to announce that we will be presenting another Tim Hortons Heritage Classic this season," NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said. "When the Toronto Maple Leafs meet the Buffalo Sabres at Tim Hortons Field in Hamilton, we again will honor Canada's preeminent role in the history of our game while renewing a great and longstanding NHL rivalry. In addition, by inviting the first U.S.-based team to a Heritage Classic, we will celebrate the greater Golden Horseshoe region as the home of so many fans of both the Leafs and Sabres."

This will be the sixth edition of the Heritage Classic. The event began in 2003 and was most recently played in 2019 in Regina, Saskatchewan.

The Sabres will be considered the home team, as the game was initially scheduled on the same date at the KeyBank Center.

The NHL has two outdoor games scheduled next season before the Leafs and Sabres clash. The Minnesota Wild and St. Louis Blues will take part in the Winter Classic, and the Nashville Predators and Tampa Bay Lightning battle in a Stadium Series contest.

Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Arizona Coyotes named veteran executive John Ferguson Jr. assistant general manager, the team announced Wednesday.

Ferguson spent the past seven seasons as the Boston Bruins executive director of player personnel and general manager of the AHL's Providence Bruins. His duties with the Coyotes will include running their farm team, the Tucson Roadrunners.

"We are very pleased to name John as our new assistant general manager," GM Bill Armstrong said. "John is extremely knowledgeable about the game and with 20-plus years in the NHL, brings a tremendous amount of experience to our hockey operations department. We are thrilled to have him join our team and I am looking forward to working with him."

Ferguson's executive career has included stints with the St. Louis Blues, San Jose Sharks, and Toronto Maple Leafs, where he was vice president and general manager for four seasons.

The 54-year-old also helped guide Team Canada to a gold medal at the 2007 world championship.

Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Edmonton Oilers general manager Ken Holland believes his club will blossom from playoff hopefuls to Stanley Cup threats this upcoming season.

"The time is now," Holland said, per Sportsnet's Mark Spector. "In my mind, the time to try and take a step. We've been 12th in the league, 11th in the league. But the aspirations are far greater than that."

He continued: "The Stanley Cup doesn't just happen. You evolve, you grow. You have multiple chances. You have disappointments.

"In '93, '94, '95 we couldn't get it done in Detroit. By '98 we had the blueprint and the recipe."

The Oilers finished second in the North Division last season, but were stunned in a first-round sweep by the Winnipeg Jets. A year prior, Edmonton was eliminated in the play-in round by the 12th-seeded Chicago Blackhawks.

Holland had a busy offseason trying to rectify the club's playoff woes, bringing in Zach Hyman, Warren Foegele, Duncan Keith, and Cody Ceci to reinforce the lineup. He also re-signed Ryan-Nugent Hopkins as well as Tyson Barrie and gave Darnell Nurse a lucrative eight-year extension.

"I wanted to bring in some people who have won before," Holland said. "(Zach) Hyman is 29, Foegele is 25 - they're in the prime of their careers. Duncan Keith is going to have a lesser role (than Chicago), but he's bringing in his resume. He's played in lots of situations at the international level and National Hockey League level. He's been brought in for what he can do on and off the ice."

NHL training camps open next week. The Oilers' regular season commences Oct. 13.

Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Columbus Blue Jackets replaced assistant coach Sylvain Lefebvre on Brad Larsen's staff after he refused to get the COVID-19 vaccine, the team announced Monday.

Steve McCarthy, who's been behind the bench with Columbus' AHL affiliate for the past five seasons, will join the Blue Jackets in place of Lefebvre.

"While we are disappointed, we respect that this decision is a personal one for Sylvain and wish him well," general manager Jarmo Kekalainen said. "We feel fortunate to have an outstanding coach join our club in Steve McCarthy, who has played in this league, won championships as a player, and been an important member of our hockey operations department as an assistant coach in Cleveland."

The Blue Jackets hired Lefebvre in June. He previously worked with the AHL's San Diego Gulls after playing nearly 1,000 games in the NHL from 1989 to 2003.

The NHL sent a memo to all teams in August stating that all hockey operations personnel are required to be fully vaccinated for the 2021-22 season.

Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.