It was just like old times at the San Jose Sharks' practice facility on Monday.

Former NHL defenseman Christian Ehrhoff, who spent the first five seasons of his career with the Sharks, bumped into franchise icons Joe Thornton and Patrick Marleau, who were skating together at the practice rink.

Thornton, 40, remains unsigned, but already committed to playing in the 2019-20 season and said he'd do so only with the Sharks.

Marleau is also a free agent. He was traded by the Toronto Maple Leafs to the Carolina Hurricanes in June and was subsequently bought out. The soon-to-be 40-year-old had a full no-movement clause and was eyeing a move back to the west coast for family reasons. He said in June that "it would be nice to come back (to San Jose) and play where I started."

If the two veterans do return to the Sharks, it'll have to be on hometown discounts. The Sharks have $4.68 million remaining in projected cap space with 11 forwards signed, according to CapFriendly. Marleau carried a $6.25-million cap hit in 2018-19 while Thornton earned $5 million last season.

Thornton and Marleau are widely regarded as the two greatest players in Sharks history. Thornton remained productive with 51 points in 73 games last year and Marleau managed to chip in 37 points in 82 contests with the Leafs.

- With h/t to NBC Sports

Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Cody Ceci and his common-law partner, Jamie Thompson, are being sued by a guest at a May 2018 dinner party, according to the Ottawa Citizen's Aedan Helmer.

Hana Engel suffered second- and third-degree burns covering 35 percent of her body as a result of an incident during which Thompson tried to refill a burner on an outdoor tabletop fireplace and accidentally ignited Engel with flaming liquid fuel.

Thompson squirted the ethanol into the burner "without checking to determine if the burner had cooled and/or completely extinguished," causing "flames and ethanol to jet out of the bottle," according to the lawsuit. She then "immediately threw the burning bottle in Hana's direction."

"Hana's clothing caught fire and she was immediately engulfed in flames," the lawsuit states.

Engel was placed in a medically induced coma and required 18 hours of surgeries and skin grafts over three separate operations. She's seeking $6 million for "loss of income, loss of competitive advantage in the marketplace, and loss of economic opportunities," $500,000 for "pain and suffering, loss of amenities, and loss of enjoyment of life," and $300,000 in damages for "loss of housekeeping and homemaking capacity."

None of Ceci, Thompson, nor Clair de Lune Products Inc. - the manufacturer of the tabletop ethanol fireplace - have filed a statement on the matter. Clair de Lune stopped selling the fireplace after the incident, according to the lawsuit.

Jake Cardwell, Engel's partner and Ceci's former teammate in junior, is also listed as a plaintiff. He's seeking $500,000 for the value of "nursing, attendant care, and other services, including loss of income," $200,000 in damages for "loss of care, guidance, and companionship," and $200,000 for "nervous shock" and "intentional infliction of mental suffering and emotional distress."

Cardwell "watched in helpless horror" as he tried to put out the flames with the help of other guests. He was playing overseas in the Czech Republic but had to take a leave of absence to care for Engel.

Engel's parents are also listed as plaintiffs, as they are seeking $700,000 in damages for nursing, attendant care, and other services. Her siblings are also seeking $200,000 in a similar claim.

The lawsuit states: "Hana has undergone indescribable emotional trauma and personal upheaval" as a result of the incident, her injuries, scars, and impairments, which include emotional distress and post-traumatic stress inflicted "by the incident itself (and) by the complete and permanent change to Hana's appearance."

Engel owned and operated a yoga studio in Ottawa but has been unable to return to work.

The suit claims Ceci "failed to inform himself and Thompson of the hazards," failed to warn the invited guests, and "failed to keep his premises safe." It also claims both Thompson and Ceci were "intoxicated and unable to appreciate the danger and ought not to have used dangerous or ignitable objects such as the fireplace."

Ceci was traded from Ottawa Senators to Toronto on July 1 and signed a one-year, $4.5-million contract with the Leafs a few days later.

Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Toronto Maple Leafs center John Tavares - who grew up in nearby Oakville and signed a seven-year deal with his hometown club last summer - understands the importance of possibly being the captain of the historic franchise.

The Maple Leafs haven't had a captain since Dion Phaneuf was traded in 2016, but that could change this season. However, Tavares isn't concerned about who the "C" is handed to, if anyone at all.

"I think it's a very special and significant role being with the Maple Leafs and the history of it," Tavares told TSN on Sunday. "There hasn't been one here for a little while, so certainly there can be a lot made about it, but we have so many good quality people and players in our locker room we know it’s not going to change."

Both Tavares and Morgan Rielly were alternate captains last season, and either - along with Auston Matthews - could be candidates to don the "C" this year.

"I think we will have a good idea when the time is right. I think we have plenty of guys that can fill that role and do a great job at it," Tavares continued.

"I think that's a real special thing to have when you have so many quality people and quality players that can really fill that role and really embrace that opportunity. Obviously, there's special significance to it, so when the time is right, I know that they will address it and do that if it’s necessary."

Tavares, who will turn 29 before the start of the season, is already the fifth-oldest player on the young squad. He scored a career-high 47 goals in his first season in Toronto.

Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Juuso Valimaki's torn ACL is forcing the Calgary Flames to scour the trade market for reinforcements on the blue line.

General manager Brad Treliving said Monday that the team will look for external help on defense on top of identifying internal options, according to Sportsnet's Pat Steinberg. Treliving noted that Oliver Kylington is a natural internal option, but said the club will also start looking at trade options shortly.

Here's the Flames' depth chart on defense:

The top four is seemingly set in stone, although both Brodie and Hamonic are on the final year of their contracts.

Valimaki, the 16th overall pick in 2017, was expected to be a big part of the team's defense this year after skating in 24 games during his rookie season.

Kylington, a second-round pick in 2015, seems primed for a greater role barring a major addition to the roster. He tallied eight points in 38 contests last year.

While Treliving only mentioned the trade market, a handful of veteran options remaining in free agency could provide Calgary's blue line with some depth on the left side, including Niklas Kronwall, Andrew MacDonald, and Dion Phaneuf.

The Flames have under $8 million left in cap space and still need to sign Matthew Tkachuk. The team will need to move money around if Calgary adds a player with a significant cap hit.

Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Calgary Flames defenseman Juuso Valimaki will require surgery after tearing his ACL during offseason training and is out indefinitely, general manager Brad Treliving announced Monday.

"It's terrible news," Treliving said. "It's terrible news for Juuso, and certainly, unfortunate news for our club.

"He's a really good young player who we expected to take a big step and move forward this year. It's tough. I feel horrible for him. He's had a terrific summer in terms of preparing. He was really taking some big steps forward and was excited about making an impact on our team this year."

The Flames drafted Valimaki 16th overall in 2017 and he made his NHL debut last season. The 20-year-old went on to appear in 24 regular-season games, posting three points while averaging 15:23 of ice time per contest.

Valimaki also registered 14 points in 20 AHL games with the Stockton Heat during 2018-19.

Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Carolina Hurricanes have signed team president and general manager Don Waddell to a multi-year contract extension, the team announced Monday.

"Don's leadership and experience are invaluable to our organization and I'm happy we were able to reach an extension," owner Tom Dundon said. "Don and I have a great relationship and he is someone I trust. I'm excited to continue to build a championship team with Don."

Waddell joined the Hurricanes in 2014 and was named the team's general manager in 2018. Carolina snapped a 10-year playoff drought and advanced to the Eastern Conference Final in Waddell's first season as the GM. He was named one of the finalists for GM of the Year.

Drama intensified surrounding Waddell's place with the Hurricanes after he interviewed with the Minnesota Wild for their GM vacancy last week. He'd previously said in May that he'd be back with Carolina despite being without a contract.

Before his Hurricanes tenure, Waddell served as the general manager of the Atlanta Thrashers from 1998-2010 and as an assistant GM with the Detroit Red Wings during the 1997-98 season.

Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.