Montreal Canadiens general manager Marc Bergevin says he's not interested in signing veteran defenseman Andrei Markov, as the club is looking to get younger.

“Two years ago, his contract was due, we made an offer,” Bergevin told Marc Denis of RDS on a special edition of “Table d’hote” that aired on Saturday night. “Efforts were made to sign it and he chose another direction that was the KHL. It was two years ago.

“Since that time, things have changed,” Bergevin added. “The player has aged. The organization has changed direction. We have a lot of young people growing up... We really want to give our young people a chance.”

Markov spent 16 years with the Canadiens before inking a deal with Kazan Ak-Bars of the KHL prior to the 2017-18 season. Last month, the 40-year-old who's pursuing an NHL return expressed his desire to play in Montreal again.

Bergevin regards defensemen Noah Juulsen, Victor Mete, Josh Brook, and Alexander Romanov as examples of young, promising prospects he's looking to develop.

Markov is just 10 games shy of becoming the sixth Canadiens player to play 1,000 contests for the team. The Russian rearguard ranks sixth in both games played (990) and assists (453) in franchise history.

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Every season we see a crop of talented players take their production to the next level.

If you missed out on emerging playmakers like Elias Lindholm, Alex DeBrincat, or Mitch Marner last campaign, you won't want to overlook these potential breakout candidates in 2019-20.

Nico Hischier, C, Devils

Although Hischier was mired by injuries in 2018-19, he was on pace for a higher point total than his rookie campaign. The Swiss talent is in the final year of his entry-level contract, giving him more incentive to put together his finest season yet.

Over the last 20 years, there's a steady track record of highly touted talents taking off during their third NHL season, and we expect Hischier to do the same - especially with Taylor Hall healthy.

The duo of Hischier and Hall appeared in only 29 games together last season. With Hall in the lineup, Hischier mustered 0.75 points per game compared to 0.63 without him. The latter mark is still commendable for a second-year center tasked with catalyzing an offensively weak roster while also fulfilling his defensive duties.

The Devils got stronger at both ends of the ice this offseason with the additions of P.K. Subban, Wayne Simmonds, Jack Hughes, and Nikita Gusev. The improved depth should give Hischier more opportunity to capitalize, particularly on the power play. Assuming he stays healthy, Hischier can certainly break the 70-point mark and muster 25-to-30 goals.

Ondrej Kase, RW, Ducks

Kase has shown he's got all the tools to produce at a high level - he just needs more opportunities to contribute. With Corey Perry out of the mix, Kase is a strong option to pair alongside perennial playmaker Ryan Getzlaf on the Ducks' top line.

The 5-foot-11 winger tallied 38 points in 66 games in 2017-18 and was on pace for a 54-point breakout campaign in 2018-19 before injuries derailed his season. When healthy, The 23-year-old has proven to be a consistent offensive threat, ranking second in the league in shots per 60 minutes and 13th in high-danger scoring chances (per 60) last season.

Kase is extremely skilled with the puck. He's among the top players in the league in terms of zone entries and exits, and is far better in this department when compared to Perry. The talented Czech also led the league in rush attempts per 60 minutes, and if he's penciled in on the top unit, he should help Ducks sniper Rickard Rakell return to form.

Philipp Grubauer, G, Avalanche

With longtime starter Semyon Varlamov signing in Long Island this offseason, Grubauer has finally landed the No. 1 role he's earned. The German has quietly been one of the best backup goalies in the league, posting a career 2.39 goals-against average and a .921 save percentage over 138 career games.

When the Avalanche leaned on him during a critical late-season stretch in 2018-19, his play never wavered. Grubauer went 9-2-2 with a .955 save percentage over his last 15 starts to help the club capture the final playoff berth in the Western Conference. He then went on to stifle the top-seeded Calgary Flames in Round 1, allowing just 10 goals in the team's five-game series victory.

Grubauer will likely start 50-plus games for an Avalanche team poised to take another step, which should translate to a high number of wins. A full year of Cale Makar on the back end will help, and the acquisition of two-way center Nazem Kadri also benefits the club defensively.

Andreas Johnsson, LW, Maple Leafs

The argument could be made Johnsson announced his arrival with a 43-point rookie season in 2018-19, but we'll consider him a breakout candidate because we believe he can take his production up another level.

The 24-year-old is likely to start the season on a line with Auston Matthews and William Nylander. That trio spent limited time together last season, but when aligned, posted a Corsi-For of 57.53 and owned a 61.5 share percentage of high-danger scoring chances. With the Tavares line drawing a ton of difficult matchups, expect those three to run wild once again.

Johnsson found the majority of his success (16 goals, 36 points) at even strength, which is a strong indication he doesn't need to rely on the man advantage to be effective. In fact, the electric winger ranked ninth among Leafs forwards in power-play ice time last season, and with the absence of Nazem Kadri, Patrick Marleau, and Tyler Ennis, he should become a staple on the second unit.

With his incredible speed and skill, Johnsson could certainly reach the 30-goal mark and land between 55-to-60 points.

Miro Heiskanen, D, Stars

Heiskanen had a sensational rookie season that landed him in a unique class. Only 12 first-year defensemen have hit the 33-point mark since 2009-10, and none of them scored more goals than the smooth-skating Finn, who tallied 12 last season.

What's more impressive about the then-19-year-old's early production is that he did it for an offensively thin team that finished 29th in scoring. However, the Stars bolstered their attack this offseason with the acquisitions of Joe Pavelski and Corey Perry, and expect more production out of developing talents Roope Hintz and Denis Gurianov.

The rookie logged an impressive 23:07 of ice time per game last season, including 1:39 on the power play. His minutes may not increase dramatically in Year 2, but he should receive an uptick in usage and see more opportunities with the man advantage.

All advanced stats courtesy of NaturalStatTrick / A3Z comparison by CJ Turtoro

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The Los Angeles Kings have signed goaltender Jack Campbell to a two-year contract extension with an average annual value of $1.65 million, the team announced Saturday.

Campbell was set to become an unrestricted free agent at the end of this season, and his new deal will go into effect at the start of the 2020-21 campaign.

The 27-year-old appeared in 31 games for the Kings in 2018-19 and posted a record of 10-14-1 to go along with a 2.30 goals-against average, a .928 save percentage, and two shutouts.

The 6-foot-2 netminder was acquired by the Kings from the Dallas Stars in June 2016 and has made 38 career appearances.

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Auston Matthews isn't impressed with recent talk that he'll leave the Toronto Maple Leafs for an American market once his current deal expires.

Last week, former NHL executive Brian Burke joined Sportsnet 590 The FAN and expressed his confidence that Matthews will head south after his contract runs out, citing the tax differences between Canada and the Untied States.

"We haven't even started my first year (on the new contract) and then this?" Matthews said on Friday, according to NHL.com's Mike Zeisberger. "I think it's just August, there was nothing going on, why not just spark up a controversy. How better to do that than to talk about the Toronto Maple Leafs."

Matthews signed a five-year, $56.17-million pact with the Maple Leafs in February. He would have been a restricted free agent this offseason

The San Ramon, California native grew up in the Phoenix area, and in an interview with The Athletic's Craig Morgan, Matthews said he wants the Arizona Coyotes to be successful, prompting pundits and fans to ponder his long-term intentions.

"It's a little bit disappointing because it's so far away and there is other stuff that could be talked about rather than that," Matthews said. "Obviously you can talk about what you want to talk about. Obviously it creates controversy and will get you a lot of clicks. But it's not really something that bothers me or that I look at because I'm just looking at today and this season and doing the best I can."

Since Toronto drafted him first overall in 2016, Matthews has thrived while leading the Maple Leafs in goals (111) and points per game (0.97).

"I love playing in Toronto," he said. "It's unbelievable. It's the best city to play in in the NHL. Our fans are amazing. The history of the organization is incredible. The spotlight and all of that is something that kind of comes with it and it's something I've learned to embrace and kind of gone with."

The Maple Leafs host the Ottawa Senators on Oct. 2 to kick off their 2019-20 campaign.

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Boston Bruins captain Zdeno Chara isn't certain he'll be in the lineup for the team's first regular-season game on Oct. 3.

"I'm not sure," Chara said, according to The Boston Globe's Matt Porter. "I think I should be, but it's a process of making sure there are no setbacks or any discomfort."

The 42-year-old suffered a broken jaw when he took a deflected puck to the face during Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final against the St. Louis Blues. Chara had plates and screws inserted in his mouth but, incredibly, didn't miss a game. He also had surgery after the playoffs to remove loose bodies in his elbow.

Chara said his offseason training was postponed by "six, seven weeks, with all the surgeries I had and all the rehab I had to go through."

"I'm still recovering, still working at being full strength," he said.

The towering defenseman is entering his 22nd NHL season and 14th with the Bruins. He contributed five goals and 14 points in 62 contests in 2018-19.

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Much of the attention in NHL fantasy drafts is directed at the opening rounds, and rightfully so - you can't win your league without some serious star power. But, as is the case in real life, depth pieces can prove key in winning championships. Here are five players to target late in your draft that could help your team become a powerhouse.

Andrei Svechnikov, LW/RW, Hurricanes

After being drafted second overall by the Hurricanes in 2018, Svechnikov quietly went about his business in his rookie campaign, potting 20 goals and 17 assists in 82 games. That stat line isn't eye-popping, but when you consider he's only the seventh 18-year-old to hit the 20-goal mark in a single season during the salary-cap era, you can infer that a serious breakout might be coming.

Svechnikov should be in line for a larger role in Carolina's offense this season, and if the Russian suits up alongside Sebastian Aho and Teuvo Teravainen, his numbers could skyrocket. Factor in some extra power-play time - all 20 of Svechnikov's goals last season came at even strength - and you have a high-quality sleeper candidate.

Elsewhere, Svechnikov posted 189 shots on goal last season despite averaging less than 15 minutes per night, and he added 123 hits to further boost his value.

Josh Morrissey, D, Jets

Your championship roster also needs good finds on the blue line in order to succeed, and Morrissey is a solid option.

Morrissey's point totals have increased in each of his three seasons in the NHL, and he posted a career-high 31 in only 59 games in 2018-19. If the Jets defenseman is healthy, that number should rise again this year, since he should receive top-pairing minutes at even strength and projects to take over power-play time from the departed Jacob Trouba.

If you're in a banger league, Morrissey's peripheral stats offer solid value as well. The 24-year-old should easily crack 100-plus hits and blocks.

Nikita Gusev, LW, Devils

The hockey world is eager to see what Gusev can bring to the NHL, but the mass uncertainty may push him far down some draft boards, providing a perfect opportunity to strike on a player ripe with upside.

Gusev, 27, has been playing against professionals in the KHL for years now, and his stats in his native Russia are impressive. Last season with SKA St. Petersburg, he posted 82 points (17 goals, 65 assists) in 62 games. He's lit it up internationally as well, registering 16 points in 10 games at the World Championship in May and a tournament-leading 12 points in six games at the 2018 Olympics.

His tantalizing skill set could be deployed on a New Jersey power-play unit that also features Taylor Hall, Jack Hughes, and P.K. Subban. If other members of your league are skeptical of this guy in later rounds, pounce.

Anthony Mantha, LW/RW, Red Wings

Mantha is coming off a career-high 25-goal season with Detroit despite being limited to 67 games, showing the high-end promise the Red Wings hoped for when they drafted him 20th overall in 2013.

The soon-to-be 25-year-old primarily spent his time flanking Dylan Larkin in 2018-19, and they put up solid results - a trend that should continue for another year as the Wings' two core pieces keep developing as pros.

Mantha shot the puck more than ever last season, too, but still maintained his career-average shooting percentage of 12.6%, indicating he's a candidate to produce consistently rather than a flash in the pan. He also netted seven goals in nine contests for Canada at the World Championship if you needed any more convincing that this is a player quietly trending toward becoming a premier NHL goal-scorer.

Kevin Labanc, LW/RW, Sharks

Labanc broke out for the Sharks with 56 points last season, and the 23-year-old is in an excellent position to improve his production again in 2019-20.

San Jose lost captain Joe Pavelski in free agency, which opens a hole for Labanc in the Sharks' top six and power play. He ranked eighth on the team in ice time among forwards last season and still tied Evander Kane for sixth among all San Jose players in points.

Labanc also has extra incentive to produce after he raised eyebrows by signing a one-year, $1-million contract to prove himself worthy of a larger payday down the road. The Sharks winger may be getting paid later, but for your fantasy team, he's money in the bank right now.

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