Lindell's first big-money contract comes at an average annual value of $5.8 million and keeps the 24-year-old in Dallas until the end of the 2024-25 season.
The Finnish blue-liner logged a team-high 1553:37 of ice time at five-on-five this season and led the club with 161 blocked shots. He tallied career highs in goals (11) and points (32) in his third full NHL campaign.
Dallas selected the 6-foot-3 rearguard in the third round of the 2012 draft.
With blue-chip defenseman John Klingberg under contract through 2021-22, the Stars have locked up the core of their blue line for the next several years.
Still, with Ben Lovejoy, Roman Polak, and Taylor Fedun scheduled to become unrestricted free agents July 1, and Julius Honka coming off his entry-level deal, the Stars will have to make some important decisions to round out their defense corps.
Anthony Mantha scored two goals as Canada defeated France 5-2 for their third straight victory at the worlds.
After Mantha opened the scoring, Darnell Nurse and Anthony Cirelli gave Canada a 3-0 advantage heading into the first intermission.
Damien Fleury potted the lone goal in the second frame to get France on the board. Anthony Rech made it a one-goal game just minutes into the third period, but Mantha's second of the contest put Canada back in control before Mark Stone delivered the dagger with 10 minutes to play.
France will look to capture their first win of the tournament when they take on host Slovakia on Thursday.
After dropping their tournament opener to Finland, Canada has rallied and now sit in second place in Group A.
If the National Hockey League, its fans, and the media didn't believe that prior to Wednesday night, the hand-pass debacle in overtime of Game 3 of the Western Conference Final eliminated all doubt.
Officiating shouldn’t be the prevailing talking point following an entertaining 5-4 win by the San Jose Sharks over the St. Louis Blues. It shouldn't have led the discussion after Game 7 of the Sharks-Avalanche second-round series, but it did because of the Gabriel Landeskog offside snafu. There was also the major penalty called on Cody Eakin in Game 7 of the hard-fought Sharks-Golden Knights opening-round matchup, which dramatically altered the final result.
And here we are. Again.
Off the top, let's state the obvious: Wednesday’s on-ice officials deserve a chunk of the finger-pointing. Referees Dan O'Rourke and Marc Joannette and linesmen Matt MacPherson and Jonny Murray all missed Timo Meier’s hand pass that led to Erik Karlsson's game-winning goal and a 2-1 series lead for the Sharks. Those officials are at the top of their profession, they've survived the playoff cuts to work the third round, and they're expected to perform under pressure. They didn’t.
Dilip Vishwanat / Getty Images
Nobody's perfect at their job, but that doesn’t make the blunder any easier to swallow for the Blues. Afterward, GM Doug Armstrong reportedly yelled profanities at the officials room, head coach Craig Berube sternly declined comment, and captain Alex Petriangelo wondered aloud if there are separate sets of rules for the Sharks, a team that's been on the happy end of all three controversial moments listed above.
So, yes, there are human beings responsible for not blowing the play dead before the goal, and they'll face consequences in the court of public opinion. You'd be hard-pressed to find someone in the hockey world who doesn’t believe that the officials - as well-intentioned as they are - screwed this one up. Their superiors can't be pleased.
Dilip Vishwanat / Getty Images
Which brings us to the NHL and its rule book, which turns the referees' on-ice mistake into something much bigger.
Rule 38.4 states only the following sequences are eligible for video review:
Puck crossing the line
Puck in the net prior to the net being dislodged
Puck in the net prior to, or after, expiration of time at the end of the period
Puck directed in by a distinct kicking motion
Puck directed, batted, or thrown into the net by an attacking player other than with the stick
Puck deflected directly into the net off an official
Puck struck with a high-stick, above the height of the crossbar, by an attacking player prior to entering the goal
To establish the correct time on the official game clock, provided the game time is visible on the video goal judge's monitors
To assist the referees in determining the legitimacy of all potential goals (e.g. to ensure they are "good hockey goals")
You’ll notice all of these plays have something in common: They relate directly to a goal being scored, not to the sequence of events leading up to a goal. Therefore, under the current system, a hand pass such as Meier’s doesn't meet the criteria. (Coach's challenges can involve actions leading up to a goal, but only with regard to goalie interference and missed offside calls.)
This is where the blame game gets tricky.
Technically, the NHL's off-ice decision-makers - from commissioner Gary Bettman all the way down to Sharks-Blues series supervisor Kay Whitmore - are at the mercy of the rule book. They can't ignore it just because of the high stakes, or because the call on the ice was clearly wrong. Making exceptions to the rules is a slippery slope.
(A counterargument to the above: Some refs alter their interpretation of the rule book come playoff time and put their whistle away. Suddenly, fewer penalties are issued and dirtier plays are permitted. If the rule book is being followed with regard to reviewing contentious plays, like offsides and goals, why isn't it being followed in other ways?)
Nick Roy / theScore
In March, I spent some time in the league's video review center in Toronto (also known as the Situation Room). One main takeaway from that night applies to Wednesday's madness: The rule book is god. There is no wiggle room for adjustments on the fly.
No matter the call, the folks tasked with reviewing it always defer to what's laid out on the page. It's a process with no improvisation. The Situation Room, led by director of hockey operations Colin Campbell, comes to a consensus based on video and rules. That's it. No personal preferences or opinions are considered until after the review is over and the debriefing begins.
In the latest case, since the play was not subject for review, the league's hands were tied. "It's just non-reviewable," Whitmore told pool reporter Jeremy Rutherford afterward. "I know that sounds like a cop-out answer, but that's the truth."
The NHL is not off the hook, mind you. This is a league that has struggled greatly with video review over the years, and the bubble has officially burst. The conversation always seems to circle back to the list of what's reviewable. At this point, given what has transpired this postseason, it's fair to expect more types of plays will be reviewable in the future. But where will the league draw the line?
Jeff Vinnick / Getty Images
The argument against additional reviews has always centered on the length of games and fans tuning out because minutes are being spent watching endless replays and officials huddled around an iPad. However, the past month or so seems to have shifted public opinion toward taking the time to get calls right versus being wrong but slow.
What happens next will be fascinating. The NHL's 31 general managers hold the hammer. Along with the board of governors, they have the power to change the way the game is officiated by instituting new rules and guidelines. Could we one day see two refs on the ice and another in the press box, as suggested Thursday morning by Carolina Hurricanes coach Rod Brind'Amour? In the end, as NHL VP of hockey ops Rod Pasma noted inside the Situation Room in March, "The managers are our compass.”
The GMs are scheduled to meet in Vancouver on June 20, and you can bet video review will lead the agenda. At this point, our sanity depends on change of some kind.
It's tough to gauge what goes on behind closed doors inside NHL dressing rooms. Fans and media may believe a player fits as a team's captain due to their on-ice performance and the way in which they carry themselves in interviews, but it's their teammates and coaches who best know who the real leaders are.
Here, we predict who the six captainless organizations believe is their best leader and hand the "C" to next.
Detroit Red Wings
Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / Getty
Last captain: Henrik Zetterberg (2012-2018) Prediction: Dylan Larkin
This is a no-brainer.
Larkin was born in Michigan, went to the University of Michigan, and was a first-round pick by the Red Wings in 2014. Picking the next captain likely isn't Detroit's priority, but Larkin is the team's undisputed best player and the face of its youth movement, and has already displayed maturity beyond his years.
The Red Wings have had just three captains since 1986-87, so you can bet this decision will not be made in haste. However, there frankly aren't really any other contenders on the roster.
New York Rangers
Jonathan Kozub / National Hockey League / Getty
Last captain: Ryan McDonagh (2014-2018) Prediction: Mika Zibanejad
It's possible the Rangers go another season without a captain, but there's seemingly no point in delaying the inevitable of handing the honor to Zibanejad.
The Swede took major strides this past season. He led the team in goals and assists, and also paced all forwards in penalty-kill ice time, power-play ice time, and overall minutes. He's David Quinn's go-to guy and was often applauded for his effort level.
New York has already shipped out most of its veterans, and the ones who remain - such as Chris Kreider - may not have much longer. At 26, Zibanejad is already one of the team's more senior players and seems fit to lead the new wave of Rangers.
Ottawa Senators
Andrea Cardin / National Hockey League / Getty
Last captain: Erik Karlsson (2014-2018) Prediction: Brady Tkachuk (for 2020-21 season)
Ottawa's roster has been stripped of most of its core veterans. Those who remain - Zack Smith, Jean-Gabriel Pageau, Mark Borowiecki, and Bobby Ryan - don't exactly scream captain material. It makes the most sense to hand the captaincy to a player who will (ideally) be with the Senators for a long time.
As the two faces of the organization's rebuild, Tkachuk and Thomas Chabot are the most probable candidates. Tkachuk is only 19 years old but appears ready to be a leader. Ottawa will likely go another season without a captain, but after one more year in the league, Tkachuk should get the opportunity to wear the "C."
Toronto Maple Leafs
Bruce Bennett / Getty Images Sport / Getty
Last captain: Dion Phaneuf (2010-2016) Prediction: Auston Matthews
It seemed like a foregone conclusion after the 2017-18 season that Matthews would be the next captain for the Maple Leafs. However, the acquisition of John Tavares - who has five years of captain experience - and the emergence of Morgan Rielly makes the decision far less obvious.
While there seemingly isn't a wrong answer, Matthews is the franchise player and still the best candidate; the team looks to him with the game on the line, and more often than not, he delivers.
Vancouver Canucks
Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / Getty
Last captain: Henrik Sedin (2010-2018) Prediction: Bo Horvat
This is a rather obvious decision. Elias Pettersson may be the face of the franchise, but Horvat is the heart and soul of the Canucks. He does everything a coach could ask for and excels at it. At 24 years old, Horvat appears to be extremely mature, both on the ice and off it.
Tenured veterans Alex Edler and Chris Tanev could be considered, but neither appear to be in the long-term plans. Meanwhile, Horvat is signed through the 2022-23 campaign.
Vegas Golden Knights
Ethan Miller / Getty Images Sport / Getty
Last captain: N/A Prediction: Mark Stone (for 2020-21 season)
Through two years of existence, the Golden Knights have yet to name a captain. Las Vegas resident Deryk Engelland would've been the logical choice upon inception but is now a pending unrestricted free agent. There's a case to be made for Nate Schmidt - and perhaps a few others - but none make as much sense as Stone.
Stone is a coach's dream. This perennial Selke Trophy winner plays a complete game and makes the most of his skill set, and his teammates seem to be drawn to him. It also doesn't hurt that he signed an eight-year extension upon his arrival.
It makes sense to wait another year so Stone has a full season under his belt in his new surroundings before taking on the pressure of wearing the "C," but all signs point to him being the franchise's first captain.
The St. Louis Blues didn't hold back after Game 3 of the Western Conference Final ended on a controversial goal.
San Jose Sharks defenseman Erik Karlsson scored the overtime winner around five minutes into the extra frame, but officials missed what appeared to be a hand pass prior to the goal - which was not eligible for video review.
Blues general manager Doug Armstrong made his feelings known after the loss.
#stlblues GM Doug Armstrong just slammed his hand on the officials door. Very upset, yelled "(expletive) garbage."
St. Louis captain Alex Pietrangelo was also unhappy with the missed call.
"I didn't really get an explanation," Pietrangelo told reporters postgame. "I guess there's a different set of rules for two different teams. I'm sure they'll lose some sleep tonight after looking at it."
Pietrangelo then proceeded to laugh when asked if he saw a hand pass.
David Perron described the final play as an "unacceptable" way for the game to end.
"Yeah, it was a hand pass," said Perron, who scored twice in the losing effort. "But we're going to try and move forward and the league's going to take care of it like they've done in the past so far in the playoffs."
Blues head coach Craig Berube chose not to comment on the goal.
The Sharks have now benefited from three controversial calls thus far in the postseason. There was a questionable five-minute major against the Vegas Golden Knights in the first round, which was followed by a successful offside challenge that negated a Colorado Avalanche goal in Round 2.
Game 4 takes place Friday night in St. Louis with San Jose holding a 2-1 series lead.
Fresh off a playoff run in which the Colorado Avalanche were one win away from their first Western Conference Final berth since 2002, general manager Joe Sakic plans on using this summer's free-agency period to help his club take the next step.
"It's a pretty good class this year," Sakic said at his end-of-season media availability. "(We) already have targeted players in mind if they become available that we're gonna want to talk to about joining our club. We see positions of need, of what we're looking to do. There's a few guys that we're gonna want to talk to if they become available. We'll be more aggressive this year ... but if it doesn't work out with the players that we want to talk to we're not just gonna go spend on anybody. We want the right players and the right fit."
The Avs are projected to have more than $31 million in cap space this summer, per Cap Friendly. Even factoring a potential cap hit of $8 million-$10 million for a new contract for young superstar Mikko Rantanen, Sakic will have plenty of leftover space to work with.
The Avalanche have qualified for the playoffs in each of the past two seasons, and Sakic has built a promising young core - centered around Rantanen, Nathan MacKinnon, and Cale Makar - that appears ready to contend for years to come.
Toronto Maple Leafs president Brendan Shanahan understands the challenges that lie ahead for his team in the salary cap era.
The 50-year-old executive signed a six-year extension with the club Tuesday and was transparent about the Maple Leafs' cap situation as they continue their effort to end a 52-year Stanley Cup drought.
“As long as we are hopefully a Stanley Cup contender we will have cap issues, so Toronto should get used to that," Shanahan said, according to Sportsnet 590 The Fan’s Prime Time Sports.
"The better you become, the less peaceful it is, the more anxiety there is, because each decision means more and so you still have problems,” he added. “They’re just better problems."
The Maple Leafs face a challenging summer, with young blue-chipper Mitch Marner lined up for his first big-money contract, and valuable core pieces Kasperi Kapanen and Andreas Johnsson also becoming restricted free agents.
When it comes to Marner, the two sides are still early in the negotiation process, but Shanahan said he had a positive meeting with the 22-year-old's agent Tuesday.
“I have a lot of respect for Darren Ferris,” Shanahan said. “Obviously, our admiration for Mitch and how he plays the game and how he evolved this year and how he developed, rounded out his game and added, not even just his offensive creativity and prowess but penalty killing and just his overall game has improved so much, so it was a positive meeting."
With John Tavares' $11-million contract and Auston Matthews $11.63-million on the books next season, the Leafs may end up rostering three players making $10-plus million.
Shanahan understands that while staying beneath the cap and remaining competitive in the long run is difficult, it's a privilege to be in a situation where you have a chance to lock up high-end talent.
“When we’re not dealing with cap issues, we’re probably rebuilding,” he said.
