Brady Tkachuk has his sights set on playing in the NHL right away, and he believes he's ready to stick around for the entire campaign.

The Ottawa Senators prospect made that clear when asked what he believes is the best spot for him during the upcoming season.

"I think it's with Ottawa and in the NHL," Tkachuk told TSN 1200 on Monday. "For me it's a dream of mine to play there. I think I'm physically ready and mentally ready for the grind that comes with the NHL. ... At the end of the day, it's where the management thinks is best for me, but I'm going to try my best to be on Ottawa for the whole year."

The fourth overall pick in June's draft signed his entry-level contract with the Senators on Monday, opting to leave Boston University after a solid freshman season in which he posted 31 points in 40 games.

"BU was such a great spot to me, so it was hard to leave, but it had to happen eventually," Tkachuk said. "It's a dream of mine to be in the NHL, and I thought this was the right time."

The Senators have a few options with Tkachuk, who will turn 19 on Sept. 16.

They can give him a spot with the NHL club out of camp and keep him on the big club's roster all season, as he's aiming for. But they could also either loan him to the OHL's London Knights, who own his junior rights, or assign him to their AHL affiliate, the Belleville Senators, perhaps after giving him a nine-game trial with Ottawa.

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Forward Brady Tkachuk has put pen to paper on a three-year, entry-level contract with the Ottawa Senators, the club announced Monday.

It was reported on the weekend that Tkachuk had informed Boston University he would be turning pro. His father, Keith, confirmed Saturday that Brady would be signing with the Senators.

"We know how much he agonized over leaving Boston University, and we are encouraged by the degree of accountability and commitment this shows from him," Senators general manager Pierre Dorion said in a release.

"Through tenacity, combativeness, and work ethic, he also exemplifies leadership skills that we know will benefit the team now and well into the future. Most of all, Brady has shown us through his maturity that he is coachable, committed to teamwork, and determined to help us strengthen our team chemistry. For all these reasons, he is an exciting young player whose growth and development we are eager to support."

The 18-year-old was selected fourth overall in June's draft after entering as the second-ranked skater in North America by NHL Central Scouting. He's coming off a freshman college campaign in which he posted eight goals and 31 points in 40 games.

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For the first time in 20 years, the Hlinka Gretzky Cup (formerly known as the Ivan Hlinka Memorial Cup) was held in Canada in 2018. Though last week's tournament isn't an IIHF-sanctioned event, it does serve as a fun unofficial kickoff to the junior hockey season, and a great first look at a lot of draft-eligible players.

Canada defeated Sweden 6-2 on Saturday night to nab the gold medal. Russia claimed bronze, defeating the United States 5-4 in a hard-fought game earlier in the day.

Here are five things we learned from this year’s tournament.

The 2019 NHL Draft is going to be great

Sure, you've heard of Jack Hughes. Maybe you've even heard of Kaapo Kakko, the Finnish winger who's continually mentioned right after Hughes in early draft discussion. But the draft is more than its top two spots, and this tournament showed there's a lot to be excited about beyond Hughes and Kakko. While every deep draft gets compared to 2003's draft class, this year, that comparison might be deserved.

In no specific order, some 2019 draft-eligible tournament standouts include:

• Canada: Ryan Suzuki (C), Dylan Cozens (C), Peyton Krebs (C), Bowen Byram (D), Kirby Dach (C)

• United States: Arthur Kaliyev (LW), John Farinacci (C), Nicholas Robertson (C/LW), Josh Nodler (C)

• Russia: Vasili Podkolzin (RW)

• Sweden: Philip Broberg (D)

• Slovakia: Maxim Cajkovic (RW/LW)

Alexis Lafreniere really is that good

Canada's captain isn't draft-eligible until 2020, but that hasn't stopped the spotlight from finding Lafreniere. He's the kind of player who brings fans to the edge of their seats, posing an obvious threat to score regardless of the situation. The winger from Rimouski Oceanic of the QMJHL set up the game-tying tally in the gold-medal game against Sweden and added two goals of his own, including the game-winner.

Lafreniere has that special quality all elite players have - something that makes the hair on the back of your neck stand up when he has the puck. He's also got phenomenal hockey sense, outstanding playmaking skills, and a heavy shot.

This kid is gonna be special. Expect to see him on Canada's World Junior Championship roster.

The 2020 talent pool looks deep

Lafreniere was not alone in stealing the show. Several 2020 prospects captured the attention of an international audience, including Justin Barron, a defenseman for the Halifax Mooseheads of the QMJHL. Barron was the youngest player on Team Canada, yet he finished the tournament tied with Mitchell Miller (USA) for most points by a defenseman (five). Barron is a great skater with excellent hockey sense that enables him to move the puck well and make smart decisions.

Sweden's duo of Lucas Raymond and Alexander Holtz were seemingly unstoppable. Both are solid skaters with excellent puck skills, and their offensive instincts made them Sweden's most effective forwards; when they were on the ice, it was difficult to take your eyes off them. Forward Daniil Gushchin of Russia also attracted attention by displaying his playmaking skills and unreal vision.

Vasili Podkolzin, Bowen Byram, and Nicholas Robertson are worth watching

Podkolzin, who had a hat trick against the U.S. in the bronze-medal game, paced the tournament with eight goals (Josh Williams of Canada was next with five) and with 11 points (three ahead of runner-up Lafreniere).

On defense, Byram made it very clear why the WHL player's name is near the top of many preliminary draft lists. The Vancouver Giants blue-liner is seemingly fearless - a dynamic puck mover with a high hockey IQ.

Robertson, brother of Dallas Stars prospect and Kingston Frontenac Jason Robertson, was a huge factor for the U.S., netting a hat trick in the semifinal against Canada. He plays for the Peterborough Petes of the OHL, and if this tournament was a sign of how he'll approach this season, he may rocket into the first round next June.

International tournaments need video review

A controversial call in the semifinal sent the USA-Canada game to overtime when Cozens scored to tie it for Canada - after the final buzzer sounded.

All teams participating in the tournament agreed to forgo video review due to concerns about the consistency of the technology. For that reason, the call made by officials on the ice had to stand, even though video clearly showed the goal was scored after time expired. When Williams scored in overtime, Canada won a trip to the gold-medal game while the U.S. was forced to settle for a chance at bronze.

Bad calls happen all the time at all levels of hockey. But it's 2018; there's no good reason not to have video review in a tournament where video was available.

Hannah Stuart keeps a close eye on both drafted and draft-eligible prospects and can usually be found trying to learn more about hockey analytics. She has previously written for FanRag Sports, The Hockey Writers, and Hooked On Hockey Magazine, and can also be found at High Heels and High Sticks. Find her on Twitter at @HockeyWthHannah.

(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)

Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

For the first time in 20 years, the Hlinka Gretzky Cup (formerly known as the Ivan Hlinka Memorial Cup) was held in Canada in 2018. Though last week's tournament isn't an IIHF-sanctioned event, it does serve as a fun unofficial kickoff to the junior hockey season, and a great first look at a lot of draft-eligible players.

Canada defeated Sweden 6-2 on Saturday night to nab the gold medal. Russia claimed bronze, defeating the United States 5-4 in a hard-fought game earlier in the day.

Here are five things we learned from this year’s tournament.

The 2019 NHL Draft is going to be great

Sure, you've heard of Jack Hughes. Maybe you've even heard of Kaapo Kakko, the Finnish winger who's continually mentioned right after Hughes in early draft discussion. But the draft is more than its top two spots, and this tournament showed there's a lot to be excited about beyond Hughes and Kakko. While every deep draft gets compared to 2003's draft class, this year, that comparison might be deserved.

In no specific order, some 2019 draft-eligible tournament standouts include:

• Canada: Ryan Suzuki (C), Dylan Cozens (C), Peyton Krebs (C), Bowen Byram (D), Kirby Dach (C)

• United States: Arthur Kaliyev (LW), John Farinacci (C), Nicholas Robertson (C/LW), Josh Nodler (C)

• Russia: Vasili Podkolzin (RW)

• Sweden: Philip Broberg (D)

• Slovakia: Maxim Cajkovic (RW/LW)

Alexis Lafreniere really is that good

Canada's captain isn't draft-eligible until 2020, but that hasn't stopped the spotlight from finding Lafreniere. He's the kind of player who brings fans to the edge of their seats, posing an obvious threat to score regardless of the situation. The winger from Rimouski Oceanic of the QMJHL set up the game-tying tally in the gold-medal game against Sweden and added two goals of his own, including the game-winner.

Lafreniere has that special quality all elite players have - something that makes the hair on the back of your neck stand up when he has the puck. He's also got phenomenal hockey sense, outstanding playmaking skills, and a heavy shot.

This kid is gonna be special. Expect to see him on Canada's World Junior Championship roster.

The 2020 talent pool looks deep

Lafreniere was not alone in stealing the show. Several 2020 prospects captured the attention of an international audience, including Justin Barron, a defenseman for the Halifax Mooseheads of the QMJHL. Barron was the youngest player on Team Canada, yet he finished the tournament tied with Mitchell Miller (USA) for most points by a defenseman (five). Barron is a great skater with excellent hockey sense that enables him to move the puck well and make smart decisions.

Sweden's duo of Lucas Raymond and Alexander Holtz were seemingly unstoppable. Both are solid skaters with excellent puck skills, and their offensive instincts made them Sweden's most effective forwards; when they were on the ice, it was difficult to take your eyes off them. Forward Daniil Gushchin of Russia also attracted attention by displaying his playmaking skills and unreal vision.

Vasili Podkolzin, Bowen Byram, and Nicholas Robertson are worth watching

Podkolzin, who had a hat trick against the U.S. in the bronze-medal game, paced the tournament with eight goals (Josh Williams of Canada was next with five) and with 11 points (three ahead of runner-up Lafreniere).

On defense, Byram made it very clear why the WHL player's name is near the top of many preliminary draft lists. The Vancouver Giants blue-liner is seemingly fearless - a dynamic puck mover with a high hockey IQ.

Robertson, brother of Dallas Stars prospect and Kingston Frontenac Jason Robertson, was a huge factor for the U.S., netting a hat trick in the semifinal against Canada. He plays for the Peterborough Petes of the OHL, and if this tournament was a sign of how he'll approach this season, he may rocket into the first round next June.

International tournaments need video review

A controversial call in the semifinal sent the USA-Canada game to overtime when Cozens scored to tie it for Canada - after the final buzzer sounded.

All teams participating in the tournament agreed to forgo video review due to concerns about the consistency of the technology. For that reason, the call made by officials on the ice had to stand, even though video clearly showed the goal was scored after time expired. When Williams scored in overtime, Canada won a trip to the gold-medal game while the U.S. was forced to settle for a chance at bronze.

Bad calls happen all the time at all levels of hockey. But it's 2018; there's no good reason not to have video review in a tournament where video was available.

Hannah Stuart keeps a close eye on both drafted and draft-eligible prospects and can usually be found trying to learn more about hockey analytics. She has previously written for FanRag Sports, The Hockey Writers, and Hooked On Hockey Magazine, and can also be found at High Heels and High Sticks. Find her on Twitter at @HockeyWthHannah.

(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)

Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

NBC Sports will air a record 109 regular-season games during the 2018-19 campaign, the television network announced Monday.

The usual suspects headline the schedule. The Chicago Blackhawks lead the way with 19 appearances, while the Stanley Cup champions, the Washington Capitals, will make 18.

As part of the announcement, NBC revealed its plans to rebrand Wednesday night coverage from "Rivalry Night" to "Wednesday Night Hockey." This year's 25 Wednesday broadcasts will feature 17 doubleheaders and their largest variety of teams to date, with the Capitals making the most appearances with eight.

NBC will also broadcast the 2019 Winter Classic between the Boston Bruins and Blackhawks, the Coors Light Stadium Series game between the Pittsburgh Penguins and Philadelphia Flyers, and coverage from All-Star weekend in San Jose, including the game, which will be broadcast in prime time for the first time since 1997.

Here's a list of the number of national appearances each team will receive this season:

Let the games begin.

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The New York Islanders have signed defenseman Noah Dobson to a three-year, entry-level contract, the team announced Monday.

Dobson was drafted 12th overall this past June, a pick that looks to have been among the draft's biggest steals, as he entered ranking fifth among all North American skaters and third among North American defensemen.

The 18-year-old had a monstrous year after putting up 17 goals and 69 points in 67 games for the Acadie-Bathurst Titan of the QMJHL, while also contributing 13 playoff points en route to his team capturing the Memorial Cup.

Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New York Islanders have signed defenseman Noah Dobson to a three-year, entry-level contract, the team announced Monday.

Dobson was drafted 12th overall this past June, a pick that looks to have been among the draft's biggest steals, as he entered ranking fifth among all North American skaters and third among North American defensemen.

The 18-year-old had a monstrous year after putting up 17 goals and 69 points in 67 games for the Acadie-Bathurst Titan of the QMJHL, while also contributing 13 playoff points en route to his team capturing the Memorial Cup.

Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Few things motivate people to produce at a high level like the thought of a big payday.

A number of players will be looking to prove their value this season in hopes of putting pen to paper on a multimillion-dollar deal next July.

Let's take a look at five players who should boost their production as they seek bigger deals - leaving out some superstars entering their contract years. Not only are Tyler Seguin, Sergei Bobrovsky, Erik Karlsson, and their ilk likely to enjoy continued success this season, they're probably set to cash in regardless of their performance.

Artemi Panarin, Blue Jackets

Panarin's days as a member of the Blue Jackets seem to be numbered.

The 26-year-old reportedly told the team he wasn't ready to sign an extension in June and said in July that he won't talk business once training camp opens. It looks like he'll be playing his final year in Columbus this season, and could potentially be traded.

Related - Report: Panarin would seriously consider return to Blackhawks in free agency

Over the last two years, he's posted 156 points, good for seventh league-wide and tied with Alex Ovechkin for the second-most among left wingers. Another strong year would give him the opportunity to write his ticket to the team of his choosing, which appears to be what he wants most. An eight-digit contract wouldn't hurt either. Do you need more motivation than that?

Jeff Skinner, Sabres

After a down 2017-18 campaign, Skinner is poised to bounce back.

The 26-year-old joins the Sabres after largely playing on the Carolina Hurricanes' third line last season. Luckily for him, he's expected to slot into Buffalo's top trio alongside Jack Eichel.

This could be just what Skinner needs to get his numbers back up to snuff. In his impressive 2016-17 campaign, he recorded a career-high 37 goals and matched his career best of 63 points while averaging the most minutes among the team's forwards on the power play and at even strength. One should expect this kind of heavy volume in Buffalo.

Skinner is entering the last season of a six-year, $34.35-million deal, and he'll be playing more minutes alongside an elite talent with what could be his last big contract on the horizon.

Ryan Ellis, Predators

There's no getting around it, Ellis is currently playing on one of the most team-friendly contracts in the league.

The Predators blue-liner is going into the final year of a five-year, $12.5-million contract, a deal that pays him just $2.5 million annually.

Ellis comes into this season after posting nine goals and 32 points in just 44 games a year ago.

Over the last two years, he's had the 17th highest points per game total among all defensemen with at least 60 games played.

Ellis' production continues to improve and with his first and potentially only long-term contract of his career on the line, expect him to further showcase himself as one of the league's premier offensive defensemen.

Jake Gardiner, Maple Leafs

Gardiner is coming off a season that will be remembered for featuring both the best and worst of what the young defenseman has to offer.

The 28-year-old set a career high with 52 points in 82 games while potting a career-best 15 power-play points. He had a strong regular season, but shouldered much of the blame for the Maple Leafs' collapse in the third period of Game 7 against the Boston Bruins.

He averaged the most ice time on the team during the regular season and finished with the ninth highest point total by a Maple Leafs defender since the 1991 campaign.

Gardiner now enters a pivotal season, as many pundits still point to the club's blue line as their weakness. If he can prove to be a dependable defenseman at both ends of the ice, he will be in line for a big payday.

William Karlsson, Golden Knights

Can Karlsson repeat his production?

After managing just 18 goals across 183 career games heading into his first season with the Golden Knights, Karlsson went off. The Swede finished third overall with 43 goals while besting his previous career high in points by 53, tallying 78 in 82 contests.

Prior to signing a one-year, $5.25-million contract, Karlsson was reportedly asking for $6.5 million from Vegas heading into arbitration, while the Golden Knights had countered with a $3.5-million ask.

Karlsson eventually got the Golden Knights to come up nearly $2 million from their original price, suggesting they understand his worth. It's now on him to replicate that success.

(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)

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