Leading up to the start of the 2018-19 season, theScore will be counting down the top 100 players in the game today, as voted on by four of our NHL editors. We'll reveal 10 players every weekday until the top 10 is unveiled on Oct. 3.

100-91 | 90-81 | 80-71 | 70-61 | 60-51 | 50-41 | 40-31 | 30-21 | 20-11 | 10-1

40. Leon Draisaitl, Oilers

Draisaitl is coming off a slight regression after a strong 2016-17 campaign that saw him rewarded with an eight-year, $68-million contract. Draisaitl's skill has always been the Oilers' ace in the hole. When he and Connor McDavid are paired together, they're about as unstoppable of a duo as they come. -- Hagerman

39. Filip Forsberg, Predators

Forsberg didn't play all 82 games last season for the first time since becoming a regular NHLer, yet he still managed to post a career-high 38 assists while matching his career-best 64 points in only 67 contests before going over a point per game in the playoffs. The skilled winger is still only 24 and his offensive prowess is an invaluable element of Nashville's attack. -- Gold-Smith

38. Ryan Getzlaf, Ducks

Getzlaf is such rare blend of size, physicality, skill, and finesse. He has some of the league's softest hands and an underrated shot. He also has all the intangibles you'd want in a captain. He hasn't missed a beat as he approaches his mid-30s, anchoring a mediocre Ducks offense with 61 points in 56 games during an injury-shortened 2017-18 campaign. -- Wegman

37. Andrei Vasilevskiy, Lightning

The more Vasilevskiy is in the net, the better he gets. In a career-high 64 starts last season, the dynamic Lightning netminder led the league in wins (44) and shutouts (eight), while posting a .920 save percentage. At only 24, Vasilevskiy will be the backbone for a dangerous Tampa team for years to come. -- O'Leary

36. Johnny Gaudreau, Flames

Gaudreau has led the Calgary Flames in scoring the past three seasons, and while the club may have missed the playoffs last year, the 25-year-old put up a career-best 84 points. He's quickly emerged as one of the most creative and shifty players in the league. The Flames' success this season and going forward lies largely in his hands. -- Hagerman

35. Dustin Byfuglien, Jets

Byfuglien contributes in so many ways, and he's a workhorse. He has a rare combination of imposing physicality and consistent offensive production reminiscent of Zdeno Chara in his prime. Whether it's a devastating hit or a blistering shot that leads to a goal, Byfuglien's always doing something to make an impact. -- Gold-Smith

34. David Pastrnak, Bruins

The trio of Brad Marchand, Patrice Bergeron, and Pastrnak has gained a reputation as the best line in the league, and the improved play of the latter is a big part of that. Pastrnak potted a career-high 80 points last season. He was also a monster in the playoffs with 20 points in 12 games while breaking a record previously held by Wayne Gretzky in the process. -- Hagerman

33. Vladimir Tarasenko, Blues

Tarasenko's numbers took a slight hit last season, but you know you're among the game's elite when 33 goals and 33 assists is considered a "down" year. Last season, he fired 306 shots on goal but had an uncharacteristically low shooting percentage of 10.8 percent. A little extra luck, plus a new pivot in Ryan O'Reilly, and Tarasenko could easily return to his usual standards. -- O'Leary

32. Sergei Bobrovsky, Blue Jackets

The world's best athletes elevate their game when it matters most, and Bobrovsky has failed to do that. He's just 5-14 in his postseason career with an .891 save percentage and a 3.49 goals-against average. Until he exercises his playoff demons, I can't consider him the very best at his position - no matter how much he excels in the regular season. -- Wegman

31. Seth Jones, Blue Jackets

If there was any doubt, Jones firmly established himself as one of the game's best young defensemen with a breakout 57-point season in 2017-18, playing over 24 minutes per game in the process. A preseason knee sprain will keep him out for at least a month, but the 23-year-old's wealth of talent is undeniable. -- Gold-Smith

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Welcome to Puck Pursuit, a weekly NHL podcast hosted by national hockey writer John Matisz.

Subscribe to the show on iTunes, Soundcloud, Stitcher, and Google Play.

On this debut episode, the first of a two-part preview series, John is joined by TSN's Travis Yost to handicap the 2018-19 Eastern Conference. Topics of discussion include:

• Does Tampa have company atop the Atlantic?
• Over/under Mitch Marner point total
• Are the Rangers really that bad?
• The unpredictability of the Capitals
• Columbus' complicated all-in year

(Note: This podcast was recorded before the Seth Jones injury update.)

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St. Louis Blues defenseman Robert Bortuzzo has been suspended for the remainder of the preseason plus one regular-season game for elbowing Washington Capitals blue-liner Michal Kempny.

The incident occurred in preseason action Tuesday:

As a result of the suspension, Bortuzzo will not be available for the Blues' Oct. 4 season opener against the Winnipeg Jets.

In 72 games with St. Louis last season, Bortuzzo notched four goals and nine assists.

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The Chicago Blackhawks have signed defenseman Brandon Davidson to a one-year contract, the team announced Thursday.

The 27-year-old had had been attending Chicago's training camp on a professional tryout offer.

Davidson suited up for the Montreal Canadiens, Edmonton Oilers, and New York Islanders in 2017-18.

"I think he's one of those defensemen I appreciate because he's real steady and predictable," head coach Joel Quenneville told ChicagoBlackhawks.com's Chris Wescott. "A little bit of everything, in every area, he's not bad in. I think that consistency is something and knowing what you're going to get out of a guy on the back end is usually a good sign."

There's opportunity for Davidson on the Blackhawks' bottom pairing, particularly with fellow defender Connor Murphy sidelined for at least eight weeks.

In 152 career appearances, Davidson has tallied nine goals and 13 assists.

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If hockey fans didn't find Gritty terrifying before, they will after seeing this photo series featuring the Philadelphia Flyers' new mascot.

The photoshops are the work of Pittsburgh viral media company Benstonium.

Since he was unveiled by the Flyers on Monday, Gritty has also sparked a GoFundMe campaign and inspired a new beer called "Nightmare Fuel."

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Legendary broadcaster Bob Cole will be back in the booth for one final go around this season, Sportsnet announced on Thursday.

The 85-year-old will be on the mic for 10 games - starting with the Montreal Canadiens versus the Pittsburgh Penguins on Oct. 6 - during the first half of the schedule, marking his 50th season on Hockey Night in Canada.

"Hockey has been my passion for as long as I can remember," Cole said. "It's been an honor and a privilege serving Canadian hockey fans across the country and being part of the Hockey Night in Canada institution. I'm looking forward to getting to the rinks for this last season, seeing familiar faces and getting out there to do what I love most in the world."

Cole is a member of the Order of Canada and was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame as a recipient of the Foster Hewitt Memorial Award in 1996.

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Divisions:
Pacific (Sep. 28) | Central
Atlantic (Oct. 1) | Metropolitan (Oct. 2)

One Central Division squad made waves with a significant trade and several other clubs locked up key players to long-term deals, but the rest of the group didn't make many earth-shattering moves over the summer.

Here's how each Central club fared this offseason:

Some contract figures are reported. Most players on two-way deals have been omitted. Total contract value does not include bonuses.

Chicago Blackhawks

Key arrivals

Key departures

Rookies who could crack the lineup

Re-signed: N/A

Given the uncertainty surrounding Corey Crawford, landing a reliable backup goaltender was paramount for Blackhawks general manager Stan Bowman this offseason. The Cam Ward signing made sense then, even if he's 34 years old and well past his prime.

However, aside from that move and the less-than-inspiring additions of Kunitz and Manning, the Blackhawks were fairly quiet over the summer. They were forced to part with Hinostroza, a promising but unproven forward, to offload Hossa's contract.

Adam Boqvist and Victor Ejdsell won't start the season with Chicago, but the future appears bright for the two Swedish prospects.

Grade: C

Colorado Avalanche

Key arrivals

Key departures

Rookies who could crack the lineup

Re-signed

Like the Blackhawks, the Avalanche needed goaltending depth, but the difference in Colorado is that Grubauer will challenge Semyon Varlamov for the starting role.

Acquiring Grubauer and veteran defenseman Brooks Orpik (who Colorado immediately bought out) from the Washington Capitals for the 47th pick in June's draft (forward Kody Clark) was a smart move by Avalanche GM Joe Sakic, given Varlamov's injury concerns and Grubauer's stellar play in Washington while spelling Braden Holtby.

Cole is a solid depth defenseman, and Calvert similarly reinforces the forward group.

Grade: B-

Dallas Stars

Key arrivals

Key departures

Rookies who could crack the lineup

Re-signed

Stars GM Jim Nill had a busy offseason, making his biggest move in September when he inked Seguin to a long-term extension not long after the superstar said he was disappointed with the lack of negotiations over the summer.

Seguin has one year left on his current deal, but getting him signed for the long haul was Nill's top priority, The star center will have a deeper supporting cast this season with the return of Nichushkin, and with the highly touted Heiskanen seemingly ready to play a big role on the back end.

Grade: B

Minnesota Wild

Key arrivals

Key departures

Rookies who could crack the lineup

Re-signed

New Wild GM Paul Fenton didn't make any big splashes on the free-agent market in his first offseason with Minnesota. But he did lock up a few key players for the long run in Dumba and Zucker.

The Wild have a solid veteran core, but it's aging, as Mikko Koivu is 35, Zach Parise is 34, Eric Staal will turn 34 in October, and Ryan Suter will do the same in January. It remains to be seen whether Fenton did enough this summer to account for that.

Grade: C+

Nashville Predators

Key arrivals

Key departures

Rookies who could crack the lineup

Re-signed

The Predators' primary goal this offseason was the Ellis extension, and while it's a bit lengthy and not exactly cheap, there's no denying how important the bearded blue-liner is to Nashville's defensive corps.

Predators GM David Poile now has three of his top four on the back end locked up through 2021-22.

Poile didn't have to do anything extreme this summer. His two biggest offseason priorities were further securing his core by getting Ellis signed, and making sure Saros, the heir apparent to veteran goaltender Pekka Rinne, was taken care of, too. He did both, and the Predators - who were already a Stanley Cup contender - are solidified as a result.

Tolvanen won't start the season with Nashville following a disappointing camp, but a strong showing in the AHL should earn him a ticket back to the Music City before long.

Grade: A-

St. Louis Blues

Key arrivals

Key departures

Rookies who could crack the lineup

Re-signed

GM Doug Armstrong used both the trade route and free agency to solidify the Blues' forward group, landing O'Reilly in a blockbuster with the Sabres and adding Bozak, Perron, and Maroon on the open market.

He also replaced backup goaltender Hutton with the less expensive Johnson.

St. Louis may not be the best team in the Central Division, but it definitely did the most to improve and could finally be primed for a breakthrough.

Grade: A

Winnipeg Jets

Key arrivals

Key departures

Rookies who could crack the lineup

Re-signed

Losing Stastny in a bidding war with the Golden Knights and letting Trouba go to arbitration undoubtedly hurt for Jets GM Kevin Cheveldayoff. But he did get Wheeler, Hellebuyck, and Morrissey signed to new deals at relatively reasonable rates and terms.

Paying Wheeler until he's 37 years old isn't ideal, but removing Mason's $4.1-million cap hit from Winnipeg's books helps in the short term.

Grade: B+

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Winnipeg Jets superstar Mark Scheifele envisions a lengthy career for himself because of his meticulously crafted diet and an unrelenting love for the game.

"I want to play until I'm 40," Scheifele told ESPN's Emily Kaplan. "That's my goal. There are so many opportunities now to innovate to get a little bit of an edge, and I'd love exploring that. Doing the right things now will affect me 10 years from now and will give me the longevity to play until I'm old."

Scheifele's mission is sounding similar to the goals made by 41-year-old New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady. Brady also cites his regimented diet as one of the reasons he feels several good years are still ahead for him.

"Tom Brady is the best in the world and only seems to be getting better with age," Scheifele said. "Why wouldn't I want to learn from him?"

Scheifele is 25 years old, and he's developed into one of the NHL's top producers. Over his last two seasons, he's registered 142 points in 139 games, cementing his status as one of the league's elite with 14 goals in 17 playoff games over the spring.

Scheifele has a long way to go and is aiming high with his goals. Entering the 2018-19 season, only two players in the NHL - Matt Cullen and Zdeno Chara - are 40-plus years old and still playing.

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