Panthers will not ask Yandle to waive no-movement clause

Keith Yandle is not going anywhere.

That's because the Florida Panthers will not be asking the defenseman to waive his no-movement clause, and haven't asked him to in the past, the team said on Monday, according to George Richards of the Miami Herald.

Yandle is coming off his first season with the Panthers after signing a seven-year, $44.45-million deal last June. He represents a cap hit of $6.35 million for each of the next six seasons.

While that is a lot of money, Yandle led all Panthers defensemen in scoring with 41 points while playing in all 82 games this past season. The 30-year-old also averaged the most ice time on the team, logging 22:02 a night.

Yandle also shared the team lead in power-play points with forward Jonathan Marchessault, posting 18 with the man advantage.

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Matt Murray’s girlfriend explains reaction to celebratory kiss

Matt Murray's girlfriend had a good reason for looking grossed out after sharing a celebratory kiss with the Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender Sunday night.

After video of the kiss went viral following the Penguins' Stanley Cup victory, Christina Sirignano explained on Instagram that she was reacting to the smell of Murray's sweaty beard.

My back-to-back Stanley Cup Champion ❤️ PSA: he tasted fine but his beard was so sweaty it was like I was kissing Beckham 😘

A post shared by Christina Sirignano (@chrissirignano) on

Beckham is the couple's Newfoundland puppy, who has his own Instagram account:

- With h/t to Larry Brown Sports

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Fleury, the ultimate team player, again teaches us what sports are all about

Marc-Andre Fleury's past graciousness is well-documented, but what he did this spring was instrumental in the Pittsburgh Penguins' second consecutive championship.

The veteran goaltender deserves to be acknowledged for again respectfully ceding the crease to Matt Murray, and for not complaining about reverting to a backup despite playing fairly well in these playoffs.

By now, most are familiar with what happened last season, but for Fleury to continue saying all the right things after what unfolded this time is truly commendable.

Murray was the Penguins' unquestioned starter for the balance of this season after supplanting Fleury as the No. 1 goalie in 2015-16, and the plan was for Murray to carry Pittsburgh in another playoff run, but the rookie's injury in the warmup for the postseason opener thrust Fleury back into the fold.

The 32-year-old went 9-6 with a .924 save percentage in 15 playoff games during this run, but was pulled in favor of Murray in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Final and never saw the net again.

(Photo courtesy: Getty Images)

And yet, just as before, there was no griping, nor any questioning of head coach Mike Sullivan's decision. Just Fleury's typical support of his less experienced teammate.

"Fleury is probably the best team player in all of sports," Penguins general manager Jim Rutherford told NBC Pro Hockey Talk's Mike Halford after Sunday's Stanley Cup-clinching win in Game 6.

"We can debate whoever you want to throw at me, but what he went through last year and stuck with it, as a team guy, then carried us at different times during (this) season, carried us through two rounds of the playoffs, turned it over to (Matt) Murray ... I talked at the start of the season about keeping two goalies, and these guys did exactly what I'd hoped they'd do, and got us the Cup."

As if that weren't enough, Fleury made sure his protege got his hands on the Stanley Cup immediately after he did Sunday night in one of the celebration's most indelible moments.

Watch: Fleury hands Stanley Cup to Murray

Murray got a bit choked up talking about Fleury amid the postgame celebration Sunday night.

"It almost gets me emotional," the 23-year-old told the NHL Network after taking a moment to gather himself. "When he handed me the Cup there, that meant a lot to me. He's been such a mentor for me, last year and this year, so that was huge."

Murray said he's indebted to Fleury for how the older goalie handled their situation once again.

"Having a young guy come in and take his playing time away, who knows how someone will react to something like that, but he welcomed me with open arms and helped me every time I needed help, and he was just huge for me," Murray said. "I owe him a great deal, for sure."

Fleury's acceptance of his fate clearly rubbed off on Murray, but it also undoubtedly set an example for the Penguins' young forwards, Jake Guentzel and Conor Sheary, not to mention young players and fans everywhere.

As his days in Pittsburgh appear numbered, he can take satisfaction in knowing he not only contributed to three Stanley Cup championships, but also repeatedly handled difficult situations with a level of class that the next generation of Penguins greats will no doubt strive to emulate.

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Report: Senators ask Phaneuf to waive no-movement clause

The Ottawa Senators need a little more wiggle room.

In preparing for the upcoming expansion draft for the Vegas Golden Knights, the Senators have asked defenseman Dion Phaneuf to waive his no-movement clause, according to Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Citizen.

Exposing Phaneuf to the Golden Knights would allow the Senators to protect another defenseman - likely Marc Methot - should the team opt to cover three blue-liners and seven forwards. Alternatively, the Senators could protect four defensemen and four forwards.

Phaneuf, 32, has four years remaining on his contract, which carries a $7-million cap hit. According to CapFriendly, Phaneuf holds a modified no-trade clause, while he can grant a deal to 10 teams of his choosing.

Phaneuf has yet to provide an answer to Senators general manager Pierre Dorion, while the deadline for his decision has been set for Friday at 5 p.m. ET. If Phaneuf declines to waive his clause, thus being protected from Vegas, Dorion may try to trade Methot before the roster freeze.

The Golden Knights will announce their expansion draft selections on June 21 as part of the NHL Awards ceremony.

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Penguins’ Stanley Cup parade set for Wednesday

Come early for a good view.

The Pittsburgh Penguins will hold their Stanley Cup victory parade on Wednesday at 11 a.m. local time, the City of Pittsburgh announced Monday.

The parade route will follow a similar track to previous years, beginning on Grant St. at Liberty Ave. and ending at Point State Park.

The parade will celebrate the Penguins' 2017 Stanley Cup win, the fifth championship in franchise history.

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Report: Fleury agreed to waive no-movement clause in February

Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury agreed to waive his no-movement clause for the expansion draft in February, TVA Sports Renaud Lavoie reports.

The report confirms months of speculation, as the emergence of Matt Murray forced the Penguins to make a choice on their future in goal.

However, the agreement doesn't guarantee Fleury will wind up in Vegas. The 32-year-old remains eligible to be traded elsewhere, and should the Golden Knights select him in expansion, the new franchise could hypothetically flip him for assets.

Fleury was drafted by the Penguins first overall in 2003 and won three Stanley Cups with the organization. But the younger, cheaper Murray has proven more than capable as an NHL starter, helping Fleury backstop Pittsburgh to championships in each of the past two seasons.

In 13 seasons with the Penguins, Fleury appeared in 691 regular-season contests, posting a record of 375-216-68 with a career .912 save percentage and 2.58 goals-against average. He's Pittsburgh's all-time leader in games played, wins, and shutouts (44).

Fleury's contract includes two more seasons at a $5.75-million cap hit.

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The 5 most memorable playoff moments from Pittsburgh’s repeat

Once again, the Pittsburgh Penguins are Stanley Cup champions.

With a 2-0 victory over the Nashville Predators on Sunday night in Game 6, the Penguins completed their quest to repeat, and what a ride it was.

Below, in no particular order, are five of the most memorable moments from Pittsburgh's second straight triumph.

Crosby's breakaway

The hockey world was yearning for Sidney Crosby to find the back of the net in the Stanley Cup Final, and he delivered a beauty to break his slump.

Without a goal in the finals since 2009, Crosby burned Pekka Rinne with a perfect backhand deke in Game 4. Although it came in a losing effort, Sid's highlight-reel tally was the turning point in his Herculean Cup Final performance that resulted in his second Conn Smythe trophy.

Kunitz ousts Ottawa

The road to glory is never easy, and everything was on the line in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Final.

In that epic contest versus the Ottawa Senators, Chris Kunitz slapped home his second goal of the game in double overtime to push the Pens through.

Fleury blanks Caps in Game 7

(Photo Courtesy: Getty Images)

After squandering a 3-1 series lead, the Penguins traveled back to Washington looking to oust their rival Capitals on their home ice in Game 7 (again).

The Caps carried all the momentum into the series-deciding game, but the Penguins' longtime rock stole the show. Marc-Andre Fleury made 29 saves for a shutout victory, rising to the occasion after allowing a combined nine goals in the previous two games.

Fleury would only earn one more win during the Penguins' march to the Cup, but the team couldn't have done it without him and his shutout in D.C.

Kessel and Malkin's mini-feud

Tensions were high on Pittsburgh's bench during Game 2 of the Ottawa series, as Phil Kessel and Evgeni Malkin were caught in a bit of a disagreement.

As the Penguins struggled to score, the charismatic - but frustrated - duo got into it about offensive strategy, and the clip went viral.

Of course, the dispute stemmed only from the heat of the moment, and the linemates quickly overcame their disagreement en route to each finishing the playoffs as a top-three scorer.

Hornqvist's Cup-clinching tally

This was the crowning moment.

It came late - very late - but Pens forward Patric Hornqvist broke the Game 6 shutout and etched his place in NHL history by delivering the game-winning goal at 18:25 of the third period.

Hornqvist clinched the victory against his former team, and did so while playing with a broken finger, no less.

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There’s no denying Crosby’s status as one of the best in NHL history

If there were any doubt, there isn't anymore: Sidney Crosby is one of the top five NHLers of all time. Sorry, haters.

All grown up now with three Stanley Cups and two Conn Smythe Trophies to his name, No. 87 cemented his legacy as one of hockey's all-time greats Sunday night. You can fight it, but much like facing the Pittsburgh Penguins, you'll lose.

He's not even 30

It's been a rather remarkable 18 months for Sid:

Add another Stanley Cup and another Conn Smythe to the ledger. And all this a couple of months before "the kid" turns 30 on Aug. 7.

It's also crucial to remember that Crosby played only 99 of 212 regular-season games between 2010 and 2013 - his age 23-to-25 seasons, his prime! - and arguably remains one major headshot away from potentially having to consider retiring due to his concussion history.

When you take the long view, and the team view, things get even more impressive. Here's what the Penguins accomplished over the last 10 years:

Penguins Number Rank
Stanley Cups 3 T-1
Stanley Cup Finals 4 1
Conference Finals 5 T-1
Playoff Wins 90 1
Playoff GP 152 1
Regular-Season Wins 467 1

Dominance. Dynasty. Plain and simple. And it's been done in the salary cap era, when goals have been practically impossible to score, when coaching and defense has never been better, and when goalies have mastered their position. With all due respect to the Chicago Blackhawks, what Crosby and his Penguins have accomplished is downright incredible, especially when you consider the defense corps they just won the Cup with.

Legacy

(Photo courtesy: Getty Images)

Crosby's a slam-dunk, first-ballot Hall of Famer. Even if he retired tomorrow. He's only the sixth player in NHL history to win two Conn Smythes, and only the third player to be named MVP of the playoffs in back-to-back seasons. The last player to do it? Penguins owner, Mario Lemieux, in 1991 and 1992.

Speaking of Lemieux, Crosby now has one more ring than No. 66 as a player. As The Tribune-Review's Kevin Gorman writes, Crosby and his running mate Evgeni Malkin will "go down as the greatest duo in the history of the City of Champions," no small feat when you consider Pittsburgh's legacy as a sports town.

There's more. Outside of Crosby, only one other player captained three teams to the Stanley Cup and won two Conn Smythe trophies, and you may have heard of him: Wayne Gretzky.

Rank 'em

Gretzky. Lemieux. Bobby Orr. Mike Bossy. Gordie Howe. That's five, and then there's Crosby, who very politely bullied his way into the group.

Bump who you need to bump, but, sorry, it's got to be Bossy or Howe, because Crosby - whose career 1.313 points per game in the regular season ranks sixth all time - belongs in the top five. Based on the era Crosby's played in, there's no longer denying the fact.

Crosby's done it all, won everything there is to win in hockey, and yet he remains as motivated as ever, because winning fuels him. He's addicted to it. That he's done what he's done in his age 28 and 29 seasons proves it. All things considered, these are the two best seasons of Sid's career. He's getting better, as unfathomable as that may be.

But perhaps the mistake is in doubting Crosby, in being amazed by what he's able to accomplish. This was his destiny, since before he was "the kid," since he was a little boy.

Up next

(Photo courtesy: Action Images)

Crosby is motivated by an unparalleled desire to succeed. And you know he's going to come into 2017-18 as if he's never won a Stanley Cup, or a Conn Smythe. He'll be all business, looking to three-peat, and make it four Stanley Cups.

You know who else won four Cups? Gretzky.

Forget about top five. As Crosby turns 30, his goal remains the same: win. And should he continue to do so - would you bet against this guy? - he'll be in the top-two conversation when it's all said and done.

Gretzky and Crosby. The best ever. It's no longer a stretch.

Much like there was only one Gretzky, there's only one Crosby. And that ain't fake news.

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Barroway completes sale to become Coyotes’ sole owner

Andrew Barroway holds all of the cards.

The Philadelphia-based hedge fund manager became the sole owner of the Arizona Coyotes on Monday upon completion of his transaction to buy out the club's minority owners, according to multiple reports.

Barroway initially purchased a majority stake in the Coyotes in December 2014, while Monday's move sees him attain full ownership of IceArizona, LLC, a group backed by Anthony LeBlanc and George Gosbee among other minority partners, who purchased the Coyotes in 2013.

Prior to the sale to IceArizona, the league held ownership of the Coyotes for a four-year period beginning in 2009.

The full sale to Barroway means LeBlanc, who doubled as the Coyotes' president and CEO, and co-owner Gary Drummond, who later became the Coyotes' president of hockey operations, will relinquish those roles at the end of the month, according to Sportsnet's John Shannon.

"The reorganization is an effort to consolidate and strengthen the ownership and to resolve various disputes among the existing owners," NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly told Craig Morgan of Arizona Sports. "We believe this will better position the club to achieve a long-term solution in the Valley."

The Coyotes' focus will now turn to ensuring their future in the desert. The team has one year remaining on its lease at Gila River Arena in Glendale.

Earlier this year, a proposal to build a new arena on the campus of Arizona State University fell through. Meanwhile, a subsequent discussion to build a new facility in the East Valley has garnered little support from the Arizona legislature.

According to Morgan, a new arena in downtown Phoenix is among the top possibilities being considered by Barroway.

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Odds: Penguins favored to 3-peat in 2018

Las Vegas oddsmakers waste no time.

Not even 24 hours after the Pittsburgh Penguins defeated the Nashville Predators for their second consecutive Stanley Cup, odds for the 2018 title were released.

Yup, you guessed it - the Pens top the 2018 list. And let's be honest, it's a pretty safe bet.

Team Odds
Penguins 9-1
Blackhawks 12-1
Oilers 12-1
Lightning 12-1
Capitals 12-1
Ducks 14-1
Predators 14-1
Stars 16-1
Wild 16-1
Canadiens 16-1
Rangers 16-1
Maple Leafs 16-1
Kings 18-1
Blue Jackets 20-1
Sharks 22-1
Blues 28-1
Bruins 33-1
Flames 33-1
Senators 33-1
Panthers 40-1
Islanders 40-1
Flyers 40-1
Jets 40-1
Coyotes 66-1
Sabres 66-1
Hurricanes 66-1
Red Wings 66-1
Avalanche 75-1
Devils 75-1
Canucks 75-1
Golden Knights 150-1

(Odds courtesy: Bodog)

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Remember, we are all Canucks!