Concussions are simply part of the game.

That's the stance of Brian Burke, the president of hockey operations of the Calgary Flames, who spoke Wednesday at the Canadian Club of Calgary.

While the discussion largely focused on the team's efforts to build a new arena in the city, the longtime executive also voiced his opinion on hockey head trauma.

"The notion that we're going to get rid of concussions in hockey, I say to people give your head a shake," Burke said, according to the Canadian Press. "It's a full-contact sport. If you choose a full-contact sport, there is a good chance you'll have a serious injury ... If you don't want to get a concussion, you can be a swimmer."

The NHL has implemented various measures in recent seasons to reduce concussion counts and impact. In 2011, the league mandated that players showing concussion-like symptoms would need to temporarily leave the game and undergo a medical examination. This season, concussion spotters were added to detect players showing concussion-like symptoms and to recommend that player's removal from the game.

The protocol has proven to have early success, according to NHL commissioner Gary Bettman. At a press conference held prior to the opening of the Stanley Cup Final, Bettman told reporters, "We take player safety very seriously. In a meaningful double-digit percentage number concussions are down this season."

In 2013, a group of former players launched a class action lawsuit against the NHL, alleging the league failed to warn players of the effects of concussions and head trauma. The case remains ongoing.

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Seattle hockey fans shouldn't hold their breath.

Despite the city beginning negotiations for a possible renovation of KeyArena, there is no guarantee the NHL will soon set up shop in Seattle.

"We haven't made any commitments to Seattle," NHL commissioner Gary Bettman told NHL Network Radio on Wednesday. "We're not making any commitments to expand. We're not planning on moving anybody."

Seattle has long been rumored as a future destination for the NHL. However, due in part to no NHL-ready arena in the city, Seattle did not submit a bid during the 2015 expansion process. The NHL received proposals from Las Vegas and Quebec City, with Las Vegas chosen to begin play next season.

Still, the commissioner didn't rule out of the possibility of the NHL looking at Seattle in the years to come.

"If (Seattle) sorts out the building arrangement and somebody actually puts a shovel in the ground, my guess is there will be people knocking on our door saying, 'We'd like to have a team play in that building,'" Bettman said. "If and when all that happens, then we'll focus on it, and decide if we have any interest in expanding and if we have any interest in expanding to Seattle.

"Beyond that, there is no reason for anyone to think a team is imminent right now in Seattle."

In February, the Arizona Coyotes denied a report the team explored the possibility of relocation to Seattle. The NHL, which held ownership of the Coyotes for a four-year period beginning in 2009, has remained steadfast about the market and franchise, much as it did with the Nashville Predators.

In 2007, former Research In Motion CEO Jim Balsillie attempted to gain control of the Predators and relocate the team to Hamilton, Ontario before a group of local business owners stepped forward to keep the team in Tennessee. Now, 10 years later and the Predators are two wins away from capturing the Stanley Cup, marking both of their victories in the Finals before packed and enthusiastic crowds at Bridgestone Arena.

"Sometimes, the commentary around our franchises is a little too frenetic when it comes to the state of a franchise," Bettman added. "If you think about Tampa before (owner) Jeff Vinik purchased it, Pittsburgh before Ron Burkle and Mario Lemieux stepped ... the fact is, our teams are in great markets, but as franchises, as businesses, as hockey teams, you sometimes go through difficult periods.

"It doesn't mean the market isn't a good hockey market or won't support the team. There are sometimes other factors at play, and our goal is always to work through those issues and give the great, loyal fans that have supported our team in a particular place an opportunity to make it work for them."

Should the NHL add its 32nd team to Seattle, local hockey fans will have a little hockey history on their side. While the city has never iced an NHL team, it is home to the WHL's Thunderbirds. Furthermore, the Seattle Metropolitans of the Pacific Coast Hockey Association were the first American team to win the Stanley Cup, doing so in 1917.

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The Los Angeles Kings signed forward Tyler Toffoli to a three-year, $13.8-million contract extension, the team announced Wednesday.

The 25-year-old - who will make $4.6 million annually - was set to become a restricted free agent on July 1.

Toffoli is coming off a down year that saw him post just 16 goals and 34 points in 63 games, his lowest marks since the 2013-14 campaign. His goal count was still good enough for third among all Kings players in 2016-17.

He's also just one year removed from a career-high season that saw him post 31 goals and 58 points in 82 games.

The new contract means Los Angeles has locked up its two future stars (Toffoli and Tanner Pearson) for at least the next three seasons at a combined $8.35 million per year - not bad value.

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If Mike Smith is going to be traded this summer, the Arizona Coyotes now know from whom to take inquiries.

Smith, who has two years remaining on a deal that carries a cap hit of $5,666,667, has submitted a list of eight teams he is against being dealt to in accordance with his modified no-trade clause, Pierre LeBrun of TSN reports.

Related: Is Mike Smith a fit for the Flames' crease?

Meanwhile, LeBrun adds, John Chayka is in "listening mode" only, which falls in line with the general manager's recent assertion that while Smith is the team's rock, his standing isn't so firm as to render him untradeable.

"His value is extremely high but if someone wants to pay an even higher value for him, that's the industry," Chayka said.

Smith, 35, posted a record of 19-26-9 with a .914 save percentage in 55 appearances with the Coyotes this past season.

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The Calgary Flames are trying to extinguish a bit of a public relations fire.

Hours after Brian Burke - the team's head of hockey operations - brought up the possibility of relocation should a new arena not be built, team president Ken King released the following statement on the Flames' website:

Brian Burke runs Hockey Operations for the Calgary Flames and he and many Calgarians have strong views about this topic. However, he is not our spokesperson regarding a new events centre for our city. We remain committed to our dialogue with the City and very optimistic we will get to a positive conclusion. We admire everyone's enthusiasm on this subject.

An $890-million proposal for a new multi-sport arena complex has been put on hold, with little hope of ground breaking anytime soon.

Built in 1983, Calgary's Scotiabank Saddledome is the second-oldest building in the NHL, next to the recently renovated Madison Square Garden in New York.

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The Edmonton Oilers appear intent on ensuring Kris Russell remains in the fold.

The team and the pending unrestricted free-agent defenseman's agent spoke briefly Tuesday to "get the ball rolling" on a new contract, according to Pierre LeBrun of TSN.

Back in May, general manager Peter Chiarelli said, "I want to have Kris back. I thought he was really good for our team."

Russell played 2016-17 on a one-year, $3.1-million deal with the Oilers, and registered one goal, 12 assists, and 213 blocked shots in 68 games.

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The Stanley Cup Final will resume Thursday as a best-of-three affair.

Game 5 is set for 8 p.m. ET in Pittsburgh, where the Penguins won the first two contests of the series. At the other end of the ice will be the Nashville Predators, who quickly evened things up with a pair of home wins of their own.

So who will come out on top in this pivotal contest and take a 3-2 advantage in the championship series?

Before making a selection, here are game odds courtesy of Bodog.

Cast your vote below:

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Craig Berube is a man in high demand.

The bench boss of the AHL's Chicago Wolves has interviewed for two NHL head coaching positions this offseason, having chatted with the Buffalo Sabres and Florida Panthers, according to TSN's Darren Dreger.

The Sabres and Panthers are currently the only two teams with vacancies at head coach.

Berube has coached the Wolves for one season. He previously spent two years as head coach of the Philadelphia Flyers before being fired following the conclusion of the 2014-15 season, in which he posted a 33-31-18 record.

The Wolves, who will affiliate with the Vegas Golden Knights next season, were most recently the farm team for St. Louis, leaving open the possibility Berube could join the Blues as an associate coach to Mike Yeo.

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