New Jersey Devils center Travis Zajac will be out four-to-six months after undergoing surgery to repair a torn pectoral muscle, general manager Ray Shero announced Thursday.
Zajac was injured while training, and at best, will be able to return to the lineup in December.
The news surely damages the Devils' depth chart, as he's a serviceable center that can be deployed in all situations. The 32-year-old suited up in 80 games last season, and recorded 45 points - his highest total since 2013-14.
After landing No. 1 overall pick Nico Hischier, trading for Marcus Johansson, and signing Brian Boyle, New Jersey was expected to make positive strides in the stacked Metropolitan division in 2017-18, but losing Zajac may delay the process.
Few positions in pro hockey are as hotly debated as goaltending, and for good reason - starting netminders can make or break a team's season in a matter of weeks.
Before the latter situation comes to fruition, though, 'tenders usually lose their starting duties to a goalie who's been deemed more capable of getting the job done.
Here are three goalies who will be on a short leash come October.
Connor Hellebuyck - Winnipeg Jets
When the Jets signed Hellebuyck to a one-year, $2.25-million contract in July, it signified their willingness to give the 24-year-old one more shot at being the Jets' No. 1 goalie.
It also indicated Hellebuyck's margin for error is razor thin, as the club was clearly unwilling to commit to the unproven netminder long term.
His leash is especially short due to his poor numbers and performance last season. In 56 appearances for Paul Maurice's club - 53 of them starts - Hellebuyck recorded a .907 save percentage and a 2.89 goals-against average while struggling to maintain his hold on the No. 1 gig.
Former third-round pick and backup Michael Hutchinson was given ample opportunity to steal the crease, and showed flashes of bona-fide starter ability. But he also struggled to find consistency, going 8-9-0 across 20 starts.
Despite Hutchinson's lackluster performance, the cloud of doubt over Hellebuyck grows with each passing Maurice tirade. The Jets signed Steve Mason for a reason.
Brian Elliott - Philadelphia Flyers
The Flyers need a goaltender. No, this isn't a broken record, merely a recurring problem that's plagued them since Ron Hextall retired in 1999.
Instead of simplifying things in the blue paint, the Flyers complicated their mess by adding Elliott, an aging puck-stopper who's yet to top 30 wins in his NHL career.
Last season, Elliott had a decent showing during his first (and only) year with the Calgary Flames, starting 45 games and registering a 26-18-3 record. However, Philly doesn't boast the same crop of defensive-minded blue-liners that Calgary does, meaning Elliott will face a whole lot of rubber - the Flyers allowed the 12th-most total goals in the NHL last year.
All due respect to a veteran who's made 300-plus NHL starts, but Elliott is far from the answer the Flyers are looking for. With capable backup Michal Neuvirth and rookie Anthony Stolarz breathing down his neck, Elliott's leash is sure to be short.
Robin Lehner - Buffalo Sabres
Lehner is easily the most talented, battle-tested goalie on this list, but he'll still ride the pine if he struggles to start the season.
When healthy, Lehner's shown he can be the No. 1 guy. During the last two campaigns for the Sabres, he's posted solid numbers despite playing on a club that's toiled near the bottom of the standings.
A .921 save percentage and 2.63 goals-against average should be enough to earn him day-to-day starting duties, but Buffalo's quality backup options threaten his job security.
Linus Ullmark and Chad Johnson both have the pedigree and talent to fill in should Lehner fail to stop pucks, especially Ullmark, a former goalie of the year in the Swedish Elite League.
Johnson, meanwhile, proved last campaign that he has what it takes to hang as a starting netminder. Across 36 starts for the Flames, Johnson performed admirably, earning a record of 18-15-1 to go along with a 2.59 goals-against average, .910 save percentage, and three shutouts.
Lehner needs a hot start - unless he wants to spend some time in Phil Housley's doghouse.
Few positions in pro hockey are as hotly debated as goaltending, and for good reason - starting netminders can make or break a team's season in a matter of weeks.
Before the latter situation comes to fruition, though, 'tenders usually lose their starting duties to a goalie who's been deemed more capable of getting the job done.
Here are three goalies who will be on a short leash come October.
Connor Hellebuyck - Winnipeg Jets
When the Jets signed Hellebuyck to a one-year, $2.25-million contract in July, it signified their willingness to give the 24-year-old one more shot at being the Jets' No. 1 goalie.
It also indicated Hellebuyck's margin for error is razor thin, as the club was clearly unwilling to commit to the unproven netminder long term.
His leash is especially short due to his poor numbers and performance last season. In 56 appearances for Paul Maurice's club - 53 of them starts - Hellebuyck recorded a .907 save percentage and a 2.89 goals-against average while struggling to maintain his hold on the No. 1 gig.
Former third-round pick and backup Michael Hutchinson was given ample opportunity to steal the crease, and showed flashes of bona-fide starter ability. But he also struggled to find consistency, going 8-9-0 across 20 starts.
Despite Hutchinson's lackluster performance, the cloud of doubt over Hellebuyck grows with each passing Maurice tirade. The Jets signed Steve Mason for a reason.
Brian Elliott - Philadelphia Flyers
The Flyers need a goaltender. No, this isn't a broken record, merely a recurring problem that's plagued them since Ron Hextall retired in 1999.
Instead of simplifying things in the blue paint, the Flyers complicated their mess by adding Elliott, an aging puck-stopper who's yet to top 30 wins in his NHL career.
Last season, Elliott had a decent showing during his first (and only) year with the Calgary Flames, starting 45 games and registering a 26-18-3 record. However, Philly doesn't boast the same crop of defensive-minded blue-liners that Calgary does, meaning Elliott will face a whole lot of rubber - the Flyers allowed the 12th-most total goals in the NHL last year.
All due respect to a veteran who's made 300-plus NHL starts, but Elliott is far from the answer the Flyers are looking for. With capable backup Michal Neuvirth and rookie Anthony Stolarz breathing down his neck, Elliott's leash is sure to be short.
Robin Lehner - Buffalo Sabres
Lehner is easily the most talented, battle-tested goalie on this list, but he'll still ride the pine if he struggles to start the season.
When healthy, Lehner's shown he can be the No. 1 guy. During the last two campaigns for the Sabres, he's posted solid numbers despite playing on a club that's toiled near the bottom of the standings.
A .921 save percentage and 2.63 goals-against average should be enough to earn him day-to-day starting duties, but Buffalo's quality backup options threaten his job security.
Linus Ullmark and Chad Johnson both have the pedigree and talent to fill in should Lehner fail to stop pucks, especially Ullmark, a former goalie of the year in the Swedish Elite League.
Johnson, meanwhile, proved last campaign that he has what it takes to hang as a starting netminder. Across 36 starts for the Flames, Johnson performed admirably, earning a record of 18-15-1 to go along with a 2.59 goals-against average, .910 save percentage, and three shutouts.
Lehner needs a hot start - unless he wants to spend some time in Phil Housley's doghouse.
The trio of major professional sports teams in Tampa Bay are banding together to take a stand against oppression.
In a statement released by the Buccaneers, Rays, and Lightning on Thursday afternoon, the clubs announced a joint initiative to dedicate funds to assist in the removal of a Confederate monument from a public space outside of the Tampa courthouse.
Recognizing that this monument does not reflect the values of our community, in collaboration with the Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce, our organizations have dedicated funds to assist in moving the statue from the public space in front of the courthouse.
Now more than ever before, we must stand united and committed to diversity and inclusion as we all attempt to heal from the tragedy in Charlottesville.
The statement comes on the heels of protests in Charlottesville, Va., over the weekend where white nationalist and other supremacist groups attempted to block the removal of another Confederate statue in the downtown core of the city.
Former Bucs coach Tony Dungy tweeted that he would donate $5,000 to help move the statue from its spot in downtown Tampa.
The teams' announcement came a day after legislators, in a divisive 4-2 vote, gave fundraisers 30 days to collect $140,000, about half of what's needed to relocate the statue.
Granlund inked a three-year, $17.25-million extension at the beginning of the month, and is coming off a season in which he led the Wild in scoring with 69 points.
If Granlund's injury affects his ability to be ready for training camp in September, the start to Minnesota's season could look a lot different.
The Wild kick off their 2017-18 schedule Oct. 5 with a visit to the City of Brotherly Love to take on the Flyers
This summer, the Edmonton Oilers committed to dishing out $168 million to lock down their two franchise players for the foreseeable future.
Regardless of the price tags, inking two forwards of Draisaitl's and McDavid's caliber is a huge win for Edmonton and general manager Peter Chiarelli - one that also has major implications for the rest of the league.
The Oilers' young guns are among several high-flying duos making a mark on today's NHL, and their respective high-priced contracts will impact future deals for other up-and-coming players.
Here's a look at four star pairings who could get paid in similar fashion by their clubs.
Winnipeg Jets - Patrik Laine & Nikolaj Ehlers
With an elite sniper like Laine, it's easy to understand how some people can forget about Ehlers.
But the former ninth overall pick is no slouch, notching 25 goals and 39 assists in his first full season with the Jets (his 2015-16 campaign was cut short by injury).
Combined, Laine and Ehlers racked up 61 goals while playing important roles on the Jets' top power-play unit. Along with Mark Scheifele, Ehlers and Laine form a potent scoring attack few teams in the NHL can rival.
Both wingers are still on their entry-level contracts, so expect Jets GM Kevin Cheveldayoff to have that Brink's truck on speed dial. Laine and Ehlers are worth the price of admission and deserve to get paid for it.
Columbus Blue Jackets - Zach Werenski & Alexander Wennberg
(Photo courtesy: Action Images)
The Blue Jackets were handily dealt with by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the first round of this year's playoffs. However, due to guys like Wennberg and Werenski, first-round exits won't be a common trend.
Wennberg may be the lesser-known name, but the former first-round pick has increased his point total by nearly 20 in each season following his rookie campaign.
Werenski, on the other hand, has received plenty of praise for last season's performance. He finished with 47 points and a plus-17 rating while logging 20:55 of ice time per game.
If not for a few other stud rookies on this list, those numbers would have earned Werenski the 2016-17 Calder Trophy. There's no need to stress over it, though, as he - and Wennberg - should be earning cash hand over fist in the very near future.
Toronto Maple Leafs - Auston Matthews & William Nylander
In a short span, the Maple Leafs have gone from pretenders to contenders, and a lot of that has to do with the play of two rookies that are set for major paydays.
(Photo courtesy: Action Images)
Matthews' quality and worth is obvious. He has elite scoring ability and a well-rounded, two-way game that seemingly gets more effective with every shift. Meanwhile, Nylander combines silky-smooth passing ability with a nose for the net, and managed to total 61 points last season.
Nylander comes off his entry-level deal at the end of the 2017-18 campaign, while Matthews has two years remaining on his rookie contract.
Both forwards are crucial to the future success of the Leafs and will be compensated as such.
Carolina Hurricanes - Sebastian Aho & Jeff Skinner
Aho finished last season with the fourth-most points by a rookie and Skinner buried 37 goals - good enough for sixth-best in the league.
This criminally underrated and offensively dangerous duo will be counted on to bring the Hurricanes back to the playoffs for the first time since 2009.
(Photo courtesy: Getty Images)
Skinner's already attached to a substantial cap hit of $5.725 million, but that number seems low considering his age (25) and ability to rack up goals.
Much like the Leafs, Carolina is no longer a pushover thanks in large part to the club's solid young core. As the Hurricanes' place in the standings rises, look for their payroll to climb along with it.
The club is reportedly set to hand the "C" to Ekman-Larsson - now that Shane Doan won't be back - and for the 26-year-old, it's a privilege he never envisioned, but one he certainly welcomes.
"That would be a huge honor," Ekman-Larsson said, according to NHL.com's Tim Campbell. "I didn't dream of that when I was a kid. It was a long, long way from that. It would be unbelievable."
Giving Ekman-Larsson the captaincy is part of club's offseason shift to attempt to rise from the depths of the Western Conference.
The club added Derek Stepan and Antti Raanta, but Ekman-Larsson admits the move he's most excited about is the addition of defenseman Niklas Hjalmarsson, who's expected to be his new defense partner.
"Bringing Hjalmarsson, I think that's a really good pickup by us," Ekman-Larsson said. "He can help our young team to really get better and to just see and be around a guy like that … I know from playing with him (on the Swedish national team), we can learn a lot. He knows what it takes to win.
"He's super easy to play with. He talks a lot and he's a good skater and moves the puck. I would say he's underrated."
The Coyotes finished with the West 's third-worst record in 2017, but only time will tell if new leadership and a stronger roster can drive them up the standings.
It caused substantial damage to Couture's teeth, resulting in extensive dental work.
On Wednesday, he joined "NHL Tonight" to describe how the injury has progressed.
"There’s good days and bad days," Couture said, according to Daniel Mano of The Mercury News. "My bottom teeth are still my real teeth. They’ve tried to keep ’em so I don’t lose 'em. I don’t know if I’ll be able to, they’re still pretty sore. My top teeth are all fake now - my front six, I think. So, it’s different. It just feels different in my mouth.
"But everything else with my face and all that’s healed. So I’m lucky that it’s an injury that didn’t affect my training, and hopefully won’t affect me going forward."
Couture reached the 50-point plateau for the fifth time last season, tallying 25 goals and 52 points in 73 games.
The NHL salary cap was implemented ahead of the 2005-06 season, with the aim of creating more parity by preventing the richest franchises in the biggest markets from simply outbidding their competitors for top talent.
But what if that change was undone and teams were no longer restricted by a spending limit?
Here are three ways the NHL landscape would be different - both on and off the ice - if the salary cap once again ceased to exist.
Blackhawks extend Stanley Cup window
(Photo courtesy: Getty Images)
One thing is certain: If there was no salary cap, Stan Bowman's job would be a lot easier.
The Chicago Blackhawks general manager has become a master at keeping his club largely intact while staying under the cap, winning three Stanley Cups with the current core.
That being said, it would be very interesting to watch Bowman wheel and deal without financial restrictions.
Keeping those players may not have guaranteed more Cup wins, but it certainly would have helped. Meanwhile, Blackhawks fans who weren't pleased with the Artemi Panarin trade could have had their cake and eaten it too, as Chicago wouldn't have dealt for Saad if it never had to let him go in the first place.
Less focus on analytics
Whether or not you swear by analytics, they're impossible to ignore in this day and age.
Prior to the eliminating the cap, advanced stats were seldom discussed - at least among casual fans - while teams simply threw money at players who passed the eye test and excelled in traditional ways. However, with front offices now on equal spending budgets, they've been forced to find any advantage they can, looking beyond the traditional box score for hidden gems who thrive in non-traditional ways.
With that in mind, teams are spending more money on the brightest minds in analytics, and are even creating full departments to get ahead in the field. Remember, the salary cap doesn't affect what management can offer to employees off the ice.
Maximizing the value of players and finding bargains has become a priority in the salary cap era, instead of simply overpaying for proven assets.
However, with no salary cap, Toronto likely wouldn't have entered a period of darkness to begin with. The team is one of the revenue juggernauts of the NHL, and has the potential to outspend most suitors - just ask Mike Babcock.
Prior to the lockout - after which the salary cap was implemented - the Maple Leafs had made the playoffs in six straight seasons, from 1999-2004, reaching the Eastern Conference Final twice.
In fact, the 2004 Maple Leafs included Mats Sundin, Alexander Mogilny, Gary Roberts, Joe Nieuwendyk, Brian Leetch, Owen Nolan, Ron Francis, and Ed Belfour, just to name a few. A little on the old side, sure, but impressive nonetheless.
Without a spending limit, Toronto would have been able to keep a roster like that largely intact - adding other veterans along the way - instead of finding itself in a downward spiral from 2006 until last season.
But there's a bright side, which we're seeing now. While the Leafs would have remained competitive with no cap, it's hard to win the Cup without drafting at least one superstar. Instead, the fall to the basement and the subsequent rebuild has Toronto on track with young, exciting home-grown talents.
