Suddenly, Frederik Andersen was given the keys as the Toronto Maple Leafs' new No. 1 goalie, and now that it's all said and done, he's glad to have finally learned his destination.

The 26-year-old netminder was dealt to Toronto from the Anaheim Ducks on Monday, and when the dust settled, it came as a relief.

"I was going back and forth a little bit (on contract talks) with Anaheim and it was dragging on a little bit," Andersen told Chris Johnston of Sportsnet. "I figured (a trade) could be a possibility, so I wasn't too shocked. I was very excited once the deal got done and I knew where I was going to be next year."

The trade came rather quick for Andersen.

"It was really hectic," Andersen said. "It started in the morning - I got a phone call from my agent (Claude Lemieux) saying 'there's a trade pending a deal.' It went pretty quick from there."

Shortly after the deal, Andersen inked a five-year, $25-million contract, signifying his role as the club's new No. 1, a task he believes he's ready for.

"I like playing a lot," Andersen said. "I'm excited about getting that vote of confidence and (getting to) be in there more."

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About a year before Auston Matthews was born, professional hockey arrived in Arizona. He took in his first Coyotes game as a 2-year-old, and his gaze never strayed far from the ice. "From a young age," Matthews said, "I wanted to be an NHL...

TAMPA, Fla. - Tampa Bay Lightning forward Ryan Callahan has undergone surgery to repair a labral tear in his right hip and will be sidelined about five months, which means he will not play for Team USA in the World Cup of Hockey. Lightning ge...

It was a formality, but Vincent Lecavalier officially retired from the NHL on Tuesday, leaving an accomplished legacy after 17 pro seasons.

Here's a look at four memorable moments for the man who made the same number famous in Tampa Bay.

Selected 1st overall

With the first pick in the 1998 NHL draft, the Tampa Bay Lightning selected Lecavalier from the Rimouski Oceanic of the QMJHL, where he accumulated 217 points over two seasons.

He was limited to 28 points in his rookie season, but went on to score 874 points in 1,037 games with the Lightning, respectively ranking second and first in franchise history.

Lecavalier would wind up finishing his career with 421 goals and 949 points in 1,212 games.

Fight versus Jarome Iginla

The Stanley Cup Final rarely includes fights, but Lecavalier took part in one of the more polarizing tilts in league history when he squared off with then Calgary Flames captain Jarome Iginla in Game 3 of the 2004 final.

Lecavalier scored 16 points in 23 games on Tampa Bay's march to the Cup, but his iconic tilt with Iginla was just as unforgettable.

"Rocket" Richard-winning season

He was one of the most consistent scorers of his generation but the 2006-07 season was Lecavalier's best, scoring 52 goals en route to winning the Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy as the league's top scorer.

Lecavalier chipped in 56 assists for a career-high 108 points, good for third in the NHL behind Sidney Crosby and Joe Thornton.

Over a 14-season stretch from 1999-2014, Lecavalier scored at least 20 goals in 13 of them, topping 30 five times.

Setting up the Cup winner

In a decisive Game 7, Lecavalier was instrumental in setting up the Cup winner.

Lecavalier grabbed the puck in the corner, and worked through multiple Flames to set up Ruslan Fedotenko with only five minutes to go, insuring Tampa Bay's first and only Stanley Cup championship.

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The Buffalo Sabres have set their price for the eighth overall pick in the 2016 draft.

The club currently holds a pick in the top-10 for the fourth straight season, but this time around Murray isn't against dealing it.

"If we can trade a couple picks and improve our team, we’ll continue to do that," general manager Tim Murray told John Vogl of The Buffalo News. "If somebody offers us a top-end, young, left-shot" defenseman "and they demand our eighth overall pick and we feel it makes us better, we’ll do the trade."

According to Murray, the team has a list of three players which he feels the club could take with the pick, which - according to Vogl - contains two defensemen.

Josh Gorges, pending restricted free-agent Jake McCabe, and pending UFA Carlo Colaiacovo, are the team's only left-handed shots on the back end.

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Artemi Panarin's first season in the NHL was a resounding success, scoring 77 points in 80 games, proving to be the dynamic scorer the Chicago Blackhawks hoped for when they lured him from the KHL last summer.

Panarin's success earned him a Calder Trophy nomination as the league's top rookie, along with Edmonton Oilers phenom Connor McDavid, and polarizing Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere.

Being 24 years old, and having played five pro seasons in the KHL, many believe Panarin shouldn't be eligible for the award. Though, he disagrees.

"I think it's fair because the rules are the rules, and (I) didn't write the rules," Panarin said, according to Mark Lazerus of the Chicago Sun-Times.

If Panarin doesn't win, an imminent raise for exceeding expectations should be a fair consolation.

No matter what side of the debate you're on, the outcome will be determined June 22 at the NHL Awards.

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Tampa Bay Lightning forward Ryan Callahan underwent successful hip surgery Tuesday and will be out approximately five months, subsequently missing the World Cup of Hockey, the Lightning announced.

More to come.

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After the best season of his career, the Chicago Blackhawks want Patrick Kane to stay put, and out of the spotlight this offseason.

The Blackhawks requested Kane remains in Chicago to train this summer, rather than returning home to Buffalo, according to Mark Lazerus of the Chicago Sun-Times.

Last offseason in Buffalo, Kane was accused of sexually assaulting a woman, and though he was not charged and the case was dismissed, it appears the Blackhawks are playing it safe with their superstar winger.

Kane, 27, notched a league-leading 106 points last season, as the Blackhawks were uncharacteristically eliminated in the first round of the playoffs. Kane, however, is already focused on the 2016-17 campaign and has begun his training regimen early this summer.

"I'm pretty happy with where my game was at during the regular season last year," Kane said. "I still think there are some ways I can improve ... As a competitive player, you always want to work on everything. You want to work on every part of your game and make sure it's getting better. That's what I'll probably try to do this offseason. Then I'll probably stay off the ice for a little bit, try to get my body where I want it."

Although it started early, Kane's offseason will be shortened, as he'll suit up for USA at the World Cup of Hockey in September.

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The Washington Capitals are hoping that improved forward depth will be the difference going forward.

General manager Brian MacLellan spoke to reporters on Tuesday stating he would like to upgrade the team's bottom-six forwards, according to NHL.com's Tom Gulitti.

MacLellan admitted that the team could do so in a number of ways including via free agency or through trade. The club's top-six fared admirably this past season with seven forwards hitting the 20-goal plateau.

In addition to adding to the team's bottom forwards, Washington also has four restricted free agents to contend with in Marcus Johansson, Dmitry Orlov, Tom Wilson, and Michael Latta, all who MacLellan plans on giving qualifying offers, according to CSN's Chuck Gormley.

MacLellan optimistic #Caps can sign RFA Marcus Johansson before going to arbitration. That cap number and salary cap will affect a lot.

— Stephen Whyno (@SWhyno) June 21, 2016

Jason Chimera - who largely occupied the team's third line - will also become an unrestricted free agent and though MacLellan would like to retain him, it might not be that easy.

"Would love to have him back," MacLellan said of Chimera, according to Stephen Whyno of the Associated Press. "I think a lot of timing is going to have to fall into place for us to have him back."

The Capitals will have roughly $13 million in cap space to do all this, according to General Fanager.

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Halifax council unanimously voted to consider renaming a suburban street after hockey star Sidney Crosby, despite some councillors' reservations the city should pay tribute to "more than just athletes." Lorelei Nicoll, the councillor for Cole...