ESPN is beginning to assemble its on-air talent ahead of becoming the NHL's primary broadcaster in the United States next season.

Ray Ferraro and Brian Boucher signed with the network as lead analysts, reports Andrew Marchand of the New York Post.

Ferraro is TSN's top color analyst in Canada. ESPN owns a minority stake in TSN, so it's unclear how this would affect Ferraro's role with his current employer. The 56-year-old spent 18 seasons in the NHL as a player, racking up 898 points in 1,259 games.

Boucher is currently a color analyst for NBC, which will no longer broadcast NHL games beginning next season. The 44-year-old played 13 years in the NHL as a goaltender, winning 120 games.

ESPN has yet to finalize its play-by-play commentators, but Steve Levy and Sean McDonough are viewed as leading internal candidates, reports Marchand.

The legendary Gary Thorne, who was ESPN's lead NHL announcer from 1992-2004, said in March that he would "love to talk to" the network about a reunion.

The Walt Disney Company, which owns ESPN and ABC, is paying the NHL over $400 million per season for the duration of a seven-year agreement that begins in 2021-22. Four Stanley Cup Finals will be broadcast on ABC during that span.

Turner Sports picked up the "B package" of the NHL's TV deal in the United States, paying $225 million over seven years, and gets the other three Stanley Cup Finals.

Kenny Albert and Eddie Olczyk, who will call this season's Stanley Cup Final for NBC, are reportedly joining Turner next season.

Turner is reportedly eyeing Wayne Gretzky for a broadcasting role after his talks with ESPN fell apart.

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Buffalo Sabres center Jack Eichel spoke to reporters Monday for the first time since early March, and he certainly didn't hold back.

"For sure, I would say I’ve been a bit upset about the ways things have been handled since I’ve been hurt," the Sabres captain said.

"I'd be lying (if I said) things have moved smoothly since my injury. ... There’s been a bit of a disconnect (between) the organization and myself. It's been tough at times, but right now for me, I think the most important thing is just trying to get healthy and (figuring) out a way to be available to play hockey next year, wherever that might be."

Eichel confirmed he broke the tip of his rib during a drill several weeks before training camp opened and also said he played through a lingering abdominal injury dating back to last season, according to Spectrum News' Ted Goldberg.

The 24-year-old star added he hasn't ruled out undergoing surgery on the herniated disc in his neck that shut down his 2021 campaign in March, according to the Buffalo News' Lance Lysowski. In fact, Eichel appeared to imply he wanted to go through with a procedure, but the team didn't allow it.

Eichel also said he's not using the injuries as excuses for his diminished production this season. "I've just got to be better," he said. "I've got to be a better hockey player."

The forward, who's under contract through 2025-26 with a $10-million cap hit, intends to mull over his future this summer.

"I think I have a lot of thinking to do in this offseason," Eichel said, according to the Buffalo News' Mike Harrington. "I think there's a lot that I have to consider. For now, obviously, I'm here, and I'm the captain of this hockey team, and my goal is to be available and try to help ... this organization win hockey games."

Eichel played his last game of the campaign for the league-worst Sabres on March 7 before being ruled out for the remainder due to his neck injury. After missing a pair of contests in late February, he contradicted Buffalo's then-head coach Ralph Krueger, who gave a different timeline of when the injury occurred.

The American-born player only collected two goals and 16 assists through 21 games this season, but his underlying numbers proved misfortune was a factor. Eichel authored a subpar 38.46 goals for percentage at five-on-five in 2021, but he posted a 56.42 expected goals for percentage in the same situations.

Eichel's served as Sabres captain since 2018-19 and has spent his entire six-year career with Buffalo.

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The NHL revealed its 31 nominees for the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy on Monday.

The award is given to the player who "best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to ice hockey."

Philadelphia Flyers forward Oskar Lindblom may be considered the front-runner this season after announcing he was cancer-free in December. Lindblom was one of three finalists last year.

Bobby Ryan won last season as a member of the Ottawa Senators. He entered the player assistance program to help fight his battle with alcoholism.

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Calgary Flames players and fans alike have found themselves in an uncomfortable position with the season winding down: They have to root for the Edmonton Oilers.

The Flames' playoff hopes were kept alive with their 6-1 win over the Ottawa Senators on Sunday night. In order to qualify for the postseason, Calgary has to win all four of its remaining games, and the Montreal Canadiens have to lose both of their final contests - which come against the Oilers - in regulation.

"We just have to win and pray. That's all we can do tomorrow," Flames winger Matthew Tkachuk said following Sunday's game.

He added: "Never thought we'd root for Edmonton but we need them to win these."

The Flames and Oilers are fierce provincial rivals. Tkachuk was smack dab in the middle of the most recent chapter of the Battle of Alberta last season when he and Zack Kassian went after each other on numerous occasions.

Johnny Gaudreau is hoping Connor McDavid can continue his brilliance against the Habs when the Flames need it most.

"I hope Connor can do his thing," Gaudreau said.

Flames head coach Darryl Sutter downplayed the scenario during an awkward exchange with Sportsnet's Eric Francis.

The Habs and Oilers will square off Monday and Wednesday in Montreal, while the Flames aren't back in action until Thursday against the Vancouver Canucks.

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If Victor Hedman hasn't looked like himself at times this season, there's a logical explanation as to why.

The Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman has been playing through a lower-body injury that will require surgery in the offseason, Sportsnet's Chris Johnston reported on Saturday's "Headlines" segment.

Johnston said Hedman's injury occurred on March 30 against the Columbus Blue Jackets. Here's a look at the play in question:

The Lightning held Hedman out of Saturday's game against the Florida Panthers due to a lower-body injury. It was the first contest he's missed all season. Johnston noted the 30-year-old Swede does plan to play in the postseason.

Hedman ranks third among NHL blue-liners with 45 points in 54 games, but the Lightning's 51.3% expected goals percentage with him on the ice at five-on-five stands to be their worst such mark since 2012-13, according to Natural Stat Trick.

Tampa has been especially outplayed with Hedman on the ice at five-on-five since that March 30 contest, owning a 48.6% share of the expected goals and a 39% share of the high-danger scoring chances in that span.

Hedman has been a Norris Trophy finalist in each of the last four seasons, winning the award in 2017-18. He also won the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP following the Lightning's Stanley Cup triumph last summer.

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Tampa Bay Lightning forward Pat Maroon will sit out one game for unsportsmanlike conduct stemming from his actions Saturday night against the Florida Panthers, the NHL's Department of Player Safety announced Sunday.

Maroon will miss Monday's regular-season finale against the Panthers. Florida sits in second place in the Central Division with 77 points, while Tampa Bay occupies the third spot with 75. It will be the final contest before the playoffs for both clubs. The teams will meet in the postseason for the first time ever when the first round begins.

The 33-year-old had a hearing earlier Sunday for roughing Panthers defenseman Brandon Montour. The Lightning agitator broke free from a linesman's grasp to attack the Florida blue-liner during Saturday's game.

Late in the third period of a 5-1 Panthers victory, Maroon and Montour exchanged words before being separated by the officials. Maroon then skated away from the linesman, dropped his gloves, and went after Montour, hitting his face with his bare hand.

Both players received minor penalties and 10-minute misconducts for the incident. Montour was also fined $5,000 for spearing Maroon before the altercation began.

The NHL said Sunday it agreed with Maroon's argument that he didn't forcefully hit Montour, but the league cited "the totality of the circumstances that causes this play to rise to the level of supplemental discipline." The league also pointed to Rule 46.5, which states that any player who continues a fight or altercation after being ordered by the referee to stop is subject to "a misconduct or game misconduct penalty in addition to any penalties imposed."

Maroon was previously suspended two games while with the Edmonton Oilers for a hit on Los Angeles Kings rearguard Drew Doughty in January 2018.

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