Patrik Laine's first taste of NHL competition will have to wait.
The second overall pick in Friday's draft won't take part in on-ice activities at the Winnipeg Jets' development camp, the club announced Tuesday.
Laine hasn't been given clearance to play after having surgery on his knee following an injury at the NHL Combine in early June. The minor procedure was performed after the event concluded, according to the club.
The 18-year-old was named best forward and the media's MVP at the World Championship last month after helping Finland claim the silver medal, and he led Finland to the gold medal at the World Junior Championship in January.
The Jets' development camp runs July 3-7 in Winnipeg.
Patrik Laine's first taste of NHL competition will have to wait.
The second overall pick in Friday's draft won't take part in on-ice activities at the Winnipeg Jets' development camp, the club announced Tuesday.
Laine hasn't been given clearance to play after having surgery on his knee following an injury at the NHL Combine in early June. The minor procedure was performed after the event concluded, according to the club.
The 18-year-old was named best forward and the media's MVP at the World Championship last month after helping Finland claim the silver medal, and he led Finland to the gold medal at the World Junior Championship in January.
The Jets' development camp runs July 3-7 in Winnipeg.
One thing is for certain: On July 1, there will be no frenzy with respect to free-agent goalies. The crop is thin - and that's putting it lightly.
Here are the top five goaltenders free to sign with any team Friday:
James Reimer
James Reimer is the only true No. 1 option on the market, but even he comes with question marks. The 28-year-old, a veteran of six seasons in the NHL, has actually never started more than 35 games in a season - and that was in his rookie year.
After subpar play in 2013-14 and 2014-15, Reimer put together some of his best work last season. He had a .918 save percentage in 29 starts with the last-place Toronto Maple Leafs before being traded to the San Jose Sharks. He finished at .922, the second-highest mark of his career.
A Maple Leafs draft pick in 2006, Reimer looked great behind a prolific Sharks team. He went 6-2 in the Bay Area, with a sparkling .938 save percentage and three shutouts.
Reimer's earned a long-term deal and a shot at full-time work, but his timing isn't great - there simply aren't any teams out there looking for a starter. Calgary was the most obvious destination until a few days ago, when the Flames acquired Brian Elliott from the St. Louis Blues at the draft.
Reimer made $2 million in salary last season with a $2.3-million cap hit. He's probably looking for something in the $4-million range.
Chad Johnson
We're into the backups already, and Chad Johnson is one who shouldn't have much trouble finding a job this summer.
Johnson, who turned 30 on June 10, is coming off the busiest - and arguably best - season of his career. He started 40 games for the rebuilding Buffalo Sabres, winning 22 of them and posting a .920 save percentage.
A serviceable backup since 2013, Johnson carried a $1.3-million cap hit in 2015-16, taking home $1.6 million. He has a lifetime .917 save percentage in 101 games (88 starts).
The Anaheim Ducks are in search of a veteran backup after trading Frederik Andersen, so there could be a fit out west. The Sharks will need a backup, since it appears Reimer's done out there, though they did sign European prospect Mantas Armalis. The Flames have to figure out who'll back up Elliott, too.
Jhonas Enroth
Another career backup looking for a contract is Jhonas Enroth, who had a strong 2015-16 season in very limited duty behind the formidable Los Angeles Kings.
Enroth started only 13 games in place of Jonathan Quick, but he acquitted himself well when he had the crease, setting career highs in save percentage (.922) and shutouts (two). He was relatively busy, too, facing 28 or more shots in eight of his 13 starts.
The 28-year-old hits the market having spent the majority of his career with the Buffalo Sabres, and with a .911 save percentage in 147 games (128 starts). He made $1.25 million in salary and against the cap last season, and won't cost much.
Like Johnson, Enroth is a veteran option for the clubs out there looking for a No. 2 - the Blues, Ducks, Flames, and Edmonton Oilers.
A former sixth overall pick, Montoya did his job and more last season, posting a .919 save percentage in 22 starts for the Atlantic Division winners. His 2.18 goals-against average was the lowest of his career.
The 31-year-old has career numbers similar to Enroth: a .909 save percentage in 137 games (110 starts). Our money's on the Oilers signing him to be Cam Talbot's insurance policy.
Montoya cost $1.05 million against the cap ($1.1 million salary) in 2015-16, and can likely be had at a similar number.
Carter Hutton
After three years backing up Pekka Rinne in Nashville, Carter Hutton appears set to move on from Music City.
Hutton, who will be 31 in December, had a .918 save percentage and two shutouts in 17 games (15 starts) for the Predators last season. He made only $750,000 in salary, and heads into free agency with a lifetime .910 save percentage and four shutouts in 76 games (67 starts).
Having played in the tough Western Conference, he's definitely an option for the Ducks, Flames, Blues, and Oilers.
"I feel in a way sometimes that I'm just kind of scratching the surface a bit. In years past when I get to play, I've been successful," Hutton told The Tennessean's Adam Vingan at the end of the season. "Obviously, playing with (Rinne) is amazing. He's helped me get better and better. ... We're like best buddies. But at the same time, there's a reason he's the best in the world, and playing with him sometimes is tough to get more minutes."
After a down season in which the 21-year-old forward recorded nine goals and 20 assists in 79 games, Nichushkin was tendered a qualifying offer from the club Monday.
"He's a very important player to us," general manager Jim Nill said, according to Mike Heika of SportsDay.
Heika adds the two sides will likely begin working on a contract extension for the restricted free agent, although an offer sheet from another club is also a possibility come July 1.
Nichushkin earned $925,000 in each of the past three seasons and would be in line for a bridge-type deal during which he can demonstrate an ability to play at a higher level.
Drafted 10th overall in 2013, Nichushkin has recorded 23 goals and 41 assists in 166 games.
Let's break this down in chronological order, courtesy of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch's Jeremy Rutherford:
Before last week's draft, Blues general manager Doug Armstrong and Shattenkirk's camp talked a long-term extension. The defender, making $4.25 million against the cap in 2016-17, is a restricted free agent after next season.
The figures were too rich for the Blues' blood, so the focus shifted to trading the 27-year-old.
Shattenkirk's agent appreciated the Blues' straightforwardness, but expected his client to be dealt during draft weekend.
Armstrong said he didn't come "anywhere close" to dealing Shattenkirk in Buffalo, stating that perhaps his price is too high.
There's no timeline, and Shattenkirk's agent wouldn't comment on whether potential preferred destinations have been discussed, or whether Shattenkirk's been able to talk contract with a future employer.
In the end, Shattenkirk's camp believes a trade is "inevitable." And based on that fact, they'd prefer a trade happen over the summer, so Shattenkirk can settle into his new home and take care of the hassles that come with moving during his time off.
A former first-round pick of the Colorado Avalanche, Shattenkirk has blossomed in St. Louis. His numbers are impressive:
Season
GP
Points
PP points
Ice time
2011-12
81
43
18
21:36
2013
48
23
9
21:18
2013-14
81
45
26
20:34
2014-15
56
44
25
22:34
2015-16
72
44
26
22:25
Shattenkirk set career highs in goals (14) and power-play points last season. There's a reason why Armstrong's asking for the moon.
"Canucks general manager Jim Benning violated the provisions of NHL By-Law 15 relating to inappropriate public comments by speaking generally to his club's potential interest in players under contract to other NHL clubs," deputy commissioner Bill Daly said in a statement.
Benning and the Canucks made headlines before the draft, after Benning said that Vancouver was one of the teams to call the Montreal Canadiens about the availability of Subban.
"It's a high price, he's a true No. 1 defenseman," Benning told the media.
About Stamkos, Benning said No. 91 would have many suitors in free agency, "but we'll talk to him and see where it goes."
Canadiens GM Marc Bergevin was upset with the public nature of Benning's comments, saying his counterpart "crossed the line."
With speculation across the league that a Subban deal was imminent, Bergevin addressed the media after Benning's comments and said that he wasn't shopping Subban, but that he couldn't stop teams from calling about him.
Daly added that he spoke with Benning and that the Vancouver GM meant no harm with his remarks.
"(Benning) will handle similar questions from the media differently in the future," Daly's statement concluded.
Benning released the following statement after the NHL announced the fine:
Last week I was trying to be candid with our fans and media about our efforts to improve our team but said too much about players on other teams. I have spoken personally to the NHL and the general managers involved to apologize and I accept the league's ruling.
Detroit Red Wings general manager Ken Holland made it clear when he traded Pavel Datsyuk's contract to the Arizona Coyotes last week that he wants to use that money on a dynamic offensive player.
According to TSN's Darren Dreger, Holland and the Red Wings have a list heading into free agency:
Lucic is believed to be on Detroit's want list. Stamkos and Frans Nielsen are ahead of him on the list, but he's a man of interest for DRW.
Tampa Bay Lightning captain Steven Stamkos is the cream of the free-agent crop. Where he lands - or if he stays down south - will have massive ramifications on the market.
Frans Nielsen's name has been for the most part absent from trade rumors. He's 32, but is coming off the second-most productive season of his career. He scored 20 goals and finished with 52 points.
Before Milan Lucic touched down in Edmonton for a visit with the Oilers, he was at home in Vancouver.
The Canucks hosted Lucic on Monday, tweeted ESPN's Pierre LeBrun, who added that Lucic's well in demand at the moment, days before the unrestricted free-agent market opens on July 1.
Not sure how many more visits are practical this point past Van/Edm but Lucic has interest from 10 teams overall... lots of phone chatter
The Canadiens have reportedly reached out to unrestricted free agent Dale Weise with a view to bringing him back to the club on a new deal, according to Pierre LeBrun of ESPN.
The 27-year-old was traded by Montreal to Chicago prior to this past season's trade deadline.
In 329 NHL games, Weise has scored 37 goals, including a career-high 14 in 56 games with Montreal in 2016-17.
Eric Staal's looking for a job, but he'd rather not settle.
NHL.com's Tom Gulitti spoke with Staal's agent, Rick Curran, on Tuesday, who said that he's had conversations with a number of teams, while adding that his client is seeking a top-six role, preferably in the middle.
Door is not completely closed on Eric Staal returning to Carolina, but he's looking at other options/ challenges right now.
The only problem: Staal may not be a top-six forward anymore. He had the least productive season of his career in 2015-16, finishing with 39 points (13 goals, 26 assists). He had 31 points as a rookie in 2003-04, before exploding for 100 in his sophomore season. He was a lock for 70 or more points for the remainder of the decade.
Staal was traded to the New York Rangers prior to the 2016 trade deadline, and it didn't work out too well. He had three goals and three assists in 20 games on Broadway and went pointless and a minus-7 in five playoff games.
The Thunder Bay, Ontario native will be 32 on Oct. 29, so he's far from finished, but a short-term deal - and a significant pay decrease from his whopping $9.5-million salary - to resurrect his career may be in order.
