Former Edmonton Oilers coach and longtime executive John Muckler has died at 86 years old, the team announced.

Muckler played a pivotal role in the organization's dynasty throughout the 1980s. He was an associate coach on the Oilers' staff for their Stanley Cup championships in 1984 and 1985 before his promotion to assistant head coach. He won two more rings in 1987 and 1988 in that role before winning a fifth as head coach in 1990.

"He was tough, strict, but most importantly fair, and he helped lay the groundwork to make our team more accountable to each other which propelled us to become champions," Wayne Gretzky said in the release. "A wonderful family man and great friend, he personally took my career to another level, and I will always cherish the hours we talked, from breaking down defenses to raising a family. Rest in peace, John, you will be missed."

Muckler also held coaching or managerial positions with the Minnesota North Stars, Buffalo Sabres, Vancouver Canucks, New York Rangers, Ottawa Senators, and then-Phoenix Coyotes.

He was a finalist for the Jack Adams Award in 1994 with Buffalo, and helped build a Senators team that reached the Stanley Cup Final in 2007.

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Quebec's public health department will allow the Montreal Canadiens to play home games at the Bell Centre this season, a spokesperson confirmed to The Canadian Press.

"The five provinces concerned and the Public Health Agency of Canada have made recommendations to the NHL teams for the resumption of their activities and the conduct of the 2021 season," said the spokesperson for Quebec's Health and Social Services Ministry. "We have accepted their revised protocol. We are in agreement with the start of training camp on Sunday and the return to play in mid-January, if all goes well."

British Columbia and Alberta have also green-lit home games for NHL teams in those provinces. Manitoba and Ontario haven't given official responses, leaving the Winnipeg Jets, Ottawa Senators, and Toronto Maple Leafs in limbo.

Training camps for all 31 teams are now open, and the regular season is scheduled to start on Jan. 13.

Montreal opens its 2021 campaign with a six-game road trip through Toronto, Edmonton, and Vancouver. The Habs won't play at home until Jan. 28.

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Patrik Laine declined Monday to directly address his representatives' reported offseason suggestion that a trade might be best for his client and the Winnipeg Jets.

When asked about the subject, the Finnish forward focused on the present while talking to the assembled media for the first time since the 2019-20 campaign concluded.

"I don't worry about that stuff," Laine said. "Even Wayne Gretzky got traded. People get traded all the time. It's (a) part of the game you need to be aware of. Right now, I'm just worried about working hard here, being the best player I can be, and (helping) these other guys be at their best."

In October, TSN's Pierre LeBrun reported Laine's agents, Mike Liut and Andy Scott, believed it "probably would be mutually beneficial to both the player and the team if Patrik Laine is traded." LeBrun added that there was "clear communication" between the winger's camp and Jets general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff about the matter.

A few weeks before that, it was reported that the Jets were "serious" about a potential Laine trade.

The 22-year-old collected 28 goals and a career-high 35 assists over 68 games in 2019-20, his fourth NHL season. Winnipeg drafted him second overall in 2016.

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The Hart Trophy market has been incredibly rewarding for bettors during the last six seasons, with Sidney Crosby (3-1) being the last to win league MVP at shorter than 10-1 odds back in the 2013-14 season.

Can Connor McDavid or Nathan MacKinnon buck that trend this season, or will another generously priced star rise to the occasion?

Listing players 50-1 or shorter.

Nathan MacKinnon (+600)

Twice a runner-up in Hart voting (2018 and 2020), MacKinnon is primed for a monster season. His 93 points last year were 43 more than the second-most on the Colorado Avalanche, making him the clear catalyst on an NHL powerhouse.

To secure the hardware, he'll have to ensure Colorado lives up lofty expectations, meaning a dominant regular season, a West Division title, and perhaps a Presidents' Trophy. It's all very attainable for what is a truly stacked roster with MacKinnon leading the way.

The 25-year-old brings a fiery intensity to his game and could go scorched earth this year to avenge last season's early playoff exit.

Jack Eichel (+1500)

For a lot of players on this oddsboard, the path to capturing the award is a bit murky. For many, a career year simply won't be enough. But for Eichel, it's relatively straightforward, and that makes him a nice value at this price.

If Eichel can produce at a slightly higher clip than last season and lead the Buffalo Sabres to their first playoff berth since 2010-11, he's going to be at the forefront of the MVP conversation.

He's finally got a running mate on the top line in former Hart Trophy winner Taylor Hall, so it's well within reason to expect a jump in production from Eichel after he put up 78 points in 68 games last season - a 94-point pace over 82 contests. He turned Jeff Skinner into a 40-goal scorer in 2018-19, so imagine what he can do with Hall.

The roadblock here is the Sabres will play in a very tough East Division - in which there are no weak links - and lack the depth and goaltending to compete with many of the top teams. However, if the Sabres make the playoffs this year, it's going to be on Eichel's back.

Andrei Svechnikov (+9000)

While there's a ton of talent atop the oddsboard, it's hardly far-fetched for an off-the-radar player to swoop in and win the award. Leon Draisaitl (2020), Hall (2018), and Patrick Kane (2016) were all significant longshots to win the Hart Trophy when they claimed the honor.

Svechnikov took a big step forward from his rookie to sophomore season, jumping from 0.24 goals per game and 0.45 points per game to 0.35 and 0.90, respectively. Entering his third NHL campaign, Svechnikov could break out in a big way as a cornerstone of one of the league's most potent lines on a Carolina Hurricanes team poised to make the jump from playoff hopefuls to Cup contenders.

At five-on-five, the Hurricanes had a Corsi for percentage of 56.9 (ninth-best) and expected goals for per 60 minutes of 3.1 (fifth-best) when Svechnikov was on the ice last season. He's a dynamic offensive player primed for another statistical leap in his third season, as he now possesses the confidence to match his ability.

Alex Moretto is theScore's supervising editor of sports betting. A journalism graduate from Guelph-Humber University, he has worked in sports media for over a decade. He will bet on anything from the Super Bowl to amateur soccer, is too impatient for futures, and will never trust a kicker. Find him on Twitter @alexjmoretto.

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Pittsburgh Penguins forward Kasperi Kapanen is not with the team for training camp as he continues to deal with immigration issues, head coach Mike Sullivan confirmed Monday to NHL.com's Wes Crosby.

Sullivan added that he doesn't know how long it will take for Kapanen's issues to be resolved.

The 24-year-old Finn was acquired in an offseason trade with the Toronto Maple Leafs for a package that included a 2020 first-round pick (Rodion Amirov) and prospect Filip Hallander.

Kapanen recorded 13 goals and 23 assists in 69 games with the Maple Leafs last season. He was projected to start the upcoming campaign on Pittsburgh's top line with Sidney Crosby and Jake Guentzel.

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Starting training camp on the Toronto Maple Leafs' top line with Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner is making 41-year-old Joe Thornton feel like he's been dipped into the fountain of youth.

"To start with them is pretty special," he said, according to the Toronto Sun's Lance Hornby. "I feel young again."

Thornton has played center almost exclusively throughout his 22-year NHL career, but he's fine with moving to left wing.

"I played like a rover in San Jose," the veteran continued, according to the Toronto Sun's Terry Koshan. "I feel comfortable there."

Thornton also added that he played left wing in Switzerland with HC Davos, according to NHL.com's Mike Zeisberger.

Thornton is among the game's best all-time playmakers, so pairing him with one of the league's top snipers in Matthews could pay dividends. However, there are questions regarding whether Thornton can keep up with Toronto's young guns.

The future Hall of Famer tallied seven goals and 24 assists in 70 games with the San Jose Sharks last season.

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General manager Jim Rutherford believes he can keep the Pittsburgh Penguins' Stanley Cup window open in the latter stages of the Sidney Crosby era by making a splash in free agency.

The Pens only project to hold $5.4 million in cap space next offseason, according to CapFriendly. However, they could have nearly $35 million in flexibility after the 2022 campaign when Evgeni Malkin, Kris Letang, Bryan Rust, and others come off the books. That might be when Rutherford plans to strike.

"The key to this as we go forward a couple of years down the road will be plugging in an impact player into the lineup. Maybe a couple of impact players. Not just a good player, but an impact guy," Rutherford told The Athletic's Josh Yohe. "It's hard to get the truly impactful guys, players like Crosby, Malkin, and Letang. But the time will come when we'll have to add one of those types of players.

"It's something we'll probably have to do through free agency. We'll have to find the right year to do it, but the time will come when we'll need to find a truly impactful player who is probably in his mid-20s. As the years go on and some of the veterans eventually move out of our lineup, we'll have to get two, three guys in their mid-20s. Impactful players. We can do it."

It's typically difficult to add high-impact players in their mid-20s through unrestricted free agency. Most players are in their late-20s or early-30s when they hit the open market. Nevertheless, the 2022 UFA class includes a long list of players who should still be in their primes. Here are the most noteworthy:

*Age as of July 1, 2022

Of course, many of these players could re-sign with their current clubs before reaching free agency. However, the idea that a superstar free agent would be intrigued by possibly playing with Crosby and Malkin in the duo's final years isn't lost on Rutherford.

"Nope," the Hall of Fame executive said with a laugh.

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When considering which NHL teams to watch, several factors come into play.

While better teams are always easier on the eyes, it should be noted that watchability isn't purely about the top clubs. Instead, this is all about how entertaining they'll be.

The two teams atop this list have been among the league's most electrifying for some time, but there are other squads - including a pair of New York-based franchises - that are now appointment viewing after years of mediocrity.

Here's how we rank the 31 NHL teams purely in terms of watchability:

1. Colorado Avalanche

There are just so many reasons to grab your popcorn and tune in to an Avalanche game. Nathan MacKinnon is one of the NHL's best and most exciting players, and his line with Gabriel Landeskog and Mikko Rantanen remains one of the league's most explosive units. Cale Makar is a burgeoning star on the back end who's already worth the price of admission.

The supporting cast of Nazem Kadri and Andre Burakovsky is a lot of fun, too. Colorado's roster oozes talent - even moreso after adding Brandon Saad and Devon Toews. There's little doubt this is the NHL's most watchable team.

2. Tampa Bay Lightning

Heading into the 2020-21 season, the Lightning were all but locked in at No. 1 on this list, but losing arguably their most dynamic player makes them slightly less appealing. That being said, the defending Stanley Cup champions are still primed to be one of the league's absolute best and most entertaining squads.

It will be interesting to see how they fare without Nikita Kucherov for the regular season and with Steven Stamkos coming off an injury that derailed his 2019-20 campaign. Those subplots and Tampa Bay's deep collection of skill ensure the team will again be one of the NHL's most intriguing.

3. Vegas Golden Knights

The Golden Knights have been enjoyable to follow since they entered the league, but this edition of the club promises to be the most riveting. Alex Pietrangelo joins a deep group that already includes Max Pacioretty, Mark Stone, and Shea Theodore, making Vegas more enticing than ever. The goalie drama is just the icing on the cake.

4. Edmonton Oilers

Even if the Oilers only boasted Connor McDavid they'd rank highly on this list. But Leon Draisaitl has proven he's much more than just McDavid's sidekick, following up his stellar 2018-19 by winning the Hart and Art Ross last season. Edmonton doesn't have a ton of depth, but its two-headed monster frequently provides ample incentive to watch the team.

5. Winnipeg Jets

There's a lot to like about the Jets, from electric scorers Patrik Laine and Kyle Connor to well-rounded playmakers Blake Wheeler and Mark Scheifele. Not to mention Nikolaj Ehlers. Winnipeg's back end should be more stable this season than it was in 2019-20, and Vezina Trophy winner Connor Hellebuyck can absolutely dazzle in the crease.

6. Toronto Maple Leafs

Adding John Tavares to a core that already included Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, Morgan Rielly, and William Nylander made the Maple Leafs a must-watch team in 2019-20. This season, Toronto should be even more captivating with Joe Thornton and Wayne Simmonds in the mix, among others. It'll be worth tuning in to see whether the club can exorcise its recent playoff demons.

7. Washington Capitals

There's long been one big reason to watch Capitals games, as Alex Ovechkin is always worth your eyes for two-and-a-half hours; Evgeni Kuznetsov, John Carlson, and Nicklas Backstrom provide entertainment of their own. However, it remains to be seen how exciting they'll be under new head coach Peter Laviolette.

8. New York Rangers

The Rangers were a blast last season, with Artemi Panarin, Mika Zibanejad, Chris Kreider, and Co. providing frequent highlights and playing aesthetically pleasing hockey. With top prospect Alexis Lafreniere coming aboard and Igor Shesterkin regularly manning the crease, this team on the rise will be a show worthy of Broadway.

9. Vancouver Canucks

The Canucks lost a bunch of key players in free agency and are putting a lot of faith in Thatcher Demko and Braden Holtby. However, Vancouver's core led by Elias Pettersson and Quinn Hughes has cemented the club as one of the NHL's most watchable squads, and that should remain the case despite downgrades elsewhere on the roster.

10. Buffalo Sabres

Taylor Hall and Jack Eichel? Enough said. That combination alone instantly makes the Sabres must-watch material, and many will be checking out their games out of curiosity. Buffalo also has Rasmus Dahlin and the Eric Staal-Jeff Skinner reunion going for it. It's hard to believe, but this is suddenly one of the NHL's most compelling clubs.

11. Calgary Flames

The Flames boast one of the most talented top-six forward groups in the NHL. Though they've underachieved as a team of late, their games always provide a reason to watch, from Johnny Gaudreau's skill to Matthew Tkachuk's tenacity. Calgary's goaltending upgrade of Jacob Markstrom should mean more team victories, and winners are always more appealing.

12. Philadelphia Flyers

The Flyers should be competitive this season after proving to be one of the NHL's best clubs in 2019-20. Carter Hart is one of the league's most promising goalies, and Sean Couturier is rock-solid at both ends. Don't overlook the Flyers due to the lack of superstars. They've got depth and are a sneaky fun watch.

13. Boston Bruins

The Bruins' vaunted top line is still a big draw, but after losing Torey Krug and Zdeno Chara in free agency, the club doesn't project to be as thrilling as it was in past seasons. Boston should still be fairly competitive, but this squad won't have the same sizzle, especially with David Pastrnak banged up to begin the campaign.

14. Pittsburgh Penguins

Much like the Bruins, the Penguins still possess some otherworldly talent, but questionable offseason moves have left them with a depleted supporting cast. Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin can still turn heads, but Pittsburgh doesn't have the allure it once had.

15. Carolina Hurricanes

The Hurricanes may not be the best team in the NHL, but they should once again be a whole lot of fun. Sebastian Aho is a star, Andrei Svechnikov can seemingly pull off "The Michigan" at will, and the "Bunch of Jerks" boast a deep defensive group led by Dougie Hamilton.

16. Dallas Stars

Sometimes a great team isn't necessarily the most exciting one - the Stars are a prime example of that. Dallas' defense, stellar goaltending, and surprising contributions from key veterans helped the team advance to the Stanley Cup Final last season. They enter 2020-21 with Tyler Seguin and Ben Bishop out long term, so that won't help them in terms of watchability.

17. St. Louis Blues

The Blues are still a good team - they have much of the same core that won the Stanley Cup in 2019. But, going from Vladimir Tarasenko to Mike Hoffman and from Pietrangelo to Torey Krug makes them less exciting. It may hurt the club in the win column, too.

18. Montreal Canadiens

The Canadiens made some big splashes this offseason and are primed to take a step forward with some new faces in 2020-21. Tyler Toffoli, Josh Anderson, and promising import Alexander Romanov could turn an already interesting Montreal squad led by Carey Price into one that warrants regular viewing.

19. Chicago Blackhawks

Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews entertained fans for years, but Toews is now out indefinitely, and the Blackhawks are in a rebuilding phase after a tumultuous offseason. As captivating as Kane is, Chicago won't be nearly as watchable this season, and the club's likely struggles will make it tough to follow the star sniper.

20. Florida Panthers

The Panthers ranked sixth in the NHL in goals per game last season, but that was with Hoffman and Evgenii Dadonov in the fold. Both players departed in free agency, and while Aleksander Barkov and Jonathan Huberdeau move the needle to a degree, it's simply not enough.

21. New York Islanders

The Islanders almost pride themselves on being a dull, yet competitive team. New York does have one standout sparkplug with unsigned dynamo Mathew Barzal (who has yet to report to camp), but the club lost a slew of players in the offseason and ranked in the bottom third of the league offensively in 2019-20.

22. Ottawa Senators

The Senators project to be far more watchable than their record may indicate. A young group led by Brady Tkachuk and Thomas Chabot will be bolstered by uber-prospect Tim Stuetzle, who'll still be glowing after a stellar World Junior Championship.

23. Minnesota Wild

The Wild are the epitome of mediocre and have been for a long time. However, they will have one tantalizing new reason to watch their games because of highly touted newcomer Kirill Kaprizov.

24. Columbus Blue Jackets

The Blue Jackets have their moments (just ask the Maple Leafs) and their share of skilled players, including goaltending phenom Elvis Merzlikins. However, John Tortorella's style of play doesn't lend itself to entertainment, and trading the underrated Pierre-Luc Dubois would only exacerbate that.

25. Nashville Predators

Remember when the Predators were truly relevant? Those days are behind them, and though they possess more than a few talented players, their style of play and subpar performance in 2019-20 suggest more of the same is in store this season.

26. New Jersey Devils

It's going to be another long season for the Devils, whose division got even tougher in the NHL's 2020-21 realignment. Jack Hughes, Nico Hischier, and P.K. Subban provide reason for optimism, but few fans will be itching to watch this team.

27. San Jose Sharks

Evander Kane is popcorn-worthy, but can Erik Karlsson stay healthy? It wasn't long ago the Sharks were a perennial contender that couldn't be ignored, but San Jose is far from competitive now and likely won't be for a while.

28. Arizona Coyotes

The Coyotes had a dreadful offseason for several reasons, but the biggest regret will be Hall's departure. Arizona wasn't very intriguing before losing its marquee player, and the team just won't be watchable without him. That is, unless they're rocking those sweet Kachina jerseys.

29. Detroit Red Wings

The NHL's worst team in 2019-20 will probably be a difficult watch this season, but new arrivals Bobby Ryan, Vladislav Namestnikov, and Marc Staal - along with a healthy Anthony Mantha - will keep them from being the least interesting squad.

30. Los Angeles Kings

Quinton Byfield can't get to L.A. soon enough. It's unclear whether he'll begin the season in the NHL, and he may need a bit of seasoning before he's ready to dominate at the highest level. In the meantime, the Kings won't have much to write home about.

31. Anaheim Ducks

The Ducks were the the league's fifth-worst team last season, and there's little reason to believe they'll be an easier watch in 2020-21. Tuning in to see John Gibson get bombarded every game is hardly incentive to make time for Anaheim, despite the goaltender's best efforts.

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