Engelland joined Vegas for its inaugural campaign in 2017, and he signed one-year contracts to remain with the club in each of last two offseasons.
"Deryk Engelland epitomizes what it means to be a Golden Knight. A no-ego, selfless, hardworking player who has an unwavering commitment to protecting those who are unable to protect themselves," owner Bill Foley said.
The New Jersey Devils selected Engelland during the sixth round in the 2000 draft, and he didn't earn an NHL job until 2009-10 with the Pittsburgh Penguins. He spent five seasons in Pittsburgh before joining the Calgary Flames.
The 38-year-old appeared in 671 NHL games, notching 127 points.
"His agent, Rick Valette, and I had many conversations during the two weeks around free agency in October," Oilers general manager Ken Holland told Ryan Frankson of the team's website. "But the marketplace has changed so much that basically our conversations have ended, and I would hope at some point once we get up and running we can pick back up and see if we can find a solution to keep Nuge in an Oilers uniform. Certainly that's my goal, but the deal's got to work for both Ryan and the Oilers."
It was reported in October that Nugent-Hopkins and the Oilers were making progress on a long-term extension.
"Obviously a weird, different time to be talking contracts," Nugent-Hopkins said. "Right now I'm just focused on getting the season started. In my mind, I know it's there, but I'm going to put it on the back burner and just really focus on getting the season going and getting started the right way."
Nugent-Hopkins is entering the final season of a seven-year pact through which he earns $6 million per campaign. The 27-year-old collected 61 points in 65 games last season, the highest point-per-game rate of his career.
The Oilers are projected to have over $28 million in available money for the 2021-22 campaign, according to Cap Friendly. However, the club has only 11 players signed through next season.
In the lead-up to the 2021 World Junior Championship, we're taking a look back at each of the 18 Canadian teams to capture the gold medal, culminating Dec. 25 with the start of the latest edition of the tournament.
The pressure Team Canada faced entering the 2009 world juniors was immeasurable. Not only did the country win four consecutive gold medals leading up to the event, but the games took place on home ice in Ottawa, the nation's capital, this time around.
As if the pressure entering the tourney wasn't enough, the 2009 world juniors showed how hungry Canadians were to see their team win another gold. The tournament holds the record for total attendance, with 453,282 spectators attending games.
The roster
Player
Position
Age
Jamie Benn
F
18
Zach Boychuk*
F
19
Patrice Cormier
F
18
Stefan Della Rovere
F
18
Chris DiDomenico
F
19
Jordan Eberle
F
18
Tyler Ennis
F
19
Angelo Esposito
F
19
Cody Hodgson
F
18
Evander Kane
F
17
Brett Sonne
F
19
John Tavares*
F
18
Keith Aulie
D
19
Ryan Ellis
D
17
Cody Goloubef
D
19
Thomas Hickey*
D
19
Tyler Myers
D
18
Alex Pietrangelo
D
18
P.K. Subban*
D
19
Colten Teubert
D
18
Chet Pickard
G
19
Dustin Tokarski
G
19
*Denotes returning player All ages are as of the start of the tournament
The tournament
Canada won all four of its preliminary-round games with ease, scoring 35 goals while allowing just six against. The contests included a 15-0 drudging against Kazakhstan and an emphatic 7-4 victory over the U.S. Pickard and Tokarski split the games at two apiece.
Canada advanced directly to the semifinals after finishing first in the preliminary round and took on Russia. Thanks to Eberle's late-game heroics, Canada managed to win in a shootout.
The Canadians faced a tough Swedish squad that included future stars Erik Karlsson, Victor Hedman, and Jacob Markstrom in the final. Sweden put up a good fight, outshooting Canada 40-31, but Tokarski shut the door and helped guide his team to a lopsided 5-1 victory and the country's fifth consecutive gold medal.
The stars
Hodgson led the team and tournament with 16 points in six games, including two goals and an assist in the gold-medal matchup.
Tavares was named tournament MVP after leading his squad with eight goals. Tavares, Hodgson, and Subban were picked for the world junior All-Star team.
The key moment
Every contest Canada played during the tournament was nearly a blowout except for its semifinal matchup against Russia. The two sides traded goals all game long, but it seemed as though Canada was on its way out after Russia scored to go up 4-3 with just over two minutes left in the third period.
With time winding down and hope fading, Eberle scored one of the country's most dramatic goals of all time. Team Canada was putting on a ton of pressure with Tokarski pulled, and Eberle miraculously swatted the puck into the net with five seconds left. The game eventually went to a shootout, where Eberle and Tavares scored, while Tokarski shut the door on both Russian shooters to send Canada to the gold-medal game.
The fallout
The team featured a number of future NHL stars, including Benn, Pietrangelo, Ellis, Kane, Subban, Tavares, and Eberle. Some of them showed flashes of brilliance at the world juniors, but others flew under the radar, like Pietrangelo, who managed just three points in six games.
Hodgson never fully found his footing in the NHL despite shining in the tournament. He went on to play in 328 career NHL games, racking up 142 points. He hasn't suited up in the league since the 2015-16 season.
The 2009 world juniors marked Canada's fifth-straight gold medal, but it would also be the beginning of a long drought for the country as its next gold wouldn't come until 2015.
Klefbom is dealing with a lingering shoulder injury that he's had surgery for multiple times during his career. Holland said in November it would be a "pleasant surprise" if the 27-year-old is available this season.
The NHL and NHLPA recently agreed on a 56-game schedule set to begin on Jan. 13.
Klefbom has spent seven seasons with the Oilers since being drafted 19th overall in 2011. He's one of Edmonton's top defensemen and registered 34 points in 62 games last season while averaging over 25 minutes per night.
The Oilers brought in Tyson Barrie this offseason to help make up for Klefbom's absence both at even strength and on the power play.
All games this season will be played among divisional opponents, so the rivals are projected to meet nine or 10 teams over the course of the 56-game schedule. There are also increased odds the Flames and Oilers will meet in the playoffs.
"Those games get a lot of traction. Even people who don't know much about hockey have come up to me a lot and asked about our games against Edmonton. I can't believe how many people in St. Louis I ran into wanted to talk about it. That's the first thing they always ask me about - what those games are like to play in," he added. "The Battle of Alberta has officially gone outside this province - not only in Canada but the rest of the U.S. The common thing they say is it's must-watch TV."
Tkachuk starred in multiple intense clashes between the two clubs last season, and his feud with Oilers enforcer Zack Kassian was one of the most memorable subplots of the 2019-20 campaign.
The 23-year-old led the Flames with 61 points in 69 contests a season ago.
In the lead-up to the 2021 World Junior Championship, we're taking a look back at each of the 18 Canadian teams to capture the gold medal, culminating Dec. 25 with the start of the latest edition of the tournament.
The 2008 world juniors were held in the Czech Republic, with Canada looking to claim its fourth consecutive gold medal and 14th overall at the event.
A group of players who have now developed into household NHL names led a 2008 roster that was absolutely stacked and destined to finish atop a competitive field.
The roster
Player
Position
Age
Kyle Turris
F
18
Brad Marchand*
F
19
Claude Giroux
F
19
Steven Stamkos
F
17
John Tavares
F
17
Matt Halischuk
F
19
Shawn Matthias
F
19
Stefan Legein
F
19
Colton Gillies
F
18
Brandon Sutter
F
18
Wayne Simmonds
F
19
Zach Boychuk
F
18
Riley Holzapfel
F
19
Drew Doughty
D
18
Karl Alzner*
D
19
Logan Pyett
D
19
Thomas Hickey
D
18
Luke Schenn
D
18
P.K. Subban
D
18
Josh Godfrey
D
19
Steve Mason
G
19
Jonathan Bernier
G
19
*Denotes returning player All ages are as of the start of the tournament
The tournament
SAMUEL KUBANI / AFP / Getty
Canada came out flying, opening the tournament with back-to-back shutout victories over the host Czech Republic team and Slovakia. A 4-3 loss to Sweden, however, cost the Canadians the top spot in Group A and an automatic trip to the semifinals. Mason would take the reigns in goal for the remainder of the tournament, with Canada needing to advance past three tough nations en route to a gold medal.
The Red and White clashed with Finland in the quarterfinals. With the contest squared midway through the third period, Marchand delivered the game-winning goal. Mason then shined in the semis, making 33 stops as Canada knocked off the United States 4-1 to set up a rematch with Sweden in the gold-medal game.
After Marchand and Giroux put Canada ahead 2-0, the Swedes struck twice in the third, tying the game with just 38 seconds remaining to set up Halischuk's overtime heroics.
The stars
SAMUEL KUBANI / AFP / Getty
A dominant top line of Marchand - the sole returnee among the forwards - Giroux, and Turris led Canada. The trio combined for 10 goals and 20 points over seven matchups while finding the twine in every game except the tournament opener.
The team also featured a pair of 17-year-old phenoms in Tavares and Stamkos. Tavares, who was still 18 months away from being drafted first overall, co-led the squad with four goals, while a baby-faced Stamkos contributed six points.
Defensively, Canada may have been even more impressive. Future Norris Trophy winners Doughty and Subban anchored a blue line that also included soon-to-be lottery pick Schenn. Godfrey, who was never able to crack an NHL lineup, led Canadian rearguards in scoring with five assists, but Doughty was named the best defenseman of the tournament after his dominant play all over the ice.
In goal, Mason produced one of the most inspiring performances in Canadian world junior history, authoring a 5-0 record with a 1.19 goals-against average and .951 save percentage. The Ontario native joined Marc-Andre Fleury and Carey Price as the only Canadian netminders to earn both tournament MVP and best goalie honors.
The key moment
SAMUEL KUBANI / AFP / Getty
Aside from the loss to Sweden, Canada faced little adversity throughout the tournament until the gold-medal finale. In that contest, the team blew a late lead and needed to regroup before overtime.
The Canadians didn't lose focus, and what started as a harmless play turned into one of the most memorable highlights in world junior history. Outnumbered in the offensive zone, Matthias bullied his way from the corner to the front of the net before Halischuk deposited the loose puck to clinch gold for Canada just 3:36 into the extra frame.
Halischuk became only the second player to clinch gold for his country in overtime since the tournament adopted the playoff format in 1996. Four players have done it since, with Kasperi Kapanen's golden goal for Finland in 2016 the latest.
The fallout
Andre Ringuette / Getty Images Sport / Getty
Stamkos and Doughty were selected No. 1 and 2, respectively, at the NHL draft just five months later. The pair have now combined to win three Stanley Cups, two Olympic gold medals, two World Cups, a Norris Trophy (Doughty), and two Rocket Richard trophies (Stamkos).
Schenn was selected with the fifth pick in the 2008 draft, and Boychuk went 14th. Giroux and Marchand, who were each selected in 2006, went on to become two of the league's most elite talents while dominating the following decade. Giroux ranked fourth in points (788) through the 2010s, while Marchand finished 19th in points (646) and 10th in goals. He also captured the Stanley Cup with the Boston Bruins during his rookie campaign in 2011.
Some players from the team - including Legein, Holzapfel, Pyett, and Godfrey - never made it to the NHL.
Hickey, Subban, Boychuk, and Tavares returned to Team Canada in 2009 to help the nation capture its fifth consecutive gold medal. Canada then hit a five-year title drought, failing to win any medal in two of the tournaments during that stretch.
