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Ottawa Senators forward Bobby Ryan is grateful for the therapy he participated in earlier this season now that he, along with most of the world, is being forced to self-isolate.

In November, Ryan suffered a panic attack and was forced to leave the Senators to enter the NHL/NHLPA's player assistance program for alcohol abuse. He revealed the clarity he gained from the therapy is helping him now during such uncertain times.

"It would have been really bad going into this had I not gone through what I did back in the early part of December to get help," Ryan told TSN's Ian Mendes. "I couldn’t imagine being isolated with my family. It wouldn’t have been good for my marriage, because I wasn’t in a good place to really help."

Ryan added: "One of the things I’ve really learned in the past four and a half months is that there only a few things you can control. And what’s outside those limits are going to happen anyway. So just try and stay within the bubble. I can’t control the situation. I can only control thoughts."

Ryan returned to the Senators in February, and late in the month, produced one of the most memorable moments of the season, burying a hat trick versus the Vancouver Canucks in his first home game since his absence.

The 33-year-old is in his 13th NHL season, having posted 555 points in 833 career games.

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Eric Lindros was named an ambassador for the Philadelphia Flyers on Thursday and will participate in the "ALL IN Challenge" - a fundraiser for COVID-19 hunger relief - as his first project, the team announced.

"Few players in Flyers history inspire as much excitement and passion among the fanbase as Eric Lindros, and during this unprecedented time those positive feelings are exactly what we want to deliver to our fans," president of business operations Valerie Camillo said.

"This ambassadorship with Eric has been in the works for quite some time, and we made the decision to kick it off right now, not only as a special engagement for our fans but even more importantly as an integral way to assist those impacted by COVID-19."

As part of the fundraiser, the Flyers and Lindros are auctioning off the Ultimate Flyers Game Day Experience. The winner and up to 11 guests will hit the ice with Lindros during the morning skate, participate in the ceremonial puck drop prior to that night's game, watch the game in a suite with Lindros, and enjoy a postgame celebration with the former Flyer and special guests.

Lindros spent his first eight NHL campaigns with Philadelphia, racking up 290 goals and 659 points in 486 games with the club. The Flyers lifted his No. 88 to the rafters at Wells Fargo Center in January 2018.

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The NHL's probe into whether the Arizona Coyotes conducted physical testing of draft-eligible players before the combine will be wrapped up before the next draft, regardless of when it's held.

"There's a timeline and there's a conclusion that's set for sorting through the allegations," TSN's Darren Dreger reported on Thursday's edition of "Insider Trading."

The Coyotes will reportedly take part in a hearing, and while the team has been cooperative lately, other clubs want Arizona to be punished if the league discovers violations.

The NHL made it known to teams earlier this week that a resolution would precede the upcoming draft.

"The National Hockey League, as part of a conference call Tuesday with the general managers, brought it up unsolicited," Dreger said. "No general manager asked for further detail, but the National Hockey League commissioner's office did tell the general managers that whenever the draft is - if the draft is in June (or) if it's later than that - this issue will be resolved, and if necessary, the Coyotes will be held accountable before the NHL draft."

Dreger reported in January that the NHL was investigating the club after multiple CHL teams stated they were contacted by Arizona. NHL rules prohibit physical testing of draft prospects prior to the combine. If found guilty, the Coyotes could face a $250,000 fine or more, per incident, at commissioner Gary Bettman's discretion.

The league is considering holding a virtual draft in June before the season resumes.

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In this installment of the Battle of Quebec, the Montreal Canadiens and Quebec Nordiques face off in a decisive Game 5, with the winner advancing to the second round of the 1982 playoffs.

Led by the Stastny brothers, the Nordiques looked to complete the upset at Montreal Forum over Guy Lafleur and the division-leading Canadiens.

Watch the livestream below:

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Swedish forward Linus Sandin intends to sign with the Philadelphia Flyers when the NHL and IIHF finalize new international transfer agreements, according to Sportsnet's Chris Johnston.

Johnston adds that "it sounds like the IIHF transfer agreements will be/have been extended for a year," but there is no official entry-level contract yet in place.

Sandin, 23, enjoyed a career year for the Swedish Hockey League's HV71 this season. He ranked third in the league in goals (19) and second on his club in points (36) through 51 games.

The 6-foot center is the older brother of Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Rasmus Sandin.

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At least one NHL club has asked its players to be ready to report May 15 to start informal workouts that would precede a training camp lasting up to three weeks, according to the New York Post's Larry Brooks.

However, not every team has reportedly done so.

NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly responded Thursday by saying the league hasn't given its teams any timetables pertaining to the resumption of play.

"I don't know what clubs are telling their players,” Daly wrote to Brooks. “We have not specified or articulated any 'target dates' to our clubs at this point.”

"We're not going to rush anything," commissioner Gary Bettman told Sportsnet's Ron MacLean on Wednesday night.

Last week, the league recommended its players, coaches, and staff continue self-quarantining through April 30. It was the third time that date had been extended beyond March 27. The season was paused March 12 amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Florida Panthers president Matthew Caldwell said Wednesday that the NHL was targeting a return in July.

Earlier in April, Bettman stated teams would need a two-to-three-week training camp before the season could resume.

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The Columbus Blue Jackets signed netminder Elvis Merzlikins to a two-year contract extension, the team announced Thursday.

The contract comes with an average annual value of $4 million, according to Chris Johnston of Sportsnet.

"We've believed for several years that Elvis Merzlikins was the best goaltender outside the NHL while he was playing in Switzerland and this year he has shown that he has the ability and drive to be a very good goaltender in this league," general manager Jarmo Kekalainen said in a statement. "He is quick, athletic, and driven to succeed."

Merzlikins, 26, has authored a 13-9-8 record with a 2.35 goals-against average, a .923 save percentage, and five shutouts during his first professional campaign. He leads all rookie netminders in all of those categories.

The Latvian puck-stopper failed to pick up a win in his first eight career starts but caught fire after earning his first victory Dec. 31. From that point on, Merzlikins owns a record of 13-5-4 with a 1.97 goals-against average and a .935 save percentage. His stretch of dominant play includes a run of eight straight victories in which he conceded just eight goals while collecting five shutouts.

Columbus also extended goaltender Joonas Korpisalo last week to a two-year deal worth a reported $5.6 million. With the pair locked up, the club has established a formidable tandem for just $6.8 million annually.

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