The 33-year-old is coming off a 2017-18 season split between the Edmonton Oilers and Columbus Blue Jackets. He tallied eight goals and 19 points with Edmonton in 60 contests and another four points in 20 games with Columbus.
If Letestu and FLA don’t agree on a one-way deal in early Oct, don’t be surprised if Letestu circles back and accepts #CBJ two-way deal. His choice on a two-way deal would be with Columbus.
After not talking most of the summer, Letestu and CBJ had a late-summer round of talks.
Letestu, who's traditionally played center, could face a tough challenge if he hopes to land a job at the position with the Panthers. Aleksander Barkov and Vincent Trocheck hold down the first two spots, so the veteran would likely have to edge out either Henrik Borgstrom or Derek MacKenzie for a bottom-six center job.
Letestu has amassed 93 goals and 210 points during 558 games across his nine-year NHL career.
After undergoing shoulder surgery in the spring, Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski is hoping to avoid missing the start of the 2018-19 regular season.
"My goal, ultimately, is to be there for Game 1," the 21-year-old told Brian Hedger of BlueJackets.com. "You never want to miss time, you never want to miss games, so my goal going into training camp and into the season is to be ready for Game 1.
"If it's later, like Game 5 or Game 10, whenever that is, I'm going to work to miss as few games as possible and be ready to help the team."
Werenski had the surgery on May 3 to repair a lingering injury that he played through for the majority of the 2017-18 campaign. He still managed to set a career high with 16 goals, but produced 10 fewer points (37) than during his impressive rookie campaign.
For now, Werenski has begun skating but hasn't progressed to contact drills.
"I feel great out there," he said. "There's no problems right now. I'm just kind of ramping it up here, trying to get my timing back. Everything feels good on the ice. I haven't had any contact yet. That's not until later. I probably won't do that until probably halfway through training camp, but everything is good. Everything's on pace. I actually don't know what my timeline is, to be honest, but I'm hoping to be back toward the start of training camp - probably not Day 1, but as soon as I can be."
The Blue Jackets will open the 2018-19 season on Oct. 4 when they clash with the Detroit Red Wings.
Ellis was set to become an unrestricted free agent at the conclusion of the upcoming season, but the extension will now keep him under contract through the 2026-27 campaign. He's currently in the final year of a five-year, $12.5-million deal that pays him just $2.5 million per season.
"Ryan is a huge part of our team on and off the ice and we are happy to have his leadership remain in our locker room for the foreseeable future," general manager David Poile said in a release. "We have talked about wanting to keep the core of our team together, and this is another opportunity to help us do so while continuing to compete for a Stanley Cup. Ryan is entering his prime and is one of the reasons why we feel this team has a chance to win every time we step on the ice."
The 27-year-old Ellis is coming off his seventh season in the league, in which he posted nine goals and 32 points despite playing only 44 games due to injury. He also finished tied for ninth among all NHL defenders in points per game (0.73) among those with at least 30 appearances.
Overall, Ellis has tallied 55 goals and 173 points in 396 career games, the sixth-highest point total among defenseman in Predators franchise history.
The 23-year-old split this past season between the Devils and the club's AHL affiliate in Binghamton. He posted two goals and eight assists in 36 games at the NHL level and three goals and six points in 27 AHL contests.
"We are excited to lock up Steven, a young, developing defenseman, for the next three seasons," general manager Ray Shero said in a release. "He provides size and a physical element that complements our existing defensive group moving forward."
Santini was drafted in the second round in 2013. He's put up four goals and 17 points in 75 career games.
Brady Tkachuk has his sights set on playing in the NHL right away, and he believes he's ready to stick around for the entire campaign.
The Ottawa Senators prospect made that clear when asked what he believes is the best spot for him during the upcoming season.
"I think it's with Ottawa and in the NHL," Tkachuk told TSN 1200 on Monday. "For me it's a dream of mine to play there. I think I'm physically ready and mentally ready for the grind that comes with the NHL. ... At the end of the day, it's where the management thinks is best for me, but I'm going to try my best to be on Ottawa for the whole year."
The fourth overall pick in June's draft signed his entry-level contract with the Senators on Monday, opting to leave Boston University after a solid freshman season in which he posted 31 points in 40 games.
"BU was such a great spot to me, so it was hard to leave, but it had to happen eventually," Tkachuk said. "It's a dream of mine to be in the NHL, and I thought this was the right time."
The Senators have a few options with Tkachuk, who will turn 19 on Sept. 16.
They can give him a spot with the NHL club out of camp and keep him on the big club's roster all season, as he's aiming for. But they could also either loan him to the OHL's London Knights, who own his junior rights, or assign him to their AHL affiliate, the Belleville Senators, perhaps after giving him a nine-game trial with Ottawa.
It was reported on the weekend that Tkachuk had informed Boston University he would be turning pro. His father, Keith, confirmed Saturday that Brady would be signing with the Senators.
"We know how much he agonized over leaving Boston University, and we are encouraged by the degree of accountability and commitment this shows from him," Senators general manager Pierre Dorion said in a release.
"Through tenacity, combativeness, and work ethic, he also exemplifies leadership skills that we know will benefit the team now and well into the future. Most of all, Brady has shown us through his maturity that he is coachable, committed to teamwork, and determined to help us strengthen our team chemistry. For all these reasons, he is an exciting young player whose growth and development we are eager to support."
The 18-year-old was selected fourth overall in June's draft after entering as the second-ranked skater in North America by NHL Central Scouting. He's coming off a freshman college campaign in which he posted eight goals and 31 points in 40 games.
For the first time in 20 years, the Hlinka Gretzky Cup (formerly known as the Ivan Hlinka Memorial Cup) was held in Canada in 2018. Though last week's tournament isn't an IIHF-sanctioned event, it does serve as a fun unofficial kickoff to the junior hockey season, and a great first look at a lot of draft-eligible players.
Canada defeated Sweden 6-2 on Saturday night to nab the gold medal. Russia claimed bronze, defeating the United States 5-4 in a hard-fought game earlier in the day.
Here are five things we learned from this year’s tournament.
The 2019 NHL Draft is going to be great
Sure, you've heard of Jack Hughes. Maybe you've even heard of Kaapo Kakko, the Finnish winger who's continually mentioned right after Hughes in early draft discussion. But the draft is more than its top two spots, and this tournament showed there's a lot to be excited about beyond Hughes and Kakko. While every deep draft gets compared to 2003's draft class, this year, that comparison might be deserved.
In no specific order, some 2019 draft-eligible tournament standouts include:
United States: Arthur Kaliyev (LW), John Farinacci (C), Nicholas Robertson (C/LW), Josh Nodler (C)
Russia: Vasili Podkolzin (RW)
Sweden: Philip Broberg (D)
Slovakia: Maxim Cajkovic (RW/LW)
Alexis Lafreniere really is that good
Canada's captain isn't draft-eligible until 2020, but that hasn't stopped the spotlight from finding Lafreniere. He's the kind of player who brings fans to the edge of their seats, posing an obvious threat to score regardless of the situation. The winger from Rimouski Oceanic of the QMJHL set up the game-tying tally in the gold-medal game against Sweden and added two goals of his own, including the game-winner.
Lafreniere has that special quality all elite players have - something that makes the hair on the back of your neck stand up when he has the puck. He's also got phenomenal hockey sense, outstanding playmaking skills, and a heavy shot.
This kid is gonna be special. Expect to see him on Canada's World Junior Championship roster.
The 2020 talent pool looks deep
Lafreniere was not alone in stealing the show. Several 2020 prospects captured the attention of an international audience, including Justin Barron, a defenseman for the Halifax Mooseheads of the QMJHL. Barron was the youngest player on Team Canada, yet he finished the tournament tied with Mitchell Miller (USA) for most points by a defenseman (five). Barron is a great skater with excellent hockey sense that enables him to move the puck well and make smart decisions.
Sweden's duo of Lucas Raymond and Alexander Holtz were seemingly unstoppable. Both are solid skaters with excellent puck skills, and their offensive instincts made them Sweden's most effective forwards; when they were on the ice, it was difficult to take your eyes off them. Forward Daniil Gushchin of Russia also attracted attention by displaying his playmaking skills and unreal vision.
Vasili Podkolzin, Bowen Byram, and Nicholas Robertson are worth watching
Podkolzin, who had a hat trick against the U.S. in the bronze-medal game, paced the tournament with eight goals (Josh Williams of Canada was next with five) and with 11 points (three ahead of runner-up Lafreniere).
On defense, Byram made it very clear why the WHL player's name is near the top of many preliminary draft lists. The Vancouver Giants blue-liner is seemingly fearless - a dynamic puck mover with a high hockey IQ.
Robertson, brother of Dallas Stars prospect and Kingston Frontenac Jason Robertson, was a huge factor for the U.S., netting a hat trick in the semifinal against Canada. He plays for the Peterborough Petes of the OHL, and if this tournament was a sign of how he'll approach this season, he may rocket into the first round next June.
International tournaments need video review
A controversial call in the semifinal sent the USA-Canada game to overtime when Cozens scored to tie it for Canada - after the final buzzer sounded.
Don't know how official that clock is. But if it is, Cozens clearly didn't get it off in time. pic.twitter.com/8bjqNRmo4U
All teams participating in the tournament agreed to forgo video review due to concerns about the consistency of the technology. For that reason, the call made by officials on the ice had to stand, even though video clearly showed the goal was scored after time expired. When Williams scored in overtime, Canada won a trip to the gold-medal game while the U.S. was forced to settle for a chance at bronze.
Bad calls happen all the time at all levels of hockey. But it's 2018; there's no good reason not to have video review in a tournament where video was available.
Hannah Stuart keeps a close eye on both drafted and draft-eligible prospects and can usually be found trying to learn more about hockey analytics. She has previously written for FanRag Sports, The Hockey Writers, and Hooked On Hockey Magazine, and can also be found at High Heels and High Sticks. Find her on Twitter at @HockeyWthHannah.
For the first time in 20 years, the Hlinka Gretzky Cup (formerly known as the Ivan Hlinka Memorial Cup) was held in Canada in 2018. Though last week's tournament isn't an IIHF-sanctioned event, it does serve as a fun unofficial kickoff to the junior hockey season, and a great first look at a lot of draft-eligible players.
Canada defeated Sweden 6-2 on Saturday night to nab the gold medal. Russia claimed bronze, defeating the United States 5-4 in a hard-fought game earlier in the day.
Here are five things we learned from this year’s tournament.
The 2019 NHL Draft is going to be great
Sure, you've heard of Jack Hughes. Maybe you've even heard of Kaapo Kakko, the Finnish winger who's continually mentioned right after Hughes in early draft discussion. But the draft is more than its top two spots, and this tournament showed there's a lot to be excited about beyond Hughes and Kakko. While every deep draft gets compared to 2003's draft class, this year, that comparison might be deserved.
In no specific order, some 2019 draft-eligible tournament standouts include:
United States: Arthur Kaliyev (LW), John Farinacci (C), Nicholas Robertson (C/LW), Josh Nodler (C)
Russia: Vasili Podkolzin (RW)
Sweden: Philip Broberg (D)
Slovakia: Maxim Cajkovic (RW/LW)
Alexis Lafreniere really is that good
Canada's captain isn't draft-eligible until 2020, but that hasn't stopped the spotlight from finding Lafreniere. He's the kind of player who brings fans to the edge of their seats, posing an obvious threat to score regardless of the situation. The winger from Rimouski Oceanic of the QMJHL set up the game-tying tally in the gold-medal game against Sweden and added two goals of his own, including the game-winner.
Lafreniere has that special quality all elite players have - something that makes the hair on the back of your neck stand up when he has the puck. He's also got phenomenal hockey sense, outstanding playmaking skills, and a heavy shot.
This kid is gonna be special. Expect to see him on Canada's World Junior Championship roster.
The 2020 talent pool looks deep
Lafreniere was not alone in stealing the show. Several 2020 prospects captured the attention of an international audience, including Justin Barron, a defenseman for the Halifax Mooseheads of the QMJHL. Barron was the youngest player on Team Canada, yet he finished the tournament tied with Mitchell Miller (USA) for most points by a defenseman (five). Barron is a great skater with excellent hockey sense that enables him to move the puck well and make smart decisions.
Sweden's duo of Lucas Raymond and Alexander Holtz were seemingly unstoppable. Both are solid skaters with excellent puck skills, and their offensive instincts made them Sweden's most effective forwards; when they were on the ice, it was difficult to take your eyes off them. Forward Daniil Gushchin of Russia also attracted attention by displaying his playmaking skills and unreal vision.
Vasili Podkolzin, Bowen Byram, and Nicholas Robertson are worth watching
Podkolzin, who had a hat trick against the U.S. in the bronze-medal game, paced the tournament with eight goals (Josh Williams of Canada was next with five) and with 11 points (three ahead of runner-up Lafreniere).
On defense, Byram made it very clear why the WHL player's name is near the top of many preliminary draft lists. The Vancouver Giants blue-liner is seemingly fearless - a dynamic puck mover with a high hockey IQ.
Robertson, brother of Dallas Stars prospect and Kingston Frontenac Jason Robertson, was a huge factor for the U.S., netting a hat trick in the semifinal against Canada. He plays for the Peterborough Petes of the OHL, and if this tournament was a sign of how he'll approach this season, he may rocket into the first round next June.
International tournaments need video review
A controversial call in the semifinal sent the USA-Canada game to overtime when Cozens scored to tie it for Canada - after the final buzzer sounded.
Don't know how official that clock is. But if it is, Cozens clearly didn't get it off in time. pic.twitter.com/8bjqNRmo4U
All teams participating in the tournament agreed to forgo video review due to concerns about the consistency of the technology. For that reason, the call made by officials on the ice had to stand, even though video clearly showed the goal was scored after time expired. When Williams scored in overtime, Canada won a trip to the gold-medal game while the U.S. was forced to settle for a chance at bronze.
Bad calls happen all the time at all levels of hockey. But it's 2018; there's no good reason not to have video review in a tournament where video was available.
Hannah Stuart keeps a close eye on both drafted and draft-eligible prospects and can usually be found trying to learn more about hockey analytics. She has previously written for FanRag Sports, The Hockey Writers, and Hooked On Hockey Magazine, and can also be found at High Heels and High Sticks. Find her on Twitter at @HockeyWthHannah.
