Leading up to the start of the 2018-19 season, theScore will be counting down the top 100 players in the game today, as voted on by four of our NHL editors. We'll reveal 10 players every weekday until the top 10 is unveiled on Oct. 3.

100-91 | 90-81 | 80-71 | 70-61 | 60-51 | 50-41 | 40-31 | 30-21 | 20-11 | 10-1

30. Roman Josi, Predators

Josi has blossomed into a true impact player, capable of neutralizing opponents with outstanding positioning and a strong stick. He can also drive an offense with his smooth skating stride, high-end skill, and good instincts. -- Wegman

29. Artemi Panarin, Blue Jackets

Panarin erased any doubts he could produce elite numbers without Patrick Kane on his opposite flank after putting up a career-high 82 points in his first season in Columbus. The Bread Man has established himself as one of the NHL's best wingers, and you can bet he'll remain at the top of his game in a contract year. -- O'Leary

28. Jamie Benn, Stars

He does it all. Benn will crush you into the boards, set up a nice goal, or rip one himself. He's still the straw that stirs the Dallas Stars' drink, leading the team in points, finishing second among Stars forwards in hits, and pacing the club with seven game-winning goals last season. -- Hagerman

27. Jack Eichel, Sabres

Eichel had his best NHL campaign in 2017-18 despite missing 15 games. The soon-to-be 22-year-old has been hindered by injuries in each of the past two campaigns but he's clearly an elite offensive talent who's only scratching the surface of his potential. Don't be surprised if he truly breaks out this season. -- Gold-Smith

26. Aleksander Barkov, Panthers

Barkov is maybe the most underrated player in the league. Yes, he has a ridiculous set of hands, but the 6-foot-3 center is as good without the puck as he is with it, finishing fifth in the league with 82 takeaways and second among Panthers forwards with 67 blocked shots last season. An elite penalty killer, Barkov will be a perennial Selke Trophy candidate for the next decade. -- Wegman

25. Patrik Laine, Jets

It's only a matter of time before Laine starts winning Rocket Richard trophies; his devastating release is simply unsolvable for opposing netminders. While goal scoring is Laine's greatest asset, his underrated passing ability and hands help make him one of the best young players in the NHL. -- O'Leary

24. Claude Giroux, Flyers

Giroux is coming off a monstrous 2017-18, nearly doubling his 2016-17 point total to finish second in league scoring after moving to the wing. He's recorded the fifth-most assists over the last four seasons as one of the top playmakers in the league. -- Hagerman

23. Blake Wheeler, Jets

Wheeler not only posted a career-high 91 points last season, his versatility and selflessness practically saved the Jets' campaign. After top center Mark Scheifele went down with an injury, Wheeler shifted from right wing to center - almost unheard of for a veteran of his pedigree - and totaled 16 points in as many games as the Jets went 11-2-3. That's the sign of a true leader. -- Wegman

22. P.K. Subban, Predators

The Predators have four excellent defensemen, but Subban is the best of the bunch and the heart and soul of the group. He's a great skater who can score and get under his opponents' skin. Few NHLers play with as much passion as Subban does, and few are as versatile. -- Gold-Smith

21. Evgeny Kuznetsov, Capitals

Kuznetsov's 2017-18 cemented him as one of the league's top players. The charismatic Russian was bumped up to Alex Ovechkin's line and produced a career-high 83 regular-season points, then recorded a Conn Smythe-worthy 32 points in 24 postseason games as the Caps captured the Cup. -- O'Leary

(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)

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Montreal Canadiens defenseman Shea Weber has been named the 30th captain in franchise history, the team announced Monday.

In addition, the club announced forwards Paul Byron and Brendan Gallagher will serve as alternate captains for the upcoming season.

Weber takes over for Max Pacioretty, who was dealt to the Vegas Golden Knights over the offseason. The 33-year-old blue-liner joined the Canadiens in 2016 in the trade that sent P.K. Subban to the Nashville Predators, for whom Weber formerly served as captain.

It will be a while before Weber can officially don the "C," as he continues to recover from knee surgery.

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Scott Hartnell has retired from the NHL after 17 seasons.

He made the announcement on his Twitter account:

Every young kid from a small town across Canada dreams of playing a game in the NHL ... I was fortunate enough to play 1,249 of them.

A huge thank you to the Nashville Predators (twice), the Philadelphia Flyers, and the Columbus Blue Jackets. You are all world class organizations and it was an honor playing for your cities! (Seventeen) years in the NHL was the best job anyone could ever ask for. The games, the fans, the travel, the hotels, the food, the pregame soccer games, are just some of the things that I will always remember and miss. ...

Thanks again to my family, friends & all of the fans that cheered for me (and against) along the way. I'm looking forward to spending more time with my wife Katie and son Wesley. Cheers to the NHL, and the next phase of life!

Hartnell spent the 2017-18 season with the Nashville Predators - who initially drafted him sixth overall in 2000 - but wasn't offered a contract from the club and hit unrestricted free agency over the summer.

The 36-year-old also spent time with the Philadelphia Flyers and Columbus Blue Jackets over his career. He recorded 327 goals and 380 assists in 1,249 games.

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The Edmonton Oilers traded defenseman Jakub Jerabek to the St. Louis Blues in exchange for a condition sixth-round draft pick in 2020, the teams announced Monday.

The pick turns into a fifth-rounder if Jerabek plays in more than 50 regular-season games for the Blues in 2018-19.

The 27-year-old spent last season split between the Montreal Canadiens and Washington Capitals, winning the Stanley Cup with the latter. Overall, he appeared in 36 games during the 2017-18 campaign, recording eight points.

Jerabek signed a one-year, $1-million contract with the Oilers in August.

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Welcome to Puck Pursuit, a weekly NHL podcast hosted by national hockey writer John Matisz.

Subscribe to the show on iTunes, Soundcloud, Stitcher, and Google Play.

On Episode 2, the second half of a two-part season preview, John is joined by NBC's Adam Gretz to project the 2018-19 Western Conference. Topics of discussion include:

• Nashville and another crack at the Cup
• The Jets' enviable roster and timeline
• The Blackhawks are toast ... right?
• Can the Ducks survive these injuries?
• Cautious optimism in Coyotes land

... and more.

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Washington Capitals forward Tom Wilson has been offered an in-person hearing for his hit on St. Louis Blues forward Oskar Sundqvist, the NHL's department of player safety announced Sunday.

By offering Wilson an in-person hearing, the department of player safety now has the ability to suspend him for at least six games if they so desire.

Here's a look at the hit:

And from another angle:

This marks Wilson's fourth hearing with the department of player safety in the past year, according to the Washington Post's Isabelle Khurshudyan. He's only played 12 playoff games and three preseason games since his last suspension, TSN's Bob McKenzie notes.

Wilson signed a six-year, $31-million contract this offseason, so a potential suspension would cost him a bit more than it would have previously.

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St. Louis Blues forward Oskar Sundqvist is "not good" after getting blindsided by Washington Capitals forward Tom Wilson on Sunday, head coach Mike Yeo said after the game, according to NHL.com's Tom Gulitti.

Yeo said Sundqvist hasn't seen a team doctor yet, so there's no official diagnosis, but stated he has "a couple of upper-body injuries" and expects him to be out a while.

Sundqvist suited up in 42 games for the Blues last season, registering one goal and four assists.

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Los Angeles Kings forward Dustin Brown is out indefinitely, as the club announced the veteran suffered a broken finger during the team's final preseason game on Sunday.

"It's not good to lose one of your top guys," teammate Drew Doughty told The Athletic's Lisa Dillman. "Brownie is a guy that is very very hard to replace. Both in the room and on the ice."

Brown is coming off a bounce-back season offensively, scoring 28 goals and adding 33 assists, all while accumulating a team-high 189 hits with his usual rugged style. He was poised to start the season on the Kings' top line with Anze Kopitar and Ilya Kovalchuk.

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