A lot has changed for Erik Gudbranson since the end of last season.

First and foremost, the defenseman finds himself playing for the Vancouver Canucks after being jettisoned by the Panthers, who drafted him third overall in 2010.

Set to play his former teammates in his old home rink for the first time Saturday, Gudbranson said a date in Florida was the first game he looked for on Vancouver's schedule, and admits to being shocked upon first learning about the trade while on vacation in Africa.

"I got signed, what, like two weeks before that? So at that point I thought I was coming back here next year," he told reporters Saturday. "It's part of the business. Obviously my geographical whereabouts made it interesting, but it's been a nice change."

Gudbranson had indeed signed a one-year, $3.5-million contract two weeks prior to the trade.

On top of that, Gudbranson watched as the Panthers recently fired head coach Gerard Gallant in favor of general manager Tom Rowe, another move he thought came out of left field.

"I was very surprised," he said. "I obviously knew (Gallant) and the whole situation from last year and it was a very good one. I wasn't privy to what was going on in the locker room this year and what happened. Obviously my focus has been with Vancouver and we got enough on our plate to deal with.

"(But) it's unfortunate. He's a great man, he was a really good coach, and I wish him all the best."

Gudbranson is averaging 20:15 of ice time, with one goal, four assists, and a minus-13 rating in 27 appearances with the Canucks. He added he's hoping to make it as difficult as possible for the Panthers to break their four-game losing streak in Saturday's matchup.

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Here are the fantasy implications following the news that Arizona Coyote LW Max Domi will go on injured reserve and is being deemed week-to-week with an upper body injury.

Being the feisty forward that he is, Domi sustained his injury in an aggressive fight Thursday night. Unfortunately, that fight will now force him to miss at least a handful of games. With five goals and 11 assists, his absence means the struggling Coyotes will be without their second leading scorer.

Fantasy owners should simply stash Domi in an Injured Reserve spot for the time being until his return. The phrase week-to-week is vague, but owners may want to plan for up to a two week absence to be safe. The NHL's IR policy dictates that a player must miss at least one week of action.

Daily Fantasy Implications

Losing 17 minutes of ice time and a leading scorer immediately opens up some opportunities for daily fantasy bargains in Domi's place.

Arizona is set to take to on the Predators Saturday night, so astute daily fantasy players should monitor how head coach Dave Tippett allocates Domi's ice time and juggles his lines. An immediate reaction may be to bump third-line left winger Brendan Perlini up into Domi's place on the second line alongside C Christian Dvorak and RW Shane Doan.

Perlini himself is a recent AHL call up who's played just three games this season. He's yet to register a point, but an increase up to 16-to-18 minutes per game on the second line makes for a fantastic daily fantasy bargain.

The Coyotes also recalled C Laurent Dauphin on Saturday. Dauphin has just two points in 18 games this season. He's not worth starting in daily formats, unless he immediately takes on a significant role and produces.

Waiver Wire Targets

W Marian Gaborik, Los Angeles Kings

• Gaborik is five games into his 2016-17 campaign after a World Cup of Hockey injury delayed his debut. The veteran has recorded three assists and 16 shots so far. He's playing over 15 minutes a game and will surely find the back of the net shortly if he keeps at his current rate.

W Conor Sheary, Pittsburgh Penguins

• Playing alongside Sidney Crosby makes anyone fantasy relevant. While his name lacks wide spread recognition, Sheary has seven goals and eight assists in 20 games this season. He's averaging 2.3 shots per game this season but 3.8 over his last five.

C/W Andrew Shaw, Montreal Canadiens

• For those looking to find hits and PIM's with a bit of scoring upside, Montreal forward Andrew Shaw is a hot ticket. He's playing over 15 minutes a game thanks to the barrage of injuries in Montreal and has recorded three goals, three assists, and 15 hits in his past five.

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Desperate times call for unexpected measures.

The Vancouver Canucks have recalled goaltender Thatcher Demko from the AHL's Utica Comets, Canucks head coach Willie Desjardins confirmed Saturday.

Ryan Miller attended the game-day morning session ahead of Saturday's matchup with the Florida Panthers, but the veteran netminder didn't skate. Canucks backup goalie Jacob Markstrom is expected to start in Sunrise.

The Canucks play the first game of a back-to-back Saturday before heading to D.C. to face the Washington Capitals on Sunday.

Demko is 7-5-1 with a 2.59 GAA and .909 save percentage in 14 AHL games.

He led the Boston College Eagles to the Frozen Four semifinals in the spring and represented the United States at the 2015 World Junior Hockey Championship.

The highly touted prospect signed his entry-level contract in April after Vancouver selected him 36th overall in the 2014 draft.

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The Arizona Coyotes will be without forward Max Domi for the foreseeable future.

The 21-year-old has been placed on the injured reserve and is considered week to week with an upper-body injury, head coach Dave Tippett confirmed to AZCentral Sports' Sarah McLellan.

Domi was forced from Thursday's contest against the Calgary Flames after being left bloodied following a heated bout with Flames forward Garnet Hathaway.

Domi sits second on the team with 16 points through 26 games this season.

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The Colorado Avalanche finally have the captain back.

Gabriel Landeskog says he's been cleared to play Saturday in Montreal after missing 10 games with an injury that remains somewhat undefined.

"We'll keep it as lower body," Landeskog said after morning skate, per Mike Chambers of the Denver Post. "Bottom line is it feels good now."

The 24-year-old had recorded four goals and four assists in 15 games prior to the injury, putting him on pace for only 38 points, well down from his career average of 57 per every 82 games played.

Ideally, fresh legs will help him return to form, and he'll be given ample opportunity to perform upon being deployed on the second line to start the game.

Landeskog's return comes not a moment too soon for an Avalanche team currently tied for last place in the NHL standings with 21 points through 25 games. Even after a 4-2 win over Boston on Thursday, the team's minus-19 goal differential is 29th among the league's 30 teams.

Team president and general manager Joe Sakic has professed faith in the team's largely youthful core, made up of Landeskog, Matt Duchene, Nathan MacKinnon, Tyson Barrie, Erik Johnson, and Semyon Varlamov.

For that to be maintained, the Avalanche can't write this season off and are trying instead to get back up the hill, even if the eight-point difference between their place in the standings and a wild-card spot seems too big to overcome.

If Colorado has any chance of redeeming its season, Landeskog will need to step up both on and off the ice as team captain.

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Here is a look at the Squad Up daily NHL fantasy picture for Saturday, Dec. 10:

Triple Threat

• RW David Pastrnak (63K), LW Brad Marchand (66K), C Tim Schaller (25K), Bruins (vs. Maple Leafs): Boston ranks first in Corsi For Percentage, while the Leafs sit third last in scoring chances against per 60 minutes. Though Boston's struggled to convert on their chances - 25th in goals for per game but sit second in shots for per game - they stand a much better chance against the defensively-inept Maple Leafs.

• C Brandon Dubinsky (37K), RW Cam Atkinson (56K), D David Savard (25K), Blue Jackets (vs. Islanders): Dubinsky and Atkinson have combined for 18 points in their past two games. They're likely to keep that hot streak going against an Islander team allowing the fifth most shots against per game and 10th most goals against per game.

• C Sean Monahan (46K), LW Johnny Gaudreau (62K), D Dennis Wideman (29K), Flames (vs. Jets): Monahan and Gaudreau have combined for six power play points in their past four and 13 points overall in that stretch. The Jets have taken the second most minor penalties this year and sit 25th on the penalty kill. There's big potential here with daily fantasy sites awarding bonuses for power play points.

Goalie Breakdown

• TARGET - Tuukka Rask (94K), Bruins (vs. Maple Leafs): Rask sports a 14-4-2 record and 1.79 GAA this year. Look for him to pick up his 15th win as he's dominated Toronto in career, going 15-3-2 in 22 career starts. With the Leafs sitting third in shots per game, Rask could rack up plenty of saves and a win in this matchup.

• BARGAIN - Aaron Dell (79K), Sharks (vs. Hurricanes): Martin Jones started Friday and Wednesday, so look for Dell to get the nod against Carolina. Dell previously stopped 32 of 33 shots in 0-1 loss against the 'Canes back on Novermber 15. A win should be in the cards this time, however. The Sharks are 9-4 at the Tank this year.

• FADE - Frederik Andersen (92K), Maple Leafs (at Bruins): Andersen's been mediocre this year, sporting a 2.87 GAA and .911 SV%. His road record of 2-3-4 doesn't instill much confidence in rostering him, though. Assuming Boston peppers him with shots like they have other opposing goalies, it could be a long (or short) night for Andersen.

• CONTRARIAN - Roberto Luongo (88K), Panthers (vs. Canucks): Luongo is 0-2-1 in his past three starts and has given up four goals in each of his past two contests. A revenge game against Vancouver could right the ship. Vancouver's offense has been dreadful for most of the season, and they sit a full five points behind Florida in CF%.

Bargain Plays

• D Justin Schultz (25K), Penguins (at Lightning): Schultz is one of the league's hottest players, registering seven points in four December games. There is no reason for him to be priced at the Squad Up minimum. With Pittsburgh racking up goals at will, Schultz should continue his recent hot play.

• RW Patrik Laine (38K), Jets (at Flames): Like Schultz, Laine is blatantly mispriced. The league's leading goal scorer may run up against a hot goalie in Chad Johnson, but he still has to be rostered at this price. Calgary sits first in penalty minutes and 26th on the PK.

• C Tim Schaller (25K), Bruins (vs. Maple Leafs): Schaller's picked up a goal and assist in his past three games and registered three shots in six of his last seven games. He's only averaging 12 minutes of ice time on the season, but he's played over 15 minutes in four straight.

Top Fades

• C Joe Thornton (47K), Sharks (vs. Hurricanes): Thornton has just two goals on the season and four assists in his past 10 games. His fantasy floor is also an absolute zero as Thornton has just 27 shots in 27 games. Carolina sports the league's top PK unit and sit 10th in goals against per game.

• D Dustin Byfuglien (47K), Jets (at Flames): Byfuglien has only four power play assists this year. 15 of his 19 points have instead come at even-strength. With the Flames often putting themselves down a man, daily fantasy players should target Winnipeg forwards like Laine instead of the backend.

• C Henrik Sedin (51K), Canucks (at Panthers): Henrik does most his damage via passing and puck possession. With Florida ranking as a much better team in terms of possession, and their top line sporting a CF% of 56.6, Henrik will have a tough time playing to his strengths. Look to a true goal scorer at his price point.

Contrarian Options

• C Mike Ribeiro (34K), Predators (at Coyotes): Ribeiro has racked up eight dimes in his past 10 games. The Coyotes sit last in CF% and last in scoring chances against per 60. This is a perfect matchup for Ribeiro to dominate the puck and set up his teammates.

• LW Anders Lee (34K), Islander (at Blue Jackets): Lee has seven goals in his past eight outings. The Islanders could fall behind a rolling Columbus squad and be forced to up their tempo. Look for Lee to benefit from this projected game flow, as he's fired 11 shots in his past three games.

• C Andrew Shaw (43K), Canadiens (vs. Avalanche): Shaw's seen his ice time jump drastically with the barrage of injuries currently impacting Montreal. As a result, he's picked up five points in his last five. Colorado sits 25th in goals against per game, while Montreal is one of the most well-rounded teams in the league.

All advanced stats courtesy of Corsica.Hockey.

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Follow theScore's fantasy feed on Twitter (@theScoreFantasy) for the latest news, features and more. And download Squad Up, theScore's free-to-win-money sports game.

Here is a look at the Squad Up daily NHL fantasy picture for Saturday, Dec. 10:

Triple Threat

• RW David Pastrnak (63K), LW Brad Marchand (66K), C Tim Schaller (25K), Bruins (vs. Maple Leafs): Boston ranks first in Corsi For Percentage, while the Leafs sit third last in scoring chances against per 60 minutes. Though Boston's struggled to convert on their chances - 25th in goals for per game but sit second in shots for per game - they stand a much better chance against the defensively-inept Maple Leafs.

• C Brandon Dubinsky (37K), RW Cam Atkinson (56K), D David Savard (25K), Blue Jackets (vs. Islanders): Dubinsky and Atkinson have combined for 18 points in their past two games. They're likely to keep that hot streak going against an Islander team allowing the fifth most shots against per game and 10th most goals against per game.

• C Sean Monahan (46K), LW Johnny Gaudreau (62K), D Dennis Wideman (29K), Flames (vs. Jets): Monahan and Gaudreau have combined for six power play points in their past four and 13 points overall in that stretch. The Jets have taken the second most minor penalties this year and sit 25th on the penalty kill. There's big potential here with daily fantasy sites awarding bonuses for power play points.

Goalie Breakdown

• TARGET - Tuukka Rask (94K), Bruins (vs. Maple Leafs): Rask sports a 14-4-2 record and 1.79 GAA this year. Look for him to pick up his 15th win as he's dominated Toronto in career, going 15-3-2 in 22 career starts. With the Leafs sitting third in shots per game, Rask could rack up plenty of saves and a win in this matchup.

• BARGAIN - Aaron Dell (79K), Sharks (vs. Hurricanes): Martin Jones started Friday and Wednesday, so look for Dell to get the nod against Carolina. Dell previously stopped 32 of 33 shots in 0-1 loss against the 'Canes back on Novermber 15. A win should be in the cards this time, however. The Sharks are 9-4 at the Tank this year.

• FADE - Frederik Andersen (92K), Maple Leafs (at Bruins): Andersen's been mediocre this year, sporting a 2.87 GAA and .911 SV%. His road record of 2-3-4 doesn't instill much confidence in rostering him, though. Assuming Boston peppers him with shots like they have other opposing goalies, it could be a long (or short) night for Andersen.

• CONTRARIAN - Roberto Luongo (88K), Panthers (vs. Canucks): Luongo is 0-2-1 in his past three starts and has given up four goals in each of his past two contests. A revenge game against Vancouver could right the ship. Vancouver's offense has been dreadful for most of the season, and they sit a full five points behind Florida in CF%.

Bargain Plays

• D Justin Schultz (25K), Penguins (at Lightning): Schultz is one of the league's hottest players, registering seven points in four December games. There is no reason for him to be priced at the Squad Up minimum. With Pittsburgh racking up goals at will, Schultz should continue his recent hot play.

• RW Patrik Laine (38K), Jets (at Flames): Like Schultz, Laine is blatantly mispriced. The league's leading goal scorer may run up against a hot goalie in Chad Johnson, but he still has to be rostered at this price. Calgary sits first in penalty minutes and 26th on the PK.

• C Tim Schaller (25K), Bruins (vs. Maple Leafs): Schaller's picked up a goal and assist in his past three games and registered three shots in six of his last seven games. He's only averaging 12 minutes of ice time on the season, but he's played over 15 minutes in four straight.

Top Fades

• C Joe Thornton (47K), Sharks (vs. Hurricanes): Thornton has just two goals on the season and four assists in his past 10 games. His fantasy floor is also an absolute zero as Thornton has just 27 shots in 27 games. Carolina sports the league's top PK unit and sit 10th in goals against per game.

• D Dustin Byfuglien (47K), Jets (at Flames): Byfuglien has only four power play assists this year. 15 of his 19 points have instead come at even-strength. With the Flames often putting themselves down a man, daily fantasy players should target Winnipeg forwards like Laine instead of the backend.

• C Henrik Sedin (51K), Canucks (at Panthers): Henrik does most his damage via passing and puck possession. With Florida ranking as a much better team in terms of possession, and their top line sporting a CF% of 56.6, Henrik will have a tough time playing to his strengths. Look to a true goal scorer at his price point.

Contrarian Options

• C Mike Ribeiro (34K), Predators (at Coyotes): Ribeiro has racked up eight dimes in his past 10 games. The Coyotes sit last in CF% and last in scoring chances against per 60. This is a perfect matchup for Ribeiro to dominate the puck and set up his teammates.

• LW Anders Lee (34K), Islander (at Blue Jackets): Lee has seven goals in his past eight outings. The Islanders could fall behind a rolling Columbus squad and be forced to up their tempo. Look for Lee to benefit from this projected game flow, as he's fired 11 shots in his past three games.

• C Andrew Shaw (43K), Canadiens (vs. Avalanche): Shaw's seen his ice time jump drastically with the barrage of injuries currently impacting Montreal. As a result, he's picked up five points in his last five. Colorado sits 25th in goals against per game, while Montreal is one of the most well-rounded teams in the league.

All advanced stats courtesy of Corsica.Hockey.

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While recent trade rumors have the Toronto Maple Leafs linked to an upgrade on defense, the club certainly has its parameters set in regards to pending transactions.

Maple Leafs president Brendan Shanahan spoke with Sportsnet's Chris Johnston and explained that while the team is not immune to making trades to better itself, they will not jeopardize themselves by dealing part of their future core.

"Our vision’s not going to change, but the day-to-day blueprint has to change every day," Shanahan said. "Things happen to your team, things happen around the league, you have to be ready. So there really is no one way we’ve outlined we’re going to do this thing. If we have an opportunity to make ourselves better and it fits into what our vision is (we’ll do it). Our vision isn’t going to change. Our vision is to build a team that can sustain success over a long period of time.

"So does that mean we’re not going to make any trades? No, it doesn’t mean that. Does that mean we’re going to get a little taste of success and sacrifice years and years of our future to get something for today? No."

While the Maple Leafs currently hold down the all-too-familiar position of last place in the Eastern Conference for the time being, there is no question the team is in a better place than it was one season ago.

Rookies Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, William Nylander, and Nikita Zaitsev among others have reshaped the complexion of the club and produced a much more exciting on-ice product.

"I’m excited about the progress, but I think for all of us - players included - we know that this is just really the beginning of the work," said Shanahan.

Despite the long road ahead, a plan is clearly coming together, one the president feels will make the club a contender in time.

"We’re thinking about going out and trying to win every game we play," said Shanahan. "Wherever we are in our development, we're going to be constantly trying to, as a group, get better. I think what we try to do is really just focus on the process and focus on improving. We’re confident that we’ll be in the right place at the right time."

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The World Cup of Hockey is here to stay.

That appears to be the consensus reached by the NHL's Board of Governors following the return of the major international tournament this past September.

"The final take is I think everybody in the room believes, as do we, that we were able to re-establish this event in a very big, major way," NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said Friday following a series of board meetings, according to Dan Rosen of NHL.com.

"It was very successful. There are a variety of things that we're focused on to do it even better the next time we do it, whenever that might be. I think people were pleased with it, understanding that it's a very small part of our business, but we think it's important when we can to focus on events like that."

Bettman added board members prefer the timing of the World Cup to that of the Olympics, seeing as the former took place during the preseason whereas the latter requires a midseason shutdown. As such, 2018 Olympic participation remains in doubt, with NHL owners expressing "strong negative sentiment" about it Thursday.

As for the September event, some concerns were raised about injuries suffered in advance of the regular season, and there are questions as to whether the format of the tournament will change.

For now, plan on another World Cup being played sooner than later.

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It's never too early to start thinking about the offseason.

Here are five forwards who will likely command a great deal of attention as unrestricted free agents in 2017, provided they're not signed to extensions before July 1:

Alexander Radulov

The Montreal Canadiens took a bit of a chance by signing Radulov to a one-year, $5.75-million contract in the offseason, but it's proven to be a shrewd move on the part of general manager Marc Bergevin.

Through 25 games, his five goals and 16 assists puts him second on the Canadiens in points, and he's helped fill the void left by P.K. Subban as a fan favorite.

Montreal will likely try to lock him up before he hits the open market, but should he indeed become an unrestricted free agent, there's sure to be greater demand this time around.

Joe Thornton

In the midst of the final season of a three-year, $20.25-million extension signed in 2014, Thornton's tenure with the San Jose Sharks could be coming to an end.

The veteran center has been everything the club hoped he'd be upon being acquired from the Boston Bruins 11 years ago, averaging over a point per game and helping the club reach its first Stanley Cup Final last spring.

With two goals and 14 assists in 27 games, his production is a bit down this season, but Thornton remains as reliable a playmaker as they come, and will have plenty of suitors as a UFA.

Sam Gagner

The Columbus Blue Jackets added Gagner to the mix on a low-risk one-year contract that carries a $650,000 salary cap hit, and he's upping the value of his next deal on a nightly basis these days.

The 27-year-old center has 11 goals and eight assists as a Blue Jacket, putting him on pace for 37 goals and 64 points, numbers that would smash his previous career highs.

The Blue Jackets have several burdensome contracts in their forward ranks and won't be able to retain him at a reduced rate. Gagner is in line to cash in, and probably won't have to wait until August to sign this time around.

T.J. Oshie

The Washington Capitals traded for Oshie prior to last season with a view to complementing their core with scoring depth, but also with the knowledge that his contract would expire at the end of this season.

He helped the club to a first-place regular-season finish in 2015-16, but, despite Oshie's six goas and four assists in 12 playoff games, the team once again fell short of its ultimate goal.

Oshie has 35 goals and 30 assists in 99 games with the Capitals, but whether he fits in the team's long-term plans remains to be seen, and GM Brian MacLellan will almost certainly prioritize re-signing younger restricted free agents Evgeny Kuznetsov, Andre Burakovsky, and Dmitry Orlov.

Thomas Vanek

Much like Gagner, the Detroit Red Wings took a flyer on Vanek after he was bought out by the Minnesota Wild.

Vanek has missed several games due to injury, but he's been very productive when in the lineup, with five goals and nine assists in 17 games.

Those numbers are keeping him up among the most productive players from his draft class.

Currently signed to a modest $2.6-million cap hit, that number should rise if he keeps it up.

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