If Matt Duchene is to re-sign with the Ottawa Senators, it could depend on two of his teammates landing contract extensions of their own.

Duchene can become an unrestricted free agent next offseason, but the 27-year-old is keeping an eye on forward Mark Stone's and captain Erik Karlsson's futures in Ottawa to help decide whether he'll stick with the Senators.

Related: Duchene intrigued by free-agency route after watching Tavares

"Those are the things I want to sit back and watch," Duchene told NHL.com's Dan Rosen. "The nice thing is is I'm kind of the last domino in that sense. Those are things I want to see."

Duchene, who is entering the campaign on the final season of a five-year, $30-million pact, could be among the top free agents available next summer should he choose to test the waters.

Like Duchene, both Stone and Karlsson can become unrestricted free agents in 2019. That became a reality for Stone after he agreed to a one-year deal in August ahead of an arbitration hearing, while Karlsson's future in the Canadian capital has been a subject of trade chatter dating back to last season's deadline.

"Erik, that's a little bit different situation, but with (Mark), that's a guy I'd love to move forward with as a teammate," Duchene added. "Him doing a one-year deal, it's a little bit different and makes you think a little bit, but I want to see what he's saying and we'll talk through it.

"Having talked about it, we both really like it in Ottawa and we both want it to work, so that's the biggest thing."

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Kevin Hayes is entering the season with a one-year contract extension, but the surrounding uncertainty doesn't necessarily mean his days are winding down as a member of the New York Rangers.

Many pundits saw the short-term pact as an opportunity for the rebuilding Rangers to cash in on Hayes at next year's trade deadline, but that doesn't appear to be the mindset of management.

"It is a one-year deal, but like I've told Kevin, we'd like to have him long term," Rangers general manager Jeff Gorton told Larry Brooks of the New York Post. "He's said that he wants to be here, so let's have him come to camp in great shape, be a leader, have a big season, and let's go from there. Nothing is set in stone."

Hayes, who scored a career-high 25 goals last season, hasn't been shy about his desire to remain in Manhattan.

"I'm a Boston kid, but I absolutely love New York City and I would love to be there my entire career," Hayes said in August. "At the moment, (a one-year contract) was best for both sides. We couldn't really come to a long-term agreement and a one-year deal is what came out of it.

"I'm not treating it like I'll be out of there in February or at the end of the year. Everyone keeps saying UFA at the end of the year, but that had nothing to do with the decision."

Hayes, 26, will earn $5.175 million this season, per CapFriendly. He's eligible to sign a new deal with New York as of Jan. 1, 2019.

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Jake Evans is on the mend.

The Montreal Canadiens draft pick was released from hospital Friday night and is undergoing treatment Saturday while following the team's concussion protocol, the club announced.

Evans was removed from Friday night's rookie tournament game against the Ottawa Senators on a stretcher in the third period after absorbing a high, heavy hit as he entered the offensive zone.

He lay motionless on his back before being attended to and taken off the ice by the Canadiens' medical staff.

The 22-year-old forward played four seasons at Notre Dame after Montreal selected him 207th overall in 2014.

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If Kevin Bieksa finds a new home for the upcoming season, it will reportedly be close to where his family resides in California.

The veteran defenseman has entertained a few offers this summer, but is looking for a perfect fit, as his family will be staying in the Golden State regardless of where he ends up and he wants to be relatively close to them, according to Sportsnet's Dan Murphy.

Bieksa became an unrestricted free agent after spending three seasons with the Anaheim Ducks.

The 37-year-old was limited to 59 regular-season games and one playoff contest in 2017-18, logging third-pairing minutes while chipping in eight points before making his lone postseason appearance of the campaign.

He signed a two-year, $8-million deal with the Ducks on July 1, 2015.

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The Carolina Hurricanes are ready to talk contract with Sebastian Aho.

The two sides held negotiations earlier this offseason but put talks on hold once Aho headed home to Finland for the summer. But with the winger back in Raleigh for training camp, Carolina is prepared to take another crack at locking in a new deal.

"He's in town now and we'll pick up talks," Hurricanes general manager Don Waddell said, according to NHL.com's Tom Gulitti. "We had some talks in the summertime, but just felt it wasn't the right time. So now that he's back, we'd like to put some time into (it), and I think they feel the same way. Hopefully we can come out of here with a resolution."

Aho is entering the final year of his entry-level contract that carries a $925,000 cap hit, plus performance bonuses.

After finishing with over 45 points in each of his first two NHL campaigns, there should be no doubt that the 21-year-old is due for a big-time raise.

Waddell's goal is to have Aho put pen to paper before the Hurricanes open the season on Oct. 4 against the New York Islanders.

"I'm not one to put these deadlines and all that right now, but the goal would be let's get it behind us so we all can move forward," Waddell said. "He's proven he's a good player. We don't know what the ceiling is yet for him, but you get to know him as a player and a person and he's the kind of guy you continue to build players and pieces around."

The Hurricanes selected Aho with the 35th pick in the 2015 NHL Draft.

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Columbus Blue Jackets general manager Jarmo Kekalainen admits choices will need to be made on both Artemi Panarin and Sergei Bobrovsky.

Both are pending unrestricted free agents. Panarin has already stated that he won't negotiate an extension once camp opens, while the Blue Jackets also remain far apart in negotiations with Bobrovsky, a two-time Vezina Trophy winner.

"If we can't work out a contract, then we'll have to make some decisions," Kekalainen told NHL.com's Tom Gulitti. "I wouldn't say they're just going to stay and ride out into the sunset."

Still, Kekalainen remains hopeful that both players are long for Columbus.

"We're still optimistic we can get things done and we feel they can be a huge part of our team in the future," Kekalainen said. "We're going to have a good team into the future and hopefully they want to be part of it. That's our mindset right now, to keep working at it."

Panarin is entering 2018-19 on the final year of a two-year, $12-million contract. The 26-year-old was acquired from the Chicago Blackhawks in June 2017 as part of a multi-player trade involving winger Brandon Saad. Panarin's 82 points last year marked the best single-season total in the Blue Jackets' 18-year history.

Bobrovsky has posted a 176-106-26 showing across six seasons in Columbus, including 24 shutouts, a 2.37 GAA, and a .923 save percentage. That stretch also saw Bobrovsky capture the Vezina Trophy in 2012-13 and 2016-17.

The 29-year-old goaltender carries a $7.425-million cap hit on the final season of his four-year contract.

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The Columbus Blue Jackets and head coach John Tortorella are close to agreeing on a contract extension, according to general manager Jarmo Kekalainen.

Kekalainen is confident a deal will be reached before the Blue Jackets open training camp next week, telling NHL.com's Tom Gulitti, "He's done a great job. I think the coaching staff has done a great job for us and stability is important, so I'm sure we’ll get something worked out."

The update comes just one day after the Blue Jackets inked Kekalainen to an extension, in addition to extending president of hockey operations John Davidson, and Bill Zito, who was promoted from assistant to associate GM.

Tortorella has one year remaining on his current contract, his fourth season with the Blue Jackets. The coming campaign is the first in which Columbus will pay all of Tortorella's contract after his former club, the Vancouver Canucks, was responsible for paying part of the deal following his 2014 dismissal.

Since joining Columbus, Tortorella has helped bring the team to the next level, guiding the Blue Jackets to a franchise-record 108 points in 2016-17. That season, Tortorella was the recipient of the Jack Adams Award presented to the NHL's coach of the year.

It marked the second time Tortorella has captured the award. He was also given the honor in 2004 after leading the Tampa Bay Lightning to a championship.

The Boston native ranks first all-time among American-born coaches with 575 career wins in 1,175 games. He's posted a 129-87-23 record over nearly three seasons after becoming the Blue Jackets' bench boss in October 2015.

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There has been further progress in contract talks between Tyler Seguin and the Dallas Stars.

The 26-year-old can become an unrestricted free agent next offseason; in late August, Seguin expressed disappointment that a new deal had not yet been reached.

"We are deep in discussions. It's moving in the right direction," Stars general manager Jim Nill told team reporter Mark Stepneski.

Talks picked up steam upon Seguin returning to Dallas prior to training camp.

"I think once he got down around the team and stuff, that was important for him," Nill added. "Like I said, things are moving in the right direction.

"I'd like to get it done before the season starts, but with negotiations, you never know. But I think both parties would like to get it done before. I think it's always been the plan to get it done before the season starts."

Time is of the essence, as Dallas opens the season Oct. 4 against the Arizona Coyotes.

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