The Avalanche are growing hockey in Colorado.

According to Mike Chambers of The Denver Post, the Avalanche will have their AHL squad in nearby Loveland, Colo. for the 2018-19 season.

The market is currently served by the ECHL's Colorado Eagles, which will shift to the American Hockey League next season to partner with the Avalanche.

The Eagles play out of the Budweiser Events Center, about 50 miles north of Denver. Founded in 2003, the Eagles were previously part of the former Central Hockey League but transferred to the ECHL in 2011.

Their addition to the AHL will bring the league to 31 teams, matching the NHL after its expansion to Las Vegas.

An official announcement is expected in September.

The Avalanche are currently affiliated with the AHL's San Antonio Rampage, which will partner with the St. Louis Blues beginning in 2018-19, according to Jeremy Rutherford of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

The Blues are without their own minor-league team this season, and will share the Chicago Wolves with the incoming Vegas Golden Knights.

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Mikko Koivu had plenty to say about the fatal stabbings that took place in his hometown of Turku, Finland.

"Friday's events in Turku were shocking," the Minnesota Wild captain said in a statement issued by the club Saturday. "This is my home and I have so much love for this community. My thoughts are with my fellow residents of Turku and all the people of Finland. Mostly, I am thinking of the people who died and were injured, and am sending my support to their families and friends."

Police stopped the suspect by shooting him in the thigh, but not before two people died and nine were stabbed in an attack that targeted women, according to The Associated Press.

Koivu said he and his family weren't harmed.

"I am extremely thankful to say my wife and children, our extended families, and those closest to us are all safe," he continued. "Like our fellow Finnish countrymen and women, we are extremely grateful for the quick actions of the police, emergency services and other first responders."

The Finnish Security Intelligence Service is treating the incident as a likely terrorist act.

Koivu said he was touched by the outpouring of support since Friday's deadly attack.

"I am moved at how many people have sent their support to the city of Turku and the country of Finland," he added. "I know my fellow countrymen and women will use the upcoming days as a chance to cherish those closest to us, and to be thankful for our great country."

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Leave it to a team owned by a petrochemical company to provide some nightmare fuel.

The KHL's HC Neftekhimik revealed a terrifying new mascot Saturday while unveiling its new wolf-themed uniforms.

Here's a look at the frightening new character, as seen in a video released by the club of the ceremony:

Here it is sharing a moment with the team's previous mascot:

And here are a couple more mildly disturbing screenshots:

Neftekhimik fans can seek sympathy from supporters of the Edmonton Oilers, whose club was roasted last September after introducing Hunter the lynx.

Watch the full video of the Neftekhimik unveiling here:

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Extra games on the calendar left Jori Lehtera playing on fumes.

The veteran forward, who was traded to the Philadelphia Flyers from the St. Louis Blues at this year's entry draft, believes a busier than usual schedule last season contributed to his dip in production.

"It was different than before. It made it a little bit harder," Lehtera told Jeremy Rutherford of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. "We started to skate so early, so I was kind of out of gas the second half."

In 64 games with the Blues last season, Lehtera put up just 22 points, down from 34 and 44 points in his past two campaigns.

The Finnish forward, who made his NHL debut with the Blues in 2014-15, was called upon by his home nation to skate in last year's World Cup, a tournament in which his country finished dead last and Lehtera was held pointless in three contests.

That inability to score carried over to the regular season, and the Blues, surely unhappy that Lehtera wasn't living up to his $4.7-million cap hit, shipped him to Philadelphia in the deal that brought Brayden Schenn to St. Louis.

Still, Lehtera is happy to get a fresh start with the Flyers.

"It's always tough to leave when you know all of the guys and the city," Lehtera added. "But hockey-wise, it's going to be good for me. I didn't play well at the end, but I think a new start will be really good for me."

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During the seventh-inning stretch of Saturday afternoon's bout between the Chicago Cubs and Toronto Blue Jays, Don Cherry took the mic to sing "Take Me Out to the Ball Game."

Cherry, most famous for hosting "Coach's Corner" and coaching the Boston Bruins to four first-place finishes in the 1970s, curbed the issue of his rooting interest by adding "root, root, root for the best team" into his rendition, and topping it off with "Go Hawks."

Amazingly, Cherry kept it very short without the help of Ron MacLean letting him know how much time he had left.

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Josh Leivo isn't going anywhere.

That much was evident when the Toronto Maple Leafs protected the winger ahead of the expansion draft, leaving fellow frontman Brendan Leipsic free for the taking by the Vegas Golden Knights.

And while a move to Sin City would have offered a fresh start for Leivo, he's excited to remain with the club that originally drafted him six years ago.

That enthusiasm was shared by Maple Leafs coach Mike Babcock, whose message to Leivo in the team's year-end meetings in April was an early reveal to Leivo that he'd be sticking around in Toronto.

"You didn't know what was going to happen at the time, but when they informed me they wanted to keep me, it was wonderful to hear," Leivo told Lance Hornby of the Toronto Sun. "They wanted to develop me and keep me on the roster. I'm very excited they gave me that opportunity. I just want to go out this year and prove myself to them."

A series of unfortunate injuries limited Leivo's appearances last season, as did a bout of healthy scratches courtesy of Babcock. All in all, Leivo wrapped the year with 13 games with the Maple Leafs, in which he compiled an impressive 10 points. He also skated in five games with the AHL's Marlies.

Where he fits on Toronto's roster going forward, particularly one already crowded with young talent, remains to be seen. The 24-year-old also understands that it could be now or never to get his NHL career on track, and he's thrilled to have the chance to make his mark with the Maple Leafs.

"As you get older, you realize what's at stake and you want to make the most of the chance," Leivo added. "We have a group who built a lot of chemistry last year. Even when I wasn't playing, they were still great to me and when I got in, I felt like I hadn't missed a game. Hopefully this season is even better."

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Will Butcher could be the next star to take his show to Sin City.

The University of Denver defenseman, who became an unrestricted free agent Wednesday, held a teleconference with the Vegas Golden Knights this week and, according to his agent, came away impressed with what the expansion franchise has to offer.

"The conversation went well," Butcher's agent, Brian Bartlett, told Ben Gotz of the Las Vegas Review-Journal. "The management was well prepared and painted an impressive picture of their plan and how a player like Will would fit into that."

The reigning Hobey Baker Award winner, Butcher impressed with Denver last season as he netted 37 points in 43 games. Interest in his services grew as he captained Denver to its first national championship since 2005.

Butcher was originally drafted by the Colorado Avalanche in 2013, but did not sign an entry-level deal. Bartlett stated in July: "We appreciate what Colorado has done, and we're not ruling out the Avalanche as a potential destination. But we just feel there will be other opportunities that should be explored too, and therefore we're going (to free agency)."

As for the Golden Knights, they aren't the only team showing interest in Butcher, who has reportedly heard from the Buffalo Sabres and New Jersey Devils. He's also expected to receive a pitch from the back-to-back Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins.

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