Three American Washington Capitals defensemen with international experience say they don't disagree with the U.S. national women's team's decision to threaten a boycott over what they claim are unfair wages.

"I respect it," Capitals defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk told ESPN's Scott Burnside. "I think it takes a lot of courage to make that sort of stand. And I've known some of those girls for a little while now from my (Boston University) days training in the summers with them and seeing them at Olympics."

The U.S. women, including team captain Meghan Duggan and veteran Hilary Knight, announced Wednesday they plan to boycott the World Championship - for which training camp begins next week - if stalled negotiations over compensation don't progress significantly beforehand.

Related: Hilary Knight: 'I kind of dare' USA Hockey to go to worlds without us

"Those girls have a full plate, year-round, with what they do," Shattenkirk said. "For them to ask for better pay and substantial pay for all the sacrifice that they give to the program, I think is valid and it's warranted."

USA Hockey set a 5 p.m. ET deadline Thursday for the women's team to revoke its boycott threat, according to The Canadian Press.

The governing body issued a statement Wednesday in response to the threat, citing the support it already provides and claiming each player could earn up to $85,000 in stipends and medal bonuses at the 2018 Olympics, but Duggan called that claim "misleading and dishonest," denying the offer was ever made.

John Carlson believes the women are entitled to more financial support than they're receiving and acknowledged their struggle is entirely different from that of the men.

"They deserve every bit of everything they get and probably a lot more because they've been awesome competitors and it's a whole different landscape that they have to deal with," he said.

Brooks Orpik agreed with his U.S. compatriots and Capitals teammates, particularly on the point that they can't fully relate to what the female players are up against.

"It's tough for us to know exactly what situation they're in financially but knowing what most of the salaries are in that (women's) league, asking for a little bit more than what they're supposedly getting doesn't seem unreasonable to me."

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Each day this week, we'll publish mock expansion keeper lists by division, and last but not least is the Central. On Friday, we'll publish our mock expansion Las Vegas Golden Knights roster.

Atlantic | Pacific | Metropolitan | Central

*NMC = No-movement clause
*All first- and second-year professionals, along with unsigned draft choices, will be exempt from selection (and will not be counted toward their club's applicable protection limits).
*Notable protected 2017 unrestricted free agents are kept based on the assumption they will re-sign with their respective teams before Las Vegas' window to negotiate with UFAs opens.

Chicago Blackhawks

• Thanks to numerous no-movement clauses, the Blackhawks protection list is practically automatic. Artemi Panarin and Nick Schmaltz being exempt certainly helps, too.
• With such a wide range of contract situations here, center Marcus Kruger - an important role player during two Stanley Cup runs - is likely to be exposed.

Colorado Avalanche

• Colorado's disastrous roster could look very different by next season, but leaving trade chips exposed for nothing simply isn't an option.
• There are plenty of ugly contracts on the roster - particularly Carl Soderberg, whose possible departure for Vegas would be a blessing for Colorado's brass.
• A No. 1 option in goal for the NHL's newest team could be Semyon Varlamov, though he does have two more years and $5.9 million remaining on his current deal.

Dallas Stars

• The Stars might wish for a world in which they could expose both Niemi and Kari Lehtonen based on their appalling seasons in goal, but Niemi ultimately gets the nod due to a smaller cap hit.
• GM Jim Nill said 2013 first-round pick Valeri Nichushkin, currently in the KHL, will probably be protected despite his slow development.

Minnesota Wild

• Minnesota is bound to lose a good player, be it a forward or defenseman.
• If GM Chuck Fletcher was to replicate the list above, forward Jason Zucker would be free, as would blue-liners Jonas Brodin and Marco Scandella.

Nashville Predators

• The rationale behind choosing to protect Mattias Ekholm over Ryan Ellis comes down to term, as Ekholm is under contract until 2022 at a reasonable cap hit, while Ellis is due for substantial raise in 2019.

St. Louis Blues

• With zero no-movement clauses to deal with, keeping the Blues' core intact seems relatively simple.

Winnipeg Jets

• Going with the four forwards, four defensemen, one goaltender strategy could lose the Jets one of Adam Lowry, Marko Dano, Joel Armia, or Andrew Copp, but securing both Myers and Trouba on the back end should be a priority with several strong forward prospects still in the system.

(Photos Courtesy: Action Images)

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It may not be the one the Ottawa Senators originally vied for, but it seems the team will finally host an outdoor game.

NHL commissioner Gary Bettman will reportedly be in Ottawa on Friday to announce that the Senators will host the Montreal Canadiens in an outdoor game at TD Place next season on Dec. 17, according to Postmedia's Bruce Garrioch.

It's unknown how the game will be branded, though it is intended to celebrate the centennial anniversary of the first NHL game in Ottawa, played between the Senators and Canadiens on Dec. 19, 1917.

TD Place - home to the CFL's Ottawa RedBlacks - will host the 105th Grey Cup three weeks before the NHL's next outdoor showcase. Garrioch notes that additional seating from Canada's football championship will be left in for Ottawa's outdoor spectacle, allowing for a potential capacity of 34,000 fans.

Negotiations between the Senators and NHL have been ongoing for some time. Originally, the Senators wanted to stage the game on Parliament Hill, but the Canadian government denied access.

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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 Thursday, March 16 (all advanced statistics courtesy of Corsica.Hockey and apply to 5v5 situations):

Dynamic Duos

• C Brayden Point (42K) & RW Nikita Kucherov (86K), Lightning (vs. Maple Leafs): The Leafs were torched for seven goals by the Panthers in their last outing. They have always struggled on this southeast road trip and that will likely continue considering Tampa is 12-2-3 in their last 17 games. Toronto also has the third-highest xGA60 (expected goals against per 60 minutes).

• C Connor McDavid (80K) & LW Patrick Maroon (39K), Oilers (vs. Bruins): McDavid and the Oilers will take on a tired Bruins squad that played in Calgary on Wednesday night. Tuukka Rask will be rested and ready to go, but McDavid, the NHL's points leader, should still have a good night. Maroon has been on the receiving end of McDavid's playmaking ability, as he sits third on the team with 21 goals.

• C Nicklas Backstrom (64K) & LW Alex Ovechkin (85K), Capitals (vs. Predators): Washington bounced back nicely from a rough stretch on the California road trip, defeating Minnesota 4-2 on Tuesday. The Caps are 28-6-1 at home, while Nashville is just 14-16-4 on the road. Ovechkin has nine goals in 14 career games vs. the Preds.

Goalie Breakdown

• TARGET - Jonathan Quick (113K), Kings (vs. Sabres): Quick has gone 4-1-1 with a .916 SV% since returning from injury, allowing more than two goals in just one outing. A shutout is always possible, especially considering the Sabres generate only 2.34 xGF60 (expected goals for per 60 minutes).

• BARGAIN - Steve Mason (78K), Flyers (at Devils): Mason picked up a shutout on Wednesday against the Penguins. Desperate for wins, the Flyers will likely turn to him on the second game of a back-to-back. This is usually a cause for concern, but Mason only faced 23 shots last night and New Jersey has the second-worst xGF60 in the league.

• FADE - Darcy Kuemper (104K), Wild (at Hurricanes): Though he plays for a great team, Kuemper hasn't been sharp when called upon this season, with a 3.21 GAA on the year. His price is inflated versus a bottom-tier Carolina offense, but they did put up eight goals on Monday against the Islanders.

• CONTRARIAN - Carter Hutton (75K), Blues (at Sharks): Hutton hasn't played much lately, but he has been effective when he has. He has three shutouts and a .949 SV% in his last six starts, but he will be faded by most against the high-powered Sharks.

Bargain Plays

• RW Oliver Bjorkstrand (29K), Blue Jackets (vs. Panthers): Bjorkstrand is fifth in the NHL with 5.2 iSCF60 (individual scoring chances for per 60 minutes). Lately, he has been capitalizing on these opportunities, potting three goals and adding two assists in his last five games.

• RW Joshua Ho-Sang (32K), Islanders (vs. Jets): It took Ho-Sang a few games to get his feet wet, but the rookie is now flourishing. He has four points in as many games and has a juicy matchup against the Jets, who struggle to keep the puck out of their own net.

• LW Remi Elie (26K), Stars (at Canucks): Sitting third in the league in iSCF is Elie, though he has only played four games on the year, picking up a goal and an assist. His value stems from playing on Dallas' top line along with Jason Spezza and Tyler Seguin.

Top Fades

• LW Alex Killorn (47K), Lightning (vs. Maple Leafs): Killorn has gone 10 games without a point. He has had five games during that span where he took one or zero shots on goal. He isn't worth the mid-tier salary. He leads the pack, without a doubt, of players you can live without.

• C Derick Brassard (54K), Senators (vs. Blackhawks): Brassard has just two points in his last nine games. He has had a poor offensive season, but still comes with an expensive price tag. Don't bother drafting him against the Blackhawks.

• RW Kyle Palmieri (71K), Devils (vs. Flyers): Palmieri has developed into a reliable top-six forward, but there is no reason for him to be more expensive than players like Vladimir Tarasenko.

Contrarian Options

• C Henrik Sedin (56K) & LW Daniel Sedin (63K), Canucks (vs. Stars): Dallas has the second-worst xGA60 in the NHL. Both of their goaltenders are terrible. The Sedins are shadows of their former selves, but they still have the chemistry to carve out multi-point games.

• C Leon Draisaitl (51K), Oilers (vs. Bruins): With a tough matchup and teammate Connor McDavid listed at the same position -- albeit at a more expensive price -- Draisaitl will likely have low ownership. He plays RW on McDavid's line and has been remarkably consistent, with 23 goals and 33 assists on the year.

(Photos courtesy: Action Images)

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Alex Burrows poured his heart out with the help of the folks at The Players' Tribune, writing a thoughtful, classy, and heartfelt farewell to the Canucks organization and city of Vancouver.

He touched on the improbability of his 12-year run with the Canucks, trading punches with Dennis Wideman, the team's rivalry with the Blackhawks (as well as his famous overtime goal to defeat them in the 2011 Stanley Cup Playoffs), the bonds his family formed with other Canuck families, and his new opportunity in Ottawa.

Here's a snippet from his post:

Thanks again for turning a lucky break into a lucky life.

As someone who came from nothing and then played 12 years for this franchise, I still kind of can't believe it happened. But I'm so glad it did. Please don't forget about me - and please, if you get a chance, make sure to pass along some words of mine to next year's rookies. Just give them the following message: Wear that sweater with pride. And don't let anybody take it away from you.

It means you're a Canuck.

You can read the entire article here.

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Each week, theScore looks at the teams, players, and other hockey figures trending upward and taking a step back.

▲ Brad Marchand

While we would prefer to avoid repeating subjects in consecutive weeks, Brad Marchand's skyward trajectory has forced our hand.

The sudden Hart Trophy candidate strengthened his case Wednesday night in Calgary, seizing the NHL's outright lead in goals with his 36th, and matching Connor McDavid and Patrick Kane for top spot in the overall scoring race with his 76th point.

Marchand's two points helped Boston knock off one of the league's hottest teams, marking Bruins' fourth win in a row. They are now 12-3 under Bruce Cassidy, moving five points clear of the pool of the Atlantic Division contenders chasing the final spot in the postseason.

Only Patrick Kane has scored at a higher rate than Marchand's 4.27 points per 60 minutes in all situations since Cassidy took over.

▼ The Devils

There's no easy segue from a Hart Trophy candidate to the New Jersey Devils.

Not usually, anyway.

It's obviously been a horrific last couple weeks for the Devils, who are winless in 10 consecutive outings. But in the process they have slid three positions in the Eastern Conference standings, which, in the backward world of sports, provides far greater organizational advancement than trading wins.

Winners of three in a row, the Arizona Coyotes - who have been second from the bottom all season - are now just two points back of the Devils in the overall standings. Should the Devils fall back, it could mean as much as two draft slots with the Vegas Golden Knights penciled in at No. 3.

▲ Erik Karlsson

Though fewer contenders are in the running, the Norris Trophy picture, similar to the Hart, isn't so certain anymore either.

Erik Karlsson has been lauded for his "buy in" all season. Now, that defensive responsibility is beginning to facilitate the video-game totals that have made him the blue-liner to beat in the Norris vote for the last several seasons.

Increasing his shot totals, Karlsson's scored at greater than a point-per-game pace over the last two months, continuing to slowly hack away at Brent Burns' scoring lead among defensemen.

▼ The Wild

Minnesota slipped from its perch atop the Central, simultaneously losing for the fourth time in five tries while the charging Chicago Blackhawks picked up their 14th win over the space of 17 games Tuesday night.

The consequence of finishing second isn't as severe as a similar tumble in the Metropolitan Division, where the No. 3 seed could finish with 110-plus points. But, if the Wild - the Western Conference's top performing team all season - fail to nail down the No. 1 seed, it changes the club's postseason outlook drastically.

A runner-up finish ensures that the Wild would have to go through the entire Central Division in a potential path to the Stanley Cup Final. This would include a matchup with the Nashville Predators, who represent a far greater threat than the No. 8 seed in an enfeebled conference, and an assumed matchup with the Blackhawks without home ice.

(Images courtesy Action Images)

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It's been a forgettable season for Matt Duchene and the Colorado Avalanche, but the talented forward got a major monkey off his back Wednesday night.

Duchene grabbed the loose puck and buried the tying goal against the Detroit Red Wings midway through the second period, scoring for the first time since Feb. 19.

The dynamic center raised both arms, then dropped them in a clear sign of relief after snapping the 11-game drought, which began before the trade deadline, when he was the subject of constant trade speculation.

Duchene leads the league-worst Avalanche with 17 goals and ranks second with 37 points in 64 games.

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CALGARY, Alberta - Brad Marchand scored his league-leading 36th goal of the season and David Backes returned after getting hurt to score the game winner and the Boston Bruins defeated Calgary 5-2 on Wednesday night to end the Flames' 10-game winning streak.

Marchand is also tied with Chicago's Patrick Kane and Edmonton's Connor McDavid for the top spot in the NHL with 76 points.

Backes got tied up with Flames defenseman Mark Giordano and was taken into the corner boards 12 minutes into the game. He was favoring his leg as he was helped off the ice.

But he returned seven minutes into the second period and on his second shift back he broke a 2-2 tie. Backes took a pass from David Krejci on a 3-on-2 and from 30 feet whipped a wrist shot over the glove of Chad Johnson.

David Pastrnak scored twice, and Matt Beleskey also scored for Boston. The Bruins' fourth straight win moves them within three points of the second-place Ottawa Senators in the Atlantic Division.

Alex Chiasson and Dougie Hamilton scored for Calgary.

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