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More Headlines Oilers’ Green joins list of players opting out of NHL return Edmonton's Mike Green and Boston's Steven Kampfer are opting out. Dallas defenseman Roman Polak isn't reporting for now, and Tampa Bay captain Steven Stamkos isn't reporting at full strength. - Associated Press Lightning’s Stamkos injured again at start of training camp Stamkos is expected to be ready for the start of the NHL's expanded 24-team Stanley Cup playoffs in early August. - Associated Press Flames’ Hamonic is first player to opt out of NHL’s return All players have until Monday's 5 p.m. ET deadline to opt out without penalty. - Sean Leahy NHL hubs: Edmonton, Toronto chosen; Rogers Place to host Stanley Cup Final Rogers Place will host both the conference finals and the 2020 Stanley Cup Final. - Sean Leahy Final standings for 2019-20 NHL season, playoff schedule, draft lottery results An updated look at where teams finished the 2019-20 regular season. - James O'Brien NHL agrees to Olympic return in 2022, 2026; IOC talks next The NHL and NHLPA have agreed to send players to the 2022 and 2026 Olympics, pending negotiations with the International Olympic Committee. - Sean Leahy New NHL critical dates calendar means an October Free Agent Frenzy Get ready for Free Agent Frenzy in October. - Sean Leahy Longtime Stars executive Lites moving from CEO to chairman Brad Alberts, the Stars president since March 2018, will remain in that role while also adding the CEO title and responsibilities. - Associated Press Best NHL goals of 2019-20: Ovechkin hits 700; Lots of McDavid, Tkachuk, lacrosse In case you needed a return-to-play appetizer. - James O'Brien No NHL return for Pavel Datsyuk, who signs one-year deal to stay in KHL Datsyuk, soon to be 42, sticks with Yekaterinburg Automobilist. - James O'Brien Best goals from the 2019-20 NHL season Check out the best goals from the 2019-20 NHL season before the league paused play. Devils GM on hiring experienced Ruff: ‘The group needs a teacher’ Tom Fitzgerald's criteria for the new Devils head coach included someone with NHL coaching experience an who could act as a teacher for their young players. - Sean Leahy PHT Morning Skate: Reactions to Devils hiring Lindy Ruff Friday's collection of links. - Sean Leahy Good, bad, and neutral: Devils hire Lindy Ruff Can that old dog do the trick for New Jersey? - James O'Brien Best fights from the 2019-20 NHL season Take a look back at the best fights from the 2019-20 NHL season, as the league gears up to resume play. Devils hire Lindy Ruff as head coach, retain Fitzgerald as GM Ruff has been an assistant with the Rangers since 2017. - Sean Leahy PHT Morning Skate: Winners, losers of NHL Olympic return; Training camp battles Thursday's collection of links. - James O'Brien Sabres drop lawsuit after assistant coach is granted a green card The Sabres sued U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services in May by alleging officials wrongly denied the team’s visa petition for the British-born coach. - Associated Press Healthy Ekman-Larsson ready to give Coyotes a playoff boost Ekman-Larsson opted to have offseason knee surgery to help with another lower-body injury and never was quite right this season. - Associated Press Chris Pronger leaves senior VP of hockey ops role with Panthers The Hockey Hall of Famer joined the organization in 2017 after spending three years in the NHL's Department of Player Safety. - Sean Leahy PHT Morning Skate: NHLPA Executive Board backs RTP, CBA agreement Wednesday's collection of links. - Sean Leahy IIHF encouraged by NHL’s potential return to Olympics in ’22 The league participated in five consecutive Olympics before skipping the 2018 Games in South Korea. - Associated Press Blackhawks say team name honors namesake who inspired The Blackhawks say they will continue to use their team name because it honors a Native American leader who has been an inspiration to generations. - Associated Press Prospects like Kaprizov, Romanov, Sorokin won’t be eligible for NHL return, playoffs They can burn 2019-20 off of entry-level contracts, but can't play for NHL teams until 2020-21 at the earliest. - James O'Brien Stage is set for 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs The format may be a little different, but the quest for the Stanley Cup remains the same as the stage is set for the NHL to make its return. Inside the NHL bubble: testing, what could cause postponement When players arrive in Edmonton and Toronto, there will be plenty of rules to follow in order to ensure everyone's safety. - Sean Leahy PHT Morning Skate: Safety inside the NHL bubbles; impact of no home ice Tuesday's collection of links. - Sean Leahy NHL, NHLPA agree to four-year CBA extension, Return to Play MOU Hockey is set to return with the Qualifying Round on August 1. - Sean Leahy NHL Power Rankings: Fun ways the free agent frenzy could go Forget the best spots for Hall, Pietrangelo, and others. What about the spots that would be the most fun? - James O'Brien NHL announces nine additional COVID-19 positive cases The league says 23 of 396 players checked for COVID-19 at team facilities have tested positive since voluntary workouts began June 8, a 5% rate. - Associated Press PHT Morning Skate: Four Blues players, one coach test positive for COVID-19; Future for Rask Monday's collection of links. - James O'Brien NHL, NHLPA agree to resume season The return-to-play plan must still be ratified by the NHLPA and NHL Board of Governors. - Associated Press Seven hockey players suspended in Belarus match-fixing case The players -- five from Belarus and two from Russia -- told a domestic investigation they were paid to help arrange the outcome of a game in November. - Associated Press PHT Morning Skate: NHL vs. viruses; Flat salary cap pain = Avs’ gain? Friday's collection of links. - James O'Brien Our Line Starts podcast: NHL, NHLPA near agreements on hub cities, Olympics, CBA Reacting to the reports that the NHL and NHLPA are nearing the completion of an agreement that would cover Return to Play protocols and a CBA extension. - Sean Leahy Previewing every Western Qualifying Round matchup Patrick Sharp and Keith Jones analyze every Qualifying Round matchup in the West, including Oilers vs. Blackhawks, Coyotes vs. Predators, Wild vs. Canucks, and Jets vs. Flames. Previewing every Eastern Qualifying Round matchup Patrick Sharp and Keith Jones break down every Qualifying Round matchup in the East, including Canadiens vs. Penguins, Rangers vs. Hurricanes, Panthers vs. Islanders, and Blue Jackets vs. Maple Leafs. Sharp: No-brainer to send NHL players to Olympics Patrick Sharp and Keith Jones discuss the news that the NHL and NHLPA are nearing an agreement that would lead to NHL players being allowed to play in the Olympics. Edmonton, Toronto frontrunners for NHL hub cities Keith Jones and Patrick Sharp explain why it makes sense for the NHL to have Edmonton and Toronto as frontrunners for the hub cities. Mrazek vs. Reimer and other Hurricanes lineup questions readying for Rangers Training camp might dictate who starts, and who gets reps on a crowded blueline. - James O'Brien F...