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Champions on Ice: The Blackhawks begin their Stanley Cup defense tonight as they look to become the first repeat Stanley Cup Champions since the Red Wings in 1996-97 and 1997-98. From Elias: Over the previous seven seasons, the defending champion has fared poorly in season openers, going 1-4-2 with the lone victory being the Penguins over the Rangers in 2009-10.

Maple Leafs at Canadiens, 7 ET
* Maple Leafs: 3-2-0 vs Canadiens last season, 2-0-0 at Montreal (1 goal allowed)
* Maple Leafs: won 5 of last 6 in Montreal
* 5th straight season teams opening against each other (Maple Leafs 3-0-1)
* Phil Kessel (TOR): ended last season on a 5-game point streak (4G, 5A)

Capitals at Blackhawks, 8 ET
* Teams last met in March 2012 (Blackhawks won at home)
* Blackhawks: 2-0-1 at home vs Capitals in the shootout era

Jets at Oilers, 10 ET
* Teams have met once since franchise relocated to Winnipeg (Oilers won in Winnipeg Feb. 2012)
* Oilers: 2-0-1 at home vs Jets in shootout era
* Last time Jets played in Edmonton was March 29, 1996

ESPN's NHL crew is ready to get rolling on another NHL season. Join us Tuesday, starting at 7 p.m. ET to open the 2013-14 season.

Updated: 3:06 p.m. ET

Hockey Canada released a statement on Friday afternoon:

Hockey Canada will unveil and launch the jerseys that it's men's, women's and sledge hockey teams will wear at the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Sochi on October 8.

We look forward to telling the story and innovation behind the jerseys at that time.

---

The wait to see Team Canada's men's hockey jersey for Sochi might be over.

While the United States and Russia already unveiled their new sweaters, Canada had not yet announced a date for the reveal. But at the NHL's Player Tour event on Thursday, Jonathan Toews was photographed wearing what could be Canada's jersey for the Olympics.

The jersey is all red with a large white stripe across the chest and the left arm, and there is a large red maple leaf in the center of the white stripe. "Canada" is printed in smaller letters below the stripe.

Designed by Nike, which also designed the U.S. and Russian jerseys, Canada's sweater has the same zig-zag pattern under the collar as the U.S. and Russia.

Getty Images has since removed the photograph from its website.

CALGARY, Alberta -- Team Canada wrapped up its three-day Olympic camp with more "walk-through" practices Tuesday, and, while it has been unusual to see the players in ball-hockey mode on the covered ice, the innovative approach was a winner with the players.

Despite not skating for real, there was a sense of accomplishment at the end of it all.

“Being on the ice, going over video, getting to know some of the guys, I think we made the best of every situation," Sidney Crosby said after camp wrapped up Tuesday.

“A lot of information, details on the way we want to play. Just trying to grasp all that is important, because there isn’t a ton of time over there, so you make the most of having the time here together.”

Some people may snicker at a camp without actual on-ice practices, but Team Canada GM Steve Yzerman felt it was worth it, no question.

"The feedback from coaches and players is they think it’s been worthwhile,” Yzerman said. "They’ve spent a lot of time, even if they’re going on the floor, in meetings and video sessions. It just takes that one step further and they can walk through their positioning. Some guys learn different than others. Some guys tune out in video and meetings and whatnot. If we do this in a practical manner, it kind of drives the point home a little bit."

Head coach Mike Babcock spent a lot of time organizing the event and had specific goals he wanted to reach here.

"[The players] came here for three simple things. No. 1 was to get to know everybody better from players to coaches to management to trainers, to get to know them and have a comfort level," Babcock said.

"No. 2 is to understand the details of how we're going to play -- terminology, where to stand, how to play in your own zone, how to play on the power play, penalty kill. We've gone over and over that. The walk-throughs made it slow enough to really spend some time on it.

"The third thing I think was critical for them is the evaluation process. How do you get to Sochi? We've tried to explain it to each and every guy so when they leave here they've got three months to do their part. They're in control of whether they go."

Just how much the players remember in terms of their system teaching come four months from now remains to be seen.

“I’m sure guys will need to refresh a little bit, but as far as just getting an idea for a foundation, it’s great we’re able to do it here,” Crosby said. "Kind of an unconventional way of doing it, but I think nonetheless we were able to benefit from it.”

Countries have until Dec. 31 to name their 25-man rosters, Yzerman indicating Canada would name its team sometime between mid- to late December.

"At the start of the season, we’ll start with this group of 47 -- we’ll keep an eye on everybody -- but focus on particular teams, particular games, particular players that we’re deciding on,” Yzerman said of narrowing down the choices. "There was a few guys we don’t feel the need to watch. But we know what they can do and they’re going to be on this team, assuming they’re healthy. We’ll arrange our schedule over the next week or so to get ready for the start of the regular season. We’ll get together as a group early November to narrow things down a little bit and talk about what we’re seeing and make sure we’re all in constant communication and get organized from November to mid-December and make our final decisions at that point."

In 2010, Canada was criticized for some its selections despite winning gold. Only in hockey-mad Canada is winning gold not quite good enough to satisfy everyone.

Yzerman knows the Team Canada brain trust won’t please everyone with its decisions this time, either.

"In 2010, we won, could you have put six or seven different guys on that team and still have won? Probably, maybe?” Yzerman said. "But we’ll beat it to death and talk about it and try and put the best team together. There will be logic behind our decisions whether it looks like it or not."

Canada's captain

The naming of a team captain will wait for now.

“It will probably be similar to Vancouver. I think it would be wise to wait until the team is named before we announce a captain,” said Yzerman, who named Scott Niedermayer captain last time around. "We’ll talk to the coaching staff about it and collectively reach a decision on that."

Hard to think Sidney Crosby won’t get the "C," although there will be a number of great candidates given that most of these guys are captains on their respective NHL teams.

“It’d be an honor for sure,” Crosby said of whether he’d be named captain. "But it’s not something that’s on my mind a whole lot. We all want to be on this team and lead by example when we need to, but it’s an honor to be a captain on any team.”

Regardless, Crosby will have a bigger leadership role than he had in 2010 when he was a 22-year-old first-time Olympian.

“I think if I look back at last time, I was probably more in awe and trying to learn from those guys [more] than anything,” Crosby said. "I don’t think it's a conscious decision you make, I think its just a natural progression when you’ve played on a team before, you understand things a bit better. It’s a comfort level. It’s a difference between going to your first Olympic camp and your second one. It’s a mindset.

“I think it’s kind of a natural progression for all the guys who were in Vancouver to come here and be a lot more comfortable, but with the number of guys we have here who are captains or leaders on their team, I think you’ll see a lot of guys who are comfortable.”

Yzerman said it’s logical that some of the young stars from 2010 will step up in the leadership department this time around.

"Sidney, Shea Weber, those types of guys that played very well and are elite NHL players,” Yzerman said. "Four more years later, a lot has happened in their careers. They’ve learned a lot. They’ve matured a lot. The Scott Neidermayers, the Chris Prongers aren’t here. It’s up to those players to take a step forward. So, yes, I expect some of these younger players to take a step forward. Jonathan [Toews] or Sidney, for example, they’ve won gold medals, won Stanley Cups. They’ve accomplished a lot. They’re still young guys. But they’re leaders on their own clubs and we expect them to be here.”

Sharp's ready this time

Four years ago, Patrick Sharp arrived at the Canadian Olympic camp a little wide-eyed. But it’s a different feeling this time around for the Chicago Blackhawks star.

"Going back then, I think I was a different player,” Sharp said Tuesday. "I was 26 or 27. I don’t want to say I was star-struck, but I was excited to be here. But I don’t know if I really believed then that I belonged. I know that’s a bad thing to say as a player. This time around, I’m much more confident, I’ve played in a some pretty serious games. Since 2009 we’ve gone deep in the playoffs three times and won the Stanley Cup twice. So a lot has changed for my game since then, and hopefully, I can play well this year and show the coaches and Hockey Canada that I belong."

What does Team Canada GM Steve Yzerman say about Sharp’s opportunity to make the team?

"A very good chance," Yzerman said. "One, he can play all of the three forward positions, which is a great asset. He plays in all situations, power play, penalty killing. He has been on teams that have won Stanley Cups and been an important player. Teams that win, certain traits they have, their players play a certain way and can play in big games and play under pressure and know how to win. He’s got all those things going for him."

Sharp’s ability to play all three forward positions is an obvious asset.

"I hope so,” said Sharp, a native of Thunder Bay, Ontario. "I know it’s tough putting these kinds of teams together and moving guys around in different positions. That’s something I’ve done my whole career in Chicago. If that helps my chances, that’s great."

You sense in Sharp’s voice how much it would mean to him to make this team. He was asked if making Team Canada would mean as much or even more than winning the Stanley Cup.

"That’s tough to answer,” Sharp said. "That’s like saying, 'Who do you like better, my wife or my daughter?' It’s two things that would be incredible accomplishments. And I’m jealous of Seabs and Duncs and Johnny who were able to win the Cup and the gold in the same year. I certainly want to be part of that and will do anything I can to make the team this year."

Marc Staal's recovery

Rangers blueliner Marc Staal says he’s ready to go after suffering a scary eye injury last season.

"It's good. Really good. I had a really good summer of training and I feel really good," Staal said Tuesday. "When I'm on the ice, I don't really notice it at all. I'm excited and anxious just to start the season up and get it going."

Staal said he has adjusted well.

"It was more of just adapting to the depth perception and things like that when I was coming back,” Staal explained. "It just wasn't clicking when I was trying to come back in the playoffs there. But with the time off and the training now, everything's back to normal and I'm feeling really good."

Many people believe Staal could make Team Canada as long as there are no signs he’s limited by what happened to his eye.

"I have no limitations at all. It's been a great summer of training,” Staal said. "Physically from the time I was cleared to start working out, there wasn't anything I couldn't do as far as physically getting ready. So that part of it has been really good this summer, just getting into shape, getting stronger and getting ready for the season."

Weber's game

Early in Canada’s trouncing of Russia in the quarterfinals of the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver, Shea Weber threw his body around and it set the tempo for the victory.

But that was on NHL ice. He has given some thought to how he’s going to have to adjust his game on the bigger ice in Sochi.

"Yeah definitely," Weber said. "I had the chance to play in the world championships in Russia and Switzerland, so I’m a little familiar with it. You can get caught out of position a lot easier. It’s wider and there’s more time and space for those guys to make passes through you. So you have to be conscious. You still want to play physical but you don’t want to take chances."

Weber is a lock to make this team again, but he certainly hasn’t tried to sit down and figure out the 25-man roster.

"No, that’s why I’m the player, there’s too many tough decisions,” said the Nashville Predators captain. "You go down the list and everybody deserves the chance. That’s why they’re here. There’s even guys that aren’t here that probably will get a good look during the season. We’re very fortunate in Canada to have a big selection, but definitely some tough choices."

Lucic is in shape

A lot was said last season about what kind of shape Milan Lucic was in. The topic reared its ugly head late in the regular season when he was a healthy scratch because of his ineffective play. He picked it up big time in the playoffs and was once again the player people in Boston were used to watching.

Good news, Bruins fans. One look at Lucic this week at the Olympic camp and you know he’s in excellent shape.

"I'm in a lot better shape than I was going into [last] year,” Lucic said. "I didn't take much time off; I maybe took a week off after we lost to Chicago just because I was feeling really good, how I ended off on a personal note and I kind of wanted to keep that going. I went back to how I used to always train. I had some things that were kind of bothering me that weren't allowing my body to train as hard as I used to and I rectified a couple of those problems and it's starting to feel better in the gym."

Iggy talk

Bruins center Patrice Bergeron is eager to see Jarome Iginla on the Bruins this season.

"For sure, it's going to be great,” Bergeron said. "I've had a chance to play with him and to meet him in Vancouver and he's an amazing guy and also player, very professional and a great leader as well. Very excited to have him with us and looking forward to getting to know him even more."

The Predators adjusted the way tickets for games against the Blackhawks are purchased next season in order to limit the number of Chicago fans in Bridgestone Arena.

With some simple math, it will be easier to make the playoffs in the Western Conference with 14 teams instead of the 16 in the East.

Also, losing the Red Wings, a team that hasn't missed the playoffs in a couple of decades, should clear up another spot.

But there is still more than enough talent left in the West -- just ask Pierre LeBrun -- to make things challenging.

The defending Stanley Cup champion Chicago Blackhawks will return most of last season's core, but the Cup hangover has proved time and again to be too much to overcome.

The Los Angeles Kings are still an elite team in the league, but they have played a lot of hockey the past two seasons. Add on that goaltender Jonathan Quick likely will be in Sochi for the Olympics in February and lost backup Jonathan Bernier, and the Kings could fade this season.

It will be interesting to see how the Vancouver Canucks respond to new coach John Tortorella's style. This seems like it will either be a grand slam or a complete strikeout.

Dave Tippett finally has an owner in Phoenix, so the team could get the resources to back the effort it has put out in recent seasons.

The Winnipeg Jets are finally out of the Eastern Conference, but facing the tough competition in the West could make them long for trips to Florida.

Now you make the call: Who will win the Western Conference?

Few teams have dominated a season like the Chicago Blackhawks did in 2013. Their 24-game point streak was thrilling to watch, enough to make most hockey fans forget yet another soul-crushing and stupid lockout. And the best part of their season was how they did it, with a compelling mix of flash, dash and substance. It was just flat-out fun to see, especially when compared with the seasons and seasons we had to endure of neutral-zone trapping and defense-first snore sessions employed by countless successful teams of the past. Hockey was alive and thriving again.

It was no coincidence that the pieces came together in 2013 for the Blackhawks, Bruins, Penguins and Kings, all of whom returned the majority of their 2012 lineup. Those teams were able to get up to speed quickly even without the benefit of a training camp as they did not have to familiarize themselves with a truckload of new teammates or a new system.

For the Blackhawks, specifically, they got great seasons from Patrick Kane, Jonathan Toews, Marian Hossa, Corey Crawford and Duncan Keith. And their potent attack benefited from great depth, provided by guys who would have been the stars on other teams, such as Patrick Sharp, Bryan Bickell and Ray Emery, to name a few.

But enough of the puff-pastry talk. While the Stanley Cup makes its rounds with the Blackhawks this summer, one nagging question floats out there, unanswered.

Tell me straight, I can take it, doctor: Can the Blackhawks repeat?

The short answer: Doubt it. It's friggin' hard to repeat these days, man.

The longer answer: The Blackhawks have all the tools at their disposal to keep the momentum rolling: the core is healthy and will be back for another season, the the coach is getting results, the building will be sold out every night and management is happy. So why the doubt? It's friggin' hard to repeat these days, man. And that's no slight against the Blackhawks, who will again be really good. The Kings were a talented and deep team in 2013 and came as close to repeating as anyone has in recent memory, but still burned out. And that was with the benefit of more rest because of the lockout. (They just ran into the hotter Blackhawks.)

Plus, there are those little extra matters in 2013-14 of a full season -- a schedule that will no longer include relatively quick jaunts to Detroit and Columbus, but instead will have more trips to Dallas and Colorado -- and the many players on the roster who will play in the Olympics and will have to go all the way over to Russia to play a bunch of high-pressure games in a short amount of time, before coming all the way back from Russia right before the stretch drive.

Whew. I'm tired just typing about it.

Back to the short answer: So, no.

Many were wondering heading into last season what was next for Patrick Kane. After all, he entered the league with a bang, showing mad skills from the get-go during his Calder Trophy-winning rookie season in 2007-08. But after a remarkable 2009-10 that was capped by an 88-point regular season (interrupted by a silver medal for Team USA at the Vancouver Games) and a 28-point postseason in which the Blackhawks won the Stanley Cup, his production and stature started to slide. He became better known more for his off-ice shenanigans than his on-ice skills. Was he a distracted party boy working on his last chance at redemption before he turned 25?

Short-season mojo: The answer was facilitated by the lockout. Somehow, some way, Kane entered the shortened 2012-13 season on a mission, like he was out to prove his critics wrong. Or to keep his spot on the team. Or to just flat-out enjoy the ride back from the darkness of the lockout. Whatever the cause, it worked, as Kane had not only a great stats season -- 55 points in 48 games -- he also looked good doing it, scoring amazing goals, pulling nifty moves and being an essential part of the Blackhawks machine that rolled through the season and playoffs as one of the more dominant performances in recent memory, capped by his Conn Smythe win. And he did it all with a mullet, which is always endearing.

Why it will be tough to repeat: He won't be playing repeatedly (four games in April, including three in six nights!) against the slumping Predators, nor will he be able to regularly light up the Blue Jackets, who fled for the East. The winger with the trigger finger will no doubt be counted on to be a key member of Team USA during the Olympics, adding further wear and tear in a Cup-hangover season.

Verdict: Sure, he won't have the Jackets to kick around, but on the flip side, he won't have to go repeatedly against the Red Wings, who held him to three goals and two assists over 10 games (both regular season and playoffs) in 2013. Regardless, it takes a superstar player to maintain the kind of pace and enthusiasm Kane had last season. Those kind of expectations -- piled on top of what is expected of him and his defending-champion Blackhawks -- could be too much to ask for someone who seems to be still working out some things. Kane will have a great season for mere mortals, but only good by the standards of a budding superstar.

Is this the day for Danny B?

Sources have told ESPN.com that bought-out unrestricted free agent Danny Briere cut his list of suitors to three teams late Wednesday night, which I believe to be New Jersey, Montreal and Nashville.

All three have compelling selling points for the veteran forward. The Canadiens provide an obvious allure for a French-Canadian such as Briere. If he does sign with the Habs, it would turn those boos at the Bell Centre into cheers after he spurned Montreal’s offer years ago for Philadelphia’s and Habs fans never forgave him.

Nashville is a terrific place to live. I’m stunned more free agents don’t go there. It would be top five on my list of places for a player to ply his trade. Fantastic town, solid organization and, oh yeah, the Preds desperately need offense.

The Devils also need offense, and New Jersey would offer the one thing Montreal and Nashville could not: proximity to Briere’s children, who will remain in Philadelphia.

And so we shall see. Whichever team gets him acquires a clutch performer, especially come playoff time. And he’s a great teammate.



Elsewhere:

• My money is on UFA center Tyler Bozak staying in Toronto, but until the Maple Leafs meet that magic number, other teams have called, including Dallas, Detroit, Anaheim, St. Louis and Calgary. Bozak, who found great chemistry with Phil Kessel last season, is looking for a five-year deal or more. In the Red Wings’ case, I think Bozak is more of a Plan B if they can’t get UFA center Stephen Weiss. I think the Stars are very interested in Bozak, and Weiss for that matter.

• Don’t expect a final decision from UFA blueliner Rob Scuderi until Friday. Sources say Scuderi got a real nice offer from the Kings on Tuesday night, but the veteran player wanted to see what was out there on the market with the 48-hour window for talking to other teams opening Wednesday. He has done that, hearing from several East Coast teams. Basically, if Scuderi does leave the Kings, he’s going to the East. It would not surprise me if Pittsburgh was among the teams that called about Scuderi. The Pens know him well from his previous playing days in Pittsburgh.

• The Wings have kicked tires all over the place, I hear, getting a sense of the marketplace. They’ve checked in on Weiss and Bozak plus Jarome Iginla, Brenden Morrow, Daniel Alfredsson et al, all the while keeping tabs on their own free agents Dan Cleary, Damien Brunner and Valtteri Filppula. It could go all kinds of different ways in Detroit on Friday when the market opens.

• UFA power forward Ryane Clowe's preference is to stay on the East Coast, and I think he’s zeroed in on some options; the Devils are among several teams with serious interest. Expect him to sign Friday, the first day of the market opening.

• Bought-out UFA Mike Komisarek is going to be a bargain-basement addition and is generating sizable attention because of that cheap price tag.

• TSN colleague Darren Dreger is hearing there is action on Blackhawks goalie Ray Emery. The Flyers, Isles and Oilers are believed to be chasing. The Hawks are also in discussions to re-sign Emery, Dreger is hearing.

It is very possible, although not quite a guarantee, that Vincent Lecavalier will choose his next team by the end of the day Wednesday.

The UFA center, who is allowed to speak with teams earlier than other UFAs because his contract was bought out, has been deliberating with family where the best fit might be for him to continue this career.

The likes of the Dallas Stars, Detroit Red Wings, Montreal Canadiens, Toronto Maple Leafs, Boston Bruins, St. Louis Blues, Washington Capitals, Philadelphia Flyers, Anaheim Ducks, Vancouver Canucks and Calgary Flames are among the teams that have shown interest.

The decision for Lecavalier begins with Montreal. He has to decide whether he wants to go home and deal with both the perks and detriments of playing in his native town. And if he goes home, it’s not going to be for the same kind of money or term other clubs would have offered. If he’s a Hab, it’s more because he really, really wants to be one. Montreal definitely has interest in signing him, but it’s going to have to be on a reasonable deal that fits within its cap and payroll structure.

But no one should fault Lecavalier if he decides to avoid that situation; that’s his choice as a UFA.

I still think Dallas is a solid possibility for Lecavalier if he wants to remain in a quiet, nontraditional hockey place such as the environment he has experienced his entire career with the Tampa Bay Lightning. And I think the Stars are willing to go five years on a deal.

While it’s true to a degree, as Nashville Predators GM David Poile suggested to his local media Tuesday, that Lecavalier would prefer to stay in the East, it does not preclude him from playing in Dallas, I can tell you that.

Detroit is a great fit, too, and so is Boston. We’ll know soon enough.

As a reminder, beginning at 12:01 a.m. ET Wednesday (so basically Tuesday night), a wrinkle in the new CBA kicks in that NHL fans haven’t seen before: Free agents have the right to speak with other teams in the 48-hour lead-up to the opening of the market Friday.

So for teams trying to re-sign their free agents, Tuesday was their last day of exclusivity to do so. For example, it was the last day for New Jersey Devils GM Lou Lamoriello to be the only voice in David Clarkson’s ear. Clarkson recently turned down an offer from the Devils and most likely is headed to the market. Then again, maybe Uncle Lou has another last trick up his sleeve.

Elsewhere

• Traded texts Tuesday morning with UFA forward Danny Briere. He says he’s talking to teams as he’s narrowing his focus. We should know more Wednesday.

• The Devils and pending UFA center Patrik Elias were close to a deal, but it wasn’t done as of noon ET Tuesday, agent Allan Walsh said. Walsh also represents winger Pascal Dupuis, another pending UFA, and the agent said talks with the Pittsburgh Penguins were continuing.

• Pending UFA winger Damien Brunner was a day away from being able to speak with the 29 other teams. His agent, Neil Sheehy, told ESPN.com via email Tuesday morning that he planned to talk again with Detroit but wasn’t sure where it was all headed.

• The Predators put veteran blueliner Hal Gill on waivers. He has one year left on his deal at $2 million. GM David Poile said via text that the blue line is a little crowded given the drafting of Seth Jones, and the hope is to find a new home for Gill. If no one claims him on waivers, another possibility would be to buy him out.

The Kris Letang camp notified the Pittsburgh Penguins on Thursday evening that it was turning down an eight-year extension offer worth around $56 million, a source told ESPN.com.

A source also told ESPN.com that the Letang camp counter-offered with a long-term deal south of $8 million a year and that it was deemed too rich by the Pens.

Where it goes from here remains unclear. Perhaps another offer will come, or the rejection could spur Pens GM Ray Shero into finally putting the All-Star defenseman on the trade market.

Letang has one year left on his deal, which pays him $3.5 million. Only 26, he’d be in huge demand on the UFA market. If Shero decides to move him, the list of teams wanting a top-end defenseman like Letang would be through the roof.

Elsewhere:

• Contract talks have gone on in earnest the past few days between Bryan Bickell’s camp and the Chicago Blackhawks. Bickell is a pending UFA.

• Teams already have reached out to Vincent Lecavalier’s camp, on the same day he was bought out by the Tampa Bay Lightning. Although Lecavalier can’t sign with anyone until July 5, the league confirmed to ESPN.com that his camp is allowed to talk to teams now because he’s been bought out.

• Spoke with an executive from an opposing team earlier Thursday who said the Blackhawks have made center Dave Bolland available for trade. Doesn’t mean they’ll move him, but they’re listening ...

What was shaping up to be a not terribly deep nor exciting July 5 free-agent crop is getting some intriguing names added by the day.

Vincent Lecavalier brought some pizzazz to the unrestricted free-agent festivities Thursday. After the Tampa Bay Lightning announced they were buying out Lecavalier's contract, the star center joined goalie Ilya Bryzgalov and forward Danny Briere as players bought out and thrown into the UFA mix.

Lecavalier, 33, adds a tempting option in a UFA center class that otherwise was led by the likes of Derek Roy, Mike Ribeiro and Stephen Weiss. At the right price, Lecavalier would be one heck of an addition as the No. 2 center on a good team.

Of course, it didn’t take long for Lecavalier’s buyout to be announced for people to link him to his native Montreal. Let’s be honest: It would be cool to see him in a Canadiens uniform after all these years of trade rumors linking him there.

Two questions need answering, though. Do the Habs have interest? And would Lecavalier be willing to play under that kind of spotlight?

One of the reasons Tampa Bay suited him so well was that it isn’t a hockey fishbowl.

“Too early [to tell],” one source told ESPN.com Thursday regarding Montreal’s potential interest.

Indeed, much can happen between now and July 5, with other players being made available via buyout or trade. The landscape is shifting quickly.

I’d be shocked if the Lecavalier camp, led by agent Kent Hughes, didn’t get interest from at least a dozen teams. At the right price, he’s a stud, and this isn’t a great year for free-agent centers. And you still can’t teach 6-foot-4.

Just my own guessing out of the gate, not based on any sourcing ...

• The Detroit Red Wings need a No. 2 center as talks with Valtteri Filppula are headed nowhere. While Weiss also could be an option, Lecavalier would make a lot of sense.

• The Chicago Blackhawks? Cap space is at a premium and re-signing pending UFA Bryan Bickell is the priority. But, man, would Lecavalier ever fit well there, especially because you know Michal Handzus isn’t the long-term answer at No. 2.

• What about Lecavalier’s former coach at Tampa Bay, John Tortorella, who is in his first offseason as coach of the Vancouver Canucks?

• The Toronto Maple Leafs have been looking for a legitimate center with size for about a million years.

We will see a lot of teams linked to Lecavalier because, frankly, a lot of teams could use him.

The Lightning did not come to this decision lightly. I believe this was a very difficult move for general manager Steve Yzerman to make.

But at the end of the day, the ability exists under the compliance buyout provision in the new CBA (two per team for the next two offseasons) to extricate oneself from a cap-killing contract. And at $7.72 million a pop for seven more seasons, Lecavalier was a cap hit the Lightning just couldn’t live with.

More of a concern for any team with these types of long-term, front-loaded deals that are remnants of the old CBA is the "recapture" rule, which is part of the new CBA. For example, had Lecavalier retired before the end of his deal, Tampa Bay would have faced salary-cap charges moving forward.

It’s why the New York Rangers are debating whether to buy out center Brad Richards. It’s why the Canucks should buy out goalie Roberto Luongo if they can’t find a trade partner.

A source told ESPN.com Thursday that the Canucks don't want to buy out Luongo. They could trade him if they're willing to eat part of his deal or take back a player who's also a cap anchor for another team. Vancouver also could waive Luongo at some point and hope that another team takes him.

Letang update

My colleague Rob Rossi of the Pittsburgh Tribune created a bit of a stir in Toronto when reporting late Wednesday that if Kris Letang can’t agree to terms on an extension with the Penguins, Toronto would be near the top of his trade destinations. Rossi does a solid job covering the Pens, but Letang’s agent, Kent Hughes, was adamant no such trade destination conversations had taken place and clearly was not happy with the story.

“Our focus has been on negotiating a contract with the Pittsburgh Penguins and we have not discussed the Toronto Maple Leafs,” Hughes told ESPN.com via email Thursday morning. “He remains under contract for one more year if we don't extend his contract. We are not the source of the story, nor were we contacted to verify its accuracy beforehand.”

The Penguins have made Letang a substantial offer, but obviously it was not enough; otherwise he would have signed it.

So the clock ticks. Would general manager Ray Shero really allow Letang to enter next season in the final year of his contract? Shero would get way more in a trade this summer than he does at the trade deadline next season.

It's worth noting that the Leafs are in the market for a top defenseman, so if Letang becomes available, it'd make sense for Toronto to be among the suitors.

Tick tock ...

Speaking of the Pens ...

Great job by Shero to get Chris Kunitz signed to a three-year extension worth $3.85 million per season. That's a good value. Kunitz has one more year on his deal at $3.75 million, and he would have been a UFA in July 2014.

Credit to Kunitz and agent Ben Hankinson, too. Maybe Kunitz gets more money elsewhere, but you like where you're playing and you've found chemistry with Sidney Crosby, so why throw that away? It's not always about the money.

Kunitz will be 34 in September, which means he'll be 37 entering the final year of this extension. Getting a three-year term was the real prize for Kunitz and Hankinson.

It is ironic that two of the highest-profile players talked about being potential buyouts were both paramount to the Tampa Bay Lightning’s 2004 Stanley Cup triumph.

Vincent Lecavalier and Brad Richards await word on their respective situations as the compliance buyout window opens Wednesday at 11 p.m. ET.

Any player bought out during this window would see his cap hit completely wiped clean. It’s a transition measure in the new collective bargaining agreement for this summer and next summer only, and only two buyouts per team are allowed.

Lecavalier, 33, still has seven years left on his deal, which carries a $7.73 million annual cap hit for Tampa. Richards, also 33, also has seven years left on his deal with the Rangers at a $6.67 million annual cap hit.

The decision that faces both the Rangers and Lightning: If they don’t use the compliance buyout provision before the end of July 4, do they risk either player getting injured next season and not be able to buy him out next summer?

The other factor to consider is the "recapture" rule in the new CBA, which hammers teams with cap charges on players with these types of front-loaded contracts if they retire before the end of the deal.

Neither player's camp had heard officially either way as of Wednesday afternoon, with Pat Morris of Newport Sports telling ESPN.com he had yet to get a definite answer from the Rangers. In a text, Richards told ESPNNewYork.com's Katie Strang at 9 p.m. ET that he had not heard from the Rangers. Ditto for Lecavalier’s agent, Kent Hughes, who nevertheless understands the situation Tampa is in.

"We understand that the contract is a difficult one in a declining environment and potentially difficult with rule changes that have been instituted in the new CBA, and we understand that Tampa has the right to extricate itself from that contract through the amnesty buyout provision," Hughes told ESPN.com. "We’ve had a conversation, but we haven’t been told one way or another that they intend to do so. We expect that if they are going to, we’ll know in the very, very near future."

Deputy commissioner Bill Daly sent out a memo Monday morning to all 30 teams warning them to play it by the book regarding buyouts and trades. The N.Y. Post this week reported that Tampa and Toronto had talked about a potential Lecavalier deal in which the Leafs would get another asset in exchange for using its financial muscle to absorb the buyout on Lecavalier, which then in turn could re-sign in Tampa at a cheaper rate after he becomes a free agent (players who are bought out can't rejoin their own teams for a year). The Leafs deny the report. Daly's memo specifically warned clubs that the trade/buyout/reacquire scenario would be deemed a circumvention of the CBA.

Looking to move Miller?

Ryan Miller's future remains up in the air. Will he be a Sabre next season or be dealt elsewhere?

He has one year left on his deal at $6.25 million, which suggests this is the summer when Buffalo has to fish or cut bait with him. If it's going to deal him, it'll get more now than at the trade deadline next season.

Miller told ESPN.com via email Wednesday that he did not know what was going on and was just focused on what he could control.

"I just have to prepare myself to be a starting goalie and an Olympian," Miller said. "I want to challenge myself to raise my game back to the highest level. Everything else is out of my control."

Paging Tim Thomas

Ray Emery, an unrestricted free agent on July 5, is a name that surfaced among Philadelphia media speculating on what the Flyers might do to sign a goalie to share the crease with Steve Mason now that they’ve decided to buy out Ilya Bryzgalov.

Emery, should he not re-sign in Chicago, would certainly make sense given his past relationship with Flyers GM Paul Holmgren, and a source confirmed Wednesday that Emery is among the names on Holmgren’s radar. Emery’s agent, J.P. Barry of CAA Sports, was expected to touch base with the Blackhawks over the next day or so to figure out what their intentions are for the veteran goalie, who was terrific in forming a one-two punch with Corey Crawford this season.

Meanwhile, another name that was thrown out Tuesday by some Philly scribes was that of Tim Thomas. The polarizing 39-year-old becomes a UFA on July 5 after skipping out on the final year of his deal with Boston. (His rights were dealt to the Islanders last season.)

The question is, what are Thomas’ intentions?

"Until I hear otherwise, he’s status quo," Thomas’ agent Bill Zito said Wednesday.

Which means he remains undecided, although clearly he’s going to need to decide soon if he intends to come back since goalie jobs will be scarce in a matter of weeks.

Here’s hoping Thomas returns -- how could that not be fun?

Bobrovsky looking for deal

Vezina Trophy winner Sergei Bobrovsky remains unsigned by the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Ongoing talks between the goalie’s agent Paul Theofanous and the club have not closed the gap yet.

"I’m supposed to meet with Theofanous today, but there’s nothing new to report right now," Jackets GM Jarmo Kekalainen told ESPN.com on Wednesday afternoon. "It’s a work in progress. We’re hoping to get it done."

Adding to the challenge for Kekalainen is that Bobrovsky reportedly has a lucrative offer on the table from the KHL’s St. Petersburg SKA club, which is owned by KHL president Alexander Medvedev. Not that Kekalainen is trying to compete with that offer.

"It’s a rich company that sponsors SKA, and Medvedev is a powerful man," Kekalainen said. "And I respect their league and their process there. But we don’t negotiate against the KHL. We based our negotiations on the comparables in the NHL."

This and that

• The Kings and pending UFA blueliner Rob Scuderi continue to talk, but there's still no deal at this point. "Talks are ongoing prior to July 5, and no final decision has been made," Scuderi’s agent Steve Bartlett said Wednesday. "The Kings have shown strong interest in having him return."

• Devils GM Lou Lamoriello and David Clarkson’s agent Pat Morris of Newport Sports chatted Tuesday, although no offers were exchanged.

• Jonathan Bernier’s agent, Pat Brisson of CAA Sports, says he expects to talk contract with the Maple Leafs at the draft this weekend.

• Contract talks are also underway between Matt Cooke's camp, led by Pat Morris, and the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Stanley Cup Finals - Game 6
Blackhawks 3, Bruins 2 (Blackhawks win series 4-2)
* Trailing 2-1 with under 90 seconds to play, Blackhawks scored 2 goals in 17 seconds (Bryan Bickell, Dave Bolland) with the go-ahead score coming with 59 seconds remaining
* Blackhawks: 5th Stanley Cup title (last came in 2010)
* Blackhawks: 1st Presidents' Trophy winner to win Stanley Cup since Red Wings in 2008
* Blackhawks: like 2010, win Stanley Cup in 6 games with clincher on the road
* Blackhawks: 5th Stanley Cup winner in last 6 seasons to clinch on road
* Jonathan Toews (CHI): goal, assist; 2nd straight multi-point game
* Patrick Kane (CHI): wins Conn Smythe Trophy (playoff MVP) ... 4th American-born player to win it (3rd straight)
* Bruins: lose 3 straight after taking 2-1 lead in the series
* Milan Lucic (BOS): gave Bruins 2-1 lead with 7:49 remaining in third period (his 4th goal of series .. T-most in series with teammate Patrice Bergeron)

FROM ELIAS: The Blackhawks tied Game 6 and went ahead with the Cup-clinching goal in a span of 17 seconds. That turnaround shatters the previous record for shortest span between game-tying and Cup-clinching goals since the NHL took possession of the Stanley Cup in 1927.

Of the 4 quickest such spans, the Bruins have one of them and have been on the receiving end of it twice.

Shortest Span Between Game-Tying and Cup-Clinching Goal
Since NHL Took Control of Stanley Cup in 1927
Opponent
2013 Blackhawks 0:17 Bruins
1941 Bruins 1:01 Red Wings
1942 Maple Leafs 2:01 Red Wings
1978 Canadiens 2:19 Bruins

Latest Cup-Clinching Goal in Regulation
Since NHL Formed in 1917
Time of Goal
2013 Dave Bolland CHI 19:01 (3rd)
1929 Bill Carson BOS 18:02 (3rd)
1932 Ace Bailey TOR 15:07 (3rd)
1947 Ted Kennedy TOR 14:39 (3rd)
1976 Guy Lafleur MTL 14:18 (3rd)
>>Time is minutes into the period (Bolland’s goal came with 59 seconds remaining)

" FROM ELIAS: The Blackhawks are the first NHL team to ever win a Stanley Cup Final game in regulation time after trailing in the final two minutes of the third period.

In fact, there was only one other Stanley Cup Final game decided in regulation time in which the winning team trailed in the last five minutes of the third period. That was Game 1 of the 1992 Final between the Penguins and Blackhawks, with Pittsburgh prevailing 5–4 thanks to a tying goal by Jaromir Jagr with 4:55 remaining in the third period and a game-winning tally by Mario Lemieux with 13 seconds left in regulation time.

Road is Where the Cup Is
Last 6 Stanley Cup Champions
Won Cup
2013 Blackhawks Road
2012 Kings Home
2011 Bruins Road
2010 Blackhawks Road
2009 Penguins Road
2008 Red Wings Road

The Blackhawks run to the title was eerily similar to the Heat’s.

Both had their league's best regular-season record.
Both had their league's 2nd-best all-time points/win streak.
Both faced elimination 3 times in the playoffs.
Both had furious comebacks in Game 6 of the championship series.
Both have won 2 titles since 2010.

Mirror Image
Champions Crowned Within Week
Blackhawks Heat
Postseason record 16-7 16-7
Elimination games 3 3
Best reg. season record? Yes Yes
Pts/Win streak 30<< 27
All-time streak rank 2nd 2nd
Titles since 2010 2 2
>>Overlapped 2 seasons

" FROM ELIAS: The Blackhawks won all four of their series in the 2013 playoffs in the first game in which they had a chance to eliminate their opponent. They’re the first NHL team since the 2002 Red Wings to go 4–0 in potential clinchers in one playoff year.
"
" FROM ELIAS: Corey Crawford posted a 16–7 record and a 1.84 goals-against average in 23 games in the 2013 playoffs. Crawford is the first goaltender in Blackhawks history to finish with a goals-against average below 2.00 in a playoff year in which he appeared in at least ten games. The previous low was Glenn Hall’s 2.10 GAA in 12 games when Chicago won the Stanley Cup in 1961.

NEXT LEVEL: The Blackhawks scored the game-tying and game-winning goals in Game 6 on shots taken from directly in front of the net. The Blackhawks scored 9 of their 12 goals from in front or the slot the last 3 games of the series after scoring once from those areas the first 3 games.

Blackhawks Shooting From In Front/Slot
Stanley Cup Final
Games 1-3 Games 4-6
Goals 1 9
Pct of SOG 19% 29%