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The Ducks have signed center William Karlsson to a three-year entry-level contract. Per club policy, financial terms were not disclosed.

Karlsson, 20 (1/8/93), was named the 2012-13 Swedish Elite League Rookie of the Year after scoring 4-24=28 points with a +17 rating and 12 penalty minutes (PIM) in 50 games with HV71. Karlsson led all league rookies in assists, ranked second in scoring, tied for second in appearances and tied for third in game-winning goals (2). He also collected 0-2=2 points in five playoff games with HV71. In addition, Karlsson was a member of Sweden’s silver medal-winning squad at the 2013 IIHF World Junior Championship in Russia, earning 0-2=2 points with a +1 rating in six games.

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With Ryan Miller’s future in Buffalo in limbo, Sabres fans were able to get a better look at the man who would be Miller’s likely replacement should he be moved on a grander stage.

Jhonas Enroth was given the reigns to lead team Sweden into the IIHF World Championship tournament as its number one goaltender, and didn’t disappoint. With a 26 saves on 27 shots, Enroth backstopped the Swedes to gold at the 2013 World Championship with a 5-1 win over Switzerland on Sunday.

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It didn't take long for Sabres forward Steve Ott to become a fan favorite in Buffalo. His physical and sometimes outrageous style provided fans with a dose of the edge and attitude they'd been missing over the past few seasons.

While the former Stars forward added toughness and leadership to a Sabres team that was short on both, a statistical analysis of his 2013 season suggests a change in usage could make him more effective in 2013-14.

The Sabres' biggest struggle this season was puck possession. They ranked 30th in the league in the most telling possession stat Fenwick Close – which is formed by comparing shots on goal + shots missed for vs. shots on goal + shots missed against. The formula is only applied in close game situations.

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In the aftermath of the season many Jets fans and media alike have mentioned the progress of the Toronto Maple Leafs as something the Winnipeg Jets can strive towards. The premise is loose and lazy to begin with, but I believe the idea is that the Jets will take a similar step forward when they start graduating their young talent. Mark Scheifele can be Winnipeg’s Nazem Kadri. Jacob Trouba can be the Jets' Jake Gardiner and so on. Something silly like that anyways. It is a fun storyline I suppose, but it doesn’t really reflect the reality of the situation.

Yes, the Winnipeg Jets and Toronto Maple Leafs are both young teams. Yes, the Jets are set to start graduating some of their young talent. Yes, the Jets may be poised for a step forward, but that is where the similarities end. These two teams are built very differently and play very different games. The biggest flaw in this storyline is the fact that the Maple Leafs' "big steps" were largely built around two things that the team has zero control over.

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Despite lacking a lot of depth and talent, the Carolina Hurricanes organization has top-end prospects in the pipeline, including the offensively talented defenseman Ryan Murphy, and a potential rising offensive star in Victor Rask. There are also several good depth defensemen who, in the near future, could solidify the Carolina blue line.

1. (1) Ryan Murphy, D, 8.0C
Drafted 1st round, 12th overall, 2011

Over the last eight months, Ryan Murphy played hockey for four different teams in two hemispheres at four levels of competition. Murphy captained the Kitchener Rangers in the OHL, and collected 49 points through 54 regular season games. He helped lead the Rangers to the Western Conference Semi-Finals, where they fell in five games to the eventual Western Conference champion London Knights. Murphy also played for Team Canada at the World Junior Championships in Ufa, Russia, but his trip there also ended in disappointment after Canada lost to the US in the semi-finals and failed to win a medal. In late February, Murphy got his first chance to play in the NHL, and saw four games of scoreless action before his emergency call up ended. After his OHL season, he joined the Charlotte Checkers in the AHL where he scored four points in eight games.

Murphy is a gifted offensive defenseman, with great vision and the passing ability to get the puck to open players. The former first-round pick lacks size and still needs extensive development of his defensive skills, but when the puck is on his stick, he makes things happen. Although he seems destined to be a powerplay specialist at the NHL level, if he can acquire the patience and determination to play a solid game in his own end, he could become a valuable top-four defenseman.

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The HERSHEY BEARS announced today that head coach Mark French will not return for the 2013-2014 season. The announcement was made by Washington Capitals Vice President/GM George McPhee and BEARS President/GM Doug Yingst.

“We commend Mark for his commitment, leadership and diligent work with the HERSHEY BEARS,” Yingst stated. “He is an excellent coach and an even better person. We wish him well in his future endeavors.”

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The Pittsburgh Penguins have signed defenseman Nick D’Agostino, to a two-year entry-level contract, it was announced today by executive vice president and general manager Ray Shero.

The deal begins with the 2013-14 season and runs through the 2014-15 campaign.

D’Agostino, 22, played collegiate hockey the past four seasons at Cornell University after originally being drafted by the Penguins in the seventh round (210th overall) of the 2008 NHL Draft.

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The San Jose Sharks have been fined $100,000 for public comments by General Manager Doug Wilson pertaining to the suspension of Sharks forward Raffi Torres, the National Hockey League announced today.

The fine was issued for violation of League Rules that prohibit formal team statements to the media during the 48-hour period following a disciplinary decision. The Rule calls for an automatic fine of $25,000. The Sharks were fined an additional $75,000 under Article 6 of the League's Constitution due to the inappropriate nature of the comments.

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The prospect pool of the Los Angeles Kings saw varying amounts of playoff game time this year, but one of the more important points is that the majority of them did in fact see the postseason. Over twenty-five skaters for the Kings saw playoff action across multiple levels.

NHL

As the Kings enter the 2013 Stanley Cup Playoffs, they do so with the title of "defending champs" hanging over their heads. Taking place in the defense of that title is defenseman Jake Muzzin and forward Tyler Toffoli. In the first round against the St. Louis Blues, Muzzin in particular was focused on by the Blues heavy hitting and heavy forecheck game. While the young defenseman certainly showed signs of inexperience and nerves, he fought through and had a decent first introduction into NHL playoff hockey. While many might focus on the struggles of Muzzin during the series, St. Louis is one of the highest puck-pressuring teams in the league and some flubs and falters should have been expected of a rookie. His good play still shined through in moments like Game 5 where he had a key clearance play that led to Slava Voynov’s overtime winner in the penultimate game of the 4-2 series. Muzzin has proven coachable and responsible for most of the season, so his presence in the playoffs is likely going to continue as the King’s move on. AHL Rookie of the Year Tyler Toffoli has also seen some ice time in the postseason on the Kings' fourth line with Kyle Clifford and Colin Fraser. While they are not the most offensive linemates, Toffoli has still found space to showcase his wrist shot on a few occasions. While his time has been limited, he is a scoring threat and it would not be surprising to see him pot a goal or two as the playoffs roll on.

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The Anaheim Ducks defenseman Francois Beauchemin suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in one of his knees and will have surgery to correct the problem.

Ducks general manager Bob Murray revealed the news on Tuesday, less than 48 hours after a disappointing Game 7 home loss to the Detroit Red Wings eliminated the Pacific Division champions from the postseason.

In addition, Murray said that forward Nick Bonino's undisclosed injury which kept him out of the lineup for a month was a torn hamstring, and that forward Ryan Getzlaf was hampered by an ankle injury sustained in early March.

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Anaheim Ducks forward Teemu Selanne told reporters he got tired in the second half of the 2012-13 season but said he had not yet made a decision if he would return for another NHL season.

Selanne had 12 goals and 24 points in 46 games, but eight in his final 28 games, and one goal in seven games against the Detroit Red Wings in the Western Conference Quarterfinals.

"The first half, I thought I had the energy," he told reporters in Anaheim. "The second half was a bit more disappointing. The schedule was tougher also. I felt, especially when [Nick] Bonino got hurt, I felt like I didn't find that chemistry I was looking for. Obviously that affected me. I started coming down a little bit, and the job was harder.

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