Morning Skate: Star players must get more involved in CBA negotiations to make Olympics a reality

The Bruins and Ryan Spooner wisely came to a contract agreement on a one-year, $2.825 million deal just prior to the start of Wednesday’s arbitration hearing. Don Sweeney hasn’t yet taken a B’s player to arbitration during his three years running the Black and Gold, and it could have grown unnecessarily contentious with a player like Spooner if they’d been forced to point out his flaws as a player in the uncomfortable setting of an arbitration hearing. “It’s a fair deal for both sides in our opinion,” said Spooner’s agent Murray Kuntz to CSN after the one-year contract had been agreed upon.  Now that Spooner has been signed to the one-year deal, it represents the last chance for the 25-year-old

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  Ryan Spooner, Bruins Avoid Arbitration With Reported $2.825M Contract

  New England Sports Network
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  Fresh Links: Ryan Spooner Needs GRIT, A Harvard Legacy

  Stanley Cup of Chowder

Markov leaves Canadiens to sign in KHL, may play in Olympics

Andrei Markov is leaving the NHL after 16 seasons with the Montreal Canadiens to play in Russia's Kontinental Hockey League. Markov announced his decision on a conference call Thursday. He hopes to represent Russia in the Olympics next February in South Korea, which will happen without NHL players. The 38-year-old said his top option was to return to Montreal and finish his career there. When that didn't happen, he decided to move home. Markov would have been the top free agent available, but instead he should be Russia's top defenseman at the Olympics. Russia is expected to fill its roster with KHL players, including former NHL stars Ilya Kovalchuk and Pavel Datsyuk. In 990 games, Markov had

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  Andrei Markov says Montreal rejected one-year deal, heads to KHL

  Puck Daddy
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  Canadiens part ways with Andrei Markov

  montreal.ctvnews.ca

Islanders Season in Review: John Tavares

Andy Graziano and I have begun our annual season review, taking a look back at the 2016-17 Islanders and analyzing each player's performance in a down season that saw the team miss the playoffs by one point. We will be offering two reviews per week that will take us right through to the beginning of training camp in September. Of course, there are a couple of things to sort out prior, such as free agency and potential trades that could alter the look of this franchise going forward. Contract details via nhlnumbers.com and stats courtesy of hockeyreference.com. 91 - John Tavares - Center 6-1, 211lbs 26 years old Contract: $6.000 m cap hit, signed through 2017-18 (UFA) Season: 77 GP, 28 G - 38