Morning Skate: Markov's time with Canadiens likely up

Ryan Spooner and the Bruins never made it to arbitration, settling on a one-year, $2.825 million contract ahead of Wednesday’s hearing, according to a source familiar with the negotiations. Hockey Night in Canada's Elliotte Friedman was the first to report the agreement.  Spooner and his camp sought a $3.85 million deal, while the Bruins submitted $2 million as their number. Settling outside of arbitration locks in the player at an affordable number while avoiding a potentially messy process.  Though Spooner now has a contract, his future with the Bruins isn’t much clearer than it was at season’s end. The 25-year-old center was a healthy scratch for the last two games of Boston’s playoff run,

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  Avalanche reportedly settle with Nieto, avoiding arbitration

  ProHockeyTalk
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  New York Rangers, center Mika Zibanejad avoid arbitration with five-year deal

  UPI

3 KHL players suspended after testing positive for banned substances

The International Ice Hockey Federation has announced that three KHL players have been suspended after testing positive for banned substances. Here’s an excerpt from the KHL’s website: The IIHF has informed the KHL that three players – forward Danis Zaripov (then with Metallurg Magnitogorsk), defenseman Andrei Konev (Admiral Vladivostok) and defenseman Derek Smith (Medvescak Zagreb) – have tested positive for banned substances. Derek Smith tested positive for a category S6.а stimulant. Andrei Konev tested positive for a category S6.b stimulant. Danis Zaripov tested positive for a category S6.b stimulant plus category S5 diuretics and masking agents. Zapirov, who was part of Team Russia at the

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  Russian star Danis Zaripov banned two years for doping

  Puck Daddy
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  Russian Olympic hockey player Zaripov banned for doping

  The Associated Press

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