Wade Belak, an enforcer who had played with five NHL teams before retiring in March, was found dead Wednesday in Toronto. Toronto police spokesman Tony Vella said officers found a man dead when called at 1:40 p.m. ET Wednesday at a hotel and condo complex. Vella said "foul play is not suspected in the ongoing investigation" into Belak's death. The 35-year-old Belak was scheduled to work as a sideline reporter on Predators television broadcasts this upcoming season.

Trying to reduce head injuries, the Ontario Hockey League is requiring players to wear soft cap shoulder and elbow pads, according to an ESPN.com report on Wednesday. The OHL's board of governors also vowed to hand out more punishment to players who repeatedly get caught throwing checks to the head. The major junior league's regular season starts Sept. 21.

Bruins GM Peter Chiarelli said Wednesday he does not expect Marc Savard to play this season and doubts the center will ever play hockey again. "Marc Savard won't play this year," Chiarelli told the Boston Globe. "Nothing has changed in our monitoring. He'll be examined and he'll be declared unfit to play."

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins wore a new No. 93 Oilers sweater at the NHLPA’s rookie showcase Tuesday, hoping to get a full-time job with the team. The 18-year-old center was chosen No. 1 overall by the Oilers at the draft in June, and he’s intent on doing everything he can to play in the NHL. He’ll take part in the Oilers rookie tournament before training camp opens next month.

The Blue Jackets have signed defenseman Fedor Tyutin to a six-year contract extension, club Executive Vice President of Hockey Operations and GM Scott Howson announced today. Tyutin, 28, has registered 37 goals and 122 assists for 159 points with 321 penalty minutes in 492 career games with Columbus and the New York Rangers during his seven NHL seasons. He has collected 22-71-93 and 162 penalty minutes in 242 career games with the Blue Jackets, ranking second in club history among defensemen in goals, assists and points and fourth in games played. “Fedor has been our top defenseman since we acquired him from the New York Rangers in 2008,” said Howson. “We are very pleased get him signed to this long-term deal.”

Negotiations between the Kings and defenseman Drew Doughty have resumed after more than a month of the two sides not speaking, according to a report in the Los Angeles Times.

The Kings have high hopes heading into the season, but they'll need to reach a deal with defenseman Drew Doughty to have their best chance at success. The two sides haven't made any progress recently. As training camp rapidly approaches, the possibility of Doughty missing actual playing time is becoming more and more real.

The Stanley Cup has a new dent in it after toppling from a table in Newfoundland in the care of former Bruin Michael Ryder. The trophy was being readied for a helicopter flight from St. John's to Bonavista, the hometown of Ryder, when it fell over.

The Flyers and forward James van Riemsdyk have agreed to a multiyear extension, the team and player announced Tuesday on their respective Twitter accounts. Van Riemsdyk, 22, was scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent after the season. "Excited to sign a 6 year extension with the @NHLFlyers, love playing in Philly," van Riemsdyk tweeted. The extension is for $25.5M over six years, with an annual cap hit of $4.25M, a source told ESPN.com.

The Sabres will work hard to trade away salaries so they can get under the salary cap. However, if they can't get something done, it appears the Sabres are willing to stash big cap hits in the minors. Brad Boyes could be one of those players kept in the minors.