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.

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.

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 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 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.

Red Wings defenseman Niklas Kronwall will be teammates with Nicklas Lidstrom for at least one more season. However, there has already been talk of Kronwall's role after the future Hall of Famer retires. Kronwall says he plans on trying to play like Lidstrom -- in other words, being the guy who makes the "simple play."

The Red Wings seem fine with top prospect Teemu Pulkkinen's absence from summer development camp and prospect tournaments. "[It] has something to do with the fact that their Finnish scout, Ari Vouri, is an assistant GM for Pulkkinen's team, Jokerit Helsinki of the SM-Liiga," writes The Malik Report. Detroit drafted Pulkkinen with the 111th pick last year.

Cody Hodgson has suffered several setbacks in his journey to make the NHL, but it looks like he's serious about making the Canucks this fall. "It's been the best summer in a long time for me and I'm coming in as ready as I can be to help regardless of the roster, what positions are open or not or what the coach is thinking," he said. There were been rumors that Hodgson could be dealt, but Hodgson said he wants to stay put.

The Blues haven't been able to land a big-time forward in recent seasons, but they may have one developing on their roster. Patrik Berglund is a good candidate to score 30 goals as he has begun to show signs of improvement. He had a strong third year with 52 points last season, which came after a big sophomore slump. As Berglund says, "This year, it was more play, more maturity, bigger, stronger, trying to play and show everyone that I'm here to stay."