The Vancouver Canucks are facing 50-1 odds of becoming the next Stanley Cup champions in 2017.

2017 Stanley Cup odds, courtesy Bodog. Sabres and Leafs priced out as the longest shots: pic.twitter.com/SQP48NOkSb

— Thomas Drance (@ThomasDrance) June 13, 2016

On Sunday, Nick Bonino, Mike Sullivan, Phil Kessel and Justin Schultz all overcame their status as misfit toys to reach hockey's hallowed ground as the Pittsburgh Penguins defeated the San Jose Sharks 3-1, winning the 2016 Stanley Cup in six games.

Talk about shutting down the opposition: the Sharks got two shots in the third period, when they were down by just one goal until Patric Hornqvist's empty-netter sealed the result with 1:02 left on the clock. After being disappointed in front of their home fans on Thursday, Pittsburgh was not letting a second opportunity slip away.

I really like this blog post from Pittsburgh radio broadcaster Mark Madden, focusing on how Bonino and defenceman Ian Cole turned their seasons around.

The whole thing is worth a read, but here's how it boils down:

Center Nick Bonino had 13 points in his first 50 games this season. He was rotten. “Can’t play a lick Nick.”

But Evgeni Malkin got hurt. Bonino got put between wingers Carl Hagelin and Phil Kessel. Bonino finished with nine goals and 25 assists in his last 37 games, including four goals and 14 assists in 24 playoff games. He had 50 blocks in the postseason, leading all forwards. Bonino scored the OT series-winner in Game 6 vs. Washington, and the game-winner in Game 1 against San Jose with 2:33 left in regulation. He won a plethora of huge face-offs.

If Bonino doesn’t do all that, the Penguins don’t win the Stanley Cup. He resurrected his season, and was vital to the Pens’ playoff effort.

.....

Bonino and Cole have never played that well before, and may never play that well again. But they did their absolute best when the money was on the table, and get their names engraved as a result.

That’s how you win the Stanley Cup.

After enduring wins by the Blackhawks, Kings and Bruins over the past six years, I found myself really enjoying the Penguins' celebration last night. In addition to all the traded players who got their shots at redemption, so many guys on that team have endured so much, health-wise—Pascal Dupuis' blood clots, Kris Letang's heart problems and Olli Maatta's cancer, just to name a few of the big ones.

I also enjoyed the way Hockey Night in Canada signed off after all the postgame coverage, with this moving playoff montage.

Hockey Night in Canada's closing montage of the 2016 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Epic.https://t.co/XPqn3oZ3VL

— Brady Trettenero (@BradyTrett) June 13, 2016

Up next—the buyout window opens this Wednesday, June 15, and will stretch through to June 30. There will be plenty of talk about whether Alex Burrows and/or Chris Higgins will be bought out. If they are, I expect it to happen closer to the end of the window—probably after the draft and once the team has an idea of what to expect when free agency begins on July 1.

The Canucks will be allowed to talk to impending unrestricted free agents up to six days before the signing period begins, so those conversations could commence as early as June 25—the second day of the draft.

Here's a reminder from 2014 from Michael Russo of the Minneapolis Star Tribune about what can and can't be discussed during that Interview Period:

Please be advised that clubs are permitted to discuss the potential interest in as well as general parameters of a potential future contractual relationship with another club’s pending RFA or UFA during the applicable interview periods. The clubs may not enter any agreements or make any binding offers, promises, … oral or written concerning the terms of a potential SPC (standard players contract) with another club’s pending RFA or UFA.

Russo says that "general parameters" *can* include numbers. His example: "I’ll be looking for a seven-year deal at around $5 million annually." Assuming that the same rules hold true this year, Jim Benning and his group should be able to get a good idea of whether or not they'll need cap space to sign one of this year's big free-agent prizes before deciding whether or not to buy out Burrows and/or Higgins.

After an entire year of speculating over the status of Steven Stamkos, his future should be locked down within the next three weeks. My expectation remains that they'll find a way for him to stay in Tampa Bay.

On the coaching front, the St. Louis Blues made their next move today, signing Mike Yeo as an associate coach for next season with the promise that he'll take over for Ken Hitchcock in 2017-18, after Hitch leaves the team. That leaves Calgary and Anaheim still waiting to make moves.

Gulutzan apparently one of 3 finalists for #Flames job. Randy Carlyle is another. Decision expected in next day or two. #CanucksOn1040

— Matthew Sekeres (@mattsekeres) June 13, 2016

Sekeres adds that Gulutzan has interviewed at least twice for the job, and that the third candidate is Washington assistant coach Todd Reirden.

Nothing new out of Anaheim yet. It's believed that Travis Green is still very much in the mix for that job.

To close out today, congrats to 18-year-old Brooke Henderson on her first LPGA title, won with a birdie on the first playoff hole in Sunday's final round at the women's PGA championship.

Wow! I am Blessed to add my name to this trophy! Figured this was the proper celebration pic! #StanleyCup pic.twitter.com/BmO7tPuhzr

— Brooke Henderson (@BrookeHenderson) June 13, 2016

And finally, I liked what Ed Willes wrote about Gordie Howe in his Monday Morning Musings in The Province:

Think of the qualities that we like to think epitomize Canadians. Humility is one. Groundedness is another. There's stoicism; toughness, both of body and spirit; kindness and good humour.

Now think about Howe. He embodies every of those qualities, which is what made him such a beloved figure in this country, but it also went deeper than that.

He was born on a farm in a place, Floral, Sask., which barely exists now, and he was raised during the Depression. He got his first pair of skates when a neighbour, who'd fallen on hard times, sold a bag of household goods to his mother. He was sickly as a child and had dyslexia. Yes, despite all those obstacles, he grew into the greatest hockey player of his generation and one of the greatest of all time.

In short, Howe is the ultimate Canadian hero and we'd say mythic hero but he wasn't the product of a legend. He was real and he was ours; a son of the West and a man for all Canadians. We looked at him and said, that's what we want to be.

This is Gordie's legacy. The man may have passed away on Friday. The hero will live on.

Howe's visitation is being held on Tuesday at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit, and his funeral is on Wednesday. According to the Associated Press, both events are open to the public.

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