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National Hockey League roundup

[August 26, 2016] Aug 25 (The Sports Xchange) - The Colorado Avalanche on Thursday named Jared Bednar as the team's new head coach.

Bednar will succeed Hall of Fame goaltender Patrick Roy, who unexpectedly resigned as Colorado's coach and vice president of hockey operations two weeks ago.

The 44-year-old Bednar is coming off a successful second season as the coach of the Lake Erie Monsters of the American Hockey League, guiding the affiliate of the Columbus Blue Jackets to the Calder Cup championship.

"... I believe that Jared Bednar is the best person to lead this team behind the bench," Avalanche general manager Joe Sakic said in a statement released by the team.

"Jared's track record of success as a head coach in the American Hockey League speaks for itself and he is considered to be one of the top up-and-coming coaches in our business."

Bednar has 14 seasons of coaching experience, posting a 251-158-42 record in six years as a head coach in the AHL and ECHL.

The Avalanche went 130-92-24 in three seasons under Roy, winning the NHL Central Division title in his first campaign in 2013-14.

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The Arizona Coyotes acquired center Dave Bolland and forward Lawson Crouse from the Florida Panthers for two conditional draft picks.

Florida has been trying to move Bolland's contract -- he's owed $16.5 million over the next three seasons -- and had to include the promising 19-year-old Crouse to get the deal done.

Crouse, who was selected 11th overall in the 2015 NHL draft, has 23 goals and 62 points for Kingston of the Ontario Hockey League last season.

The Panthers received second-round and third-round picks in the deal. The second-round pick stands if Crouse is traded by Arizona this season and it changes to a third-round selection if Crouse doesn't play for the Coyotes this season.

Bolland, 30, had one goal and five points in 25 games for Florida last season and was sent to the minors in December. He has 85 career goals and 208 points in 433 NHL games with the Chicago Blackhawks, Toronto Maple Leafs and the Panthers.

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Bolland is currently rehabbing an undisclosed lower-body injury.

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Pittsburgh Penguins star Sidney Crosby will serve as Team Canada's captain at the upcoming World Cup of Hockey.

Crosby, 29, was Team Canada's captain when it won the gold medal in 2014 at the Sochi Winter Olympics. He also held the title when Team Canada won the world hockey championships last year.

Crosby has also been the captain for two Stanley Cup championship teams with the Pittsburgh Penguins. The star forward has 338 goals and 938 points in 707 career NHL games.

Team Canada also named Chicago forward Jonathan Toews and Montreal Canadiens defenseman Shea Weber as alternate captains.

Toews, 28, has been Chicago's captain for three Stanley Cup

In addition to Team Canada, the other teams participating in the World Cup of Hockey are Team USA, Team Czech Republic, Team Europe, Team Finland, Team North American, Team Russia and Team Sweden.

The event will be held in Toronto and is scheduled to conclude on Oct. 1.

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The St. Louis Blues named defenseman Alex Pietrangelo team captain.

Pietrangelo, who will be entering his seventh season with St. Louis, is the 21st captain in franchise history.

The 26-year-old Pietrangelo replaces veteran forward David Backes, who served as the Blues' captain since 2011 before signing a five-year, $30 million contract with Boston on July 1. (Editing by Andrew Both)

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