Penguins center Sidney Crosby, Minnesota Wild goaltender Josh Harding, and Boston Bruins defenseman Adam McQuaid are this year’s Masterton Trophy nominees, reports Greg Wyshynski. The award, named for Bill Masterton, goes to the player who “best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey.”

Crosby missed much of the previous two seasons with concussion issues, and there were concerns about how he would return. He had 56 points despite missing the final 12 games of the regular season with a broken jaw. His 1.56 points per game was tops in the NHL.

Harding was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in September 2012, although the news was not revealed until months later. He played in only 5 games during the regular season — 63 saves out of 73 shots (86.3%) — but put up strong performances during the playoffs after starting goalie Nick Backstrom suffered a lower body injury.

McQuaid had two surgeries in September due to Thoracic Outlet Syndrome, which was thought to be a season-ending injury. Instead, he recovered enough to join the Bruins’ opening-day roster in December. He had one goal, three assists and 60 penalty minutes in 32 games.

Sidney Crosby, Josh Harding and Adam McQuaid are your Masterton Trophy nominees #NHL—
Greg Wyshynski (@wyshynski) May 14, 2013

The Chicago Blackhawks will be without two of their players for Game 1 of their first round playoff series because of lower body injuries.

Center Dave Bolland and goaltender Ray Emery will not play against the Minnesota Wild on Tuesday because of lower-body injuries. Goaltender Corey Crawford, who went 19-5-5 with a 1.94 GAA this season, will get the nod in Game 1 and will be backed up by Henrik Karlsson. Bolland has missed this last three games and missed 13 games this season because of various injuries.

More from ESPN.com:

“We’re going to rule them out for [Tuesday,]” Blackhawks Joel Quenneville said to ESPN.com. “We’ll say day-to-day, both lower bodies. We’re hopeful they’ll be on the ice real soon. We expect them on the ice real soon.”

Emery has missed two games due to a lower-body injury, which he suffered in Wednesday’s game against the Edmonton Oilers. He also recently missed two games because of a lower-body injury. He is 17-1-0 with a 1.94 goals-against average and a .922 save percentage this season.

The NHL has suspended Kings captain Dustin Brown two games for his hit on the Wild’s Jason Pominville,  according to Lisa Dillman of the Los Angeles Times.

The suspension followed a telephone hearing with the NHL’s Department of Player Safety. Brown elbowed Pominville in the face along the boards Tuesday night. Pominville hit the ice hard and stayed down for a few moments before leaving the game appearing woozy. No penalty was called on the play.

Brown will miss Wednesday night’s game at Detroit and the regular-season finale Saturday against the Sharks.

Dustin Brown suspended for two games—
lisa dillman (@reallisa) April 24, 2013

That was from a club official btw—
lisa dillman (@reallisa) April 24, 2013

The NHL has dealt Ducks forward Corey Perry a four-game suspension for his hit on Wild forward Jason Zucker Tuesday night.

Zucker needed help off the ice after Perry dipped his shoulder and elbowed him in the head in the second period of the game. Zucker remained on the ice for about five minutes.

Perry was given a major penalty for interference and was ejected.

Zucker tweeted his thanks to concerned fans Wednesday.

Thanks to everyone for the get well texts and tweets, I appreciate the support! I am doing better today and hope to be playing soon! #MNWild—
Jason Zucker (@Jason_Zucker16) March 13, 2013

Edmonton Oilers’ left wing Taylor Hall has been suspended for two games for kneeing Minnesota Wild forward Cal Clutterbuck. Clutterbuck was helped off the ice after the incident, and is listed as day-to-day with a thigh contusion. He’ll need further tests to determine the full extent of his injury.

After the game Thursday, Hall told reporters he didn’t feel that the hit was knee-on-knee.

“It’s unfortunate,” Hall told reporters after the game. “You never want to see a guy sitting there on the ice. My first thought was I looked around to see if there was a penalty and obviously there was. I really didn’t feel it was knee on knee at all. I really felt like I got him with my hip or torso area.”

Following a 2:30 p.m. phone hearing on Friday, Hall has officially been suspended for two games.

Hall suspended for 2 games.—
Mark Spector Sports (@SportsnetSpec) February 22, 2013

Michael Rupp is on his way to Minnesota. (Elsa, Getty Images)

The Minnesota Wild will have a veteran presence at center, and the New York Rangers have made their roster a little bit younger. This, thanks to a trade announced by the Wild Monday, in which Rangers center Michael Rupp will head to Minneapolis in exchange for center Darroll Powe and right winger Nick Palmieri.

Rupp, 33, played 60 games for the Rangers last season, scoring four goals with one assist. He has zero goals and zero assists in eight games so far this season.

Powe, 27, leaves the Wild after just one season with the team in which he scored six goals and seven assists in 82 games.

Palmieri, 23, has yet to establish a foothold in the NHL, having bounced between the big league and minor league affiliates so far in his young professional career. He signed a one-year contract with the Wild in January.

Zach Parise questioned NHL owners’ desire to negotiate. (Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

A “depressed” Zach Parise, recipient of one of the offseason’s biggest free-agent deals, told Michael Russo of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune, he’s fed up with NHL owners.

Parise called the 50-50 revenue-sharing proposal released by the NHL a “publicity stunt” designed to lure fans and media to the league’s side of the current labor-lockout standoff. He questioned the owners’ dedication to negotiate after quickly passing on three proposals in 10 minutes Thursday.

“Something is not right there,” the Wild’s Zach Parise said. “It’s confusing. All these owners, maybe this was their plan the whole time, to sign all these guys to these big contracts knowing full well they’re not going to pay the value of them. To me, that doesn’t sound like good-faith negotiating, yet they keep preaching it.”

“You have all these owners signing big deals minutes before the CBA expires and then going the next day, ‘We don’t want to pay these contracts,” Parise said. “Maybe that’s how they conduct business. That just doesn’t seem right. What if us players signed a deal and said, ‘You know what, I actually want 15 percent more?’”

Free agents Zach Parise and Ryan Suter have both agreed to terms with the Minnesota Wild, giving the franchise the two biggest prizes of this summer’s NHL free agency period, according to reports on Twitter.

The Star Tribune‘s Michael Russo reported that the Wild and Suter, a top defenseman, agreed to a 13-year deal. ESPN’s Pierre LeBrun first reported the Parise deal was completed.

Zach Parise has agreed to terms with the Minnesota Wild

—
Pierre LeBrun (@Real_ESPNLeBrun) July 04, 2012

Deal is $98 million over 13 years for Parise

—
Pierre LeBrun (@Real_ESPNLeBrun) July 04, 2012

Ryan Suter also got same $98 million over 13 years with Wild

—
Pierre LeBrun (@Real_ESPNLeBrun) July 04, 2012

Rumors have floated in recent days that the two free agents have been in communication and would be a package deal. The matching contracts have led to speculation on Twitter that those rumors were correct, and the two were working in tandem.

Parise, a left wing, helped lead the New Jersey Devils to the Stanley Cup Finals last season. He scored 31 goals last season. He is a Minnesota native, which made some believe he would return home during free agency. He reportedly was pursued by many teams, including the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Suter, an All-Star defenseman with the Nashville Predators last season, is also a Midwest native. He is originally from Wisconsin. The Tennessean‘s Josh Cooper reports that Suter had an offer of $90 million over 13 years to stay with Nashville.

The Wild will certainly improve with the addition of the duo, but the team needs to make a lot of progress to become a contender. Minnesota finished 12th in the Western Conference last season.

The Northwest division was weak, with only the Vancouver Canucks making the playoffs. The $196-million spending spree shows Minnesota is serious about winning now. According to capgeek.com, the team now has the second-highest projected payroll heading into next season.

But exactly how much the acquisitions of Parise and Suter will help remains to be seen. Many seem to think the additions of Parise and Suter are enough for the Wild to make the postseason. Any further progress is uncertain, though.

Most of the NHL free agent news has centered on forward Zach Parise, but the other blue-chip free agent, defenseman Ryan Suter, is just as sought after, as evidenced by the high-eight-figure deals that he has been offered.

Sources told Tim Panaccio of CSNPhilly.com that the Flyers offered Suter and Parise identical 12-year deals worth at least $80 million and perhaps as much as $110 million.

Two reporters have the Detroit Red Wings offering Suter $90 million, although Helene St. James of the Detroit Free Press says the money is over 13 years, while Ansar Khan of MLive.com says that it’s over 12 years.

The Nashville Predators made a “very substantial” offer to retain Suter’s services, Suter’s agent told Josh Cooper of The Tennessean.

The Minnesota Wild’s offer has not been reported.

Like Parise, Suter is taking his time making a decision, with one not expected until at least Wednesday — although given the holiday, Suter might take until Thursday.

Zach Parise will announce on Monday where he will play next season, and the choice will reportedly be the New Jersey Devils, Minnesota Wild, Philadelphia Flyers, Pittsburgh Penguins or Detroit Red Wings, according to TSN Hockey Insider Bob McKenzie:

On the NHL Network on Sunday, McKenzie said that a 10-year deal worth $80 million would be a low-end offer, while the Philadelphia Flyers are reportedly offering more than $100 million to Parise.

In June, Mike Halford reported for NBCSports.com that former Wild general manager Lou Nanne had lunch with Wild owner Craig Leopold and was told that if Parise goes somewhere other than Minnesota, “you can bet he’s going for less money.”

Zach Parise's decision will not come until tomorrow. Has narrowed the field to a select group and will decide Monday.—
Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) July 01, 2012

Free agent defenseman Justin Schultz, a former Wisconsin Badger who exploited a loophole to gain his freedom from the team that drafted him, has reportedly narrowed the list of teams that he will consider down to five:

NYR are in on Justin Schultz. @DarrenDreger confirms TOR is in, @Real_ESPNLeBrun confirms OTT is in. That makes it VAN, EDM, NYR, TOR, OTT.—
Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) June 28, 2012

Schultz, an offensive defenseman, is considered by many scouts to be the best player in the world not yet in the NHL. Twenty-six of the 30 NHL teams reportedly expressed interest in his services, and many believe that his home-province Vancouver Canucks are the team to beat.

He’s expected to meet with representatives from his five finalists over the next few days, although he could sign on Sunday, the first day of free agency.

UPDATE: Bob McKenzie of TSN now reports that a sixth team could still be in the running. It was believed that Schultz would cut his list to five, but no one has ever confirmed such.

Strongly led to believe MIN, as in Wild, are in on shortlist for UFA dman Justin Schultz. That would make 6 teams we know of. Maybe more?—
Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) June 28, 2012

Josh Harding will stay with the Wild after signing a new deal to keep him in Minnesota. (George Kluckhohn, Getty Images)

The market for free agent goalkeepers just got a little thinner. The Minnesota Wild announced today that they have re-signed Josh Harding to a three-year contract. The Minneapolis Star-Tribune‘s Michael Russo reports that Harding will make $5.7 million over the duration of his contract, which amounts to a $1.9 annual hit on the NHL salary cap.

Harding played 34 games in 2011-2012 season, registering a 13-12 record with two shutouts and a 2.62 goals against average. He figured to be a prime target for many teams looking to get a backup goaltender in free agency this offseason, but preferred to stay with the Wild and remain a starter.

Zach Parise, the New Jersey Devils captain, is a free agent this off-season and the Minnesota Wild will reportedly offer him more money than any other team. (Dave Sandford)

Zach Parise, the New Jersey Devils captain who led his team to the 2012 Stanley Cup Finals, will reportedly receive the most money as a free agent this off-season in an offer from the Minnesota Wild, according to former Wild general manager, Lou Nanne.

According to NBC Sports, Nanne told KFAN Sports Radio that Wild owner Craig Leopold is going to aggressively pursue Parise this off-season and if the Devils captain signs with another team, it will certainly be for less money than what the Wild offer him:

“I had dinner with [Wild owner] Craig Leipold on Wednesday night,” Nanne said. “I know Chuck Fletcher and Leipold really want Parise, and what Craig told me is how hard he’s going to go after him, and the kind of money he’s going after him [with] — I don’t see how Parise’s not coming here.

[I] can tell you this: No one is going to outbid the Wild. So if Parise goes somewhere else, you can bet he’s going for less money. What I said is, ‘the kind of money that they’re going to offer him, he might as well just come here and own the team and in his later years, win the Stanley Cup as an owner.”

Nanne wouldnt disclose the figure that Leopold told him over dinner but did say it’s an offer that will be very hard to refuse:

“In confidence of him, I’m not going to say the figure — but it’s going to be plenty. It is going to be a lot more than I ever expected and you will find out, because once July 1st comes, you’ll be aware of the numbers.

It is going to be so substantial that I cannot see Zach Parise turning it down.”

The Wild will have an estimated $21 million to spend during this off-season and will have another $12 million come off the books in 2014 from shedding the contracts of Dany Heatley and Pierre-Marc Bouchard.

Tom Gulitti, the Devils beat reporter for The Record, tweeted on Wednesday that Parise said he wants to return to New Jersey and that there’s “no way” he signs with the New York Rangers.

Parise said he wants to come back and "no way" he signs with Rangers—
Tom Gulitti (@TGfireandice) June 13, 2012

The Minnesota Wild have signed a two-year contract extension with defenseman Clayton Stoner, according to the Associated Press.

The 27-year-old tallied one goal and four assists for five points last season for Minnesota. Stoner led the team in plus-minus rating this year with a plus-3.

Last season he also led the Wild in plus-minus rating with a plus-5.

With goaltender Niklas Backstrom out for Wednesday’s game against the Nashville Predators (personal reasons) and minor league call-up Matt Hackett unable to make the start of the game, the Minnesota Wild have signed 51-year-old Paul Deutsch to back up starter Josh Harding.

Deutsch runs a printing business in Richfield, Minnesota and is the friend of former assistant coach Mike Ramsey, who used to fill in at Wild practices when goaltenders were injured, according to Michael Russo of the Star-Tribune.

According to TSN, Deutsch has a ticket for Wednesday night’s game and will return to his seat once Hackett arrives at the arena.