Colorado Avalanche: News from around the NHL May 26, 2014

Colorado is looking like a desirable destination once again.

5. Newly hired Canucks GM Jim Benning said he would like to meet with Ryan Kesler, who requested a trade. There's a lot of info flying around about the centre. Here's what agent Kurt Overhardt would confirm: that he and Kesler have met once with Canucks president Trevor Linden, who met solely with Kesler on a second occasion. Both sides agreed to have another discussion once the new GM and head coach were hired.

6. Here's what Overhardt would not address: What it would take to change Kesler's mind. Both Linden and Benning talk about the Canucks retooling on the fly, and, from what a couple sources say about Kesler, that's a critical part of the discussion. He's suffered some pretty painful losses in his career (2010 Olympics, 2011 Stanley Cup, 2014 Olympics) and badly wants to win. The agent also wouldn't talk about Kesler's list of teams (Anaheim Ducks, Chicago Blackhawks, Colorado Avalanche, Detroit Red Wings, Pittsburgh Penguins, Tampa Bay). It is believed, however, that group may change.

Another Avalanche prospect has earned his time with the Memorial cup (hopefully these guys don't run over it!).

Edmonton Oil Kings forward Edgars Kulda doesn't want to go through another NHL draft without hearing his name called. If his performance at the 2014 Memorial Cup was a final audition, he shouldn't be concerned.

Kulda had a goal and two assists to help Edmonton to a 6-3 win against the Guelph Storm on Sunday to win the national championship of Canadian junior hockey. He was named the most valuable player of the tournament.

"I kind of got lucky with that," Kulda said of winning MVP, according to The Canadian Press. "I don't know how I got it, honestly. It's a pleasurable surprise for me. I'm happy to get that one too."

Henrik Samuelsson, a 2012 first-round pick of the Phoenix Coyotes (No. 27), had two goals and three assists for the Oil Kings. Mitchell Moroz (Edmonton Oilers) had a goal and an assist, and Cody Corbett (Colorado Avalanche) and Tyler Robertson also scored for the Oil Kings. Goaltender Tristan Jarry (Pittsburgh Penguins) stopped 32 of 35 shots for the win.

Russia won the world hockey championship.

Star forwards Alex Ovechkin and Evgeni Malkin scored eight minutes apart to lead Russia to a 5-2 victory over Finland in the final of the world hockey championship on Sunday for its second title in three years.

With Russian President Vladimir Putin looking on, Ovechkin tied the game at 2-2 in the second period with a backhand and Malkin wristed a shot high into the roof of the net on a power play for the go-ahead goal. Danis Zaripov also scored a goal and added two assists.

Viktor Tikhonov and Sergei Shirokov scored a goal each.