Though the NHL's general managers didn't have an interest in devising major rule changes when they met six months ago in Boca Raton, Fla., they did come up with a plan to create subtle changes geared toward increasing offense.

After the majority of their recommended changes were approved by the NHL Competition Committee, the NHL Board of Governors and the National Hockey League Players' Association's Executive Board, the League announced the changes for the 2014-15 season Thursday.

Not surprisingly, they are similar, and in many cases the exact same, as the ideas the GMs discussed, debated and recommended six months ago. And yes, the majority of the changes have been written into the rulebook with the underlying goal of increasing offense.

Here are six examples:

Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Morgan Rielly winced when Montreal Canadiens foe Max Pacioretty, using his own likeness on NHL 15, scored against him as the two demonstrated the soon-to-be-released game during an event earlier this month at MasterCard Centre.

"Ouch!" Rielly said. "I'm going to hear about that one from Randy between periods."

A little humor to ease the tension.

Randy, of course, is Toronto Maple Leafs coach Randy Carlyle; a demanding, no-nonsense taskmaster who smiles and jokes in public but is just a little more direct behind closed doors.

Kyle Okposo

Right Wing - NYI

GOALS: 27 | ASST: 42 | PTS: 69
SOG: 195 | +/-: -9

The 26-year-old, who battled inconsistency in prior seasons, found chemistry on the top line alongside center John Tavares and led the Islanders with 69 points (27 goals, 42 assists) in 71 games. He finished in the NHL top 20 in scoring, though he missed the final 10 games of the season with a lower-body injury.

Okposo spent the summer in his native Minnesota but returned to New York recently and skated at the Islanders practice facility on Wednesday. The power forward is aiming to build off his career season with hopes of helping the Islanders qualify for the Stanley Cup Playoffs after finishing 14th in the Eastern Conference.

Establishing Saku Koivu's legacy in the NHL is a tricky endeavor. It is not simply defined by goals and assists, or championships.

Koivu, who announced his retirement Wednesday after 18 NHL seasons with the Montreal Canadiens and the Anaheim Ducks, leaves the game as one of its most highly respected players, yet one that never reached truly elite status in the League, nor does he have his name on the Stanley Cup.

In a sense, it is unfortunate that Koivu will always be most remembered for the courageous battle he fought, and won, against non-Hodgkin's lymphoma during the 2001-02 season. Koivu did so much more than beat cancer over the course of his career.

Nashville Predators center Mike Ribeiro was pleased to see a familiar face when he reported early to participate in informal team skates on Tuesday. It turns out another new arrival, left wing James Neal, had already been in town for a few days.

Mike Ribeiro

Center - NSH

GOALS: 16 | ASST: 31 | PTS: 47
SOG: 110 | +/-: -13

"We played before, we're friends since then. It will just be a matter of practicing together and talking," Ribeiro told the Predators website. "I'm sure he's learned some stuff since his first year in the League. It's just getting back that chemistry. You do that by practicing together and trying to find what he likes and what I like to do."

Neal has scored at least 20 goals in each of his six NHL seasons and could potentially help Ribeiro bounce back from a disappointing season with the Coyotes. The veteran center scored 16 goals and 47 points in 80 games before being bought out one season into a four-year, $22 million contract he signed in 2013.

NEWARK, N.J. -- As Montreal Canadiens defenseman P.K. Subban made the rounds from student to student at Newark Science Park High School on Tuesday, he started thinking about how big of an impact education has had on his life and his family.

"My family has a very big educational background," Subban said. "My dad worked in the Toronto District School Board for over 30 years as a principal. My sisters are both teachers. My sister's husband is a teacher. Working with kids and the school board has been something my family has been doing for a long time."

Now Subban will get his chance to do the same through the Future Goals Digital Education Program, a joint initiative between the National Hockey League and National Hockey League Players' Association.

Henrik Lundqvist

Goalie - NYR

RECORD: 33-24-5
GAA: 2.36 | SVP: .920

After participating in the annual NHL Player Media Tour earlier in the day, Lundqvist was a guest on "Late Show with David Letterman" on CBS. The host started the segment by running off Lundqvist's accomplishments with the Rangers, highlighted by becoming the first goaltender in history to win five Game 7s in his career.

Lundqvist is the only goaltender to win at least 30 games in each of his first seven NHL seasons. He won the Vezina Trophy as the League's top goaltender in 2012 and is tops on the Rangers' list in wins (309) and shutouts (50). New York lost to the Los Angeles Kings in five games in the Cup Final in June.

"I could never … if I lived to be 1,000, [I] could never do what this guy does," Letterman said as he introduced Lundqvist to the audience. "Who can do what this guy does? I have nothing but endless admiration for him."

The Edmonton Oilers had nearly 30 players and prospects on ice Monday for an informal skate at Millennium Place at Sherwood Park. The big turnout delighted veteran forward David Perron, who was among those on the ice.

"We've been done playing since April and it's something we're trying to change," Perron told the Oilers website. "With more and more teams, their veteran guys are showing up earlier and earlier so as soon as camp starts they are ready to go. Three days after camp starts I think we have an exhibition game so it's something where we have to be as ready as possible.

David Perron

Left Wing - EDM

GOALS: 28 | ASST: 29 | PTS: 57
SOG: 220 | +/-: -16

Perron tied Jordan Eberle for the team lead with 28 goals but had to pass on an invitation to play for Canada at the World Championships in May because of a hip injury. He said he was able to deal with the injury during the summer and is ready to go as camp approaches.

The Toronto Maple Leafs will be different; there's no doubt about that. The question is whether they will be better.

One year after they threw a scare into the Boston Bruins by taking them to seven games in the opening round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, the Maple Leafs took a nosedive. Toronto lost its final four games of the 2013-14 season and 13 of its last 18, tumbling to 12th in the Eastern Conference and missing the postseason for the eighth time in nine seasons.

Changes were in order. Brendan Shanahan was hired as team president and wasted little time putting his stamp on the new-look Maple Leafs.

It started behind the bench; coach Randy Carlyle got a two-year contract extension, but assistant coaches Scott Gordon, Dave Farrish and Greg Cronin were released. The changes spread to the front office with the firing of vice president of hockey operations Dave Poulin and VP and assistant general manager Claude Loiselle.

The New York Islanders' summer was marked by a number of roster moves, most notably among the forwards and in goal. Some of those new additions participated in informal skates at Islanders Iceworks on Monday, and they're excited to begin preparing for the new season; it's the team's last at Nassau Coliseum before moving to Barclays Center in Brooklyn in 2015.

"It looks like a good place to play. I feel just excited. I still am a little bit tired after the plane. I moved from California. We will see. To me, first day is always hard," center Mikhail Grabovski said. "Personally, I'm just happy to find a good team and sign a long deal so I can play and relax. A great city, a great chance to play next year in a new stadium. I'm happy."

Grabovski was one of the Islanders' marquee acquisitions, signing with New York on the same day as good friend Nikolai Kulemin. The two forwards enjoyed great success playing together with the Toronto Maple Leafs and the hope is they can rekindle that chemistry with their new team.