NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – June 22, 2026

by | Jun 22, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – June 22, 2026

The fallout from the Panthers acquiring Brady Tkachuk, the Kraken re-signed Bobby McMann, the Oilers inked Jason Dickinson to an extension, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

OTTAWA SUN: Bruce Garrioch reports the Senators decided to trade Brady Tkachuk to the Florida Panthers after the 26-year-old winger informed them that he wouldn’t re-sign with them. They received three first-round picks and a second-rounder from the Panthers on Sunday.

Tkachuk is under contract through 2027-28 with an average annual value of $8.2 million and a full no-movement clause. The earliest the Senators could’ve signed him to an extension was July 1, 2027. However, he told general manager Steve Staios that he had no plans to sign an extension when the two met last month. Tkachuk publicly denied the trade speculation that swirled around him this year, but privately, he told teammates he wouldn’t be returning after his contract expired.

Ottawa Senators trade Brady Tkachuk to the Florida Panthers. (NHL Images).

Staios had been adamant that he wasn’t trading Tkachuk, but his hand was now forced. The winger was willing to waive his NMC for the Carolina Hurricanes, Minnesota Wild, Vegas Golden Knights, and the Panthers. However, it was apparent when they explored the market that the Panthers would be the only acceptable destination for the Tkachuk camp, reuniting him with his brother, Matthew Tkachuk.

The Wild reportedly made a hard push, but Zito ultimately made the better offer, sending the Senators assets that could be used as trade chips. Garrioch claimed the Senators tried to get Carter Verhaeghe or Anton Lundell as part of the return, but the Panthers wouldn’t budge.

Staios was seeking a top-six winger, a top-four right-side defenseman and a backup goaltender. Now, he needs to add a suitable replacement for Tkachuk to the mix.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Senators hold three first-round picks (No. 9, 25, and 32) in the upcoming NHL Draft. He could retain one or more of them, but it wouldn’t be shocking if he uses them to address one or two of his current roster needs, preferably with established players who are in the mid-to-late twenties.

THE ATHLETIC: Mark Lazerus believes the Tkachuk trade is the latest in a trend of players with term remaining on their contracts forcing trades to preferred destinations. That list includes Quinn Hughes to the Minnesota Wild, while Dylan Larkin of the Detroit Red Wings and Darnell Nurse of the Edmonton Oilers recently made trade requests.

Lazerus also pointed out that it’s not about going to no-tax states. First and foremost, the players want to join teams where they believe they have a chance to win. Going to cities where the spotlight isn’t as glaring is another attraction.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Lazerus believes the rising salary cap and lack of depth in the free-agent market could lead to more notable stars becoming available in the trade market by leveraging moves to landing spots of their choosing, especially if they have no-trade protection. Most of those moves could involve players on teams struggling to build or maintain a contender.

The addition of Tkachuk gives the Panthers one of the best groups of top-nine forwards in the league.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Panthers’ top nine features Aleksander Barkov centering wingers Sam Reinhart and Carter Verhaeghe, Sam Bennett as the second-line center between the Tkachuk brothers, with Anton Lundell between Brad Marchand and Eetu Luostarinen.

Panthers GM Bill Zito probably isn’t done making moves over the next couple of weeks. He must replace or re-sign goaltenders Sergei Bobrovsky and Daniil Tarasov. They have over $7 million in cap space, with 19 roster players signed for next season.

THE SEATTLE TIMES: On the same day the Kraken acquired winger Mackie Samoskevich from the Florida Panthers, they announced that winger Bobby McMann has signed a six-year contract with an AAV of $5.75 million.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Kraken re-signed the 30-year-old McMann because they’re desperate for offense. The late-blooming winger scored 20 goals last season with the Toronto Maple Leafs and had a career-high 29 goals in 79 games this season with the Leafs and Kraken, including 10 goals in 18 games with the latter.

Samoskevich was shipped to the Kraken yesterday in exchange for the 25th overall pick in this year’s draft and a conditional second-rounder in 2027. The Panthers used that first-rounder as part of the return to Ottawa for Tkachuk.

The 23-year-old Samoskevich saw checking-line duty with the Panthers, but he could see a larger role with the Kraken. He’s a restricted free agent coming off his entry-level contract and should be an affordable re-signing. Samoskevich is also a former teammate of Kraken center Matty Beniers at the University of Michigan. 

EDMONTON JOURNAL: The Oilers signed center Jason Dickinson to a five-year contract with an AAV of $4 million. Dickinson, 30, was slated to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1. The Oilers acquired him before the March trade deadline.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Jim Matheson of the Journal explained that the Oilers were pleased with Dickinson’s defensive play and how well he fit into their dressing room following his acquisition from the Chicago Blackhawks.

It’s an affordable re-signing by the Oilers for a reliable third-line center. However, Matheson pointed out that they now have $10.6 million remaining with 18 players under contract. It won’t leave much room to re-sign pending UFA blueliner Connor Murphy, find a replacement or a backup for starting goalie Tristan Jarry, and fit in whatever player they get whenever they take action on Darnell Nurse’s trade request.

DAILY FACEOFF: The New York Rangers signed goalie Dylan Garand to a two-year contract worth $875K per season at the NHL level. The first year of the deal is two-way, while the second is one-way.

COLORADO HOCKEY NOW: The ECHL’s New Mexico Goatheads have hired Zack Stortini as their head coach. Stortini, a former NHL player, spent the past four seasons as an assistant coach with the AHL’s Tucson Roadrunners.

The Goatheads are the ECHL affiliate of the Avalanche.










Panthers to Acquire Brady Tkachuk From Senators, Trade Mackie Samoskevich to Kraken

by | Jun 21, 2026

Panthers to Acquire Brady Tkachuk From Senators, Trade Mackie Samoskevich to Kraken

TSN’s Pierre LeBrun reports the Ottawa Senators are close to trading Brady Tkachuk to the Florida Panthers.

Ottawa Senators trade Brady Tkachuk to the Florida Panthers. (NHL Images).

LeBrun believes the Senators will receive three first-round draft picks plus a second-round pick if the deal is finalized.

Earlier in the day, the Panthers traded forward Mackie Samoskevich to the Seattle Kraken in exchange for the No. 25 pick in the upcoming 2026 NHL Draft and a conditional second-round pick in 2027.

Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reports the picks are the No. 9 and 25 selections in this year’s draft, a first-rounder in 2029, and a second-rounder in 2030. 

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Panthers general manager Bill Zito appeared to be setting the stage for something when he shipped out Samoskevich and got back that first-round pick as part of the return. Considering the Panthers are built to win now, it was apparent that he would use that pick, along with his own first in this year’s draft, as bait to bring in an established top-six forward.

The Senators now have three picks in the first round of this year’s draft, as they also held the 32nd overall selection. It’ll be interesting to see what GM Steve Staios intends to do with them. He’s either preparing for a roster retool or rebuild, or he’ll use them as bait to find a suitable replacement for Tkachuk.

Whatever Staios does, this feels like the end of an era in Ottawa. Tkachuk was the face of the Senators going back to when he was chosen fourth overall in the 2018 Draft. For the past eight seasons, he was their leader, part of the young group of promising players expected to turn the Senators into Stanley Cup contenders.

The Senators made the playoffs in each of the last two seasons, but they were eliminated from the first round both times. Meanwhile, trade rumors dogged Tkachuk throughout those seasons. Despite his denials and those of Staios, the speculation never went away, with a lot of it claiming he’d like to one day join his brother, Matthew, on the Panthers.

So now, the Tkachuk brothers are reunited in Florida at last. Having those two together could boost the Panthers’ hopes of staging another run at the Stanley Cup, provided they avoid another rash of injuries to their core players.

With Brady’s $8.205 million AAV through 2027-28 added to the Panthers’ ledger, PuckPedia indicates they have just over $7 million in projected cap space for next season, with 19 active roster players signed.

That won’t leave enough to re-sign or replace goaltenders Sergei Bobrovsky and Daniil Tarasov, meaning Zito likely isn’t done making moves, either through more trades or free agency.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – June 21, 2026

by | Jun 21, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – June 21, 2026

The Hurricanes celebrate their Stanley Cup championship with a record-setting parade in Raleigh, the latest on Stars forwards Jason Robertson and Jamie Benn, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

NHL.COM/THE NEWS & OBSERVER: An estimated record-setting crowd of over 180,000 people turned out in downtown Raleigh, North Carolina, to watch the Carolina Hurricanes Stanley Cup parade on Saturday.

The parade began at 11 am ET with the team and their families perched on the open-top decks of double-decker buses, arriving at City Plaza an hour later, where the players, general manager Eric Tulsky, and head coach Rod Brind’Amour took turns speaking to the fans.

Tulsky took care of a piece of business during the gathering, announcing the signing of winger Nicolas Deslauriers to a two-year contract extension.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Congratulations again to the Hurricanes and their fans for their well-deserved championship run.

THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS: Stars general manager Jim Nill appeared on Sportsradio 96.7 FM/1310 The Ticket (KTCK-AM) on Saturday.

Among the topics Nill talked about were Jason Robertson’s contract negotiations and the future of team captain Jamie Benn.

Nill said the club’s priority remains signing Robertson to an extension. He indicated that the discussions continue, but there are currently no real deadlines.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Robertson’s contract status and the ongoing negotiations have drawn considerable interest around the league. The outcome could have far-reaching consequences for the Stars.

Since his debut in 2020-21, Robertson has been among the league’s highest-scoring forwards. He sits 11th overall with 489 points in 453 games, making him the highest-scoring member of the Stars during this period.

Robertson is completing a four-year contract with an average annual value of $7.75 million. He’s a restricted free agent with arbitration rights this summer, and is a year away from being eligible for unrestricted free-agent status.

It’s rumored that Robertson could seek a deal comparable to teammate Mikko Rantanen’s eight-year contract ($12 million AAV). The Stars being in a no-tax state could help Nill get him signed to a new deal. However, they currently have $10.139 million, meaning they’ll have to make a cost-cutting trade or two to free up sufficient room to re-sign him.

Nill was asked about the possibility of another team taking advantage of the Stars’ limited cap space to sign forward Mavrik Bourque to an offer sheet. He acknowledged the scenario, adding that they’re also trying to get Bourque signed. Nill claimed they’ve got “different plans in place” for all these scenarios.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Bourque is completing a one-year contract with a cap hit of $950,000. Like Robertson, he has arbitration rights. He’s coming off his sophomore season, scoring 20 goals and 21 assists for 41 points. Some observers believe he could flourish with an expanded role, making him a prime target for an offer sheet, provided he’s willing to sign one.

Nill said he intends to meet with team captain Jamie Benn after the upcoming NHL draft to see if he’s willing to return for another season.

“Like I said, we want him back,” Nill said. “He’s a big part of our team and I don’t see any, unless he thinks it’s time (to retire), then we’ll have to look at different directions.”

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Benn, 36, completed a one-year, bonus-laden contract with a $1 million base salary and a $3 million performance bonus. This season saw his lowest production in a non-lockout, non-COVID season, with 36 points in 60 games.

DAILY FACEOFF: The Utah Mammoth have reportedly hired former Vancouver Canucks head coach Adam Foote as an assistant coach.

NHL.COM: The Seattle Kraken hired former defenseman Justin Schultz in a player development role. Schultz spent 12 seasons in the NHL, spending his final two seasons with the Kraken from 2022-23 to 2023-24.

TORONTO SUN: The Maple Leafs could be tapping into the Calder Cup-winning Marlies roster for help next season. Among them could be forwards Easton Cowan and Jacob Quillan, defenseman Ben Danford, and goaltender (and playoff MVP) Artur Akhtyamov.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – June 20, 2026

by | Jun 20, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – June 20, 2026

The latest on Sabres winger Zach Benson, Ron Francis returns to the Penguins, the Hurricanes’ Stanley Cup win could benefit youth hockey in Carolina, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

ESPN’s Kevin Weekes reports sources tell him the Buffalo Sabres are working on a new contract for winger Zach Benson that could be comparable to the deal they signed with winger Josh Doan.

Buffalo Sabres forward Zach Benson (NHL Images

Benson, 21, is coming off his entry-level contract. He netted a career-best 43 points in 65 games this season, along with five goals and nine points in 13 games.

Doan, 24, signed a seven-year contract extension with the Sabres in January worth an average annual value of $6.95 million.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Benson garnered plenty of attention with his performance in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. He’s a sparkplug player who gave his teammates a jolt of energy and timely offense when needed most.

Benson’s pesky ways also got under his opponents’ skin. His slewfoot of Bruins defenseman Charlie McAvoy in their first-round series showed a level of recklessness that could get him into trouble if he continues with those antics. He’ll need to keep his head on a swivel the next time those two clubs face each other.

Nevertheless, Benson emerged this season as an invaluable part of the Sabres’ roster. He’ll be crucial to their efforts to build on this season’s success.

PITTSBURGH HOCKEY NOW: Ron Francis has returned to the Penguins as the Special Advisor, Hockey Operations to president of hockey ops and general manager Kyle Dubas.

Francis won two Stanley Cups with the Penguins as a player from 1991 to 1998. He recently left the Seattle Kraken after spending six years in front-office roles, mostly as their general manager.

THE NEWS & OBSERVER: The Carolina Hurricanes’ Stanley Cup championship run this season could provide a boost to local youth hockey as their first Cup run did twenty years ago.

DAILY FACEOFF: The Toronto Marlies are the AHL’s Calder Cup champions after defeating the Chicago Wolves 4-3 in Game 5 of the Cup Final. It’s the second time they’ve won the AHL championship in eight years.

TORONTO SUN: Maple Leafs forward Easton Cowan finished third among the postseason scorers with 18 points, including three assists in the Cup-clinching game.

The Marlies also had the sweater of the late Maple Leafs prospect Radim Amirov in their Calder Cup championship photo. His No. 72 jersey had been hanging in their dressing room and practice facility this season. Amirov was the Leafs’ first-round pick in 2020. He passed away in 2023 from a brain tumor.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Congratulations to the Marlies for their Calder Cup championship. It was also a classy gesture on their part to honor Amirov’s memory.

Some folks on social media tried to credit the Marlies’ success to newly-hired Maple Leafs general manager John Chayka, but he had nothing to do with it. This team was built by Maple Leafs assistant GM (and Marlies general manager) Ryan Hardy, under the supervision of former Leafs GM Brad Treliving.

RATINGS.ORG: Marco D’Amico profiled prospect defenseman Xavier Villeneuve of the QMJHL’s Blainville-Boisbriand Armada. He will be playing for Boston University next season.

The 5’11, 162-pound Villeneuve’s size has dropped him in the overall prospect rankings. However, his style of play has drawn comparisons to Minnesota Wild defenseman Quinn Hughes and Montreal Canadiens blueliner Lane Hutson.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Hutson’s size was the reason why he dropped to the second round in the 2022 draft, where the Montreal Canadiens selected him. Considering how Hutson has become a star in Montreal, teams seeking a puck-moving defenseman could keep that in mind to avoid making the same mistake with Villeneuve.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – June 19, 2026

by | Jun 19, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – June 19, 2026

Maple Leafs acquire Darren Raddysh, Mike Babcock cleared to join the Oilers, Jonathan Toews to announce his retirement, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

TSN: reports the Toronto Maple Leafs have acquired defenseman Darren Raddysh from the Tampa Bay Lightning in a sign-and-trade deal.

Toronto Maple Leafs acquire Darren Raddysh from the Tampa Bay Lightning (NHL Images).

Raddysh’s new contract, which will go into effect on July 1, is an eight-year deal worth an average annual value above $8 million. The Lightning are believed to be receiving a late-round pick.

The 30-year-old blueliner had 22 goals, 48 assists, 70 points, along with a plus-minus of plus-21 while averaging 22:42 of ice time per game. All of those stats were career highs.

Raddysh is completing a two-year contract with an average annual value of $975,000.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Raddysh had back-to-back 30-plus point seasons before his breakout performance this season, which was largely due to his filling in for sidelined Lightning star Victor Hedman, especially on the power play.

This is the biggest move thus far by John Chayka, the Maple Leafs’ new general manager. It will mollify his critics, who weren’t impressed with his hiring of Jim Hiller as head coach and his trading away popular goalie Joseph Woll to the Philadelphia Flyers.

It remains to be seen if Raddysh can replicate his 70-point performance on the Maple Leafs. If he can, he’ll provide a big boost to their offense while providing much-needed puck-moving skill on the right side of their blueline. If he can’t, his contract will become a millstone that Chayka’s critics will happily hang around his neck.

EDMONTON JOURNAL: The NHL completed its investigation into the reasons behind coach Mike Babcock’s brief tenure with the Columbus Blue Jackets. It ruled that, “even in a light least favorable to Mr. Babcock, there is no current basis to restrict his employment in the League.”

The decision clears the way for Babcock to be hired as head coach of the Oilers.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: This decision received an overwhelmingly negative response from pundits and fans on social media, but the Oilers aren’t concerned with the public’s reaction. Everyone in the franchise, from the team owner to management to the players, reportedly wants to bring in Babcock as their next head coach.

If they hire Babcock as expected, it feels like a desperation move by a club that came oh-so-close to winning the Stanley Cup two years ago but declined significantly this season as their roster weaknesses worsened.

Should Babcock somehow guide this team to the Stanley Cup despite its obvious roster weaknesses (including the glaring hole in net), he’ll be praised as a genius. If it doesn’t work (especially if Babcock’s reputation as a bully dominates headlines again), it could hasten the demise of the Connor McDavid-Leon Draisaitl era in Edmonton.

THE WINNIPEG SUN: Jonathan Toews is expected to announce his retirement on Friday. The 38-year-old center staged a comeback with the Jets this season after being sidelined for two seasons by health issues.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It was clear that age and the time away from the game had taken their toll on Toews. He played all 82 games, but his 11 goals and 18 assists for 29 points were career lows as he was unable to fill the Jets’ second-line center position.

Nevertheless, Toews’ 15 seasons with the Chicago Blackhawks ensure that he’ll be a first-ballot inductee into the Hockey Hall of Fame. He captained them to three Stanley Cups, won the Conn Smythe Trophy in 2010, the Selke Trophy in 2012-13, and the Mark Messier Leadership Award in 2014-15.

Toews finishes with 912 points in 1,149 regular-season games, and 119 points in 137 postseason contests.

TSN: The Boston Bruins will retire Patrice Bergeron’s No. 37 during a pregame ceremony next season.

Bergeron spent the entirety of his 19-season NHL career with the Bruins from 2003-04 to 2022-23. He served as team captain during his final three seasons, and won the Selke Trophy as the top defensive forward a league-record six times. Bergeron also helped the Bruins win the Stanley Cup in 2011.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Bergeron is eligible for induction into the Hockey Hall of Fame this year. He’s expected to be a first-ballot inductee.

NHL.COM: Left wing Pierre-Edouard Bellemare has announced his retirement. His 700 NHL regular-season games are the most by a player from France. He had 64 goals and 74 assists for 138 points from 2014-15 to 2023-24 with the Philadelphia Flyers, Vegas Golden Knights, Colorado Avalanche, Tampa Bay Lightning, and Seattle Kraken, along with 15 points in 85 playoff games.

THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER: Anaheim Ducks winger Troy Terry underwent surgery on June 9 to repair a right hip impingement and labral tear. He’s expected to be sidelined for five to six months.

NEW JERSEY HOCKEY NOW: Devils assistant coach Jeremy Colliton is leaving the organization to pursue other business opportunities.

OTTAWA SUN: The Senators have cut ties with winger Alex Formenton, making him eligible to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1. Formenton was among the five players of the 2018 Canadian World Junior team charged with sexual assault and later acquitted.

KUKLA’S KORNER: Paul Kukla, who ran the hockey blog Kukla’s Korner, passed away earlier this week. He was among a group of pioneering hockey bloggers who rose to prominence during the 2004-05 NHL lockout, going on to carve out a long career covering the NHL, particularly the Detroit Red Wings.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: I got to know Paul during that season-killing lockout, striking up an online friendship that lasted two decades. We frequently corresponded on all things hockey or to commiserate during the difficult times that come with being freelance writers.

When I was laid off by Fox Sports in 2011, Paul hired me to write a column for the 2011-12 season. I’m forever grateful to him for that.

Paul had been dealing with health issues in recent years, which at times required him to take some time away from his blog.

Nevertheless, the strong hockey community that he built never wavered, supporting him to the end.

Paul was an inspiration to aspiring hockey bloggers, providing a home for those trying to launch careers, and helping those (like myself) who were trying to keep a writing career alive during a low point.

Rest in peace, Paul, and thank you.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – June 18, 2026

by | Jun 18, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – June 18, 2026

The Maple Leafs hire Jim Hiller as head coach, the latest Golden Knights news, two coaches receive contract extensions, Rangers center Vincent Trocheck changes agents, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

MAPLE LEAFS END COACHING SEARCH, NAME HILLER AS THEIR NEW BENCH BOSS.

TORONTO SUN: The Maple Leafs announced the hiring of Jim Hiller as their new head coach.

Hiller had been head coach of the Los Angeles Kings, hired midway through the 2023-24 season, and fired 59 games into this season. Before that, he spent 10 seasons as an assistant coach with the Detroit Red Wings, Maple Leafs (2015-16 to 2018-19), New York Islanders, and the Kings.

Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Jim Hiller.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Hiller was not among the candidates mentioned by NHL insiders covering the Leafs, earning that group considerable scorn on social media.

Eric Stephens of The Athletic covered Hiller’s tenure with the Kings, pointing out that they had success with him as head coach until pivotal moments.

Stephens cited Hiller’s interpersonal communication, adaptability, and willingness to shake up his lines when things weren’t working to be among his strengths. Nevertheless, his botched coach’s challenge during Game 3 of the Kings’ opening-round series against the Edmonton Oilers last year changed the course of that series, as did his player deployment as that series went on.

Dave Feschuk of the Toronto Star noted that one reason the Leafs hired Hiller was that he’s considered a player’s coach and an early adopter of analytics. He also had a good relationship with Auston Matthews and William Nylander during his previous tenure with the Leafs.

Hiller’s hiring isn’t going down well in some part of Leafs Nation, with Steve Simmons of the Toronto Sun calling Hiller an underwhelming hire whose limited resume leaves something to be desired.

Time will tell whether Hiller can silence his critics and get the Maple Leafs back on track. If he succeeds, he’ll be heralded as a coaching genius. If he fails, it’ll only deepen the dread and anxiety among Leafs supporters.

THE LATEST GOLDEN KNIGHTS NEWS

NHL.COM: As expected, the Vegas Golden Knights named Ryan Craig as their new head coach. It’s a promotion for Craig, who spent the past three seasons coaching their AHL affiliate, the Henderson Silver Knights.

LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL: Golden Knights general manager Kelly McCrimmon said his club permitted one NHL team to speak with former head coach Bruce Cassidy midway through the postseason. However, it did not come to fruition. He added that permission to speak to Cassidy will be handed on a case-by-case basis.

McCrimmon also provided updates on several injured players.

William Karlsson will require surgery for a broken wrist suffered during Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final. Defenseman Noah Hanifin played with an upper-body injury that would’ve sidelined him for six to eight weeks during the regular season. Blueliner Brayden McNabb received 30 stitches to his nose after being struck by a puck, and he played through two other injuries.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: SinBin.vegas reported team captain Mark Stone had a torn adductor muscle.

OTHER NOTABLE NHL NEWS

THE HOCKEY NEWS: According to Dave Pagnotta of The Fourth Period, the Washington Capitals have agreed to a multiyear extension for head coach Spencer Carbery, and Utah Mammoth coach Andre Tourigny got a one-year extension.

TSN: Darren Dreger said sources claim that New York Rangers center Vincent Trocheck has hired Pat Brisson and CAA Sports to represent him. The move comes amid rumors claiming the Rangers intend to trade the 33-year-old Trocheck this summer.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Minnesota Wild, Detroit Red Wings, and the Maple Leafs are believed to be among the suitors for Trocheck, who wants to remain in the Eastern Conference.

BUFFALO HOCKEY BEAT/THE MERCURY NEWS: The Buffalo Sabres traded defenseman Michael Kesselring and the 27th overall pick in this year’s draft to the San Jose Sharks in exchange for the 20th overall pick that originally belonged to the Edmonton Oilers.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Sabres acquired Kesselring last June from the Utah Mammoth in a blockbuster move that also saw Josh Doan head to Buffalo in exchange for winger JJ Peterka. He was projected to play top-four minutes alongside Owen Power, but he suffered early-season injuries and eventually lost his spot in the roster, playing only 34 games.

Kesselring will get a chance to reset in San Jose as GM Mike Grier attempts to bolster his blueline. The 26-year-old defenseman is a restricted free agent with arbitration rights coming off a two-year, $2.8 million contract, so he should be an affordable signing for the Sharks.

THE TENNESSEAN: The Nashville Predators hired Jamie Langenbrunner as special assistant to general manager Chris MacFarland. Langenbrunner had been with the Boston Bruins in various front-office roles since 2015.

COLORADO HOCKEY NOW: Avalanche depth forward Zakhar Bardakov is reportedly returning to the KHL to play for SKA St. Petersburg. He had 10 points in 60 games with the Avalanche this season.

TSN: The NHL’s first contract buyout window opened yesterday and will close at 5 pm ET on June 30.

Arbitration hearings are scheduled from July 20 through August 1. The deadline for players to file for arbitration is 5 pm ET on July 5.