NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – June 27, 2024

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – June 27, 2024

The latest on Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl and Linus Ullmark, Rangers front office executive Glen Sather retires, the Canucks trade Ilya Mikheyev to the Blackhawks, rule changes for next season, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

TSN: Edmonton Oilers stars Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl played through injuries during the 2024 Stanley Cup playoffs.

Edmonton Oilers forward Leon Draisaitl (NHL Images).

Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch said Draisaitl injured his hand and ribs, leaving the training staff wondering whether he could play. Knoblauch declined to comment on McDavid’s undisclosed injury, saying he didn’t have much information on the injury.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Draisaitl’s performance and production noticeably declined through the final two rounds of the postseason, prompting many observers to suspect he was battling an injury.

It’s speculated McDavid suffered an abdominal injury that might require surgery. We’ll likely learn more about his condition soon, especially if he has to go under the knife.

TSN: Draisaitl talked about a contract extension while speaking with the media on Wednesday. “I’m going to give you the most boring answer here,” he said. “I’m obviously going to sit down with my agents here and talk to the Oilers and see what their plan is, see what our plan is, and go from there.”

Draisaitl has a year remaining on his contract with a cap hit of $8.5 million. He indicated that he wants to take a little time to think about what he wants and what the club wants. “Obviously I love being an Oiler more than anything.”

SPECTOR’S NOTE: That last line was overlooked by some nervous local observers who remain worried Draisaitl could depart as a free agent next summer. It’s far too early to get into that kind of speculation.

Draisaitl wants to win the Stanley Cup and be paid his true worth on his next contract. He came very close to accomplishing the former and the Oilers will open the vault for the latter. It’ll be surprising if he doesn’t re-sign.

TSN’s Chris Johnston reported last night that the Oilers and Draisaitl appear to be on the same page. The club doesn’t want him to leave and Johnston doesn’t they’ll allow that to happen.

SPORTSNET: A new general manager could handle negotiations for Draisaitl’s next contract. Elliotte Friedman reports multiple sources told him the club won’t renew GM Ken Holland’s contract.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It’s the end of an era in Edmonton. Holland had his critics but the Oilers never missed the playoffs during his five years as their general manager. That includes two appearances in the Western Conference Final and their recent run to the Stanley Cup Final.

SPORTSNET: Linus Ullmark looks forward to playing with the Ottawa Senators next season. The 30-year-old goaltender was acquired from the Boston Bruins on Monday. He also indicated that the Senators were never on his no-trade list.

Ullmark is entering the final season of his contract with a cap hit of $5 million. He said there’s been no extension talks with the Senators, adding he won’t get involved until his agent tells him there’s something to discuss.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Ullmark will be in his contract year so he’ll be motivated to have a strong performance in 2024-25. He could find it challenging as the Senators aren’t as strong defensively as the Bruins. General manager Steve Staios will attempt to rectify that issue during the summer.

TSN: Speaking of Staios, he said he won’t be buying out any of his players. The buyout window expires on June 30 at 5 pm ET.

NEW YORK POST: Long-time Rangers front office executive Glen Sather is retiring. He spent 24 years with the Blueshirts, including 19 years as team president and 14 as general manager. Sather spent the past five years as senior advisor to the team owner and alternate governor.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Sather, 80, spent nearly a half-century as an executive, starting with his successful run with the Edmonton Oilers from 1979-80 to 1999-2000. Before that, he spent 10 seasons as an NHL forward from 1966-67 to 1975-76.

THE PROVINCE: The Vancouver Canucks traded forwards Ilya Mikheyev and Sam Lafferty and a 2027 second-round pick to the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for a 2027 fourth-round pick. The Canucks will also retain 15 percent of Mikheyev’s $4.75 million annual cap hit.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: This was a cost-cutting move by the Canucks. They’re rumored to be interested in signing Carolina Hurricanes winger Jake Guentzel if he heads to the free-agent market on July 1. They could also be clearing space to re-sign pending UFA defenseman Nikita Zadorov.

Meanwhile, the Canucks signed checking-line forward Teddy Blueger to a two-year contract with an average annual value of $1.8 million.

NHL.COM: The league announced several rule changes starting in 2024-25.

It has expanded the coach’s challenge to allow for a penalty to be taken down if a puck gets knocked out of play.

A defensive team whose goaltender accidentally dislodges the net won’t be allowed a line change on the ensuing play.

The center on offense on a faceoff will receive only one warning for a faceoff violation.

Teams will receive one warning for players sitting on the boards. After that, they will be awarded a bench minor.

TSN: The Utah Hockey Club signed forward Liam O’Brien to a three-year, $3 million contract.

THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER/THE SCORE: The Anaheim Ducks and Los Angeles Kings unveiled their 1990s throwback jerseys.

TORONTO SUN: Former NHL forward Sergei Berezin died on Wednesday in Florida at age 52. Drafted by the Maple Leafs in 1994, Berezin spent seven seasons with the Leafs, Arizona Coyotes, Montreal Canadiens, Chicago Blackhawks and Washington Capitals from 1996-97 to 2002-03. He had 160 goals and 286 points in 502 regular-season games and 13 goals and 30 points in 52 playoff contests.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: My condolences to Berezin’s family, friends and former teammates.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – June 21, 2024

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – June 21, 2024

The latest on the Oilers and Panthers ahead of Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final, the Penguins re-sign Alex Nedeljkovic, the Canucks grant Ilya Mikheyev permission to seek a trade, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

EDMONTON JOURNAL: Oilers star Leon Draisaitl has struggled to score in the 2024 Stanley Cup Final. The 28-year-old forward has 30 points in this postseason but his production has been declining since the Western Conference Final, netting four points in that series and only two assists thus far in the Stanley Cup Final.

Edmonton Oilers forward Leon Draisaitl (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch defended Draisaitl’s play, suggesting bad puck luck could be behind his recent low production. The decline could also be due to an undisclosed injury we’ll learn about after the series ends.

FLORIDA HOCKEY NOW: The Panthers are making a change to their lineup for Game 6 tonight in Edmonton. Nick Cousins will replace Kyle Okposo and be reunited with linemates Ryan Lomberg and Kevin Stenlund. It’s Cousins’ first game since Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Final.

PITTSBURGH HOCKEY NOW: The Penguins re-signed goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic to a two-year contract worth an average annual value of $2.5 million. Nedeljkovic was slated to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Nedeljkovic was Tristan Jarry’s backup in 2023-24. He appeared in the Penguins’ final 14 games of the regular season, starting 13 and picking up points in 10 games.

THE PROVINCE: Ilya Mikheyev’s agent, Dan Milstein, said he’s been permitted by the Vancouver Canucks to seek a trade for his client. The 29-year-old winger has two years remaining on his contract with an AAV of $4.75 million.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Mikheyev had 28 points in 46 games in 2022-23 before undergoing season-ending knee surgery. He struggled with consistency in 2024-25.

DAILY FACEOFF: Calgary Flames goaltender Dan Vladar is expected to have fully recovered from hip surgery when training camp opens in September. The 26-year-old went under the knife in March with a recovery time of four to six months.

TSN: The Los Angeles Kings unveiled their new logo on Thursday, returning to a look similar to their 1990s style.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: In other words, it’s the Oakland Raiders on ice.










NHL Rumor Mill – June 14, 2024

NHL Rumor Mill – June 14, 2024

Check out the latest on Patrik Laine, Mitch Marner, Martin Necas and Tanner Jeannot plus updates on the Canucks in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

THE LATEST ON THE BLUE JACKETS AND PATRIK LAINE

SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman reports the Columbus Blue Jackets had been working on trading Patrik Laine since early last season. He believes there’s interest in the 26-year-old winger as a player but his contract complicates things.

Laine has two years remaining on his deal with an average annual value of $8.7 million. He also carries a 10-team no-trade list.

Friedman believes it comes down to what the Blue Jackets seek in return and if they’re willing to retain part of Laine’s cap hit. He also believes the winger’s injury history makes him riskier.

Columbus Blue Jackets winger Patrik Laine (NHL Images).

Jeff Marek observed that the Utah Hockey Club wants to add veteran players on short-term contracts. He thinks their young player might benefit from having a proven goal scorer in their midst.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Blue Jackets will want to move the entirety of Laine’s contract from their books. They won’t get much in return to do that. The Jackets might have to take back an expensive struggling veteran in the deal.

THE LATEST ON MITCH MARNER

Friedman believes Mitch Marner’s contract will make it difficult for the Toronto Maple Leafs to trade him. He noted that the type of contract Marner would seek once his current deal expires next summer is one factor while another is his no-movement clause. Friedman also pointed out that Marner’s agent prefers to go to free agency.

This saga could carry over into next season unless the Leafs can sell Marner on a trade. “I think people are underestimating just how complicated this whole thing is,” said Friedman.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: No, Elliotte, Marner’s critics in Leafs Nation are willfully ignoring those complications. They want the scapegoat for their club’s playoff woes traded immediately for a big return and won’t accept no for an answer.

RED WINGS FOLLOWING MARTIN NECAS

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Sam Stockton cited Daily Faceoff’s Frank Seravalli claiming the Detroit Red Wings is among seven clubs closely following Martin Necas’ trade status.

Stockton pointed out that Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman is determined to add a top-fix forward this summer.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Hurricanes reportedly seek “star power” in return. If they’re unable to get it, perhaps they’d be interested in what the Red Wings could offer in terms of draft picks and prospects.

COULD THE CANUCKS TRADE HRONEK AND MIKHAYEV?

THE PROVINCE: Patrick Johnston believes Filip Hronek fits the Vancouver Canucks perfectly but that doesn’t mean he’s staying around long-term. They’ve been trying to re-sign the 26-year-old restricted free-agent defenseman but haven’t gained much traction.

Johnston suggests there might be more value in trading Hronek rather than signing him to a deal that is above what Canucks management wants to pay him. He noted that the blueliner played well alongside Quinn Hughes but not in limited minutes away from the Canucks captain.

Meanwhile, Johnston cited sources confirming the Canucks are trying to trade Ilya Mikheyev. The 29-year-old winger has two years remaining on his contract with an AAV of $4.75 million.

Mikheyev has struggled with injuries and consistency in his NHL career. They’d like to move him out to free up cap space for other needs. It could cost them a draft pick to move him.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Hronek would have more value in the trade market than Mikheyev. However, the blueliner is reportedly seeking a multi-year deal worth $8 million annually, which is more than Hughes is making as the Canucks’ top defenseman. His salary demands and unimpressive numbers away from Hughes could dampen his value in the trade market.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Evan Doerfler cited CHEK-TV’s Rick Dhaliwal reporting Dakota Joshua is drawing plenty of interest. The 29-year-old Canucks forward is a UFA coming off a two-year deal with an AAV of $825K. Dhaliwal believes the Toronto Maple Leafs could be among the clubs interested in Joshua.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Joshua enjoyed a breakout performance this season with 18 goals and 32 points, bringing a gritty presence to the Canucks’ checking lines. He won’t be lacking for suitors willing to pay him over $3 million annually on a multi-year deal if he tests the free-agent market on July 1.

SHARKS, BLACKHAWKS INTERESTED IN TANNER JEANNOT?

TORONTO STAR: Nick Kypreos believes a young team like the San Jose Sharks or Chicago Blackhawks would be interested in Tanner Jeannot. The 27-year-old Tampa Bay Lightning forward has a year remaining on his contract with an AAV of $2.6 million.

Kypreos thinks Jeannot would make more sense for a young team than a contender with only a fourth-line position.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: If Jeannot plays well with a young club they can try to re-sign him. They can also flip him to a contender at the trade deadline.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – September 27, 2023

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – September 27, 2023

Recaps of Tuesday’s preseason action plus the latest on Rangers winger Artemi Panarin, Sharks captain Logan Couture, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

NHL.COM: Blake Wheeler scored in his debut with the New York Rangers as they doubled up the New York Islanders 4-2.

New York Rangers winger Artemi Panarin (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Rangers forwards Artemi Panarin (lower-body injury)and Filip Chytil (upper body) missed this game and are listed as day-to-day.

The Anaheim Ducks dropped the San Jose Sharks 4-2 with Sam Carrick getting a goal and two assists.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Speaking of the Sharks, team captain Logan Couture (lower-body, week-to-week) is skating again. However, they’re being cautious with his return date even if it means missing their season opener against the Vegas Golden Knights on Oct. 12.

Alex DeBrincat picked up two assists in his debut with the Detroit Red Wings in a 4-3 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Speaking of the Penguins, defenseman Mark Pysyk will be sidelined “longer-term” with an undisclosed injury. He’s in training camp on a professional tryout offer (PTO).

Buffalo Sabres goaltender Devon Levi stopped all 19 shots he faced over two periods in a 4-1 victory over the Boston Bruins. Devin Cooley made 18 saves in the third period for the Sabres.

Tony DeAngelo had a goal and an assist in his first game back with the Carolina Hurricanes to defeat the Tampa Bay Lightning 5-2.

The St. Louis Blues scored three first-period goals over the Columbus Blue Jackets and held on for a 3-2 win.

Dallas Stars forwards Jason Robertson, Mason Marchment and Tyler Seguin each had a goal and an assist to thump the Minnesota Wild 6-1.

WASHINGTON HOCKEY NOW: Capitals defenseman Trevor van Riemsdyk resumed skating yesterday after leaving Sunday’s preseason game after being struck by a shot on the right arm. Meanwhile, blueliner Joel Edmundson missed practice after suffering an upper-body injury during a scrimmage on Sunday.

THE PROVINCE: Canucks forward Ilya Mikheyev joined his teammates yesterday in his first practice since suffering a knee injury in January. He hasn’t yet gained clearance for full participation but this is considered a promising sign.

TSN: The NHL and Adidas revealed the uniforms the Calgary Flames and Edmonton Oilers will wear for the 2023 Heritage Classic at Commonwealth Stadium in Edmonton on Oct. 29.

NHL.COM: Goaltender Cory Schneider announced his retirement on Tuesday. In 410 NHL games (389 starts) with the Vancouver Canucks, New Jersey Devils and New York Islanders, Schneider had a record of 171 wins, 159 losses and 58 overtime losses with a 2.43 goals-against average, a .918 save percentage and 26 shutouts. He and Roberto Luongo won the Jennings Trophy for the league’s lowest combined goals-against in 2010-11.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Before injuries derailed his career, Schneider was among the league’s top goaltenders. As per NHL.com’s Tom Gulitti, from 2010-11 through 2015-16, Schneider’s 2.13 GAA and .926 SP ranked first among all goalies with at least 100 games played during that stretch.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – September 22, 2023

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – September 22, 2023

Marc-Andre Fleury ponders his future, sale of the Senators receives league approval, plus the latest on Logan Couture, Robin Lehner, Max Pacioretty and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

STARTRIBUNE.COM: Marc-Andre Fleury is entering his 20th NHL season but hasn’t decided yet if it will be his last. The 38-year-old Minnesota Wild goaltender is in the final season of his contract and said he’ll play out this campaign before evaluating if he’ll continue his playing career.

Minnesota Wild goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury (NHL Images).

Fleury has 544 career wins. He needs just eight more victories to pass Patrick Roy for second place on the all-time wins list.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It’s hard to believe sometimes that Fleury’s been in the NHL this long. I told one of my social media followers that it seemed like I was watching him play in the QMJHL with the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles yesterday. That was over 20 years ago.

OTTAWA SUN: The sale of the Ottawa Senators to billionaire Michael Andlauer finally received formal approval from the NHL Board of Governors yesterday. At $950 million dollars, it’s the highest price ever paid to purchase an NHL franchise.

Following the purchase, Andlauer released an open letter to Senators fans stating that his goal is to bring the Stanley Cup to Ottawa. He also sought to assure them about the club’s future under his ownership. “My partners and I may be the team owners on paper, but this team truly belongs to Ottawa-Gatineau,” he wrote. “I promise to take care of your team with the utmost respect, integrity and care both on and off the ice.”

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The late Eugene Melnyk deserves credit for rescuing the Senators nearly 20 years ago (with the help of NHL commissioner Gary Bettman) and keeping them in Ottawa at a time when the franchise was bankrupt and on the verge of relocation. Nevertheless, Melnyk’s mercurial style and front-office meddling generated uncertainty and concern among Senators fans over the quality of the on-ice product and the club’s future in Ottawa.

A new era has begun for the Senators. Andlauer was a minority owner of the Montreal Canadiens before purchasing the Sens. He knows the league, understands the business of hockey, and appears determined to bring stability to this franchise and a winning product on the ice. He still has to navigate toward the construction of a new downtown arena but the odds appear better under his stewardship than they were during the final years of Melnyk’s tenure.

Speaking of the Senators, center Josh Norris downplayed concern regarding a minor shoulder ailment that saw him start training camp with a yellow non-contact jersey. “I think they’re looking out for me and I totally get it,” said Norris, who missed all but eight games last season to shoulder surgery. He said he didn’t want to be in that jersey but acknowledged it was probably the best thing to take precautions and be ready for the start of the season.

SAN JOSE HOCKEY NOW: The rebuilding Sharks got bad news as team captain Logan Couture will miss the start of training camp. He’s listed as week-to-week with a lower-body injury that he suffered during offseason training.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: There’s no timeline for Couture’s return. It’s uncertain if he’ll be ready for the club’s season debut on Oct. 12.

DAILY FACEOFF: Vegas Golden Knights goaltender Robin Lehner remains sidelined indefinitely and will start the season on long-term injured reserve. He missed all of last season recovering from hip surgery.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The reports also indicated that some wonder if Lehner will ever play again. He’s signed through 2024-25 with an average annual value of $5 million.

WASHINGTON HOCKEY NOW: Speaking of uncertain injury recovery timelines, Capitals winger Max Pacioretty has “no concrete timetable yet” for when he’ll join his new club. The 34-year-old winger played only five games last season with the Carolina Hurricanes as he was twice sidelined by a torn right Achilles tendon. He signed a one-year, $2 million contract with the Capitals this summer as a free agent.

THE BUFFALO NEWS: Sabres general manager Kevyn Adams continues to work on getting young defensemen Rasmus Dahlin and Owen Power under contract extensions before the start of this season. The two sides appear to be closing in on deals following a week of intense negotiations.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Dahlin and Power are the linchpins of the rebuilding Sabres’ blueline. It’s not surprising that Adams hopes to sign the two defensemen to long-term contracts with average annual values that could become team-friendly over the course of their playing prime.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Speaking of the Sabres, promising forward Matt Savoie is listed as week-to-week with an upper-body injury suffered during a prospects tournament game against the Pittsburgh Penguins.

THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER: The Anaheim Ducks opened training camp missing three of their young core players. Center Trevor Zegras and defenseman Jamie Drysdale are still without new contracts as negotiations continue with management. Meanwhile, forward Mason MacTavish was dealing with a muscle spasm.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: MacTavish could rejoin his teammates as early as today. It’s uncertain as to when Zegras and Drysdale will be under contract. Reports from earlier this week claimed there’s a “wide gap” between them and management over what their new deals will look like.

THE DENVER POST: Valeri Nichushkin has rejoined his Colorado Avalanche teammates for the first time since taking a leave of absence from the club during their first-round series against the Seattle Kraken in April. The 28-year-old winger was welcomed back by his teammates “with open arms”.

Nichushkin’s departure was the result of an incident in Seattle in which a team doctor found an intoxicated woman in the winger’s hotel room and called an ambulance, according to a police report. He was not disciplined over the incident by the team or the league and faced no charges over the incident.

I know you guys want to find something there, but it’s nothing really interesting,” Nichushkin told the media. “I think we should close it. It’s a new season right now. We have to focus on that.” He said that his extended absence from the Avs was due to a “family reason.”

CALGARY SUN: Oliver Kylington missed the start of Flames training camp without indicating when he’ll return to action. The 26-year-old defenseman missed all of last season to focus on his mental health. It was expected that he would rejoin his teammates this season after arriving in Calgary last week.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Kylington talked about his mental health during an interview this summer. He said he was looking forward to joining his Flames teammates this season. Here’s hoping he continues to get the help he needs to deal with this issue.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Sticking with the Flames, Nikita Zadorov has openly opposed his home country’s invasion of Ukraine. The Russian defenseman is the sole NHLer among his countrymen to speak out against the invasion. He said he’s aware of the consequences he might face but claimed there are “a lot of people who have the same view as me in Russia.”

NYI HOCKEY NOW: Islanders winger Oliver Wahlstrom skated with the Islanders for the first time since suffering a season-ending lower-body injury last December. Defenseman Alex Romanov also joined his teammates, dispelling concerns that he might miss the start of training camp rehabbing from offseason shoulder surgery.

TSN: Vancouver Canucks winger Ilya Mikheyev left training camp for personal reasons. He’s been sidelined since January with a knee injury and underwent surgery the following month.

SPORTSNET: Montreal Canadiens defenseman Chris Wideman is sidelined indefinitely with a back injury.

 










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – September 7, 2023

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – September 7, 2023

New contracts for Senators defenseman Jake Sanderson, Flyers forward Morgan Frost and Coyotes general manager Bill Armstrong. Details and much more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

OTTAWA SUN: Entering his sophomore season, Jake Sanderson signed an eight-year, $64.4-million contract extension on Wednesday with the Ottawa Senators. The 21-year-old defenseman will earn an average annual value of $8.05 million.

Ottawa Senators defenseman Jake Sanderson (NHL Images)

SPECTOR’S NOTE: That’s a big raise for Sanderson, who is in the final season of his three-year entry-level contract with an AAV of $925K. He’ll become the Senators’ highest-paid defenseman starting in 2024-25, earning just slightly more than Thomas Chabot ($8 million AAV). Sanderson will also be the third highest-paid player on the roster, behind Tim Stutzle ($8.35 million) and Brady Tkachuk ($8.205 million).

Sanderson is coming off an impressive rookie performance last season with 32 points in 77 games. A highly skilled rearguard, the 6’3”, 195-pound blueliner has the potential to become an elite player for the Senators. This contract would become quite cost-effective should he reach his full potential.

Speaking of the Senators, incoming owner Michael Andlauer hopes to finalize his purchase of the club by early next week.

PHILLY HOCKEY NOW: The Flyers inked Morgan Frost to a two-year, $4.2-million contract. The 24-year-old center’s AAV will be $2.1 million.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Frost completed a one-year, $800K contract. He enjoyed a breakout season in 2022-23 with 19 goals and 46 points in 81 games.

In 2025, Frost will once again become an RFA with arbitration rights. Frost will be in line for a more lucrative long-term contract if he builds on last season’s performance.

THE ATHLETIC’s Charlie O’Connor reports the Flyers have hired former NHL star Dany Heatley as a professional scout.

THE PROVINCE: Vancouver Canucks forward Ilya Mikheyev could miss preseason action as he continues to rehab from knee surgery. His agent, Dan Milstein, indicated his client is still likely three to four weeks from returning to action. “He could be ready, but why risk in preseason,” said Milstein. “Maybe play the final two games.”

ARIZONA SPORTS: The Coyotes signed general manager Bill Armstrong to a multiyear contract extension. Terms were not disclosed.

Since taking over in 2020, Armstrong has overseen a considerable roster turnover, trading such notables as Jakob Chychrun, Christian Dvorak, Oliver Ekman-Larsson and Darcy Kuemper for draft capital. Promising young players such as Barrett Hayton and Matias Maccelli were contributors to last year’s roster while top prospects Logan Cooley and Dylan Guenther could join the roster this season.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Coyotes beat writer Craig Morgan reported Armstrong’s new contract runs through 2028-29. The Coyotes have been near the bottom of the standings over the past three seasons. However, they made noticeable improvement last season under head coach Andre Tourigny, who was hired by Armstrong in 2021 and recently received his own contract extension.

Speaking of the Coyotes, suspended club co-owner Andrew Barroway had the charges dropped Monday from his domestic violence case in Colorado.

DAILY FACEOFF: The Coyotes also signed forward Ryan Dzingel and defenseman Peter DiLiberatore to professional tryout offers (PTOs).

TORONTO SUN: The Maple Leafs signed former San Jose Sharks center Noah Gregor to a professional tryout offer.

NASHVILLE HOCKEY NOW: Goaltender Dylan Wells accepted a PTO from the Predators.

PITTSBURGH HOCKEY NOW: Former San Jose Sharks general manager Doug Wilson has been hired by the Penguins as their senior advisor of hockey operations. Wilson was the Sharks GM from 2003 until stepping down in 2022 for health reasons.

SPORTSNET: Former NHL head coach Bruce Boudreau has been hired by the OHL’s Niagara IceDogs as a senior advisor. Boudreau was the bench boss of the Washington Capitals, Anaheim Ducks, Minnesota Wild and Vancouver Canucks. He was fired by the Canucks in January.

NHL.COM: Michael Del Zotto has retired after 13 NHL seasons. The 33-year-old defenseman had 262 points in 736 regular-season games with the Ottawa Senators, Columbus Blue Jackets, St. Louis Blues, Anaheim Ducks, Vancouver Canucks, Philadelphia Flyers, Nashville Predators and New York Rangers. He also had 12 points in 32 playoff games. He last played in the NHL in 2021-22 with the Senators.

RDS.CA: Kevin Poulin also announced his retirement. The 33-year-old goaltender spent parts of five seasons with the New York Islanders from 2010-11 to 2014-15. In 50 NHL games, he had a record of 18 wins, 25 losses and three overtime losses with a career goals-against average of 3.07 and a save percentage of .899. Since 2015-16, he played in Europe, ECHL and the AHL, spending the last two seasons with the Laval Rocket.