The Chicago Blackhawks have signed Henrik Borgstrom, according to Scott Power.
Borgstrom’s rights were dealt to Chicago in the deal that saw them relieve Chicago of Brett Connolly’s cap hit.
Borgstrom figures to compete for a center spot on Chicago’s top three lines next season.
In his year end exit interview, Jack Eichel admitted to a “disconnect” between he and the Sabres.
“There’s been a bit of a disconnect from the organization a bit and myself. It’s been tough at times. Right now, I think for me the most important thing is just trying to get healthy and figure out a way to be available to play hockey next year wherever that might be.”
The phrase “wherever that might be” obviously brings into question his immediate future with the club.
Sabres beat writer John Vogl says it’s hard to imagine the relationship being salvaged and that “[h]e’s as good as gone.”
Sean Gentille says the list of suitors goes “Rangers, then everyone else.” He notes the Rangers have a need at center, the assets a team like Buffalo would crave, and an apparently increasingly impatient owner. He suggests the Kings have the assets to swing a deal as well, but thinks the Rangers are the frontrunner. If the Sabres require a prominent center back, as Vogl suggests, the Kings may be better positioned than the Rangers.
The Rangers have re-signed Ryan Lindgren to a three-year deal.
Lindgren will have one RFA season after this contract is complete. He will be due a $3.6 million qualifying offer at that time.
The Rangers still have RFAs Igor Shesterkin, Pavel Buchnevich and Filip Chytil to sign.
The Arizona Coyotes have announced that they and head coach Rick Tocchet have agreed to part ways.
Tocchet was in the final year of his contract. Like the announcement of John Tortorella yesterday, this is another situation where the writing was on the wall.
Pierre LeBrun reports that he expects the Coyotes to speak with as many as ten candidates. He mentions Lane Lambert, Nate Leaman and Rocky Thompson.
Aaron Portzline of the Athletic reports that John Tortorella does not intend to return to the Blue Jackets. His contract is expiring with the end of this season.
It seems likely the feeling was mutual and the Blue Jackets didn’t want him back either.
Elliotte Friedman reports that Tortorella wants to coach again.
It’s not clear how many openings there will be this summer. Seattle is without a coach and it looks like at least the Coyotes and Rangers will likely be on the hunt for a new coach.
Pierre LeBrun reports on TSN’s Insider Trading that the Capitals potentially trading center Evgeny Kuznetsov might be a situation to monitor this offseason.
Kuznetsov was held out of the lineup for disciplinary reasons on Tuesday and LeBrun reports that he’s hearing that Kuznetsov’s behavior is starting to irritate some of the Capitals’ front office.
Kuznetsov, 28, has four seasons left beyond 2020-21 at a cap hit of $7.8 million.
On the most recent edition of 31 Thoughts: The Podcast, Elliotte Friedman goes deep into head coach Rod Brind’Amour’s contract situation with the Carolina Hurricanes.
Brind’Amour’s contract expires at the end of this season and there’s been some reports that there’s been an agreement between he and the club about a new contract. Friedman reports that what’s holding things up is that the coach is looking for the rest of his staff, his assistant coaches and the training staff, to have their contracts extended as well.
Friedman says that if Brind’Amour stays in Carolina, it will be well under what he could make on the market. For that reason he wonders why the Hurricanes have been hesitant to extend the rest of his staff.
If Brind’Amour does get to free agency, he would be one of the most sought-after coaches this summer.
According to the Fourth Period, citing a radio spot by Geoff Baker of the Seattle Times, the Seattle Kraken are interested in KHL star and NHL unrestricted free agent Konstantin Okulov.
The Kraken officially became an NHL team this month and are now allowed to sign or trade for players.
Okulov, 26, had 18 goals and 31 assists in 55 games for CSKA Moscow this season.
One of the Vegas expansion’s biggest early acquisitions was a Russian UFA in Vadim Shipachyov, and it looks like Seattle might follow suit.