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.
Columbus 2020 1st round pick Yegor Chinakhov intends to sign with the Blue Jackets.
Chinakhov had 10 goals and 7 assists in 32 games with Avangard Omsk of the KHL.
The Chicago Blackhawks have re-signed Riley Stillman to a 3-year contract.
Stillman came to the Chicago in an April 8 trade that saw the team relieve Florida of Brett Connolly’s cap hit.
Stillman, 23, will have one RFA season remaining following his new 3-year deal.
On TSN’s Insider Trading, Pierre LeBrun tackles the question of how much Zach Hyman will make as an unrestricted free agent this summer.
LeBrun asked six front office executives and the answers came back between $4.5 and $5.5 million annually. LeBrun suggests that if Hyman wants to remain with the Leafs, he will need to accept a value under $5 million.
I would imagine it might be difficult for the Leafs to get Hyman’s name on a contract worth under $5 million per season, unless it’s a deal of six or more years.