SEATTLE -- Freshly minted general manager Ron Francis spent part of his introductory news conference Thursday discussing the importance of using any afforded additional time and why he won't immediately hire a coach for this city's incoming NHL franchise.

"I think we're open to hiring the right guy at the right time," Francis told the assembled...Read more

LOS ANGELES -- Cal Petersen signed a three-year contract extension with the Los Angeles Kings worth $858,833 annually.

The contract pays two ways, at the NHL and minor league levels, for next season and one way for the following two seasons.

Petersen, 24, is considered the goalie of the future for the organization. He went 5-4-1 with a 2.60 ...Read more

Former Kings defenseman Slava Voynov has signed a one-year contract with a team in Russia's Kontinental Hockey League.

Avangard Omsk announced Monday that it signed Voynov, who is suspended by the NHL for half of next season because of what the league ruled was a domestic assault incident from 2014.

The Kings severed ties to Voynov, 29, when ...Read more

STATELINE, Nev. -- Joe Pavelski is still missing a couple lower teeth. A couple others are damaged. The replacement process is still at least a few months out to repair the damage from using his mouth to score the San Jose Sharks' first goal in the final playoff push of his 13-year tenure.

"It's just part of it," Pavelski said nonchalantly ...Read more

LOS ANGELES -- Five years ago, when the Ducks brought the Kings to the verge of elimination in their second-round playoff series, Darryl Sutter seized the moment like only he can.

In a postgame news conference at Honda Center, Sutter sarcastically praised Ducks goalie John Gibson when he said, "He's the best goalie I've ever seen. I can't ...Read more

The Carolina Hurricanes will match the offer sheet made Monday to star center Sebastian Aho by the Montreal Canadiens, Canes owner Tom Dundon said Tuesday.

Of his reaction to the offer sheet, Dundon, said, "We're surprised. We love the player and we're happy to have this done. And surprised someone would have thought this would work.

"We were ...Read more

Robin Lehner's summer was getting off to a great start.

At the NHL Awards ceremony last month, Lehner's eloquent speech about his mental health and addiction issues while receiving the prestigious Masterton Trophy touched the hearts of hockey fans everywhere. Now all he wanted was to return to the Islanders, with whom he had found success on ...Read more

A little more than three months remain until the Blackhawks step on the ice at Prague's O2 Arena to launch their 2019-20 season against the Flyers.

Depending on how you view the Hawks' moves so far this summer, you're either giddy with anticipation and the first game feels like a lifetime away or there's no reason to rush to get on with another...Read more

The first day of NHL free agency brought the first wave of change to the Wild's roster this offseason, as the team added right wingers Mats Zuccarello and Ryan Hartman.

Zuccarello gets a five-year deal worth $30 million.

"Minnesota was one of the teams that I felt wanted me the most," the 31-year-old said during a conference call from his home...Read more

In terms of signing Russian star free agents, the Florida Panthers went 1 for 2 on Monday.

The Panthers agreed to a seven-year, $70 million contract with goalie Sergei Bobrovsky, 30.

He is a two-time Vezina Trophy winner as the NHL's top goaltender in 2012-2013 and again in 2016-2017.

Unfortunately for the Panthers, they failed to come terms ...Read more

The Blackhawks brought in some much-needed toughness Sunday, reacquiring fan favorite Andrew Shaw from the Canadiens for three draft picks.

Shaw, whom the Hawks dealt to the Canadiens three years ago, is signed through 2021-22, and his contract carries a $3.9 million salary-cap hit. He had a career-high 47 points (19 goals, 28 assists) for the ...Read more

The Blues have signed Craig Berube to a three-year contract, officially removing the interim tag from the coach who led the team to its first Stanley Cup championship after taking over for Mike Yeo on Nov. 19.

Contract terms weren't immediately available.

That Berube would stay became all but official at the start of the Western Conference ...Read more

The frozen ponds of Canada are where many kids first lace up skates and establish NHL dreams.

When the season turns and the ice briefly melts, hockey can take a bit of a back seat to summer pleasures. But only for a short while.

During summers, Hilary and Dale Dach would take their three kids -- including oldest son Kirby, whom the Blackhawks ...Read more

With each passing trade, the Blackhawks seem to be tipping their hand that something larger is in store.

The Hawks acquired defenseman Calvin de Haan and forward prospect Aleksi Saarela from the Hurricanes on Monday for goalie Anton Forsberg and defenseman Gustav Forsling, both of whom were restricted free agents.

The deal comes less than a ...Read more