Rink Wide: Vancouver co-host Jeff Paterson joins Matt in place of Blake and discuss how many pieces are lacking for the Canucks to call themselves Cup contenders. The guys also discuss the glut of defencemen in Carolina after the Tony DeAngelo signing and who might shake free; as well as the remaining free agents and if anybody could secure a multi-year deal. Other topics include: Patrice Bergeron's retirement, the B.C. Lions extraordinary defence, Canada's second match vs Ireland at the FIFA World Cup, and a break for the Whitecaps in Leagues Cup. Patrick Johnston guests and talks about the departure of Canucks AGM Derek Clancey, the trading out of so many draft picks this decade, and what it will take for the Canucks to contend. And Vancouver Canadians outfielder Garrett Spain tells us about his first love (hockey) growing up as a Nashville Jr Predator, and about his penchant for dramatic home runs in what's being called "The Summer of Spain" out at The Nat. Presented by Applewood Auto Group.

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Tony DeAngelo explained the reason for his dismissal from the Philadelphia Flyers and his rift with head coach John Tortorella.

"Obviously the coach and I wound up not fitting together, I guess that would be the main reason for leaving the team and being a free agent again," DeAngelo told reporters on Tuesday.

DeAngelo signed a one-year deal to rejoin the Carolina Hurricanes on Monday - nine days after he was bought out by the Flyers following a single season in Philadelphia. It marked the second time in three years he was bought out after the New York Rangers parted ways with him in the same fashion in 2021 following his altercation with teammate Alexandar Georgiev.

However, DeAngelo feels his checkered past is behind him.

"I've been bought out again which is disappointing, but there were different factors that led to that a little bit," he said. "As far as controversy I feel like that's all in the past. I guess there was some controversy this year you could call it, just not being on the same page as the head coach. But there was no personal feelings, nothing personal happened or something big happened to lead to anything, it was kind of just a mutual disagreement on a bunch of things that I won't get into."

Tortorella said in February that the team needed to work with DeAngelo on his defensive game and that Carolina masked his own-zone struggles better than Philadelphia could. DeAngelo was also a healthy scratch for the final five games of the 2022-23 regular season, which the defenseman called "ridiculous."

DeAngelo produced a respectable 42 points in 70 games with the Flyers, but his minus-15.1 defensive goals above replacement was the worst among all NHL skaters.

DeAngelo, who hails from Sewell, New Jersey, said it was a "dream" to play for his hometown Flyers, but he's happy to be back in Carolina, where he enjoyed arguably his best season with 51 points in 64 contests in 2021-22. Partnering up with Jaccob Slavin, one of the better defensive defensemen in the league, helped DeAngelo flourish offensively.

Playing with Slavin again is no guarantee, though. Brent Burns' acquisition effectively replaced DeAngelo last offseason, and he thrived alongside Slavin. If the Hurricanes hang on to Brett Pesce - who the team might reportedly trade if they can't agree to an extension - then DeAngelo is likely set for a third-pairing role alongside either Brady Skjei or newcomer Dmitry Orlov.

DeAngelo credited his strong relationship with head coach Rod Brind'Amour as a reason for rejoining Carolina.

"The way I got along with Rod is more than I got along with any other coach I've played for in my career," DeAngelo said. "But that's the kind of guy he is and I feel like we were a just good match for one another, so just looking forward to getting back in that situation."

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Following an almost picture-perfect first season with the Florida Panthers, star forward Matthew Tkachuk is hungry for more.

"I'm sitting here saying how everything went great for me, and it was easy, but also at the back of my mind, knowing that we were so close," he said Tuesday during an appearance on Sportsnet 590 The FAN. "Just continuing our goal of finishing the job is what is on our mind next year."

The Calgary Flames traded Tkachuk to Florida on July 22 last year in exchange for a package including Jonathan Huberdeau and MacKenzie Weegar.

It's been a whirlwind 12 months for the Cardiac Cats, who shocked the hockey world with their Cinderella run to the Stanley Cup Final this spring. Tkachuk was key to their success, leading the Panthers with 11 goals - including four game-winners - and 24 points in 20 games.

That dazzling performance wasn't surprising given Tkachuk's dominance during the regular season, when he hit the 40-goal mark for the second straight campaign and potted a career-high 109 points in 79 contests.

He was named a finalist for the Hart Trophy in honor of his efforts and was widely considered a front-runner for the Conn Smythe Trophy heading into the Stanley Cup Final.

"The playoffs was probably one of my favorite times of my entire life, just being around Fort Lauderdale and just seeing the buzz in the whole city," he said.

He added, "Our goal this coming year is probably (to) have a better start to the season than we had and just try to get back to the playoffs and try to do it again."

The Panthers struggled with consistency over the 2022-23 campaign and only made the playoffs by one point over the Pittsburgh Penguins. Despite Florida's underdog status, it upset the behemoth Boston Bruins in the opening round before beating the Toronto Maple Leafs in the second round and handily sweeping the Carolina Hurricanes in the conference finals.

The Vegas Golden Knights ended up dashing the Panthers' dreams in five games to lift the Stanley Cup for the first time in franchise history.

Tkachuk said he has high expectations for goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky, who was arguably equally as important to Florida's postseason success.

"We're just super lucky to have him, and I can't wait to see him next year," Tkachuk said. "I think he's going to continue right where he left off and do that from the start, and it's gonna be great for us."

Tkachuk was hampered by a broken sternum against the Golden Knights, but he said he's "feeling a lot better" during his offseason recovery.

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Boston Bruins legend Patrice Bergeron is calling it a career after 19 seasons in the NHL, the veteran center announced Tuesday.

"It wasn't a decision that I came to lightly," he wrote in a statement. "But after listening to my body and talking with my family, I know in my heart that this is the right time to step away from playing the game I love."

Bergeron, who just celebrated his 38th birthday Monday, added that it was important to leave the NHL on his own terms.

The future Hall of Famer captured his sixth Frank J. Selke Trophy as the league's premier defensive forward in June after posting 27 goals and 58 points in 78 matchups this past season.

Bergeron ends his NHL career with 427 goals and 1,040 points in 1,294 career contests, all with the Bruins. He won the Stanley Cup with the team in 2011.

"As I step away today, I have no regrets. I have only gratitude that I lived my dream and excitement for what is next for my family and I," he said. "I left everything out there, and I'm humbled and honored it was representing this incredible city and for the Boston Bruins fans."

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Coyotes general manager Bill Armstrong is pleased with Andre Tourigny's work over the past two seasons in the desert and would like to sign the head coach to a new deal as Arizona eyes the next stage of its rebuild.

"He has got the players to buy into what he's doing," Armstrong said in a recent interview with NHL.com's Jon Lane. "He's got the players to buy into the culture, and he's got the players to buy in to compete every single night here in the desert."

Tourigny has one season left on his current pact and has amassed a 53-90-21 record since taking over in 2021-22. This is his first gig as an NHL head coach, but he helped pilot Canada to a gold medal at the 2023 IIHF World Championship from behind the bench.

Armstrong has been impressed by the relationships Tourigny has built with his players.

"One of the things that I love about him and the reason that we have the ability to re-sign him and move into Phase 2 (of the rebuild) with him is because he doesn't leave a scar with the players," Armstrong said. "He has the players' best interests at heart, and he's firm."

He added, "They know that he likes them behind the scenes, and I think they feel that love, and it enables him to get the most out of the player without leaving a scar."

The Coyotes have finished among the 10 worst teams in the standings in each of the past two seasons, but they did enjoy some marginal improvements during Tourigny's second year at the helm:

Tourigny, meanwhile, isn't focused on his contract status and is instead dialed in on bringing the Coyotes closer to the playoffs.

"We want to play meaningful games," Tourigny said. "We want to improve our performance from last year. The only way we will do that is focusing on what can control and our performance daily and not looking ahead.

"When you lift your eyes to too high, you trip on the next obstacle. For us, it will be (about keeping) our eyes on the road."

The Coyotes last made the playoffs in 2020, when they beat the Nashville Predators in the qualifying round before falling to the Colorado Avalanche.

Prior to that appearance, Arizona hadn't booked its place in the postseason since 2011-12.

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Tony DeAngelo is finally rejoining the Carolina Hurricanes.

The Hurricanes signed DeAngelo to a one-year, $1.675-million contract, the team announced Monday. DeAngelo was bought out by the Philadelphia Flyers and became an unrestricted free agent on July 15.

DeAngelo was expected to be traded to the Hurricanes in June, but the transaction fell through. That deal included the Flyers retaining 50% of DeAngelo's $5-million cap hit.

The 27-year-old defenseman returns to Carolina just one season after being traded by the Hurricanes for three draft picks. DeAngelo tallied 11 goals and 42 points in 70 contests with the Flyers after scoring 10 goals and 51 points in 64 games with Carolina the year prior.

DeAngelo's tenure in Philadelphia was tumultuous. He was scratched for the final five games of the season, and head coach John Tortorella publicly criticized his defensive game in February.

His 93 points over the past two seasons rank 27th among blue-liners. At the other end of the rink, DeAngelo's minus-15.1 defensive goals above replacement ranked worst league-wide in 2022-23, according to Evolving-Hockey.

In 2021, DeAngelo was bought out by the New York Rangers after a skirmish with former teammate Alexandar Georgiev. He was drafted 19th overall by the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2014.

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Rink Wide: Vancouver podcast co-host Jeff Paterson sits in for a vacationing Blake Price and discusses the two-year anniversary of the Oliver Ekman-Larsson trade as well as Brock Boeser's chances at 30 goals and all the traded out draft picks since 2015. Had they kept them, would the Canucks be a Cup contender? B.C. Lions head coach Rick Campbell, fresh off a win on Saturday, stops by with good news on quarterback Vernon Adams' knee injury, as well as thoughts about his incredible defence and this weekend's upcoming game in Edmonton. The guys also discuss Brian Harman winning the Open Championship, an extraordinary Leagues Cup match for the Whitecaps on Friday, and the Jays-Mariners series which lived up to its billing. Presented by Applewood Auto Group.

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The Dallas Stars signed general manager Jim Nill to a two-year contract extension through the 2025-26 season, the team announced Monday.

Nill was named General Manager of the Year at the draft in June. The 65-year-old has been at the helm of the Stars for 10 seasons and is the longest-serving GM in franchise history.

"Jim has proven himself to be one of the best general managers in the NHL," Stars owner Tom Gaglardi said. "He has meticulously built a team through free agency, trades, and the NHL draft that's among the best in the league while also ensuring that the Stars are championship contenders for years to come."

Dallas has made the postseason six times in Nill's tenure, reaching the conference finals in 2020 and 2023. The Stars lost the Stanley Cup Final to the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2020.

"I'm fortunate to have an incredible team of individuals alongside me that have worked tirelessly behind the scenes to help build our team into what it is today," Nill said. "I'm excited to continue my work in developing a winning culture and reaching our shared goal of winning the Stanley Cup."

Prior to joining the Stars, Nill spent 19 seasons with the Detroit Red Wings as a director of player development and assistant GM, where he won four Stanley Cups. His front-office career began in 1991 as a pro scout with the Ottawa Senators after a 524-game NHL career as a player.

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