Furthermore, Kessel would even be willing to play for his former assistant coach Rick Tocchet, who is now the head coach of the Arizona Coyotes, per Yohe. Although, Kessel's $6.8-million price tag is likely too juicy for the Desert Dogs to take on.
Regardless, Kessel is coming off a career season in which he netted 34 goals and 58 assists for a career-high 92 points, so if he were to be made available, multiple teams would be lined up in an attempt to acquire his super-sniper services.
The rumblings about Kessel's potential departure come less than a month after a reported beef between he and head coach Mike Sullivan. Kessel was apparently furious about not playing regularly with Evgeni Malkin during Pittsburgh's 2018 playoff run.
Kessel played most of the postseason on the Penguins' third line, registering only one goal in 12 games. He is under contract in Pittsburgh for the next four seasons.
Mike Hoffman has been employed by three different hockey franchises in the last handful of hours after being dealt from Ottawa to San Jose, and then from San Jose to Florida before noon on Tuesday.
So naturally, there were questions to be answered surrounding the Panthers' newest addition and his fit in Florida. None were more important than the one related to Hoffman's recent off-ice issues - specifically, his girlfriend's alleged campaign of harassment against Erik Karlsson and his wife.
"We did our homework and we discussed it with a lot of different people," Panthers general manager Dale Tallon said of Hoffman, according to Joshua Clipperton of the Canadian Press. "We feel that's in the past ... we're very confident he'll be embraced by our team and by their wives and girlfriends."
Reports emerged last week regarding Hoffman's longtime girlfriend, Monica Caryk, and her alleged online harassment of the Karlssons over the last year.
However, according to Tallon, there won't be any issues with welcoming Caryk into the Panthers' group of wives and girlfriends. "It's important. We have a young group. We have a great room," Tallon said, according to Chris Stevenson of The Athletic.
"Our wives and girlfriends really got along great last year. They are a young group. That has to have some sort of impact, but I think they tend to get along better when the team wins more."
Tallon acquired Hoffman in exchange for the Panthers' fourth- and fifth-round picks in 2018, and a second-rounder in 2019.
Hoffman had initially been traded to San Jose in exchange for forward Mikkel Boedker earlier Tuesday morning before moving to the Panthers less than three hours later.
"Mike is a skilled, consistent, and hard-working player who has proven himself to be a talented goal-scorer in the NHL," Panthers general manager Dale Tallon said in a release. "His speed, experience, and offensive abilities will bolster our top-six group."
Heading San Jose's way in exchange for Hoffman are Florida's fourth- and fifth-round picks in the upcoming 2018 draft, along with a second-rounder in 2019.
Pretty good day for Doug Wilson. He gets rid of Mikkel Boedker and trades a 6th round pick in exchange for a 2nd, a 4th and two 5th round picks, plus $4 million in cap space and $6 million in real salary savings. #sjsharks
On the other side, San Jose positioned itself to make future roster moves with the addition of picks and salary cap flexibility. The Sharks have been rumored to be in the mix for highly sought-after winger Ilya Kovalchuk, as well as pending prized unrestricted free agent John Tavares.
"Today's trade showcases our determination to strengthen the future of the team by improving chemistry, leadership, and character in the locker room and on the ice," Dorion said in a team release.
Despite obviously giving up the most valuable piece in the deal, Hoffman was traded along with prospect Cody Donaghey and a 2020 fifth-round pick in exchange for forward Mikkel Boedker, a 2020 sixth-rounder, and AHL rearguard Julius Bergman, Dorion feels there's still value in the return coming Ottawa's way - especially when it comes to Boedker, a former eighth overall draft pick who can play both sides of the ice.
"Mikkel Boedker is a competitive, versatile, two-way forward who can play both wings," Dorion added. "He has a track record of playing his best hockey in the most important games, including the playoffs and internationally. His skill set - in particular his speed - along with his veteran leadership fits with our vision for the team."
While Dorion was put in a tough spot due to an off-ice rift between Hoffman and Karlsson, the deal still provides the team with a decent top-six option in Boedker as well as salary cap relief.
In 82 games for the Sens last season, Hoffman notched 22 goals and 34 assists in 18:24 of ice time per night. Boedker registered 15 goals and 22 assists in 74 contests for the Sharks.
Few things can overly excite a fan base like the potential addition of a talented unrestricted free agent. Should that player be one that resides in the blue paint, that buzz seemingly amps up a few notches.
And while the top crop of netminders set to become UFAs this summer isn't exactly a list of future Hall of Famers, there are a few names that will assuredly have front-office executives picking up the phone to gauge costs.
With July 1 rapidly approaching, we rank the best UFA goalies set to hit the open market best based on past track record, age, and skill.
5. Jaroslav Halak
2017-18 stats:
GP
Record
SO
GAA
SV%
54
20-26-6
1
3.19
.908
Buried in the seemingly bottomless pit of goaltending in New York over the last few seasons, Halak has struggled to recapture his 38-win form from 2014-15 when he posted six shutouts and carried the Islanders to a playoff berth.
The veteran netminder hasn't exactly been gifted with a strong supporting cast in front of him, as New York has built a reputation as a squad that opposing teams pad their offensive stats against, allowing a league high in shots-against per game, goals-against per game, and total goals allowed in 2017-18.
So his recent performance must be viewed through the correct lens to properly see what he still has to offer.
Despite the porous defense in front of him and the less-than-stellar numbers, Halak still has what it takes to contribute as a serviceable backup who fills in for 20 or 30 games as a quality No. 2. The 33-year-old's streaky nature and tendency to elevate his game in the clutch should be enough to suppress any potential injury concerns.
4. Cam Ward
2017-18 stats:
GP
Record
SO
GAA
SV%
43
23-14-4
2
2.73
.906
In a season when he was supposed to play backup and mentor newly appointed No. 1 Scott Darling, Ward was the far more consistent goalie in the Hurricanes' blue paint.
There is no denying that Ward's best days are behind him. And at 34 years old, he is undoubtedly best suited for holding down a backup role. However, as last season proved, Ward is more than capable of still turning in game-stealing performances.
He has the ability to win games while also bringing an element of veteran stability to the table; essential characteristics for any successful goalie. Expect Ward to slot nicely into a roster in need of an experienced netminder.
3. Kari Lehtonen
GP
Record
SO
GAA
SV%
37
15-14-3
1
2.56
.912
Another 'tender that hasn't exactly been blessed with a strong defensive core in front of him, Lehtonen remains an intriguing goalie for teams in need of a relatively cheap option who can still get the job done.
Lehtonen had a massive bounce-back campaign in 2017-18 for the Dallas Stars despite playing second fiddle to offseason acquisition Ben Bishop. While Bishop struggled and spent time on the treatment table, Lehtonen used the opportunity to reclaim some of the respect he'd lost over the past few seasons of poor showings, posting a respectable 2.56 GAA and .912 save percentage across 30 starts.
A history of injuries and recent inconsistency won't exactly have GMs lined up to sign him, but Lehtonen's size and comfort handling the biscuit should land him at least a few contract offers.
2. Anton Khudobin
GP
Record
SO
GAA
SV%
31
16-6-7
1
2.56
.913
Khudobin was rock-solid this year in relief of Boston Bruins starter Tuukka Rask, posting 16 wins and a save percentage north of .910 - two very good numbers for teams to get out of their backup netminder.
The 32-year-old Russian makes up for his relatively small frame (5-foot-11) with his lightning-quick agility, a trait that allows him to cover a lot of the net despite his limited length.
Regardless of his past injury issues, Khudobin is the prototypical backup goalie who's proven he can steal a game when his team needs it most. His potential to be a No. 1 in a pinch is the clinching factor in having Khudobin holding down the second spot on our list.
1. Carter Hutton
GP
Record
SO
GAA
SV%
32
17-7-3
3
2.09
.931
Three seasons of sitting behind one of the league's greatest goalies in Pekka Rinne in Nashville started to pay off in spades for Hutton in 2017-18. He turned in the best campaign of his career while temporarily stealing the crease away from starter Jake Allen midway through the year, turning in a 9-1-1 record from Dec. 29 to Feb. 3.
That stretch of lights-out play and an overall solid season turned enough heads around the NHL that he will undoubtedly be the most sought-after UFA goalie on the market.
Hutton has already indicated to the Blues that he'll be looking to test the free-agent waters, which could start an interesting trickle-down effect on the rest of the netminders on the list, as Hutton's contract would surely become the benchmark for offseason signings.
Like most NHL general managers, newly appointed Toronto Maple Leafs GM Kyle Dubas has a busy few weeks ahead of him.
With the draft and free agency looming, Dubas was asked about his plans for pending unrestricted free-agent forwards James van Riemsdyk, Tyler Bozak, and Leo Komarov.
"The door is always open," Dubas said Saturday, according to the Canadian Press. "We're evaluating where things are."
The success of some prospects already on Toronto's depth chart this season, such as AHL playoff MVP Andreas Johnsson, gives Dubas the luxury of not having to force a deal, and helps relieve any pressure to re-sign one of the aforementioned veterans.
"I don't think I have to do anything big, just to do so," Dubas said. "That would be a disservice to the organization, frankly. It's not about me. It's about the players and the coaches.
"If what people describe as a 'big splash' happens to make our team a lot better then we'll do it, but it's not something that important to me at all."
Bozak is one of the best faceoff men in the game (53.6 career win percentage). Van Riemsdyk, meanwhile, is coming off a season in which he tallied a career-high 36 goals, and Komarov is a leader committed to playing with a physical edge. Any member of the trio that hits the open market on July 1 should attract interest.
The St. Louis Blues could be looking to add another lethal Russian scorer to their lineup.
Blues general manager Doug Armstrong confirmed Friday the team is interested in highly sought-after winger Ilya Kovalchuk.
"There's nothing planned yet on a visit but we certainly talked to his agent asking him to explore our situation and see if there's interest," Armstrong said, according to Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
Kovalchuk has been generating interest across the NHL since indicating in March he was eyeing a jump back across the pond.
"Always looking to improve our team," said Armstrong. "We're like all teams. He's 35 years old, there's risk involved with players of that age. But he could be Jaromir Jagr. He could start slowing down at 41. Or he could come back and hit the wall. You never know.
"But there's certainly intrigue there because he's been such a dominant player internationally and he was a helluva player when he left (the NHL)."
Kovalchuk spent the last five seasons in the KHL with SKA St. Petersburg, racking up 120 goals and 165 assists in 262 regular-season games.
Ottawa Senators forward Mike Hoffman and his fiancee, Monika Caryk, again denied any involvement in online harassment of Hoffman's teammate Erik Karlsson and his wife, Melinda, saying the allegations haven't been substantiated.
"We feel compassion and awful for what Erik and Melinda have had to deal with," Hoffman told Bruce Garrioch of The Ottawa Citizen on Friday. "I don’t really think it’s correct to be blamed for something without having proof."
It was reported Tuesday that Melinda applied for a peace bond against Caryk in May after months of alleged harassment through social media. On Wednesday, Hoffman's agent said the team and all parties involved have been aware of the situation since the end of the regular season.
Hoffman says he attempted to speak directly with his captain in late March.
"I sent a message out to him saying, 'I'm aware of the situation and I'd like to discuss it and go through it with you,'" Hoffman said.
"It wasn't until four days later that he spoke with me. We ended up doing it after practice, walking out of the rink, and basically what was said was, 'I'd like to see what your point of the story is' and all he had to say was, 'We know it was Monika' and I asked whether it was on Instagram? Twitter? Just show something or prove something.
"They wouldn't do so at the time. All he said was that they knew it was her and it was the only thing mentioned."
Hoffman says he and Caryk reached out to the Karlssons at the end of May to discuss the situation privately but "got nothing back."
The Karlssons haven't made an official statement regarding the allegations or the peace bond.
The 24-year-old can play both up the middle and on the wing while chipping in offensively. He registered seven goals and 18 assists across 50 regular-season games for Chicago last campaign.
The 5-foot-9 forward helps make up for what he lacks in size with his playmaking and goal-scoring ability - two characteristics that should put him in excellent position to crack the Blackhawks' opening night roster.
Hinostroza's signing continued a busy Friday for Chicago's front office, as the team agreed to a two-year extension with forward John Hayden earlier in the day. Hayden notched four goals, nine assists, and 54 penalty minutes in 47 games for the Blackhawks this season.
Signing Hinostroza and Hayden leaves only forwards Tomas Jurco and Anthony Duclair on Chicago's list of restricted free agents.
The NHL's contract buyout window officially opened Friday morning, and Dallas Stars veteran Jason Spezza was among the players being rumored to be bought out.
However, the Stars will pass on the buyout option and have the 35-year-old center play out the final year of his current contract, according to Sportsnet's Chris Johnston.
Spezza registered only eight goals and 18 assists across 78 games last season while serving predominantly as the Stars' third-line center. However, he still plays an important role for a Dallas club lacking depth up the middle.
The Stars signed Spezza to a four-year, $30-million deal in 2014 - a contract that has one season remaining at a cap hit of $7.5 million.
