Arizona Coyotes fans are thrilled to see Phil.

Following the acquisition of Phil Kessel, the club's ticket sales have increased by 550 percent compared to the same week last summer, according to the Arizona Republic's Richard Morin.

The Coyotes have also seen an uptick in their website traffic, mobile app visits, and social media engagement since the June 29 trade that brought Kessel to the desert. Additionally, 94 percent of season-ticket holders have renewed for next season - the highest mark since 2004.

"It's certainly satisfying and exciting to see us doing something as a franchise that we feel makes us a much more competitive team and puts us in a better position to win," Coyotes president and CEO Ahron Cohen said, according to Morin. "The fact that other people in this market are seeing that, fans are seeing that, and they're jumping on board, it's good, positive momentum for this organization."

Kessel ranks eighth in the NHL in goals since entering the league in 2006-07 and hasn't missed a game since 2009-10. He's totaled 174 points over the past two seasons, marking the most productive two-year stretch of his career.

"Obviously, Phil is an elite player," Coyotes general manager John Chayka said earlier in July. "Personally I can't (recall) the last time we've had a player of this caliber who has had this production and this resume on this team. I think it's exciting for our fans and it's exciting for our players."

The Coyotes finished just four points out of the playoffs last season despite an injury-riddled campaign. They were one of the league's top defensive teams but finished 27th in scoring - a weakness that Kessel will certainly help address.

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Joe Pavelski is providing a window into the thought process that led him to bid farewell to the San Jose Sharks after more than a decade.

"Oh yeah, it was tough," the Dallas Stars forward and former Sharks captain told NBC Sports Bay Area's Josh Schrock on Wednesday. "I don't want to say it was harder than I thought it was going to be because I knew it was going to be hard once we got to that state and started looking at different teams and understanding that it was a real possibility that we should be prepared in case it gets there."

Pavelski, who'll turn 35 on Thursday, signed a three-year, $21-million deal with the Stars on July 1 after playing the last 13 campaigns with the Sharks.

The veteran center, who wore the 'C' in San Jose for the last four seasons, ranks among the club's all-time leaders in goals, assists, points, and games played.

"I've only got good things to say about San Jose and the organization there," he said. "The way the guys have treated me and the teammates that I've had that are still there. It was tough to leave. You don't stay somewhere for 13 years and not grow attached to it.

"I've just got some tremendous friendships there and you know it's not really goodbye; it's more of a thank you to the fans and everyone that was involved and helped turn me into the player and person I am today. Those decisions never come lightly and it wasn't easy."

Pavelski was an unrestricted free agent who also reportedly garnered interest from the Tampa Bay Lightning and Minnesota Wild.

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The Los Angeles Kings have signed forward Alex Iafallo to a two-year contract extension with an average annual value of $2.425 million, the club announced Wednesday.

Iafallo, who was a restricted free agent, had an arbitration hearing scheduled for July 20.

The 25-year-old scored 15 goals and added 18 assists during his second NHL season.

He signed with the Kings as an undrafted free agent in April 2017 following a standout collegiate career at Minnesota Duluth.

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The Vancouver Canucks are closing in on a contract with free-agent winger Micheal Ferland, according to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.

Ferland is one of the highest-profile names still available in this summer's free-agent crop. Terms of the potential deal are unknown.

The 27-year-old suited up for the Carolina Hurricanes in 2018-19 after spending the first four seasons of his career with the Calgary Flames. He recorded 40 points in 71 games with Carolina in the regular season and added one assist in seven playoff contests.

The Canucks have already made a pair of big-ticket moves this offseason, signing defenseman Tyler Myers to a $30-million contract while also acquiring center J.T. Miller via trade from the Tampa Bay Lightning.

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The Boston Bruins inked forward Danton Heinen to a two-year contract extension with an average annual value of $2.8 million, the club announced on Tuesday night.

Heinen and the team avoided arbitration by agreeing to this new pact. A hearing had been scheduled for Aug. 3 if he didn't sign beforehand.

The 24-year-old recorded 11 goals and 34 points in 77 regular-season games with the Bruins this past season, adding eight points in 24 playoff contests this spring.

Heinen briefly saw time on the club's top line when David Pastrnak was hurt toward the end of the regular season.

He spent the last two seasons primarily at the NHL level with Boston, notching 27 goals and 81 points across 154 contests over that span. He was held off the score sheet over an eight-game stint with the Bruins in 2016-17.

Boston drafted the center 116th overall in 2014.

With Heinen now under contract, the Bruins hold $7.35 million in cap space to sign restricted free-agent defensemen Charlie McAvoy and Brandon Carlo, according to CapFriendly.

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