National Hockey

SEATTLE (AP) — Ron Francis was initially approached about extending his stay as the general manager of the Seattle Kraken back in the winter, but putting finality to the decision took longer than expected.

FRISCO, Texas (AP) — Coach Pete DeBoer couldn't get a third different team to the Stanley Cup Final in his first season, though the Dallas Stars came close.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — David Poile built the Nashville Predators from the bottom up as their first general manager for the expansion franchise. Now the man Poile hired as his first coach here has brought back another original Predator.

EDMONTON — The Edmonton Oilers traded a fifth-round pick in this year's draft to the New York Rangers for the rights to prospect Jayden Grubbe, who they later signed to a three-year entry-level contract on Wednesday.

VANCOUVER — The Vancouver Canucks signed defenceman Jett Woo to a one-year, two-way contract on Wednesday. Woo, 22, has spent the last three seasons playing for Vancouver's American Hockey League affiliate.

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — The Carolina Hurricanes must balance two offseason questions following a return to the Eastern Conference Final.

TORONTO (AP) — Brad Treliving is the new general manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs. The team made the announcement Wednesday, less than two weeks after firing Kyle Dubas.

The NHL's free-agent frenzy is back in its regular time-slot. After three years of schedule disruptions because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the league's signing period returns to July 1.

SUNRISE, Fla. (AP) — The tradition of hockey’s playoff beard goes back to at least the mid-1980s, with the Detroit Red Wings widely credited with beginning the facial hair phenomenon. The playoff beard rub might have started last month by accident.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The Nashville Predators fired coach John Hynes on Tuesday, moving on from him more than six weeks after missing the playoffs.