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Katey Stone Retires From Harvard Women’s Hockey Program

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Katey Stone has retired after nearly three decades as head coach of the Harvard women’s hockey program.

The announcement comes just weeks after bombshell reporting from Bob Hohler of the Boston Globe, Katie Strang of The Athletic, and others that the Harvard program encouraged hazing and other alleged abusive behavior.

Harvard makes no mention of the reporting in the retirement announcement, instead releasing a boilerplate statement from athletic director Erin McDermott:

We recognize the decades of service and commitment that Katey has given to this University and Athletic Department. We thank her for all she has done to build the women’s hockey program here, and we wish her the best in her future endeavors.

Stone, 56, is one of the most recognizable coaches in women’s hockey, having led Harvard for 29 years and served as head coach of Team USA at World Championships and Olympics.

The team will begin the search for a new head coach immediately.

Lawrence Pilut Signs In Switzerland

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It’s back overseas for Lawrence Pilut, who has yet to find any sort of consistency in his professional hockey career. The defenseman has signed a contract with Lausanne HC of the Swiss National League that runs through the 2024-25 season.

Pilut, 27, is scheduled for unrestricted free agency this summer after re-joining the Buffalo Sabres in 2022-23. The Swedish defender played 17 games at the NHL level this year, spending most of his time in the minors with the Rochester Americans.

That sentence could describe most of his time in North America, as, despite rather strong results, Pilut has been constantly shuffled between the two levels. He first joined the Sabres in 2018 after a breakout campaign in the SHL and played 33 games in the NHL. That was followed by 13 appearances in 2019-20, before he decided to head to the KHL for two years.

Overall, Pilut has played 63 NHL games, registering nine points. A two-year deal in Switzerland doesn’t necessarily rule out a North American return, but it does make it much less likely.

He will be free to sign with anyone down the road, but his chance at becoming an NHL regular has likely passed.

Full 2023 List Of Expiring Draft Rights

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June 1: As of 5 p.m. ET on June 1, none of the below players were signed and all are either free to re-enter the draft or become free agents.

May 26: When drafting a player out of North America or any European country with a transfer agreement, a team acquires exclusive negotiating rights for a set amount of time. Each year on June 1, a long list of players see those rights expire and become unrestricted free agents (or choose to re-enter the draft, depending on specific circumstances).

CapFriendly has compiled a complete list for the deadline in just a few days. Some players listed below have already signed overseas; others will have agreements announced soon after their current rights expire.

Anaheim Ducks

Sean Tschigeri (130th overall, 2021)

Arizona Coyotes

Axel Bergkvist (200th overall, 2019)
Manix Landry (139th overall, 2021)
Emil Martinsen Lilleberg (107th overall, 2021)
Valentin Nussbaumer (207th overall, 2019)

Boston Bruins

Matias Mantykivi (185th overall, 2019)

Calgary Flames

Jack Beck (168th overall, 2021)
Lucas Feuk (116th overall, 2019)
Cole Huckins (77th overall, 2021)
Cole Jordan (141st overall, 2021)
Cameron Whynot (89th overall, 2021)

Carolina Hurricanes

Bryce Montgomery (170th overall, 2021)
Robert Orr (136th overall, 2021)

Columbus Blue Jackets

Eric Hjorth (104th overall, 2019)

Dallas Stars

Jacob Holmes (143rd overall, 2021)
Conner Roulette (111th overall, 2021)
Samuel Sjölund (111th overall, 2019)

Detroit Red Wings

Gustav Berglund (177th overall, 2019)
Albert Grewe (66th overall, 2019)
Oscar Plandowski (155th overall, 2021)
Pasquale Zito (166th overall, 2021)

Edmonton Oilers

Patrik Puistola (73rd overall, 2019)

Florida Panthers

Braden Hache (210th overall, 2021)

Los Angeles Kings

Lukas Parik (87th overall, 2019)

Montreal Canadiens

Frederik Nissen Dichow (138th overall, 2019)
Joe Vrbetic (214th overall, 2021)

New Jersey Devils

Nikola Pasic (189th overall, 2019)

New York Rangers

Leevi Aaltonen (130th overall, 2019)

Ottawa Senators

Carson Latimer (123rd overall, 2021)
Ben Roger (49th overall, 2021)
Chandler Romeo (202nd overall, 2021)

Pittsburgh Penguins

Santeri Airola (211th overall, 2019)
Ryan McCleary (194th overall, 2021)

San Jose Sharks

Benjamin Gaudreau (81st overall, 2021)
Liam Gilmartin (167th overall, 2021)
Max McCue (156th overall, 2021)

St. Louis Blues

Tyson Galloway (145th overall, 2021)

Tampa Bay Lightning

Cameron MacDonald (160th overall, 2021)

Toronto Maple Leafs

Kalle Loponen (204th overall, 2019)
Josh Pillar (127th overall, 2019)

Vancouver Canucks

Arvid Costmar (215th overall, 2019)
Connor Lockhart (178th overall, 2021)

Washington Capitals

Martin Hugo Has (153rd overall, 2019)
Dru Krebs (176th overall, 2021)

Seattle Kraken Extend Ron Francis

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The Seattle Kraken, fresh off an exciting playoff run in just their second season, have rewarded general manager Ron Francis with a contract extension. The deal will keep him locked up through 2026-27.

Kraken co-owner Samantha Holloway released a statement:

Ron has done remarkable work over the last four years and deserves this recognition. He has built a tremendous team, putting Seattle hockey on the map. He is building for long term success and is dedicated to our city, our fans, and our community.

Francis was brought on well before the Kraken hit the ice in 2021, and has helped shape the entire Kraken organization. His guidance led the expansion draft process, hired Dave Hakstol, and created the group that was a game away from the Western Conference Finals this year.

While there have been criticisms of how he went about certain aspects of expansion, the Kraken far exceeded many expectations, and Seattle already appears to be a critical market for the NHL.

Recent acquisitions of players like Oliver Bjorkstrand, Andre Burakovsky, and Eeli Tolvanen have taken the team’s offensive performance to a new level, and young players like Matty Beniers appear to be headed for long-term success.

It’s hard to argue with that progress, and obviously, the ownership group felt the same. Francis will be in place for several years, trying to take the Kraken even further.

Vancouver Canucks Agree To Terms With Jett Woo

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The Vancouver Canucks have completed some offseason business, agreeing to terms with Jett Woo on a new one-year, two-way contract. The team did not reveal any financial details, but Rick Dhaliwal of CHEK TV reports that it is worth $775K at the NHL level and $100K in the AHL.

Woo, 22, was picked 37th overall by the Canucks in 2018 but, to this point, has yet to play in an NHL game. The young defenseman suited up for 68 regular season games with the Abbotsford Canucks this season, scoring seven goals and 21 points while racking up 96 penalty minutes.

While defensemen often take longer to develop, several other second-round picks from his draft class have significantly impacted their respective organizations. Players like Alexander Romanov, Sean Durzi, Martin Fehervary, and Calen Addison were all picked after Woo in 2018.

Still, there’s plenty of time for him to reach that next level. A one-year deal doesn’t afford much security, but Woo will be a restricted free agent again next summer, still under Vancouver control.

Toronto Maple Leafs Hire Brad Treliving

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The rather short courting period is over, and Brad Treliving is now officially the general manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs. The move was announced today with a statement from team president Brendan Shanahan:

I’m very pleased to welcome Brad into the Maple Leafs organization. Brad brings a wealth of knowledge from his years of experience as a general manager and hockey executive in Calgary, Arizona and beyond. He has earned tremendous respect amongst his peers throughout his years in the NHL and has built excellent relationships at all levels within the game. We are confident that Brad’s leadership and strategic vision will elevate the Maple Leafs in our continued pursuit of a championship.

Treliving replaces the outgoing Kyle Dubas, fired by the Maple Leafs just before his contract expired this summer. The former Calgary GM released his own statement on the new role:

I am very excited and honored to join the Toronto Maple Leafs as general manager. I would like to thank Brendan, MLSE and its Board for their support throughout this process. I’m thrilled to join an Original Six team and recognize how much the Maple Leafs mean to this community. This is a very exciting day for my family and I.

The team will introduce Treliving to the media tomorrow morning, but he immediately takes over as the 18th GM in club history, and has a huge list of important items to get to this summer. Auston Matthews and William Nylander are both eligible to sign extensions on July 1, as they enter their last seasons under contract before unrestricted free agency. Ten other roster regulars are pending UFAs, including names like Ryan O’Reilly and Michael Bunting who should have plenty of interest on the open market.

There’s also the issue of coaching, as he inherits Sheldon Keefe after another disappointing playoff exit, but without upstart assistant Spencer Carbery who took a position with the Washington Capitals. Reports have emerged today that Keefe may not actually be on the chopping block, though that has been said many times just before a dismissal is made.

Looming over all of that is a growing sentiment (at least among fans) that the core group of Maple Leafs is not built for playoff success. Matthews, Nylander, Mitch Marner, and John Tavares cost the team nearly $40MM against the cap every year but have won just a single second-round game in their time with the Maple Leafs. A no-movement clause kicks in for Marner this offseason, and even more money would have to be shelled out to retain Matthews and Nylander.

It could be a dramatic few weeks in Toronto, though Treliving should be used to that. He’s the GM that had to watch two 100-point players walk out the door last offseason, when Johnny Gaudreau left for Columbus, and Matthew Tkachuk essentially forced a trade to Florida. Many praised the manager for making the best of a bad situation by landing Jonathan Huberdeau and MacKenzie Weegar, but Calgary took a noticeable step back while Tkachuk has just led the Panthers to the Stanley Cup Final.

If another massive trade is on the horizon for Treliving, Maple Leafs fans will have to hope he’s on the right side of it this time.

Edmonton Oilers Acquire; Sign Jayden Grubbe

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3:07 PM: Shortly thereafter, the Oilers announced that Grubbe has signed a three-year entry-level contract with the organization. The deal will run until the end of the 2025-26 NHL season. The contract will also carry an AAV of $925K in the NHL, and an AAV of $80K in the AHL.

12:04 PM: With tomorrow’s deadline approaching for many expiring draft rights, a few last-minute dealings may be made. The Edmonton Oilers have done just that, acquiring Jayden Grubbe from the New York Rangers in exchange for a 2023 fifth-round pick. If not signed by tomorrow evening, Grubbe’s rights would no longer belong to the Oilers.

The fact that they made this trade suggests that an entry-level contract will soon follow, though it has not yet been announced. Grubbe, 20, was a third-round pick of the Rangers in 2021 but still hasn’t taken the jump to elite production in the junior level, despite his NHL size.

In 2021-22 he had just 14 goals and 35 points in 68 games, and while this year was better—18 goals and 67 points in 64 games—it may still not have been enough to make the Rangers interested in offering him a deal.

That, or perhaps the Alberta native didn’t see a future for himself in the Rangers organization. He’ll now get a chance to sign closer to home, and start his professional career with the Oilers minor league system.

Standing 6’3″, Grubbe has shown some flashes, but has a long way to go before making an impact at the NHL level. The fact that the Rangers landed a fifth-round pick for him is rather impressive, given how close they were to losing him for nothing.

From the Oilers perspective, this may have been their best chance at landing the young forward. Should Grubbe’s rights expire, he could re-enter the draft. If they were willing to spend a fifth (or higher) on him anyway, it makes sense to do the deal ahead of tomorrow’s deadline.

Carolina Hurricanes To Explore Trade Market “Pretty Heavily”

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The Carolina Hurricanes had a great year, ruined by “one bad week,” as head coach Rod Brind’Amour put it today. The club won 52 games, cruised through the first two rounds against the New York Islanders and New Jersey Devils, dropping just three games, and seemed poised to compete for the Stanley Cup. Four straight losses to the Florida Panthers turned the good vibes into a concerning tone, and will force them to reconsider what comes next.

Today, speaking with Brind’Amour at the season-ending press conference, general manager Don Waddell explained that the Hurricanes will explore the trade market “pretty heavily” before free agency opens a month from now.

That’s nothing new for the veteran GM.

Since taking over the day-to-day operations in 2018, the list of players Waddell has acquired through trade is extensive—and impressive. Dougie Hamilton, Jordan Martinook, Nino Niederreiter, Erik Haula, James Reimer, Joel Edmundson, Vincent Trocheck, Sami Vatanen, Brady Skjei, Max Domi, Brent Burns, Max Pacioretty, Jesse Puljujarvi, and Shayne Gostisbehere have all been brought in.

They even took a shot at trying to sign Adam Fox, though he would eventually spurn them as well, waiting to get to his preferred New York destination.

While not every member of that group has been successful in Carolina, it’s a testament to the creativity and courage that Waddell has when discussing trades. It also reflects how well their scouting and development system has worked over the years, churning out assets to swap while continuing to produce NHL-quality talent for the roster.

Pacioretty, for instance, was a home run cut that whiffed this year. He was acquired for nothing, as the Vegas Golden Knights needed to clear cap space, and had the potential to be a high-end goal scorer for the club. But two Achilles injuries would limit him to just five games (and three goals).

Waddell admitted today that there is interest in re-signing the pending UFA, but the team has to “make sure [they] don’t get caught counting on something that isn’t there.” It’s unclear when Pacioretty will be ready to play hockey and what kind of impact he can make if he returns.

With significant cap space to use but considerable gaps in the current roster, it should be a wildly entertaining offseason from the Hurricanes. Given the team still carries nine picks in this year’s draft, including their first-rounder, there could be fireworks on the horizon.

Carolina Hurricanes Sign Justin Robidas

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If you watched the Quebec Remparts open the Memorial Cup against the Kamloops Blazers last Friday, you probably noticed an undersized QMJHL forward flying around the ice setting up his teammates with creative, deceptive passes.

That was Justin Robidas, who put up three assists in the blowout win, continuing a brilliant playoff performance. As the young forward waits to see who he’ll face in the tournament finale, he’s made another huge step in his career.

Robidas has signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Carolina Hurricanes. General manager Don Waddell released the following statement:

Justin has produced offensively throughout his junior career, and he has played a key role for Quebec throughout the QMJHL playoffs and Memorial Cup this season. We are excited to watch his development progress at the next level.

The 20-year-old forward was picked 147th in 2021, scoring 78 points in 63 regular season games this year. Even better, he put up 27 in 18 postseason games, helping the Remparts take home the QMJHL title.

While his size, a diminutive 5’8″, will likely pose a challenge for him at the next level, Robidas has shown elite playmaking ability at the junior level. He’ll be ticketed for the AHL next season, where he’ll try to translate his game to the professional ranks.

If he does struggle, there’s certainly someone he can ask for advice. Robidas is the son of Stephane Robidas, a veteran of more than 900 games and currently an assistant coach with the Montreal Canadiens.

Coaching Notes: Gallant, Laviolette, Carbery

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The offseason coaching carousel continues, with Andrew Brunette taking over for the Nashville Predators today. That puts another experienced head coach on the market in John Hynes, adding to a long list of candidates for any vacancies.

Here’s a rundown of notes from Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic, on upcoming (and past) interviews:

  • The Calgary Flames have contacted former New York Rangers head coach Gerard Gallant, who will be part of an extensive interview process as they look to replace the outgoing Darryl Sutter. Gallant has had great success in all his head coaching roles but has never made it through a third season with the same team.
  • The Rangers are expected to meet with Peter Laviolette again today as they look to replace Gallant. Hynes has also been linked to the New York job, suggesting they’ll go with another experienced name after parting ways with Gallant earlier this month.
  • Laviolette’s replacement with the Washington Capitals, Spencer Carbery, also interviewed with the Predators, according to LeBrun. As shown by the hiring of Brunette, Nashville was clearly willing to go with less experience; Carbery will be getting his first NHL head coaching opportunity in Washington.

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