Recently departed Seattle Kraken president of hockey operations Ron Francis is coming back to the Pittsburgh Penguins organization.
Last season, Francis, 63, was moved up to president of hockey operations after spending six years as the Seattle Kraken’s first franchise general manager. However, rumors of diverging opinions on key matters between him and general manager Jason Botterill persisted, and in April, Francis announced he would step down as president.
Friday, the Penguins announced Francis would rejoin the organization as Special Advisor, Hockey Operations to president of hockey operations/GM Kyle Dubas. With the Penguins, Francis won two Stanley Cups (1991, 1992) as a player and served as captain following Mario Lemieux’s retirement for the 1997-98 season.
Francis played for the Penguins from 1991 through the ’98 season.
According to the Penguins’ press release, Francis will be involved in improving the organization’s front office operations.
The Toronto Maple Leafs traded for Emil Andrae earlier this week, and on Friday, they acquired Darren Raddysh in a sign-and-trade from the Tampa Bay Lightning.
It's all pointing to the same thing: Morgan Rielly is a goner.
The defenseman still has four years and $30 million total ($7.5 million AAV) remaining on his contract, but he's been involved in trade rumors for months.
There's no way Toronto can keep him anymore after getting Raddysh.
The Maple Leafs and Rielly have to find a destination that everyone is happy with, but this has to be a trade coming, potentially sooner rather than later.
It sounds like Rielly is starting to come to grips with that, too.
"Rielly had previously been unwilling to consider waiving his no-movement clause, but has since softened on that stance," The Athletic's Chris Johnston wrote this week.
Even though Rielly's recent time in Toronto hasn't been ideal, he can still be a useful player.
"While Rielly’s skating isn’t the separator it once was, he possesses strong puck skills and can help drive a team offensively," Johnston writes. "He’s also a high-character player who should be viewed as a dressing room asset."
Maybe there was a way to squint earlier this week and see a path for Rielly staying put.
The Raddysh acquisition pretty much puts that possibility to rest. It'd be shocking at this point not to see Rielly traded.
Darren Raddysh, by 8:30 a.m. on Friday, wasn't just the newest member of the Toronto Maple Leafs. He's signed an eight-year contract to be with the Leafs for the long haul.
And if you're just getting into work and catching up with this news, yes, it's quite shocking.
Toronto announced the deal, which sends a fifth-round pick to the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Raddysh is coming off a season in which he scored a career-high 70 points, with 22 goals and 48 assists.
The Maple Leafs needed the defensive upgrade, too. It feels like a perfect match.
Yet there were no rumors about it, and the cost was just a fifth-rounder. It feels like incredible out-of-nowhere business by new Leafs GM John Chayka.
How Maple Leafs traded for pending free agent Darren Raddysh
The whole key here was that Raddysh was heading for free agency. His contract with the Lightning was up.
On July 1, he would've hit the open market. And if Tampa Bay didn't think he'd re-sign there, then they really had nothing else they could do with him.
In looping in the Maple Leafs, they got a fifth-round pick in return -- not a lot, but slightly better than nothing.
The Leafs got a chance to exclusively negotiate with Raddysh rather than having to bid against the rest of the league at the start of July. They also got an extra year, that eighth year on the contract, due to the sign-and-trade nature of the deal.
There's been all sorts of speculation about Toronto's defensive needs, but Raddysh hadn't come up.
There'd been a bit of curiosity about whether the Maple Leafs would try to sign him as a free agent, but a trade? Pretty much no one thought of that because that's not normally a train of thought for a pending free agent.
Toronto, though, took a big swing. It didn't cost much in terms of assets -- just in how much they'll pay Raddysh for most of the next decade.
But if there were concerns about the new front office, this is proof that they won't sit back and wait. They made a move to go for it, and it should be well received.
The Toronto Maple Leafs have made one of the biggest moves of the NHL offseason, acquiring defenseman Darren Raddysh from the Tampa Bay Lightning in a sign-and-trade agreement.
NHL insider Pierre LeBrun reported on X that Toronto and Tampa Bay were finalizing a deal involving the pending unrestricted free agent.
LeBrun wrote, “Confirming that Toronto and Tampa Bay are finalizing a sign-and-trade involving pending UFA Darren Raddysh. Hearing that it will be an eight-year deal with an AAV in the 8’s (north of $8 million).”
The move signals a major shift under new general manager John Chayka. After a disastrous 2025-26 season, Toronto entered the summer searching for a legitimate top-pair defenseman.
Raddysh fits that description after a breakout campaign with Tampa Bay. The 30-year-old recorded 22 goals and 48 assists for 70 points in 73 games while averaging 22:41 of ice time.
His 22 goals established a new Lightning franchise record for a defenseman. He also led all NHL blueliners with 10 power-play goals.
Why are the Toronto Maple Leafs willing to pay?
Insider Marco D’Amico reported that the Maple Leafs viewed Raddysh as a top-pair option. He noted that completing a sign-and-trade allowed Toronto to secure an eighth contract year and potentially keep the cap hit below $9 million.
D’Amico later acknowledged the risk involved.
“Now, you can argue whether signing a 30-year-old to an 8-year deal is wise,” D’Amico wrote. “But Toronto absolutely needed to add a player with top-pair experience and didn’t have the assets to trade for it upfront. Interesting gamble of cap space and a draft pick.”
That assessment reflects the reality facing the organization. Toronto finished last in the Atlantic Division with 78 points and allowed 299 goals, ranking near the bottom of the league defensively.
So, Raddysh addresses several weaknesses immediately. He brings a right-handed shot, elite puck movement, power-play production, and the ability to handle heavy minutes.
His arrival also eases pressure on Morgan Rielly and strengthens a blue line that lacked offensive support. Toronto’s power play struggled after Mitch Marner‘s departure, making Raddysh’s point-shot threat especially valuable.
There is long-term risk attached to an eight-year commitment for a player entering his thirties. Still, Chayka inherited a roster with glaring holes and limited trade assets.
For a team desperate to re-establish credibility, Raddysh represents a calculated gamble and perhaps the answer Toronto has been searching for on defense.
The Toronto Maple Leafs have emerged as a potential suitor for Anaheim Ducks captain Radko Gudas. NHL insider Kevin Weekes reported that Toronto and the Florida Panthers are among the teams monitoring the veteran defenseman.
Weekes wrote on X: “👀 Per sources, I’m told @AnaheimDucks Captain D Gudas is gaining interest in the marketplace. If him & Ducks can’t get a deal done, @FlaPanthers @MapleLeafs are among potential fits.”
Gudas is set to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1 after completing his three-year, $12 million contract with Anaheim. The 36-year-old reportedly seeks a new deal worth between $3.5 million and $4 million annually.
Toronto’s interest is notable because Gudas ended Auston Matthews’ season in March. The Ducks captain received a five-game suspension after a knee-on-knee hit injured the Leafs star.
Matthews suffered a Grade 3 MCL tear and a quad contusion. The injury limited him to 60 games and removed Toronto’s top offensive threat.
Why the Maple Leafs could pursue Radko Gudas?
Anaheim Ducks defenseman Radko Gudas (7) at San Jose. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images
The Maple Leafs are coming off a disastrous 2025-26 season. They finished 32-36-14, missed the playoffs, and posted a -46 goal differential.
Defensive play was a major issue throughout the season. Toronto allowed too many shots and struggled to establish a consistent physical presence on the blue line, especially after Chris Tanev’s injury.
That is where Gudas could help, despite his age. He remains one of the league’s toughest defenders and brings extensive playoff experience. His 2025-26 season was affected by ankle and lower-body injuries, but despite that, he appeared in 56 games and recorded two goals, 11 assists, and 67 penalty minutes.
So, Gudas makes more sense as a depth addition than a major solution. Toronto still needs stronger top-four options if it hopes to return to contention. However, a short-term contract could provide value. Gudas would add leadership, physicality, and defensive edge to a roster undergoing significant changes.
New general manager John Chayka and head coach Jim Hiller are reshaping the organization. Pursuing Gudas suggests Toronto wants a harder, more structured identity moving forward.
The NHL’s 2026 draft is nearly here, and each team at the top of the draft are going to add a very talented young player. But as part of a series of articles for The Sporting News, we’re breaking down which players make the most sense for each team to pick at their point in the draft.
The San Jose Sharks are an interesting team to watch heading into the draft. On the one hand, the best player available is one who plays a position they have a premium in, and their true need is an offensive No. 1 defenseman.
Adding a player like Ivar Stenberg would add to the riches up front for the Sharks, whose young core already consists of Macklin Celebrini, Michael Misa, Will Smith, William Eklund, Igor Chernyshov and prospects like Quentin Musty, Filip Bystedy and Kasper Halttunen.
On the backend, Sam Dickinson highlights their young core, which also includes NHL hopefuls like Eric Pohlkamp and Hoaxi Wang. A true No. 1, play-driving offensive defenseman could be what the Sharks are missing as they push to be a playoff team.
From least to most likely to be taken by San Jose to least likely, here are our top-four picks for Sharks GM Mike Grier at No. 2 overall:
4. Keaton Verhoeff, D, North Dakota (NCAA)
At 6-foot-4, Verhoeff has the size that NHL teams dream of in a defenseman, and although his first year at North Dakota saw him produce only 20 points in 36 games this season, Verhoeff did have four points in five games at this year’s World Junior Championship.
He’s going to be a long shot to be picked in the top four of this year’s draft, but Verhoeff could be San Jose’s choice if they trade down to fifth or sixth. Verhoeff doesn’t have the aura of a higher-ranked player like Reid or Carels, but he still has enough promise for a team to take a chance on. And that team could turn out to be the Sharks.
Carels took a huge step forward this season, putting up 20 goals and 73 points in 58 games. Although Carels has committed to the NCAA’s University of North Dakota for the 2026-27 season, his all-around talents make him an attractive option for the Sharks to consider.
Carels also had nine assists and 10 points in 10 playoff games for Prince George this season. His stock is on the rise, but it would be a shock if Carels wound up being San Jose’s pick at second overall. Carels is going to be a solid D-man at the NHL level, but Reid and Stenberg are probably going to be picked at No. 2 and No. 3 overall. So unless Grier trades down in the draft, the Sharks are likely to choose someone other than Carels.
With McKenna off the board, the most talented, NHL-ready forward is Swedish star winger Stenberg. The 18-year-old posted 33 points in 43 games this season, and scouts and prospect experts believe he can come in next season and contribute meaningfully at an above-average NHL level.
Stenberg may not have the ceiling of McKenna, but his all-around impact would fit in very well in San Jose. The Sharks already have a terrific top line with Celebrini and Will Smith, and Stenberg would give them another all-world foundational player up front. If the Sharks don’t draft Reid, they’ll almost-certainly choose Stenberg. He’s second only to McKenna, so San Jose will probably take either Stenberg or Reid.
We know teams usually state they pick the most-talented player rather than choose by positional need – but in the case of Reid, both those things could be true. The Sharks do need more elite depth on ‘D’, and Reid – the best blueliner available – would help them immensely. Reid had 48 points in 45 games this year, and he also was strong at the 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship.
Reid may not be the next Matthew Schaefer, but high-end blueliners are so hard to come by, you can’t blame Grier for going with Reid over a forward with more flash-and-dash to their game. Reid would fill a positional need, and he has an elite ceiling. So if the Toronto Maple Leafs do what’s expected and select NCAA star winger Gavin McKenna with the first-overall pick, it makes sense for the Sharks to pick Reid with the second-overall selection.
Adding a player whose game has been compared to Norris Trophy winners like Zach Werenski and Adam Fox is nothing to scoff at.
If you've been to a hockey game, you've likely seen them dressed in black windbreakers, stepping onto the ice to clear buildup from the fast-paced action. They're the Carolina Hurricanes ice crew, a group of dedicated people who play a key role behind the scenes and say this season is one they won't forget.
The crew, made up of about 20 members, prepares the ice and rink for game day, ensuring players have the best possible surface. For members like Robb Wade, the job comes with a unique distinction.
"The only people that get to go on the ice are the players, the officials, and the ice crew. So, we're in a pretty select group there."
Crew members arrive roughly 3 1/2 hours before puck drop, working tirelessly to get the rink ready. During games, they shovel excess ice and operate resurfacing equipment known as the Olympia, often taking the ice during intermissions while players rest.
Longtime crew member Bill Alfano says their work puts them close to the action.
"We get a little bit maybe closer to the action because we put the ice in, and pretty obvious if there's no ice, there's no game. "
Wade says their mission is simple but critical.
"Our job really is to provide the best possible playing surface that we can for the players, and the officials, and to try to help them do the ultimate, you know, the best they can do," he said.
"When the playoffs get here, it's just bonkers. I mean, it goes up exponentially. And we get to participate in that from a work perspective, but also as a fan. And it's just a lot of fun," he said.
"When we're down to zero, and it's, I don't know, middle of the third period, and, you know, you can feel the pressure of the moment, said Alfano. "We can't lose this game. And then suddenly it, you know, Stankoven does what he does, and the rest is kind of history."
Wade was a fan watching in the stands in 2006 for the first Stanley Cup victory. This time, he was a part of the ice crew with a front row seat.
"I was a fan in 2006, and I was excited to be just in that atmosphere. It was the craziest sporting atmosphere that I've ever seen," said Wade. "It's just nice to see the whole thing come together, because who knows when it will happen again. You know, I don't expect I'll be shoveling snow in 20 years if it happens again."
Even though the season has wrapped, celebrations continue as the team and staff mark their championship run.
"Getting to celebrate something like this. This is just an awesome occasion for the team and the staff. They've worked incredibly hard."
Wade says being part of the moment, even in a small way, is meaningful.
"I'm just happy just to see it happen twice and be a little very tiny, minuscule part of it," Wade said.
Most members of the ice crew work part-time and return to their regular jobs in the offseason, which include serving in the military and teaching at N.C. State. They also hand-paint the ice, a detail that highlights their commitment to the team and the game.
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