Ward named head coach of Silver Knights
The Vegas Golden Knights have named Joel Ward head coach of the American Hockey League’s Henderson Silver Knights. Ward, 45, rejoins the Silver Knights for his first professional head coaching position after spending the past three years as an assistant in Vegas. He previously served as an assistant coach with Henderson from 2020-23. Ward played parts of 11 seasons in the National Hockey League, appearing in 726 games for the Minnesota Wild, Nashville Predators, Washington Capitals and San Jose Sharks. He collected 133 goals and 171 assists for 304 points in the regular season, and registered 22 goals and 30 … Continue reading
Penguins Acquire Forward Hendrix Lapierre from the Washington Capitals in Exchange for a 2027 Third-Round Pick and 2028 Fifth-Round Pick
The Pittsburgh Penguins have acquired forward Hendrix Lapierre from the Washington Capitals in exchange for a 2027 third-round pick and 2028 fifth-round pick (originally San Jose’s), it was announced today by President of Hockey Operations and General Manager Kyle Dubas. Lapierre, 24, is a pending restricted free agent. The 6-foot, 195-pound forward spent the 2025-26 season with the Capitals, skating in 74 games and tallying four goals, 12 assists and 16 points. Lapierre has spent the past five seasons in the Capitals organization, splitting time between Washington and their American Hockey League affiliate, the Hershey Bears. In 158 career NHL … Continue reading
Hathaway traded to Panthers by Flyers for draft picks
Garnet Hathaway was traded to the Florida Panthers by the Philadelphia Flyers on Thursday for a fifth-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft and a fourth-round pick in the 2027 NHL Draft. The Panthers also received a sixth-round pick in the 2026 draft. Philadelphia will retain 50 percent of Hathaway’s contract; he has one year remaining on a two-year, $4.8 million contract he signed with the Flyers on July 1, 2024, and can become an unrestricted free agent after next season. “Garnet is a physical and highly competitive player who will complement our group well,” Florida general manager Bill Zito said. “We’re … Continue reading
South Carolina’s Concannon receives 2025-26 Blake Cullen Award
The ECHL announced on Thursday that South Carolina Stingrays’ President Rob Concannon is the 2025-26 recipient of the Blake Cullen Award as ECHL Executive of the Year. The award, which is determined in voting by the ECHL Board of Governors, is presented annually to the top executive in the League. In 2023, the award was renamed in honor of Blake Cullen, who was inducted into the ECHL Hall of Fame in 2009. Cullen founded the Hampton Roads Admirals in 1989, and owned the team for seven seasons through 1995-96. During the 2025-26 season, South Carolina had four sellouts, 10 games over 6,000 … Continue reading
Wild will sign Quinn Hughes to new contract, owner says
The Minnesota Wild will sign Quinn Hughes to a new contract and would like to make it a long-term deal, owner Craig Leipold said. The defenseman is entering the final season of a six-year, $47.1 million contract ($7.85 million average annual value) he signed with the Vancouver Canucks on Oct. 3, 2021. He would be eligible to become an unrestricted free agent after next season. In an interview with Minnesota Public Radio posted online Wednesday, Leipold was asked whether the Wild would re-sign Hughes and what lengths the team would go to in order to retain him. “First of all, … Continue reading
DiPietro named winner of PHPA’s Doug Messier Award
June 25, 2026 The Professional Hockey Players Association has announced that Michael DiPietro of the Providence Bruins has been honored as the inaugural recipient of the PHPA’s Doug Messier Award for the 2025-26 American Hockey League season. Photo: Kaiolena Tacazon This award will be presented annually to the most outstanding player in each of the AHL and the ECHL, as voted by fellow members of the PHPA. A founding member of the PHPA, Doug Messier helped lead the effort to form a players’ association in the Western Hockey League in 1967, which evolved into the PHPA when players from the … Continue reading
