NHL: Sharks to hire David Quinn, Penguins sign Kasperi Kapanen, and more news
The Daily Goal Horn
|
The San Jose Sharks are “zeroing in on” former New York Rangers head coach David Quinn to be their next bench boss, Sportsnet reported Thursday.
The other finalists for the job are Toronto Maple Leafs assistant coach Spencer Carbery and Pittsburgh Penguins assistant Mike Vellucci, per the report.
Sharks to hire David Quinn
Sheng Peng of NBC followed up the report, which was then confirmed by Kevin Weekes that the deal is done. It is believed to be a 3-year deal.
The Sharks fired Bob Boughner and the rest of his coaching staff on July 1 after finishing 32-37-13 and missing the playoffs for the third straight season.
Quinn, who turns 56 next week, was fired as coach of the Rangers on May 12, 2021. He posted a 96-87-25 record with one playoff appearance in three seasons with New York.
Quinn previously coached at Boston University from 2013-18. He also coached the U.S. men’s hockey team at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing.
Penguin come to terms with Kasperi Kapanen
The Pittsburgh Penguins re-signed forward Kasperi Kapanen to a two-year, $6.4 million contract on Thursday.
Kapanen, who turns 26 on Saturday, posted 32 points (11 goals, 21 assists) in 79 games last season.
It was the fourth consecutive 30-point campaign for the Finnish winger, who also set career highs in games played and hits (110), and registered his first career hat trick on Nov. 6 against the Minnesota Wild.
A first-round pick by Pittsburgh in 2014, Kapanen has 152 points (63 goals, 89 assists) in 321 career games with the Toronto Maple Leafs (2015-20) and Penguins.
Predators add Nino Niederreiter
The Nashville Predators continued their offseason splurge Thursday, signing free agent forward Nino Niederreiter to a two-year deal worth $8 million.
“Nashville was definitely very high on my list,” Niederreiter said on the team’s website. “Knowing [Roman] Josi and a bunch of the other guys made it a lot easier. Nashville is just such a great city and I’m very excited to go there.”
Niederreiter, 29, tallied 44 points (24 goals, 20 assists) for the Hurricanes in 2021-22, his fourth season in Carolina. Niederreiter finished the season as Carolina’s third-leading goal scorer and had the fifth-most points among forwards.
Niederreiter has 368 points (181 goals, 187 assists) in 732 career games with the New York Islanders (2010-12), Minnesota Wild (2013-19) and Hurricanes. Niederreiter was selected No. 5 overall by the Isles in the 2010 draft.
Niederreiter is the latest in a slew of moves by the Predators, who have traded for Ryan McDonagh, extended Filip Forsberg, and signed Kevin Lankinen and Jeremy Lauzon. They also extended coach John Hynes for two more years.
“I think I’m going to fit in perfectly,” Niederreiter said. “That’s the way they play, I think, exactly the way I like to play. It’s that physical game, but at the same time, it’s trying to bring the finesse when there’s a chance to do so.”
The Predators made the Stanley Cup playoffs but were swept by the eventual champion Colorado Avalanche in the first round.
–Field Level Media