Report: Mason on verge of joining Jets

The Winnipeg Jets are on the cusp of adding a former Calder Trophy-winning goalie to their crease.

The Jets have reportedly reached a deal with goaltender Steve Mason, according to Jeff Hamilton of the Winnipeg Free Press. The deal, of course, can't be made official until 12 p.m. ET.

Mason, 29, took home rookie of the year honors in the 2008-09 season with the Columbus Blue Jackets, recording a league-high 10 shutouts.

His career has been full of ups and downs since then, but he owns a respectable lifetime .911 save percentage and a 2.68 goals-against average.

Mason spent parts of the last five seasons with the Philadelphia Flyers and will compete for starts with 24-year-old Connor Hellebuyck in Winnipeg.

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Report: Stars expected to sign Martin Hanzal

The Dallas Stars appear set to add depth down the middle.

The club is expected to sign center Martin Hanzal when the free-agency window opens later Saturday, according to TSN's Bob McKenzie.

The Stars do have Tyler Seguin, Jason Spezza, and Radek Faksa down the middle, but, as Mike Heika of the Morning News adds, Spezza could be shifted to right wing to make room for Hanzal.

Hanzal, a capable two-way center, is coming off a five-year deal worth $15.5 million signed with Arizona in 2012. He was traded to Minnesota last season in hopes of boosting a long playoff run, and is averaging 0.52 points per game over the course of his career.

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Report: Sharp to rejoin Blackhawks

There appears to be a reunion in the Windy City.

Patrick Sharp is on the verge of signing a deal with the Chicago Blackhawks, according to Mark Lazerus of the Chicago Sun-Times.

The contract, which can't be official until 12 p.m. ET, is expected to come with a cap hit of $1 million, Lazerus added.

TSN's Bob McKenzie also reported that Sharp was returning to Chicago, even though it's only a verbal commitment at this point.

Sharp spent 10 years with the Blackhawks, putting up 511 points in 679 games and winning three Stanley Cups. He spent the past two seasons as a member of the Dallas Stars, scoring just eight goals in an injury-riddled 2016-17 campaign.

The hope would certainly be that reuniting Sharp, 35, with some of his old linemates will help jump-start the veteran to a bounce-back season.

He'll be added to a long list of players who left Chicago after being on one of its Cup-winning teams over the past decade, only to eventually return. The most recent example is Brandon Saad, who was traded from Columbus in exchange for Artemi Panarin about a week ago.

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Report: Panthers relieve Steve Werier of assistant GM duties

Steve Werier was relieved of his duties as assistant general manager of the Florida Panthers, according to TSN's Bob McKenzie. The move is believed to have been made prior to the expansion draft on June 21.

It's another stage in a seemingly ongoing shakeup in the Panthers' front office over the past couple of years.

After one year serving solely as president of hockey operations, Dale Tallon was handed back the GM title April 10 in place of Tom Rowe, who had also coached the team last season. Werier and Eric Joyce remained on as assistants, with the former apparently having since been let go.

Former NHL defensemen Chris Pronger and Bryan McCabe have been added to the front-office staff since the expansion draft.

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