Paul Fenton has wasted no time putting his fingerprints on the Minnesota Wild since being named the third general manager in franchise history on May 21, 2018.

Nino Niederreiter, Charlie Coyle, and Mikael Granlund - all considered to be part of the team's core under the previous regime - have been dealt during the past year. And all signs indicate forward Jason Zucker will be next.

A deal to send Zucker to the Calgary Flames fell through just before the trade deadline in February. Last month, a reported move that would've sent him and Victor Rask to the Pittsburgh Penguins for Phil Kessel and Jack Johnson didn't happen because Kessel used his no-trade clause to nix the deal.

"I could be somewhere else before the award show (on Wednesday)," Zucker, who's nominated for the King Clancy Award, joked to The Athletic's Michael Russo. "I mean, honestly, I can be traded at any moment ... if it's going to happen, obviously."

Zucker signed a five-year extension in July, which was one of Fenton's first moves. He's expressed his love for Minnesota and a desire to stay with the Wild despite the constant trade rumors.

"That's what makes it the hardest because we're all great friends," Zucker said, referring to the teammates who reached out when the trades that fell through made headlines. "And I mean, as far as I know, they don't want me to leave and I don't want to, but again, that's kind of part of the business. But I will say, I do want to be somewhere I'm wanted.”

Zucker said he'll feel no animosity toward Fenton, regardless of what happens, but added that he doesn't exactly see eye to eye with the GM.

"I'm going to stay out of it because realistically, I mean Paul's never treated me poorly," Zucker said. "I have respected Paul in his position and what he does. Can I say fully that I agree with everything? No, but I can say that about any position, any person in the world I wouldn't totally agree with everything. And most people would say that about me, and that's just the way it works."

Zucker, 27, set career highs with 33 goals and 64 points in 2017-18 but tallied just 21 goals and 42 points last year. His contract carries a $5.5-million cap hit through the 2022-23 season and a 10-team no-trade list that kicks in July 1.

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Boston Bruins general manager Don Sweeney is not eager to trade defenseman Torey Krug, but didn't rule out the possibility of it happening.

"We have an opportunity on July 1 to open up talks (with Krug), and some of it will be dictated by the RFA market and some internal things will dictate the timing of those conversations," Sweeney told NBC Sports' Joe Haggerty. "If somebody blew us away (with a trade offer) then every player has to be looked at in that way. From an organizational standpoint, it would be a disservice if you don’t.

"It would take a pretty unique opportunity for us to part with Torey. We believe that he’s in the fabric of our group and he’s kind of that next wave of leadership behind the guys that have carried the mantle for a long time. He’s an important part of our club."

Krug will be an unrestricted free agent after next season and could sign an extension as early as July 1. He's in line for a sizable pay raise from his current $5.25-million cap hit. The 28-year-old blue-liner had 53 points in 64 games during the regular season and added 18 more points in 24 postseason contests.

The Bruins have $14.3 million in projected cap space this summer, per CapFriendly. However, Charlie McAvoy, Brandon Carlo, and Danton Heinen are now RFAs after the expiration of their entry-level contracts. Marcus Johansson, Noel Acciari, and Steven Kampfer are UFAs.

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Boston Bruins general manager Don Sweeney is not eager to trade defenseman Torey Krug, but didn't rule out the possibility of it happening.

"We have an opportunity on July 1 to open up talks (with Krug), and some of it will be dictated by the RFA market and some internal things will dictate the timing of those conversations," Sweeney told NBC Sports' Joe Haggerty. "If somebody blew us away (with a trade offer) then every player has to be looked at in that way. From an organizational standpoint, it would be a disservice if you don’t.

"It would take a pretty unique opportunity for us to part with Torey. We believe that he’s in the fabric of our group and he’s kind of that next wave of leadership behind the guys that have carried the mantle for a long time. He’s an important part of our club."

Krug will be an unrestricted free agent after next season and could sign an extension as early as July 1. He's in line for a sizable pay raise from his current $5.25-million cap hit. The 28-year-old blue-liner had 53 points in 64 games during the regular season and added 18 more points in 24 postseason contests.

The Bruins have $14.3 million in projected cap space this summer, per CapFriendly. However, Charlie McAvoy, Brandon Carlo, and Danton Heinen are now RFAs after the expiration of their entry-level contracts. Marcus Johansson, Noel Acciari, and Steven Kampfer are UFAs.

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The best impending free-agent defenseman is not hitting the market.

Multiple reports have Erik Karlsson staying in San Jose, with TSN's Pierre LeBrun tweeting that an eight-year contract extension worth north of $11 million per season is done.

The 2018-19 season was Karlsson's first in the Bay Area after a September trade from Ottawa, and the Swede finished with three goals and 45 points in 53 games. He added two goals and 16 points during San Jose's run to the conference finals.

Karlsson earned $6.5 million against the salary cap last season, the final year on his deal. He remains one of the league's top puck-moving defensemen and would have been in high demand in free agency, which opens July 1.

The new deal will make Karlsson one of the highest-paid players in the NHL, trailing only superstars Connor McDavid and Auston Matthews, according to Cap Friendly.

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The Washington Capitals and forward Carl Hagelin have agreed to a four-year contract extension carrying an average annual value of $2.75 million.

More to come.

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Candidates who've been told they're no longer in the running for the Anaheim Ducks' coaching job believe Dallas Eakins will be named the club's new bench boss, reports TSN's Frank Seravalli. A formal announcement is expected this week.

Eakins is the current head coach of Anaheim's AHL affiliate, the San Diego Gulls, who he led to a 36-24-5-3 record this past season.

The 52-year-old has been out of the NHL since the 2014-15 season, when he was fired by the Edmonton Oilers after being hired the previous campaign. He also has experience as the head coach of the AHL's Toronto Marlies.

The Ducks fired veteran coach Randy Carlyle in February and had general manager Bob Murray behind the bench to close out the remainder of the 2018-19 season, which they finished in 24th place.

Eakins' appointment as the Ducks' bench boss would fill the league's last remaining coaching vacancy.

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