The Washington Capitals wanted Philipp Grubauer out of the Metropolitan Division and turned down a better trade offer from the Carolina Hurricanes to ensure that happened, reports Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic.

The Hurricanes offered up their second-round pick - 42nd overall - and were also willing to take on veteran defenseman Brooks Orpik's $5.5-million salary to obtain Grubauer, but the Capitals preferred to send the netminder to an opponent outside of their division.

They ultimately shipped Grubauer, alongside Orpik, to the Colorado Avalanche for the 47th selection. Given Colorado is in the opposite conference, Washington will only face the goaltender twice next season if he suits up for both games.

The Avalanche signed Grubauer to a three-year extension Saturday reportedly worth $3.33 million per season.

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New York Islanders general manager Lou Lamoriello doesn't seem too worried about his franchise player exploring the open market.

Following a report that the Islanders captain will speak with five clubs once the pre-free agency talking period opens Monday - reportedly including the Dallas Stars, San Jose Sharks, and Toronto Maple Leafs - New York's approach to negotiations hasn't changed.

"I have no disappointment, no discouragement," Lamoriello said on Saturday. "I think that he's earned every right to make whatever choice he has. The most important thing is that we hope the decision is to be an Islander."

Should Tavares reach free agency, he'll be the biggest name to hit the open market since Zach Parise and Ryan Suter in 2012.

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The Colorado Avalanche signed newly acquired netminder Philipp Grubauer to a three-year contract on Saturday, the team announced.

The deal reportedly carries a $3.33-million cap hit, according to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.

The Avalanche obtained Grubauer from the Washington Capitals in a draft-day deal that saw the club part with its second-round pick. Colorado also acquired veteran defenseman Brooks Orpik as part of the trade, who was placed on waivers Sunday.

In 35 appearances last season, Grubauer posted a 15-10-3 record with a .923 save percentage.

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The Edmonton Oilers and Montreal Canadiens pulled off a solid Hawkey trade Saturday.

The Oilers acquired netminder Hayden Hawkey from the Canadiens in exchange for a fifth-round pick in next year's draft, the teams announced.

The 23-year-old has spent the last three seasons at Providence College, going 24-12-3 with a .919 save rate across 40 games this past season.

The Canadiens originally selected Hawkey in the sixth round of the 2014 draft.

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Don't believe the Wayne Simmonds trade rumors just yet, as the Philadelphia Flyers are aiming to re-sign the forward.

"We're going to try and sign him," general manager Ron Hextall said from the NHL Draft, according to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.

The 29-year-old has one season remaining on his contract that carries a $3.975-million cap hit. Simmonds also has a 12-team no-trade list.

In 75 appearances last season, Simmonds notched 24 goals and 22 assists.

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The Detroit Red Wings selected forward Filip Zadina with the sixth overall pick in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft on Friday.

Filip Zadina

Position: Right Wing
Height: 6-feet
Weight: 195 lbs
Age: 18
Club: Halifax (QMJHL)
Nationality: Czech

(Even-strength stats courtesy: prospect-stats.com)

A dynamic playmaker with exceptional offensive instincts, Filip Zadina possesses the quick release of a gifted goal-scorer as well. He also brings a steady two-way game that makes him effective at both ends of the ice.

The Czech Republic native has spent just one season in North America, but needed little time to adjust. He finished second in team scoring for the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League's Halifax Mooseheads, a top program that's churned out a handful of high picks in the last five years, including Nathan MacKinnon, Jonathan Drouin, Nikolaj Ehlers, and Nico Hischier.

The hype around Zadina peaked at the World Junior Championship when he powered the underdog Czech Republic to an appearance in the bronze-medal game. Zadina wrapped the tournament with seven goals and one assist in seven contests.

"The power winger has been destroying CHL competition and saved his best performances for the Czech national team this holiday season," stated Cam Robinson of DobberProspects.com. "He uses his size and strength to create space and then delivers electric moves and finishing ability. Can beat you from anywhere on the ice. A tireless worker."

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The Detroit Red Wings will look to free agency for help between the pipes.

"Obviously, we want to sign a goalie," general manager Ken Holland said from the NHL draft in Dallas, according to Stephen Whyno of The Associated Press. "We're going to talk to some goalies this week. I don't know if I'll really be trading for one, but we're going to talk to some free agents."

While unrestricted free agents can't officially sign until July 1, teams can gauge their interest beginning Monday.

Should the Red Wings go the free-agent route, their options could include Kari Lehtonen, Jaroslav Halak, Robin Lehner, and Cam Ward.

Red Wings netminder Jimmy Howard is under contract for one more season, carrying a $5.29-million cap hit, according to CapFriendly.

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The Dallas Stars beefed up their coaching staff Friday, naming veteran bench boss Rick Bowness as an assistant coach.

Bowness is the latest addition to new coach Jim Montgomery's staff. He comes to Dallas after five campaigns with the Tampa Bay Lightning, who let him go in May.

The 63-year-old has been in the coaching ranks for more than three decades, including five stints as head coach with the Winnipeg Jets, Boston Bruins, Ottawa Senators, New York Islanders, and Phoenix Coyotes.

He's the Stars' latest hire since assistant coach Todd Nelson, who spent the last three seasons with the AHL's Grand Rapids Griffins.

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The Montreal Canadiens reportedly weren't the only team interested in acquiring Max Domi from the Arizona Coyotes.

Prior to the Friday trade that sent Domi to the Canadiens, a deal was discussed that would've seen the playmaking winger moved to the Minnesota Wild, sources told Michael Russo of The Athletic.

The reported transaction would've seen the Coyotes acquire forwards Jason Zucker and Nino Niederreiter in exchange for Domi and, potentially, center Christian Dvorak.

Russo added that the Coyotes likely would've also taken on expensive forward Tyler Ennis, who carries a $4.6-million cap hit for one more season, according to CapFriendly.

It would've been a major cap-clearing move by new Wild general manager Paul Fenton.

*Domi has since signed a two-year extension with the Canadiens that carries a $3.15-million cap hit.

The 26-year-old Zucker, a restricted free agent, is coming off a career year in which he posted 64 points, so it's safe to assume he's due a significant raise on his current $2-million salary.

In the end, the Coyotes shipped Domi to the Canadiens for forward Alex Galchenyuk.

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The Dallas Stars plan to sign forward Valeri Nichushkin to a two-year contract when free agency opens on July 1, general manager Jim Nill confirmed to Sean Shapiro of The Athletic.

Nichushkin has spent the past two seasons with the KHL's CSKA Moscow but is eyeing a return to Dallas, the club which selected him 10th overall in the 2013 draft.

The 23-year-old played parts of three seasons with the Stars before heading home to Russia. He notched 14 goals and 20 assists across 79 games in his impressive NHL rookie year.

With Moscow this season, Nichushkin tallied 16 goals and 11 assists in 50 contests to finish fifth in team scoring. While those numbers may seem underwhelming, it may be worth keeping his recent production in perspective.

"Goals and points is very difficult to find on the big ice surface. Particularly in that league, and it's a very tight-checking league," Nichushkin's agent, Mark Gandler, said last month. "So points and goals are difficult to come by, but considering all that, I think it was a very good season."

Nichushkin's offensive abilities are sure to help the Stars, as they finished 19th in goals scored last season.

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