Viktor Tikhonov is heading back to the KHL.

The Arizona Coyotes forward reached terms with St. Petersburg SKA, marking his third stint in the Russian League.

Tikhonov played for St. Petersburg from 2011-2015 before joining the Chicago Blackhawks last season.

Arizona claimed the 28-year-old from Chicago last December, and the former first-round pick recorded three goals and three assists in 39 contests.

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Building an NHL franchise is no easy task, just ask George McPhee.

Still, the newly appointed general manager of the Las Vegas franchise is ready to get to work, starting with the bare bones.

The team has 11 months before they can even add a player, but don't think for a second McPhee won't be occupied during that span.

"That 11 months is going to fly by, absolutely fly by because we are going to be so busy putting a staff together and then strategizing and trying to execute on that strategy in the way we're going to scout both the amateurs and the pros," McPhee told Dan Rosen of NHL.com. "It's going to be a lot of work, not to mention everything we have to do in house to get our offices and everything like that set up. But this time is going to fly by. We're not going to feel like we have enough time."

Although it's a daunting project, McPhee is relishing the uniqueness of building an NHL franchise from scratch.

"Other than the initial building of it, which should be fun and is sure I'm something all GMs would like to do when building a team, have an absolutely clean slate, I've just been overwhelmed by the number of people interested," McPhee said.

"Once we get through the expansion draft and the first draft, then it's the same for all GM's it's drafting and developing properly and managing people and managing your team. The other element is it's a brand new market and it's up to us to educate the market, to grow grassroots hockey, to make people aware of the game and really enjoy it and help them understand it."

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Don Sweeney is indeed in talks with Brad Marchand in regards to a contract extension.

A report surfaced Friday that the Boston Bruins general manager had been in touch with Marchand and his representatives, and Sweeney himself confirmed he's looking to re-sign Marchand before the winger becomes an unrestricted free agent next summer.

"I think I’ve been pretty up front in that I’d like to be aggressive in trying to identify - and we have identified - Marchy as a core guy," Sweeney said Friday, according to Eric Russo of BostonBruins.com.

"We want to continue down that path, but it takes two sides to make a deal I would envision that he’d like to be part of this organization for what could be, arguably, his whole career. But Brad has a say in this as well."

The 28-year-old led the Bruins with a career-high 37 goals this past season, and the winger is averaging 27.6 goals per every 82 regular-season games played since making the jump to the NHL in 2010. Marchand has also become a staple alongside Patrice Bergeron, forming one of the league's most effective lines without whoever's lucky enough to jump on the right side.

He also recently represented Canada at the World Championships and will suit up for his country at the World Cup in September.

Marchand is set to make $5 million in salary this season while carrying a $4.5-million cap hit, and is certain to command a healthy raise on his next contract.

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Haydn Fleury knows an opportunity is there for the taking.

The 20-year-old defenseman, who was drafted seventh overall by the Carolina Hurricanes in 2014, has yet to make his NHL debut, but is well aware that a spot on the blue line recently opened up.

"Ever since (James) Wisniewski was bought out, that's the only thing that's been on my mind," Fleury said, according to Kurt Dusterberg of NHL.com.

"It's extra motivation for me in the gym and on the ice the rest of this summer."

Fleury took on a leadership role at the team's summer development camp, and head coach Bill Peters expects the young defenseman to fight for an opening-night roster spot at training camp.

And that's exactly what Fleury intends to do, despite seven defensemen being signed for next season after the Wisniewski buyout.

"I'm going to come into the main camp in the fall and do my best to take that spot."

Fleury spent the past two seasons back with the WHL's Red Deer Rebels, recording 12 goals and 29 assists in 56 games in 2015-16.

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Summer development camps are where prospects go to make a name for themselves, and Joey Dudek of the New Jersey Devils did exactly that.

The 20-year-old center out of Boston College dropped an absolutely filthy move or three during a shootout Saturday, leaving the goalie looking all kinds of lost.

Dudek was drafted 152nd overall in 2014, and scored only one goal in 34 NCAA games this past season.

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Marian Hossa knows it's only a matter of time.

The veteran, who will turn 38 on Jan. 12, is heading into next season with 499 career regular-season goals. He's one away from a milestone. But it's not really on his mind.

"To tell you the truth, I never even thought about it this summer," Hossa said, writes the Chicago Tribune's Chris Kuc. "I'm not too worried about it."

Hossa scored only 13 goals last year, his fewest in a full season in his career. After potting 30 in 2013-14 and 22 in 2014-15, he's trending in the wrong direction as he gets up there in age. But luck hasn't exactly been on his side - Hossa's 6.8 shooting percentage in 2015-16 was by far the lowest of his career.

The former first-round pick said he should have had more than 13 goals last season - "the puck didn't want to go in" - and knows that if he does what he's done his entire career, the goals will come. He bagged three in seven playoff games, after all.

"I'll just play my game and I know good things will happen."

Where he plays is the focus of Kuc's piece, as he notes that the Blackhawks may be transitioning Hossa to more of a defensive role. Either way, head coach Joel Quenneville is expecting Hossa to produce - with or without the puck.

Hossa's under contract through 2021 and said he feels good at 37. He averaged a healthy 17:16 in ice time last season, pushing 18 minutes in the playoffs.

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Amid a Jamie Benn-centric Friday for the Dallas Stars, general manager Jim Nill offered an update on the team's other superstar forward.

Related: Stars sign Benn to 8-year, $76M contract extension

Center Tyler Seguin, who was limited to just one of his team's 13 playoff games this past spring due to a calf injury, is expected to be fully recovered in time to represent Canada at the World Cup of Hockey in September.

"He has been skating and seems to be having no troubles," Nill said, according to Mike Heika of the Dallas News. "There's a little bit of stiffness there still, but he feels comfortable and should be ready for the World Cup."

Seguin also missed the last few weeks of the regular season with an Achilles injury, but did record 73 points in 72 games in 2015-16.

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It's all about who you know.

After a pair of seasons with the New Jersey Devils, winger Jordin Tootoo found himself on the open market as an unrestricted free agent earlier this summer.

The 33-year-old quickly signed a one-year, two-way deal with the Chicago Blackhawks, and, as it turns out, it was defensemen Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook who initiated the union.

The Blackhawks alternate captains all live in Kelowna, British Columbia, and spend time with Tootoo in the offseason. Keith and Seabrook got into the ear of general manager Stan Bowman, who extended the offer which Tootoo agreed to terms with.

"First and foremost he’s a good teammate," Keith said, according to Mark Lazerus of the Chicago Sun Times. "He’s a good guy to have in the locker room, and the energy that he brings - I know playing against him, I don’t like going back for pucks when he’s on the ice. You always have to be aware when he’s on the ice because he’s going to finish every hit.

"I think it was a great addition to have him [and add] some physicality. I know the fans in Chicago like seeing big hits at the United Center and I know he’s going to bring that intensity."

Tootoo will be called upon to help plug the hole left by Andrew Shaw, and comes in at a much smaller cap hit of $750,000.

"Every team needs a little spark plug," Tootoo said. "I’ve been around the game a lot of years now, and I just want to add that little piece. And hopefully we can bring the Cup back here."

In 673 career games at the NHL level, Tootoo has recorded 63 goals, 95 assists and 982 penalty minutes.

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