Niklas Hjalmarsson will reportedly be staying in the desert beyond the upcoming season.

The veteran defenseman agreed to a two-year extension with the Arizona Coyotes, according to 98.7 Arizona Sports' Craig Morgan.

Hjalmarsson's new deal can't be made official until July 1.

The 31-year-old has one year remaining on his current pact with the Coyotes at a cap hit of $4.1 million. Terms of his new contract are not yet known.

Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Columbus Blue Jackets' all-time leading scorer is apparently keen on a reunion.

Rick Nash has the Blue Jackets at the top of his list of potential destinations, The Athletic's Aaron Portzline reports.

The Blue Jackets are showing more interest in the pending unrestricted free agent than they showed at last season's trade deadline, and Nash, who turned 34 on June 16, is looking for a multi-year deal, according to Portzline.

Nash played for Columbus from 2002-03 to 2011-12. He served as the team's co-captain in 2007-08 and was the sole Blue Jacket to wear the "C" from 2008-09 until his final season in Ohio.

He's the club's all-time leader in goals, assists, points, and games played.

Nash produced 18 goals in 60 games for the New York Rangers this past season. He chipped in six points in 11 regular-season contests and five points in 12 playoff appearances for the Boston Bruins after being traded in late February.

Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Two key members of the Vegas Golden Knights may have played their final games for the expansion franchise.

James Neal and David Perron fielded offers from other clubs when the interview period opened Sunday, and the pair of 30-year-old pending unrestricted free-agent forwards have been unable to come to terms on new contracts with the Golden Knights, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal's David Schoen.

Perron's agent, Allan Walsh, told Schoen on Sunday that the club hasn't made a new offer to his client since the season ended, and that there haven't been any negotiations since the two sides exchanged proposals at the trade deadline.

Neal's representative, Patrick Morris, wouldn't reveal if any offers have been received from Vegas, but hinted that an agreement with the Golden Knights would likely have to come before the official start of unrestricted free agency if the team wants to retain him.

"Common sense says that if (Neal is) not signed by July 1, he's probably not coming back (to Vegas)," Morris said.

For what it's worth, Morris did say his client is interested in remaining in Nevada.

"Until further notice, James prefers to keep things quiet,” Morris said. "I don’t believe in negotiating in the media. All I can tell you is he loves Vegas and he wants to stay."

Perron led the Golden Knights with a career-high 50 assists in the regular season and ranked third on the club with a career-best 66 points. Neal ranked fourth on the team with 25 goals and sixth with 44 points.

Both players were instrumental in helping Vegas become the most successful NHL expansion team ever. Perron produced nine points in 15 postseason games, and Neal chipped in six goals and 11 points in 20 playoff contests as the Golden Knights surpassed all expectations en route to a Stanley Cup Final appearance.

Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

John Carlson is staying put, as the highly sought-after defenseman re-signed with the Washington Capitals on an eight-year contract worth $8 million per season, the club announced Sunday night.

The 28-year-old was set to be the top blue-liner available if he reached unrestricted free agency this offseason. Carlson's agent, Rick Curran, said earlier Sunday that he was taking calls from other teams.

The new deal puts Carlson in a tie with San Jose Sharks rearguard Brent Burns for the second-highest average annual value among NHL blue-liners, and just $1 million short of P.K. Subban's $9-million rate per season with the Nashville Predators.

Meanwhile, Oliver Ekman-Larsson reportedly has a verbal agreement on an eight-year extension with the Arizona Coyotes that will pay him $8.25 million per season beginning in 2019-2020, as 98.5 Arizona Sports' Craig Morgan first reported in May.

Carlson posted career highs in goals (15), assists (53), and points (68) during the 2017-18 regular season, and added 20 points in 24 playoff games en route to winning the championship with Washington.

He's spent his entire nine-year career with the Capitals, who selected him 27th overall in 2008.

Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Vancouver Canucks pulled off a minor trade on Sunday, dealing forward Michael Chaput to the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for forward Tanner Kero.

Kero spent the majority of last season with the Rockford IceHogs of the American Hockey League where he had eight goals and 20 points in 36 games. He also contributed one goal and two assists for the Blackhawks in eight NHL contests.

Chaput also spent most of the season in the AHL, where he put up 17 goals and 42 points in 55 games. He also dressed in nine games for the Canucks this past season, where he went pointless.

Kero remains under contract for one more season, while Chaput is a pending restricted free agent.

Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The St. Louis Blues and forward Nikita Soshnikov agreed to terms on a one-year contract, the team announced on Sunday.

The deal will pay the speedy forward $800,000 and keep him with the Blues through the 2018-19 season, according to Jeremy Rutherford of The Athletic.

Soshnikov began this past season with the Toronto Maple Leafs, but he failed to crack the lineup and only played three games with the team before being dealt to the Blues in February for a fourth-round pick.

The 24-year-old played in just 12 games with the Blues following the trade, where he amassed one goal and one assist.

Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Detroit Red Wings placed defenseman Xavier Ouellet on unconditional waivers for the purpose of buying out his contract on Sunday, according to Sportsnet's Chris Johnston.

Ouellet has one year left on his contract with a cap hit of $1.25 million. With the buyout, the Red Wings will be able to save just under $1.1 million next season.

The 24-year-old is coming off a 2017-18 campaign that saw him go goalless with seven assists across 45 games. Since being drafted in the second round in 2011, Ouellet has just five goals and 23 points in 141 games.

Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.