The Vancouver Canucks announced they have hired Iowa Wild head coach Brett McLean as an assistant coach.

McLean has been head coach of Iowa for the past two seasons, totalling a record of 54-74-10-6, missing the Calder Cup Playoffs both seasons.

The 46-year-old retired from professional hockey after the 2016-17 season and joined the Iowa Wild as an assistant the next season. He served in that role for three seasons before earning a promotion to the Minnesota Wild where he was also an assistant.

The Comox, B.C., native will reportedly run the power play on Adam Foote's revamped coaching staff. 

General Manager Patrik Allvin announced today that the #Canucks have named Kevin Dean, Brett McLean, and Scott Young Assistant Coaches. pic.twitter.com/Ny0kjqF82L

— Vancouver Canucks (@Canucks) June 5, 2025

In his playing career McLean was a ninth round selection of the Dallas Stars in 1997. He recorded 56 goals and 162 points in 385 NHL games split between the Chicago Blackhawks, Colorado Avalanche, and Florida Panthers. He notched 21 points in 36 career AHL games with the Rockford IceHogs. 

The Hockey News' Vancouver Canucks team site also covered this hire here.

Photo Credit: © Alyssa Hertel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

The Tampa Bay Lightning announced they have hired Colorado Eagles associate head coach Dan Hinote as an assistant coach. 

Hinote helped lead the Eagles to a 43-21-5 record this season, best in the AHL's Western Conference. The Eagles led the league in goals for and had an AHL-best +65 goal differential. 

The 48-year-old began his coaching career as an assistant with the Columbus Blue Jackets from the 2010-2011 season through the 2013-14 season. He transitioned to a pro scout for four seasons before joining the US National Development Program's U17 and U18 teams. He then joined the Nashville Predators as an assistant for four seasons from 2020-21 through 2023-24.

We've hired Stanley Cup Champion and former NHL forward Dan Hinote as an assistant coach!

Welcome to Tampa ⚡️

📝: https://t.co/s5qmo71vUApic.twitter.com/7P3hjX8yCY

— Tampa Bay Lightning (@TBLightning) June 6, 2025

In his playing career Hinote recorded 38 goals and 90 points in 503 career NHL games with the Colorado Avalanche and St. Louis Blues. He won the 2001 Stanley Cup with Colorado. 

He also posted 84 points in 144 career AHL games with the Hershey Bears, scoring 28 goals and 59 points in 55 games and being named an AHL All-Star in 1999-2000.  

Check out The Hockey News' Tampa Bay Lightning team site for more updates. 

Make sure you bookmark The Hockey News' AHL Page for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns and so much more.      

Photo Credit: © Kyle Terada-Imagn Images

Bakersfield Condors forward Drake Caggiula has signed a one-year deal in Switzerland with Lausanne HC, it was announced Monday. 

Hailing from Pickering, Ont., Caggiula split time this season between the Condors and the Edmonton Oilers. Over seven NHL games, Caggiula collected an assist while putting up 24 goals and 28 assists for 52 points in 62 regular season games with Bakersfield. 

Having signed with Edmonton as an undrafted free agent, Caggiula has played in 289 career NHL regular season games with the Oilers, Chicago Blackhawks, Arizona Coyotes, Buffalo Sabres, and the Pittsburgh Penguins. In that time, he scored 46 goals and added 46 assists for 92 points. 

With Caggiula heading overseas for the first time in his career, he will factor heavily into Lausanne's plans and be an important player for them. While he has struggled to hold down a consistent NHL role over the past few years, Caggiula has proven his value before and could get another look next summer if he is looking to return to the NHL. 

The San Jose Sharks have signed defenseman Shakir Mukhamadullin to a one-year, $1 million contract extension, it was announced Thursday. 

Mukhamadullin, who joined the Sharks in the deal that saw Timo Meier head to the New Jersey Devils, split this season between the NHL and AHL. In 21 games with the San Jose Barracuda, Mukhamadullin collected nine assists while scoring two goals and adding seven assists for nine points in 30 games with the Sharks. 

Drafted by the Devils in the first round of the 2020 NHL Draft, Mukhamadullin has played in 33 career NHL games, putting up two goals and eight assists for 10 points. Prior to making his way to North America full time, Mukhamadullin spent parts of four seasons in the KHL with Salavat Yulaev Ufa. 

With Mukhamadullin signing an extension, he has clearly played himself into the Sharks future plans. An effective defender who uses his long reach to shut down scoring chances as well as contribute offensively, Mukhamdullin will be an important piece for San Jose as they look to continue building on the road back to contention. 

Former Henderson Silver Knights defenseman Robert Hagg has signed a one-year deal in Sweden with Brynas IF, it was announced earlier this week. 

Hagg, a 2013 second round pick of the Philadelphia Flyers, split time this past season between the Silver Knights and the Vegas Golden Knights. Although he was held pointless in two games with Vegas, Hagg scored seven goals and added 22 assists for 29 points in 57 games with Henderson. 

Having come to North America at the end of the 2013-14 season, Hagg appeared in 345 NHL regular season games with the Flyers, Golden Knights, Buffalo Sabres, Florida Panthers, Detroit Red Wings and the Anaheim Ducks. Over that time, he collected 16 goals and 47 assists for 63 points. 

With Hagg heading back to his home country, he will get the chance to play his first full SHL season of his career. Having played parts of two seasons when he was a teenager, he will now be inserted into the lineup with the expectation of playing a big role at both ends of the ice. 

Milwaukee Admirals forward Jesse Ylonen has signed a two-year deal in the SHL with Djurgardens IF, it was announced Tuesday.

Ylonen, a 2018 second round pick of the Montreal Canadiens, split this past year between the Admirals and the Syracuse Crunch, putting up a combined 12 goals and 23 assists for 35 points in 66 regular season games. Appearing in nine playoff games with the Admirals, Ylonen scored three goals and added an assist for four points. 

Having come to North America midway through the 2020-21 season, Ylonen made his NHL debut with the Canadiens that season and went on to play 111 regular season games with the team. Over that time, Ylonen carved out a role as a solid depth player, collecting 12 goals and 17 assists for 29 points. 

Having not been issued a qualifying offer from the Canadiens last summer, Ylonen signed with the Tampa Bay Lightning but was never able to grab a spot with the team, being dealt to the Nashville Predators in February in a depth trade. 

With Ylonen heading back overseas, his NHL career might not have been what he aspired for himself but he is young, still only 25. If Ylonen produces in the SHL, as many expect he can, NHL teams could come calling once again when his contract runs out in 2027. 

The Philadelphia Flyers announced that the head coach of their AHL affiliate Lehigh Valley Phantoms Ian Laperriere has been re-assigned to the Flyers as an advisor to Hockey Operations. 

The team announced they will begin a search for a new AHL head coach immediately. 

Laperriere signed a two-year contract extension in June 2024 that was set to run through the 2025-26 season. 

The 51-year-old joined the Flyers as director of player development for the 2012-13 season and transitioned to assistant coach in the 2013-14 season, a role he served in through the 2020-21 season before joining the Phantoms. 

The Montreal, Que., native has been the head coach of the Phantoms for the past four seasons leading the team to two Calder Cup Playoff appearances and a 134-120-38 record. 

The Philadelphia Flyers announced today that Ian Laperriere will rejoin the organization as an advisor to Hockey Operations. https://t.co/jDdDnw762B

— Philadelphia Flyers (@NHLFlyers) May 27, 2025

Laperriere has expressed a desire to be an NHL head coach and will help continue to develop Philadelphia's prospects in his new role. 

In his playing career Laperriere recorded 121 goals and 336 point sin 1083 games while racking up 1956 penalty minutes. He spent one season with the Flyers and was forced to retire after taking a slapshot to the face. 

Check out The Hockey News' Philadelphia Flyers team site for more updates. 

Make sure you bookmark The Hockey News' AHL Page for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns and so much more.    

Rochester Americans defenseman Erik Brannstrom has signed a three-year contract with Lausanne HC of the Swiss National League (NL) the club announced on Monday.

Brannstrom split his playing time between the Vancouver Canucks, Abbotsford Canucks, Hartford Wolf Pack, and Rochester Americans. He recorded eight points in 23 NHL games and 23 points in 27 AHL games. 

The 25-year-old had a turbulent season where he was traded from Colorado to Vancouver in October, placed on waivers, traded from Vancouver to New York in the J.T. Miller deal in January, and traded from New York to Buffalo in March. 

The Eksjo, Swe., native was an AHL All-Star in the 2018-19 season while a member of the Chicago Wolves and Belleville Senators. 

Abbotsford Canucks Eliminate Colorado Eagles, Advance To Western Conference Finals After a dominant 5-0 game five win on Monday the Abbotsford Canucks have defeated the Colorado Eagles and advanced to the AHL's Western Western Conference Finals. 

Brannstrom was a consistent point producer in the AHL but could not quite replicate the results at the NHL level. In 117 career AHL games with the Chicago Wolves, Belleville Senators, Hartford Wolf Pack, and Rochester Americans he recorded 19 goals and 86 points. 

Originally a first round selection of the Vegas Golden Knights in 2017, Brannstrom has 10 goals and 77 points in his 294 game NHL career split between the Ottawa Senators and Vancouver Canucks. 

The Hockey News' Derek O'Brien also covered this move here.

Make sure you bookmark The Hockey News' AHL Page for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns and so much more.    

Former Toronto Marlies defenseman Rinat Valiev has signed a one-year deal with in Russia with HK Chelny, it was reported late last week. 

Drafted by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the third round of the 2014 NHL Draft, Valiyev spent this past season playing in Kazakhstan with HK Almaty, scoring four goals and adding 13 assists for 17 points in 28 regular season games. In a further seven playoff games, he added two assists. 

Having returned overseas following the 2019-20 season, Valiyev did appear in 12 career NHL games with the Maple Leafs and the Montreal Canadiens during his time in North America, never collecting a point. Throughout 260 career AHL regular season games with the Marlies, Laval Rocket and the Stockton Heat, Valiyev put up a respectable stat line of 19 goals and 66 assists for 85 points. 

With Valiyev signing in the VHL (Russia's second tier pro league), he will return to his home country following parts of two seasons away. While he has not been able to stick full time in the KHL, Valiyev has been solid throughout his short VHL career and should bolster HK Chelny's blueline. 

Hershey Bears forward Mike Sgarbossa has signed a two-year deal with HC Lugano of the Swiss National League. 

An AHL veteran who has been a consistent point producer over his career, Sgarbossa notched seven goals and 31 points in 35 games with Hershey and two points in three games with the Washington Capitals this season. 

The 32-year-old recorded 165 goals and 467 points in 605 games over parts of 13 AHL seasons with the Lake Erie Monsters, Norfolk Admirals, San Diego Gulls, Springfield Thunderbirds, and Hershey Bears.

"I've been going up and down quite a bit, so you tend to miss a lot of things when it comes to the kids... it's a good opportunity for me, personally."

Mike Sgarbossa explains his decision to leave the Capitals organization as he's set to sign overseas.https://t.co/P3KL3Y7xBR

— Sammi Silber 🏒 (@sammisilber) May 23, 2025

The Campbellville, Ont., native was a two-time AHL All-Star and won the 2023 Calder Cup with Hershey. He remained on the Washington Capitals roster and did not play in Hershey's 2024 Calder Cup run. 

Sgarbossa originally signed an entry-level contract with the San Jose Sharks in 2010 after going undrafted and became a regular NHL call-up over his career.

In 92 career NHL games with the Colorado Avalanche, Florida Panthers, and Washington Capitals Sgarbossa had nine goals and 25 points.  

The Hockey News' Washington reporter Sammi Silber spoke with Sgarbossa regarding his decision here.

Make sure you bookmark The Hockey News' AHL Page for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns and so much more.