Washington Capitals general manager Brian MacLennan said he'll begin preliminary extension talks with franchise icons Nicklas Backstrom and Braden Holtby upon returning to the D.C. area in early September

"That's coming up here," MacLellan told NHL.com's Tom Gulitti. "I've checked in with both. It might happen the beginning of September, depending on the timing of me getting back. But it will happen right away (after he returns). We've got to talk and give both players what we're thinking, get their feelings on the situation and play it out from there."

"It will depend on the conversations we have, on how they want to proceed and what they think is best for everybody," he added.

Backstrom (31) and Holtby (29) are both entering the final season of their contracts, and they're scheduled to become unrestricted free agents next July. Backstrom signed a 10-year, $67-million deal with the Caps in 2010 - before the league changed its rules regarding max contract lengths - while Hotlby inked a five-year pact worth $30.5 million in 2015.

Both players have spent their entire careers with Washington, playing significant roles during the most successful era in Capitals history. Over the last five years, the club has won four division titles, two Presidents' Trophies, and a Stanley Cup.

Backstrom was drafted fourth overall in 2006, and he's spent 12 years as Alex Ovechkin's sidekick. The Swedish pivot has often flown under the radar throughout his career, but he's recorded 873 points in 895 regular-season games, adding 106 more over 123 playoff contests.

Holtby fully took over the Caps' starting goaltender job during the 2014-15 season, and he's gone on to post a 197-77-32 record since then along with a .918 save percentage. He's been awarded the Vezina Trophy, too, and received two All-Star nominations.

Washington has roughly $62 million committed to its 2020-21 roster, according to Cap Friendly, and the salary cap will likely increase from this upcoming season's $81.5 million.

In addition to Backstrom and Holtby, Chandler Stephenson, Christian Djoos, and Jonas Siegenthaler will also be playing on expiring contracts this season.

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The New York Islanders have come to terms with free agent center Derick Brassard on a one-year contract, the team announced Wednesday.

Financial details of the contract are unknown at this point.

More to come.

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The Minnesota Wild have hired former NHL star Bill Guerin as their fourth general manager in franchise history, the team announced Wednesday.

"I am thrilled to announce we have hired Bill Guerin, a four-time Stanley Cup champion, as general manager of the Minnesota Wild," team owner Craig Leipold said. "Bill has been a winner throughout his hockey career and I am extremely pleased to be able to add his experience to our organization and The State of Hockey."

Guerin, 48, could be introduced as soon as Thursday, according to The Athletic's Aaron Portzline.

He replaces Paul Fenton, who was fired July 30 after one campaign. The Wild missed the playoffs for the first time since 2012 under Fenton's watch.

Minnesota interviewed Guerin last season before ultimately hiring Fenton.

Leipold and president Matt Majka led the search and were assisted by Hockey Hall of Famer Mike Modano, who spent three seasons playing alongside Guerin with the Dallas Stars and the U.S. national team.

Guerin was hired by the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2011 as a player development coach. He was promoted to assistant general manager in 2014 and captured back-to-back Stanley Cups with the club in 2016 and 2017.

During his playing career, Guerin tallied 429 goals and 856 points over 1,239 career games and captured two Stanley Cups. The Worcester, Mass., native was inducted into the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame in 2013.

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The Ottawa Senators have inked forward Colin White to a six-year contract with an average annual value of $4.75 million, the team announced on Wednesday.

White had been a restricted free agent and the new deal will keep him in Ottawa through the 2024-25 season.

The 22-year-old center had a productive 2018-19 campaign, tallying 14 goals and 41 points in 71 contests while averaging 16:12 of ice time.

Since being selected by the Senators with the 21st overall pick in the 2015 draft, the Boston College product has tallied 47 points in 97 career games.

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The Ottawa Senators have inked forward Colin White to a six-year contract with an average annual value of $4.75 million, the team announced on Wednesday.

White had been a restricted free agent and the new deal will keep him in Ottawa through the 2024-25 season.

The 22-year-old center had a productive 2018-19 campaign, tallying 14 goals and 41 points in 71 contests while averaging 16:12 of ice time.

Since being selected by the Senators with the 21st overall pick in the 2015 draft, the Boston College product has tallied 47 points in 97 career games.

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Fresh off signing a three-year contract extension, Canucks general manager Jim Benning addressed the main question on every Vancouver fan's mind: What's the latest with restricted free agent Brock Boeser?

"I am continuing to talk with (Boeser's agent) Ben Hankinson," Benning said, per NHL.com. "We are trying to get some common ground. None of the RFA's have signed yet, so we're going to continue to work with him, and I am hopeful we can get something done here before camp so he is there for the start of camp."

Vancouver's training camp is scheduled to begin Sept. 13, with preseason games starting on the 16th.

"We have three more weeks to negotiate with Ben Hankinson about Brock and try to get it figured. I think the Bo Horvat (contract) happened like three days before camp (in 2017), so I still feel we have time to keep working on it and I'm hopeful it's going to get done."

Boeser is one of several star RFA's around the NHL seemingly at an impasse in contract negotiations. When the 22-year-old discussed his situation in July, he said he's confident everything will work out and the two sides will be able to agree to a new deal.

The Canucks have had an active offseason that's included the free-agent signings of Tyler Myers and Micheal Ferland, while also acquiring J.T. Miller via trade from the Tampa Bay Lightning. With all the new moves, Vancouver has a projected $5.08 million to sign both Boeser and fellow RFA forward Nikolay Goldobin, per Cap Friendly.

Injuries limited Boeser to 69 games in 2018-19, but he still ranked third on the Canucks with 26 goals, adding 30 assists.

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