The Philadelphia Flyers and pending unrestricted free-agent forward Kevin Hayes are closing in on a multi-year contract with an average annual value around $7 million, according to TSN's Bob McKenzie.

The term is expected to be six years, perhaps seven, McKenzie added.

More to come.

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Joe Thornton told reporters at an NHL Awards media availability Tuesday that he feels good and will return for the 2019-20 season, according to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.

The San Jose Sharks forward added that he isn't just thinking about one additional season and could perhaps play more as long as he feels good.

Thornton was undecided on whether he'd return for another campaign after the Sharks were eliminated from the playoffs in May. He did say, however, that if he returned it would be to San Jose.

"It is safe to say I'm a Shark," he said at the time. "There's one team and it's here."

Thornton remained productive in his age-39 season. The future Hall of Famer tallied 51 points in 73 regular-season games and added 10 points in 19 postseason contests - all while playing predominately in a third-line role.

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Thomas Vanek isn't ready to hang up his skates just yet.

The 35-year-old winger and pending unrestricted free agent continues to search for a team for next season.

"His intent is to play," Vanek's agent Steve Bartlett said Tuesday, according to The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun. Bartlett added that he hasn't talked to Detroit Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman but hopes to do so this week in Vancouver.

With 16 goals and 36 points in 64 games for the Red Wings last season, Vanek showed that he can still be a valuable contributor. As a 35-and-over player, he can sign a bonus-laden deal that can help cap-challenged teams, LeBrun notes.

Vanek ranks ninth among active players with 373 career goals and is also the highest-scoring Austrian-born player in NHL history, with 789 points in 1,029 career games.

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With the Jacob Trouba deal in the rearview mirror, the league's focus has reportedly shifted to another defenseman.

Interest in Rasmus Ristolainen of the Buffalo Sabres has picked up over the past 24 hours, according to The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun, with several clubs revisiting their previously expressed desire to acquire the defenseman.

Buffalo won't deal the blue-liner unless the package is "absolutely right," adds LeBrun.

Ristolainen has three years left on his contract and carries an annual cap hit of $5.4 million.

The 24-year-old eclipsed the 40-point mark for the fourth straight season in 2018-19. He also led the Sabres in average ice time with 24:38 per game, good for ninth in the NHL.

The Winnipeg Jets sent Trouba to the New York Rangers on Monday in exchange for rearguard Neal Pionk and a 2019 first-round pick.

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It appears restricted free agent Jacob Trouba is ready to call the Big Apple his new home.

The New York Rangers acquired the rights to the defenseman from the Winnipeg Jets in exchange for blue-liner Neal Pionk and the 20th overall pick at the 2019 NHL Draft. In need of a new deal, Trouba sounds happy with his new landing spot.

"Everything is definitely on the table. I can see myself being in New York for a long time," Trouba said, according to NHL.com's Dan Rosen.

The 25-year-old cited New York as a preferred destination for family reasons, as his fiancee is preparing to become a doctor, according to the New York Post's Brett Cyrgalis.

Trouba also noted his "great relationship" with Rangers defenseman and longtime friend Brady Skjei as a plus in joining the club, according to USA Today's Vince Z. Mercogliano. The pair won a gold medal together with the U.S. at the World Under-18s in 2012.

The Rangers have a projected $19 million in cap space to work with this offseason and don't have any top players in need of a new deal outside of Trouba.

The 6-foot-3 rearguard is coming off a career season with the Jets, having recorded eight goals and 50 points in 82 games.

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The Tampa Bay Lightning and defenseman Braydon Coburn have agreed to a two-year contract with an average annual value of $1.7 million, the team announced Tuesday.

Coburn has spent the last five campaigns with the Lightning and contributed 23 points in 74 games during 2018-19, his highest total since joining the team.

The 34-year-old also averaged 16:07 of ice time while recording 62 blocks and 96 hits this past season. Additionally, he posted the second-highest possession rating at five-on-five among Lightning defensemen with a Corsi For of 52.75 (minimum 20 games played).

The Lightning now have $76.1 million committed to 18 players for next season, leaving $6.87 million in projected cap space, according to CapFriendly.

Tampa Bay still has four restricted free agents in line for new deals, including 41-goal-scorer Brayden Point. Veteran defensemen Dan Girardi and Anton Stralman are also set to become unrestricted free agents on July 1.

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