NHL News: Coyotes, Wings, Sens, Rangers, Blues, Canucks, and Capitals
The Washington Capitals have signed John Carlson to an eight-year, $64 million contract extension.
On the Arizona Coyotes …

Arizona Coyotes: The Coyotes acquired defenseman Robbie Russo from the Detroit Red Wings for a conditional 2019 seventh-round draft pick.

On the Detroit Red Wings …

Renaud Lavoie: The Red Wings put defenseman Xavier Ouellet on unconditional waivers.

On the Ottawa Senators …

Bruce Garrioch: The Senators have until 5:00 PM today to decide on whether to send defenseman Fredrik Claesson a qualifying offer or not.

On the New York Rangers …

L.A. Lariviere: The Rangers have given Vladislav Namestnikov a qualifying offer. They could still consider trading him.

On the St. Louis Blues …

Jeremy Rutherford: The have re-signed forward Nikita Soshnikov to a one-year deal worth $800,000.

On the Vancouver Canucks …

Rick Dhaliwal: There has been no update on Canucks pending UFA forward Darren Archibald.

Rick Dhaliwal: The Canucks won’t be giving forward Cole Cassels a qualifying offer. Cassels was a 2013 third-round pick. The Canucks have too many players and their system and need to create some room.

On the Washington Capitals …

Pierre LeBrun: Salary breakdown for John Carlson:

2018/19, $6.5M SB, $5.5M salary, total $12 M;
2019/20, $6.5M SB, $5.5 M salary, $12 M total;
2020/21, $2 M SB, $6M salary, $8M total;
2021/22, $5M SB, $3M salary, $8M total;
2022/23 through 25/26 seasons, $2M SB, $4M salary, $6M total for each year.

Pierre LeBrun: Carlson’s contract contains $28 million in signing bonuses and $36 million in salary. There is a no-trade clause for the first four years with 15-teams, the last four years it’s 10 teams.

Chris Johnson: Carlson will be tied with Brent Burns with the second highest salary cap hit of $8 million. P.K. Subban leads at $9 million. After next season Oliver Ekman-Larsson will jump to $8.25 million. Drew Doughty and Erik Karlsson will be getting new deals to be added to that group.

Isabelle Khurshudyan: GM Brian MacLellan said their top priorities were free agents Carlson, Michal Kempny, and Tom Wilson. Devonte Smith-Pelly is a restricted free agent, so you can expect him to be back next year. The Capitals will likely go with a cheaper fourth line center than pending UFA Jay Beagle.