8:01 PM ET Associated Press SEATTLE — Ron Francis has all kinds of eye-popping statistics attached to his Hall of Fame career. He averaged more than point a game, is second in NHL history in assists behind Wayne Gretzky and is fifth in career points. When CEO Tod Leiweke and the ownership group of the

12:00 PM ET Associated Press EDMONTON, Alberta — A man has been charged with forging the signature of Edmonton Oilers star Connor McDavid on team jerseys and then selling them for big profits. Edmonton police say the 23-year-old man in April 2018 contacted several people on Facebook, claiming he was employed by either the Edmonton

10:35 AM ET Associated Press WASHINGTON — Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin will go to China as part of the NHL’s continued outreach in that country. Ovechkin will visit Beijing in early August as a league ambassador. He’s expected to take part in youth hockey clinics, interviews and business development meetings. The Russian star said

11:36 PM ET Associated Press DETROIT — The Detroit Red Wings have re-signed defenseman Joe Hicketts to a two-year contract. The team announced the move Wednesday. Hicketts played in 11 games with the Red Wings in 2018-19. He also had 27 points in 64 games with Grand Rapids of the AHL. The 23-year-old Hicketts has

9:10 AM ET Greg WyshynskiESPN If I were one of the executives hiring Ron Francis as the first general manager of the Seattle Whatevers — and I’m still all-in on the “Sasquatch” or “Kraken,” for the record — my first question would have been a simple one: “How much of that was your fault?” Under

9:53 PM ET Associated Press DETROIT — A police report says the death of former Nashville Predators captain Greg Johnson was an apparent suicide, according to the Detroit News. The paper said Wednesday it had obtained a Rochester Police report, and that Johnson was found by his wife shortly before 10 a.m. on July 7.

3:18 PM ET The Colorado Avalanche have signed restricted free agent J.T. Compher to a four-year contract. According to The Athletic, the deal carries an annual average value of $3.5 million. “J.T. has been one of our most versatile forwards over the past two years,” Avalanche general manager Joe Sakic said in a statement. “He

10:59 PM ET Seattle’s new NHL franchise has its first general manager. Hall of Famer Ron Francis will be named the expansion team’s GM, a source told ESPN’s Emily Kaplan, confirming a Seattle Times report. Francis will receive a multiyear contract from the team, which is expected to make the hire official later this week,

7:29 PM ET Associated Press ST. PAUL, Minn. — The Minnesota Wild have re-signed three restricted free agents: forwards Ryan Donato and Nico Sturm and defenseman Carson Soucy. Donato, a natural center who mostly played left wing after arriving from Boston, received a two-year, $3.8 million contract. He had four goals and 12 assists with

3:34 PM ET The Ottawa Senators acquired center Artem Anisimov from the Chicago Blackhawks on Tuesday for left wing Zack Smith. Anisimov, 31, appeared in 78 games, finishing with 15 goals and 22 assists, last season, his fourth with the Blackhawks. He has scored at least 20 goals four times in his career, including his