Players, coaches moves ahead of trade freeze and Vegas expansion draft

With the Stanley Cup Final receding in the rearview mirror, moves are being made throughout the National Hockey League.

Earlier this week, the New York Rangers bought out Dan Girardi’s contract and the Ottawa Senators indicated they would not have Chris Neil return to the lineup.

On Thursday, the Buffalo Sabres hired Phil Housley as their 17th head coach in franchise history.

Housley comes to Buffalo after a four-year stint with the Nashville Predators as assistant coach in charge of the defensive corps.

“Based on his experience as a player and coach, we think Phil is uniquely qualified to be our head coach and help us achieve our organizational goals,” general manager Jason Botterill said in a statement. “His approach to the game aligns with the way we envision our hockey team playing, and we’re excited to see where his leadership will take us.”Housley started his playing career in Buffalo so it seems fitting that he start his had coaching career there as well.

He will need to deal with Jack Eichel and his personality and self-perception.

On the player side, Thursday, Jonathan Drouin was traded by the Tampa Bay Lightning to the Montreal Canadiens.

The Bolts picked up defenseman Mikhail Sergachev in exchange for Drouin who is a highly skilled forward but was less than welcome when he held out early in the 2015-16 season.

That did nothing to ingratiate himself with general manager Steve Yzerman.

Meanwhile, the Bolts get a top defensive prospect in Sergachev who played for the Windsor Spitfires in the OHL last season; he turns 19 in another week.

The NHL will impose its trade freeze in less than 48 hours ahead of the Las Vegas Golden Knights expansion draft selections.