SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) Evander Kane knew San Jose was a good fit when Joe Thornton showed up for a late-night airport pickup following a trade deadline deal.

That comfort was only reinforced over the next 10 weeks on the ice and in the dressing room. It left Kane with an easy choice as he headed toward free agency.

Kane bypassed a chance at the open market by signing a seven-year deal Thursday worth $49 million to stay with the Sharks for the long term.

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TAMPA, Fla. (AP) Alex Ovechkin is thrilled, though hardly satisfied.

The Washington Capitals star is headed to the Stanley Cup Final for the first time in his 13-year career, eager to put more distance between the Eastern Conference champions and a lingering perception of Ovechkin and the Caps as playoff underachievers.

LAS VEGAS (AP) Pierre-Edouard Bellemare didn't know what to do as he browsed in the grocery store. Fans were admiring the native Frenchman and center for the Vegas Golden Knights, but he had become star-struck himself.

"I'm pretty sure I saw Steffi Graf," Bellemare said. "I was on the phone with my mom, and I was like (gasps for air). I walked right behind her. I didn't say anything, too shy."

DENVER (AP) The Colorado Avalanche have brought back forward Gabriel Bourque on a one-year deal.

Bourque played in 58 games for the Avalanche in 2017-18 as he tallied five goals and six assists. He scored twice during Colorado's first-round playoff loss to the Nashville Predators.

NEW YORK (AP) The New York Rangers hired Boston University's David Quinn as their new head coach Wednesday, the second college coach hired by an NHL team this month and third in the past four years.

Quinn replaces Alain Vigneault, who was fired hours after the Rangers missed the playoffs for the first time since 2010. An introductory news conference was scheduled for Thursday.

NEW YORK (AP) Lou Lamoriello is taking over the New York Islanders.

All the questions belong to him now.

BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) The Buffalo Sabres have signed prospect forward Rasmus Asplund to a three-year entry level contract.

Asplund is from Sweden and was selected by Buffalo in the second round of the 2016 NHL draft. The 20-year-old had a career-best eight goals and 28 points in 50 games in his third full season with Swedish Hockey League's Farjestad BK.

MONTREAL (AP) Goaltender Antti Niemi was seeking stability more than money when he agreed to a one-year, $950,000 contract with the Montreal Canadiens on Tuesday.

Who could blame the 34-year-old, who was eligible for free agency on July 1, after a whirlwind 2017-18 season? Niemi was bought out by the Dallas Stars last summer, signed with Pittsburgh, was claimed on waivers by Florida and then claimed again by Montreal.

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) After working a quarter-century in the NHL, including two decades in management, Paul Fenton finally has the opportunity to run a team.

The new general manager of the Minnesota Wild has been tasked with retooling a roster that has produced a consistent regular season winner but, more importantly, scant success in the playoffs.

TORONTO (AP) The Toronto Maple Leafs have taken another step in shuffling their front office.

Following the elevation of Kyle Dubas to general manager this month, assistant general manager Mark Hunter and senior adviser Lou Lamoriello are now gone.