The Anaheim Ducks acquired defenseman Dmitry Kulikov from the Minnesota Wild on Wednesday in a trade for future considerations.

The 31-year-old Kulikov had seven goals and 17 assists with a plus-23 rating over 80 games last season for the Wild, who signed the Russian defenseman to a two-year contract as a free agent last summer.

The Buffalo Sabres on Tuesday ensured a key piece of their rebuilding effort will stick around, signing forward Tage Thompson to a seven-year contract extension worth $50 million.

The contract, which begins with the 2023-24 season, rewards Thompson, 24, five months after a career season ended. He led the Sabres with 38 goals and 68 points while playing 78 games, and all of those totals were career highs.

The Minnesota Wild signed former Anaheim Ducks center Sam Steel to a one-year, $825,000 contract on Tuesday, adding depth at a vital position.

The 24-year-old Steel played in a career-most 68 games for the Ducks last season, collecting six goals, 14 assists and a career-high 27 blocked shots.

Mike Sullivan, the winningest coach in Pittsburgh Penguins history, has agreed to a new contract that runs through the 2026-27 season.

Sullivan, 54, has two years remaining on a contract that he signed in 2019. Once that deal concludes following the 2023-24 season, Sullivan's new three-year contract extension will kick in.

"Mike is one of the top coaches in the National Hockey League and it was important for us to have him signed long term," said Penguins GM Ron Hextall. "He is a great leader that finds success through communication, honesty and accountability. We know that Sully is committed to continuing a winning culture here in Pittsburgh."

The San Jose Sharks traded goaltender Adin Hill to the division rival Vegas Golden Knights for a 2024 fourth-round pick.

The Sharks had a glut at goalie with James Reimer and Kaapo Kahkonen slated to be the top two options, leading to the decision to trade Hill on Monday after one season in San Jose.

"We have significantly increased our organizational depth at the goaltending position over the last six months," San Jose general manager Mike Grier said. "This trade provides an opportunity for Adin to compete for playing time, while adding another asset that our organization can use in the future. We wish Adin the best in Vegas."

The Vegas Golden Knights are staying in-house to replace injured starting goaltender Robin Lehner, who will miss the 2022-23 NHL season for double hip surgery.

General manager Kelly McCrimmon said Vegas will have a goaltending tandem of eight-year NHL veteran Laurent Brossoit plus Logan Thompson, who has played in 20 NHL career games.

"Laurent is a proven NHL goaltender that's enjoyed a good career. In Logan Thompson, I think we're all excited and intrigued by his talent, his upside and his competitiveness," McCrimmon said.

The Vegas Golden Knights scooped up one of the last remaining notable free agents Wednesday, agreeing to a one-year deal with American forward Phil Kessel.

The deal carries a price tag of $1.5 million and ensures another veteran presence on a team looking to return to the playoffs after missing out last season.

Timo Meier hasn't talked with new San Jose Sharks general manager Mike Grier about a possible contract extension yet.

Speaking at the NHL European Player Media Tour on Wednesday, Meier said he had a "getting to know each other" telephone conversation with Grier, who was named GM on July 5, but no other discussions about his future with the Sharks.

The forward, who turns 26 on Oct. 8, is entering the final season of a four-year contract he signed July 1, 2019, and can become a restricted free agent after the season.

The NHL doesn't anticipate any Russian players having issues with obtaining visas this season, deputy commissioner Bill Daly told ESPN on Wednesday.

"We're expecting them all to be good -- and in North America," Daly said while attending the league's European media tour in Paris. "That whole situation is difficult, but kind of out of our hands. So just like with the pandemic, and with many issues, we looked to the governing agencies to make those decisions. And we played by the rules."

Columbus Blue Jackets center Alexandre Texier will not join the team for the upcoming season because of unspecified personal problems.

The Blue Jackets said in a release Wednesday that the 22-year-old native of Saint-Martin-d'Hères, France, would not be with the team for the 2022-23 season, "per the advice and recommendation of the NHL/NHLPA Substance Abuse and Behavioral Health Program."