Sick Puck Links: Canadiens Hire Derek Lalonde as Assistant Coach; Ducks Match Offersheet On Carlsson; NHL News
Begin your Friday morning by catching up with all our Sick Podcast links from the last day as well as the latest and hottest news around the hockey world.
The off-season news may be quieting down as the days pass, but there is still big news and rumours around the hockey world worth discussing. Here are your Friday morning Sick Puck Links:
Sick Links:
Breaking News: The Montreal Canadiens have signed RFA forward Brett Berard to a one-year, two-way contract. Berard was acquired via trade from the New York Rangers on June 26th.#GoHabsGo
Written by: Nick Lariviere #thesickpodcast https://t.co/0DWbjFw0j0
— The Sick Podcast with Tony Marinaro (@thesickpodcasts) July 9, 2026
The Montreal Canadiens agreed to terms with RFA forward Brett Berard on a one-year, two-way contract on Thursday. The Canadiens acquired Berard on June 26th in a trade with the New York Rangers for defenseman William Trudeau. The newly signed forward had played 48 NHL games with the Rangers over the past two seasons, where he scored 6 goals and 10 points. However, he was held scoreless in his 13 games during the 2025-26 season.
On Wednesday evening, it was reported by Eric Engels of Sportsnet that the Canadiens hired Derek Lalonde as an assistant coach. Lalonde will replace Trevor Letowski, who decided to step down as assistant coach to spend more time with his family. The Canadiens officially confirmed the coaching change on Thursday. The Canadiens’ new assistant coach was most notably part of Jon Cooper’s coaching staff when the Tampa Bay Lightning won two Stanley Cups. He also spent two and a half years as head coach of the Detroit Red Wings. However, his most recent job was as an assistant coach this past season with the Toronto Maple Leafs until he was let go on Tuesday.
Breaking News: The Montreal Canadiens hire Derek Lalonde as an assistant coach to replace Trevor Letowski who is stepping down as assistant coach.#GoHabsGo
Written by: Nick Lariviere #thesickpodcast
https://t.co/6o72sPEvoR— The Sick Podcast with Tony Marinaro (@thesickpodcasts) July 9, 2026
Puck Links:
The Anaheim Ducks matched the five-year, $90 million offer sheet that the Philadelphia Flyers gave centre Leo Carlsson last Friday. This means that the Ducks will retain Carlsson and pay him a cap hit of $18 million, making him the highest-paid player in the NHL. As for the Flyers, they will no longer have to give up four first-round draft picks and have really messed up the Ducks’ cap structure for the near future.
Here to stay! 🦁
Leo Carlsson will be a Duck through the 2030-31 season.#FlyTogether pic.twitter.com/0EXAEUVg0Z
— Anaheim Ducks (@AnaheimDucks) July 9, 2026
On top of Carlsson, the Ducks still need to pay another high-end RFA in Cutter Gauthier before the start of the season. According to Dave Pagnotta of the Fourth Period, the 22-year-old could command around $15 million a year after Carlsson got his $18 million AAV. The Ducks currently only have around $9 million after matching the offer sheet and will very likely need to trade a big contract to make everything work out with Gauthier before the start of the 2026-27 campaign. Gauthier broke out for 40 goals this past season.
Cutter Gauthier might be cashing in BIG. 💸
According to David Pagnotta, the recent chatter has Gauthier’s next deal around $15 million per year after the Leo Carlsson offer sheet.
Some around the league think it could exceed that number. 👀 pic.twitter.com/w6vDnD4d4u
— NHLMuse (@NHL_Muse) July 9, 2026
Women’s hockey legend Hayley Wickenheiser and the Toronto Maple Leafs agreed to go their separate ways on Thursday. Wickenheiser had been working with the team since 2018 when she was hired as assistant director of player development before getting promoted to assistant general manager in 2022. She announced her departure from the team after she disagreed with new Leafs GM John Chayka’s plans for her role with the organization moving forward.
— Hayley Wickenheiser (@wick_22) July 9, 2026
It was reported on Thursday that Detroit Red Wings forward Dylan Larkin has finally added a fourth team that he is willing to get traded to, the Dallas Stars. Larkin, who has a full no-movement clause, must approve the team that he will eventually get traded to; he only had three teams on his list between the end of the season in April (when he requested out of Detroit) up until Thursday. By adding the Stars to the list of the Minnesota Wild, Florida Panthers, and Vegas Golden Knights, the Red Wings can finally negotiate with another team. However, the process clearly hasn’t been easy thus far. This will continue to be a fun storyline to follow as the summer goes along as long as he is not traded.
