Woody is back behind the bench!

According to a report from NHL insider Frank Seravalli, the Anaheim Ducks have hired former Edmonton Oilers head coach Jay Woodcroft as an assistant coach on Joel Quenneville’s staff.

As Seravalli reports, the deal cannot be announced until July 1st.

Woodcroft had interviewed with Ducks for their vacant head coaching position before the team hired Quenneville back in May.

Woodcroft, of course, was the coach of Oilers for just over two seasons, leading them to a conference final in 2022 and a conference semi-final in 2023. He was replaced by current Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch just 13 games into the 2023-24 season.

Insider Frank Seravalli has reported late on Wednesday evening that the Buffalo Sabres have agreed in principle to trade forward JJ Peterka to the Utah Mammoth.

Seravalli however specifies that here is apparently a contingency holding up deal.

Peterka is a pending restricted free agent, whose name has come up in trade rumours in the past weeks. The contingency could have to do with an extension getting worked out for Peterka in Utah.

The 23-year-old forward is in line for a significant new deal after he had 27 goals and led all restricted free agents with 68 points in 77 games this season. He is coming off of his three-year, entry-level contract that carried a cap hit of $855,833.

Rumours started to emerge when it was reported that Peterka was seeking a change of scenery, a fresh start away from Buffalo.

The Mammoth, with their new name, are trying to build up their organization, and Peterka would be a great addition to bring in some secondary scoring.

It’s not clear what still needs to happen to make this deal go through, but it’d be a big trade if it does.