“We are very pleased that Don has agreed to sign a long-term contract extension with the Coyotes,” NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly said in a statement. “Since joining the team in 2007, Don has done an outstanding job managing his team and building a competitive roster that has produced on the ice, even given less than ideal circumstances off the ice. The NHL remains committed to securing the Coyotes’ future in Glendale under new ownership, and we believe Don’s long-term agreement evidences that he is equally committed.”

Maloney has been Phoenix’s general manager for six seasons, the past four while operating under the restraints of being run by the NHL after former owner Jerry Moyes took the franchise into bankruptcy in 2009.

Maloney was honored with the league’s General Manager of the Year Award in 2010 and led Phoenix to three straight 40-win seasons for the first time in franchise history.

“This is a very exciting day for our fans and a significant moment in our organization’s history,” Avalanche president Josh Kroenke said in a statement issued by the team. “Patrick’s passion for the game of hockey both as a player and as a coach defines who he is as a person. He is a winner and is coming back to Denver where he created numerous special moments on and off the ice while helping lead us to two Stanley Cup championships.”

Roy, a Hockey Hall of Famer, spent eight of his 19 seasons as a player with the Avalanche, helping the team to a pair of Stanley Cups.

“This is an unbelievable day for me,” Roy said. “It’s a new and exciting challenge that I am really looking forward to. I would like to thank Stan [Kroenke, owner] and Josh Kroenke for this opportunity as well as Joe Sakic for the trust they are putting in me. Almost 10 years to the day that I announced my retirement as a player I am back in Denver and hope the fans are as excited as I am.”

In his role, Roy will work with Sakic, hired recently as the team’s executive vice president of hockey operations, on player personnel decisions.

“All along Patrick was our top candidate and we are thrilled that he has decided to accept this offer,” Sakic said. “Patrick has a great hockey mind, is a tremendous coach and there is no one more passionate about this game. He will bring that winning attitude to our dressing room to help this young team grow.”

Roy has spent the past eight seasons as head coach and general manager of the Quebec Remparts of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, a team he also co-owns. He guided the Remparts to a 348-196-0 record (.640) in 544 regular-season games, and led the team to the 2006 Memorial Cup.

Sutton played in 676 NHL games, most recently with Edmonton in 2011-12. He also suited up for San Jose Sharks, Minnesota Wild, Atlanta Thrashers, the New York Islanders, Ottawa Senators and Anaheim Ducks.

Sutton scored 38 goals and 112 assists, had 1,134 hits, 1,164 blocked shots and 1,185 penalty minutes in his career.

However, his physical style of play took its toll. Sutton had 12 surgeries for various injuries and he never played an entire season. He reached 60 games only three times.

The 38-year-old Sutton spent the 2012-13 season on Edmonton’s injured list with a knee injury.

“We have made the very difficult decision to relieve Alain Vigneault, Rick Bowness and Newell Brown of their coaching duties today,” Canucks President and General Manager Mike Gillis said in a release issued by the team. “Alain, Rick and Newell worked tirelessly to lead this team to great on-ice success. I am personally grateful to each of them and their families for their commitment to the Canucks and the city of Vancouver and wish them continued success in future.”

Vigneault, just two years removed from a run to the Stanley Cup Final, led the team to the Northwest Division title in 2012-13 for the fifth straight season and sixth time in his seven seasons with the Canucks. However, the team was swept by the sixth-seeded San Jose Sharks in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

It’s the second straight season the Canucks have been knocked out in the first round, and the club hasn’t won a playoff series since the 2011 Western Conference Finals.

Vigneault was hired June 20, 2006, and in seven seasons he compiled a 313-170-57 record. The Canucks made the playoffs in six of the seven seasons, won six division titles, two Presidents’ trophies and advanced to the Stanley Cup Final in 2011. His 313 wins are the most in franchise history, and the club set franchise records with 54 wins and 117 points in the 2010-11 season.

First awarded following the 2006-07 season, the honor is given to “the player who exemplifies great leadership qualities to his team, on and off the ice during the regular season.” Messier solicits suggestions from club and League personnel as well as NHL fans in compiling a list of potential candidates before personally selecting the three finalists and ultimately the winner.

Alfredsson, the NHL’s longest-serving active captain, is the Senators’ all-time leader in numerous categories, including games played, goals, assists and points. He has taken a leadership role off the ice as well, working with the Boys and Girls Club of Ottawa, the Royal Ottawa Foundation for Mental Health, and the Sens Foundation.

Brown has spent his entire eight-season NHL career with the Kings, serving as their captain for the past five seasons. He was selected as the Kings’ Most Popular Player this season and is known for his physical playing style, which consistently places him among the League leaders in hits.

Toews volunteers to grant wishes through the Make-A-Wish Foundation and visits with patients at the local children’s hospital and the Misericordia Home in Chicago. Last fall, he returned home to join the Winnipeg Patrolmen Hockey Club and other NHL players for the “Goals for Dreams Hockey Challenge,” which helped raise $80,000 for the Children’s Hospital Foundation and the Dream Factory, a charity that grants dreams for critically and chronically ill children.

Listed at 6-foot-8 and 270 pounds, Scott had no points and 69 penalty minutes in 34 games last season. The Sabres acquired Scott by signing him to a one-year contract in free agency last summer to add size and grit to their roster.

He split the 2011-12 season with Chicago Blackhawks and the New York Rangers. He broke into the NHL in 2008-09, and played his first two seasons with the Minnesota.

Over five seasons, Scott has a goal and four assists and 305 penalty minutes in 180 career games.

The NHL announced the nominees on Friday. The winner will be announced during the Stanley Cup final.

Quenneville led the Chicago Blackhawks to a league-best 36-7-5 mark after opening the season by earning a point in each of its first 24 games, setting an NHL record. Quenneville previously won the award in 2000 with St. Louis.

“We’re pretty happy with where we’re at as a coaching staff but all the credit is deserved for the players and what they have accomplished this year,” Quenneville said. “You’ve got to commend them from the start of the season, the way they prepared themselves, the consistency, the way they competed, the predictability in their game, it was fun being a part of it.”

In his first full season in Anaheim, Boudreau led the Anaheim Ducks to the Pacific Division title and the second seed in the Western Conference playoffs. Anaheim was third overall in the NHL standings after finishing 25th the previous season. Boudreau previously won the award in 2008 with Washington.

MacLean, a finalist for the second straight year, led  the Ottawa Senators to the No. 7 seed in the Eastern Conference while overcoming the prolonged absences of several key players.

“Bergevin doesn’t have the cap space for a major renovation and said he doesn’t believe free agency is the answer. The key, he said, is to build through the draft … With six picks in the first three rounds of next month’s draft, it might be a good idea for the Canadiens to shelve the philosophy of picking the best player available in favour of picking the best big player available.”

As far as larger forward prospects are concerned, winger Jacob de la Rose (SWE) or center Frederik Gauthier (QMJHL) could be available as a first-round selection for the Canadiens. Or maybe even 6-foot-4 Anthony Mantha (QMJHL), who ESPN Insider/NHL Scout Grant Sonier has ranked 14th overall.