Welcome back to another edition of Around the League — the series here at CanucksArmy where we deliver you news and notes from around the National Hockey League, oftentimes through a Vancouver Canucks-tinted lens.
For some teams in the National Hockey League, they are well underway into the offseason, and for others, the playoff journey continues. 
Travis Green hired as 15th head coach in Ottawa Senators franchise history
The Ottawa Senators have hired Travis Green to fill their vacant head coaching position.
Green, aged 53, previously served as the associate coach for the New Jersey Devils before assuming the head coaching role following the dismissal of Lindy Ruff midway through the 2023-24 season. During his brief stint as head coach, Green posted an 8-12-1 record in 21 games.
Despite a less-than-stellar record in his last full-time head coaching role with the Vancouver Canucks, Green appears enthusiastic about the opportunity to lead the Senators. This move would see him guiding a roster led by young stars like Brady Tkachuk and Tim Stutzle.
The Senators navigated the 2023-24 season under interim coach Jacques Martin after parting ways with D.J. Smith on December 18th. Craig Berube, who secured a Stanley Cup victory with the Blues in 2019, has been without a coaching role since his departure from St. Louis on December 12th and was another candidate to get the vacant Sens job.
With Travis Green heading north, it leaves the New Jersey Devils in a contemplative position. General Manager Tom Fitzgerald hopes to finalize their coaching selection before the upcoming 2024 NHL Draft scheduled for June 28th.
Rick Bowness retires after 38 seasons as NHL coach
Winnipeg Jets head coach Rick Bowness announced his retirement from coaching after an illustrious 38 seasons in the NHL. The announcement came Monday morning.
During his tenure with the Jets, Bowness achieved remarkable success, guiding the team to a commendable 98-57-9 record over two seasons as head coach. Under his leadership, the Jets made two consecutive appearances in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
In a season where he was nominated for the Jack Adams award, Winnipeg set club records for road wins, winning streaks, and point streaks. Notably, the Jets embarked on a remarkable 35-game stretch where they allowed three goals or fewer. The team’s 52 wins matched the franchise record, showing Bowness’ ability to extract the best performance from his players.
Bowness’ influence extended to 17 playoff appearances, including memorable trips to the finals as an associate coach with the Vancouver Canucks in 2011, as an assistant with the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2015, and as head coach of the Dallas Stars in 2020. He joins an exclusive club of head coaches, including some of the all-time greats like Scotty Bowman and Pat Quinn, who have served behind the bench in five different decades.
Notably, Bowness holds the distinction of coaching the most NHL games in league history, with an impressive tally of 2,726 games behind the bench. With Bowness now walking off into the sunset, he leaves behind many memories for players, fellow coaches, and countless fans.
2024 NHL Draft Lottery time announced
On Monday, the NHL confirmed the start time for the highly anticipated 2024 NHL Draft Lottery. Scheduled for 6:30 p.m. ET on Tuesday, May 7, the lottery will take place at NHL Network’s studio in Secaucus, New Jersey. 
The draft lottery participants have been finalized based on their regular-season performances, ranging from the team with the fewest points to the most. Here is a breakdown of the participants along with their corresponding odds:
  1. San Jose Sharks – 18.5%
  2. Chicago Blackhawks – 13.5%
  3. Anaheim Ducks – 11.5%
  4. Columbus Blue Jackets – 9.5%
  5. Montreal Canadiens – 8.5%
  6. Utah – 7.5%
  7. Ottawa Senators – 6.5%
  8. Seattle Kraken – 6.0%
  9. Calgary Flames – 5.0%
  10. New Jersey Devils – 3.5%
  11. Buffalo Sabres – 3.0%
  12. Philadelphia Flyers – 2.5%
  13. Minnesota Wild – 2.0%
  14. Pittsburgh Penguins – 1.5%
  15. Detroit Red Wings – 0.5%
  16. St. Louis Blues – 0.5%
Fans can rest assured that the event will be broadcasted live on major networks, including ESPN, Sportsnet, and TVA Sports.