Dan Palango is from Ancaster, Ontario originally, and has been with the Wild since 2020. Prior to that he was with the Canucks, and he was also an agent who worked with Mike Gillis in his player agency for 13 years. Gillis was GM of the Canucks when Palango moved into scouting. While with the Wild and the Canucks he worked under Judd Brackett for 17 years.

Brad Rossen was a former Stathletes employee who moved to the Coyotes in 2016 with John Chayka. He was there until Chayka left in 2020. He attended Brock University where he did a Masters in Business Economics right before he joined the Coyotes, and he attended Harvard to study data science right after.

Since 2020, he has been with player agency CAA, based in Toronto, where, "[Brad] leads recruiting and player development in Ontario as well as NHL player management and contract research." He does not appear to have directly represented any players although he is a certified agent.

JP Perpich was an amateur scout with the Wild for the last five years under Judd Brackett. He attended law school in Minnesota, and is a native of Minneapolis. The Perpich family are Minnesota hockey royalty. JP should not be confused with his father John Perpich who has been a hockey coach and scout, most recently with the Ottawa Senators.

JP worked as a lawyer for several years in Minneapolis, and got into scouting in 2016 covering the Minnesota area for the Red Deer Rebels of the WHL while working in other fields. In 2021, he joined the Wild as a full time scout, giving up a job in an investment firm.

This is an early shot at figuring out a roster and discussing the new players:

Maple Leafs sign Bobrovsky to stabilize goaltending, highlight busy offseason | NHL.com
No. 1 pick McKenna joins Paul, Roslovic, Raddysh, Andrae among host of new faces in Toronto
NHL logoMike Zeisberger

So much more than merely a race:

Sharks sign forward Macklin Celebrini to a five-year contract extension | San Jose Sharks
San Jose Sharks (@SanJoseSharks) General Manager Mike Grier announced today that the club has signed forward Macklin Celebrini to a five-year contract extension worth $18.8 million AAV. “In just two seasons as a teenager in the National Hockey League and on the International stage, Macklin has established himself as one
San Jose Sharks logo
Danièle Sauvageau named general manager of Canada’s National Women’s Program
The Hockey Hall of Famer will lead Canada’s National Women’s Program through the 2030 Olympic Winter Games.
Hockey Canada logoJason La Rose

Joe Miller, Maple Leafs draft prospect and recent captain of the Harvard Crimson, has signed with the ECHL affiliate of the Marlies:

CYCLONES ADD ROOKIE FORWARD JOE MILLER FOR THE 2026-27 CAMPAIGN
Cyclones add former Harvard captain ahead of the new season
Cincinnati Cyclones

The Leafs' rights to him expire in mid-August unless they were to sign him to an ELC, so that isn't happening.

That's it for today, whatever day it is, I've lost track again. Have a good one!

From The Branches