NHL NOTES

The Kings have reached a one-year agreement with the Phoenix Coyotes under which eight of the Kings’ top prospects will join the Coyotes’ American Hockey League affiliate, the Springfield Falcons.

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After leading the San Jose Sharks to their first playoff appearance in three years, Coach Darryl Sutter received a new contract. Terms were not disclosed. . . . Bob Hartley, coach of the Colorado Avalanche’s top farm team, the Hershey Bears, is the acknowledged front-runner to succeed Marc Crawford, who resigned Wednesday. Other possible candidates include former Buffalo Sabre coach Ted Nolan and former New Jersey Devil coach Jacques Lemaire. . . . Mario Lemieux, despite having no plans to return to hockey, is enlisting the NHL Players Assn.’s help in securing deferred payments owed him by the Pittsburgh Penguins. The Penguins are believed to be overdue in paying about $5 million of the $24 million that is owed Lemieux over the next eight to 10 years. . . . The Penguins signed goaltender Craig Hillier, their first-round draft pick in 1996, four days before they would have relinquished their rights to him.