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Former Vancouver Canucks head coach Rick Tocchet once preached about protecting the guts of the ice. He wasn't wrong — but eventually, you need players who can attack through the guts of the ice, too.

That's why the debate between Caleb Malhotra and Ivar Stenberg has become so fascinating.

The Canucks need more than another center to fix this. They need players who can drive play through the middle of the ice for the next decade.

That doesn't mean they should pick one this draft. 

Six months ago, this wasn't even a debate. If the Canucks landed the third-overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft, Stenberg always felt like the obvious choice.

Today, Malhotra's rise has made that decision far less straightforward.

But at the end of the day, the best player available is still the right choice.

In this case, that's Stenberg.

The Case for Caleb Malhotra

When people talk about Malhotra, the first thing they mention is that he's the best center in this draft. You could even argue he and Viggo Björck have the best chance to become long-term first- and second-line centers from this class.

Honestly, if the Canucks somehow managed to get both, that would be the dream scenario.

But that's a story for another day.

The reality is Vancouver still needs help down the middle. Elias Pettersson has looked closer to a 50-point center than the 90-point version from three years ago, Marco Rossi still needs to prove he can be a permanent 2C on a contender, Filip Chytil is coming off another significant injury, and Aatu Räty and Braeden Cootes are still developing.

That's exactly why the argument for Malhotra is so compelling.

Watching Malhotra, it's easy to see a player who impacts every area of the game. His hands are elite. His reaction time is outstanding. He has high-end vision, a legitimate NHL shot, and competes every single shift.

Malhotra separates himself away from the puck. He's relentless on the forecheck, strong on the backcheck, wins battles, and impacts the game without needing possession.

That's why the Dylan Larkin comparison makes sense — not because he skates like Larkin, but because of the role: a trusted, all-situations center who drives play through all three zones.

Even if Malhotra never reaches that level, his floor still looks outstanding. At worst, you're getting a high-end 2C. At best, a legitimate No. 1 center.

The Canucks would still be getting an outstanding player if they called his name.

Why Stenberg Still Gets the Edge

Here's where the argument shifts.

If Stenberg is still available when Vancouver picks third, that's the pick.

This isn't about drafting the best center — it's about drafting the best player available.

And that's still Stenberg.

Watching the Swedish winger, it's easy to find yourself rewinding the tape. Not because of what he did with the puck, but because of what he saw before everyone else did.

That's what stands out the most. Stenberg doesn't force offence; he creates it.

He arrives early, protects pucks, wins them back, extends possessions and always seems to stay one step ahead. Those are NHL habits, and they're why his game should translate.

There's real substance underneath the skill.

Many scouts believe Stenberg has the second-highest offensive ceiling in this draft behind Gavin McKenna.

That's what makes him so intriguing. You don't often find players who combine elite offensive upside with pro habits away from the puck. He's just as comfortable creating off the rush as he is extending possessions below the goal line.

That's the type of player every team spends years trying to find.

When drafting third overall, that's exactly the type of upside worth betting on.

Malhotra projects as the player every coach wants.

Stenberg projects as the player every opposing coach has to game plan for.

That's the swing worth taking.

One Final Wrinkle

One final wrinkle came when the San Jose Sharks, who currently hold the second-overall pick, acquired Michael Kesselring.

Kesselring doesn't eliminate Chase Reid going second-overall, but it does give the Sharks another NHL-calibre defenceman. If Kesselring stabilizes part of San Jose's blue line, the Sharks may be more willing to pivot away from a defenceman like Reid and target a dynamic forward instead. That decision could completely reshape Vancouver's draft board at No. 3.

If that happens, Stenberg's chances of reaching Vancouver probably become much slimmer.

Still, the chances of Stenberg falling to Vancouver are a whole lot better than McKenna falling to No. 3.

The Final Pick

The Canucks need a center.

They just shouldn't draft one if they believe the best player on the board is still Stenberg.

If Stenberg is the better player, then the answer is simple; take the best player, and figure out the next center later.

This team isn't one player away from contending in the first place. There will be other opportunities to address the middle of the ice through future drafts, trades, or player development. That's a much easier problem to solve than finding another game-breaking talent.

If Stenberg becomes the player many believe he can be, nobody in Vancouver will care that he wasn't a center.

They'll just be glad the Canucks drafted the best player available.

Make sure you bookmark THN's Vancouver Canucks site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, don't forget to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum. This article originally appeared on The Hockey News.

Latest From THN’s Vancouver Canucks Site:

How The Canucks' 2025 NHL Draft Class Performed One Year After Selection: Part 2

How The Canucks’ 2025 NHL Draft Class Performed One Year After Selection: Part 1

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When Mark Giordano’s 18-year playing career began to transition into its next phase, the veteran defenseman wasn’t entirely sure what the future held beyond his days on the ice.  

Although he hasn’t suited up for an NHL game since the 2023-24 campaign, the long-time blue-liner never formally announced his retirement from professional hockey. But after going unsigned through the 2024-25 season, the 42-year-old local product began to realistically map out his next steps in the game.  

That’s when Toronto Maple Leafs General Manager Brad Treliving—who shares a long history with Giordano dating back to their days with the Calgary Flames—reached out with an opportunity to join the organization's player development pipeline with the AHL's Toronto Marlies.  

“They called me a coaching advisor to start,” Giordano said.  

What initially looked like a part-time player development role, however, expanded at a rapid pace.  

Climbing the Coaching Ladder

Giordano immediately went to work mentoring the Marlies' young defensive corps—a natural fit for a man who won the Norris Trophy in 2019 and logged over 1,100 NHL games on the blue line. But a mid-season coaching shakeup within the organization accelerated his timeline.  

When the Maple Leafs parted ways with NHL assistant coach Marc Savard and promoted Marlies assistant Steve Sullivan to the big club, a vacant spot opened up on John Gruden’s bench in the American Hockey League. Giordano seamlessly slid into the role on a full-time basis.  

“I worked with the D a lot at the start of the year, I worked with the forwards and the power play at the end of the year. So I gained a lot of experience,” Giordano told The Hockey News amid the on-ice celebrations following the Marlies’ 2026 Calder Cup championship victory. “I think it was good for me to actually see it from a different point of view. I've always been on the D side my whole career. And I had a lot of fun. These guys were a cool group to be around and a really close group. I know everyone says that, but we really came together.”   

Winning the Ultimate Prize

Giordano’s resume as a player is incredibly decorated. In addition to his top-defenseman honors, he captured a Spengler Cup and earned a silver medal with Team Canada at the 2008 IIHF World Championship. Yet, outside of those short tournament formats, a major professional championship ring had always eluded the veteran during his lengthy NHL career.  

Mark Giordano hoists the Calder Cup. pic.twitter.com/DzGdy82fAR

— David Alter (@davidalter) June 20, 2026

That missing piece of the puzzle is exactly what made watching Giordano hoist the Calder Cup so unique.  

“I definitely have the coaching bug,” Giordano admitted. “I've played a lot of different roles, and I think that's where I can help these guys. I've played in the American League. I've been a healthy scratch. I've been a six-seven defenseman. I think my biggest asset to them is I've been in all those shoes.”   

What’s Next?

As the Marlies prepare to celebrate their AHL title with fans at Real Sports on Monday, questions will naturally shift to what the future holds for Toronto's coaching staff.  

With a Calder Cup now on his resume, a head coach like John Gruden will undoubtedly be in high demand for NHL bench vacancies down the road. But Giordano has quickly proven that he is far more than just a sounding board; he is a versatile mentor capable of contributing to all facets of the game.  

It should shock anyone to see Giordano flourish in his role behind the bench. There's a reason he was named the first captain in Seattle Kraken franchise history when he was claimed in the expansion draft.

At 42, Giordano is still incredibly young in coaching terms, and his passion for the whistle is undeniable. While jumping straight into an NHL head coaching gig might be a stretch at this stage of his second career, it shouldn't surprise anyone if he lands an NHL assistant coaching job sooner rather than later.

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Joe Sakic didn’t say much at the end of Colorado’s season—and in hindsight, that silence might have said plenty.

You can certainly credit Sakic for the way he handled the Avalanche’s end-of-season media availability earlier this month, especially in light of recent developments across the Stanley Cup Final picture.

Typically, at the end of a season—particularly for teams that fall short in the playoffs—you get the full medical rundown: the bumps, bruises, injuries that shaped the outcome but only come to light afterward. Sakic didn’t go there. No list. No explanations. No built-in caveats.

In hindsight, it was a deliberate and effective choice to keep the discussion of injuries as minimal as possible. No excuses. The message was straightforward: everyone is expected to be healthy heading into training camp, and that was the extent of it. Whether a team chooses to disclose injuries publicly is ultimately its prerogative. In Colorado’s case, the organization opted for discretion, even if it meant fewer storylines for the media and more room for speculation.

That context becomes more interesting given what the Vegas Golden Knights have since revealed about their own playoff health situation. By all accounts, they were dealing with significant injuries of their own.

Captain Mark Stone played through a torn adductor. William Karlsson underwent surgery for a broken wrist that ultimately sidelined him for the final game of the Stanley Cup Final, a 3-0 loss that clinched the championship for the Carolina Hurricanes. Defenseman Noah Hanifin was managing an upper-body injury that, under normal regular-season circumstances, likely would have kept him out for roughly two months. Brayden McNabb, according to both teammates and management, battled through multiple injuries during the playoff run, including the facial injury he sustained in Game 2 of the Final that quickly made the rounds on social media.

Yet much of the conversation following Vegas’ sweep of Colorado in the Western Conference Final centered on the Avalanche’s injuries. And to be clear, they were real and they mattered. Several key players were clearly playing through issues, including Cale Makar, Artturi Lehkonen, Brent Burns, Sam Malinski, and Nathan MacKinnon, who took a puck to the knee in Game 3 and was noticeably limited afterward. However, he was held scoreless in the series, marking the first time in his playoff career that had happened in a postseason matchup.

But that’s the point.

Vegas was dealing with injuries, too—those are simply the ones they chose to acknowledge publicly. And even then, the focus remained on core pieces, not the full scope of what depth players may have been battling through behind the scenes.

Injuries, however, weren’t the reason Colorado lost control of the series.

The Avalanche surrendered leads in two of the four games, including a 3-0 advantage in Game 3 that ultimately swung the series. At that level, against a team as structured as Vegas, those moments matter more than any post-series injury ledger.

As Jared Bednar noted several times throughout the postseason, that’s exactly what makes the Stanley Cup so unforgiving. It’s not just talent. It’s not just cap construction. It’s not even just surviving four rounds. Everything has to align at the right time.

“It’s partly why I think it is the hardest trophy to win just because of the grind of it all,” Bednar said. “Not only do you have to be good; you have to be healthy, you have to be lucky, you have to be tough, playing through injuries.

“You have to be mentally tough, too, because it is a grind every day; every game is a Game 7. Every game feels like it is Game 7 because you need to win it.”

That reality makes Colorado’s playoff exit even harder to reconcile when set against what was, by almost every measure, the strongest regular season in franchise history.

The 2025-26 Avalanche finished with a franchise-record 121 points, surpassing the mark set by the 2000-01 Stanley Cup-winning team. They also captured the Presidents’ Trophy as the NHL’s top regular-season club and were dominant at both ends of the ice from start to finish.

Colorado led the league with 298 goals scored while allowing a league-low 197 goals against. Their plus-101 goal differential paced the NHL, and they finished first in both goals per game and goals against per game. On paper and over 82 games, no team was more complete.

That’s what makes the ending so difficult to process.

The Avalanche didn’t lose because they lacked talent. They didn’t lose because they weren’t an elite team. They lost a series where execution, structure, and in-game details ultimately decided outcomes—and Vegas, when it mattered most, was simply sharper in those moments.

In a playoff environment where margins are razor-thin, that’s often all the difference there is.

And if you're the Vegas Golden Knights, it came down to something much simpler: cleaner execution, tighter structure, and the ability to consistently take away the Avalanche’s biggest strengths when it mattered most.

But as the saying goes, there’s always next season.

News Around the League

• Senators send captain Brady Tkachuk to Florida Panthers after he informed them he would not re-sign with the team. [Ottawa Citizen]

• Florida had made an earlier trade with the Seattle Kraken sending Mackie Samoskevich there for a first and second round pick. [Florida Panthers]

• What will replace Hockey Night in Canada? Women’s sports! [CBC]

• Jonathan Toews annnounces retirement after 16 seasons and three Stanley Cups. [NHL]

Colorado Avalanche News

• Zach Stortini named as ECHL expansion franchise (and new Avalanche minor league affiliate) New Mexico Goatheads’ first head coach. [Colorado Avalanche]
• ICYMI: Pros and Cons of Jared Bednar returning to the Avalanche bench. [MHH]
• The Avs have lost another depth player; this time to the KHL as reports are surfacing that indicate Zakhar Bardakov is leaving for Russia. [Denver Sports]
• Goodbye Ross Colton as he is now a member of the Nashville Predators reuniting with former Avalanche GM Chris MacFarland. [Sportsnet]

Ahead of the 2025 NHL Draft, the New York Islanders completed a blockbuster trade with the Montreal Canadiens. 

Defenseman Noah Dobson was dealt for the No. 16 and No. 17 picks, along with pending restricted free agent Emil Heineman.

On Sunday, we saw our first blockbuster trade of this draft season. 

The Florida Panthers acquired Brady Tkachuk from the Ottawa Senators in exchange for No. 9 and No. 25 in this year's draft, a 2029 first-round pick (top-10 protected), and a 2027 second-round pick.

Panthers Acquire Brady Tkachuk From Ottawa In Blockbuster Trade Florida weaponizes newfound draft capital to unite the Tkachuk brothers in Sunrise, fortifying a championship roster for another aggressive pursuit of NHL dominance.

The two deals aren't comparable, in the slightest, but it is interesting to look at value.

Dobson, despite being overrated by many within the Islanders' fan base, is an offensive defenseman who recorded a 70-point season at age 24 before a down season. 

He was also a pending restricted free agent who forced general manager Mathieu Darche to trade him after the two sides couldn't agree on a contract extension, before he inked an eight-year deal worth $9.5 million annually. 

Tkachuk, who won gold with his brother Matthew representing Team USA at the 2026 Winter Olympics, is a three-time 30-goal scorer, a now former captain, and some teams hate to play against him given his grit. 

In terms of the returns, there's no question Darche got back a lot for Dobson, especially given the little leverage he did have.

Victor Eklund, who they took at No. 16, and Kashawn Aitcheson, who they took at No. 17, are likely big pieces of their future alongside Calder winner Matthew Schaefer. 

Tkachuk's package is significantly stronger, even if Senators fans don't see it that way right now.

While general manager Steve Staois didn't have leverage and Florida was really the only team he was going to go to, despite having the Vegas Golden Knights and the Carolina Hurricanes as options, he also didn't have to trade Tkachuk at this moment. 

He had two seasons left at $8.205 million annually, and Staios could have forced his star to add more teams to his willing-to-be-traded-to list like Detroit Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman did with Dylan Larkin. 

Obviously, Brady's dream was to play with Matthew, and with NTC handed out like candy, he made that a reality. 

Honestly, is it fair to say that Ottawa got back what Tkachuk is worth if not more?

We are talking about three first-round picks and a second-round pick, with a few of them likely on the move to add a top-six scorer like Dallas Stars forward Jason Robertson or St. Louis Blues forward Jordan Kyrou. 

The real question is, how many more blockbuster trades are coming before Friday's NHL Draft?

After the Toronto Maple Leafs hired Jim Hiller as their head coach on Wednesday, the opportunity for other candidates to lead the team from behind the bench expired, and that includes Joe Pavelski.

Pavelski, a former star NHL center who played for the San Jose Sharks and Dallas Stars, was surprisingly in the running for the Maple Leafs' coaching vacancy, despite never having a role on an NHL coaching staff.

In the aftermath of being considered for the head coach job in Toronto, Pavelski spoke on the process of interviews and what it was like being contacted by the Leafs regarding the role.

"It was awesome, it was interesting," Pavelski told The Athletic. "When I got the call, if I had interest in the job, yeah, I mean, it’s Toronto. It kind of takes your breath away to be thought about as a head coach. So it definitely had my attention."

Though Pavelski has never coached in the NHL, the Maple Leafs were seriously considering Pavelski's services behind the bench as he was reported to be one of the few remaining candidates for the job.

Report: Joe Pavelski Confirms Ongoing Process With Maple Leafs For Head Coach RoleAfter multiple reports of Joe Pavelski being in the running to be the next head coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs, the former NHL star has confirmed those reports himself.

"After they first reached out, I took a couple of days to think about it," he said. "It’s a process you definitely want to go through and see how it really looks. I have so much respect for what these coaches do, and that’s one of the reasons you really have to look at it. You know the time they put into it and the care they put into it and everything that comes with it. "I definitely wanted to follow up on the process and see where it went."

Since retiring from the NHL in 2023-24 has found some time to coach. This past year, he led the Madison Capitols U-15 AAA team, coaching his son, Nate.

The Montreal Canadiens hired Martin St-Louis, who had only experience coaching his son at the youth level, too.

Since then, St-Louis has had success in Montreal as its bench boss, making the possible hire of Pavelski in Toronto all the more sensible. 

What Will Jim Hiller Bring To The Maple Leafs, What Could Make Him A Good Fit?Looking at Jim Hiller's head coaching history with the Los Angeles Kings, what will he bring to the Toronto Maple Leafs, and what makes him a good fit?

Even Carolina Hurricanes head coach Rod Brind'Amour just led his team to the 2026 Stanley Cup. He also had a successful playing career and was able to transfer his knowledge to coaching and relate with his players.

"Even to have that opportunity (of interviewing with the Leafs), I probably owe Marty St-Louis a big thank you, or to Rod, for what those guys have done and what they’ve meant to their teams," he said. "Those guys have done a tremendous job. And you definitely see how it might benefit you in some ways."

---

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Knowing what we know about Kyle Dubas draft tendencies, who could be some targets for the Pittsburgh Penguins with the 22nd pick at Friday night’s NHL draft?

It’s a loaded question to consider, since Dubas is always active in terms of desire to move up or down in the draft. His real target could be different from the pick that the Pens currently possess.

Assuming he stays in the neighborhood, who are some players in this pool that tend to fit the profile they like?

To determine that, we’ll stick with Corey Pronman’s player profiles and check in on the three first round picks from last year. As determined in the link above, Dubas frequently has selected forwards in the first round so for today we’ll narrow the focus to just that position.

On Kindel’s pre-draft report, Pronman wrote in part: “Kindel was one of the best forwards in the WHL this season. He’s small but checks every other box you want. He’s a very good skater with the first few steps and top speed to play at the higher levels. He’s a skilled, creative offensive player who sees the ice well and has scored in large numbers in junior”

Bill Zonnon was the second pick last year for Pittsburgh, from Pronman again: “Zonnon checks a lot of boxes NHL teams will be looking for. He’s a big, fast center with a skating stride that will easily translate to the NHL. He has good stick skills and can create offense on the move.”

Finally, Will Horcoff was the last first round pick for the Pens where last year Pronman wrote: “He left midseason to join Michigan where his game took off from that point, making a real difference for his team at the college level as a U18 player. He’s a very skilled big man who can make small-man-type plays in tight areas. He sees the ice at a high level and has a creative offensive mind.”

–

This doesn’t necessarily narrow things down, since many first rounders tend to carry similar traits, but the Pens ended up nabbing players with plus puck skills and who tended to be very productive players. That wasn’t a hard and fast rule since Horcoff was a projection pick, but in all three cases some similarities emerge for small-area players who excel in thinking the game and show skill at the lower levels.

It can be pointed out that the Penguins still selected three players with three different profiles. Kindel was an ultra-productive center/wing combo from the WHL that was seen as undersized. Zonnon was a big-body, high-motor type from Quebec and Horcoff was a massive player with offensive intrigue and a longer development curve. Other than all being forwards there wasn’t too much exact commonality on the styles.

Here’s some players that fit that type of general mold this time around.

Liam Ruck

Pronman says: “Ruck is a dangerous scoring winger. He’s a very slick and intelligent player who creates a lot with the puck. His pure athletic tools don’t jump out: he’s not that big, and he’s a below-average skater. He does work hard, though, and gets to the hard areas to generate offense, earning his coach’s trust consistently.”

In a lot of ways, Ruck sounds like Kindel in the pre-draft process, not that anyone would be expecting Ruck to play in the NHL next season. Ruck produced 104 points in the WHL last year, Kindel put up 99 points in that league in his draft year. There’s differences in position with Ruck being exclusively a winger and Kindel offering center ability but their frames (almost 6’ and 177 pounds for Ruck, 5’10 and 176 in the pre-draft process for Kindel) are the same. Kindel finished ranked 21st in Central Scouting’s NA skater ranking, Ruck checked in at 20th this year.

Kindel wasn’t expected to be selected 11th overall and taking Ruck 22nd would be slightly on the high-end of his most common projections, though he is generally seen as an expected late-first round pick. The main area to consider might be that Ruck is only going to project as a wing, and there are slight knocks on how his skating will translate. (Some might remember similar questions in the process with Kindel, which mostly looked unfounded from the get go).

JP Hulbert

Pronman: “Hurlbert is a very skilled scoring winger. He’s very creative and dynamic as a puck handler and passer while also having a good shot. With the puck, he looks like an NHL player, but his effort level and speed are average, and he can be pushed to the outside too easily”

A lot of the notes above about Ruck/Kindel apply equally to Hulbert. It’s another case of a creative, not large but talented forward (nearly 6’ and 183 pounds) from the WHL, who again was productive with 97 points in his draft year. Dobber Hockey said of Hulbert, “an offense-minded forward who is committed to playing at both ends of the ice with excellent puck-handling ability and a great wrist shot”, which again, sounds very much like Kindel’s reports coming out of the WHL.

Hulbert played on the same Kamloops team that Harrison Brunicke did – and sometimes as a center- he’ll be a player the Pens are well aware of. Hulbert, ranked 12th as NA skater by CSB, has a pre-draft expectation in most places to go in the 18-24 range, so if he’s even available at 22 that would be right in-line with where most are expecting that he comes off the board on draft night.

Nikita Klepov

Pronman: “Klepov is a highly skilled and intelligent winger. He has the ability to run a pro power play and make difficult plays consistently at the next level. He’s a solid skater who can generate chances with pace. His effort level is fine, although he’s not that physically imposing ”

Klepov (a league-high 97 points in the OHL) fits the mold of Ruck/Hulbert as well as an offensive winger. His puck skills and production are his calling cards that would be well within the norms of the type of player that Pittsburgh has targeted with high picks lately. There’s a chance Klepov, the eighth ranked NA skater, could be selected in the first 21 picks, which could become an issue for Pittsburgh sitting at 22, barring a move up the board via trade.

Jack Hextall

Pronman: “Hextall is a skilled center with excellent offensive sense. He’s a slick playmaker who executes difficult passes with consistency. He’s a diligent pivot who can play both ways and doesn’t shy away from going into traffic. His skating is solid, albeit not a standout trait”

Hextall, no relation to the former general manager, breaks the mold of the players listed above who could be seen as Kindel-esque types of profiles. Hextall is more along the lines of a Horcoff/Zonnon mashup as a center that hasn’t been a prolific scorer but one that will require more patience and development time. The Pens have prioritized boosting their centers, which might be the call again early in the draft. Unlike a prospect like Ruck or Klepov, Hextall isn’t seen as a prospect with a power play-type of future in the NHL at this point. Pronman listed a comparable as Peyton Krebs, who has at least made the NHL and scored 39 points last season. Hextall probably wouldn’t be a home run type of pick, but if the Pens are looking to make a solid choice that seems like a sturdy chance of becoming an NHL player of some sort, he could add value and depth to the center position down the line.

Casey Mutryn 

Pronman: “Mutryn is a hardworking, physical 6-foot-3 winger. He’s a good skater who can play at an NHL tempo and carry pucks up ice competently at the top level. His offensive game has developed more than expected. He has some puck skills and scoring touch.”

Mutryn’s profile sounds a lot like a bigger version of Rutger McGroarty, a prospect the Pens didn’t draft but traded for early in his development cycle. Both Mutryn and McGroarty were Team USA captains at their respective U-18 WJC’s. Mutryn would break past tendencies since he is known more for size and rugged play a bit more than short area work but sounds like the type of player that would fit right into some of the desires Dubas has skated to create a big, aggressive team in the future. Mutryn isn’t always seen as a first round lock in mock drafts, but the Pens do have another pick high in the second round (39th overall) and may even look to trade down and move back a few spots from their first pick at 22. If they’re super sweet on Mutryn, moving down to get an extra pick might mean angling for taking him a little later on. Then again, the Pens had no problem ranking (and actually drafting) someone like Kindel 10-20 picks higher than a lot of his pre-draft expectations, so Mutryn shouldn’t be ruled out straight up at 22 if he is a player Pittsburgh wants that much.

—

Of course, Dubas and the Pens could always easily decide to veer in another direction and target a defenseman with their first pick, later in the week we’ll take a look at yet more candidates that make sense as possibilities in their draft range. The need within the organization is certainly there for any way that want to go when it comes to identifying who the best pro available could be when they pick. The five names above would be fitting options but when a team picks deep in the first round there could be any number of ways they decide to go, with what happens before they pick sure to influence the night as well.

Here are your links for today:

Devils Links

“I can’t promise any fireworks for the Devils this week, but there is potential for some in the lead-up to the draft and at the draft on Friday and Saturday. Devils’ ownership hired Mehta to make some changes, and I expect we’ll see some as the week moves along.” [Devils on the Rush]

“Knies isn’t the player that most think he is, a sort of Brady Tkachuk-lite — he’s a lot closer to Mercer than he is to those upper-echelon power wingers. The Devils are much better off sending a premier package for a legitimately premier player, one who has the capability to impact the game positively without being carried by his linemates.” [Devils’ Advocates]

Hockey Links

Well that’s certainly one way to kick off the week:

THERE'S ANOTHER TKACHUK IN FLORIDA!! 😼

Brady Tkachuk is joining the @FlaPanthers with his brother, Matthew!

Powered by @SAPpic.twitter.com/6db4bUWROi

— NHL (@NHL) June 21, 2026

Darren Raddysh heads to the Leafs:

The Toronto Maple Leafs have acquired defenceman Darren Raddysh from the Tampa Bay Lightning in exchange for their fifth-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft, the team announced.

Raddysh has also signed an eight-year extension carrying an $8.5 million AAV, per @DarrenDregerpic.twitter.com/nNBhlRgPxL

— TSN (@TSN_Sports) June 19, 2026

Mackie Samoskevich heads to the Kraken:

Mackie Samoskevich is heading to the Seattle Kraken per @FriedgeHNIC for the 25th Overall pick in the 2026 Draft as well as a Conditional 2027 2nd.

The 23 year old RFA had 12G-20A-32P in 77GP this season for the Panthers pic.twitter.com/1p9JD4dl1P

— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) June 21, 2026

Jason Dickinson gets a five-year deal in Edmonton:

BIG JASON ENERGY 🔋

The #Oilers have signed forward Jason Dickinson to a five-year contract with an AAV of $4.0 million. pic.twitter.com/HF5yMk4QLw

— Edmonton Oilers (@EdmontonOilers) June 21, 2026

“The Stanley Cup has been passed out, and the sprint toward NHL free agency begins. It’s no secret that the unrestricted free agent Class of 2026 is relatively underwhelming, but the news leading up to July 1 isn’t all bad for prospective shoppers.” [Daily Faceoff]

“The NHL’s skyrocketing salary cap has made it much easier for teams to trade away overpriced contracts — provided the remaining term isn’t too long — compared to the flat-cap era. Gone are the days when a team like Calgary paid Montreal a first-round pick in the summer of 2022 for taking on just the final year of Sean Monahan’s $6.375 million cap hit.” [The Athletic ($)]

“The Winnipeg Jets face a franchise-altering decision regarding Connor Hellebuyck. Do they keep their franchise goaltender, who is on the short list for best in the world? Or do they cash in on a potential bidding war that his sudden availability would create? There are cases to be made for both courses of action.” [The Athletic ($)]

“The Hockey Hall of Fame Selection Committee meets Monday to vote on the Class of 2026, with an announcement to follow in the afternoon. The list of candidates is long, led by a six-time Selke Trophy winner in his first year of eligibility, an Olympic gold-medal winning goalie in his second year of eligibility, and the fourth person to win the Stanley Cup as a captain and coach of the same franchise. So, who are the top candidates to become Hall of Famers next year?” [NHL.com]

Feel free to discuss these and any other hockey-related stories in the comments below.

Buffalo Sabres defenseman Bowen Byram is one of the NHL's top trade candidates to watch this off-season. He is entering the final season of his contract in 2026-27 and could be a player Buffalo moves if extension talks between him and the Sabres do not go well.

With Byram being a 25-year-old top-four defenseman coming off a strong season, there is no question that several teams would love to acquire him. Now, a few suitors have been named for the Sabres blueliner.

According to The Fourth Period, the Philadelphia Flyers, Anaheim Ducks, and San Jose Sharks are linked to Byram at this stage of the off-season.

The Flyers have long been connected to Byram, and it makes sense when noting that they could use another high-impact left-shot defenseman. Furthermore, with Byram being just 25 years old, he would be an excellent fit on a Flyers club that is on the rise. 

Byram would be a strong pickup for the Ducks as well. With Byram being able to play both sides, he could help the Ducks out tremendously if they acquired him. Keep in mind, the Ducks are entering the summer with Jacob Trouba, John Carlson, and Radko Gudas all as pending UFAs. 

As for the Sharks, it is no secret that they need to continue to improve their blueline. They recently acquired Michael Kesselring from the Sabres, but they still need serious help on defense. Bringing in a young blueliner with plenty of skill, like Byram, would make a lot of sense for them because of it. 

It used to be that Canadian teams had trouble luring free agents north of the border. Some argued the taxation system was the reason why, others said it was about the weather, and for those who didn’t want to come to Montreal, it was often said to be about the language. However, nowadays, the Canadian teams seem to have trouble even retaining their players. Should the Montreal Canadiens worry?

It started when the late, great Johnny Gaudreau told the Calgary Flames he would not be signing a contract extension with them and opted for a seven-year deal with the Columbus Blue Jackets. Johnny Hockey said he wanted to be closer to his family, which was within his right; he was an unrestricted free agent and free to head elsewhere.

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Days later, though, his former teammate Matthew Tkachuk, who still had a year left on his contract, told the Flames that he wouldn’t be signing an extension at the end of the following season. Calgary didn’t want to end up empty-handed once again. It made a blockbuster trade with the Florida Panthers, netting Jonathan Huberdeau, Mackenzie Weager, Cole Schwindt, and a conditional first-round pick at the 2025 draft.

Earlier this season, Quinn Hughes told the Vancouver Canucks he wouldn’t re-up either. The captain still had another year on his contract. Still, he gave the British-Columbia team an opportunity to get at least a sizeable return from the Minnesota Wild in Marco Rossi, Zeev Buium, Liam Ohren, and a first-round pick at the 2026 draft.

Yesterday, a bomb was set off by the Ottawa Senators; they traded captain Brady Tkachuk to the Panthers. The captain wanted out and had given the team a shortlist of potential destinations, including the Wild, the Panthers, the Vegas Golden Knights, and the Carolina Hurricanes. The Wild reportedly made an offer, but it wasn’t good enough, and the Sens shipped out their captain to Florida for a boatload of futures, three first-round picks (including two at this week’s draft), one in 2029, and a second-round pick in 2030. It’s a good return, but it does nothing to plug the giant pest-shaped hole in their current lineup. That’s enough to throw a spanner in the works of the best laid plans.

Welcome to Florida, Brady 🤝 pic.twitter.com/ufWVeES06V

— Florida Panthers (@FlaPanthers) June 22, 2026

Should this exodus of American players out of Canada worry the Canadiens? I wouldn’t think so. Those teams that were told their players wanted out were all in Canada, but that wasn’t the only common denominator. They were also all teams struggling to become winning teams or contending teams. The Habs just made a run to the Eastern Conference Final. While two Americans play massive roles in Montreal with Lane Hutson and Cole Caufield, both have committed long-term to the team and are showing incredible enthusiasm for what lies ahead for the Habs. Jacob Fowler, who’s earmarked as the goaltender of the future for the franchise, is also American, but seems to be loving Montreal so far.

There’s a reason why Kent Hughes has managed to sign both Caufield and Hutson to long-term, team-friendly deals; they want to win. Those players were willing to leave money on the table to win with the team that put its faith in them. The Canadiens picked them in the draft after many teams passed on them because of their size. Team USA also ignored both in the latest international competitions because of their diminutive physique. Both are motivated to bring a Stanley Cup back to Montreal to repay that trust. Hughes has said it time and time again; money is not everything for hockey players, they want to win.

On this day in 2019, the Canadiens drafted Cole Caufield 15th overall #Habs365#GoHabsGopic.twitter.com/L66msF9nZ0

— Mike Commito (@mikecommito) June 21, 2026

As long as the GM makes good use of the money those players left on the table to improve the team and gives it the means to win, they won’t be tempted to leave. There’s a good culture in Montreal and a camaraderie that’s akin to one big happy family. The ultimate goal is not to have fun, though; it’s to win, to capture the trophy those guys have all dreamt about since they were kids: the Stanley Cup.

That’s also why Dylan Larkin has demanded a trade from the Detroit Red Wings. He’s already in the USA, but that’s not what it’s about. It’s about winning, and Steve Yzerman being unable to show that he could lead the Wings to become a contender. His failure to bring him the right pieces at the trade deadline prevented Detroit from taking the next step.

Hughes and the Canadiens don’t have to worry, at least as long as they are showing the players that they have a plan to make the Habs worthy of being called les Glorieux again and that they keep moving the needle towards that. 

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