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At the 2026 NHL trade deadline, the Pittsburgh Penguins acquired forward Elmer Soderblom from the Detroit Red Wings in exchange for a 2026 third-round pick. This was after the 6-foot-8 forward had two goals and one assist in 39 games for Detroit before the trade.

While Soderblom struggled with the Red Wings before the trade, he undoubtedly changed things on that front after being dealt to the Penguins. In 20 games with the Penguins after the move, he posted five goals, 10 points, and 35 hits. With numbers like these, he proved to be a strong pickup to Pittsburgh's roster for the final stretch of the season. 

Given how well Soderblom played for the Penguins following the trade, he is a breakout candidate to watch in 2026-27. He showed plenty of promise after being traded to Pittsburgh, and it would be big if he kept this kind of play up for a whole season. If he did, he would emerge as a key part of the Penguins' top nine. 

With Soderblom being only 25 years old, the possibility of him hitting a new level next season should not be ruled out. It will be interesting to see what kind of season he has from here. 

It is no secret that the Chicago Blackhawks have formed a very strong prospect pool as they continue their rebuild. Due to this, they have many exciting youngsters in their system.

Eight Blackhawks prospects have made Scott Wheeler's new top 100 NHL drafted prospect rankings for The Athletic. Anton Frondell, Roman Kantserov, Sam Rinzel, Nick Lardis, Oliver Moore, Kevin Korchinski, Xavier Villeneuve, and Vaclav Nestrasil made the cut. 

Frondell and Kantserov each received rankings in the top 25. This is because Frondell landed the No. 18 spot, while Kantserov picked up the No. 23 ranking. 

Rinzel, Lardis, and Moore each landed spots in the top 65. Rinzel was ranked No. 49, Lardis picked up spot No. 57, and Moore grabbed the No. 62 ranking on Wheeler's list. 

Korchinski, Villeneuve, and Nestrasil rounded off the rankings for the Blackhawks. Korchinski picked up the No. 75 spot, Villeneuve was given the No. 79 spot, and Nestrasil just made the cut at No. 95. 

Overall, it is hard not to feel excited about the Blackhawks' future when they have so many promising prospects. It will be interesting to see how they all continue to develop from here. 

Nick Robertson’s has reportedly settled on a new contract.

The 24-year-old forward, who spent his entire NHL career with the Toronto Maple Leafs before being traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins on July 1, has agreed to a two-year contract worth $6.5 million ($3.25 million AAV), according to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman. The deal comes less than two weeks after Robertson, a restricted free agent, filed for salary arbitration and just days before his scheduled July 28 hearing.

For Robertson, the agreement provides the stability he has chased since breaking into the league as a highly touted 2019 second-round pick (53rd overall). Drafted out of the OHL’s Peterborough Petes, the Pasadena, California native was long viewed as a dynamic, undersized winger with high-end skill and speed. Early stints with the Leafs were interrupted by injuries and the Maple Leafs’ crowded forward depth, sending him back to the AHL’s Toronto Marlies for extended development stretches in 2020-21 and 2021-22.

The persistence paid off. Robertson gradually carved out a more regular role, showing he could play a gritty, responsible game while chipping in offensively. Over 234 NHL games,  all with Toronto, he has produced 48 goals and 88 points. His most recent campaign in 2025-26 was his most complete: 78 games, 16 goals and 32 points, numbers that reflected both increased ice time and a growing comfort level in the league’s middle six.

Nick Robertson and Pittsburgh have a settlement

2 x $3.25M for him

— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) July 14, 2026

That production made him a logical arbitration candidate after he earned $1.825 million in 2025-26. With the Maple Leafs facing their own cap and roster decisions, Toronto shipped the pending RFA to Pittsburgh on the opening day of free agency. The move gave the Penguins a young, cost-controlled forward with NHL experience and upside, while clearing a roster spot and cap flexibility for the Leafs, while reuniting him with former Maple Leafs GM Kyle Dubas.

Now with his new club, Robertson will slot into a Penguins forward group looking for secondary scoring and energy. Pittsburgh avoided the uncertainty of an arbitration hearing by locking him in at a reasonable number that reflects his recent output and the organization’s view of his long-term fit. The deal runs through the 2027-28 season, taking Robertson to one more year of restricted free agency at the expiry of the deal.

For a player who once symbolized the Leafs’ prospect pipeline frustrations, the contract represents both validation and a fresh start. Robertson has shown he can score at the NHL level when given consistent opportunity. In Pittsburgh, with a new coaching staff and a different set of expectations, he’ll have another chance to prove it ,  this time with the security of a twoi-year deal in hand.

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The New York Islanders have signed 2026 first-round pick Malte Gustafsson to his three-year entry-level deal, the club announced on Tuesday morning. 

#Isles announce that they have signed defenseman Malte Gustafsson to a three-year entry level contract.

— Stefen Rosner (@stefen_rosner) July 14, 2026

Gustafsson, the 13th overall pick, will be playing one more season in the SHL for HV71 before coming over to join the Islanders' organization. 

We'll see if that plan has changed. 

The 18-year-old Swedish defenseman, standing at 6'4 and weighing 203 lbs, plays an annoying brand of hockey. For his size, he's incredibly mobile, has top-notch hockey IQ, and also has the physical ability to shut down the best players on the other team. 

Islanders Select Left-Shot Defenseman Malte Gustafsson With 13th Selection In 2026 NHL DraftThe 6’4” Swedish blueliner brings elite skating and three-zone versatility to New York’s pipeline, fresh off a dominant showing as an international shutdown force for HV71.

The 18-year-old Swedish defenseman, standing at 6'4 and weighing 203 lbs, plays an annoying brand of hockey. For his size, he's incredibly mobile, has top-notch hockey IQ, and also has the physical ability to shut down the best players on the other team. 

Although Gustafsson does want to add more offense to his game, that's not his specialty.

He should be viewed as a future Adam Pelech replacement. 

New Gm. New era. Time’s are changing in Utica, as well as the big club. What Devils prospects appear poised to ride the wave of change and make their NHL debuts this season? Let’s take an early look.

Anton Silayev

First, let’s address the elephant in the room. One of Sunny Mehta’s first moves was to announce the inevitable signing of LHD Anton Silayev to his ELC. Silayev is a smooth-skating 6’7 giant with offensive instincts, who after a record-setting campaign, struggled after a coaching change in Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod limited his ice time and usage last season in the KHL.

The left defense position is currently stacked at the NHL level and even if either Brendan Dillon or Jonas Siegenthaler end up moved this summer, Topias Vilen appears poised to make his case, and recent acquisitions Declan Chisholm and Vladislav Kolyachonok add to the crowded field of competition. None of these players should preclude Silayev from the NHL roster though, and while Silayev may spend some time getting acclimated in the AHL to start the season, odds are we will see the Russian giant in New Jersey soon.

Amadeus Lombardi

One of GM Sunny Mehta’s earliest moves was to acquire 23-year-old center/winger Amadeus Lombardi from the Detroit Red Wings for a fourth round pick in the 2026 draft. GM Mehta made it clear in press conferences that acquiring Lombardi was not only a depth move, but a “bet” that the player is ready for the NHL. With that high praise, Lombardi should be given every opportunity to win a spot on the Devils roster. We will know more in camp, but after 81 points in 92 games the past two seasons for the Grand Rapids Griffins of the AHL, the speedy center seems to be a bet worth taking. Time will tell if it pays off.

Jakub Malek

With the plan seemingly to run a three goalie-carousel in New Jersey between Jake Allen, Nico Daws, and newly-acquired David Rittich, the odd man out seems to be Jakub Malek, who should be earning the lion’s share of starts in Utica to start the season. But for how long? Malek, who won the Ian Anderson Award for most-improved player on the Comets this past season for his strong play down the stretch, would be the obvious choice of a replacement should one of the aforementioned netminders falter or go down with an injury. Malek has succeeded just about everywhere he has played and despite a slow start adjusting to North America, has shown flashes of brilliance at the AHL level in his first season. Sunny Mehta appears more willing than past GMs to let the dice roll with a fresh face in net. All these signs point to this being the year we get a look at Malek in New Jersey.

Matyas Melovsky

With some revamping at the center position, Matyas Melovsky has slid down the depth chart a little bit, but is still a strong candidate to earn a look at the NHL at some point this season. Listed amongst Utica Comets “prospects to watch”, Melovsky had a strong rookie showing scoring 10 goals and 16 assists in 55 games, slowly working his way up the lineup and even earning power play time towards the end of the season when the 22-year-old put up 7 points in his last 7 games. While unlikely to earn a spot out of camp, if Melovsky is able to build off that late season success, there is a good chance this defensively reliable, two-way centerman could make his NHL debut as an injury call-up.

Your Take

What do you think? Will this be the year Cam Squires breaks out? Could Ethan Edwards make a push despite a crowded field on the left side? How about newly-acquired Ben Steeves or Etiene Morin earning a look? Any other candidates for a NHL debut? Let us know in the comments below.

The Pittsburgh Penguins should consider adding another left-shot defenseman to their roster this off-season. After trading away Parker Wotherspoon and not re-signing Ryan Shea, they could use more depth on the left side of their blueline. 

With it now being two weeks since the start of NHL free agency, there are not too many notable UFA defensemen still available for the taking. However, there is an interesting potential option in defenseman Carson Soucy. 

Soucy split this past season between the New York Rangers and New York Islanders, where he recorded five goals, 12 points, 91 blocks, and 105 hits. This was after the 6-foot-4 blueliner posted four goals, 13 points, 106 blocks, and 115 hits in 75 games split between the Vancouver Canucks and Rangers during the 2024-25 season. 

While Soucy does not produce much offense from the point, he is more known for being a defensive defenseman who kills penalties and throws the body. With this, he could be a decent veteran blueliner for the Penguins to add to their depth. 

If the Penguins signed Soucy, he could slot nicely on their second or third pairing. He would also offer them another option to work with on their penalty kill because of his steady defensive play. 

On a short-term and affordable deal, Soucy could be worth bringing in for the Penguins. It will be interesting to see if they make a push for him this off-season.

In terms of adding new talent this off-season, the Montreal Canadiens have been quiet. While this is the case, they still have plenty of time to change that before the start of the season.

When looking at their current roster, one of their top needs is another defenseman for their right side. Due to this, one player who the Canadiens should consider targeting this summer is Calgary Flames defenseman Zach Whitecloud.

With the Flames being in a rebuild, questions about Whitecloud's future with the Flames have come up. If the Flames do make him available, he is a player who should be on the Canadiens' radar. 

If the Canadiens acquired Whitecloud, he would provide them with another solid option for either their second or third pairing. Furthermore, because of his strong defensive play, he would be a clear choice for the Habs' penalty kill if brought in. 

Whitecloud would also be more than a one-year rental for the Canadiens if they acquired him this off-season. This is because he has a very affordable $2.75 million cap through the 2027-28 season. That is a bargain price for a solid right-shot defenseman like him. 

In 78 games last season split between the Vegas Golden Knights and Flames, Whitecloud posted two goals, 15 assists, 17 points, 124 hits, and 140 blocks. 

Three Pittsburgh Penguins prospects have made Scott Wheeler's new top 100 NHL drafted prospects rankings for The Athletic. This is because Harrison Brunicke, Rutger McGroarty, and Will Horcoff have made the cut. 

Brunicke was given the No. 74 spot on Wheeler's list. It is understandable, as he has the potential to become a key part of the Penguins' blueline in the future. The 2024 second-round pick played in his first nine career NHL games last season for Pittsburgh, where he scored one goal. With the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins last season, he posted one goal and eight points in 11 regular-season games and two goals and seven points in 15 playoff games. He also had two goals and 24 points in 24 games in the WHL with the Kamloops Blazers in 2025-26. 

McGroarty was given the No. 84 spot on Wheeler's rankings. This comes after the 6-foot-1 forward posted three goals and six points in 24 games with Pittsburgh last season. He took a notable step forward in the AHL with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton last season, posting 10 goals and 34 points in 30 games. With numbers like these, it is hard not to feel optimistic about his future in Pittsburgh. 

As for Horcoff, he landed the No. 92 spot. The 2025 first-round pick had a strong year with the University of Michigan, recording 25 goals and 39 points in 40 games. The potential for the 6-foot-5 forward become an impactful player in the NHL is there. 

It wasn’t by accident the Colorado Avalanche wrapped up all their existing Restricted Free Agent loose ends before the start of the 2026-27 league year. However, after trading for Fabian Lysell from the Boston Bruins in late June, one more contract to take care of was put back on their plate.

The 23-year-old right wing had concluded his four-year Entry Level Contract but didn’t hold any arbitration rights so it was really up to the Avalanche to negotiate with Lysell in good faith after extending him a qualifying offer and it didn’t take long to reach an agreement on a one-year two-way contract for the upcoming season.

As always, there’s a lot of clues on the outlook for Lysell in the details of the contract with a $850 NHL cap hit and $190k guaranteed minor league salary. The relatively low guaranteed money on this two-way deal puts the right winger at the bottom of the list as far as financial commitment from the Avalanche. Both Gavin Brindley and Taylor Makar were given identical two-year contracts which are two-way in the first year. Their NHL cap hit is $875K and minor league salaries are $200K with a $300K guarantee. Oddly enough the Lysell deal is nearly the same as the one-year contract Ivan Ivan received in Boston. One upside on the $850K cap hit is that makes Lysell is the cheapest call-up option to the Avalanche.