In many ways, Philadelphia Flyers defensemen David Jiricek and Jamie Drysdale are similar, but only time will tell if their careers will pan out the same way.

Jiricek, 22, and Drysdale, 24, are former No. 6 overall picks: the former in 2022, and the latter in 2020. Both Flyers were conscripted into NHL service early--probably too early--by the teams that drafted them, which put them at a disadvantage developmentally.

Due to injury, and things just generally not working out on the ice, Drysdale was traded to the Flyers in exchange for a young, future top-six winger in Cutter Gauthier, as well as a 2025 second-round pick.

Jiricek's path was slightly different in that he was healthy but in and out of the lineup and up and down from the AHL; Columbus eventually traded him to Minnesota for Daemon Hunt and first-, second-, third-, and fourth-round picks, respectively.

Just over a year later, Jiricek, too, found his way to Philadelphia, getting flipped by Minnesota for Bobby Brink ahead of the 2026 NHL trade deadline.

Drafted two years apart, the two defensemen join the Flyers two years apart. Heading into the 2023-24 season, the year the Flyers acquired him, Drysdale had played 89 NHL games, scoring four goals, 28 assists, and 32 points with a -29 rating.

Jiricek, heading into his first full season with the Flyers in 2026-27 season, has played 85 NHL games, scoring two goals, 11 assists, and 13 points with a -8 rating. They have had very similar careers through their first 80-odd games.

Jamie Drysdale Is Poster Boy for What Modern Flyers Should BeDespite his lofty draft status, Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Jamie Drysdale had to work endlessly to become the player he is now, and that is what every Flyers player should strive to be.

The main difference between the two, at least when it comes to production and rating, is that Drysdale was thrown to the wolves in a big role from Day 1, whereas Jiricek has largely been forced to play sheltered minutes, which require him to play to avoid mistakes instead of learning on the job.

Drysdale, two years on, has quickly come into his own as an NHL defenseman. Even John Tortorella was willing to live with his warts for the greater purpose of player development.

New head coach Rick Tocchet hasn't always shown that same willingness; Matvei Michkov barely played last season, and Emil Andrae never quite established himself as an NHL regular despite handily outplaying his peers.

To that end, the Flyers were by and large considered to be rebuilders throughout Tortorella's reign, but expectations are higher now that the Flyers have made the playoffs, and won a round, in Year 1 of Tocchet.

Jiricek needs time and patience, given his inexperience, and it bears noting that he is playing for his third organization in four years, entailing yet another system change.

The Czech defenseman has obvious talent, and the Flyers are hoping his booming shot and offensive chops will make a difference on the abhorrent power play.

However, the question is, will he get plenty of opportunity and freedom to make his mark as Drysdale did the previous two years, or will Jiricek continue to be trotted out in limited minutes in fear of a big mistake?

Former Boston Bruins assistant general manager Evan Gold could be heading to the New York Islanders, per Mark Divver. 

Hearing Long Island mentioned as possible next stop for Evan Gold, former Bruins AGM

— Mark Divver (@MarkDivver) July 22, 2026

Gold, 46, has worked for the Bruins since 2015-16 and has served as their assistant general manager since 2019-20.

Since 2023-24, he's also served as the general manager of the Providence Bruins, the club's AHL affiliate. 

Gold is an analytical guy. 

The Islanders currently have three assistant general managers: Ryan Bowness, Steve Pellegrini, and Chris Lamoriello. 

Bowness, who is the Islanders' Director of Player Personnel, was a finalist for the Vancouver Canucks general manager job.

Lamoriello, who has one year left on his deal, will be the general manager of Hamilton for their inaugural AHL season. 

Gold was a finalist in Vancouver and Toronto this summer and would be a great addition to the organization. 

The Buffalo Sabres snapped their 15-year postseason drought, winning the Atlantic Division and advancing to the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, but after an offseason that saw Bowen Byram and Alex Tuch being dealt, the task of repeating as division champion or finishing in the top three of the Atlantic could be significantly more difficult. 

This week, we will look at the seven other teams in the Atlantic to see where they stand in comparison to where they were at the end of last season and see where they potentially stack up as competition with the Sabres.

The Florida Panthers finally had the long arduous journeys that resulted in three trips to the Stanley Cup Final and two straight Cup victories catch up to them. The club lost team captain Aleksander Barkov to an ACL injury in training camp, were without top winger Matthew Tkachuk for a significant chunk of the season, and endured a slew of other injuries that resulted in the club finishing out of the playoffs for the first time since 2019.

GM Bill Zito was extremely active after the season in the trade market, adding winger Brady Tkachuk in a massive deal with the Ottawa Senators and other moves that are expected to help a healthy Panthers squad return to the postseason. 

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Additions

Brady Tkachuk - Averaged nearly a point-per-game with Ottawa last season. 

Garnet Hathaway - Veteran enforcer acquired from Philadelphia

Lars Eller - Veteran depth forward who played one season in Ottawa signs an incentive-based one-year deal.  

Radko Gudas - 36-year-old former Panther signs a six-year, $9 million contract 

Jacob Markstrom -  Veteran goalie acquired from New Jersey 

Akira Schmid - Played 34 games for Vegas last season, acquired for a third-round pick. 

Subtractions 

Evan Rodrigues - scored 31 points last season, swapped to the Devils in Markstrom deal.

Jesper Boqvist - depth forward who played 73 games for the Panthers last season, swapped to the Devils in Markstrom deal

AJ Greer - signed a free agent deal with the Anaheim Ducks

Sergei Bobrovsky - signed a free agent deal with the Toronto Maple Leafs

Daniil Tarasov - signed a free agent deal with the Detroit Red Wings

Mackie Samoskevich - traded to the Seattle Kraken for a pair of draft picks 

Outlook

The Panthers will benefit just as much from the new additions as they will from getting their existing players back 100% healthy. Barkov is one of the best two-way forwards in hockey and already showed he is back playing for Finland at the World Championships. Tkachuk is expected to be fully back, and his younger brother joins one of the deepest groups in the NHL, with Sam Bennett, Sam Reinhart, Carter Verhaeghe, Brad Marchand, Eetu Luostarinen, and Anton Lundell up front, and Seth Jones, Aaron Ekblad, Niko Mikkola, and Gustav Forsling on the back end. The biggest area of question is in goal, where a contract dispute led to Bobrovsky leaving in free agency. 

Markstrom is experienced and will benefit from playing behind a veteran crew who plays solid defensive hockey, but there are questions of whether the 36-year-old goalie is up to the task of replacing Goalie Bob. 

The Sabres benefited from the Panthers decline and fall last season, but will not be as fortunate this time around. Florida appears to be assembling the closest version of the Charlestown Chiefs and unless they are hit with catastrophic injuries for two years in a row, they are a virtual lock to finish in the top three in the Atlantic. 

The Panthers and Sabres have similar questions between the pipes, and a blueline that has won two Stanley Cups is equal or better than the Sabres defensive corps. Florida has a distinct advantage over Buffalo in experience and depth up front, but the Sabres forward corps has much more speed than the veteran Panther group. The Sabres slight step back after the loss of Tuch and Byram likely has the them finishing behind the Panthers next season. 

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The Buffalo Sabres have not made a major move since the opening of free agency in July, after trading defenseman Bowen Byram to Chicago for Louis Crevier, and a pair of high draft picks, Alex Tuch to Washington in a sign-and-trade, and acquiring blueliner Olen Zellweger from Anaheim prior to the NHL Draft last month. The club has been rumored to be interested in trading for Winnipeg’s Connor Hellebuyck, and signing Buffalo native Patrick Kane, but neither move has come to fruition at this point. 

Kane hit the open market on July 1, and immediately rumors tied him to his hometown Sabres, but over the last three weeks, there has been a growing amount of chatter that the Chicago Blackhawks would like to bring the three-time Cup winner. Earlier this week, star center Connor Bedard indicated that he hopes that Kane will re-sign with the Hawks.  

"I hope so. I don't know what I can say to persuade his decision, but we'd all obviously be so excited to have a player like that, but also a guy like that.” Bedard said.  “I can't imagine his first game back at the (United Center), the reaction he'd get and how much juice that would bring not only to our team but our fans as well. That would be incredible to get to play with him and learn from him. Hopefully he decides to come back. You talk about the legacy aspect of it, but as a team, it would make us a way better team. He's still an amazing player. I don't know if this is the best pitch, but hopefully he comes back and we can play together, for sure."

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On Tuesday, Hawks GM Kyle Davidson added his two cents during an interview on a Chicago radio station, saying that he would love for the future Hall-of-Famer to return to the club that selected him first overall in 2007. 

Patrick is someone that our organization (and) myself have had a relationship (with) for a long time. I don’t necessarily think it’s right for me to comment on the process he’s going to be running this offseason.” Davidson said. “A guy like (Patrick) has done pretty much everything there is to do in our game. He’s inspired every young player playing hockey today with what he’s accomplished, and he’s earned the right to take his time and make a decision.” 

The Sabres snapping their 15-year playoff drought has made them a more attractive landing spot, but there has always been a debate of how much Kane wants to play for his hometown team, especially with the expectation level raised since their Atlantic Division title last season. Buffalo has limited cap space after the signings of Zach Benson and Peyton Krebs, which also might be a contributing factor. 

"We see (Patrick) often. He trains at our practice facility in the offseason. We’ll await his decision, but he knows our door is always open.” Davidson said.  “We’ve got a great deal of reverence, respect, and love for Patrick Kane, so we’ll leave him to that decision, and we’ll see where he ends up when that day comes.” 

Buffalo has to be looking to add some offensive punch without Tuch and his 30+ goals per season and may be a holding pattern until Kane makes his decision. If he decides to finish his career with the Hawks, the Sabres may have to pivot to other options in free agency or in the trade market before the opening of training camp in September. 

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In a recent article for The Athletic, Dom Luszczyszyn named the 10 best contracts in the NHL for the 2026-27 season. Without much surprise, a member of the Buffalo Sabres made the cut: Rasmus Dahlin. 

"If Dahlin were to hit UFA this summer, it wouldn’t be difficult to imagine him commanding something close to Kaprizov’s current AAV," Luszczyszyn wrote. "It’s in line with what Cale Makar and Quinn Hughes will no doubt ask for, and he’s risen into that company. That he’s signed for six more seasons at just $11 million is a huge discount for Buffalo."

When looking at how well Dahlin has performed for the Sabres, it is easy to understand why his contract is being viewed as one of the best in the NHL. The 26-year-old defenseman is one of the top blueliners in the league, and with the salary cap going up, his cap hit just keeps looking better. 

In 77 games during this past season with the Sabres, Dahlin posted 19 goals, 55 assists, and 74 points. This was after he had 17 goals and 68 points in 73 games for Buffalo during the 2024-25 season. With numbers like these from the point, the Sabres captain has been providing a ton of value for Buffalo.

Furthermore, with Dahlin being only 26 years old, he is just entering his prime. That just makes his deal look even better, and it will be fascinating to see how he performs during it from here. 

TheHockeyNews.com is running a series ranking each NHL coach, going in reverse order from No. 32 to No. 1. 

The criteria for these rankings include each coach’s accomplishments, short- and long-term history, expectations, and general reputation. Of course, these rankings are subjective. 

St. Louis Blues coach Jim Montgomery found his name at No. 16 on these rankings, ahead of the likes of Todd McLellan, Sheldon Keefe and Marco Sturm. He also finds himself trailing coaches like Dan Muse, Peter Laviolette, and Rick Bowness.

Montgomery’s time in St. Louis has been very up and down. When he took over, he helped propel the Blues to the playoffs and pushed the Presidents’ Trophy winners to the Game 7 overtime.

But in 2025-26, with expectations higher, Montgomery was unable to help the Blues avoid another slow start to the season, and they fell short of the playoffs. 

Now, Montgomery has added his assistant coaches, and with over a year and a half under the helm in St. Louis, the pressure for the 57-year-old to deliver is increasing.

With the Boston Bruins, Montgomery guided the Original Six franchise to the most wins in a single season, taking home the Jack Adams Award, although he wasn’t able to bring them past the second round.

NHL Coach Rankings: 20 To 16 Features Several Coaches On The Hot SeatThe NHL's coaching business is a cutthroat line of work. But this summer, we're ranking all 32 NHL coaches. Today, we're looking at the middle of the pack, with rankings 20-through-16. Where does your team's coach rank?

“When Montgomery became available to teams in November of 2024, the Blues took exactly five days before they fired Drew Bannister and replaced him with Montgomery,” started THN.com’s Adam Proteau. “And who could blame them – Montgomery had led the Bruins to a stunning 65-12-5 record in 2022-23 while winning a Jack Adams Award in the process.

“Montgomery hasn’t had the success in St. Louis that he had in Boston. But that’s a product of the changing core of the Blues as they transition to a new era under new GM Alex Steen.

“That said, there is all kinds of pressure for Montgomery to improve St. Louis’ 2025-26 record of 37-33-12, and Montgomery must be a teacher for the Blues’ youngsters while trying to push the team up the standings of the highly competitive Central Division. With so much at stake, Montgomery is at a point where he could rise steeply or fall steeply in the coach rankings depending on what St. Louis does next season.”

Montgomery’s third season with the Blues will be an important one. If the Blues falter out of the gate and are on a crash course to miss the playoffs, changes could be made, but the Blues have full faith in their bench boss.

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In a recent article in La Presse, Richard Labbe reports that Montreal Canadiens’ goaltender Samuel Montembeault has made it clear that he has no interest in riding a goaltending carousel this upcoming season. This is not surprising; after all, the 29-year-old goaltender will be playing his contract year, and after a dreadful season last year, he needs to bounce back; his future is riding on it.

Furthermore, last season, when the Habs voluntarily sidelined him, Montembeault was told by GM Kent Hughes that one bad year is not the end of a goaltender’s career, telling him that Jeremy Swayman went from a bad season to a Vezina Trophy nomination-worthy season. The difference, however, is that Swayman’s abysmal season came after signing a big-money, big-term contract. Still, the fact that Hughes said that to Montembeault created an expectation in the goaltender’s mind that he would have an opportunity to bounce back; according to what he said at the locker room clean-out day, he would like it to be in Montreal.

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Over the years, Montembeault has been a good teammate and rode the goalie carousel twice already, once with Jake Allen and Cayden Primeau and then this past season with Jakub Dobes and Jacob Fowler. After seeing Dobes get a three-year contract extension, which will only kick in at the start of the 2027-28 season, Montembeault knows that the Czech netminder now has the inside lane. If he were to be his backup, he would have a chance to prove to the rest of the NHL that he can still be a good NHL goaltender. Because make no mistake, no matter what happens, the Bécancour native won’t get another extension with the Habs, and playing third fiddle certainly wouldn’t help him convince other GMs around the league that he’s worth a gamble.

Training camp is still a fair way away, but many goaltenders have already moved this offseason while Montembeault has stayed put. Hughes isn’t in the market for selling low, and right now, the goaltender’s stock is as low as it’s been since the Canadiens picked him up on waivers back in 2021. Back then, he was an emergency remedy to Carey Price’s lingering injuries, and the Canadiens didn’t give anything to acquire him. It wouldn’t be a loss to sell low in that instance; it’s not like walking away from Kirby Dach after sacrificing Alexander Romanov to get a first-round pick to acquire him from the Chicago Blackhawks.

There are still teams out there that don’t look like they’re particularly well set in net. The Edmonton Oilers put their eggs in often-injured veteran Frederik Andersen’s basket, who will be backed up by Tristan Jarry (who didn’t impress last season after being acquired from the Pittsburgh Penguins). The Oilers did add an insurance policy in Devon Levi, but he has yet to prove he can perform at the NHL level. Connor McDavid is two seasons away from being a UFA, and time is running out for the Oilers to put together a team competitive enough to make their captain want to stay.

There’s been a lot of noise around the Winnipeg Jets being tempted to trade Connor Hellebuyck, and had the Buffalo Sabres been willing to include their fourth overall pick at the last draft in a proposed deal, he would be in the state of New York by now. If they do manage to trade him, though, Winnipeg could become an interesting landing spot for Montembeault. After all, their backup right now is Stuart Skinner, who they signed as a free agent on July 1 to a two-year deal with a $3.75 M cap hit but who hasn’t had impressive numbers in recent years. He’s three seasons removed from posting an above-900 save percentage.

The New Jersey Devils have three goalies on the payroll: Jake Allen, Nico Dawes and David Rittich. That’s not an inspiring trio for a team that’s eager to get back in the playoffs. Rittich has posted .887 and .894 save percentages in the last two seasons and was given a one-year deal with a $1M cap hit. Dawes is 25 years old and has yet to show he’s a real NHL goaltender, and as for Allen, he has historically thrived as a backup, and right now he looks like the number one choice.

Of course, it’s always a possibility that Fowler could be sent down to the AHL, leaving Dobes and Montembeault in Montreal, but I’m just not convinced this is the place where the latter can bounce back like he needs to do. He basically admitted that he put too much pressure on himself last season, and that’s how his troubles started. He was coming to the rink worried about letting goals in; that’s not the right mindset to be in. Will he be able to shake it off under the extreme scrutiny in Montreal? That’s a bigger challenge than it would be if he were able to turn over a new leaf in another market.

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The Florida Panthers are bringing back restricted free agent defenseman Mikulas Hovorka, signing the Czech defender to a one-year, two-way contract. 

The 6-foot-6 right-handed shooting defenseman was undrafted and signed with the Panthers in 2024. Hovorka appeared in four NHL games this season, recording one assist and averaging 14:55 of ice time. 

Hovorka has spent the past two seasons in the AHL, featuring in 117 games, notching eight goals and 28 points. Prior to moving to North America, Hovorka skated in the Czech Extraliga with HC Motor České Budějovice.

The 25-year-old defenseman’s deal carries an NHL cap hit of $850,000, an AHL salary of $100,000, and a guaranteed salary of $150,000 for the 2026-27 campaign, according to puckpedia.com.

Although Hovorka will start the season in the AHL, he’ll be considered one of the first defensemen to receive a call-up if any injuries occur, alongside Tobias Bjornfot, Marek Alscher, and Donovan Sebrango.

With extra defenseman on the roster like Uvis Balinskis and Alexander Petrovic, Hovorka’s chances of finding many NHL games during the 2026-27 season are fairly slim.

Nonetheless, he’ll be a prominent player for the Charlotte Checkers in the AHL.

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The NHL has entered the “mostly quiet” portion of the off-season. Some contracts have been signed and arbitration cases avoided, but nothing major has happened in a while. 

With that in mind, a lot of good players are still free agents looking for new NHL homes. Some of them are former New Jersey Devils players who got regular playing time back in the day. 

Whether it is with the Devils or elsewhere, these five are looking for work within the National Hockey League:

Adam Henrique

Adam Henrique is the most well-known out of every player on this list. He was once a part of New Jersey’s core and one of their leaders on and off the ice. Henrique scored two series-clinching goals in overtime for New Jersey during the 2012 Stanley Cup Playoffs, including the Eastern Conference Finals against the New York Rangers. 

Now, at age 34, he is hoping for another ride with an NHL team. He would be nothing more than a solid bottom-six forward if he were healthy, but he has plenty of experience in the league to help someone out. 

Luke Glendening

Luke Glendening started the 2025-26 season as a member of the New Jersey Devils before being claimed on waivers by the Philadelphia Flyers. They became the 5th NHL team that he played for once claimed, and he managed to play 70 total games between the two clubs. 

The 37-year-old is looking for work in a bottom-six role, much like Henrique. Although his offensive output was never as high as Henrique’s, he knows how to play a smart game as a role player just the same. 

Nathan Bastian

Nathan Bastian spent the first couple of years of his NHL career with the New Jersey Devils before the Seattle Kraken selected him in their expansion draft. Then, after a few months of playing there, he was placed on waivers, and the Devils claimed him back. 

He then signed a one-year deal with the Dallas Stars ahead of the 2025-26 season, but he only appeared in 36 games. Now, he is an unrestricted free agent again, looking for a role somewhere. 

An NHL team would be getting a fourth-line forward who brings some physicality in Nathan Bastian. He has also shown the ability to score goals from time to time, which is valuable for a player playing that low in the lineup.

If he can contribute 7-12 goals for his next team as a physical bottom-line player who makes the team harder to play against, he will make his next organization happy to have him. 

Tomas Nosek

Tomas Nosek, who played in 36 games for the New Jersey Devils in 2023-24, has been a journeyman in the NHL, playing for five total teams since making his NHL debut in 2015. Now, the 2025 Stanley Cup champion (Florida Panthers) is looking for the next team that he can have a bottom-six role with. 

Nosek has never been a prolific player, mostly being a fourth-liner during his NHL tenure, but he has proven valuable as a good team's 13th forward who can hop in and out of the lineup. 

Evgenii Dadonov

Evgenii Dadonov has played for six NHL teams over the course of his career, with a KHL stint in the middle. In the NHL, he has been a great offensive player. In 641 games played, he has 164 goals and 198 assists for 362 points. 

He is no longer a middle-six forward, as his 2025-26 season with the New Jersey Devils would show. He scored 1 goal (no assists) in 24 games played with them. Now, he is looking for one final run in the NHL at 37 years old. 

New Jersey wishes things had gone differently for him in 2025-26, but not every signing is going to hit. If he doesn't find work, he is likely going to return to Russia.

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Brandon product Matt Calvert is heading back to the NHL.

The Nashville Predators have announced that the former big league forward has joined the organization as its new Forward Development Coach, where he'll work closely with the Predators' forward prospects.

Calvert, now 36, played 11 NHL seasons with the Columbus Blue Jackets and Colorado Avalanche, recording 95 goals and 203 points in 566 career games before retiring in 2021 due to injury.

Prior to his time in the NHL, Calvert made his name as a hometown kid on the Brandon Wheat Kings, where he put up well over a point-per-game in three full seasons of WHL play.

Since ending his playing career, Calvert has served as co-founder and director of recruitment and development for CAL Sports Management, a player agency based out of Winnipeg and Brandon.

The hiring reunites Calvert with Predators' recently hired president of hockey operations and general manager Chris MacFarland, who was part of Colorado's front office during Calvert's time with the Avalanche.

Summer meanders onward, but we are overdue for a fresh thread! Here’s some recent(ish) NHL and Isles links…

Islanders News

• Pete DeBoer discusses the offseason moves, his outlook, the need to improve defense, excitement to work with Matthew Schaefer (but not bestow too much on him too soon). [Athletic]
• Schaefer’s response to a question about his next contract was perfect. [THN]
• The Islanders offseason rewind, straight outta Compton. [NHL]

Elsewhere

• Jason Robertson has reached an agreement on a one-year deal for $12 million with the Dallas Stars before his arbitration hearing. His future is hereby punted forward. [Athletic]
• Speaking of which, here’s a roundup of RFA drama and rumors. [Sportsnet]
• And which players could still be on the move this summer? [TSN]
• The Blue Jackets and Jet Greaves are $4.7 million apart in their arbitration filings. [TSN]
• Utah re-signed John Marino for eight years and $54 million. [TSN]
• How does Steve Yzerman stepping down in Detroit affect hometown captain Dylan Larkin’s trade request, if at all? [Athletic]
• More teams than ever (in a league with more teams than ever) do not have a captain at present, including the Isles. Does that matter? [Athletic]

The 2026 offseason for the Anaheim Ducks hasn’t gone according to plan for general manager Pat Verbeek and the front office. 

They entered the offseason with seemingly enough cap space to re-sign their three high-profile RFAs (Leo Carlsson, Cutter Gauthier, Pavel Mintyukov) and add a star-level missing piece or two to bolster either the forward group or blueline, or both. 

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Verbeek recouped good value for two young roster players at the Draft by trading, in aggregate, Mason McTavish and Olen Zellweger in exchange for two 2026 first-round picks (Nikita Klepov and Marcus Nordmark), a 2026 second-round pick (Jayden Kurtz), and Anton Wahlberg (39th in 2023). 

When free agency opened, the Ducks signed depth pieces AJ Greer, Nick Jensen, Jeff Malott, and Laurent Brossoit. On July 3, the Philadelphia Flyers signed Ducks franchise center Leo Carlsson to a historic offer sheet to the tune of five years and $90 million ($18 million AAV). Two days later, seemingly in an effort to avoid another OS, the Ducks signed young defenseman Pavel Mintyukov to a five-year contract at a $7.2 million AAV. On July 9, the Ducks matched Carlsson’s offer sheet. 

Anaheim’s cap sheet will require some gymnastics moving forward to fit remaining RFA and leading goalscorer, Cutter Gauthier, and his extension under the cap ceiling. However, barring a surprise move or two, the roster, as it stands, is essentially the one that will skate on opening night of the 2026-27 season on Oct. 2.

The roster, as currently constructed, isn’t as talented, deep, or experienced as the one that traveled to Edmonton for Game 1 of the 2026 playoffs against the Edmonton Oilers. On paper, the glaring weak spot is the right side of the blueline, where the Ducks saw all three Game 1 starters (Jacob Trouba, John Carlson, Radko Gudas) sign with opposing teams on July 1.

Trouba became a top-pair defenseman for the Ducks, playing mostly alongside star Jackson LaCombe. Carlson required considerable assets to acquire from the Washington Capitals at the trade deadline (2026 first-round pick and 2027 third-round pick), and the Ducks were hopeful he’d choose to remain in Anaheim. Radko Gudas was the Ducks' captain for two of his three seasons in Anaheim and was instrumental in the team turning the corner out of their elongated rebuild. 

As of today, Trouba, Carlson, and Gudas are projected to be replaced on the Ducks’ blueline by a combination of Drew Helleson (25), Ian Moore (24), Nick Jensen (35), and rookie Tristan Luneau (22). Some or most will see this shift in personnel at a key position on the ice as a monumental downgrade, but is it, in actuality? 

What was Lost

Trouba (32) logged the second-most TOI in 2025-26 for the Ducks, including the most TOI/G on the penalty kill. He and LaCombe were given the toughest minutes during the Ducks’ playoff run to the second round, and he was an influential presence both on and off the ice. When he was on the ice at 5v5 in 2025-26, the Ducks accounted for 50.5% of the expected goals in the regular season and 60.2% in the playoffs. 

Carlson (36) was an immediate offensive success on the Ducks’ blueline, and scored 14 points (4-10=14) in 16 regular season games, adding six points (0-6=6) in 12 playoff games. He ran point on one of the Ducks’ two evenly distributed power play units and featured on the second penalty kill unit. His biggest strength for the Ducks may have been his breakout acumen, as chipped pucks rarely led to extended zone time when he was on the ice. When he was on the ice at 5v5, the Ducks registered 58.2% of the expected goals in the regular season and 51.6% in the playoffs. 

As captain, Gudas (36) was Anaheim’s emotional leader, exuding 100% effort and physicality with every stride. He’d been a reliable partner to several young Ducks blueliners over the previous three seasons and logged some difficult minutes along the way, including consistent minutes on the penalty kill. Injury and a decreased role kept his minutes down in this third year with the Ducks, but when he was on the ice at 5v5, the Ducks generated 51.7% of the expected goals in the regular season. 

Though boasting some impressive numbers and providing impactful leadership to a young team, all three players are well into their thirties, would have required big-money or long-term contracts this summer, and aren’t quite an on-ice fit with the Ducks roster and coaching style moving forward. 

The Ducks have evolved into a high-octane, dynamic, offensive NHL club, generating the majority of their scoring chances off rush sequences. The three right-shot veterans they lost lack the pace to join and positively influence that area of their attack on a regular basis.

On the defensive end of the ice, the Ducks have struggled to protect the inner slot for the better part of a decade. While all three veterans logged heavy defensive minutes and provided a physical presence in the tight areas, they were all susceptible to coverage lapses and missed assignments below the dots in their zone. 

Due to their lack of foot speed, they afforded attackers much too large a gap when defending the rush and relied solely on active sticks to disrupt transitions. Contrary to their reputations, they didn’t provide the defensive prowess in the critical areas, and at the critical times, Anaheim needed to thrive in their half of the ice. 

What is Gained

From the forwards to the defensemen to the goaltending, the Ducks will rely on their young core and youthful support players to continue taking steps and making greater impacts if they’re to keep their build on an upward trajectory in 2026-27.

On paper, the blueline looks bleak. LaCombe is the only proven impact player of the bunch. Mintyukov has yet to find his offensive footing and was a healthy scratch for multiple 2025-26 regular season games. Tyson Hinds (23) played the majority of the season in the AHL with the San Diego Gulls before logging six regular season NHL games and nine in the playoffs. Helleson accounted for some of the worst metrics among NHL-regular defensemen last season (46.2% xGF). Jensen will be coming off a knee surgery in March to repair a torn meniscus, is a year removed from a hip resurfacing surgery in May 2025, and his advanced metrics were unspectacular (-6.7% rel. xGF). Luneau has the talent to become a top-four defenseman in short order, but will still require all-important reps at the NHL level to achieve that potential. 

LaCombe will lead the blueline as the team’s true No.1, but Mintyukov will now be relied on with a heavier role, as he’s now paid as their No. 2. He will be entering his fourth year in the NHL, having only shown flashes of the offensive impact he can ultimately provide. He’s tactical with his activations and can discombobulate opposing defensive structures, but will need to execute with more consistency. His 200-foot defensive game has progressed immensely and is arguably more impactful than his offensive one. 

Hinds has more NHL playoff experience than regular season experience, but had nearly three full AHL seasons (204 games) under his belt before making his NHL debut. At the end of his AHL tenure, he’d become the San Diego Gulls most reliable defender, logging heavy minutes and matchups. He moves well, defends with his stick and body, angles, and provides a physicality that was left vacant by Trouba and Gudas’s exits. 

Helleson’s first full regular season in the NHL was a roller coaster at best and unspectacular at worst. Much of where he struggled could, theoretically, be easily ironed out, as he struggled with first efficient first passes and losing sight of pucks funneled to the goal mouth, which often took poor bounces on their way to the back of the net. He possesses textbook defensive fundamentals, and with some puck skill refinement, he can become a reliable NHL defenseman. 

Moore had one of the more bizarre rookie seasons imaginable, as he was en route to becoming an exciting modern defensive defenseman when circumstances drove him to finish his campaign as a fourth-line winger. As a defenseman, where he projects long-term, he has clear top-four upside with refined defensive habits and rare four-way mobility. He will be expected to take a significant jump in his development in the upcoming season. 

Jensen will likely hold a role buoying younger counterparts as they inevitably brush up against obstacles and growing pains. He’s in the “reliable veteran” mold, but even after his hip surgery, he was more mobile than the likes of Trouba, Carlson, and Gudas. The hope is that his recent knee surgery won’t hinder that aspect of his game too much. 

Luneau is the true wild card on the Ducks’ blueline. After some past injury issues, he’s been fully healthy over the past two seasons with the Gulls in the AHL, becoming one of the league’s top defensemen. He’s the epitome of “two-way”: offensively productive and defensively impactful. He’s active, tenacious, physical, smart, mobile, and possesses any other tool necessary to become a top-pair NHL defender. The Ducks will simply require him to reach that potential sooner rather than later to remain on track. 

Should they be called upon, Stian Solberg (23rd in ’24) and Noah Warren (42nd in ’22) now each have several years of professional experience, can be relied upon in their end, and are as ready as they’ll ever be to make their NHL debuts.

Ultimately, the Ducks lost a lot of name-brand talent on their backend from 2025-26, heading into 2026-27. However, that name-brand talent greatly contributed to the Ducks finishing as the NHL’s 28th-ranked defensive team in terms of xGA/60 (2.91) and the 29th-ranked team in terms of GA/G (3.51). On top of poor defensive results, they weren’t stylistic fits with where the Ducks are heading and what makes them a successful on-ice team. 

Though the projected 2026-27 blueline will undoubtedly have to work their way through adjustments and struggles, they can’t be much worse than their predecessor, and with their more cohesive stylistic fit, their ceiling is far greater, both in the immediate and future outlooks. 

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According to NHLTradeTracker.com, the Calgary Flames and Florida Panthers have made 14 trades in their history. On the fourth anniversary of the blockbuster that sent Matthew Tkachuk to Florida in exchange for Jonathan Huberdeau and MacKenzie Weegar, it was the perfect opportunity to revisit their legendary transitions featuring some superstar names. 

Revisiting Flames Trade History With the Panthers

September 29, 1994

Calgary acquires: 1996 Third-round pick (73rd overall - Dmitri Vlasenkov) and 1997 fourth-round pick (100th overall - Ryan Ready)

Florida acquires: Róbert Švehla and Magnus Svensson

Róbert Švehla had the longest career of the four players involved in this trade, playing 573 games with the Panthers and just one season with the Toronto Maple Leafs. Interestingly, outside of his debut season in 1994-95, he missed a total of five games in his NHL career.

Meanwhile, Magnis Svensson played 46 games with Florida in 1995 and 1996. Ryan Ready never played with Calgary, dressing for seven games with the Philadelphia Flyers in 2006, while Dmitri Vlasenkov played one season in the IHL (2001) before spending the rest of his professional hockey career in his native Russia. 

September 30, 1999

Calgary acquires: Bill Lindsay

Florida acquires: Todd Simpson

Bill Lindsay was a key player in the Panthers' first seven seasons, helping the team to the Stanley Cup Final in 1996. He played 506 of his 777 NHL games with the club, and they dealt him to the Flames at just 29 years old. Calgary dealt away Todd Simpson, who would be a journeyman defenseman who played with seven teams over 10 seasons. 

March 16, 2000

Calgary acquires: Filip Kuba

Florida acquires: Rocky Thompson

Filip Kuba played 14 seasons in the NHL, two with the Panthers before they dealt him to the Flames in March 2000. Interestingly, he never suited up for a game with Calgary, instead departing for the Minnesota Wild in the Expansion Draft. Going the other way was Rocky Thompson, a third-round pick from 1995, who played 25 NHL games between the Flames and Panthers. 

June 23, 2001

Calgary acquires: Rob Niedermayer and 2001 second-round pick (56th overall - Andrei Medvedev)

Florida acquires: Valeri Bure and Jason Wiemer

With his brother, Hall of Famer Scott, Rob Niedermayer, one of the young stars of the expansion Panthers, would eventually win the Stanley Cup in 2007 as a member of the Anaheim Ducks. The former fifth overall pick from the 1993 Draft skated in 1,153 games and scored 469 points. Meanwhile, the Flames used their pick in the trade to select Andrei Medvedev, who never played in the NHL.

Unlike his brother, Hall of Famer Pavel Bure, Valeri Bure had a respectable 10-year NHL career and scored 176 goals and 400 points. He went to Florida along with forward Jason Wiemer, who played 726 games over 11 seasons with six different clubs. 

June 22, 2002

Calgary acquires: First-round pick (10th overall - Eric Nystrom) and 2002 fourth-round pick (99th overall - Michael Lambert)

Florida acquires: First-round pick (9th overall - Petr Taticek)

At the 2002 Draft, the Panthers and Flames swapped first-round picks, which didn't shake the foundations of either team. At ninth overall, Florida picked Petr Taticek, who played just three NHL games, while Calgary used the very next pick to select Eric Nystrom, who would go on to play 593 games over 10 seasons. With the 99th overall pick, the Flames drafted Michael Lambert, who didn't make it to the NHL.

March 8, 2004

Calgary acquires: Marcus Nilson

Florida acquires: 2004 second-round pick (53rd overall - David Booth)

David Booth would play in the NHL for 10 seasons, becoming a multi-time 20-goal scorer with the Panthers. Meanwhile, after six years in Florida, the club sent Marcus Nilson to the Flames, where he played four years and scored just 42 points in 194 games. 

December 2, 2005

Calgary acquires: Kristian Huselius

Florida acquires: Dustin Johner and Steve Montador

Kristian Huselius recorded two 20-goal seasons in Florida before reaching a career high of 34 with the Flames in 2006-07. He spent 10 years in the league, with another four seasons with the Columbus Blue Jackets. To acquire him, Calgary traded Dustin Johner, who never played in the NHL, and defenseman Steve Montador, who produced his best season in Florida, with 23 points in 2008. The undrafted defender also played 10 years with six different teams.

June 27, 2009

Calgary acquires: Jay Bouwmeester (signing rights)

Florida acquires: 2009 third-round pick (67th overall - Josh Birkholz) and Jordan Leopold (signing rights)

Jay Bouwmeester may have had his best statistical seasons with the Panthers, but he would go on to win the Stanley Cup with the St. Louis Blues in 2019. The Flames acquired his signing rights in June 2009, and he'd go on to play four seasons in Calgary after six in Florida. Going the other way was a third-round pick, which turned into Josh Birkholz, who never played in the NHL, and the signing rights to defenseman Jordan Leopold. Leopold would go on to play one season with the Panthers, one of the eight teams he skated with over his 12-year career.

July 9, 2011

Calgary acquires: Jordan Henry

Florida acquires: Keith Seabrook

One of the odder trades between the Flames and Panthers took place in July 2011, when the clubs traded two players who never played in the NHL, Jordan Henry and Keith Seabrook. Moreover, a team never drafted Henry, and Seabrook was a second-round pick of the Washington Capitals in 2006. Although neither played higher hockey than the AHL, at least Seabrook got to celebrate with the Stanley Cup as his brother Brent won it three times with the Chicago Blackhawks. 

June 18, 2013

Calgary acquires: Corban Knight

Florida acquires: 2013 fourth-round pick (97th overall - Michael Downing)

Corban Knight played just nine games with the Flames in 2014 and 2015, before dressing in 20 for the Panthers in 2016 and another five with the Philadelphia Flyers in 2019. He scored just four goals and 12 points over four seasons, with the Panthers using their draft pick in this deal on Michael Downing, who never made it to the NHL.  

January 9, 2015

Calgary acquires: Drew Shore

Florida acquires: Corban Knight

As of 2026, Knight is the only player traded twice between the Panthers and Flames, going back to Florida in a 2015 deal that brought center Drew Shore to Calgary. Unlike Knight, who had a brief NHL career, Shore played a total of 98 games, scoring nine goals and 26 points. 

February 27, 2016

Calgary acquires: 2016 second-round pick (54th overall - Tyler Parsons) and 2018 fourth-round pick (108th overall - Demetrios Koumontzis)

Florida acquires: Jiri Hudler

Jiri Hudler was already a Stanley Cup winner by the time he came to Calgary in 2012, where he became a fan favorite thanks in part to a 31-goal and 76-point campaign in 2014-15. He spent four years with the Flames, winning the Lady Byng Trophy in 2014-15. Eventually, the team dealt him to Florida in exchange for two draft picks, Tyler Parsons and Demetrios Koumontzis, neither of whom ever made it to the NHL.

April 12, 2021

Calgary acquires: Emil Heineman and 2022 second-round pick (61st overall - David Goyette)

Florida acquires: Sam Bennett and 2022 sixth-round pick (187th overall - Gustav Karlsson)

Sam Bennett is the highest-drafted player in Flames history, going fourth overall at the 2014 Draft. He played six seasons in Calgary but went on to become a two-time Stanley Cup winner with the Panthers, capturing the Conn Smythe Trophy for his heroics in 2025. He never scored 20 goals with the Flames, but is now a four-time 20-goal scorer in just six seasons in Florida. 

The Panthers flipped their sixth-round pick acquired in this deal to the Buffalo Sabres in 2022 for defenseman Robert Hägg. Meanwhile, the Flames flipped the second-round pick from this deal to the Seattle Kraken in 2022 for Calle Järnkrok. Then, traded Emil Heineman to the Montreal Canadiens in a package for Tyler Toffoli in 2022. 

July 22, 2022

Calgary acquires: Jonathan Huberdeau, MacKenzie Weegar, Cole Schwindt, and 2025 first-round pick (32nd overall - Cullen Potter)

Florida acquires: Matthew Tkachuk and 2025 fourth-round pick (112th overall - Mads Kongsbak Klyvo)

Everyone knows the story by now. Tkachuk told the Flames he had no intention of signing long-term, so they dealt him to the Panthers, where he'd go on to play in three Stanley Cup Finals, winning a championship in 2024 and 2025. Meanwhile, Florida used their fourth-round pick to select Mads Kongsbak Klyvo, who, at 19, has yet to come and play professionally in North America.

On the flip side, the Flames acquired Huberdeau, who recorded 115 points the season before relocating to Calgary, producing a meager 55 points in his first campaign in Alberta. Despite Weegar having his best statistical seasons with the Flames, he was dealt to the Utah Mammoth during the 2025-26 season. Finally, Calgary used their draft pick in the exchange, 32nd overall in 2025 because the Panthers won the Stanley Cup, to select Cullen Potter, a 19-year-old who plays in the NCAA.

About a year ago, I wrote an article pondering whether or not the Devils should consider extending then-goaltender Jacob Markstrom.

You can go back and read it at the link above if you so choose, but to summarize, my takeaway at the time was why rush into a deal. Take a wait and see approach with an older goaltender before tying up valuable cap dollars and resources into an extension.

By now, you know how the Markstrom saga ended. General manager Tom Fitzgerald signed him to a two-year extension while simultaneously ignoring his poor start to the season because he simply had to have Markstrom signed come hell or high water. Markstrom’s season never really turned around for any extended period of time. His contract extension and the timing of it might not have been publicly cited as a “fireable offense” when the Devils moved on from Fitzgerald, but it certainly had the makings of a fireable offense. Fortunately, new GM Sunny Mehta was able to undo one of the biggest blunders from the previous regime and reallocate those resources elsewhere.

I bring all of this up because now that Mehta is sitting in the big chair, the decision whether or not to extend the contracts of players entering their walk year falls upon him.

Mehta already came to an agreement with the most pressing pending UFA when he and captain Nico Hischier agreed to a five-year extension. This was an important piece of business to get done as it allowed Mehta to divert his attention to UFA and the immediacy of the open market. Most of those moves he has made since then have, if nothing else, has given the Devils flexibility to go in any direction of their choosing down the road.

I don’t know if it was by design or a matter of coincidence that Mehta has brought in players like Evan Rodrigues, Jesper Boqvist, and Declan Chisholm who only had one year of term remaining. It’s probably more of a happenstance than a specific reason as to why he was targeting those players in particular.

Still, when one looks at the Devils PuckPedia page, you can see that they only currently have seven NHL forwards under contract for next season. Aside from the big four of Jack Hughes, Jesper Bratt, Timo Meier, and the recently extended Nico Hischier, they only have the recently signed Anthony Mantha and Arseny Gritsyuk under contract along with holdover Connor Brown.

Going back to our larger theme about flexibility and contract extensions moving forward, the Devils have six forwards, two defensemen, and a goaltender at the NHL level who all need new deals. Of course, all of those players won’t actually be back, as that’s part of the nature of dealing with roster turnover at the NHL level. I thought this week that it would be worth it to take a look at the list of players who need a new contract after this season and rank them by their likelihood they’ll be back in 2027-28. Does it make sense for the Devils to try to be proactive in some cases? Or are we looking at a bunch of Markstrom-like land mines that should be avoided?

While I normally like to be a completionist, I will not be diving deep enough to go to the AHL level and talk about whether or not guys like Shane Lachance or Ben Steeves will be back. Unless the Devils prospects wind up being traded or they’re that bad, there’s little reason for the Devils not to bring those players back. I will be including David Rittich since its on the table that he gets some NHL time, but that would be the extent of how deep I plan on digging.

I will rank these players from least likely to be extended to most likely. Also, the players listed age below will be their age on 7/1/27 since that is when a new contract for them would technically start.

Nick Bjugstad

Age: 34 (turns 35 on 7/17/27)

2025-26 AAV: $1.75M

A holdover from the Fitzgerald era, Bjugstad didn’t really do much of anything down the stretch after the Devils acquired him midseason.

On top of that, we’ve already seen Mehta look to acquire a center this offseason (Barrett Hayton). We’ve seen him bring in a player he thinks could be an NHL player in Amadeus Lombardi. We’ve also seen him bring in players who can slide over to center in a pinch.

While Bjugstad might be currently penciled in as the 4C, I don’t think his roster spot is ironclad by any means. I wouldn’t be surprised if he was a player the Devils wound up moving out if they needed to free up a little cap space for something else. Either way, I don’t think Mehta is particularly attached to the veteran center, and I think its unlikely he’s back in 2027.

Chances of an extension: None

Stefan Noesen

Age: 34 (turns 35 on February 12, 2028)

2025-26 AAV:  $2.75M

Another holdover from the previous regime, I’m not entirely sure that Stefan Noesen will even make it to Opening Night this season, let alone last the entire season AND be a candidate for a contract extension.

Now, I do think Noesen plays the type of gritty, in your face game where he could’ve fit in perfectly well on those Florida teams that Sunny Mehta was accustomed to. But we’re also talking about a player who missed a lot of time due to injury and was largely ineffective when he did play this year. 

Theoretically, nobody knows the medicals better than the Devils when it comes to Noesen. He does have about 700 games played between the NHL and AHL levels, which doesn’t sound like a ton, but he does play a hard game. I wouldn’t blame the Devils if they didn’t want to be on the hook for another year like last year if there’s lingering doubt about Noesen’s ability to hold up physically. Noesen is a fine player for what he does, but I think there’s probably a younger version of that that hits the open market next July if Mehta decides he needs a player like that. Either way, there’s no reason to do an extension anytime soon.

Chances of an extension: None

Brenden Dillon

Age: 36 (turns 37 on November 13th, 2027)

AAV: $4M

At some point, the Devils will need to get more athletic and more dynamic offensively on the back end. They lack defensemen who can effectively move the puck, and its the one area that Sunny Mehta hasn’t really touched much this offseason. Granted, they wound up trading Simon Nemec rather than signing him to a contract extension and they brought in Declan Chisholm who we will discuss shortly, but I think Mehta was partially hampered by some of the contracts and no-trade clauses that he inherited.

I think at this point, Dillon will probably be here on Opening Night and will probably play out the season for the Devils. If they were going to move him in a cap dump, it probably would’ve happened by now. I also think Dillon brings some things to the table that are in short supply on this roster…..veteran leadership, his physicality, and his willingness to drop the gloves being three of them right off the bat.

I don’t think Mehta will extend Dillon, but I do think he’s a perfectly cromulent bottom pairing defensive defenseman at this stage of his career. I also think if this season doesn’t go according to plan, he’s one of the better trade chips Mehta has at his disposal come the trade deadline. If Luke Schenn can seemingly get traded for a decent draft pick at the deadline every few years, why can’t a better player in Brenden Dillon fetch a similar return?

Chances of an extension: Less than 1%

David Rittich

Age: 34 (turns 35 on August 19, 2027)

AAV: $1M

The reason I give Rittich more of a chance to be extended than his colleagues is two-fold.

First of all, he’s the first guy on this list that Sunny Mehta actually picked to be on this roster. So there’s clearly something there under the hood there that Mehta likes.

Secondly, I don’t think its impossible that the Devils will want him back as the organizational third goaltender.

Granted, Rittich may be looking for more from his career, and he might prefer a landing spot where he has a realistic chance for competing for an NHL roster spot. If Daws wins that competition this year, Rittich might not be all that interested in riding the bus for Utica at this stage of his life any longer than he needs to. But as long as he performs as expected, I could see the Devils wanting him back in that role again for another season.

Chances of an extension: Roughly 5%

Jesper Boqvist

Age: 28 (turns 29 on October 30, 2027)

AAV: $1.5M

Boqvist is an interesting player in that he has added layers to his game since leaving the Devils. Those layers he added, mainly his willingness to engage physically, is likely why he’ll continue to be a player in the NHL for the next half decade or so instead of washing out and playing out his professional career in Europe.

While I would caution against giving out term for players who are likely projected to be fourth liners, Boqvist is a player that Mehta clearly likes. Boqvist also doesn’t really have the counting stats to command a significant amount of money elsewhere. I think as long as the Devils fourth line is effective, and Boqvist is a part of that, extending him for a couple years isn’t going to make or break you as an organization.

Of course, I don’t see any reason for Mehta to rush out and extend Boqvist now. Even if its not significant money, every dollar you spend now is a dollar you can’t spend tomorrow. Rather than box yourself in now, it makes more sense to keep your options open and save your pennies. If a bigger fish were to become available, its likely that the Devils would look to save money by replacing a guy like Boqvist at half the cost.

Chances of an extension: Roughly 5%

Cody Glass

Age: 27 (turns 28 on April 1, 2027)

AAV: $2.5M

When it comes to the Devils and their center pipeline in general, Mehta has operated under the mindset of looking towards the future.

The Devils drafted Alexander Command 12th overall. They traded for Amadeus Lombardi. They tried to add Barrett Hayton via offer sheet.

What should these moves, or in Hayton’s case….attempted moves, tell us? I don’t know about you, but it tells me he’s not exactly enamored by the current state of the Devils bottom six centers. At least in the long-term.

That doesn’t necessarily mean its a deathblow for Glass in regards to his future in New Jersey. Perhaps Mehta feels Glass is misslotted as a 3C and is closer to being an elite level 4C, if there ever were such a thing. I’d actually agree with that assessment.

I do know that this is a league that has a shortage of quality centers though. While I’m skeptical of Cody Glass ever scoring 19 goals again in a season, I think there’s enough there where he’s an NHL player. This might be a case where someone like Glass ultimately has more value as a trade deadline acquisition than he would as a future building block, depending upon where the Devils are in the standings come the trade deadline. And at the end of the day, this is another role player that Mehta inherited from the previous regime.

If you put me on the spot, I think its more likely Glass is traded, or walks and is replaced, than extended.

Chances of an extension: 5%

Declan Chisholm

Age: 27 (turns 28 on January 12, 2028)

AAV: $1.6M

I don’t know if I entirely agree with Mehta when it comes to the assessment of what Declan Chisholm can be as an NHL player. For a player with a reputation of being a “puck-moving defenseman”, the counting stats just haven’t been there for him through his first 125 NHL games. 6 career goals and 22 assists doesn’t exactly scream offensive dynamo.

That said, this is a player that Mehta admittedly has been pursuing for quite a while dating back to his time in Florida. And if he’s going to presumably become one of Sunny Mehta’s guys, he’s probably not going to be so quick to give up on him with just a year to go to UFA. Chisholm will get an opportunity at some point.

There might not be a clear path when it comes to him carving out an NHL roster spot right this second, but I do believe he’ll get a chance to prove himself. Somebody in the comments section the other day compared him to when the Devils acquired Johnathan Kovacevic, and while they’re different players stylistically, I get why they drew that comparison. Kovacevic earned his spot in the Devils lineup by outplaying Simon Nemec in training camp 2024, and while we can certainly debate whether or not his in-season contract extension was a good idea, he played well enough for large stretches of 2024-25 to earn that deal. Time will tell if Chisholm can ultimately do something similar.

Chances of an extension: 10%

Evan Rodrigues

Age: 33 (turns 34 on July 28, 2027)

AAV: $3.075M

I think its pretty clear that Rodrigues is one of Sunny Mehta’s guys.

Rodrigues has carved out a very nice career for himself as a former undrafted player. He broke out as a 28 year old in Pittsburgh with a career high 19 goals and 43 points and has parlayed that into $14M worth of contracts since, first with the Colorado Avalanche and then the last three years with the Florida Panthers before coming to the Devils in the aforementioned Markstrom trade.

Rodrigues is a versatile veteran forward who can play anywhere in the lineup. He’s been a part of a winning culture in his last few stops.

The one ‘yeah, but’ with me when it comes to Rodrigues is that he’s already on the older side. He’ll be 34 when a new contract begins. His agent has a reputation for steering his clients towards UFA. Paying for role players in general isn’t the greatest idea, let alone players already in their mid 30s.

This is a player that Mehta clearly has an affinity for though, and likely for reasons that go beyond whatever Mehta’s model or spreadsheet is telling him. If he fits here like he did in Florida, he’ll likely be a fan favorite for his work ethic and how he approaches the game.

I think of all of the pending UFAs, Rodrigues is probably the most likely to be back beyond this upcoming season. That doesn’t necessarily mean the Devils should try to re-sign him right now, but if he has a good year, I could see Mehta try to bring him back on a two-year extension.

Chances of an extension: 40%

Dawson Mercer

Age: 25 (turns 26 on October 27, 2027)

AAV: $4M

The only pending RFA on this list, Mercer will definitely earn another contract. The main question with him is whether or not that will be in New Jersey, or if he’s ultimately used as a trade chip.

Mercer hasn’t really taken that next step in his development after posting a 56-point campaign in his age 21 season back in 2022-23. That’s not to say he’s not useful, but he is probably miscast as a top line winger. You’re probably in really good shape as an NHL team if someone like Dawson Mercer is your 9th best forward. Less so if he’s your 4th or 5th best forward.

Mercer is set up to cash in on his next contract, as he’s entering the final year of his bridge deal. If nothing else, his floor as an NHL player is a consistent 20 goal scorer who plays all 82 games year in, year out. He can play in all situations, and while I wouldn’t recommend moving him over to center, it is something he can do in a pinch. With a rising cap, it’ll be interesting to see what he ultimately gets.

And therein lies the conundrum if you’re Mehta.

If all Mercer is going to be is a 20-goal, 40-point winger, is that a player you want to commit to long-term in a top six role? Is that a player you’re going to want to sign for the next 5-6 years?

Somebody else in the comments the other day suggested that the recent Connor McMichael contract extension by the Blues (6 years, $6.75M AAV) might be the framework of what Mercer could realistically get. I understand why that comparison was made. They’re both versatile forwards who have produced at similar rates. McMichael is a .49 PPG player for his career, while Mercer is a .51 PPG player. McMichael is a year older, so that comparison makes sense.

That said, if Mercer’s going rate for his next deal is something in the 6x$7M range, and why wouldn’t it be with the cap exploding, I’d just as sooner trade Mercer like the Capitals did with McMichael than make that sort of commitment.

Mercer is going to get paid by someone. He’s also probably the single best trade chip at Mehta’s disposal. There’s little reason to sign him now (or for him to sign now), so I expect Mercer to play the year out on this deal and hit RFA. I just question his future in New Jersey in general.

Chances of an extension: 100% (after the season)

Chances he is still a Devil on July 1, 2027: 25%

Final Thoughts

Bringing this back to my opening comments on Markstrom, I think when it comes to the pending UFAs (and RFA, in Mercer’s case), what’s the rush to signing anyone on this list to a contract extension? Half the players on this list are new to the team and it remains to be seen how they fit. The other half are your typical back-end of the roster NHL players who are more of your supporting cast than featured players on a team. I don’t mean that as an insult, just that they’re not the type of players one typically goes out of their way to lock up.

Tom Fitzgerald might have boxed himself into a corner by giving term and significant dollars to role players like Kovacevic, or by dipping into UFA as much as he had over the previous few seasons. I think Mehta will be more calculated when it comes to allocating those types of resources for players.

At the end of the day, the NHL is a superstar driven league. Teams don’t get into cap hell by paying star players what they’re worth. They get there by making mistakes with role players in their 30s. And unless anything changes between now and the start of the season, there’s little reason for the Devils to go out of their way to lock up role players.