On Saturday, 11 players elected arbitration, including one from the Montreal Canadiens: Jayden Struble. The 23-year-old left-shot defenseman is just coming off his ELC deal, which had a $867,500 cap hit.

A second-round pick at the 2019 draft, Struble spent four years in the NCAA before joining the organization at the end of the 2022-23 campaign. The Northeastern University alums played nine games with the Laval Rocket that season on an amateur tryout and started his ELC the following season.

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He has played 56 games in the NHL in each of the last two seasons, scoring five goals and adding 18 assists for 23 points, while also accumulating 109 penalty minutes. He also had brief stints in the AHL with the Rocket, but he has reached a point where he needs to secure regular ice time in the NHL.

Much like Arber Xhekaj, he has struggled to establish himself as a regular in the NHL. If he hoped that David Savard’s departure would have given him a chance to step into the vacated roster spot, the Noah Dobson acquisition put an end to those hopes.

Last offseason, Kent Hughes had to negotiate a second contract with Xhekaj and Justin Barron. Xhekaj signed a 2-year, one-way deal with a $1.3 M cap hit while Justin Barron put pen to paper on a two-year, one-way pact with a $1.15 M cap hit. A few months later, Barron was traded to the Nashville Predators in return for Alexandre Carrier.

Earlier this week, the Canadiens made a qualifying offer to Struble, ensuring they kept his rights. According to his previous contract, that qualifying offer had to be at least $813,750. At this stage, it’s hard to get a sense of what Struble’s demands may be, but he has very little leverage at this point, having failed to establish himself as a regular.

Hopefully, the two parties can reach an agreement before the arbitration hearing, as this procedure is never beneficial to the relationship between the team and its player. It’s essentially a meeting in which the player’s side tells the arbitrator how much they believe he’s worth and why, and then, the team tells the arbitrator why he doesn’t deserve that money, listing the deficiencies in his game.

The hearings are scheduled to take place between July 20 and August 4, giving Hughes at least two weeks to work his magic. Despite the salary cap, it’s hard to imagine Struble getting much more than Xhekaj, the team’s tough guy, who played three playoff games while Struble was in the press box. It’s worth noting that Jakub Dobes could have opted for arbitration as well since he was eligible, but he decided not to go that way.

Photo credit: Eric Bolte-Imagn Images

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The Toronto Maple Leafs prospects got a firsthand look at current NHL players as they filed into the rink during development camp.

John Tavares, Scott Laughton, and Chris Tanev are only a few of the current Maple Leafs remaining at the team's practice facility in Etobicoke to train throughout the offseason. They've learned a bunch from guest speakers throughout the week, such as Mark Giordano, who shared his story of being an undrafted defenseman who eventually won the Norris Trophy.

However, it was a real eye-opener for the prospects to watch players like Tavares train on the ice before their on-ice sessions began.

"When Mark Giordano spoke to the players yesterday (Friday), one of the players asked, who are some of the best pros you've ever been around, and his first answer was John Tavares," Maple Leafs assistant GM, player development, Hayley Wickenheiser said.

"I've trained with John myself over the years, and he's just the ultimate pro. He doesn't leave any details unturned and he has a plan for himself.

"And so one of the cool things about doing development camp is, we have these guys that are skating before some of the pros that are in town, so we give the players a chance to watch them, ask them questions, and opportunity to just see, 'Oh, that's what it takes to get to that level,' and John is the epitome of that."

'This Is For Real Now': Matthews, Tavares, Nylander Texts Help Welcome New Maple Leafs ProspectsIn the hours—and likely days—after the Toronto Maple Leafs selected Tyler Hopkins with their third-round pick in the 2025 NHL Draft, the 18-year-old sifted through all of the messages received about being selected.

The prospects raved about watching the current Maple Leafs workout, applauding their work ethic and detail, which will be positive aspects to remember when the younger players return to training next week.

"They're incredible. You watch them on TV as a kid growing up for my whole life, and then you see them in real life, and you're like, 'Wow, it's kind of crazy,'" 2025 seventh-round pick Matthew Hlacar said.

John Prokop, who's entering his one-year contract with Toronto, watched Tavares and Tanev train on the ice. He played a handful of games with the Toronto Marlies this past season after leaving Union College, but this was the first time catching a glimpse of these NHLers up close.

"They're how old, played how many years in the league, and still they look like they're 24, 25, and that's really impressive," he said. "And their work ethic in the gym, on the ice, it's been awesome."

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Giordano's speech at development camp also resonated with Prokop since he, too, is an undrafted defenseman.

"It was really cool to see his journey, his ups and downs, and how he persevered, ended up being the captain, jumped to different places even in the expansion draft with Seattle," the 24-year-old said.

"Then compete. He got to play with some pretty talented players, like (Jarome) Iginla, and just hearing how they worked and how he worked, and his career ended up what it was."

Maple Leafs Forward Nick Robertson Files For Salary Arbitration, Timeline, Reasons And What’s Next?For the first time in his tenure with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Nick Robertson has leverage. The forward filed for salary arbitration on Saturday, which allows a third party to decide his compensation for the upcoming season.

Toronto 2022 third-round pick Nick Moldenhauer, who spends his offseasons in the Greater Toronto Area, actually got on the ice with Scott Laughton since returning home from the University of Michigan.

"He's a great guy. Came up and introduced himself to me as soon as I got on the ice," Moldenhauer smiled.

"I think the biggest thing when we were skating the first time was just how patient he is with the slot shots he takes. We were doing little shave-ice drills with releasing pucks in the slot and just watching him make it look so effortless was really cool...

"There was one rep where he went three in a row just exact same slide and shot, top right, and I was just like, this guy makes it look so easy. Just taking away those little things that he does well, I think is going to be beneficial for me and just continue to pick his brain over the offseason."

'Time Will Tell': Is Maple Leafs Prospect Easton Cowan Ready For The NHL Next Season?One year ago, it was only the NHL or OHL for Toronto Maple Leafs prospect Easton Cowan. However, now, it'll be NHL or AHL for the 20-year-old.

Moldenhauer hopes to skate with Laughton for a lot of the offseason before returning for his junior year at Michigan. The 21-year-old had a down season, scoring three goals and seven assists in 29 games, compared to his eight goals and 13 assists in 41 games the year prior.

"Being able to skate with (Laughton), ask him questions, even though it's been real quick so far, I'm looking to continue to do that" Moldenhauer said, "and just build little things he does well into my game and just continue to benefit from all these great players who train here over the summer as much as I can."

'What's This Horse About?': Maple Leafs Prospects React To Having Wild Colt At Development CampThe Toronto Maple Leafs prospects didn't know what they were getting themselves into when they rolled into Exhibition Place on Friday morning.

One of the most unique reactions to seeing current Maple Leafs on the ice was from Toronto 2025 third-round pick Tyler Hopkins. The 18-year-old grew up a Maple Leafs fan, and when he entered the rink on Friday and saw Tavares skating, he witnessed what was needed to reach the next level.

"It looks like he could play in a World Championship game right now. The biggest game, you put him in, he looks like he's in great shape," Hopkins smiled.

"A lot of people here have touched on how hard he works, and it's pretty clear to see that when you see him on the ice, he's going as hard as he can every rep and sticking to those little details."

(Top photo of Tanev and Tavares:  Kim Klement Neitzel / Imagn Images)

The NHL trade rumors have been strong with the Philadelphia Flyers this summer, but New York Islanders defenseman Alexander Romanov has taken an opportunity to clear the air.

Previously, it was reported that the Flyers, along with the Boston Bruins, were interested in trading for Romanov, still an RFA at the time.

Instead, the 25-year-old Russian signed an eight-year, $50 million contract ($6.25 million AAV), tying him down in Long Island in 2033, when he'll be 33 years old.

“I was shocked when I heard [the trade rumors]. I immediately texted [agent] Dan Milstein and asked, ‘What is this?’ He told me it wasn’t true,” Romanov told RG's Sergey Demidov in a recent interview. “Both Boston and Philly are already set on the left side of their defense. From what I understand, they weren’t even interested.”

And, Romanov is right in his assessment of the Flyers, given the team's steadfast commitment to reaching an agreement with RFA defenseman Cam York.

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Even with Travis Sanheim already playing on the right side, the Flyers still have York, Nick Seeler, Egor Zamula, and Emil Andrae occupying the left.

Plus, when accounting for the contract Romanov just signed and the additions of Dan Vladar and Christian Dvorak in the opening hours of NHL free agency, the Flyers would be roughly $700k over the salary cap had they acquired Romanov and re-signed him.

Romanov would have been a fun add to the Flyers given his pugilistic playstyle, but, logistically, things got hairy for the Flyers rather quickly.

Plus, it takes two to tango, and the Flyers were apparently never interested to begin with.

If you're wondering who might've stood out at Toronto Maple Leafs development camp, look no further than 2025 third-round pick Tyler Hopkins.

The 18-year-old center impressed many he went up against in the three-day camp. He was one of the smaller players picked by Toronto in the NHL Draft, but there's a lot that the Maple Leafs like in his game.

He was a bit nervous coming in. You couldn't tell, though, when he stepped onto the ice for the first time on Thursday.

"Honestly, I felt pretty good. None of those real nerves actually came out," he said on the final day of development camp.

"Once I hit the ice, everybody was really welcoming here, kind of made me feel at home pretty quick, the staff and even most of the players. It was easy to get into all the drills and things like that with people that are like-minded and trying to achieve the same goals."

'He Always Wants To Be The Best': Why Tinus Luc Koblar Could Be Maple Leafs' Biggest Steal Of The 2025 NHL DraftA few weeks after being drafted by the Toronto Maple Leafs, Tinus Luc Koblar is soaking up his time in the city.

There might be bigger expectations that come with being drafted where he was by Toronto, even more so when he had the season he did with the Frontenacs this past year. Maple Leafs assistant GM, player development, Hayley Wickenheiser, who was overseeing the camp, was impressed by Hopkins, though.

"He stood out for me as well. Just because of his hockey sense," Maple Leafs assistant GM, player development, Hayley Wickenheiser said on the final day of camp.

"He made some really nice plays. Not an overly big kid, not overly fast, but you notice him out there many of times, just by the ability to complete plays and put the puck on people's sticks, so it was nice to see. That's what we've saw of him in the draft as well, and it seemed to translate the last few days."

Hopkins has faced a few players prior to this development camp. Playing in the OHL with the Kingston Frontenacs, where he scored 20 goals and 31 assists in 67 games, Hopkins faced off against players like Easton Cowan with the London Knights and Ben Danford with the Oshawa Generals.

He called Danford a difficult player to go up against, citing the defenseman's skill at shutting down plays and being physical. Danford, who was rooming with Hopkins throughout Toronto's development camp, also praised the center's game.

"He's a great player. He's someone that's really solid," said Danford. "I think he's just going to keep getting better, the more he fills out. He's really skilled. His hands, his shot. Good skater. He's a really great player."

'Time Will Tell': Is Maple Leafs Prospect Easton Cowan Ready For The NHL Next Season?One year ago, it was only the NHL or OHL for Toronto Maple Leafs prospect Easton Cowan. However, now, it'll be NHL or AHL for the 20-year-old.

Hopkins hopes to add more strength to his game this summer. He was one of the younger players at this camp, so with an NHL training camp this fall, and then his next season with Kingston, Hopkins wants to bulk up so that he can take another step.

"I think just putting on a little bit more weight, upper-body strength, to go into those corners and still be strong and be able to hold onto the puck and make plays, I think that's the biggest thing for me," Hopkins said.

"I think just working as hard as I can in front and around the net. Try to score a little bit more goals as well is always something that I'm trying to do, so I think those are kind of the two big things for me going into this offseason."

(Top photo of Hopkins: Nick Barden / The Hockey News Toronto)

After TSN tried its hand at projecting Team Canada’s roster earlier this week, NHL.com took a stab at projecting Team USA’s roster. At the 4 Nations Face-Off, the Montreal Canadiens didn’t have a single player on the finalists’ roster, but this year, it seems like NHL.com will be different.

Up front, Auston Matthews, Jack Eichel, Brady and Matthew Tkachuk have already been named to the roster, and NHL.com would complete the forwards’ corps with Matt Boldy, Kyle Connor, Jack Guentzel, Jack Hughes, Clayton Keller, Dylan Larkin, J.T. Miller, Jason Robertson, Tage Thompson and Canadiens’ snipper Cole Caufield.

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On the blueline, Quinn Hughes and Charlie McAvoy have already been chosen, and NHL.com would add Brock Faber, Seth Jones, Brett Pesce, Jake Sanderson, Jaccob Slavin, and Zach Werenski. Meaning there is no room on this roster for Canadiens’ standout defenseman Lane Hutson.

The roster is wrapped up with Connor Hellebuyck, Jake Oettinger, and Jeremy Swayman. There’s no denying that it’s a good roster from top to bottom, but it’s at least worth considering Hutson for the blueline.

The projected defense already has two 22-year-olds with Faber and Sanderson, and I guess it makes sense to have some experience there. Still, there’s certainly an argument to be made for Hutson taking Sanderson’s spot or even Faber’s. Although they have more experience, with three NHL seasons and two seasons under their belt, respectively, neither has ever been as productive as Hughes in a single season. However, would they be cast in such a role? Looking at the other names on there, they may be out of offensive roles on the blueline.

If they were to be used in a more defensive role, they would probably prefer their size to Hutson’s. Still, for now, it’s only speculations, and should Hutson have yet another electric start to the season, he may well book a place on the real roster.

Photo credit: Eric Bolte-Imagn Images

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DETROIT - Saying that it was time for a “new chapter” in his life, former Detroit Red Wings forward Christian Fischer has announced his retirement from the NHL at only 28 years of age. 

Fischer, who played a total of 124 games while wearing the Winged Wheel from 2023 to 2025, thanked those who he encountered along his NHL journey and expressed gratitude to those who helped make it possible. 

“I’m very thankful for all the people I’ve come across, and I’d tell you right now: I didn’t get here on my own,” Fischer said, via Max Bultman of The Athletic. “It makes me look back and just appreciate the whole journey, and it makes me very thankful for it all.”

During his time with the Red Wings, Fischer was used in a bottom-six role while also playing a regular part on the penalty kill. He ultimately played in 79 games for Detroit during the 2023-24 season, scoring five goals while adding 14 assists. 

Christian Fischer, while falling down 🤯

HUGE goal to tie things up in Detroit 🚨 pic.twitter.com/KjaN9ThV1P

— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) March 16, 2024

It was also his first NHL campaign in four years in which he didn’t record a negative plus-minus rating. 

Selected with the 32nd pick in the 2015 NHL Draft by the Arizona Coyotes, Fischer would make his NHL debut at only 19 years of age after getting his feet wet at the professional level with the AHL’s Tucson Roadrunners. 

He would go on to play parts of six seasons with the Coyotes, the last of which yielded a career-high 13 goals. Fischer then signed a one-year contract with Detroit, and would later earn a one-year extension for the 2024-25 season. 

However, his second campaign in Detroit wasn’t as productive, as he scored only once while adding six assists in 45 games played. 

Designated a healthy scratch in 12 of Detroit’s 26 games leading up to the 2025 NHL Trade Deadline, Fischer was placed on waivers on March 6 and subsequently claimed by the Columbus Blue Jackets, with whom he played a single game. 

Fischer finishes his NHL career with 62 goals and 75 assists in 523 career games with the Coyotes, Red Wings, and Blue Jackets.

Former Pittsburgh Penguins forward Mark Letestu has landed an exciting new job. 

The Colorado Avalanche's American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Colorado Eagles, have announced that they have hired Letestu to be their new head coach. 

Ohio ✈️ Colorado

Welcome to #EaglesCountry Mark! pic.twitter.com/aiLFW4fPJI

— Colorado Eagles (@ColoradoEagles) July 5, 2025

Before landing this new job with the Eagles, Letestu spent each of the last four seasons as an assistant coach of the Cleveland Monsters, who are the AHL affiliate of the Columbus Blue Jackets. Now, after gaining a good amount of coaching experience as an assistant, he will now be the Eagles' bench boss. 

Letestu began his NHL career as a player with the Penguins. In 85 games over three seasons as a Penguin from 2009-10 to 2011-12, he recorded 15 goals, 14 assists, and 29 points. His time with the Penguins ended during the 2011-12 season when he was traded to the Blue Jackets in exchange for a fourth-round pick. 

Following his Penguins tenure, Letestu had stints with the Blue Jackets, Edmonton Oilers, and Winnipeg Jets. In 567 games over 11 NHL seasons, he recorded 93 goals, 117 assists, and 210 points. Now, he will look to thrive as the Eagles' new head coach from here. 

Ex-Penguins Defenseman Is Top Free Agent LeftWith it now being multiple days after July 1, most of this year's top unrestricted free agents (UFAs) have found their new homes. While this is the case, there are still some solid players available who should get signed before the start of the campaign. 

© Kim Klement-Imagn Images

Egor Zamula will be one of multiple Philadelphia Flyers battling for a roster spot come training camp and preseason.

Injuries to other defensemen saw an early season surge from Emil Andrae, who supplanted Zamula in the Flyers' lineup for parts of the season.

Zamula, 25, played 66 games last season and 63 games this past season, coming in and out of John Tortorella's gameday squad due to inconsistencies and, sometimes, struggling with the pace of play.

With new head coach Rick Tocchet coming to town, the 2025-26 season will be a fresh start for Zamula, who now faces competition for a roster spot in the form of Andrae, as well as Helge Grans, Adam Ginning, Hunter McDonald, and newcomers Noah Juulsen and Dennis Gilbert.

Two-time Olympic Gold medalist Igor Kravchuk, a former NHL defenseman and current KHL assistant coach, believes the book is not closed on Zamula in Philadelphia.

Kravchuk noted that Zamula and Alexander Romanov, who just signed a massive eight-year, $50 million contract extension with the New York Islanders, were both standouts on the same Russian U18 and U20 national teams, but their careers have since gone in opposite directions. 

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"By the way, Romanov was a leader of the defense in the Russian youth team, along with Egor Zamula. Unfortunately, Zamula’s career is not going as well as Romanov’s," Kravchuk told Russia-Hockey.ru in a recent interview. "The current Philadelphia is a peculiar team. There are problems with the balance of the roster, with the entertainment. Zamula is a little lost in it, but there is still time to return his career to the right trajectory. Especially since the coach has changed in the club."

Heading into the crucial third full season of his NHL career, Zamula has already played for Alain Vigneault, Mike Yeo, John Tortorella, and Brad Shaw in parts of five seasons.

Next up will be Tocchet, who's previously coaxed career years out of Jakob Chychrun, Filip Hronek, and Quinn Hughes during his time working with those players.

Assistant coach Todd Reirden, tasked by Tocchet with running the penalty kill and defense, has previously worked with John Marino, Marcus Pettersson, Mike Matheson, Alex Goligoski, Kris Letang, Matt Niskanen, Dmitry Orlov, John Carlson, Karl Alzner, and Nate Schmidt when those players were in their early and mid-20s, too.

Whether or not the previously undrafted Russian can follow in their footsteps remain to be seen, but the potential is there.

Zamula, at 6-foot-3, 200 pounds, has the size the Flyers need and want on their defense, even if he seldom uses it to his advantage.

The left-shot defender also has a penchant for sneaking shots through traffic, and has a better shot in general than most would give him credit for.

That's something that led to Tortorella and Co. icing him for power play minutes, even though Zamula is not particularly agile and one of the slowest skating defenders in the NHL.

But, for a guy who played even strength minutes almost exclusively this season, Zamula's underlying analytics looked amazing, as noted in the image above.

He cut his penalty minutes from 32 to six from 2023-24 to 2024-25, and those can be a good indicator of whether or not a young, non-physical, non-fighter player is struggling to keep up with his competition.

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And yes, Zamula scored only three goals, 12 assists, and 15 points in 63 games this season, but he only registered 37 shots on goal. Zamula's 8.1% shooting percentage actually impressively ranked in the 85th percentile amongst his defensemen peers, according to NHL EDGE.

The big flaw, as previously referenced, will be Zamula's skating. His top speed, 22+ MPH bursts, 20-22 MPH bursts, and 18-20 MPH bursts all ranked below the 50th percentile.

The 6-foot-3 defender will now need to shift his focus towards building trust with a new coaching staff with his in-zone defending and play with the puck; managing the puck effectively will be crucial to Zamula's success, given his weaknesses with mobility and turnovers.

Heading into the last year of his contract, Zamula's Flyers future is entirely in his hands.

The NHL's free-agent frenzy has colmed down considerably, with most of the available talent now off the market. And the Buffalo Sabres still have approximately $13.6 million in salary cap space to utilize. So, is there anything left for Buffalo to spend on the open market, or is the only road to improvement via trades?

From this writer's perspective, it's a no-brainer -- there's next-to-nothing left in free agency. Sure, the Sabres can take a run at center Jack Roslovic, who posted 22 goals for the Carolina Hurricanes this past season. Or perhaps Buffalo can offer former Vegas Golden Knights winger Victor Olofsson a second stint with the Sabres; Olofsson had 15 goals and 29 points with Vegas last season, and who knows -- he might get back to the 28-goal form he had with Buffalo in 2022-23. 

Otherwise, Sabres GM Kevyn Adams is looking at a whole lot of slim pickings in free-agency. And that means it's almost certainly going to be trades Adams makes that remodels Buffalo's lineup for next season.

Of course, everyone and their know-it-all neighbor is expecting the Sabres to trade RFA defenseman Bowen Byram. Adams came out after free-agency began and stated plainly that he's going to match any offer sheet a team would present to Byram, but let's remember that GMs are always playing a long game of chicken with their counterparts. We're not suggesting Buffalo won't match a Byram offer sheet, but we are saying Byram is the biggest trade chip Adams is likely to use in the coming days and weeks, and that's not going to change anytime soon.

Personally, it's our opinion that Adams should be prepared to trade other Sabres veterans, but for argument's sake, let's presume that Buffalo trading Byram is the Sabres' biggest move before training camp begins in the fall. You'd better believe that Adams has to hit a home run with a Byram trade -- we're talking an experienced forward who can contribute meaningfully right away next year -- to justify parting ways with Byram.

Olofsson Another Former Sabre Still Unsigned The signings by NHL clubs have ground to a halt five days into free agency, with the most sought-after players locked up on Day 1 and the biggest fish in Nikolai Ehlers finally signing with the Carolina Hurricanes on Thursday. A pair of former Buffalo Sabres are among the most prominent players still not signed. Jeff Skinner had 16 goals last season with Edmonton, but played sparingly in the playoffs, while Victor Oloffson had a solid injury-shortened season with the Vegas Golden Knights.   

If Adams doesn't come away with a major trade in the coming days and weeks, a sense of despair will wash over Sabres fans. They're not naive enough to imagine that Buffalo's lineup as-is can somehow vault over most teams in the hyper-competitive Atlantic Division and end their 14-year streak without Stanley Cup playoff hockey. They know it's going to be a long season if they're at that point.

Adams can pretend all he wants he's going to retain Byram's services. But if Byram returns, the Sabres are going to be top-heavy with defensemen, and light on the type of high-end forwards Buffalo needs to be a true playoff contender. So it's up to Adams to find a team that is (a) in need of Byram's skills, and (b) prepared and stocked to give the Sabres the high-impact forward they're looking for in return.

That said, nobody is going to be doing the Sabres any favors as they make alterations to their lineup. So Adams has to drive a hard bargain on the trade front. He can't pretend he's happy with the roster as it's currently constructed. He's really only added role players thus far, and that can't be the final result he's looking for.

Are The Sharks Hunting For Byram?Most of the speculation surrounding the Buffalo Sabres continues to be on restricted free agent defenseman Bowen Byram. Earlier this week, TSN’s Darren Dreger reported that interested clubs were contemplating an offer sheet and that could still be the case if Byram does not opt for salary arbitration by 5 pm Saturday. The St. Louis Blues according to Jeremy Rutherford of the Athletic are in hot pursuit of the blueliner, but the Blues may have company.

If we're still waiting for a Byram trade a month from now, something seriously wrong has taken place in Buffalo. Whether it's trade paralysis on Adams' behalf, a directive from ownership to keep the payroll well below the salary cap limit, or both, there's going to be a clear issue in the front office, and Sabres fans will see right through it.

You can't say Adams is on the clock in terms of making a trade or two in the next day or so. But every day that passes without a major trade only builds pressure on him to do something of consequence.

Adams has to come up with something he can show Sabres fans and give them something to invest in, financially and emotionally. Otherwise, the backlash against Adams will be heavy, prolonged and justified.

After a start to the NHL’s 2025 free agency period saw the Toronto Maple Leafs trade away star right winger Mitch Marner, Leafs GM Brad Treliving hinted at more moves to come from his team. 

“Mitch was a top-six forward, and we haven’t replaced that hole,” Treliving said after Marner was dealt to the Vegas Golden Knights Tuesday. “That’s really where our focus is.”

We’re taking Treliving at his word, and we don’t expect him to make any more notable moves in free agency. So, trades are going to be the route the Maple Leafs make to fill that need, and one trade in particular makes a lot of sense for Toronto, is acquiring veteran center Nazem Kadri from the Calgary Flames in return for defenseman Morgan Rielly.

Now, before we go any further, let’s be clear – both Kadri and Rielly would have to sign off on this deal to make it happen. Each of them has a no-trade clause, and in Rielly’s case in particular, Flames GM Craig Conroy would have to sell Rielly on coming to Calgary – at least, in the short term.

Why is that? Well, because the smart thing Conroy could do would be flipping Rielly to a playoff-bound team in need of an experienced blueliner who can contribute on offense and eat up 20 minutes a night. That’s probably not the Flames right now, especially after they do what many think they’ll do by trading veteran blueliner Rasmus Andersson. But if Rielly agreed to be moved to Calgary for the time being, with the knowledge that he can direct Conroy as to where to flip him, the deal definitely makes sense for both sides.

Certainly, the money involved in a Kadri/Rielly trade is almost a perfect match. Kadri is signed at $7-million per season for the next four years, while Rielly is signed at $7.5- million per season for the next five years. If the Flames are taking on that extra year of Rielly’s salary, Treliving may have to add another asset to make a deal work for the Flames – something like a second-round draft pick, which the Maple Leafs have in the 2027 and 2028 drafts.

But if that deal goes down, the Leafs change their DNA and add a second-line center, probably moving freshly re-signed pivot John Tavares to the wing. And all of a sudden, the Leafs would have a plethora of centers – Auston Matthews, Kadri, Tavares, new Leaf Nicolas Roy, Scott Laughton and David Kampf. That’s more than Toronto needs down the middle, but at that point, Treliving could trade or buy out Kampf, freeing up more money to spend on wingers, or perhaps, on a depth defenseman.

It won’t be easy for the Leafs to turn a position of need into a position of strength, but one trade – albeit a big trade – could do the trick for them in that regard. A reunion with Kadri surely would be welcomed by the former Leaf, and his growth as a competitor and his Cup championship pedigree from his time with the Colorado Avalanche would only help the Buds become a significantly harder team to play against.

Saying goodbye to Rielly – a cornerstone component in Toronto and a terrific human being – would be tough for the Leafs. But the time to act and move on from Rielly is now, and if the Leafs and Calgary can work together on finding him a better work situation, Rielly would be erring if he didn’t accept a trade and get a new lease on life on the ice, the same way Marner has. 

If Treliving is able to pull off this deal, don’t say you didn’t see it coming. The fit on Toronto’s end is just about perfect, and the Leafs’ desire to change their makeup would be fulfilled by bringing Kadri back to a place he still considers home.

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Multiple high-profile players have been on the move during this off-season, and with these moves, there is the possibility of seeing new partnerships and dynamic duos come into fruition. 

Several teams across the NHL have two players who share undeniable chemistry with each other. A great example of that is with the Edmonton Oilers’ Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, who always complement each other on the ice with their elite abilities.

Here are three pairs of players who have never played together before, but could dominate once they get a chance to share the ice.

Mitch Marner And Jack Eichel, Vegas Golden Knights

The Vegas Golden Knights were the winners of the Mitch Marner sweepstakes before he was able to officially enter free agency. GM Kelly McCrimmon acquired the right winger from the Toronto Maple Leafs in a sign-and-trade in exchange for center Nicolas Roy.

Marner is one of the league’s best playmakers. He finished the season as the fifth-best scorer in the league with 102 points. Marner ranked three spots above new teammate Jack Eichel, who scored 94 points last year.

Marner and Eichel are similar in a lot of ways in how they play the game. They’re premier playmakers who recorded a combined 141 assists, 74 of those being primary helpers. In addition to their offensive skill, they take pride in the other side of the ice as they both finished top 10 in Selke Trophy voting.

Noah Dobson And Lane Hutson, Montreal Canadiens

The Montreal Canadiens made a huge splash in acquiring 25-year-old Noah Dobson from the New York Islanders. The defenseman was traded to the Habs for left winger Emil Heineman, as well as two first-round picks from the 2025 draft.

Dobson is coming off a down year with the Islanders, but is more than capable of taking over a game from the blueline. Two seasons ago, he recorded a 70-point campaign that saw him receive a top-10 ranking for the Norris Trophy.

There is a prime opportunity for Canadiens coach Martin St. Louis to pair Dobson with reigning Calder Trophy winner Lane Hutson. The two D-men complement each other with their contrast in size and could be a successful pairing for years to come.

Trevor Zegras And Matvei Michkov, Philadelphia Flyers

Trevor Zegras’ time with the Anaheim Ducks has come to an end after five seasons with the club. He was traded to the Philadelphia Flyers for center Ryan Poehling, a second-round pick in the 2025 draft and a fourth-round pick in the 2026 draft. 

Zegras is known for his creativity, soft hands with the puck and his playmaking ability. New Flyers coach Rick Tocchet hinted at pairing Zegras and his playmaking with right winger Matvei Michkov when he spoke to The Athletic following the trade.

“We’d be idiots not to explore it and talk about it, and try to manifest it where it can work,” Tocchet said after Philadelphia acquired Zegras. 

The 24-year-old has played left wing and center with the Ducks, but because of his size, there’s a risk putting Zegras in the middle. “I definitely think it’s our obligation to see if he can play centre,” Tocchet said. “He really wants to give it a shot.”

Michkov and Zegras have shown they are confident in how skilled they are, attempting multiple ‘Michigan’ moves between them in their short careers. It could be breathtaking to see what they could potentially do together if they shared a line.

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For the first time in his tenure with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Nick Robertson has leverage. The forward filed for salary arbitration on Saturday, which allows a third party to decide his compensation for the upcoming season.

The 23-year-old Robertson scored a career-high 15 goals and added seven assists last season. He played in 69 games with the Leafs last season, a positive sign that the player’s history of injury is indeed in the past. However, the forward was limited to playing in just three of Toronto’s 13 playoff games this past spring, due to decision-making from Leafs head coach Craig Berube.

Robertson has been in the Leafs organization since he was drafted in the second round (53rd overall) in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft. Expectations were high for him to replicate his elite goal-scoring at the Ontario Hockey League level, especially when the player was fast-tracked to an NHL debut by suiting up for the club during the 2020 NHL playoffs. However, a combination of injuries and underperformance, coupled with the back-and-forth he experienced in the 2023-24 season between the Maple Leafs and Toronto Marlies (AHL) as the club managed its salary cap, has stunted the player’s growth.

'I Understand It But I'm Not Going To Sit Here And Say That I'm Happy': Maple Leafs' Roster Shuffle Tests Nick Robertson's Patience Upon His Return to the TeamRobertson was called up to the Maple Leafs after being sent down to help the team open up some salary cap space.

Last year, Robertson began the summer by requesting a trade away from Toronto. Instead of getting his wish, however, he signed a one-year, $875,000 deal to remain with the team. This past week, the Leafs tendered a $919,000 qualifying offer to Robertson in order to retain the forward’s rights.

Report: Maple Leafs Restricted Free Agent Nick Robertson 'Still Would Prefer A Change Of Address'Robertson reportedly requested a trade away from the Maple Leafs back in June and hasn't changed his stance.

With the departure of Mitch Marner this offseason, players like Robertson will be counted on to pick up the slack in the scoring department. This makes assessing his fair value an interesting exercise if the team and player are unable to come to an agreement beforehand.

The Maple Leafs and Robertson can continue negotiating up until their scheduled hearing begins. Once that happens, both sides will make their case based on prepared comparables (i.e., other players with similar stats, age, and roles) before a third party rules on final compensation.

'The Puzzle Has Got To Come Into Play': Maple Leafs Not Rushing Contracts Of RFAs Nick Robertson And Pontus HolmbergWhile the talk of the town might be whether the Toronto Maple Leafs can sign John Tavares before July 1 rolls around, you cannot forget about their younger restricted free agents.

The “walkaway” number in the collective bargaining agreement is $4.85 million, according to Puckpedia.com. Any award exceeding that number would allow the Leafs not to be obligated to sign the California-born forward, and he would then become an unrestricted free agent.

Robertson currently has 32 goals and 24 assists in 156 NHL games. Given the history, it's not a surprise at all that the player would exercise his right to leverage for the first time in his NHL career. Finding the right value on the player will be interesting.

An arbitrator can only award a one or two-year contract for Robertson. Hearings for all 11 players announced for arbitration will run from July 20 to August 4. 

(Photo Credit, Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images)

'He Always Wants To Be The Best': Why Tinus Luc Koblar Could Be Maple Leafs' Biggest Steal Of The 2025 NHL DraftA few weeks after being drafted by the Toronto Maple Leafs, Tinus Luc Koblar is soaking up his time in the city. Maple Leafs Goaltender Anthony Stolarz Spotted Back On Ice In New Training Video Shared by Offseason Coach George BosakToronto Maple Leafs fans breathed a sigh of relief when Anthony Stolarz unexpectedly took the ice as Joseph Woll’s backup goaltender in their Game 7 defeat against the Florida Panthers in May, especially as the goaltender later confirmed he was fully cleared from the concussion he sustained from an incident with Panthers forward Sam Bennett in Game 1 of their second-round series. A further positive sign was seeing the goaltender take the ice in full gear with his off-season goaltending coach George Bosak, a moment shared on the coach’s Instagram account on Friday. 'What's This Horse About?': Maple Leafs Prospects React To Having Wild Colt At Development CampThe Toronto Maple Leafs prospects didn't know what they were getting themselves into when they rolled into Exhibition Place on Friday morning.

Nashville Predators development camp came to a close Saturday morning in the Future Stars Game at Ford Ice Center in Bellevue. 

Fans packed the stands to get a glimpse of what the Predators future could look like, and who they could potentially see on the ice this fall. 

It wasn't a traditional game, as there were two 25-minute halves, with 15 minutes of 5-on-5 play, 10 minutes of 4-on-4 play, and a five-man shootout. Goals scored in every segment counted toward the final score. 

Here are the biggest takeaways from this year's Future Stars Game. 

Future Stars Game rosters

Gold

Forwards: Brady Martin, Kalan Lind, Matthew Wood, Viktor Norringer, David Edstrom, Joey Willis, Felix Nilsson, Ryker Lee, Teddy Stiga, Erik Pahlsson.

Defense: Viggo Gustafsson, Tanner Molendyk, Jacob Rombach, Tristan Sarsland, Alex Huang. 

Goalies: Jack Ivankovic, Jakub Milota 

Blue

Forwards: Miguel Marques, Adam Ingram, Cole O'Hara, Aiden Fink, Egor Surin, Ryan Sullivan, Jack Stockfish, Hiroki Gojsic, Austin Roest, Oasiz Wiesblatt. 

Defense: Drew Hockley, Andrew Gibson, Luke Shipley, Cameron Reid, Mac Gadowsky. 

Goalies: Lawton Zacher, T.J. Semptimphelter. 

1. Veterans showed out 

One thing about Matthew Wood... he's going to SHINE ✨ pic.twitter.com/2468hASW3F

— Nashville Predators (@PredsNHL) July 5, 2025

There is a lot of pressure on prospects playing in their first development camp, wanting to make an good early impression. At the same time, there's pressure on veteran players to prove they're ready to contest for a roster spot and show that they are continuing to progress. 

Forward Matthew Wood highlighted that effort with a highlight reel goal and an assist. He tried to deke past Mac Gadowsky while entering the zone but hit Gadowsky's skate while trying to pull the puck.

Luckily, the puck came back to Wood, and he wristed it past Zacher for the goal. Wood played six games with Predators last season after finishing up his final college season at Minnesota. As one of the leaders at the development camp, we could see more of him in Nashville. 

Defenseman Andrew Gibson had two goals, one in 4-on-4 play and the other in the shootout. Mixed with his strong defensive performance, he could be an offensively minded blue-liner that the Predators are looking for. 

The Detroit Red Wings 2023 third-round draft pick, who was traded to the Predators in June 2024, just finished his fourth and final season in the OHL. 

2. Ryker Lee, Cole O'Hara pack an offensive punch 

Cole O'Hara. BETWEEN THE LEGS. TOP SHELF 🤯 pic.twitter.com/UvGNN0AxO5

— Nashville Predators (@PredsNHL) July 5, 2025

The Predators, traditionally, aren't known for having the flashiest players in the world. General manager Barry Trotz's mindset has been focused on size and strength. 

However, Ryker Lee and Cole O'Hara could change that. 

The pair of forwards were extremely active in the game. Lee had a ton of chances and a shootout goal where he essentially threw a change up at TJ Semptimphelter, faking a wrist shot and a leg pump to go bardown on him.

Lee dazzled in the USHL this year, scoring 68 points in 58 games. He's headed to Michigan State this fall, which will only further strengthen his game. Lee's skill set could be even sharper come next year's development camp. 

O'Hara, who's another veteran of the development camp, had a shootout goal, an assist and the most impressive goal of the day. He caught a pass from Egor Surin, who was along the boards, pulled the puck in between his legs and went bar down on Jack Ivankovic. 

The Predators 2022 fourth-round pick played two games in Milwaukee after scoring 51 points with UMass Amherst. A full pro season, whether that be in Milwaukee or Nashville, should say a lot about O'Hara's pro skillset and his overall potential. 

3. TJ Semptimphelter had a shutout in scrimmage 

Considering all the scoring that occurred later in the game and the fact that TJ Semptimphelter started the game, it was notable that he had a shutout before in the 5-on-5 and 4-on-4 segments he played. 

While he ended up letting in two goals in the shootout, with Gold still maintaining a 3-2 lead after that segment, he was the only netminder to not suffice a goal in live action. 

Semptimphelter was one of the two goalies invited to the development camp but not drafted by the team. 

He just completed his final college season at North Dakota, where he played 31 games, posting an 18-11-2 record, a save percentage of .910, and a goals-against average of 2.64. 

Semptimphelter made his pro debut with the Bridgeport Islanders, which was a little rougher, allowing four goals on 22 shots in a 5-2 loss to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. 

Goalie development takes some time, but Semptimphelter showed the most promise out of the goalies. 

Saturday marked day three of the Pittsburgh Penguins development camp, and there was a lot to like. 

Mikhail Ilyin made his debut after getting into Pittsburgh late Thursday night and arriving at the facility on Friday. He participated in the first group session, and his skill was evident right away. He had an excellent release and used it every time it was his turn during a drill. He was also showcasing his playmaking ability, making some slick passes to his teammates.

Some people have concerns about his skating, but I don't view it as a negative at all. He's very methodical with it, but I would like to see him use his top-end speed a little bit more. Ilyin signed his three-year entry-level contract with the Penguins on May 31, but won't be playing for the organization yet. Penguins assistant general manager Jason Spezza told Taylor Haase of DK Pittsburgh Sports that Ilyin will stay in the KHL for the 2025-26 season. The hope is that he will come over to North America full-time for the 2026-27 season. 

If you haven't started putting at least some stock into defensive prospect Finn Harding, I suggest you do so. He was all over the ice on Saturday, showcasing his superb skating and his ability to walk the blue line. I know these are only drills, but he looked super calm and composed each time he had the puck. He was one of two players the Penguins selected in the seventh round of the 2024 NHL Draft, and is already looking like a steal. 

Harding has developed his offensive game since being drafted, finishing the 2024-25 season with seven goals and 57 points in 67 games with the OHL's Brampton Steelheads. He will play for either the Wheeling Nailers or the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins this year after signing his ELC in March.

Will Horcoff was a little quiet during the first two days of development camp, but that changed on Saturday. The 2025 first-round pick was showcasing his release, specifically his one-timer, during drills, and it's pretty impressive. He roofed one over Justin BriseBois during a drill before going top shelf with two more goals a short time later. 

He's a bit more of a "project" compared to fellow first-rounders Ben Kindel and Bill Zonnon, and Michigan is the perfect place for him to keep developing. He will have the opportunity to play with the Wolverines for a full season this year after appearing in 18 games for them last year, where he compiled four goals and 10 points. 

Development camp will resume on Sunday, concluding with a tournament on Monday.

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Featured Image Credit: Brian Bradshaw Sevald-Imagn Images