As NHL free agency creeps into its fifth day, there's still a sizeable group of former Ottawa Senators waiting for the phone to ring.

Fifteen ex-Sens remain unsigned after becoming unrestricted free agents on July 1.

Some will almost certainly land NHL contracts. Others may have to settle for AHL deals, head to Europe, or begin thinking seriously about retirement.

Four of the 15 unsigned former Senators were once first-round picks by the organization, making them a good place to start.

Former Senators First-Round Picks Still Unsigned

• Colin White (21st overall, 2015)
• Shane Bowers (28th overall, 2017)
• Curtis Lazar (17th overall, 2013)
• Logan Brown (11th overall, 2016)

Colin White, Ottawa's 21st overall selection in the 2015 NHL Draft, still appears on the books for the Sens. After buying out the final years of his contract, Ottawa will carry an $875,000 cap charge for each of the next two seasons.

White spent last season with the AHL's San Jose Barracuda, where one of his teammates was another former Senators first-rounder, Shane Bowers, who also just became a UFA.

Selected 28th overall in 2017, Bowers was Brady Tkachuk's teammate at Boston U. before becoming part of the blockbuster Matt Duchene trade with Colorado just months after being drafted. After eight professional seasons, he's still searching for a breakthrough that has never come.

One former Senators first-rounder who's carved out a much better career is Curtis Lazar.

Senators fans will never forget Lazar picking up and eating a cheeseburger that had been thrown onto the ice during the famous Hamburglar run of 2015. While the 17th overall pick in the 2013 NHL Draft never developed into an offensive threat, he's quietly put together a decade-long NHL career as a dependable depth forward.

After recording six points in 45 games with the Edmonton Oilers this past season, it'll be interesting to see whether another NHL team gives him an opportunity.

Then there's Logan Brown.

Chosen 11th overall in 2016, Brown spent last season with the Ontario Reign, the Los Angeles Kings' AHL affiliate, producing 16 points in 31 games. His skating at the NHL level has always been a concern, but injuries have been an even bigger obstacle. 

Unsigned Former Senators Goaltenders

• Matt Murray (SEA)
• Cam Talbot (DET)
• Marcus Högberg (NYI)
• Hunter Shepard (MTL)

Goaltenders make up another sizeable chunk of Ottawa's unsigned alumni.

The most intriguing name is Matt Murray.

Murray won back-to-back Cups with Pittsburgh in his rookie and sophomore seasons. But his game faded over the next three years, and so the Pens traded him to the Senators, who promptly signed him to a four-year, $25-million deal. He appeared in 47 games for the Sens over two frustrating seasons before they convinced Toronto to take him off their hands.

He appeared in just five games with the Seattle Kraken this season, but he was excellent, posting a 2.21 goals-against average and a .922 save percentage. But a quick glance through Murray's injury history makes it hard to imagine another team investing significant money in him.

Cam Talbot is also still looking for work.

Pierre Dorion acquired Talbot from the Minnesota Wild in 2022 in exchange for Filip Gustavsson, hoping the veteran would finally stabilize Ottawa's crease. Talbot spent one season with the Senators before leaving as a free agent. Despite being 39 years old, his body of work suggests he could still attract interest as a veteran backup.

The other former Senators goaltenders still available are Marcus Hogberg and Hunter Shepard.

Hogberg who made a return to the NHL with the New York Islanders organization the past two seasons, and Hunter Shepard.

Shepard spent most of last year in the Montreal Canadiens organization after Ottawa traded him in March, along with Jake Chiasson, in exchange for forward Riley Kidney.

The Rest of the List

The remaining unsigned former Senators are:

• Mike Reilly (Carolina Hurricanes)
• Austin Watson (Detroit Red Wings)
• Travis Hamonic (Detroit Red Wings)
• Vladimir Tarasenko (Minnesota Wild)
• Evgeni Dadonov (New Jersey Devils)
• Matthew Highmore (New York Islanders)
• Boris Katchouk (Philadelphia Flyers)

The list is an interesting mix of players at very different stages of their careers.

Although his production has declined from his peak years, a veteran winger like Tarasenko, with more than 300 NHL goals on his resume, will get a new NHL deal. When he signed with Ottawa three years ago, it was almost four weeks into free agency. He had a bounce-back year in Minnesota with 23 goals and 47 points.

For some of the others, the road back to the NHL may be more difficult. 

Once the initial frenzy dies down, as it's starting to right now, jobs become increasingly scarce. Some of these players might still be on NHL opening-night rosters in October, but others have likely already played their last game in the league, even if they don't know it yet.

By Steve Warne
The Hockey News

This article was first published on The Hockey News Ottawa Senators site. For full coverage of the Senators, check out one of the latest headlines below:

The Curious Case Of Claude Giroux And Ottawa's Quiet Start To Free Agency
After Seven Years With The Sens, Mads Sogaard Signs With Division Rival
Senators Walk Away From Belleville Sniper Who Scored 40 Goals This Season
Are The Senators Planning To Carry Three Goalies On Their Roster?

Former Senators Defenseman Joins Belleville's Coaching Staff
Senators Officially Sign Samuel Ersson As Their Backup Goalie
Meet The Future: Senators Draft Offensive Skill With Two First-Round Picks
Brady Tkachuk Had a Chance to Write His Own Story. He Chose Matthew's

It's been a little over a month since Chris MacFarland was hired as the Nashville Predators' next general manager, and he's stayed busy.

Since June 2, MacFarland has signed six players, traded for five more and drafted eight. He's also dealt three players, including Fedor Svechkov and Zach L'Heureux. 

Erik Haula was also not resigned; he joined the Los Angeles Kings as a free agent, and Tyson Jost and Kevin Gravel have not been offered extensions as UFAs. 

Making a handful of roster moves out of the gate, MacFarland hinted at more on the defensive end.

"The back end is something that we want to find a little bit more puck skill and a little more transition as part of our game," MacFarland said. "It's not easy to do, right? As you can see by free agency, there weren't a lot of those defensemen available. 
There's a reason for that. Those are the hard-to-get assets." 

The Predators' defense struggled immensely last season, which ran counter to Barry Trotz's notion that the defense had been "fixed" during 2025 free agency with the acquisitions of Nic Hague and Nick Perbix. 

With the blue line seemingly on MacFarland's radar, here's which players are likely on the trading block. 

Justin Barron 

Barron was extended a qualifying offer, but as of July 4, he has not signed it. If it's not signed by July 5 at 4 p.m. CST, he will enter player arbitration, a battle that will likely not go his way. 

His last contract was two years, $2.3 million, with a $1.150 million annual hit. Barron's qualifying offer is reportedly listed at $1.2 million annually. 

It may have been strategic by MacFarland and staff to offer Barron and force his hand. The 24-year-old defenseman recorded nine points in 52 games last season and had just 12 points in 45 games the season before. 

While Barron is one of the Predators' more active defensemen, he has struggled to produce in his two seasons in Nashville. Negotiations for him to either get more money or a longer contract will likely not fall in his favor. 

Nic Hague 

Trotz talked a big game about Hague when he arrived in Nashville in the 2025 offseason. He said that Hague was going to play in the top pairing with Josi and would give the defense "back-end depth." 

Hague was injured in the preseason and didn't return until late October. When he returned, Josi was injured, and the pair didn't get to play until late November, on an already compressed schedule. 

While Josi eventually found his edge, Hague did not, putting up almost identical numbers to his time in Vegas when he was playing on the third pairing. In 62 games played, he had 15 points and a plus/minus of -10. 

It can be argued that Hague could've put up bigger numbers if he wasn't injured, but at the end of the day he didn't make this defensive unit any better. 

In the second year of a four-year, $22 million contract with a $5.5 million annual hit, it's a contract that's not impossible to move. At 6-foot-6, he brings a height edge that other teams may be looking for. 

His six team no-trade list also doesn't come into play until the 2027-28 season. 

Nick Perbix

Another piece acquired by Trotz in the 2025 offseason, Perbix should have a bit more potential in the backend as one of the Predators' better skaters, but struggled to give them enough of a push.

In 79 games, Perbix had 20 points but a plus/minus of -14. Recording 197 speed bursts between 18 and 20 miles per hour, Perbix could be suited better for a role on Nashville's bottom pairing, but may not be ready for a top-four role.

He has proven before in Tampa that he can be a contributor with 20 points in the 2022-23 season and 24 points in the 2023-24 season.  

In his final year of a two-year, $5.5 million contract, the Predators aren't risking too much by keeping him or trading him. Could get a little bit more back if he's traded, but it could be worth staying patient and trying him for one more year. 

Adam Wilsby 

It's likely that MacFarland will want to hang on to Wilsby as a 25-year-old entering the final year of his ELC. He's young and just finished his first full NHL season. 

In 58 games, Wilsby had 16 points off a goal and 15 assists. He is debatably the Predators' fastest skater on the backend and could be a step closer to finding his game this season.

At the same time, that aspect could be enticing to other teams. He fits the build that more squads are looking for in their defensemen- guys that are quick and have an offense-first mindset. 

Nashville will likely stay with Wilsby for another year, wanting to wait until he reaches RFA status, but it wouldn't be a massive surprise if MacFarland ops to trade him. 

Brady Skjei 

It's highly unlikely that the Predators will be able to move Skjei with a no trade clause a 15 team no-trade list and five years left on a seven-year, $49 million contract with a $7 million yearly hit. 

While Skjei hasn't put up the same numbers that he did in Carolina, he's been a decent piece for Nashville on the backend.

This past season, he had 26 points in 82 games, recovering from a rough start to the year, during which he posted one of the worst plus/minus ratings in the NHL. 

He's a player the Predators could get a bit more for on the market, but his contract is going to scare potential suitors away. At 32-years old, Skjei will be 37 by the time his deal is up. 

Just four days into NHL free agency, Alexandar Georgiev is still without a contract — and what was supposed to be a reset opportunity is already looking more complicated than expected.

After terminating his deal with KHL Spartak and signaling a clear intention to return to North America, Georgiev re-entered the NHL market hoping to rebuild his value. Instead, he’s watching goaltending jobs disappear without his name coming off the board.

That’s a notable shift from where his career stood not long ago.

During his time with the Colorado Avalanche, Georgiev worked his way into a full-time starter’s role and reached his peak in 2023-24, when he led the NHL with 38 wins. He had also tied for the league lead in wins the season prior, briefly establishing himself as one of the league’s most productive regular-season goaltenders.

That same stretch also included one of the defining moments of his career — an All-Star selection in 2024, where he took part in the league’s skills showcase. In the one-on-one shooter-versus-goalie challenge, Georgiev stopped nine of 12 attempts from Connor McDavid in a minute-long showdown, earning $100,000 and a rare spotlight moment against the NHL’s best player. McDavid even joked afterward that Georgiev “had my number” in the event, a lighthearted but memorable highlight in his career arc.

But that version of Georgiev didn’t last.

His final stretch in Colorado during the 2024-25 season unraveled quickly, finishing 8-7-0 with a 3.38 goals-against average and a .874 save percentage. After a move to San Jose, the struggles continued over a larger sample, going 7-19-4 with a 3.88 GAA and a .875 save percentage in 31 appearances.

That downturn reshaped his market in real time — and it carried straight into his next stop.

After landing with Buffalo on a one-year, $850K deal just before training camp, Georgiev’s situation never stabilized. The Sabres were ultimately so dissatisfied with his place on the depth chart that they claimed Colten Ellis off waivers, pushing Georgiev further down the goaltending hierarchy. That move effectively signaled where things were heading, and it eventually led to a mutual termination of his NHL contract so he could pursue an opportunity with Spartak in the KHL.

In Russia, he found steadier results, posting a 2.37 goals-against average and a .918 save percentage over 24 appearances. It was a clear step forward from his North American struggles, but not enough to fully restore his NHL reputation to anything close to starter status.

Now back on the open market, Georgiev is trying to find a landing spot in a goaltending landscape that has already moved quickly. With the first wave of free agency behind us, most teams have addressed their starter or backup situations, leaving fewer obvious openings.

And that’s where the concern comes in.

Even with a respectable KHL rebound, NHL teams are still weighing the same question: which version of Georgiev are they getting — the 38-win starter from Colorado, or the goaltender whose performance declined sharply in both San Jose and his brief Buffalo tenure?

At this point in the summer, uncertainty is more damaging than upside. And in a market that’s already thinning out, Georgiev’s path back to the NHL looks less like a return — and more like a waiting game that may not go his way.

Whether Georgiev finds his way back to the NHL, returns to Russia again, or ultimately decides to step away from the game entirely remains to be seen.

The rumors linking the Pittsburgh Penguins to Dallas Stars superstar left winger Jason Robertson don't seem to be going away anytime soon.

On Jul. 1, The Athletic's Josh Yohe wrote a piece discussing the Robertson rumors, saying that POHO/GM Kyle Dubas and the Penguins "still absolutely want to trade for Jason Robertson."

"I sense that the Penguins have made what they believe to be a fair offer," Yohe wrote. "Dallas seems to be holding up the proceedings because the Stars would prefer to keep Robertson. The money he is demanding, however, is making it more likely that he will be dealt."

Some say that Pittsburgh couldn't possibly execute a trade with Dallas, and others say that Robertson couldn't possibly want to go to Pittsburgh. Maybe that's true. However, it's worth keeping in mind that the idea of him going to the Ottawa Senators, Seattle Kraken, and St. Louis Blues was shut down almost immediately, and despite the Pittsburgh rumor lingering for weeks, it has yet to be rebuked. And, yes, there probably is something to that.

If all of this is true - and the Penguins are still in the running for Robertson - value is a legitimate question. Dubas already admitted during the 2026 NHL Draft that Pittsburgh did not possess some of the assets that teams were looking for going into the draft because they did not possess a top-10 pick.

Well, with the "top-10" pick part of things shelved until next season, perhaps Dubas does believe a fair offer has been made without one of those. However, if other teams bring themselves into the mix, there is a good chance that they can offer more than what the Penguins can, or, are at least, willing to offer.

But, there may be another way for Pittsburgh to execute a trade with Dallas for fair value. And it would, hypothetically, involve a third team.

Well, how about the Detroit Red Wings?

GM Steve Yzerman and the Red Wings are in a tough spot with captain Dylan Larkin, a legitimate first-line center who has scored 30 or more goals in five consecutive seasons but requested a trade this summer. Yzerman wants fair value for Larkin, and he is not budging on whatever his perceived asking price is.

The 29-year-old might be a bit of a downgrade from Robertson's production, but he would fill in the second-line center role nicely for the Stars, or he could flank Wyatt Johnston on the first line. And he would nearly fill the void left by Robertson until 2031, when he becomes an unrestriced free agent.

So, how can the Penguins fit into the picture? Let's dissect a proposed three-way trade for the clubs and how it would benefit each.

Report: Penguins Had 'Some Momentum' In Robertson TalksNHL Insider Elliotte Friedman reported that there were talks between the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Dallas Stars regarding superstar winger Jason Robertson during the NHL Draft over the weekend.

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To Pittsburgh:
- LW Jason Robertson (from DAL)
- RW Colin Blackwell (from DAL)
- LD Shai Buium (from DET)

To Dallas:
- C Dylan Larkin (from DET)
- C Tommy Novak, 50 percent retained (from PIT)
- RW Rutger McGroarty (from PIT)
- RD Quinn Beauchesne (from PIT)
- 2028, 2029 second-round picks (from PIT)
- 2027 third-round pick (from DET)

To Detroit:
- RW Bryan Rust (from PIT)
- C/LW Will Horcoff (from PIT)
- C Brandon Gorzynski (from DAL)
- 2027 first-round pick (from PIT)
- 2028 conditional first-round pick (from PIT)
- 2028 fourth-round pick (from DAL)

Should The Penguins Follow The Flyers' Offer Sheet Blueprint?The Flyers shocked the NHL on Friday when they sent a lucrative offer sheet to Anaheim Ducks' forward Leo Carlsson, and the Pittsburgh Penguins should take notes.

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What Pittsburgh is getting

Simply put, Pittsburgh is getting one of the league's elite talents in this scenario. Players like Robertson don't always go to market, especially not in a situation where the other club's money situation makes it difficult to retain such a player.

In a three-way trade scenario, Pittsburgh can work around the fact that they don't really have the asset in the form of a player the level of Larkin, but they have enough to provide a fair return otherwise.

Losing Rust is a blow to the now - and losing the versatile Novak doesn't help, either - but the Penguins are at a stage where they need to start getting value out of some of their aging veterans. Plus, Robertson immediately replaces that. Losing two firsts and two seconds, as well as two of their best prospects in Horcoff and McGroarty, isn't ideal, either, but they may be able to recoup one of those firsts by offloading Rickard Rakell. And they are getting back a close-to-NHL-ready Buium in the process while sacrificing Beauchesne, whose upside is intriguing but who is farther out.

Also, if the Penguins are smart about selling off veterans for draft capital and other assets, they may still be able to acquire a center in addition to Robertson. The Vancouver Canucks have Elias Pettersson on the trade block, and he may be someone worth looking into, especially since the Canucks are a bit limited return-wise because of his $11.6 million contract.

Robertson's brother, Nick, was already dealt to Pittsburgh, and the Robertson camp has yet to shut down Pittsburgh rumors that have been around for weeks despite shutting down other team rumors almost immediately when Robertson wasn't interested in signing. So, there's something to that.

If the Penguins are serious about contending in the short- or long-term, paying up for Robertson is something that makes sense. And it shouldn't entirely deplete their asset pool to the point they can't do anything else impactful.

Penguins Acquire Nick Robertson From Maple LeafsThe Pittsburgh Penguins have acquired Nick Robertson from the Toronto Maple Leafs.

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What Dallas is getting

Well, in this scenario, Dallas is getting Larkin from Detroit, who is a pretty nice consolation prize for losing Robertson - and he'd also cost about 60 percent as much as Robertson would have. It affords them a bit more flexibility as far as the salary cap this season to put other pieces in place on their roster.

Larkin is a legitimate top-six center and goal-scorer, which would certainly help them down the middle quite a bit. They already have Wyatt Johnston and Roope Hintz, and they'd also be adding Novak in this scenario, who can play the wing or the center position and produce at around a half point-per-game pace. McGroarty could help the NHL roster for cheap, too, as he is due for a breakout of sorts and has the potential to be part of the short- and long-term.

Beauchesne provides another upside prospect option at right defense - something that Dallas needs - and they can use their own first-round pick and the seconds to leverage for something else. Moving out Blackwell to Pittsburgh as a cap dump makes the money work, too, with Novak being retained.

This gives Dallas the perfect mix of win-now and future-oriented moves, as Larkin should be an elite player for the life of his contract, Novak helps now, McGroarty could help both the now and the future, and Beauchesne and the picks helps the future. 

'His First Choice is To Stay': Insider Details Jason Robertson's Desire to Remain a Star Amid Contract ChaosElliotte Friedman reveals how a blockbuster Kraken trade collapsed, exposing a massive valuation gap as the Stars superstar navigates high-stakes contract demands and looming offer sheet threats.

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What Detroit is getting

Yzerman doesn't want to give up Larkin without a nice haul, and in this scenario, there is some nice future-forward intrigue to consider.

Of course, Rust is a veteran who has been coveted by contending teams for a long time. There is no looking back now for Detroit, as they have spent the last decade rebuilding and missing the playoffs and don't want to tear it all down again. He may be 34, but he has scored 20 or more goals for six consecutive seasons, and he's been above or around 30 goals for the last three seasons as well as a notch below the point-per-game mark. So, he helps them get over the hump in the now.

Then, there is Horcoff, who scored at a goal-per-game clip as an 18-year-old for the University of Michigan in the first half of the season last year, and a shoulder injury sustained in December likely inhibited him the rest of the way. He still finished one point below point-per-game and is one of the Penguins' top-two forward prospects.

Gorzynski is a young, 19-year-old center with a lot of upside, as he's been above point-per-game in the WHL for the past two seasons and keeps getting better every year. He is a playmaker and two-way center, and he could still add some size at 6-foot-2, 190 pounds.

And, in addition to the player assets, Detroit would get Pittsburgh's 2027 first, a conditional 2028 first from the Penguins, and a fourth from Dallas, all of which they could leverage for a center if they want to. They can also still flip Rust, who is worth a first-round pick.

This is a futures-oriented trade for them, but there is more than enough intrigue in Horcoff, especially, that it makes the three-way trade viable.

Steve Yzerman Confirms Dylan Larkin's Trade Request, But Says Outcome Is Far From CertainWhile Detroit Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman confirmed Dylan Larkin's trade request, he made it clear that there's no guarantee that the request will ultimately be granted.

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News & Notes

REPORT: Zach Werenski Turns Down Dallas Stars, Prefers To Stay EastAccording to reports late Tuesday night, <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/columbus-blue-jackets">Columbus Blue Jackets</a>&nbsp;defenseman Zach Werenski turned down a trade that would've sent the reigning Norris winner to the Dallas Stars.

According to reports late Tuesday night, Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski turned down a trade that would've sent the reigning Norris winner to the Dallas Stars.

Darren Dreger reported that his preference is to stay in the East. No, It's not Werenski's job to get a good return from the other teams, but this isn't a good look. 

Elliotte Friedman also confirmed that the team he nixed the trade to was the Dallas Stars, and Thomas Harley was the player to be sent to the CBJ. The trade was agreed to on Monday, but vetoed on Tuesday night. 

Columbus Blue Jackets To Hire Former Columbus Chill Head CoachAccording to reports, the <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/columbus-blue-jackets">Columbus Blue Jackets</a>&nbsp;will be hiring long-time coach and former Columbus Chill head coach Don Granato.&nbsp;The news first reported Wednesday morning by Aaron Portzline of the Athletic.

According to reports, the Columbus Blue Jackets will be hiring long-time coach and former Columbus Chill head coach Don Granato. The news first reported Wednesday morning by Aaron Portzline of the Athletic.

Granato's last NHL job was with the Buffalo Sabres, where he spent 3+ years as head coach, which ended in 2024. Before that, he was an asst. in Buffalo and Chicago. 

Zach Werenski Trade Scenario: Tampa Bay LightningReports are out that Werenski will only accept a trade to the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Moser is signed to a 8 year, $54,000,000 contract with a cap hit of $6,750,000 per season, which runs through 2034. He has no trade protection next season, then a full NMC for two years, and then it's modified for the final five years of the deal. 

Moser tied his career high with 7 goals and totaled 29 points last season. 

Blue Jackets' Mason Marchment Linked To Pacific ClubThis Pacific Division club is continuing to be connected to Mason Marchment with the start of free agency just about here.

Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman named the Sharks as a potential favorite to land Marchment due to his late father, Bryan Marchment, playing there. 

Marchment signed with the Sharks on July 1st. 

Kirill Marchenko Trade Scenario #1: Montréal CanadiensWith Kirill Marchenko unlikely to extend in Columbus, let us take a crack at a trade scenario.

The Columbus Blue Jackets find themselves in a familiar situation: Yet another superstar who wants out. This one is a little odd since Marchenko hasn't even reached UFA yet. 

That being said, it's time to start looking at possible trade scenarios involving teams that could be interested in Kirill Marchenko. 

GM Don Waddell said he was caught off guard by the "news" that ESPN's Kevin Weekes dropped on the world at the NHL Draft. Reports are that the Montréal Canadiens are hot after Marchenko, and have even made an offer already. 

Columbus Blue Jackets To Sign Forward Ryan LombergBartlett Hockey, who represents Ryan Lomberg, has stated that the Columbus Blue Jackets are signing the 31-year-old forward.&nbsp; The deal is a 2-year contract with the CBJ carrying a $1.3 million AAV.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Bartlett Hockey, who represents Ryan Lomberg, has stated that the Columbus Blue Jackets are signing the 31-year-old forward. The deal is a 2-year contract with the CBJ carrying a $1.3 million AAV.  

Columbus Blue Jackets Sign Goalie Pheonix CopleyCopley was undrafted out of North Pole, Alaska.

The Columbus Blue Jackets have signed goalie Pheonix Copley to a one-year deal today. The deal is an $850K cap hit.

Per Don Waddell, “Pheonix is a proven NHL goaltender who brings a strong work ethic, valuable experience and dependable depth to our organization,” said Waddell. “He is a great fit for our club, and we’re pleased to welcome him to the Blue Jackets.”

Columbus Blue Jackets Sign Riley Bezeau To One Year DealBezeau is undrafted out of Mansfield, Massachusetts.

The Columbus Blue Jackets have signed forward Riley Bezeau to a one-year, two-way deal for the upcoming season. 

Don Waddell says via a press release, “Riley is a physical and hard-working forward that competes every shift,” said Waddell. “He has earned his opportunity, and we look forward to seeing his further growth in the Blue Jackets organization.”

Blue Jackets Lose Boone Jenner To Division RivalElliotte Friedman has reported that Columbus Blue Jackets Captain Boone Jenner has signed with the Washington Capitals. The deal is a four-year, $23 million contract.

Elliotte Friedman has reported that Columbus Blue Jackets Captain Boone Jenner has signed with the Washington Capitals. The deal is a four-year, $23 million contract.

Blue Jackets Sign Owen SillingerThe Columbus Blue Jackets have announced that theyve signed Owen Sillinger to a one-year, two-way NHL/AHL contract for the 2026-27 season.

The Columbus Blue Jackets have announced that theyve signed Owen Sillinger to a one-year, two-way NHL/AHL contract for the 2026-27 season.

Don Waddell said via a press release, “Owen is a smart, dependable, two-way forward who brings a strong work ethic every day,” said Waddell. “We are pleased to bring him back and look forward to him continuing to provide valuable depth and experience to our organization.”

2026 Columbus Blue Jackets Free Agency: Day 1 RecapThe Columbus Blue Jackets made a couple signings on Wednesday.

The Columbus Blue Jackets went into Day 1 of NHL Free Agency with a ton of uncertainty. But the black cloud hanging over the franchise revolved around Zach Werenski and Kirill Marchenko and whether they would be traded anytime soon.   

Zach Werenski Remains Committed To The Columbus Blue Jackets, Now They Need To Commit To HimWerenski has two years left on his current contract.

The saga surrounding Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski is over... For now.   

Columbus Blue Jackets Sign Erik GudbransonDon Waddell announced during his presser today that the CBJ are extending defenseman Erik Gudbranson, and will make an official announcement later today.&nbsp;

Don Waddell announced during his presser today that the CBJ are extending defenseman Erik Gudbranson, and will make an official announcement later today. 

REPORT: Blue Jackets Forward Tears Achilles TendonA report from an online <a href="https://swedenherald.com/article/swedish-nhl-center-isac-lundestrom-tears-achilles-again-faces-lengthy-rehab">Swedish site</a>,&nbsp;SwedenHerald.com, has disappointing news regarding a <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/columbus-blue-jackets">Columbus Blue Jackets</a> forward.&nbsp;

A report from an online Swedish site, SwedenHerald.com, has disappointing news regarding a Columbus Blue Jackets forward.   

Did The Philadelphia Flyers Just Make Adam Fantilli A Rich Man?The Philadelphia Flyers may have just set the market for the 2023 draft class that includes Adam Fantilli, Connor Bedard, and Leo Carlsson.&nbsp;

The Flyers announced today that they submitted an offer sheet to the Ducks Leo Carlsson. The offer sheet is valued at $18 million per season. If he's worth that much, how much is Connor Bedard worth? Or better yet, what does this mean for Adam Fantilli?

Matīss Kivlenieks Passed Away Five Years Ago Today, And Will Always Be RememberedMatīss Kivlenieks - August 26, 1996-July 4, 2021

The Columbus Blue Jackets have lost two players and a fan since 2000, simply tragic for a young franchise. But five years ago, the July 4th holiday in Columbus took a terrible turn when, on July 5th, the worst happened to a promising young goalie named Matiss Kivlenieks

4 Ex-Blue Jackets Are Among The NHL's Top Free Agents LeftThese former Blue Jackets are still free agents at this point in the off-season.

NHL free agency may have slowed down now that July 1 has passed, but there are still a good number of unrestricted free agents (UFAs) who have not signed with teams. A decent number of them are former Columbus Blue Jackets players, as Patrik Laine, Nick Blankenburg, James van Riemsdyk, and Danton Heinen have all not landed new deals yet. 

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Next Up For Columbus: Free Agency continues on.     

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While the Montreal Canadiens have been as silent as can be in both the free-agent and trade markets, at least when it comes to finalizing deals, GM Kent Hughes has been busy putting pen to paper with the team’s young players. There was no urgency in signing Ivan Demidov and Jakub Dobes on paper. They still had a year left on their deal, but taking care of those contracts a year in advance means the Canadiens no longer have to worry about them. Demidov wouldn’t have been eligible for an offer sheet next season, but Dobes could have been, and the situation the Anaheim Ducks find themselves in right now is a cautionary tale if ever there was one.

Their budding first-line center, Leo Carlsson, has signed an offer sheet with the Philadelphia Flyers for an $18 million cap hit. Cutter Gauthier is an RFA, and while he cannot sign an offer sheet, he is no doubt closely monitoring the Carlsson situation. Defenseman Pavel Mintyukov is an RFA as well, but like Carlsson, he could sign an offer sheet, and several teams are reportedly interested, including the Canadiens, according to David Pagnotta.

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That seems rather surprising considering that Mintyukov is a left-shot defenseman, something the Canadiens are definitely not lacking. Lane Hutson, Kaiden Guhle, Mike Matheson, Jayden Struble and Arber Xhekaj are all lefties, just like Adam Engstrom, who’s knocking on the Canadiens’ door and has seen enough AHL action.

However, it was clear in the playoffs that Martin St-Louis didn’t have much trust in Xhekaj and Struble. If the Habs can find a right-shot defenseman to play alongside Hutson, Guhle would go back to the left side, and neither of them would have to be used. But that’s proven to be a tough challenge.

Matvei Michkov and Pavel Mintyukov were going AT IT, and Mintyukov wanted to fight but Michkov wasn't interested 😳😅 pic.twitter.com/sbtPQJl4WY

— Gino Hard (@GinoHard_) March 19, 2026

If the Canadiens were to go for Mintyukov, it would certainly mean more movement. The 22-year-old was the 10th overall pick at the 2022 NHL draft, and in three NHL seasons, he has put up 69 points in 204 games while averaging 18:04 of ice time. There’s no denying that he has a lot of talent and potential, but is he what the Canadiens need? He does have a game that’s more rugged than Mike Matheson or Noah Dobson; he has landed 82 hits this past season after landing 81 and 85 in his first two seasons.

With the Ducks currently dealing with the fallout of the Carlsson offer sheet, it would be another for GM Pat Verbeek if another team were to offer sheet Mintyukov, which may make him amenable to a sign-and-trade deal for the blueliner, who’s yet another client of Gold Star agent Dan Milstein. Could Verbeek be willing to send the talented blueliner to Montreal in exchange for another left-hand defenseman and some futures? That remains to be seen, but acquiring Mintyukov without unloading another left-shot defenseman wouldn’t make sense for the Canadiens.

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About once every 15 years the Flyers go crazy with an offer sheet. In 2012, it was for Shea Weber to a $110 million contract for 14 years. Nashville would match that, but go on to trade Weber soon after.

https://t.co/qoKTgGfBBm

— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) July 4, 2026

The Flyers were back in the lab, concocting a scheme to make Leo Carlsson the highest paid player in the NHL at the age of 21, before he even has a 30-goal or 70-point season under his belt. And so it will be, with Carlsson making $18 million annually for the next five years, either with Philadelphia or Anaheim if they take the poison pill and match – as their previously promised would happen.

It’s an interesting move that has turned the hockey world on its head. The Flyers needed to do something bold and a franchise player is about the only piece missing for their young core. It takes a massive overpay to have a chance to poach another team’s restricted free agent, and no one can say they didn’t take that big swing. They’ll hope/expect their next four first round picks that they’d send to Anaheim if they don’t match would all be out of the lottery and down towards the end of the draft. If so, the high trade price isn’t that bad.

The Ducks have long been playing with fire with their young players. Getting contracts out of Anaheim has often been pulling teeth – Mason McTavish, Jamie Drysdale and Trevor Zegras have all been without contracts when training camps have started in recent years (it’d be inaccurate to call it a hold out, when they don’t have a contract in the first place). This team drags their feet to suppress salary as long as they can, which now ironically has come back to bite them big time and ruin their whole cap structure. The lesson to other teams is clear: don’t forget what the second word in RFA means (free), let your young star players hit restricted free agency at your own peril. Anaheim has learned that lesson today.

Anaheim could be in more trouble, the sharks (not the NHL team but the whole league) are reportedly circling now that there’s blood in the water.

An offer sheet for Mintyukov at $4,775,666 only costs a 2nd. https://t.co/vjjUSNo3Ln

— Jeff Marek (@JeffMarek) July 3, 2026

The Penguins traded their 2027 third round pick in the deal to acquire Hendrix Lapierre. That takes away a lot of this summer’s offer sheet ability (which goes to show the expectation/plan didn’t include much by way of trying offer sheets), but Pittsburgh

AFP and Evolving Hockey has Mintyukov’s projected salary at $3.4ish million AAV if it goes two years on a bridge deal. Another team could put further strain on Anaheim’s position if Mintyukov agreed to a short-term deal worth $4.775 million. The Ducks might have cap space to match – they’d still have $20m in room if they match Carlsson’s deal – but they do still have the non-offer sheet eligible Cutter Gauthier to sign and round out a blueline that lost talent.

On the whole, it wouldn’t make since for ANA to let Mintyukov go if it cost $4.775 million to match, regardless of what happens with Carlsson, but now they’re exposed to answering questions a team would rather not have to answer. If an NHL team really wanted Mintyukov, they would have to do what the Flyers did and go strong – offer him in the $7 million range for five years (requiring a first and third round pick transferred to Anaheim). Forcing the issue and raising the stakes to wildly high proportions is the way to go in order to accomplish the goal.

The Pens don’t have their third round pick, and perhaps no interest in giving up a future first, so they will be sitting those proceedings out. They’ll surely be interested observers in seeing what happens with Carlsson – and pulling hard for Anaheim to match and keep their young star player.

—

Another situation to watch: Shane Wright.

The fourth-overall pick in the 2022 NHL Draft, Wright just completed his second full season, with 12 goals and 27 points in 74 games. As the trade deadline approached, his name was out there, particularly in Seattle’s attempt to land Artemi Panarin. (Panarin was laser-focused on Los Angeles, with many teams — not only the Kraken — unable to bribe him elsewhere.)

Wright’s still available, and there’s motivation to make it work, although disagreement on the commitment.

“I can confirm that we have had positive conversations with GM Jason Botterill, and he has agreed to move Shane this summer to a team in need of a top young centre,” Wright’s agent, Kurt Overhardt, said Wednesday.

Botterill would not comment. Other executives who’ve spoken to Seattle said there’s obviously an agreement between team and agent to work together, but the Kraken made it extremely clear they expect a fair price and won’t be pressured into anything they don’t want to do. In other words, they are making no guarantees. 

Shane Wright checks every box for the type of players that the Penguins target these days for being a young player, with talent that still needs to truly blossom. Targeting or identifying the players is one thing, actually acquiring them is another. Seeking a “fair price” for a 22-year old former fourth overall pick that has scored 71 points in the NHL in the last two seasons – and still barely scratched the surface of what could be unlocked presents a tricky scenario.

Surely Seattle isn’t going to let that guy go for cheap, he has breakout potential and they’ve invested a lot in him. At the same time, finding a buyer to pay a premium for what’s been an uneven career naturally is going to be a tough ask.

It’s worth watching for the Penguins, they have a ton of forwards on the NHL roster now but could always use a 22-year old center with significant upside for the present and future. Whether or not they have the right assets to make a deal with the Kraken, plus the interest in parting with whatever that right deal is, could be anyone’s guess.

NHL free agency may have slowed down now that July 1 has passed, but there are still a good number of unrestricted free agents (UFAs) who have not signed with teams. A decent number of them are former Columbus Blue Jackets players, as Patrik Laine, Nick Blankenburg, James van Riemsdyk, and Danton Heinen have all not landed new deals yet. 

Laine spent four seasons with the Blue Jackets from 2020-21 to 2023-24 before being dealt to the Montreal Canadiens following his trade request. The skilled winger spent most of his time with the Canadiens injured and played in just five games last season for Montreal. 

Blankenburg spent his first three NHL seasons with the Blue Jackets from 2021-22 to 2023-24. He recorded new career highs with eight goals, 16 assists, and 24 points in 61 games last season split between the Nashville Predators and Colorado Avalanche. With this, the former Blue Jackets blueliner should eventually find a new home. 

van Riemsdyk spent the 2024-25 season with the Blue Jackets, where he recorded 16 goals and 36 points in 71 games. He followed that up this past season by posting 15 goals and 31 points in 72 games with the Detroit Red Wings. The potential for him to land a one-year deal or PTO with another NHL team is there. That is assuming that the 37-year-old does not retire. 

As for Heinen, he finished this past season with the Blue Jackets after they acquired him from the Pittsburgh Penguins as part of the Egor Chinakhov trade. In 33 games with Columbus following the move, the 10-year veteran posted five goals and five assists. 

The NHL has seen most of this year's top unrestricted free agents (UFAs) sign their new contracts. While this is the case, there are still some decent players who have yet to be signed. 

Interestingly, a former Buffalo Sabres blueliner is the best UFA defenseman still available for the taking: Logan Stanley. 

It is a bit surprising to see that Stanley has not found a new home at this point in the off-season. The 6-foot-7 defenseman just had the best season of his NHL career so far in 2025-26 and is right in his prime at 28 years old. Yet, at the time of this writing, he is still looking for his next contract. 

With Stanley now being the top UFA defenseman still on the market, it feels inevitable that he will find his new home soon. Teams will always value big defensemen who play an edge, and Stanley fits that description. 

Stanley showed last season that he can also produce some offense from the point, as he set new career highs with nine goals, 17 assists, and 26 points in 76 games split between the Winnipeg Jets and Sabres. He also recorded 110 hits and 128 penalty minutes.

It will be interesting to see where Stanley ends up, but he could be a good fit on multiple teams. 

Free agency in the NHL is off to a flying start. After the first four days, teams around the league have over 200 contracts and committed over one billion dollars. With this in mind, here is a look at where players who were part of the Vancouver Canucks organization in 2025-26 have signed during Free Agency 2026. 

Danila Klimovich:
1 Year, $850,000 AAV, Philadelphia Flyers

Former Canucks Forward Danila Klimovich Signs With The FlyersDanila Klimovich is headed to the Philadelphia Flyers.

Teddy Blueger:
2 Years, $2.5 million AAV, Toronto Maple Leafs

Former Canucks Forward Teddy Blueger Signs With The LeafsFormer Canucks forward Teddy Blueger is now a member of the Toronto Maple Leafs

Curtis Douglas:
2 Years, $1.25 million AAV, Seattle Kraken

Former Canucks Forward Curtis Douglas Signs Two-Year Deal With Seattle KrakenEx-Canucks forward Curtis Douglas is now a member of the Seattle Kraken.

Jiří Patera:
1 Year, $850,000 AAV, Boston Bruins

Chase Stillman:

1 Year, $850,000 AAV, Detroit Red Wings

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The St. Louis Blues are looking to add young but established players this off-season, highlighted by the additions of Connor McMichael and Mason MacTavish.

Now, a recent report indicates that the Blues are trying to do so again, this time with Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Alexander Nikishin. 

Nikishin is a 24-year-old left-handed defenseman who just completed his rookie season with the Hurricanes, winning the Stanley Cup. In the regular season, Nikishin posted 11 goals and 33 points in 81 games while averaging 18:11 of ice time.

In the playoffs, Nikishin’s role diminished, and he played in 17 of 19 games. However, he was on the receiving end of a heavy hit in the first round against the Ottawa Senators, recording just one assist and averaging just 14:50. 

Despite his role diminishing, Nikishin remains a very solid two-way defenseman who can play in any situation. In his time in the KHL and briefly on the Hurricanes’ second power play unit, Nikishin demonstrated the ability to quarterback a power play. He has a heavy shot, but also possesses the vision to distribute the puck from the blueline. 

On the defensive side, Nikishin boasts a 6-foot-3, 218-pound frame and uses his long reach to knock pucks off his opponents’ sticks. Physically, Nikishin doesn’t fear getting involved, as he threw 132 hits and blocked 94 shots. 

NHL Rumor Roundup: Latest Buzz On Jason Robertson, Dylan Larkin And Alexander NikishinContract talks continue between the Stars and Jason Robertson, the Red Wings set a high asking price for the Wild for Dylan Larkin, and the Rangers were interested in Alexander Nikishin.

In the regular season, Nikishin posted a Corsi For percentage of 58.39 percent, an expected goals percentage of 55.56 percent, and a high-danger for percentage of 53.8 percent at 5-on-5 according to naturalstattrick.com.

Adding Nikishin to the lineup would give the Blues four left-handed defensemen, as he would join Philip Broberg, Cam Fowler, and Theo Lindstein. 

The Hurricanes have placed a high price tag on Nikishin, and recently, David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period reported that teams interested in Nikishin will have to take Jesperi Kotkaniemi as well. 

Nikishin is currently a restricted free agent but is ineligible to receive an offer sheet. If the Blues are serious about a trade, the only path is through a trade. 

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It may be summertime, but the Montreal Canadiens’ top players have already started gearing up for next season. Ivan Demidov now has the keys to the Canadiens’ CN Sports Complex in Brossard and skates multiple times a day; he has taken Alexander Zharovsky under his wing and brings him along, too, until the youngster must head back to Russia for the KHL season, which starts much earlier than the NHL's. When Demidov’s on his way out, he stops to sign autographs for fans despite the unbearable heat outside.

Lane Hutson, who was in town for the Habs’ development camp, joined his road roommate on the ice in Brossard as both worked intensely with Adam Nicholas ahead of the prospects' ice time. After that, he stuck around to watch the organization’s future on the ice and to give the rookies a presentation.

Even the bests of the bests cam improve their skating working with Adam Nicholas #GoHabsGo@thehockeynews#THNpic.twitter.com/0icvflnphJ

— Karine Hains (@KarineHains) July 2, 2026

On The Canadiens’ Excellent Relationship With Dan Milstein and Gold Star Agency
Shots Fired In The NHL, Canadiens And Hughes Safe In Their Culture-Built Bunker
Is There A Market For Canadiens’ Montembeault?

Alex Carrier, Jake Evans, and Zach Bolduc all signed up to play in the three-on-three Living Sisu hockey league starting July 7th at Hockey Etcetera.

Players do not have to be in Montreal to work out, though. This week, pictures of Juraj Slafkovsky training in his native Slovakia alongside Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Erik Cernak surfaced on Instagram.

Juraj Slafkovsky training with Erik Cernak in Slovakia 🇸🇰 pic.twitter.com/ijqhtlxZCB

— /r/Habs (@HabsOnReddit) July 3, 2026

Meanwhile, newly re-signed goaltender Jakub Dobes spoke to the media live from his summer home in St. Louis after signing his new contract and said he would keep training there for three to four weeks before moving back to Montreal to continue preparing for the season.

Watching them all go this summer, it feels like the NHL season is right around the corner. It’s not that far away since the NHL has decided to start earlier this time around, having a condensed preseason and a longer 84-game regular season. The preseason games will be played from September 19 to 26. Last season, the Canadiens held their golf tournament on September 15 and their preseason games from September 22 to October 4th. We can therefore expect the season to start at the end of September or the start of October at the latest.

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Malte Gustafsson hasn’t allowed himself to think about it yet, to envision a future Islanders blue line with him and Matthew Schaefer — both first-round picks, both left-handed, both just 18 years old — in prominent roles.

“He’s very, very grounded and humble when it comes to his journey,” recalled Tom Jankovic, his head coach with the HV71 under-20 team and assistant coach with Sweden’s under-18 national team.

When Schaefer introduced Gustafsson in Buffalo as the Islanders’ selection at No. 13 in last month’s NHL draft, there was something fitting about the duo overlapping.

One obvious piece of their future welcomed another one who could possibly — and rapidly — play his way into it.

Gustafsson, who said it’d be amazing to skate with Schaefer, rose quickly through the ranks in Sweden as an indispensable defenseman and plans to play for HV71 again next season.

After that, though, the Islanders might have a decision to make with the 6-foot-4, 230-pounder who “came as advertised” to development camp last week, Islanders head coach Pete DeBoer said.

“I think he will be a top Swedish defenseman in the NHL someday,” Jankovic told The Post. “If it’s when he’s 24 or when he’s 28, I don’t know, but I think he will be there because he has all the tools. He has the right mindset.”

There’s no rush, either. Gustafsson planned to improve his offensive game and add muscle next season in the Swedish Hockey League.

Niklas Eriksson, his HV71 head coach who took over near the end of last season, said that he can use the larger rinks in Sweden to prepare for the smaller ones in North America.

It’ll force Gustafsson to simplify his game and to make first passes quickly, something on which he’ll get to work while likely logging 20-plus minutes a game and filling roles on both the power play and penalty kill.

Jankovic thought Gustafsson, a self-described “annoying” defenseman, would get picked earlier in the draft.

He can skate alongside both defensive and offensive defensemen, seamlessly complementing both and able to pick up either role when needed.

He constructed a two-way game where size, reach and an ability to carry the puck became his defining traits, and his movement near the blue line and passing ability could make him an option to quarterback a power-play unit in the NHL — perhaps the Islanders’ second one behind Schaefer, Jankovic said.

“He has so many tools when it comes to what he can do,” Jankovic said, “so I think that’s his biggest strength, and as a coach, you want that on the ice.”

Even before the draft, Gustafsson appeared in plenty of games with stakes attached.

He collected 12 points in 19 games with the under-20 team last season and added another three points in 27 regular-season games in the SHL.

He helped Sweden earn a gold medal at the U18 World Championship, skating over 28 minutes against Canada in the quarterfinals, over 29 against Czechia in the semifinals and another 26:39 against Slovakia in the gold-medal game.

Gustafsson helped HV71’s men’s team avoid relegation in the SHL, too, by contributing to their sweep in a best-of-seven series between the 13th- and 14th-place teams — with massive financial ramifications at stake if HV71 lost.

He quarterbacked the second power-play unit and impressed general manager Johan Hult with how he handled the pressure of those games.

“How I use my size and length to shut down players, play physical, really being annoying on the ice, showing that I’m there,” Gustafsson told The Post after the Islanders’ development camp scrimmage last week, “I think that’s the biggest part of my game.”

And if Gustafsson adds strength in his legs to become more explosive, Hult said, he’ll “be even more annoying, that’s for sure.”

Hult found it difficult to describe a ceiling for him because, in his eyes, “the ceiling is not set.”

Gustafsson could represent Sweden in the Olympics.

He could live up to Jankovic’s prediction as one of the best Swedish defensemen in the NHL.

He could make the five other teams who took other defensemen ahead of the Islanders in the first round look foolish.

That would all unfold years in the future.

That takes more than an initial introduction at development camp to actually achieve.

This — the draft, the HV71 games, the final SHL season before taking the leap to what’s next — has been just the start for Gustafsson.

“I think the sky’s the limit for this kid,” Jankovic said.