Author: NHL Hockey News, Scores, Standings, Rumors, Fantasy Games

The start of NHL free agency is just about here. With this, we will soon see several signings around the NHL as teams look to boost their rosters.

Now, the Pittsburgh Penguins are being viewed as a prime potential fit for one of the NHL's top pending UFAs. 

In a recent article for Daily Faceoff, Matt Larkin named the Penguins as the top potential landing spot for Columbus Blue Jackets UFA forward Mason Marchment.

"Penguins GM Kyle Dubas has openly stated his biggest regret as an NHL GM was trading away Marchment from the Toronto Maple Leafs. Dubas could right that wrong by bringing Marchment to Pittsburgh," Larkin wrote.

It would make a lot of sense for the Penguins to target Marchment if he hits the free agent market on July 1. He could be a great replacement for fellow pending UFA forward Anthony Mantha if he does not re-sign with Pittsburgh. 

If the Penguins signed Marchment, he could slot well in their top six and would give them another option to work with on their power play. In 68 games during this past season split between the Seattle Kraken and Blue Jackets, he posted 19 goals, 26 assists, 45 points, and 84 hits. Adding this kind of offensive production and grit could be big for the Penguins. 

Source: Flyers re-sign veteran depth winger to 1-year deal originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

VOORHEES, N.J. — The Flyers are bringing back Carl Grundstrom on a one-year, $1 million contract, a source confirmed Tuesday.

TSN’s Darren Dreger first reported the deal.

Grundstrom was set to become an unrestricted free agent Wednesday. The 28-year-old forward gave the Flyers a solid lift in a bottom-six role after starting last season with AHL affiliate Lehigh Valley. He was somewhat of an afterthought when he came to the Flyers in the October trade that sent Ryan Ellis’ contract to the Sharks.

But Grundstrom ended up playing 47 games for the Flyers. He recorded nine goals, four assists and a plus-7 rating in 11:51 minutes per game. He opened eyes with a heater in December, when he scored seven goals over an 11-game stretch.

The Flyers liked his speed and pace on the fourth line. He even played a little bit of center when needed. He added an assist in three playoff games.

With the Flyers’ trade of Garnet Hathaway last week, some opportunity opened for Grundstrom to return. He’ll give the Flyers a veteran depth option come training camp and some good competition for their young wingers.

Report: Flyers to re-sign veteran depth winger on 1-year deal originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

VOORHEES, N.J. — The Flyers are bringing back Carl Grundstrom on a one-year, $1 million contract, according to a report Tuesday by TSN’s Darren Dreger.

Grundstrom was set to become an unrestricted free agent Wednesday. The 28-year-old forward gave the Flyers a solid lift in a bottom-six role after starting last season with AHL affiliate Lehigh Valley. He was somewhat of an afterthought when he came to the Flyers in the October trade that sent Ryan Ellis’ contract to the Sharks.

But Grundstrom ended up playing 47 games for the Flyers. He recorded nine goals, four assists and a plus-7 rating in 11:51 minutes per game. He opened eyes with a heater in December, when he scored seven goals over an 11-game stretch.

The Flyers liked his speed and pace on the fourth line. He even played a little bit of center when needed. He added an assist in three playoff games.

With the Flyers’ trade of Garnet Hathaway last week, some opportunity opened for Grundstrom to return. He’ll give the Flyers a veteran depth option come training camp and some good competition for their young wingers.

At this point, the Philadelphia Flyers aren't expected to do a whole lot with the weak NHL free agent market when it opens on Wednesday, though they could always try to swoop back in for a former top KHL free agent they coveted this time last year.

On Monday, ahead of the 5 p.m. deadline, the New York Islanders did not tender a qualifying offer to pending restricted free agent Maxim Shabanov, making him an unrestricted free agent who can sign with any of the other 31 NHL teams, starting on Wednesday, July 1.

Now, while the Islanders could always sign the former KHL starlet to a more team-friendly deal worth less than what is qualifying offer would have been, Shabanov has the opportunity to re-evaluate his playing career in the NHL if he chooses.

Of course, the Flyers were one of the teams heavily in pursuit of Shabanov, 25, until the very end, when he chose Patrick Roy and the Islanders as his NHL destination.

The formerly undrafted Russian wasn't terribly unproductive for a cheap free agent signing when he did play; 18 points in 44 games is not far off from a 40-point pace and 0.5 points per game.

But, at 5-foot-9 and with limited experience on North American ice, Shabanov was not able to earn the trust of head coaches Roy and Pete DeBoer in time to establish a foothold on a spot in the lineup that would best take advantage of his skillset.

Now, the Flyers don't exactly need another small winger, but their situation as it relates to the NHL roster is more or less unchanged from last year, when they were in pursuit of him.

Rodrigo Abols, Nick Deslauriers, and Garnet Hathaway have seen their roster spots taken by rookies Denver Barkey, Alex Bump, and Porter Martone, so the straight swap of three and three could still leave the Flyers room for Shabanov if their plan for him, if they still have one, remains the same.

Again, on paper, it's hard to imagine a fit without mental gymnastics, but the Flyers have a propensity for bringing in players they like when the time and opportunity are right.

Now that Shabanov is temporarily unshackled from the Islanders, now could be that time.

When the New Jersey Devils were first awarded the 12th overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft, some thought they might trade it for players who can help them right now. Instead, they used that pick and made seven total over the seven rounds. 

With that pick, number 12, New Jersey selected Alexander Command. This is a player who has a strong emphasis on playing both sides of the puck well. He won’t cheat for offense at the expense of being sound defensively, but he also has the abilities needed to score. 

Command has drawn comparisons to other two-way centers across the NHL, but his offensive ceiling may not be as high as some of the premier ones. Still, behind Jack Hughes and Nico Hischier, he'd be perfect as the third-line center of the future. 

In the second round, New Jersey made a trade with the Chicago Blackhawks. They acquired pick 119 to move back from 35 to 37, which is great asset management. The player they liked was going to be there at 37, so they landed an extra lottery ticket to move back. 

At 37, the Devils selected Matias Vanhanen. After a big run to the Memorial Cup Final with the Everett Silvertips, Vanhanen is ready to pursue a top-six role in the NHL. He has the offensive upside to have those kinds of expectations. 

A few selections later, with pick 44, New Jersey took Nikita Shcherbakov. This young defenseman is big and fast, always looking to make a good defensive play. He has a low ceiling offensively, but he was drafted to be a solid defensive prospect. 

The Devils didn't make a pick in the 3rd round, but they landed that fourth-round pick back in the aforementioned trade with the Chicago Blackhawks. There, they selected Lavr Gashilov.

Gashilov is scouted to be a top-level playmaker coming out of Russia. He is the first player in the history of the MHL to lead the league in assists during his draft year. If he can work through any issue in the rest of his game, that playmaking ability will come in handy once he goes pro. 

In the latter three rounds of the draft, where everyone taken has a low probability of making it to the NHL, the Devils took some chances on players that fit their model of analytics. 

They traded back with the Colorado Avalanche from 140 in the fifth round to 149, acquiring 222 in the process. With pick 149, they participated in the run of goalies, selecting Daniil Rusakovich. 

It's never a bad idea to take one goalie that you like every year. This position is always unknown early and won't be known until years of development take place. 

In the 6th round, 172nd overall, New Jersey took a chance on a bottom-six forward named Luke Wilfrey. He doesn't have high-end skills, but he has tools that may allow him to be a typical third or fourth-line player in the NHL. 

Last but not least, the Devils selected Quinn McKenzie with one of the last picks in the entire draft. He has more offensive upside than Wilfrey, but there is a lot of room to grow in every aspect of his game.

Penn State will be McKenzie's development path next season, which will give him a chance to support some very good players as they pursue a National Championship. 

Draft Grade: B-

The Devils get a B- for a few reasons. It is a good grade because they clearly stuck with Sunny Mehta's model, which has worked out well for teams he's worked for in the past. 

There were also instances in which he took players with lower floors when the Devils were in a position to take some chances. That lowers the initial grade a bit. 

This was also a weak draft, and they made seven picks. Part of that was asset management (trading back) in the later rounds, but this team would have benefited from adding more NHL talent during the draft rather than using the picks. 

There is going to be extra emphasis on Alexander Command, too. He was the first round pick and has the highest probability of contributing to the NHL roster someday. His playstyle fits what the New Jersey Devils are trying to do in all three zones, and it was a solid selection for Mehta's first as the Devils' GM.  

All in all, it was a good draft, but there were a few picks that left you wanting more out of the value. If the NHL roster stays healthy and performs to their potential in 2026-27, the grade for this draft can bump up because then it's about developing them properly instead of worrying about the present. 

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On the day qualifying offers were due for Restricted Free Agents, the Colorado Avalanche bypassed the process by inking Taylor Makar to a two-year contract extension beginning the 2026-27 season with an $875k cap hit at the NHL level.

This is a nice deal for the younger Makar after only one year of pro hockey under his belt, with 24 points in 52 games and 12 NHL call-up games. No doubt holding arbitration rights gave the left wing some important leverage. The $300k guaranteed in year one of the deal is a significant raise on the $80k paid in the minors on his Entry Level Contract. The most significant portion of the extension is the bump up to $900k on a one-way deal for the 2027-28 season, a sizable investment by the Avalanche. Once this deal expires, Makar will be 27 years old and an Unrestricted Free Agent.

In other Restricted Free Agent news, reports are that forward Daniil Gushchin did not receive a qualifying offer after his one-year stint with the organization. It’s safe to assume that after the Avalanche traded for another winger in Fabian Lysell, he was extended a qualifying offer. With no arbitration rights afforded to Lysell, there isn’t a firm deadline to get him under contract, but it likely won’t be a difficult negotiation.

The NHL’s annual free agency period begins tomorrow, the Penguins enter the official start of the 2026-27 league year with a ton of cap space. They’re not expected to be overly-aggressive by targeting players who will command significant salaries and term on those contracts, per their very own general manager making the decisions.

However, they can still use the signing period to their benefit. Pittsburgh signed some under the radar players last summer like Parker Wotherspoon and Justin Brazeau who were instrumental to their success. They found the player who would lead them in goal scoring during 2025-26 in Anthony Mantha for just a $2.5 million guaranteed salary. Last year proved the possibility to find quality adds at decent costs to the team, just because it’s not one of the flashier or bigger signings of the summer doesn’t mean it can’t serve up some importance.

With that in mind, here are some potential targets for the Pens. For this list, we will not consider players in-line for expected contracts of three years or more, since Pittsburgh hasn’t signed an outside free agent for 3+ years since the summer of 2023. Most of those decisions (including the Ryan Graves contract) did not work out and the team doesn’t look like they’re going to try that again at this point. That means the best of the free agent class, like Mason Marchment, Jacob Trouba, Mario Ferraro, Ryan Shea, heck even Andrew Peeke and Logan Stanley are pushed off to the side as options that would require more of a contractual commitment than it seems the Pens will be looking to make.

Pavol Regenda

AFP Contract Projection: $1.934 million AAV for two years

The Penguins don’t really need any more forwards, but that’s never stopped them from loading up on depth in the past in similar situations. Regenda has a lot of intriguing elements going for him: he’s young as far as free agents go (26), he’s a big winger (6’3″, 215 pounds), he’s showed a little bit of scoring touch at the NHL level (nine goals, one assist in 24 games last year with San Jose), he’s physical (59 hits last year for a 11.0 hits/60 rate). He’s played in the Olympics with Slovakia. A lot within his profile to like, the Pens have the space and opportunity to offer that maybe others can’t. The team wouldn’t turn down a Mantha-esque type of replacement, not that Regenda would or should be expected to score 30+ goals and 60+ points next year.

Trevor van Riemsdyk

AFP Projection: $2.36 million AAV for two years

van Riemsdyk turns 35 next month, not sure how much appetite the Penguins would have with a two-year contract for him but he’s got some size (6’3″, 210 pounds) and 751 games of experience that would add some depth to shore up the right side of their defense with skating ability and a history of strong defensive impacts. The Penguins don’t currently have that many defenseman in a ‘5/6’ type of role that could shade more into being used as a ‘5’, van Riemsdyk could be a nice short-term patch and insurance if 20-year old Harrison Brunicke needs more AHL developmental time.

Carson Soucy

AFP Projection: $2.15 million AAV for two years

A player like Soucy, turning 32 soon, works as a potential good fit for the Pens as a stay-at-home left shot defender who might help the team out similar to the way Brett Kulak briefly did last season. The issue might be that Soucy isn’t quite the caliber of a matchup defender, using him with someone like Kris Letang could be a bigger ask than what Soucy can deliver at this point. Still, Soucy could add size (6’4″, 211 pounds) and some PK and provide the type of legitimate NHL caliber depth that has been lacking for the Pens on the blueline these days, though his puck moving deficiencies might not align with team preferences for the spot they’re looking to fill.

Jake Bean

AFP Projection: $1.36 million AAV for one year

Bean, 28, is a former first round pick whose career has been riddled with injuries. His 2025-26 season ended with an undisclosed injury leading to surgery in December that limited him to 16 games. In the six seasons that he’s been a full-time NHL player he’s appeared in: 42, 67, 12, 72, 64 and 16 games in each year. Availability has been a major concern, but it’s also a player whose trajectory with defensive impact has been trending up when he’s been able to play.

Bean is a smart puck mover and would represent a risk but could fill in nicely on a third pair for a team like the Penguins. The risk of being on IR for a significant stretch of the season is real, but also reflected in a very manageable contract.

Mike Reilly

AFP Projection: $1.2 million AAV for one year

Talked a lot about Reilly recently, his profile does fit for the types of players that the Pens have brought in recently. However, he’s also turning 33 next month and has failed over the past few years to establish himself firmly in a niche of keeping a consistent lineup spot with several different teams. The ceiling might be what it is for him at this point as more of a swing player and depth rather than a regular third pair option the team would truly be looking for.

Jordan Harris

AFP Projection: $866k AAV for one year

If the Pens are searching for the next Wotherspoon, Jordan Harris might fit the profile in this free agent cycle. The soon-to-be 26 year old had a lost season in 2025-26 after a fractured ankle in October limited him to just eight NHL games. Harris is a player, who earlier in his career with Montreal in the 2022-24 timeframe looked intriguing.

Harris has decent puck moving ability but has a falling stock – he hasn’t been given a qualifying offer the last two years. He would probably be in a position to need to compete for a spot and prove it, rather than being penciled into a huge role like Wotherspoon was, but this is another case where the lack of quality options at the bottom of the depth chart could find an answer with enough pieces thrown in the mix to see what happens. Sign Harris and if worst comes to worst that he doesn’t outshine someone like Ilya Solovyov, he can be waived. That course wouldn’t solve the need that comes along with it, making Harris more of a complimentary shot than a sole target.

Declan Carlile

AFP Projection: $850k AAV for one year

Saving perhaps the best for last, Carlile gives off some young Ryan Shea vibes with a similar size (6’3, 190) and being a late-bloomer who spent a handful of years toiling in the AHL before getting a chance with Tampa last year in a depth role (42 games and two more in the playoffs) and making a decent accounting on the PK. Carlile might be redundant for Pittsburgh, since they have a similar player in Ilya Solovyov as a depth option, but this could be a projection along the Shea/Wotherspoon area. At only 26 years old, Carlile’s future might be worth taking a low-risk flyer on at a position of need if the Pens think he potentially could stick on their third pair next season if given the opportunity to grow, just as a player like Shea did in recent years. Shea has graduated into big money now, targeting Carlile would reset the cycle back to a younger and less expensive option.

–

As one can tell, we spent the majority of time on defensemen since that appears to be the biggest need for a team that looks likely to lose Shea and lacks a natural internal replacement for the important role he filled last season as one of the team’s steadier players. Going shopping in the bargain bin comes with inherent acceptance of dealing with flaws and limitations, but there is enough quantity to pick through that a team like Pittsburgh should be able to find a decent enough option or two to help round out their team in an affordable and relatively low cost manner.

Happy Tuesday, Predators fans.

If you spent the week settling into summer mode and getting out on the golf course, or were on vacation, you missed a busy stretch of Nashville Predators news. From early trade rumours to high-profile roster shakeups, the front office is wasting no time reshaping the lineup for the coming season.

Grab a coffee, settle in, and catch up on everything you may have missed.

Nashville Predators Goalie Pekka Rinne Elected To Hockey Hall of Fame The 18-season veteran becomes the first lifelong Predator to join hockey’s legends, cementing a legacy defined by a Vezina Trophy and Nashville's historic 2017 Stanley Cup run.

Predators 2026 NHL Draft Targets: Malte GustafssonStanding 6-foot-4 with a game mirrored after Mattias Ekholm, this towering Swedish blueliner offers the Nashville Predators a defensive anchor defined by elite reach and deceptive mobility.

THN Archive: The Blue Paint Is Going GreyThe vast majority of starting goalies are into their 30s, and there isn’t a deep wave of replacements in the pipeline. What’s the NHL crease going to look like in five years?

THN Archive: No Knocks On WoodDuring another difficult season in Nashville, Matthew Wood has been a bright spot. Blessed with a sense of wisdom well beyond his years and a plethora of veteran mates to learn from, Wood looks poised to be a staple for the Predators for the long haul.

Nashville Predators Trade Fedor Svechkov, Zach L’Heureux to Colorado AvalancheNashville secures veteran depth by landing elite face-off specialist Jack Drury and prospect Chase Bradley in a bold swap sending two former first-round picks to the Avalanche.

MacFarland Makes Second Straight Deal With Avalanche, Here's Another He Can MakeAs Colorado’s cap crunch intensifies, Nashville GM Chris MacFarland is capitalizing on his former club's desperation. Targeting Valeri Nichushkin could provide the Predators a high-impact, top-line offensive spark.

THN Archive: Looking The PartMolendyk is already dressed like an NHLer. And his game isn’t too far away from being at that level, either

Predators' 2026 Preseason Schedule Released Nashville faces a condensed four-game slate against the Lightning and Hurricanes as the NHL shifts its calendar, marking a pivotal first step toward the upcoming 84-game season.

THN Archive: 2005 Draft Revisionist HistoryImagine Carey Price in Carolina and Anze Kopitar anchoring Anaheim. We wield a crystal ball to reorder the legendary 2005 class, transforming franchise failures into hypothetical dynasties.

Nashville Predators' 2026 Draft GuideArmed with 11 total picks and a new GM, Nashville faces a pivotal crossroads. Discover the full draft order as the Predators decide between a retool or rebuild.

Nashville Predators Hoping 'To Grab A Good One' With 10th Overall Pick In NHL DraftArmed with a rare top-ten selection, new general manager Chris MacFarland targets elite depth down the middle to bolster a roster hungry for a franchise-altering defensive spark.

Nashville Predators Select forward Wyatt Cullen With 10th Overall Pick In NHL DraftThe Smashville legacy continues as playmaking forward Wyatt Cullen joins the ranks, bringing a hard-nosed offensive style and deep NHL roots to the Predators’ promising young core.

Nashville Predators Select Defensemen Tommy Bleyl After Acquiring Pick 31 From HurricanesNashville bolstered their thin prospect pool by trading back into the first round, securing a high-scoring, mobile playmaker poised to become the future anchor of their blue line.

THN Archive: Roman EmpireThe latest in a long line of superb Predators defensemen, Rosi arrived in Nashville a decade ago as a virtual unknown from Switzerland. But he’s gone country, and now the team’s unassuming all-star captain rules the ice in Tennessee

Predators Select Dmitri Borichev In The Third-Round Of The 2026 NHL DraftNashville bolsters its goaltending pipeline by snagging Europe’s top-ranked netminder, a poised 6-foot-3 standout defined by technical control, elite puck-tracking, and a dominant glove hand for the future.

Predators Acquire Adam Edstrom From The New York RangersNashville adds massive size to its bottom six, landing the 6-foot-7 forward in a low-risk draft day trade to bolster depth and physical presence for the future.

Here Is Every Pick, Trade The Nashville Predators Made On Day 2 Of The NHL DraftNashville bolstered its future by drafting top-ranked international talent and adding massive size to the roster through a strategic trade for forward Adam Edstrom in Buffalo.

THN Archive: Predators Take Shape General Manager David Poile navigates the 1998 expansion draft, securing David Legwand and prioritizing speed to build a foundation for Nashville’s future from the ground up.

Nashville Predators Release 2026 Development Camp RosterTop prospects and hungry invitees descend on Smashville this week for high-stakes practices, culminating in the Future Stars Game as the next generation of talent fights for notice.

Nashville Predators Sign Jack Drury To 5-year, $22.5 Million ContractGeneral manager Chris MacFarland secures a defensive anchor for his new roster, betting big on the former Avalanche center’s elite shutdown capabilities and veteran locker room presence.

Predators Complete Trade With Canucks Nashville gambles on 25-year-old winger Nils Höglander, acquiring the relentless forechecker for a distant draft pick to revitalize his scoring touch and bolster their middle-six depth.

Supporters And Doubters Have Propelled Predators Prospect Tommy Bleyl Early Throughout CareerAfter silencing critics of his undersized frame, the award-winning defenseman is showcasing elite skating and an explosive physical evolution as he prepares for life at Michigan State.

THN Archive: Trading PlacesShock for Jones and relief for Johansen turned into good times for both as two of the NHL’s best young players crossed paths at the airport after being dealt

Things are only going to get busier in Smashville as free agency officially opens this week. Stay tuned as we continue to track every roster move, contract signing, and trade rumour surrounding the Predators throughout the rest of the summer.

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Monday evening brought the deadline for all 32 NHL clubs to tender qualifying offers to their restricted free agents.

The New York Islanders did not qualify either Marc Gatcomb or Max Shabanov, setting both players up to hit unrestricted free agency on July 1.

The Islanders qualified three Bridgeport players in Alex Jefferies, Joey Larson, and Henrik Tikkanen.

Outside of New York, plenty of intriguing options were not retained by their previous clubs, giving the Islanders a new set of potential depth targets.

Option #1: Bobby Brink

Brink, 24, was not qualified by the Minnesota Wild, who aquired him from the Philadelphia Flyers ahead of the 2026 NHL Trade Deadline in exchange for defenseman David Jiricek. 

In 55 games with Philadelphia, Brink recorded 26 points (13 goals, 13 assists) but recorded only four points (two goals, two assists) in 13 games for his hometown Wild. 

With the Wild, he played mostly alongside Vladimir Tarasenko and Danila Yurov. 

Bring is a skilled, playmaking winger whose hockey IQ helps him overcome his 5'8, 169 lb frame. 

In 2024-25, Brink recorded 12 goals with a career-high 29 assists for a career-high 41 points, playing mostly alongside Owen Tippett and Morgan Frost. 

Option #2:  Paul Cotter

Cotter, 26, could make a lot of sense for the Islanders as a new depth center. With Casey Cizikas getting older, and Kyle MacLean making a stronger impact on the wing, the Islanders could use a depth center.

This past season, as the New Jersey Devils struggled mightily, so did Cotter. In 79 games, Cotter posted just nine goals and 15 points, a career low in points.

In the previous season, Cotter netted 16 goals and 22 points, playing a speedy, physical game with the ability to kill penalties.

Cotter made his NHL debut under current Islanders' Head Coach Peter DeBoer during the 2021-22 season, when both were a part of the Vegas Golden Knights.

Options #3: Phillip Kurashev

Kurashev, 26, has not been qualified by his NHL team for a second straight year.

Despite decent offensive output (7-13-20 in 43 games), the San Jose Sharks opted to let Kurashev walk, with a special note to the fact that the Sharks have seemingly unlimited young forwards breaking through.

Following the 2024-25 season, the Chicago Blackhawks did not tender Kurashev a qualifying offer.

Kurashev peaked in the 2023-24 season, when he posted 18 goals and 54 points in 75 games, but has not scored more than 7 goals in the previous two seasons, nor has he played more than 51 games.

In 2023-24, Kurashev played with Bedard, which may have contributed to his offensive explosion. He hasn't topped 25 points in any other season.

Defensively, Kurashev has improved recently, but that is not the shiniest part of his game.

He could be worth a flier in case of injuries for the Islanders.

Option #4: Matias Maccelli

Macelli, 25, had a bumpy season with the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2025-26. After arriving from the Utah Mammoth, expectations were that Maccelli could fit well in their middle six.

Instead, he spent time as a healthy scratch, missing 11 games total.

In those other 71 games, he had solid enough production, posting 14 goals and 39 points, all while receiving what amounted to third-line minutes and limited special teams opportunities.

Maccelli's also got some good analytics under the hood, with strong defensive metrics to boot.

Depending on price tag, he could be a worthwhile option for the Islanders to consider.

After trading back in the first round of the 2026 NHL Draft, the Philadelphia Flyers got their guy in 6-foot-7 defenseman Maksim Sokolovskii, and he's already turning heads after just one day with the team.

Sokolovskii, 17, took the ice in a Flyers jersey for the start of development camp Monday, skating in Group 3 with the other defense prospects and camp invitee defensemen.

The tall, heavy blue liner literally stands out due to his size, but his stunning mobility was another trait of his that jumps off the page with every practice rep, too.

"He's quite big, especially beside me. It doesn't make me feel too good about myself," the 5-foot-8 Denver Barkey said of Sokolovskii after his on-ice session. "I only watched two games [during the season], but obviously he's a big boy, throws his body around. I think he's got a lot of raw skill. When I watch, it seems like he moves really well, moves the puck well for being six-eight (sic) at that age. It's pretty impressive, and I think he's got a really high ceiling."

Barkey, 21, is now a "veteran" of 53 NHL games, including the playoffs, but he went back to his London Knights to see his old junior team over the Olympic break.

Obviously, it was hard to miss Sokolovskii on the ice playing for the Knights.

Jack Nesbitt, who played in the OHL for the Windsor Spitfires against Sokolovskii and the Knights this season, also believes Sokolovskii to be a fearsome defender, even while scoring a point in each of his five games against the Knights last year and being 6-foot-5 himself.

"Oh, he's pretty big. What's he, around 240 [pounds]? Yeah, he definitely looks like that. He's also a nice guy, really nice, talked to him quite a bit. We're gonna get to know each other even more," said Nesbitt. "Definitely a big boy, and he can hit alright. Try to stay away from him a little bit."

Flyers Explain Jett Luchanko's Early Absence from Development CampTop Philadelphia Flyers center prospect Jett Luchanko is nursing another lower-body injury.

Flyers director of player development Riley Armstrong didn't get to see Sokolovskii much throughout the season leading up to the draft, but was quick to name the first-round pick one of his Day 1 standouts from development camp.

The size sticks out for everyone, but the skating quickly dismisses any preconceptions about that size.

"I felt when we were doing the power skating out here, there were some parts that got exposed, but then we went over there and he was doing the puck retrievals and his deception with his feet and moving, I was actually surprised of how fluid he was with that at his size," Armstrong said of Sokolovskii.

"I think he has a lot of upside to him. And when you're that tall, you got a lot of growth to grow into that body at such a young age."

With Sokolovskii, the main critique of his game, both in the short- and long-term, is his offensive potential, passing, and puck movement.

The passing needs further refinement, and the hulking Kazakh scored only two goals in 44 games with the Knights despite having a fairly powerful shot that is buoyed by his size and strength.

Armstrong believes those elements will start to come along in short order.

"I think once he gets more experience, I would probably guess in London next year, once he has the ability to start joining the rush more, and now they know that he can defend, and he's good at it. You see some of the bone-crushing hits, and a couple of fights he was in," Armstrong continued.

"I think he's gonna have more space next year. I think guys are gonna probably be a little bit more scared of him going into the season. I think that's going to open up the offensive side of his game as well. And, I'd like to see him put a couple in the back of the net as well, add to his toolbox."

Sokolovskii is expected to return to the Knights in the OHL for the 2026-27 season before making the jump to the collegiate ranks with the University of Maine in 2027-28.

The Penguins started out the franchise’s annual prospect development camp by splitting up the Ruck twins.

First-round pick Liam Ruck and second-round pick Markus Ruck were separated onto different squads when the three-team camp kicked off Monday in Cranberry.

Penguins director of player development Tom Kostopoulos said Monday that was a deliberate decision to give the WHL linemates a chance to skate with new teammates.

“It’s very important for us to play apart. I think it’s good for us,” Markus Ruck said Monday. “I think we play better together, when we’re working off one another, but it’s for sure important to play off one another, too.”

The twins come to the Penguins after ranking first and second in WHL scoring last season, during which Markus (21 goals, 87 assists) and Liam (45 goals, 59 assists) both played for Medicine Hat.

As Liam summed up the difference between the two players when speaking to reporters Monday: “He’s a bit more of a passer, I’m a bit more of a shooter.”

About what the Penguins want to see from the twins in their next WHL campaign, Kostopoulos said he is seeking more strength from Liam and more speed from Markus.

“I think Liam can get up and down the ice a little bit quicker. He’s got some speed. He’s got some separation speed,” Kostopoulos said Monday. “Just building the strength— I think he’s got a tremendous shot, and he’s able to find space in the o-zone, and finish plays, and score goals. So building the strength, I think, as the strength and power come, his skating will get even better.

“Markus, on the other hand, from what I’ve seen, is an incredible playmaker, really intelligent out there. He probably needs a little more work in the skating department, and as he builds the strength, and works on the technique of the skating, I think he’s going to really come along. Just to add that separation speed, and be able to get to areas and win a few more races.”

Liam, who is listed at 6-foot-0 and 177 pounds, said Monday the Penguins had been talking with him about a food plan even before the draft in an effort to help him add weight while navigating another 68-game WHL season.

“I want to play a lot. I don’t want to rush it into college and play a lesser role or anything like that,” Liam said about returning to the WHL. “So, go back and play a big role, and I think I can put weight on with working with the nutritionists from Pittsburgh and people that can help me out. I think it won’t be easy, with a 70-game schedule, but I’ll find a way to do it.”

The Penguins also got looks at other new draft prospects including second-rounder Tomas Galvas and third-rounder Pierce Mbuyi.

Mbuyi, a 2027-28 Penn State commit, is set to return to the OHL’s Owen Sound Attack next season, while Galvas is expected to play another season in Czechia.

“I’m looking to even out my game a lot more… I think another year in the O will help me develop my game and get me ready for Penn State,” Mbuyi told reporters.

A few notable prospects are missing from camp this week, including recent fifth-round pick goaltender Matvei Nikonovich and defensive prospect Harrison Brunicke.

Brunicke’s ability to step up onto the Penguins’ blue line in the near future could be even more crucial now that the team has traded Jack St. Ivany to the Winnipeg Jets.

Kostopoulos said Monday the Penguins are “very happy” with Brunicke’s development last season, during which he spent time in the WHL and AHL in addition to making his NHL debut.

“He took everything that was told to him, and really took it to heart, and worked on it,” Kostopoulos said about Brunicke. “He’s defending better. I think, if you guys walked the playoffs in Wilkes-Barre, his competitiveness was right up there with some of the veteran players in the playoffs. He was a go-to guy for the team there at a really young age.

“There are still things he can work on, but I think his willingness, competitiveness, engagement level were great.”

Development camp will continue Tuesday, starting with a 9 a.m. goaltending session. The camp wraps up Friday when a tournament between the three prospect teams kicks off at noon in Cranberry.

It’s the end of June, July beckons. Do you know where your prospects are? How about your free agents?

Islanders News

• The Islanders wasted no time after the draft getting the kids to Long Island. Development camp began Monday morning with greetings and interviews and breaking into Blue and White. [Isles]
• Adam Boqvist, Marc Gatcomb and Max Shabanov did not receive qualifying offers. [Post]
• Islanders Anxiety: Mike and Dan review the final week, plus some bonus Masterleaf Theatre. [LHH]
• Three Islanders free agency needs and some suggestions for filling them. [Newsday]
• What would a successful free agency look like, anyway? (There’s a lot of crap out there.) [Newsday]
• Speaking of…here’s a ranking of teams’ cap situations. “The Islanders should be in a strong position to build around Matthew Schaefer, Ilya Sorokin, Bo Horvat and Mathew Barzal, but the team’s cap sheet is handcuffed by several overpaid veterans.” [Athletic]

Elsewhere

• Florida made a couple acquisitions, sending A.J. Greer to Anaheim for pending free agent Radko Gudas’ rights, and they sent a third to Vegas for goalie Akira Schmid. [NHL]
• The Hurricanes acquired the negotiating rights to pending UFA John Carlson, who wants to move back east. [NHL]
• Bourne: What the Leafs might be doing, or should do given what they’re doing. [Sportsnet]
• Anders Lee is among the free agents the Senators should maybe target. [Sportsnet]
• The Oilers invited three women pros to their development camp. [NHL]

The Vegas Golden Knights entered the offseason with a big decision to make and a ticking clock hanging above their heads. Akira Schmid, a pending Restricted Free Agent, needed a new deal— but to keep him, they would need to do more than just offer him a contract.

During the 2025-26 regular season, the 26-year-old goaltender led the team with 29 starts. Four goaltenders played NHL games for the Golden Knights, and Schmid led them in every category: wins, average goals against, average save percentage, and shutouts. However, he was still the backup to Adin Hill, and when Carter Hart returned from injury in April, Schmid found himself as the odd man out. The final game he started for the Golden Knights was on March 21st.

On Monday, the Golden Knights announced that they’d extended Schmid a qualifying offer. But with Hill— who backstopped the team to a Stanley Cup just three years ago— and Hart— who started all 22 postseason games— still ahead of him on the depth chart, Schmid would have been the third goaltender once more. Later that same day, the Golden Knights announced that they’d traded Schmid to the Florida Panthers in exchange for a third-round pick in the 2028 NHL Entry Draft. 

“Akira is a talented and athletic goaltender who has shown poise in high-pressure moments,” said Panthers general manager Bill Zito in a released statement. “We are excited to welcome him to our organization.”

This trade answers the question about Schmid’s future with the Golden Knights, but it also answers that same question regarding Stanley Cup Champion goaltender Adin Hill. Hill, who is under contract for five more seasons at a $6,250,000 AAV, is coming off a down year. During the 2025-26 regular season, Hill posted a 10-9-6 record, an average save percentage of .871, and lost the starting net to both Schmid and Hart at times.

The NHL is in the business of ‘what have you done for me lately?’, and no one understands that better than the Golden Knights. Some teams allow nostalgia to dictate contracts and roster spots, but the ‘villains of the league’ refuse to fall into that trap. When the Golden Knights no longer find a player useful– or can’t afford to find that player useful– they get rid of them, end of story.

Hill has a sizable cap hit, and the Golden Knights aren’t exactly flush with cash. They’ll get some relief when they place Alex Pietrangelo on Season Ending LTIR, but as of right now, they only have $4,625,000 in salary cap space. With that in mind, there were some questions around Hill’s future with the team after his performance last season.

Trading Schmid seems to have answered those questions.

As of now, it looks like the Golden Knights will enter the 2026-27 season with Hart and Hill as the top two goaltenders on their depth chart. It’s the easiest solution, but it’s also probably the right one. Hill will enter the season with something to prove, and he’s a prime candidate for a bounce-back campaign.

Liam Greentree was able to cross one milestone off his list Monday as Rangers prospect development camp began at the team’s suburban Westchester facility. 

Months after being part of the trade that sent Artemi Panarin to Los Angeles, Greentree was finally able to pull the Ranger crest over his head for the first time.

The hulking right winger was still in the OHL when he was dealt in the Panarin deal, and this week’s camp marks the first time Rangers brass gets to see in person the key piece the Blueshirts got back from that February trade. 

“It’s been awesome. New York is such a historic franchise,” Greentree said after his first day on the ice at the MSG Training Center. “It’s an Original Six franchise, and it’s just really cool to be a part of it. This is the first time I’ve worn the jersey, so it’s a pretty cool experience.”

There are already growing expectations for Greentree among the Blueshirt faithful as development camp opened this week, after the 20-year-old had 74 points (38 goals, 36 assists) in 52 games for the OHL’s Windsor Spitfires last season.

He’s had three consecutive seasons of at least 74 points in the OHL. 

And in February following the Panarin trade, Rangers president and general manager Chris Drury told reporters that he valued Greentree “higher than a ’26 or ’27 first-round pick.”

Couple all of that with the fact that the winger will be turning pro this upcoming season, it could make any young hockey player feel overwhelmed, but the expectations don’t seem to have bothered Greentree one bit. 

“It’s the business of it, and I’ve yet to play an NHL game,” he said in response to a question about feeling any extra pressure. “I’m going through the process of it and trying to make my career a good one. There’s a whole process to these things, so I’m trusting everyone around me.

“I want to play my game and be a Ranger one day.”

Greentree described his game as that of a “big power forward” who can do a little bit of everything, and at 6-foot-2, 207 pounds, it’s easy to see why he would view himself in that way.

Greentree, who was taken by the Kings 26th overall in 2024, is expected to start his professional career in the AHL with the Hartford Wolf Pack, but it wouldn’t be out of the realm of possibility for him to see playing time with the big club at some point.

In preparation for the jump to the pros, Greentree has been working on his skating, pointing to the “different speed” of the NHL as the biggest factor in the jump from junior hockey. 

One person who knows what the Rangers potentially have in Greentree is fellow prospect Nathan Aspinall, who has known Greentree since they were 6.

The two have been skating together in the summer. 

“I think just his playmaking, goal scoring,” Aspinall said about Greentree’s most exciting attributes. “I think just when he gets the puck on his stick, he’s dangerous everywhere, so that’s something. He’s an amazing player.”

Greentree isn’t the only prospect with eyes on him during the Rangers camp this week. 

First-round pick Alberts Smits took the ice for his first time after a whirlwind weekend in Buffalo after he was taken by the Blueshirts fifth overall on Friday night. 

Smits didn’t go into too much on his first day as he looks to make his own mark with the Rangers.

He kept it close to the vest when he was asked if he would be at training camp in September — “We’ll see how it goes” — and he said he was “focused on getting to know the organization” when asked about conversations with the team about his development and path forward. 

Greentree expanded a bit more about what he hopes to take out of development camp. 

“I’m here to get better and to learn a lot,” he said. “Try to see what it takes to make it to the next level. It’s about taking everything in here and taking it to the offseason and really having a good offseason.” 

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NHL clubs had until 5 p.m. ET on Monday to submit qualifying offers to their pending restricted free agents, and the Detroit Red Wings have made their decisions.

Defenseman Simon Edvinsson and 2019 seventh-round (191st overall) pick Carter Gylander were the only players to receive qualifying offers from the Red Wings. At the same time, 2021 third-round (70th overall) pick Carter Mazur was among the many players who were not offered one. 

By extending qualifying offers, the Red Wings preserve their matching rights if either player signs an offer sheet with another club once free agency begins at 12:00 p.m. ET on July 1. Both players also have the option of accepting their qualifying offer or continuing negotiations on a new contract with Detroit. 

#LGRW qualified RFAs Simon Edvinsson and Carter Gylander.

No QO for Carter Mazur, Wojciech Stachowiak, Alexandre Doucet, Michael Milne, Jakub Rychlovsky, and Wojciech Stachowiak. @PuckPedia

⬇️ UFA no-QO list: https://t.co/R7UtnHHaG5

— NHL News (@PuckReportNHL) June 30, 2026

All players that were not extended offers will now become unrestricted free agents, though the Red Wings still have the option of re-signing them. 

Bookmark The Hockey News Detroit Red Wings team site to stay connected to the latest news, game-day coverage, and player features. 

Edvinsson, whom the Red Wings selected in the first round (sixth overall) of the 2021 NHL Draft, has become arguably Detroit's second-most important defenseman behind Moritz Seider.

He appeared in 72 games this season, reaching a new career-high in goals with nine while adding 16 assists for 25 points. He underwent surgery after re-aggravating an existing injury during a late January contest, but eventually returned to the lineup in late February.

Speaking of injuries, Mazur has suffered more than his fair share, the first of which came just seconds into his first NHL contest in March 2025.

He was also limited to just 16 regular-season games in 2025-26 with the Grand Rapids Griffins, during which he tallied 11 goals and five assists; he also added five goals and an assist in eight Calder Cup Playoff games. 

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