This comes as no surprise, as Rittich is a solid NHL backup, one who likely ends up landing a full-time NHL gig.
Islanders' general manager Mathieu Darche publicly declared the plan is for Semyon Varlamov to return to his role as Ilya Sorokin's backup.
As such, Rittich extending on Long Island would've resulted in him starting with the Hamilton Hammers, a non-starter for the NHL veteran.
Rittich, 33, posted a 14-10-3 record in 30 appearances with the Islanders this past season. Rittich added a 2.76 GAA and a .894 save percentage to boot.
According to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman, the Buffalo Sabres have signed defenseman Olen Zellweger to a three-year contract with an average annual value around $3 million.
The Sabres just acquired Zellweger from the Anaheim Ducks last week in exchange for Anton Wahlberg and the 45th overall pick of the 2026 NHL Entry Draft. Now, they have locked up the left-shot defenseman to a multi-year contract.
Zellweger appeared in 76 games last season with the Ducks, where he scored seven goals and set new career highs with 15 assists and 22 points. This is after the 22-year-old blueliner had seven goals and 20 points in 82 games with the Ducks during the 2024-25 season.
In 164 games over three NHL seasons, Zellweger has recorded 16 goals, 35 assists, and 51 points.
The Buffalo Sabres are entering the July 1 Free Agent Frenzy in need of replacing the scoring and leadership that departed when Alex Tuch went to Washington last week, but it is unknown what direction GM Jarmo Kekalainen will after 12 Noon on Wednesday. Kekalainen was proactive prior to last weekend’s NHL Draft when he dealt defenseman Bowen Byram to the Chicago Blackhawks, along with winger Jordan Greenway for the fourth overall pick (Daxon Rudolph), a 2026 second round pick (later flipped to Anaheim for Olen Zellweger) and defenseman Louis Crevier.
Byram is in the second year of a two-year, $12.5 million bridge deal. Buffalo GM Jarmo Kekalainen indicated that he was interested in extending him coming off a career-high 42-point season. Still, there have been indicators that he is either looking for a new deal well out of the Sabres price range or that he wanted to go to another team where he could be the #1 defenseman.
On Wednesday, TSN’s Darren Dreger reported that the 25-year-old will sign a six-year, $75 million deal with the Hawks, becoming the top-paid defenseman in the NHL, ahead of Erik Karlsson, Rasmus Dahlin, and Drew Doughty. That distinction may be short-lived because Minnesota is expected to sign Quinn Hughes to a short-term deal and Cale Makar is eligible for an extension, but the point here is that the Sabres were in no position to pay Byram more than Dahlin on a new deal, even if the percentage of the salary cap was lower.
Byram’s new deal comes on the heels of the extension of another former Sabres blueliner in Michael Kesselring. The 26-year-old was sent to the San Jose Sharks, along with the Sabres 27th overall pick for the 20th pick in the first round (Ilia Morozov). On the weekend, the Sharks locked up Kesselring on a three-year, $13.5 million extension ($4.5 million AAV). The deal is a sign of the times in terms of the salary cap going up, and the fact that the Sharks were desperate for defensive help, that they tripled the righty blueliner’s salary coming off a career-worst season in which he had just two assists in 34 games.
Chris MacFarland continues to stay busy on the trade block, acquiring forward Mavrik Bourque and defenseman Ilya Lyubushkin for a 2027 second-round pick and a 2028 third-round pick in a trade with the Dallas Stars on Wednesday.
Bourque packed a punch on the Stars' third line last season, recording 41 points off 20 goals and 21 assists in 82 games. It was his most productive season in the NHL since his first season in 2023-24.
The 5-foot-11, 187-pound righty was selected 30th overall by Dallas in the 2020 NHL Draft. He has reached the end of a 1-year, $950,000 contract and is a restricted free agent.
TRADE 🔄
We've acquired forward Mavrik Bourque and defenseman Ilya Lyubushkin from Dallas in exchange for a second-round draft pick in 2027 and Vegas' third-round draft pick in 2028. pic.twitter.com/sVOkpfJxIx
He is the scoring boost that the Predators need from the third line and possibly the second line, giving Nashville a scoring edge lower in the lineup.
Lyubushkin is a veteran defenseman at 32-years old and has logged nearly 500 NHL games over his career. In 53 games last season, Lyubushkin had nine points one goal and eight assists and 40 penalty minutes.
The 6-foot-2, 206-pound defenseman has one more year left on a three-year, $9.75 million contract. He will become an unrestricted free agent at the end of the 2026-27 season.
While he may not have the production Nashville needs on the back end, he is a veteran player from whom younger prospects can benefit greatly. Lyubushkin could also have better chemistry in Nashville than in Dallas.
The Philadelphia Flyers have officially missed out on one of their notable forward trade targets: Mavrik Bourque.
The Nashville Predators have acquired Bourque and defenseman Ilya Lyubushkin from the Dallas Stars in exchange for a 2027 second-round pick and a 2028 third-round pick (from the Vegas Golden Knights).
With Bourque being a young skilled center with good upside, it made sense that the Flyers were among the teams that had him on their radar. However, he is now heading to the Predators with this trade.
Bourque just had a breakout year for the Stars in 2025-26, as he set career highs with 20 goals, 21 assists, and 41 points in 82 games. This was after he had 11 goals and 25 points in 73 games as a rookie for the Stars during the 2024-25 season.
With the Stars having limited cap space and Bourque being a restricted free agent, it makes sense that they have moved him. Unfortunately, the Flyers are not the lucky team to get him, and they will need to explore their options elsewhere.
Robertson is an RFA who received a qualifying offer from the Leafs. He's coming off a one-year contract that was settled in arbitration, earning a $1.825 million salary.
With this move, Robertson will be reuniting with Penguins GM Kyle Dubas, who drafted him 53rd overall in the 2019 NHL draft.
While averaging 12:40 of ice time per game this past year, the 24-year-old scored 16 goals and 32 points for Toronto.
In a new situation, on a retooling team like Pittsburgh, Robertson will get plenty more opportunities under head coach Dan Muse. The Penguins have been inserting younger players into the roster, such as Ben Kindel and Egor Chinakhov, and they acquired 24-year-old Hendrix Lapierre on Thursday.
Therefore, Robertson will likely get more than the 11:52 of ice time that he averaged over his 234 games in Toronto. And with that extra ice time, it wouldn't be a surprise for him to reach the 20-goal plateau as soon as next season.
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St. Louis Blues defensive prospects Luke Schairer, Nick Bogas, and Landon Nycz have been invited to Team USA’s World Junior Summer Showcase roster.
The camp, which will feature practices and games between players from the United States, Canada, Finland, and Sweden, will be held July 26-Aug. 1 at WFCU Centre in Windsor, Ontario. It’s the first evaluation step for the 2027 IIHF World Junior Championship.
But also featured on the roster are a trio of Blues prospects.
Luke Schairer was selected by the St. Louis Blues in the third round, 75th overall, in the 2026 NHL Draft. Schairer is a 6-foot-3 right-handed defenseman set to play with the Peterborough Petes in the 2026-27 season. Schairer is a great skater who projects to be a shutdown defender with a solid NHL frame.
Landon Nycz, another defenseman, was drafted by the Blues one round later, in the fourth round, 107th overall. Nycz is a 6-foot-2, left-handed defender set to play his sophomore season with the University of Massachusetts next season. Nycz is also more of a defensive defenseman, but he was born in late 2007 and is entering his final year of world junior eligibility.
The final player invited to the camp is Nick Bogas. Bogas was taken in the fifth round, 139th overall, by the Blues in the 2026 NHL draft. Although he is listed at just six feet, Bogas is a physical defender who thrives on the defensive side of the puck.
At the moment, these three Blues prospects are the outside looking in for making the 2027 world junior roster, but strong camps could put them on the radar.
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A two-time Stanley Cup Champion (2024, 2025): He anchored the Florida Panthers to back-to-back championships, solidifying his legacy as an elite big-game goaltender.
A two-time Vezina Trophy Winner (2012–13, 2016–17): Won both during his tenure with the Columbus Blue Jackets, making him one of only a handful of active goalies with multiple Vezina Trophies.
Bobrovsky was 27–23–1 and posted an .877 save percentage. The 38-year-old improves Toronto's goaltending. He's reunited with Anthony Stolarz. Both won a Cup together in Florida in 2024.
Bobrovsky To Toronto Imminent?
1:56 p.m. ET — Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman suggests that Bobrovski's arrival in Toronto is imminent.
I do believe the Sergei Bobrovsky to Toronto arrival is upon us
1:35 p.m. ET — Perhaps a Zach Werenski trade will not be happening on July 1.'
According to TSN's Darren Dreger, Werenski, his agent Judd Moldaver and Columbus Blue Jackets general manager Don Waddell all spoke in an effort to clear the air and talk things down.
Sounds like Werenski, his agent Judd Moldaver, and CBJ GM Don Waddell spoke today in an effort to clear the air and calm things down. Werenski is comfortable going back to CBJ. Waddell could present him with a trade in the meantime, but that isn’t on the radar at this point.
The Maple Leafs were reportedly interested in adding Roslovic as a free agent last season but couldn't agree on salary and term. He ended up signing with the Edmonton Oilers.
He scored 21 goals and 15 assists in 69 games with the Oilers last season. The Leafs get someone who can put the puck in the net.
Leafs and Sissons Talking
12:22 p.m. ET — Per TSN's Darren Dreger, the Toronto Maple Leafs are engaging in talks with free agent forward Colton Sissons, but nothing is done yet.
The 32-year-old played in a bottom-six center role with the Vegas Golden Knights last season. His cap hit last season was $2,857,143.
End Of The Nick Robertson Era In Toronto
11:04 a.m. ET — Just two days removed from the Toronto Maple Leafs tendering Nick Robertson a qualifying offer to retain his rights, comes word that the club has moved him to the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for a 2028 fourth-round draft pick
Robertson goes to Pittsburgh, where he will be reunited with former Maple Leafs GM Kyle Dubas.
The 24-year-old has 16 goals and 16 assists in 78 games with the Leafs in 2026.
Werenski chatter
The Maple Leafs are making a play to try to acquire defenseman Zach Werenski. TSN's Darren Dreger was a guest on First Up with Aaron Korolnek and Carlo Colaiacovo, saying chatter between the two clubs has NOT included forward Matthew Knies, who himself has been the subject of much trade speculation.
10:26 a.m. ET, Dreger clarified his comments on Werenski.
It’s been assumed Knies will be part of a package if Toronto lands Zach Werenski. See how things develop, but there’s a chance the Leafs won’t have to give up the power forward if this trade comes together.
There has been a lot of chatter surrounding the Toronto Maple Leafs and goaltender Sergei Bobrovski. The former Florida Panthers goalie is expected to hit the market at noon. According to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman, a last-ditch effort from the Panthers to keep him fell apart after Bobrovski asked for $21 million over three years.
Is that the right price for Toronto? Time will tell.
Bobrovsky Scotiabank Arena Photo Was Real
Hockey Insider Frank Seravalli feels a union between the Leafs and Bobrovsky is inevitable. There was a picture going around a few weeks ago that showed Bobrovsky on the jumbotron at Scotiabank Arena. Seravalli was a guest on The Fan Morning Show on Wednesday and said the photo was real.
"I've confirmed that was real," Seravalli said. "This Bobrovsky thing was a 'hey, get this ready in case he's coming and we can pitch him in person, it was one of those situations. This didn't mean in the moment that it was locked in, but there were planning to be pursuing him."
Updated regularly...
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LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JUNE 14: Kaedan Korczak #6 of the Vegas Golden Knights skates with the puck against the Carolina Hurricanes during the first period in Game Six of the 2026 Stanley Cup Final at T-Mobile Arena on June 14, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ian Maule/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Not every trade or roster move needs to be a franchise-altering move to also be considered a smart move.
Tuesday’s Kaedan Korczak for Parker Wotherspoon trade is a good example of that for the Pittsburgh Penguins.
It is not something you are likely to look back on and say, “that is a major turning point for the franchise.” But it is something that makes a great deal of sense, and I’m a little surprised at the mass confusion (and even some criticism) that it has received.
Wotherspoon ended up being an excellent signing for the Penguins, and one that worked out significantly better than anybody could have hoped for a year ago when it was completed. Wotherspoon shockingly filled out the left-side role on the top-pairing next to Erik Karlsson, was a strong complement to him, and had by far the best season of his career.
And now the Penguins trade him?
Well.
Yeah.
And I completely get it.
For as strong as Wotherspoon played and worked out during the 2025-26 season in his role, there are a few important factors to keep in mind.
He is entering the final year of his contract and, given the ballooning rate of mid-level and lower-level NHL player contracts under the rising salary cap, his number was about to rise. Dramatically.
Would that have been a smart investment for the Penguins? He is going to be 30 years old when that next contract kicks in, and has really only excelled at the NHL level while playing alongside a future Hall of Famer in Karlsson for one season. If you want the Penguins to get younger, giving a 30-year-old defenseman that has a limited track record of NHL success a big-money deal is not going to accomplish that.
Prior to joining the Penguins he had 16 points in 108 games and was mostly an organizational depth defenseman. His numbers and contributions away from Karlsson, even this past season, kind of matched that level of play.
What Wotherspoon did have going for him initially was that despite the lack of production and games played, he had mostly posted strong underlying numbers in smaller roles that he typically won.
The latter point is key for Korczak, because he is basically in the same situation coming from Vegas. He is a younger version of what Wotherspoon initially was for the Penguins.
From an underlying numbers perspective, Korczak has been wildly effective in his smaller, depth roles.
Over the past three seasons the Golden Knights outscored teams by a 102-68 margin when Korczak was on the ice during 5-on-5 play. That was the best 5-on-5 goal-differential among Vegas defensemen, and fourth-best among 295 defensemen that logged at least 500 minutes.
His 54.51 expected goal share was fourth-best among Vegas defenders over that time and 19th among the aforementioned 295 defenders across the league.
His 2.12 expected goals against (and 1.88 actual goals against) per 60 minutes were tops on Vegas. That expected goals against number was third-best in the NHL while the 1.88 actual goals against were ninth-best.
This isn’t to say that Korczak is one of the best defensemen in the league, or that he was even Vegas’ best defenseman. That’s not the point here. The point is he was given a specific role, even in sheltered minutes, and performed exceptionally well in that role. He’s probably earned a bigger opportunity and a bigger role to see what he does with it. Maybe he gets better and handles it well. Maybe he doesn’t and he remains as a highly effective depth defenseman. Either way, it’s a younger player onto the roster.
He is also four years younger than Wotherspoon and already signed long-term with some cost-certainty on what should be a favorable contract with a $3.25 million salary cap number. When you see what bottom-pairing defensemen are going to start going for, it’s going to look even better. Especially as the salary cap skyrockets in the coming seasons. A $3.25 million cap hit on a $104 million cap is the equivalent of a $2.95 million cap hit under the 2025-26 cap of $95.5 million. When the cap rises up to $113 million in 2027-28 it will be the equivalent of a $2.6 million cap number.
The Penguins needed to find a defense version of Egor Chinakhov. They needed to find some younger legs, especially on their back-end where most of their 2025-26 roster was either on the wrong side of 30, or rapidly approach it. This is a nice swing at that. And even if Korczak doesn’t blossom the same way here, it’s still a nice brick to have at the bottom of your lineup that you know can fill a specific role.
Kyle Dubas made mention after the draft of this potentially being a more methodical brick-by-brick process.
This is a brick.
It’s a smart brick with a little bit of upside at a fair cost.
I’m also not overly concerned about the left spot on the top-pairing on July 1, because a year ago at this time we also had no idea who the left spot on the top-pairing would be. If you had proposed it being Wotherspoon, even after he was signed, you probably would have been laughed at. There is a lot of time to fill that spot, and as long as Karlsson is on the roster I am confident the Hall of Famer will make it work. Just as he did with Wotherspoon.
LAS VEGAS, NV - JUNE 14: Defenseman Alexander Nikishin #21, Goaltender Pyotr Kochetkov #52 and Right Wing Andrei Svechnikov #37 of the Carolina Hurricanes celebrate winning the Stanley Cup after defeating the Vegas Golden Knights in game six of the Stanley Cup Final on June 14, 2026 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Matthew Bolt/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
First of all, happy Canada Day to our friends north of the border!
The trade and free agent rumors are hot and continue to be flying. Late last night it was revealed that Zach Werenski vetoed a trade to Dallas. Supposedly the Hurricanes are still trying to sign John Carlson.
Also, Alexander Nikishin’s name has been in everyone’s mouths.
Free agency officially starts at noon today.
The nice thing about all of this is that the Canes are not desperate and they don’t have to do anything if they choose not to. Worst case scenario might be to just keep the rights to Nikishin and let him think about taking a lesser salary than he wanted, or go back to Russia.
Although, I still would not be surprised to see Carolina do something big no one has talked about.
If you have thoughts, feel free to leave them in the comments of our “open thread”
NHL free agency opened at noon ET on Wednesday, July 1, and a lot more could go on than just unrestricted free agents changing teams.
The unrestricted free agent pool includes two-time Stanley Cup winner Sergei Bobrovsky and defensemen John Carlson and Rasmus Andersson.
Players whose contracts run out in 2027 are free to sign extensions. Key players in that group are reigning MVP Nikita Kucherov, Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar, Vancouver Canucks defenseman Quinn Hughes and San Jose Sharks center Macklin Celebrini.
Big-name restricted free agents such as Jason Robertson, Connor Bedard, Leo Carlsson and Cutter Gauthier also need new contracts for next season.
He'll average $7 million in a three-year deal, according to multiple reports. Bobrovsky, 37, has won two Stanley Cups and two Vezina Trophies, but he's coming off his worst season. Still, he's an established goalie who can help the Maple Leafs as they try to come back from the end of their nine-year playoff run. He'll be reunited with Anthony Stolarz, his former backup in Florida.
Sounds like Werenski, his agent Judd Moldaver, and CBJ GM Don Waddell spoke today in an effort to clear the air and calm things down. Werenski is comfortable going back to CBJ. Waddell could present him with a trade in the meantime, but that isn’t on the radar at this point.
He'll average $8.25 million in the deal, up from $8 million in his last contract. He adds a physical presence to the Sharks and he scored 10 goals last season with the Ducks.
He'll average $3.75 million over two years. The question is whether he's a backup or is the No. 1. The Jets are listening to offers on Connor Hellebuyck. By signing Skinner, who has been a No. 1 goalie (albeit up and down), the Jets don't need to get back a goalie if they trade the former Vezina Trophy winner and U.S. Olympian. Skinner went to the Stanley Cup Final with Edmonton twice and was traded to Pittsburgh last season.
He'll average $8.5 million in the seven-year deal, per reports. Andersson was acquired from the Flames during the season and reached the Stanley Cup Final.
He'll average $5 million in the deal, per reports. He played a key role in the Panthers' two Stanley Cups and also played for Finland at the 2026 Olympics, winning bronze.
He will average $2.2 million in the two-year deal. Ersson struggled in Philadelphia last season and was traded to Toronto and then Ottawa. He'll back up fellow Swedish goalie Linus Ullmark in Ottawa.
Korpisalo will take over the backup goalie role from retired Jonathan Quick. The Bruins receive minor league forward Kalle Vaisanen and a 2028 fourth-round pick. Korpisalo has one year left on his contract.
He could get five years with a $7 million average, per Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman. Marchment's late father, Bryan, played six seasons with the Sharks.
Zuccarello is getting a one-year deal with bonuses, according to multiple reports. Haula's deal is two years at $3.6 million a season. per reports. Haula adds to the Kings' center depth after Anze Kopitar's retirement. Zuccarello will help the Kings' power play. NHL insider Frank Seravalli also said the Kings are signing Corey Perry, who started last season in Los Angeles.
He'll average $9.125 million in the extension, which kicks in during 2027-28, according to his agent, Dan Milstein. He finished second in Calder Trophy voting with 62 points in 82 games.
Demidov extension breakdown: 27-28, $11.5 M SB, $1 M salary 28-29, $11.5 M SB, $1 M salary 29-30, $9.5 M SB, $1 M salary 30-31, $6.7 M SB, $1 M salary 31-32, $6.3 M SB, $1.2 M salary 32-33, $6.3 M SB, $1.2 M salary 33-34, $5.8 M SB, $1.7 M salary 34-35, $7.5 M salary
He'll average $1.5 million in his six-year deal, per reports, to help with the Panthers' cap hit. Gudas' rights were acquired this week. He had won the Stanley Cup in 2024 before leaving for the Ducks.
Bourque, a forward, and defenseman Ilya Lyubushkin are headed to Nashville for a 2027 second-round pick and a 2028 third-round pick. Bourque had 20 goals and 41 points last season. The Predators continue to load up on scoring depth after earlier adding Jack Drury, Ross Colton and Nils Hoglander. The Stars gain cap room with restricted free agent Jason Robertson still to sign.
Helene St. James of the Detroit Free Press, part of the USA TODAY Network, reports that GM Steve Yzerman would like a top-six center and a winger in return for Larkin, who has five years left on his deal. Yzerman said after the draft that he would act in the best interest of the Red Wings and "I cannot make any guarantees or did not make any guarantees that that request could or would be met."
Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reports that the Blue Jackets had a verbal agreement on a trade with the Stars, but Norris Trophy winner Zach Werenski vetoed it. Stars defenseman Thomas Harley would have been part of the return package, Friedman said.
Two-time Stanley Cup winner Sergei Bobrovsky is heading to free agency after the Panthers couldn't reach a deal and the team acquired two goalies. Here are the top NHL free agents:
The Flyers got an up-close look at Noel Acciari in the first round of the playoffs.
Now they have him on their roster.
The club is signing the bottom-six forward to a two-year, $5.6 million contract, according to a report Wednesday by Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman. The deal has an average annual value of $2.8 million.
Acciari had 13 goals, 12 assists and a plus-14 rating last season with the Penguins. The 34-year-old will replace some of the tough-to-play-against qualities that the Flyers lost in the Garnet Hathaway trade.
As a guy who can play center or winger, Acciari will provide head coach Rick Tocchet with different options. He won 61 percent of his faceoffs against the Flyers in the playoffs. He had an assist and a minus-1 mark during the series, which the Flyers won in six games.
The Flyers got an up-close look at Noel Acciari in the first round of the playoffs.
Now they have him on their roster.
The club agreed to terms with the bottom-six forward on a two-year, $5.6 million contract. The deal has an average annual value of $2.8 million.
Acciari had 13 goals, 12 assists and a plus-14 rating last season with the Penguins. The 34-year-old will replace some of the tough-to-play-against qualities that the Flyers lost in the Garnet Hathaway trade.
As a guy who can play center or winger, Acciari will provide head coach Rick Tocchet with different options. He won 61 percent of his faceoffs against the Flyers in the playoffs. He had an assist and a minus-1 mark during the series, which the Flyers won in six games.
ST PAUL, MINNESOTA - APRIL 30: Jason Robertson #21 of the Dallas Stars skates with the puck against the Minnesota Wild in the second period of Game Six of the First Round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Grand Casino Arena on April 30, 2026 in St Paul, Minnesota. The Wild defeated the Stars 5-2. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Happy free agency to all who celebrate! NHL Free Agency 2026 opens at 12 p.m. ET on Tuesday, July 1 — and what’s really marked this year’s group is far less about the players available to be signed as unrestricted free agents, and more related to the anarchy that could ensue with established talent.
If you’ve been following along, we already know that this 2026 class of UFAs is fairly weak. Teams worked to get ahead of the best players leaving, either locking them up to long-term deals or trading them around the draft to teams that subsequently got contracts done themselves. This also means that players who didn’t get dealt already are now causing major waves, operating as the dominoes people are waiting to fall before other signings take place. The players we’re really waiting on right now are:
Jason Robertson, LW — Dallas Stars: Robertson is an RFA, but has already informed multiple teams that he won’t sign contracts with them, killing multiple trades. Where Robertson ends up will start the dominoes at forward
Zach Werenski, D — Columbus Blue Jackets: Werenski is one of the best defensemen in the NHL, and wants to be on a contender. Stunningly he killed a potential trade to the Dallas Stars, so now teams are waiting to see whether or not CBJ can get a deal done.
John Carlson, D — Carolina Hurricanes: One of the top free agents this year, Carlson was dealt to the Hurricanes during the late rounds of the NHL Draft solely to give the Canes three extra days to negotiate with him ahead of free agency. The league waits to see whether or not this move was successful, and it will have a huge impact on the rest of the class if Carlson doesn’t end up hitting the market at noon.
We’ll be following along with all the signings as they happen, and giving a full list of the moves.
DENVER, COLORADO - DECEMBER 31: A general view of post-game fireworks after the game between the Colorado Avalanche and the Winnipeg Jets at Pepsi Center on December 31, 2019 in Denver, Colorado. The Jets defeated the Avalanche 7-4. (Photo by Michael Martin/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images
Ah, that new league year smell.
Join us and follow along as we celebrate the official start of the 2026-27 NHL season and witness hundreds of millions of dollars spent on free agents hitting the open market. The festivities begin officially at 10 a.m. MT.
Who will the Avalanche sign to round put their roster? How many AHL level deals to help the Colorado Eagles are on tap? And as always, plenty of intrigue on who will get the largest contract in the NHL on the open market? Some big extensions are eligible starting today as well, will any get filed and announced quickly?
Is the flurry of trades largely concluded for the Avalanche and NHL as a whole or will there be more shocking moves on the horizon? Join us in the comments as it all unfolds.
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