The biggest question, or questions, surrounding the Florida Panthers following the NHL Draft has been their two vacancies at the goaltending position.
Late Monday night, Florida addressed one of those spots, acquiring Akira Schmid from the Vegas Golden Knights in exchange for a 2028 third-round pick.
The 26-year-old is a restricted free agent, so Florida still needs to negotiate a new deal with him, but he fits in the mold of the team’s recent goaltending targets, measuring in at 6-foot-5, 190 pounds.
“Akira is a talented and athletic goaltender who has shown poise in high-pressure moments,” Panthers GM Bill Zito said in a statement released by the team. “We are excited to welcome him to our organization.”
Florida has done well in recent years targeting netminders who would find success when playing behind the Cats’ physical, defensive systems.
It helps to have a Goaltending Excellence Department led by a Hall of Fame goalie in Roberto Luongo.
But the work for Zito and Luongo is not done.
Florida is still in the market for a starting goalie, and it continues to sound like they will address that need via the trade market.
There are a pair of veteran goaltenders who fit Florida’s size appeal who they have looked into, according to a source. They are New Jersey Devils goalie Jacob Markstrom and Los Angeles Kings tendy Darcy Kuemper.
Markstrom, 36, has two years remaining on his current deal that carries an average annual value (AAV) of $6 million, while Kuemper, also 36, is entering the final year of his deal that pays a $5.25 AAV, according to PuckPedia.
Additionally, Markstrom’s contract carries a 20-team no-trade list while Kuemper’s carries a 10-team no-trade list.
Either way, the Panthers will have to come up with a package to extract their goalie of choice if that’s the path they choose, while still making the financials work under the cap.
It will also be interesting to see what kind of price a goalie of either of their caliber and experience would demand after seeing Schmid cost the Cats a third-rounder.
There are still still a plethora of goaltending options in free agency, and the Panthers have done their due diligence on several of the pending free agents.
As it stands, though, it sounds like the team’s desired route is the trade market.
We’ll see how things continue to develop as we get close to July 1.
Photo caption: Apr 5, 2026; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; New Jersey Devils goalie Jacob Markstrom (25) looks on during warm-up before the game against the Montreal Canadiens at Bell Centre. (David Kirouac-Imagn Images)
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JUNE 14: Rasmus Andersson #4 of the Vegas Golden Knights controls the puck as Nikolaj Ehlers #27 of the Carolina Hurricanes pursues the play during the first period of Game Six of the 2026 NHL Stanley Cup Final between the Carolina Hurricanes and the Vegas Golden Knights at T-Mobile Arena on June 14, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Brian Babineau/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images
This is a weird year when it comes to NHL free agency. A flurry of trades ahead of the draft led to some key players finding new homes and signing new contracts, while the restricted free agent market (headlined by Jason Robertson) continues to play out. That led to a free agent group that doesn’t exactly blow you away, but there are some major talent upgrades out there for teams trying to make the next step.
Free agency opens at 9 a.m. ET on July 1, and there remains a prevailing feeling that we could be waiting to see some of the big names leave the board, with teams still trying to work some major trades. We know Winnipeg is still listening to offers on Connor Hellebuyck, Zach Werenski could be on the move, and the Montreal Canadiens are making a lot of noise when it comes to potential deals that will get them to the next level. Those dominoes could impact free agency and open the market for some teams to swoop in and snag some of the mid-level talent.
Now let’s dive into the Top 10 players on the market this year.
No. 1: Rasmus Andersson, D, Vegas Golden Knights
Andersson was a trade-deadline acquisition from the Calgary Flames intended as a playoff push move, and it worked, as the 29-year-old defenseman helped propel the Golden Knights all the way to the Stanley Cup. A true difference-maker as a top-pairing player, Vegas won’t be able to retain him without some major salary cap gymnastics. That could happen, but all signs point to him moving on in free agency.
Andersson is a do-everything defenseman who is able to play at home, as well as be a part of the offense with 47 points in the 2025-26 season. He might not be quite offensively minded enough to quarterback a power play, but he is still a top-tier defenseman who could command in the $10M AAV range in this market.
No. 2: John Carlson, D, Carolina Hurricanes
We need to list the Canes here because that’s who technically owns his rights at the moment. Carolina made a late trade towards the end of the 2026 NHL Draft to get Carlson’s rights from the Anaheim Ducks, in an effort to negotiate with him for a few days before free agency opens.
It doesn’t matter that Carlson is 36-years-old, because he is still playing elite hockey. Registering 70 points in 71 games last year, he remains a Top 10 defender in the entire NHL. Obviously Carlson would take the Stanley Cup Champions to an entirely new level, but there are reports that it’s unlikely he’ll remain in Carolina, with Carlson’s camp seeking a short-term deal in the $10M AAV range. He’s definitely worth that money, but the Canes are unlikely to put all their eggs in that basket, especially when they have greater needs than adding to their defense depth.
No. 3: Anthony Mantha, LW, Pittsburgh Penguins
I’m buying in on Mantha being better than his inconsistent stats show, are far more akin to the 64 points he scored last year with the Penguins, than the 44 point guy he was in 2023-24. We have a player who seems to flourish inside a system that actually needs him, where he struggles to be an impact on a back line without a lot of talent around him.
That means I think Mantha could be a great pickup for a team on the playoff bubble needing a talent injection. I also don’t think he’s going to command a bank-breaking sum in free agency because his career inconsistency will scare some teams off.
No. 4: Jacob Trouba, D, Anaheim Ducks
There are going to be some major growing pains on defense for the Ducks moving forward after having dealt John Carlson, and now losing Trouba in free agency.
Jacob Trouba is a solid second-line defenseman on most teams in the National Hockey League. I don’t buy he’s a top-line guy, but that’s still not bad for a team who needs a veteran presence on their line and someone who can be a sneaky breakaway threat with his long passing ability.
No. 5: Stuart Skinner, G, Edmonton Oilers
We are at a dearth of talent in the NHL when it comes to goaltenders, and the fact Stuart Skinner makes this list at No. 5 shows that. There are so many times Skinner seems like he’s ready to take the jump and then he falters when given the opportunity.
At this point he sits as a low-level starter or a premium backup. That’s about where his value is, and when teams are still trying to work out what happens with Sergei Bobrovsky and Connor Hellebuyck, there is some value here.
No. 6 Alexander Ovechkin, LW, Washington Capitals
Ovi is still deciding whether he’ll retire, re-sign with the Capitals for one more year, or potentially make the jump to free agency. I’m not buying for a second that the 40-year-old is a good fit, basically anywhere in the league at this point. Kudos for a phenomenal career, but at this point Ovechkin is only good for cherry picking goals, which is the role he had in Washington these past two seasons.
Outside of that, he’s a defensive liability, not much of a passer, and well, he’s 40. That’s basically the only issue. Still, he might be enough for a terrible team to sell some tickets, but I have no idea why he wouldn’t just retire a hero at this point rather than try to have a sad run elsewhere.
No. 7: Sergei Bobrovsky, G, Florida Panthers
I don’t think a lot of people fully comprehend what a down season Bob had last year. Too much is being made of the Panthers’ injuries, and the goaltender’s agents are trying to sell him as still being a multi-year, $4.5M AAV talent when he just really wasn’t last season — but kudos to them for trying.
In 2025-26, we saw Bob finish with an .877 save percentage and allowing 3.07 goals per game. I don’t think he’s magically going to become elite again, and rather this is the beginning of a decline.
No. 8: Boone Jenner, C, Columbus Blue Jackets
Jenner is really not an amazing player, but this is a profoundly weak market at center — especially ones with tenure. A team needing a third or fourth line guy will probably take advantage of adding to their depth here. The one thing that Jenner does offer is faceoff ability, which a lot of teams are lacking right now.
No. 9: Viktor Arvidsson, LW, Boston Bruins
Arvidsson is a jack of one trade: He’s great at skating fast and putting shots on net. That very narrow skillset allows him to put up some decent numbers, but he’s not really a great piece to build around. If a team has a specific plan for how to utilize him on a line then he could be a decent pickup, but the worry is that someone will sign him assuming they’re getting a 20 goal scorer without understanding how he achieved that.
No. 10: Mason Marchment, F, Columbus Blue Jackets
There was some talk about Marchment being a potential trade during the NHL Draft, but evidently, he was too important for CBJ to part ways with, hoping they could negotiate a deal. He’s a decent enough third-line player to have some teams intrigued, but doesn’t bring a lot to the table.
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.
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.
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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DENVER, COLORADO - JANUARY 21: Taylor Makar #16 of the Colorado Avalanche skates against the Anaheim Ducks at Ball Arena on January 21, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Michael Martin/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images
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.
The #GoAvsGo signed 25 y/o F Taylor Makar to a 2 year $875K cap hit contact
Yr 1: $850K NHL, $225K Minors, $300K Guaranteed Yr 2: $900K 1-way
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.
We've got the full list of players now 2026 UFAs after not receiving qualifying offers by today's 5 p.m. ET deadline.
PITTSBURGH, PA - JANUARY 13: Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy (88) makes a save on Pittsburgh Penguins center Evgeni Malkin (71) in front as Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Declan Carlile (67) defends during the second period in the NHL game between the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Tampa Bay Lightning on January 13, 2026, at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, PA. (Photo by Jeanine Leech/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
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.
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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.
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.
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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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 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.
BUFFALO, NEW YORK - JUNE 27: (L-R) Markus Ruck, 39th overall of the Pittsburgh Penguins, and Liam Ruck, 22nd overall of the Pittsburgh Penguins, pose for a photo during Day Two of the 2026 NHL Draft at KeyBank Center on June 27, 2026 in Buffalo, New York. (Photo by Jeff Vinnick/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images
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.”
— Pens Inside Scoop (@PensInsideScoop) June 29, 2026
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.”
#Pens 2nd round pick, and 1st round pick Liam’s twin, Markus Ruck says he still can’t believe he talked to Sidney Crosby & is part of the same organization pic.twitter.com/rdUjrH6OAL
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.”
"If you watched the playoffs in Wilkes-Barre, [Brunicke's] competitiveness was up there with some of the veteran guys in the playoffs."
Director of Player Development Tom Kostopoulos shares some thoughts at the first day of Development Camp ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/f7WWmBpbaJ
— Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (@WBSPenguins) June 29, 2026
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.
