The Pittsburgh Penguins are kicking off their summer moves by apparently acquiring center Hendrix Lapierre from Washington. Pittsburgh gives up a third round pick in 2027 and a fifth in 2028 to bring Lapierre on board.

The Penguins have acquired forward Hendrix Lapierre from the Washington Capitals in exchange for a 2027 third-round pick and a 2028 fifth-round pick.

Details: https://t.co/115i2b4QGfpic.twitter.com/O4skjkwYuH

— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) June 25, 2026

Lapierre is a player who has had his ups and downs over four pro seasons with the Capitals, as seen in his hockeydb profile:

After an encouraging 2023-24, where the scored 22 points in 51 games and was one of the best players on AHL Hershey’s Calder Cup winning team that spring, Lapierre was positioned to be Washington’s third line center. It didn’t go well, and eventually the Caps traded with the Penguins to get Lars Eller to help add depth and improve the spot where Lapierre was struggling.

Lapierre failed to make progress in 2025-26, appearing in 74 games in a very limited role that only saw him average 9:54 per game (and just 8:42 at even strength), losing way to players like Justin Sourdif and ending up bumping to a wing position. Lapierre enters the summer as a restricted free agent, but given the lack of personal success should be getting signed to a very reasonable short-term contract as he looks to establish himself.

Despite the lack of upward momentum in his career, Lapierre represents a player that GM Kyle Dubas has highlighted that the Penguins want: in their mid 20’s, with NHL experience and ability that might need a new opportunity to unlock more of their game. The Pens have pulled this out before, most successfully with Egor Chinakhov, Elmer Soderblom and Connor Dewar as well as others like Phil Tomasino, Ilya Solovyov and Emil Bemstrom among other cases, to varying degrees of success.

Lapierre has some upside, even though the ugly 2024-25 season stands a warning for a player who can become mired in a deep slump.

Hendrix Lapierre, acquired by PIT, is a young-ish fourth-line centre. pic.twitter.com/k7r2voKjX6

— JFresh (@JFreshHockey) June 25, 2026

Lapierre could add to the team’s center depth or be shifted to the wing at this point. He almost certainly doesn’t belong in the same outlook for a Chinakhov-esque type of huge glow-up but could have the opportunity to become a lineup mainstay in Pittsburgh. The Pens already have a dedicated fourth line center in Blake Lizotte, whereas Lapierre has more of a skilled profile of a player who has the ability to create some offense via his playmaking.

An unmentioned item for this acquisition might be telling in setting the stage for the future. Pittsburgh has Justin Brazeau and Tommy Novak entering the final seasons of their contracts in 2026-27. Lapierre’s addition crowds the amount of lower line forwards (where Lapierre joins an area that Soderblom, Dewar, Lizotte occupy and hopefuls like Rutger McGroaty and Avery Hayes potentially join the likes of Brazeau and Novak) that starts to show some overfill for players to spots available.

The first move of the summer certainly won’t be the end of shuffling players around, the Pens kick their offseason off by picking up a player very much in their preferred wheelhouse as far as what they want to bring into the club for next season.

The two-day NHL draft will be held in Buffalo, New York, starting with the first round on Friday night. The Toronto Maple Leafs have the No. 1 pick after winning the draft lottery. The San Jose Sharks are scheduled to pick second for the second straight year, followed by Vancouver, Buffalo and the New York Rangers. Six of the top prospects:

Gavin McKenna, right wing, Penn State/NCAA

Hometown: Whitehorse, Yukon.

Measurables: 5-foot-11, 170 pounds. Turned 18 in December.

Expected to be selected: No. 1 by the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Accomplishments/background: Pegged as his age-group’s top prospect two years ago, McKenna has matched expectations. That included last year, in jumping from the Western Hockey League to face older and more physical NCAA competition. Following an inconsistent start, McKenna scored 32 of his 51 points in his final 17 games, and finished tied for fourth in the nation in scoring. He was the Big Ten’s freshman of the year, a two-time national rookie of the month and Hobey Baker Award finalist. At Medicine Hat, McKenna scored 79 goals and 244 points in 133 career games. In 2025, he became the third-youngest player to earn CHL David Branch Player of the Year honors behind only Sidney Crosby and John Tavares. McKenna has an opportunity to become just the sixth Yukon-born player drafted, and the highest pick after Buffalo chose Dylan Cozens seventh in 2019. He’s a distant cousin by marriage with Connor Bedard, who was selected No. 1 by Chicago in 2023.

NHL Central Scouting report: “Shows exceptional poise and maturity in his game, demonstrating a high hockey IQ that allows him to dictate play. ... Projects as a player with pro-level pace and vision, someone who can drive a line and elevate those around him.”

Ivar Stenberg, left wing, Frolunda/Swedish Elite League

Hometown: Gothenburg, Sweden.

Measurables: 5-foot-11, 183 pounds. Turned 18 in September.

Expected to be selected: Has a chance to go No. 1, and won’t fall past No. 4

Accomplishments/background: Led all teenagers in Sweden’s top league with 11 goals and 33 points in 43 games. His 33 points were the fifth-most by a player 18 or younger in a group that includes twins Daniel and Henrik Sedin. In January, he was part of Sweden’s gold medal-winning team at the world junior championships; his 10 points (four goals, six assists) tied for fifth-most in tournament history. His brother, Otto Stenberg, was selected 25th overall by St. Louis in the 2023 draft.

NHL Central Scouting report: “His blend of speed, first-step quickness and balance makes him a dangerous, dynamic skater who can both create and finish plays. ... Though still physically developing, his compete level and confidence make him effective in board battles and transition play.”

Chase Reid, defense, Sault Ste. Marie/OHL

Hometown: Pontiac, Michigan.

Measurables: 6-foot 2, 195 pounds. Turned 18 in December.

Expected to be selected: A top-5 selection, and also mentioned as potential No. 1 candidate.

Accomplishments/background: Finished second among OHL blue liners in averaging 1.07 points per game with 18 goals and 30 assists in 45 outings. He missed 17 games with in injury before returning for the playoffs. Has used being cut by the USHL's Waterloo Black Hawks as motivation, and leading to decision to play in OHL. Began career as a forward before switching to defense while playing for Detroit Honeybaked Triple-A program.

NHL Central Scouting report: “A take-charge type of defenseman that dictates the game. ... Not afraid to mix it up and play physical. ... The complete package.”

Caleb Malhotra, center, Brantford/OHL

Hometown: Victoria, British Columbia.

Measurables: 6-foot-2, 182 pounds. Turned 18 on June 2.

Expected to be selected: Big surprise if he goes past Vancouver at No. 3, with the Canucks coached by his father, former NHL player Manny Malhotra.

Accomplishments/background: Regarded as the top center in the draft class and could go No. 1. Finished second among OHL rookies with 84 points (29 goals, 55 assists) in 67 games. He also led all rookies in playoff scoring with 26 points in 15 games, including a five-point outing. His father was a 16-year NHL veteran, and was coaching Vancouver’s AHL affiliate before being hired last month to take over as Canucks coach. Malhotra’s mother, Joann, is the sister of two-time NBA MVP Steve Nash.

NHL Central Scouting report: “The type of player you want on the ice in any situation and plays the pro-style game with high-end skills, work habits and compete.”

Alberts Smits, defense, Munchen/German Elite League

Hometown: Valmiera, Latvia.

Measurables: 6-foot-3, 205 pounds. Turned 18 in December.

Expected to be selected: Anywhere between No. 4 (Buffalo) and No. 8 (Winnipeg).

Accomplishments/background: Played in two pro leagues and represented Latvia at the Milan Cortina Games. Had 13 points in 17 games for Jukurit in Finland, and closed season in Munchen, where he had two goals and six points in 10 playoff outings. He had two assists in four games at the Olympics. Has chance to be highest-picked Latvian-born player after Buffalo selected Zemgus Girgensons 14th in 2012. Smits left his homeland to play in Finland at 13.

NHL Central Scouting report: “Offensively, Smits is dangerous from the blue line, with a heavy, accurate one-timer and the instincts to quarterback the power play. His calmness under pressure and maturity on the puck make him look like a seasoned pro rather than a teenager.”

Keaton Verhoeff, defense, North Dakota/NCAA

Hometown: Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta.

Measurables: 6-foot-3, 208 pounds. Turned 18 on June 19.

Expected to be selected: Could go as high as No. 4 to Buffalo, and could be the first blue-liner chosen.

Accomplishments/background: Led draft-eligible NCAA defensemen with 20 points (six goals, 14 assists). Made the jump from WHL's Victoria, where the previous season he led the league among rookie defensemen with 21 goals in 63 games. Began as a goalie before switching to defense at 11.

NHL Central Scouting report: “Combination of size and skill has him in the conversation for the top prospect. Can impact the game from his position like few in this draft class. Very complete player.”

___

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/NHL

The Carolina Hurricanes have announced their preseason schedule for the 2026-27 season.

With the NHL moving to an 84-game regular season schedule starting next season, teams will only be required to play four preseason games.

For the last few years, the Hurricanes have played against the same three teams for their preseason slate — the Florida Panther, Nashville Predators and the Tampa Bay Lightning — however, this year they'll only be facing the Panthers and Predators.

In addition, the Hurricanes will be playing one of their preseason games at the First Horizon Coliseum in Greensboro, the home of the Canes' ECHL affiliate Greensboro Gargoyles and where the team played in its first two seasons.

Preseason Schedule

• Sunday, Sept. 20: @ Florida Panthers (7 p.m. @ Amerant Bank Arena)
• Tuesday, Sept. 22: vs. Florida Panthers (7 p.m. @ Lenovo Center)
• Thursday, Sept. 24: vs. Nashville Predators (7 p.m. @ First Horizon Coliseum)
• Saturday, Sept. 26: @ Nashville Predators (3 p.m. @ Bridgestone Arena)

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The Buffalo Sabres busy week leading up to the NHL Draft continued on Wednesday, as mere hours after GM Jarmo Kekalainen orchestrated a sign-and-trade of winger Alex Tuch to the Washington Capitals, the club locked up restricted free agent forward Zach Benson to a seven-year, $52.5 million contract extension. 

The 21-year-old winger Benson posted a career-high 43 points (13 goals, 30 assists) in 65 games in his third NHL season and made his mark in the Sabres first playoff appearance in 15 years, scoring nine points (5 goals, 4 assists) in 13 games. 

“I see him as a true core piece that fills all the boxes,” Kekäläinen said last month. “(Zach has) got skill, he’s got hockey sense, he’s got instincts, he’s relentless, he’s a competitor. What a great playoff he had and, again, I’m so excited about the level that he can get to.”

The extension takes some of the sting off of the trades of Tuch and defenseman Bowen Byram earlier in the week. The 30-year-old winger was headed to free agency on July 1, even after the Sabres reportedly had increased their offer on a long-term deal. Kekalainen was not prepared to go the maximum eight years and in excess of $10 million per season on the veteran winger who scored 33 goals last season, as the Capitals did on an eight-year, $84 million deal. 

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The trade with Chicago is being lauded as an excellent return for the Sabres, but the departures of Byram and Tuch total 44 goals, and while Kekalainen hopes that the growth of youngsters Konsta Helenius, Jiri Kulich, and Noah Ostlund will help fill the gap, the Sabres GM is not ruling out exchanging some draft capital to help bolster the lineup next season. 

“I've told all the teams that have inquired about the #4 pick, that we're just going to listen for now, take notes, and see what they think is the value of #4. We value that very highly ourselves. We know there's a great prospect available there, that's going to be two, three years away, or maybe even more, before they can make an impact on our team.” Kekalainen said. “We want to keep getting better as a team. We had an exciting year, but still disappointing at the end, but we'll gather that information around the league and see what the values, and if we don't think it's as much as making the pick, then we'll make the pick.”

Follow Michael on X, Instagram @MikeInBuffalo

The Carolina Hurricanes have signed defenseman Juuso Valimaki to a one-year contract extension that will pay him $900,000.

The Finnish blueliner joined the organization in January, with the team acquiring him from the Utah Mammoth for future considerations.

Valimaki, 27, was a first-round selection in the 2017 NHL draft and has played in 271 career NHL games with Calgary, Arizona and Utah.

The 6-foot-2 blueliner played primarily for the Chicago Wolves this past year after returning from injury, posting seven goals and 23 points in 27 regular season games as well as five goals and 14 points in 21 playoff games.

Valimaki provides the team with solid defensive depth, one that has both NHL experience and some offensive touch.

Unbelievable signing! Never seen someone be so dedicated to a team that he joined in mid-January. He had an infection that was so bad it required surgery into his bone to clean up. Came back for a 2 month playoff battle while his wife & 2kids were in Finland & paid for team meals https://t.co/gsjmZHTqex

— Jason Shaver (@theshaves) June 24, 2026

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Former Senators head coach D.J. Smith has found his next NHL opportunity, and it will be alongside one of hockey's most polarizing figures.

The Edmonton Oilers officially announced Tuesday that Mike Babcock is their new head coach and that Smith will be his associate coach. The hirings reunite the pair more than a decade after they first worked together with the Toronto Maple Leafs.

For Senators fans, the hiring is notable, not only because he worked in Ottawa, but because he'll now be working alongside Babcock, who's been the talk of the league. 

Whether it was Anaheim, Detroit, Toronto, or Columbus, there seemed to be no end to the negative stories about Babcock's past treatment of his players and coaching methods. When the news broke about Edmonton's interest, all the stories have been retold over the past couple of weeks.

His brief return to the NHL with the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2023 ended before he ever coached a game amid controversy surrounding reports that he had asked players to show him photos from their personal phones.

As Smith rejoins Babcock, he does so with eyes wide open.

Their relationship dates back to 2015 when Babcock hired Smith as an assistant coach with the Leafs. At the time, Smith was one of the hottest young coaches in hockey after leading the Oshawa Generals to a Memorial Cup title.

Smith spent four seasons on Toronto's bench, helping oversee the early stages of the Maple Leafs' rebuild before being hired by Ottawa as head coach in 2019 to help guide their rebuild.

Although the Sens never made the playoffs under Smith, he was good with the media and a popular coach with the players, but probably could have dropped the hammer a little more often. When mistakes were made, sometimes glaring ones, player ice times and power play deployments were rarely affected.

Over four and a half seasons behind the Ottawa bench, Smith posted a record of 131-154-32 in 317 games, which ranks second in franchise history in coaching wins behind only Jacques Martin, the man who replaced him on an interim basis during the 2023-24 season.

After leaving Ottawa, and try and stay with me here, Smith quickly resurfaced with the Los Angeles Kings under Jim Hiller, who had worked with Smith under Babcock in Toronto. Initially hired as an assistant coach, Smith was elevated to interim head coach in March after the Kings fired Hiller. LA responded with an 11-6-6 record down the stretch under Smith's guidance, but it wasn't enough. The Kings hired Peter Laviolette as their new head coach, so Smith was out. Hiller then resurfaced as Toronto's new head coach.

Tracking the flow chart of the NHL coach recycling program can sometimes be exhausting.

For next season, Smith was able to lean on an old connection and thus, won himself an exciting new opportunity in Edmonton. Though based on the state of Babcock's reputation, it's fair to wonder if there was really that much competition for the job.

By Steve Warne
The Hockey News

This story was first published at The Hockey News Ottawa. Read more at the links below:

San Jose GM Describes Why He Traded William Eklund To Ottawa
Shark Bait: Did The Senators Get Enough For Their Ninth Overall Pick?
Should Canadian NHL Teams Have Concerns About American Players?
Brady Tkachuk Had a Chance to Write His Own Story. He Chose Matthew's

Officially, Garnet Hathaway has played his last game as a Philadelphia Flyers player.

On Thursday morning, the Flyers traded Hathaway to the Florida Panthers, ending a three-year tenure in Philadelphia for the veteran tough guy.

By moving on from Hathaway, the Flyers moved up one round in the 2026 NHL Draft.

In exchange for Hathaway, 50% retention of his $2.4 million cap hit, and a 2026 sixth-round pick, the Flyers received a 2026 fifth-round pick and a 2027 fourth-round pick.

After adding Brady Tkachuk from Ottawa, the Panthers continue to add experienced, physical players who can help them win now.

As for the Flyers, they clear a roster spot, a contract spot, and $1.2 million in cap space while adding even more draft capital.

They do, however, lose an important leader who played some hard minutes for head coaches John Tortorella and Rick Tocchet.

The Hathaway trade clearly indicates that the Flyers feel their young players are ready to step into greater leadership roles, and this gives a veteran who accepted a reduced role a chance to win a Stanley Cup elsewhere.

Just months ago, the Flyers did the same with tough guy Nick Deslauriers, trading him away for free, and he won a Stanley Cup with the Carolina Hurricanes and was subsequently rewarded with a two-year extension.

Hathaway, 34, stumbled to just one goal and two assists in 66 games for the Flyers last season, but finishes his career in Philadelphia with 18 goals, 23 assists, and 41 points in 215 games, the second-most he's played with any team in his 11-year NHL career.

As Montreal Canadiens fans get ready to experience the next season without Brendan Gallagher wearing the Sainte-Flanelle, the mayor of Montreal, Soraya Martinez Ferrada, has named the alternate captain an Honorary Citizen.

By definition, an Honorary Citizen is someone with a lasting impact on the well-being of Montrealers through their actions, art and commitment. According to the city’s website, the distinction was first granted in 2002, and no other Canadiens players have ever received it.

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The honor was last bestowed in 2023 on Roger Thibault and Theo Wouters, the first same sex couple to be civilly united in Canada. Before them, Commandant Robert Piché had received it in 2022, after Lucien Bouchard, Louise Harel, and Louise Forrestier had received it, amongst others, in 2021. The ceremony will be held on Thursday at 3:00 PM.

While some may question how a hockey player can make a lasting impact on Montrealers’ well-being, it’s easy to understand when you think back to the mood in the City when the Canadiens make a deep playoff run, something they experienced for the first time in five years last spring. Furthermore, over the years, Gallagher has been involved in numerous fundraising efforts and has made a lasting impact both on and off the ice.

In 14 seasons with the team, Gallagher has skated in 911 games, picking up 487 points, including 246 goals, and has become a fan favourite thanks to his rugged style of play, grit, determination, and dedication to the team. At 34 years old, the veteran has become surplus to requirements in the Canadiens’ lineup and, on dressing-room clear-out day, announced that he would be moving on.

There have been rumblings about his being traded to the Vancouver Canucks ever since, but no deal has been made. Should the Canadiens be unable to move him and his $6.5 million cap hit, it wouldn’t be surprising to see them buy him out to allow him to start afresh and sign a less onerous contract with another team, since he has made it clear that he has no interest in sticking around if he's not going to play.

Since announcing his upcoming departure, the winger has received an outpouring of love from the fans and was also named the Sports Personality of the Year by the Cummings Center Foundation. This weekend, he will also take part in a signing session at Memorable Authentic in Mascouche, giving fans what is likely their last opportunity to meet him.

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The Chicago Blackhawks made a big trade on Tuesday that involved sending the 4th overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft to the Buffalo Sabres, with defenseman Bowen Byram coming the other way.

On Wednesday, the Blackhawks made Kyle Davidson available to the media, and he went over a variety of topics. Of course, he started by addressing the trade that had taken place the day prior. 

"This was a value that we put on a really, really good young player in Bo," Davidson said. "He fits the style of play we want to play."

There is a lot of value to adding a defenseman like Byram to this group. For one, he's a great offensive defenseman who continues to work on his game in his own end. He is also a Stanley Cup champion with a pedigree of winning in the NHL with two different organizations. It will be helpful for the younger guys to have him around. 

"Our young players like Sam Rinzel and Arty Levshunov are going to sit behind Bo and learn from him," Davidson said. "It's immediate help. [He] makes us a better team." 

The Blackhawks have already drafted several defensemen over Kyle Davidson's tenure. They are all working their way to being good in the NHL, but it takes time, especially with that position. Byram was no exception to that rule earlier in his career. Now, he's at a point where he is ready to be a number one ahead of their youth. 

There was some backlash against this move for Chicago. They gave up a lot to get Bowen Byram, including their number one trade chip in the number four overall pick. Davidson said that Byram doesn't have to do anything specific to make it a positive return on investment because his natural progression is going to be the value.

"I think we look at a young defenseman who's not only accomplished, but one that is not done getting better or growing his own game and own profile," Davidson said. "We feel that over the next couple of weeks, we can find [a contract] where we can make sure he's here for a long time. He's already one of the top 5-on-5 play drivers in the league before he even gets on the first power play unit. We're going to provide the opportunity to become one of the top defenseman around the league."

The draft picks weren't the only pieces given up for Byram. Chicago also sent Louis Crevier, who had a great year going from the team's 7th defenseman to the top pair in 2025-26, to Buffalo. 

"You've got to give to get. [Crevier] was part of the give," Davidson said on sending Crevier away. "In our estimation, we had to provide something of value, and obviously Buffalo felt that too." 

Kyle Davidson was asked about Connor Bedard as well. He made it clear that they are going to keep any conversations about his pending contract situation private. He won't reveal anything until a deal is complete.

When it comes to finding a legit NHL linemate for Bedard, it sounds like Davidson is confident in what they have currently, while also acknowledging that they are always looking. 

Davidson highlighted Roman Kantserov during this discussion, who is coming over after leading the KHL in goals last year. He said that if they signed him as a free agent rather than drafting and signing him, people would be more confident in him as Bedard's potential winger. 

It is curious to assume that a rookie coming from overseas is going to step into the NHL and be a capable winger for one of the game's best young centers, but that is the direction that they are choosing to go. 

Speaking of free agency, Davidson was asked about Ilya Mikheyev's situation, and he confirmed that it is likely that he tests the open market on July 1st. Davidson didn't completely rule out Mikheyev's return, but the player is going to go shopping. 

Going back to Bowen Byram later in the presser, Davidson didn't hesitate to use the word elite. Byram being elite, according to Davidson, will go into their commitment to paying him good money for a long time. 

"We believe in this guy," said Davidson. "We believe he's a very good player, and one that can be elite. We need to respect that and honor that. That's something we have to reckon with in the negotiations. We're ok paying great players."

It wouldn't be very surprising if Byram extends right away on July 1st. With the way he spoke about Chicago and the way Davidson spoke about him, it seems like a mutual interest. 

"We all want to improve. We all want to take meaningful steps. That's the motivation." 

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A blockbuster trade completed between the Buffalo Sabres and Chicago Blackhawks could have major ramifications on the New York Rangers’ fifth overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft on Friday night. 

The Blackhawks acquired defenseman Bowen Byram from the Sabres in a trade that included the fourth overall pick. 

With Gavin McKenna, Ivar Stenberg, and Caleb Malhotra projected to be selected with the first three picks in the draft, it was widely speculated that the Blackhawks were looking to draft Chase Reid. 

That would have left the Rangers with their pick of the other top defensemen, including Alberts Šmits, Carson Carels, and Keaton Verhoeff. 

However, the Sabres, unlike the Blackhawks, are loaded with top-end defensemen, but could certainly use reinforcements at the forward position. 

That’s why, instead of selecting Reid, the Sabres may look to target the projected second-best center, Viggo Björck. 

According to Cam Robinson of Elite Prospects, Björck could find his way into the top five of the draft now that the Sabres hold the No. 4 pick. 

This would clear the pathway for the Rangers to go ahead and pick Reid, as there’s now more of a possibility he’s available at their pick with this Byram trade in place.

The title a nod to song from a certain movie, anyways it’s difficult to draft NHL players. NHL teams are tasked with scouting players mostly when they are 16 and 17 years old and have to try and rank what they will be as fully formed adults. Needless to say, it’s not an exact science and a process that ends up with more misses than hits. Our results of making picks alongside the Penguins at their spot in the draft has gone about the same way. Here’s the last decade of fake vs real drafting.

Well, on the plus side at least four out of the five mock picks prior to 2025 that we made played in the NHL last season. That’s better than the Pens ended up with in reality. A player like Hoglander has spun his wheels professionally in recent years (really, he might just need to get out of Vancouver ASAP to benefit his career) and might not be looking to be as proud of a pick as it might have seemed a couple years ago when he produced a 24-goal season. Hoglander’s recent career plateau aside, he worked out a lot better than the actual pick of Sam Poulin did.

The real Pittsburgh 2020 first round pick got traded in the last minute to Toronto for Kasperi Kapanen. The Maple Leafs ended up using that pick to select forward Rodion Amirov, who sadly passed away in 2023 after battling brain cancer. The Penguins ended up getting 162 games and 82 points (29 goals + 53 assists) out of Kapanen before waiving him in 2023 and seeing him go to St. Louis. Zary, for his part, has 86 points (and some good defensive metrics) in 191 games with Calgary. So I guess there’s a case to be made that the Pens would have been better off in the long run for holding onto their pick depending on what they did with it, but then again they wanted a NHL forward for 2020-22 to help their late-stage contention windows and it ended up not panning out since Kapanen didn’t help push the team that far forward while he was on it, and then was jettisoned as a bad contract to allow more cap space via dropping him for nothing.

2022 isn’t looking to great either for our pick, or for the Penguins after draft+4. Ivan Miroshnichenko has only played 52 career NHL games, mostly as a spare part forward. He has become an excellent AHL player but needs to make a big move soon if he’s going to establish himself. Owen Pickering, well we’ve all spent a lot of time on his case. We remain convinced former Penguins GM Ron Hextall thought/hoped he had found Travis Sanheim 2.0 when he drafted Pickering – unfortunately though, at this point there’s enough evidence to say that he got Temu Sanheim instead. Pickering might go on to play NHL games in a modest role, it looks like he will fall short of his draft day ceiling of a matchup defender that could have played up the lineup.

We have plans for a victory lap in 2023, Matthew Wood scored 17 goals and put up 30 points in the NHL in his draft+3 season with Nashville. That’s the dream development curve from a mid-first round pick these days, gotta see some flashes and pay off fairly early on to indicate a potential real factor/difference-maker. Yager didn’t do much in the AHL, but was called up for a few meaningless games once Winnipeg was eliminated last season. Who knows what that means for the future, some predictive models aren’t too high on Yager’s chances at all right now. That doesn’t truly matter to the Pens now, of course, since they flipped Yager for Rutger McGroarty, who hasn’t yet established himself either.

Victory lap plans might be canceled after seeing the Pens pull Ben Kindel from deep in the weeds. That’s why the pros are pros! However, for his part Eklund had a great 2025-26 in the top Swedish league and a great WJC tournament. He also popped over to the AHL and scored 10 points in nine regular season games, and recorded an assist in one NHL game late last year. Eklund had a very encouraging draft+1 to suggest there’s a real player in there.

The Pens could have had Eklund at 12, but instead opted to trade down and ended up coming out of the first round with Bill Zonnon and Will Horcoff when the dust settled. It’s not hard to see why Pittsburgh with a lack of talent would want more quantity – it also makes sense that they wouldn’t be interested in drafting two forwards with similarly small frames like Kindel+Eklund and diversify the profile of player they got by adding larger forwards to their prospect portfolio. That reasoning aside, this area of how Zonnon+Horcoff vs. Eklund works out will be worth watching for developments in the way Yager/McGroarty has been a very deep-in-the-weeds type of minor storyline over the past few years.

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For this year’s draft, I’m going to use scouchsim.com on 25% random to predict who was selected in the first 21 picks. This process is inexact for the real world events on Friday night, and obviously can’t predict if Pittsburgh will trade up or down in reality, but is about as good as it’s going to get for a reasonable way to set the stage of what players could be out there at the time of the selection. In our side quest, we’ll simply stick with the 22nd pick and not get too creative.

After running the sim, here were the top ranked players available:

To an extent, I considered all of these names at least momentarily. The trouble with picking in the area of 22nd is that you know there will be a good future NHLer or two available crowded around a handful that won’t amount to much at the top level. Sorting through and deciding what will end up 4+ years from now is the guess work of today, both for us and for teams picking towards the end of the first round.

NHLe helps as a guide for previous production as projection of how the future unfolds. It loves Tommy Bleyl (12% chance of star outcome of being in the top 15% of WAR/82, and a 64% chance of becoming an NHLer to play in 200 games) as one of the top profiles in the whole draft by this metric. Hurlbert (7% chance of star and 64% becoming an NHL player) ranks highest among the available selections as well, presenting what becomes the two finalists to spell out the thought process. For Bleyl, the question becomes is he going to develop into more of a Axel Sandin-Pellikka or a Calen Addison type of future. It’s a worthy rhetoric to wrestle with. For Hurlbert, it’s more about future position as a center or wing – with a default consensus coming into the draft that he will likely play on the wing as a pro.

In the end, we’ll make Bleyl the official Pensburgh choice, not meant to be predictive of what Pittsburgh will do (we’ll take a stab at that in a full first round mock draft tomorrow). You can check out more on Bleyl from what we wrote earlier in the week. Bleyl’s offensive upside, skating, right shot make him a prospect worth rolling the dice on at this point of the draft. Our fictional prospect pool could use that style of player, as could virtually any real NHL organization that always has a hunger and emphasis on right shot defenders with skill.

BUFFALO, NY -- The New York Islanders will look to bolster their prospect pool when they select at No. 13, No. 109, No. 141, No. 173, and No. 205.

Since Sunday, FOUR first-round picks in the 2026 #NHLDraft have been dealt in FIVE different trades (No. 4, No. 9, No. 16, & No. 25)! 😳

Here's an updated look at the order of selection for Friday's first round!

Watch Round 1 of the 2026 Upper Deck #NHLDraft on June 26 at 7p… pic.twitter.com/AFodVTj0lB

— NHL (@NHL) June 24, 2026

The Islanders' prospect pool has taken tremendous strides over the last few years, so let's take a look at the pipeline, which includes players 25 and under, even if they are pending restricted free agents at the moment and have yet to play a full NHL season.

It does not include players who have signed AHL deals or players who are Group 6 UFAs. 

C: Danny Nelson, Kamil Bednarik, Luca Romano, Gleb Veremyev

LW: Maxim Shababov, Cole Eiserman, Quinn Finley, Victor Eklund, Daylan Kuefler, Tomas Poletin, Alex Jefferies

RW: Daniil Prokhorov, Matthew Maggio, Jacob Kvasnicka, Joey Larson

LD: Isaiah George, Kashawn Aitcheson, Marshall Warren, Jesse Pulkkinen, Calle Odelius, Xavier Veilleux, Dennis Good Bogg, Zach Schultz, Sam Laurila

RD: Tomas Machu

G: Dmitry Gamzin, Henrik Tikkanen,  Joshua Kotai, Burke Hood

As you can see, there's a heavy need for the Islanders to add to the right side of their blueline pipeline. 

According to BPM Sports and RG’s Marco D’Amico, Matthew Knies’ name is making the rounds in the NHL ahead of the draft. The Toronto Maple Leafs winger was heavily rumored to be the mysterious acquisition that fell through for the Montreal Canadiens on trade deadline day.

Word of discussions with Buffalo and the 4th overall pick.

San Jose also said to be of interest here as well.

Montreal remains interested, but hard to compete with the above teams. https://t.co/OAwk8WMzg1

— Marco D'Amico (@mndamico) June 24, 2026

D’Amico reports that the Leafs are not sure if they’ll move him, but they are certainly testing the waters to see what he could land them. He adds that the Buffalo Sabres, who now own the fourth overall pick in the first-round of the upcoming draft on Friday, are interested just like the San Jose Sharks and the Canadiens. However, given that Buffalo does have the fourth overall pick to offer, it will be tough for Montreal to compete.

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It’s worth remembering that the Leafs already have the first overall pick and that, after missing the playoffs and firing both their coach and general manager, they are looking for a quick reset rather than a full rebuild. However, there have been reports of Morgan Rielly giving them a list of teams he’d be willing to be traded to. If that were to happen, chances are Toronto would actually need some roster players to fill the void and not just futures. That could be the Canadiens’ in.

The 32-year-old left-shot defenseman has been a huge part of Toronto’s defense for years, and the Canadiens do have a lot of options on that side of defense. Furthermore, as evidenced by the Bowen Byram trade which took place between the Sabres and the Chicago Blackhawks earlier this week, defensemen can land you a sizeable return.

At this stage, one can wonder if it wouldn’t be wise for the Canadiens to dangle the name of an established defenseman in front of their divisional rival, such as Kaiden Guhle. While he wouldn’t land them Knies on his own, he may be a good starting point for the conversation, especially if the Canadiens are willing to add a top prospect such as Alexander Zharovsky to the package. The skillful winger is held in high regard in the league, and most agree that he should have been a first-round selection at the last draft. 

Michael Hage’s name has also been rumoured to be of interest around the league, but it’s hard to see how the Canadiens could even entertain moving him if the return doesn’t include an established second-line center.

While Knies isn’t a pivot, he would fill a sizeable need for the Canadiens. The 6-foot-3 and 232-pound forward has 160 points in 240 career games with the Leafs, including 66 points in 79 games last season. Furthermore, he landed 152 hits playing on Toronto’s top six. If he were to join Ivan Demidov on the Canadiens’ second line, he could be the big winger who’s tasked with puck retrieval along the boards, much like Juraj Slafkovsky does with Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield.

His physicality would be a great addition for the Habs, especially around playoff time. The former second-round pick from the 2021 draft has really paid off for the Leafs and is signed for another five years with a $7.75 million cap hit, which would fit in very nicely with the Canadiens’ salary structure. 

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