The NHL trade market has heavily favored sellers over the last few days, and the Philadelphia Flyers could choose to cash in on one of their most popular players as a result.
Ahead of Friday's 2026 NHL Draft, NHL insider Frank Seravalli posted his compiled list of the top 40 trade targets around the league, which is ordered by likeliness of a trade coming together.
There weren't any surprises at the very top of Seravalli's list: Dylan Larkin, Mason McTavish, and Matthew Knies were among the oft-discussed names high in the ranking.
Notably, there was only one Flyers player included by Seravalli, and that is winger Owen Tippett, who clocks in at 39th on the list of the 40 names.
It has been reported several times over recent weeks and months that the Flyers do not necessarily want to trade Owen Tippett, unless an offer they absolutely cannot refuse is made.
Tippett, 27, will have a 10-team no-trade list kick in on July 1, so that, more than anything else, could be a driving factor in any potential trade from the Flyers' perspective.
Tippett's $6.25 million cap hit is looking more and modest with each passing year, especially with his ability to create offense for himself using his legs.
At the same time, the Flyers have decisions to consider at the winger position.
Porter Martone will be playing in his first full NHL season in 2025-26, and we can assume that Matvei Michkov will stick around for the long haul, too.
That leaves two more spots in the top-six for Travis Konecny, Tyson Foerster, Tippett, Alex Bump, Denver Barkey, and, potentially, Trevor Zegras if he cannot stick at center permanently.
Plus, the Flyers still hold the 21st overall pick in Friday's draft, which could very well be used on another winger given Tippett's age and Konecny's age.
Some teams picking inside the top-15, like the Buffalo Sabres, Seattle Kraken, and San Jose Sharks (the ninth pick, not the second), may feel incentivized to trade their picks for more immediate help to take the next step.
The Flyers have plenty of wingers to offer, with Tippett clearly being the most valuable of the bunch with his rare combination of size, athleticism, speed, and skill, and defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen could always be included to make it a real package.
Ristolainen was, notably, left off Seravalli's list, though the trade market this week has proven that this could change at any minute.
Four years ago, the hockey world saw a pretty similar Jason Robertson scenario that is occuring this summer. The superstar for the Dallas Stars took a while to come to terms on an extension with his team, but it ended up getting across the finish line.
Now, however, things may be a bit different.
Unlike four years ago, there is pretty legitimate smoke surrounding trade rumors. Multiple sources have reported that the two sides are still talking, but it's also been revealed that at least two teams - the Seattle Kraken and St. Louis Blues - were given permission to speak with Robertson about a contract extension, but he had no interest in signing there. He also, reportedly, already turned down an eight-year, $96 million offer from Dallas.
Jason Robertson has rejected an 8-year, $15mil AAV contract offer from the Seattle Kraken, per @FriedgeHNIC
The fact that Dallas is open for business on Robertson means there is a more than decent chance he gets dealt in the next 24 hours ahead of the 2026 NHL Draft. There are a few teams still rumored to be interested in acquiring Robertson.
On the surface, a marriage between the Penguins and Stars on a Robertson deal might not make much sense, especially for Pittsburgh. They have draft capital - more than any team in the next three drafts - but they only have three of their own first-round picks over the next three years. They have a number of prospects close to NHL-ready who are intriguing, but few who are blue-chip - in fact, blueliner Harrison Brunicke may just be the only "blue-chip" prospect in their system.
Some late evening chatter: - Belief Sabres inquired about Knies - Penguins, Blackhawks, Mammoth among other teams interested in Robertson - Teams calling Flames on Frost, Whitecloud - Oilers have discussed Nurse talks, and goalie search today - Some teams curious about DeBrincat
And, on top of all of that, Pittsburgh is in a period of transition. They made the playoffs last season, they have new ownership, and GM and POHO Kyle Dubas has expressed that the team wants to take "big steps toward contention" next season while also getting younger, which is hard to do without the premium young players to keep the team competitive while they continue to build.
Well, Robertson happens to fit that mold. And, as it turns out, the fit for both teams might be better than folks think.
So, what would it take for the Penguins to land one of the biggest 20-something stars on the market and one of the best players who will be available in the next several years? It will take a lot, but it might be something the Penguins can pull off without severe detriment to their future.
Dubas and the Penguins are in the midst of a pivotal summer in the trajectory of the franchise. Their new ownership - the Hoffmann Family of Companies - badly wants to win, they still have Sidney Crosby playing at a very high level, and they also desperately need elite talent either infused into their system or onto their NHL roster for many years to come.
If the Penguins want to be better next season, trading both Rust and Rakell - let alone, in the same deal - is quite the risk. After all, they'd be subtracting their two best wingers, both of whom produce around 30 goals per season and between 60-70 points. In some ways, this feels like an overpay for one guy.
However, Roberston is a 45-goal, 100-point player, and you have to pay up big-time to land these kinds of players. And, really, it may not be as much a detriment to lose both Rust and Rakell as it appears to be.
Robertson would be paired with one of the greatest players and greatest playmakers of all time in Sidney Crosby, which - no slight to Roope Hintz or Wyatt Johnston - is a significant upgrade for Robertson as far as a center who can aid his production even more. The Penguins will also - assuming he's re-signed - have Egor Chinakhov for a full season. He scored at a 34-goal, 69-point pace during his time with the Penguins last season, and Pittsburgh believes he has star pedigree.
Even with just those two, it's almost enough to offset the losses of Rust and Rakell. Add in the fact that, with the acquisition of Hendrix Lapierre from the Washington Capitals and the potential emergence of a center like Tristan Broz next season, the Penguins might be able to move Ben Kindel up to second-line center duties between Evgeni Malkin and Chinakhov or Tommy Novak, with the other flanking Crosby and Robertson.
Plus, there are options on the UFA market for the Penguins, too, to help offset that loss in the top-six. Mason Marchment comes to mind, as does Viktor Arvidsson. There's also the opportunity for one of the Penguins' younger wingers like Rutger McGroarty, Ville Koivunen, Mikhail Ilyin, or Avery Hayes to be slotted in the top-six alongside talent that should help them progress in a meaningful way. They can also flip Novak and some assets for an upside winger - perhaps for Jason's brother, Nicholas, in Toronto, who would probably love to play with his brother and who Dubas has some familiarity with.
The Penguins have the cap space to do all of this and sign Robertson long-term, and he would be around and still be effective post-Crosby. He's 26, so he's the exact kind of player Dubas and the Penguins should covet. Also, if the Penguins land Robertson, it's unlikely they'd be selecting in the top-10 of the draft next season, anyway, so that 2027 conditional first probably isn't going to be a franchise-changing player.
Sure, the Penguins could use some of those assets to trade up in the draft for a young prospect who is, ultimately, still a "maybe." Or, they could use those assets to acquire a certain elite commodity.
This is the type of player a team serious about contending short- and long-term pays up for. If the possbility is there, Dubas should throw out next to everything he can.
Sure, it's fair to question why Dallas would want two wingers on the wrong side of 30. Rust is 34, and Rakell is 33. Both are still very good and consistent players, but they are aging, and that's no secret.
Yet there are 50-60 goals between Rust and Rakell, regardless of their age. There are also 120-140 points between them, assuming they stay healthy, and they've developed chemistry from playing together for several years. Most of all, Rust and Rakell make $5.1 million and $5 million for two more years, respectively, and if the Penguins retain on one of them, Dallas would have both for around $8 million - $7 million less than what Robertson is allegedly asking for.
What does that mean? Well, it means that Dallas has more cap space to work with to build out an even better roster. They would be able to use the extra cap space from the money saved sans Robertson and any other savings from shed contracts plus the assets acquired in the trade to leverage for some coveted talent younger than Rust and Rakell.
Two firsts can land Dallas a good player. Then, they'd have Rakell, Rust, and said player, which could net more value than Robertson alone would.
When a team is in win-now mode like Dallas is, it needs to take the best available players, period. Getting, potentially, three very good players for one great player helps distribute scoring throughout the lineup and gives Dallas the chance to win in the near-term, as is the goal. A package centered on right-now help makes more sense for them than a package focused on futures, anyway.
And, even if they surrender those two firsts, the trade tree should age quite well: Whoever they get for those firsts should make an impact. Will Horcoff is a promising goal-scoring prospect who had a great first full season with the University of Michigan with 29 goals and 39 points in 40 games - and he spent half the season at age `18, scoring at a goal-per-game pace during that time. Quinn Beauchesne, a right defenseman, is more of a wildcard prospect who is farther out, but his raw skill and ability in transition are intriguing.
Maybe this has to be a three-team trade with something else signficant coming back for those assets from Pittsburgh plus a sweetener from Dallas themselves - maybe involving the Detroit Red Wings and captain Dylan Larkin - in order for the trigger to be pulled. But it fulfills needs for the Stars, and the near-term intrigue is something that could help them win a Cup within the next two years.
Well, that's the million-dollar question, isn't it?
Robertson has, reportedly, already turned down three offers, which means that he is likely trying to have some control over where he goes. This does handcuff Dallas a bit from a leverage standpoint, as teams are not going to trade for Robertson if he is not interested in signing long-term with them. Because of this, even if he technically has no trade protection, he basically kind of does.
So do the Penguins make sense for him? Maybe, maybe not. St. Louis is in a similar kind of place in terms of being caught somewhere between true contention and rebuilding, which is a murky place to commit to.
However, there are some encouraging things happening in Pittsburgh. Dubas has managed to infuse the system with some legitimate talent that should help the NHL roster in the coming years, and if he acquires Robertson, he certainly wouldn't be done working his magic. He is the exact kind of player Dubas wants, and he's the kind of player the Penguins desperately need.
And, at the end of the day, any extension would also, presumably, come with trade protection. Robertson could always ask out to go to a contender if things go very, very south for the Penguins post-Crosby.
But the prospect of playing for a team trying to make themselves sustainable contenders - and a team willing to pull all stops to make that happen - isn't the worst place to be. And that's especially true if the opportunity to flank one of the greatest players of all time in his final years and, perhaps, extend his shelf life, is in play.
If a potential deal between the two teams exists, it seems it would, ultimately, be up to Robertson. But, given the storied history of the Penguins and their out-loud commitment to building a winner - plus the results in the form of five Stanley Cups to show for it - it would be unwise to completely discount the possibility that Robertson may find intrigue in Pittsburgh.
2005 Draft Revisionist History—May 22, 2026 - VOL. 79, Issue. 11 - Jared Clinton
HERE’S A HORRIFYING THOUGHT for Kings faithful: Kopitar in Anaheim Ducks colors. But if the chance arose for a 2005-draft mulligan, that’s exactly where Los Angeles’ all-time scoring leader would have ended up. And a one-two punch of Kopitar and Ryan Getzlaf down the middle could have ushered in an era of Ducks dominance.
If each club, with the gift of hindsight, selected the best available player, there’s also an interesting conundrum in Carolina. At the time, the Hurricanes couldn’t have known a 22-year-old Cam Ward was about to put forth a Conn Smythe-winning performance as Carolina captured the 2006 Stanley Cup. But if he had, and Price was waiting in the wings, how would the Canes have addressed their crease?
Price in Carolina could have also opened the door for Tuukka Rask in Bleu, Blanc et Rouge. Having spent his career in Boston – by way of the Maple Leafs, as Toronto fans surely recall – the thought of Rask as a Hab will give many a Bruins fan a migraine.
And it’s not just Price and Rask who make for interesting re-draft fodder. The 2005 draft has a claim to producing the best goalie crop in post-lockout history. Five keepers, each of whom would be first-round selections in a do-over, produced 150-plus wins, and four eclipsed the 200-win plateau, the most of any draft since the lockout.
Here’s how the 2005 draft would look if every team owned a crystal ball. Where the player was actually picked is in parentheses.
The St. Louis Blues have reportedly tried to trade for a big-name player, as Jeff Marek reports that they attempted to acquire Dallas Stars forward Jason Robertson, but the player was not willing to sign with the Blues.
Marek mentioned that the Blues offered a package that included multiple first-round picks, but the deal did not go through because Robertson preferred not to sign in St. Louis.
This report comes after Elliotte Friedman revealed that the Seattle Kraken had a trade in place for Robertson and had offered him an eight-year, $15 million contract, but they, too, were denied.
Frank Seravalli also mentioned that the Toronto Maple Leafs attempted to be involved in the Kraken-Stars deal by offering Matthew Knies to the Stars in hopes of landing the Kraken’s seventh-overall pick.
Robertson has reportedly turned down offers from the Blues and Kraken and has also told the Ottawa Senators he would not be willing to sign there.
The 26-year-old has also declined offers from the Stars, but those contract offers were likely less than what the Blues and Kraken could offer.
Following Robertson’s denial, several reports link the Blues to Anaheim Ducks center Mason McTavish. The Ducks are looking for a first-round pick, and Pierre LeBrun has noted that both the Blues and New York Rangers have submitted offers to the Ducks.
GM Doug Armstrong has mentioned that they might not sit on their first four round picks, and as the draft inches closer, Armstrong’s activity on the trade market ramps up.
Earlier today, Andy Strickland reported that the Blues are looking to move up in the draft, potentially as high as second overall.
Lots of moving parts and plenty of action are expected to come from the Blues.
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With the league moving to 84 regular season games, the preseason is cut down to just four games. In which case, most NHL clubs will host two games and have two road games.
That is the case with the Predators, as they have two home-and-home series against the Tampa Bay Lightning and Carolina Hurricanes.
The first game is set to be on Sept. 20 at 4:00 p.m. CT against the Lightning on the road. They will then host them at home on Sept. 22 at 7:00 p.m. CT.
Their two games against the Hurricanes are the same setup. They will play a game on the road on Sept. 24 at 6:00 p.m. CT and their last game is set for Sept. 26th at home at 2:00 p.m. CT.
This is the first big step in the offseason. Preseason schedules are always released ahead of the NHL Draft. Which kicks off tomorrow night, June 26.
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If new reports come to fruition, the Philadelphia Flyers could be down another important trade target at the center position without ever getting greatly involved in the matter.
Based on what was already reported throughout the week, the Flyers have some degree of interest in centers Shane Wright, Mason McTavish, Dylan Cozens, Ridly Greig, and Shane Pinto, though they aren't the only ones, and no such trades have been either way so far.
However, when it comes to McTavish, a division rival has entered the chat and is pushing to get a trade over the line.
According to ESPN NHL insider Emily Kaplan, the Anaheim Ducks are weighing two offers for the 2021 No. 3 overall pick at the moment, including one from the Flyers' Metropolitan Division rival New York Rangers.
The other offer could always be the Flyers, of course, but their interest in McTavish in recent weeks has felt lukewarm at best.
McTavish, 23, has five seasons remaining on his new contract at a $7 million cap hit, and it's worth noting that he regressed from a promising 52-point campaign in 2024-25 to just 41 last season: a full-season career-low.
The Flyers have already experienced some success by buying low on former top Ducks draft picks and giving them free rein and opportunity in Philadelphia.
Trevor Zegras looks like a whole new player, and Jamie Drysdale, who was widely considered a bust or trending towards one when the Flyers picked him up, has blossomed into a perfectly viable second-pair puck-mover.
It should go without saying that the Flyers are aware of the success they have had in that vein to this point, though the NHL trade market this year largely favors sellers, and the Flyers are trying to buy, not sell.
Among the Flyers' top trade chips are their glut of wingers and veteran defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen (the Ducks have no RHD under contract for the 2026-27 season), though it is unclear how valuable those pieces are relative to the market right now.
As for the Rangers, it is assumed that 24-year-old right-shot defenseman Braden Schneider, a pending RFA, could be one such target for the Ducks as they attempt to take McTavish off the market.
Like the Flyers, the Rangers and Ducks have an open dialogue for trade talks, too.
This time last year, longtime Rangers forward Chris Kreider was a new face joining the Ducks, and Jacob Trouba was traded for Urho Vaakanainen and a 2025 fourth-round pick in Dec. 2024.
Ultimately, it may come down to the Rangers' trade offer appealing to the Ducks more, whatever it includes, whereas the Flyers seem content staying out of any trade scenarios that they would clearly lose on paper.
The Rangers are set to make more than one pick during Day 1 of the NHL draft Friday for the first time since they won the lottery in 2020.
With 11 total selections over the next two days, the Blueshirts interviewed upwards of 70 players at the NHL combine earlier this month for what could be the organization’s largest draft class in more than two decades.
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Fifth overall was the lowest the Rangers could’ve drawn in this year’s draft lottery after finishing tied for the third-worst points percentage in the NHL. Replenishing their prospect cupboard must be a priority in this retool. The first pick they make should be of consequence next season.
Chase Reid impressed many teams in more ways than one, including the Rangers. One source compared the Michigan State commit’s personality and demeanor to Matthew Schaefer, the first overall pick last year by the Islanders who captured the hearts of all hockey fans on and off the ice.
If Reid falls to No. 5, the Rangers will likely pounce, but there is no guarantee he will still be available at that point.
While some predict the Canucks will take Caleb Malhotra at No. 3, having his father, Manny, serve as head coach may be more of a deterrent than an incentive. Still, most projections have Malhotra going within the first four selections.
Chase Reid attends the 2026 NHL Draft Top Prospects Media Availability on June 25, 2026 at the New Era Cap World Headquarters in Buffalo, New York. Getty Images
Even if Malhotra is available for the Rangers, word is they are higher on other players.
The more likely skaters to still be options at No. 5 are a trio of defensemen: Keaton Verhoeff, Carson Carels and Alberts Smits. Scouts say the 6-foot-3, 209-pound Smits is one of the most NHL-ready blueliners available in the draft, which should be enticing to the Rangers.
Verhoeff was the youngest defenseman in college hockey this past season and turned 18 just last week, but the righty shot is lauded for his presence and quiet confidence. In his freshman season at the University of North Dakota, Verhoeff was a top four defenseman, quarterbacked the power play and was one of the team’s leaders in ice time.
Keaton Verhoeff attends the 2026 NHL Draft Top Prospects Media Availability on June 25, 2026. NHLI via Getty Images
“I was really impressed with his ability to compete physically,” UND head coach Dane Jackson told The Post in a recent phone interview. “And then also his ability to adapt and figure out and adapt his game to probably just be a little more efficient and move pucks a little bit quicker than he had to in junior hockey.”
Committed to UND for the 2026-27 season, Carels put up 20 goals and 73 points in 58 games with the Prince George Cougars of the Western Hockey League.
The left-handed defenseman grew up working on his family farm just outside of Cypress River in Manitoba, Canada. Concerns over his ability to flourish in an overwhelming city like New York are warranted and will likely be taken into consideration, but he is said to have a well-rounded two-way game already that could outweigh any apprehension.
“I think Carson’s got a real edge to his game,” Jackson said. “Kind of an old-school type of physicality and kind of hardness that he competes with. Those are always nice defensemen to have in front of your net when you have guys that are punishing the opposition.”
It’s unclear if the fifth overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft or Braden Schneider is involved in the trade.
MacTavish, a 23-year-old center, is coming off a season with the Ducks in which he recorded 17 goals, 24 assists, and 41 points in 75 games, while averaging 15:19 minutes.
It’s never too early to start thinking about next hockey season.
Sure, the Stanley Cup Final ended less than two weeks ago, and the new league year has yet to arrive, but that doesn’t mean we can’t start looking ahead to when NHL players will be back on the ice battling one another.
On Thursday, the Florida Panthers announced their 4-game 2026 preseason schedule.
Unlike in past years, the NHL shrunk its preseason schedule to just four games to accommodate for the league expanding the regular season schedule to 84 games.
What that means for the Panthers is that they will be facing only two teams in those four games, and since both are geographically close to the Cats, there is quite a bit of familiarity with each of them.
Florida’s preseason slate will begin on Sunday, Sept. 20 when they host the Carolina Hurricanes at Amerant Bank Anena.
Two nights later, the Panthers will travel up to Raleigh for a rematch with the Canes at Lenovo Center.
Later that week, Florida will make a stop at Benchmark International Arena for a matchup with the Tampa Bay Lightning on Thursday night.
The Panthers will then wrap up their exhibition slate against the Lightning back in Sunrise on Saturday, Sept. 26.
As many of you will recall, the Panthers and Lightning wrapped up the 2025 preseason by facing each other three consecutive games; one in Orlando, one in Tampa and one in Sunrise.
After a fairly mild first night in Orlando, things went a little bonkers during the final two games.
During the second-to-last game in Tampa, the Panthers and Lightning combined for 186 penalty minutes.
That might seem like a lot, but then two nights later in Sunrise the Cats and Bolts took things up a few notches, ultimately being called for an eye-popping 322 penalty minutes throughout the course of the evening.
We’ll see if we get any kind of a repeat performance this year, but the schedule-makers sure put the bitter rivals in a position to continue their penalty box-filling tradition.
Photo caption: Oct 2, 2025; Tampa, Florida, USA; Florida Panthers center Luke Kunin (71) and Tampa Bay Lightning center Jack Finley (62) lock up in the third period at Benchmark International Arena. (Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images)
Horvat, who is entering the fourth season of an eight-year deal worth $8.5 million annually, is the Islanders' No. 1 defenseman who has a full no-trade clause and no interest in leaving town.
Seravalli points out that while a deal is not done, it's a name to keep an eye out for in a potential trade with the Rangers.
McTavish is coming off a season where he had 17 goals and 24 assists (41 points) in 75 games. He helped Anaheim make it to the postseason before they were ousted by the Vegas Golden Knights in the second round of the Western Conference playoffs. In 10 postseason games, he posted six points (one goal, five assists).
The Ducks drafted McTavish third overall in the 2021 NHL Draft, but he is coming off a down year after his career-best 2024-25 season. That season, he posted 52 points on 22 goals and 30 assists, all career highs.
Multiple reports say that the Ducks are weighing offers from two teams for McTavish. The Rangers being one and, according to The Athletic's Scott Wheeler, the Ottawa Senators being the other.
Ducks head coach Joel Quenneville speaks to the media during his 2025-26 exit interview.
The Ducks have signed one of their pending RFAs to an extension. However, it wasn’t one of the players that the fanbase has been clamoring for general manager Pat Verbeek to lock down long-term.
On Thursday afternoon, the Ducks announced that they had signed defenseman Ian Moore to a two-year contract extension. Per PuckPedia, his AAV is $1.15 million. Moore was a 10.2c free agent, meaning he was not eligible for an offer sheet.
Moore played in three NHL games at the end of the 2024-25 season, first joining the San Diego Gulls in the AHL on an amateur tryout (ATO) after the conclusion of his collegiate season with Harvard. He played in nine AHL games before signing his entry-level contract (ELC) with the Ducks.
This past season, Moore began the year as the Ducks’ seventh defenseman. He made his first appearance of the season against the Chicago Blackhawks on Oct. 19, acting as a forward/defenseman hybrid after head coach Joel Quenneville opted to roll an 11/7 lineup. Following Radko Gudas’ lower-body injury a few games later, Moore began playing regularly on the backend.
Once Gudas returned, Quenneville continued to play Moore, although it was mostly as a fourth line winger. He cited Moore’s intelligence several times throughout the season as the reasoning behind deploying him in this fashion over natural forward options like Ryan Strome.
Mar 12, 2026; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Anaheim Ducks defenseman Ian Moore (3) carries the puck against the Toronto Maple Leafs during the second period at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images
After John Carlson was acquired from the Washington Capitals in March, Moore rarely saw time on the blue line. His one opportunity came on Apr. 1 against the San Jose Sharks, playing with Carlson on his off-side. It was a tough game for Moore, who struggled defensively and had a couple of back-breaking turnovers. After that game, he returned to the fourth line.
In the first round of the playoffs, he formed an unorthodox checking line with Jeff Viel and Tim Washe, working to shut down Connor McDavid any chance they got. They did their job well, keeping McDavid at bay.
During the Ducks’ second round series against the Vegas Golden Knights, Drew Helleson suffered a groin strain, which required Moore to hop back on defense, with Gudas also out with a sprained ankle. He worked fairly well with Olen Zellweger as the Ducks’ bottom pair after not playing defense for 20-odd games.
Next season, Moore is expected to have a full-time role on the blue line. The possibility of John Carlson, Jacob Trouba and Gudas all hitting the open market leaves Moore, Helleson and Tristan Luneau as the next right-handed options on the depth chart. Barring any offseason additions, it’s a good opportunity for Moore to have. His contract extension is good value for both parties.
On Thursday, the New Jersey Devils made their second trade of the day when they acquired defenseman Declan Chisholm from the Washington Capitals in exchange for a fourth-round pick in the 2027 NHL Draft.
Just like the first trade, this move for Chisholm is Sunny Mehta's way of turning a lottery ticket into a more well-known commodity. Chisholm is not a star, but he has the tools to be a third-pair defenseman if the Devils find themselves in need of some depth.
Chisholm was drafted by the Winnipeg Jets in the 5th round (160th overall) in the 2018 NHL Draft. He was a part of two NHL seasons with them before two with the Minnesota Wild, and one with the Washington Capitals.
In his only season with Washington, Chisholm played in 26 games. He had one goal and six assists from the back-end in those games. He wanted more of an opportunity to play in the NHL, so the Capitals traded him away.
It isn't certain that he will get big minutes with New Jersey, either, but they have shown an interest in him by acquiring him using a draft pick. The Utica Comets are also looking for help with depth after a lowly 2025-26 season.
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The player empowerment era that has arrived in the NHL represents a test of the hypothesis the Islanders have spent the last year restating in various forms.
They have Matthew Schaefer. They have UBS Arena. They have proximity to New York City without the bright lights and media scrutiny of Broadway.
For much of the franchise’s history, the Islanders have been treated around the league as the Rangers’ ugly stepbrother, the opposite of a destination franchise. Can that change now, when the answer to that question carries serious ramifications?
The answer will dictate so much in the long term. The Islanders need to both build around Schaefer and, eventually, avoid ending up in the same situation with him as Ottawa and Detroit did with their franchise cornerstones. How much of that process is able to take place this summer, though, is less clear.
The Islanders are looking to build around their young start Mathew Schaefer to show they’re team can be a destination spot for other big names, The Post’s Ethan Sears writes. Noah K. Murray for New York Post
Predicting who that will be as late as 13th overall is a fool’s errand, but players such as winger Ethan Belchetz, center Tynan Lawrence, defenseman Ryan Lin or winger Wyatt Cullen could be in range.
It seems worth highlighting, though, that the pick is Darche’s most easily tradeable high-end asset, should the chance arise.
In an offseason that so far has seen Brady Tkachuk and Jordan Kyrou — linked to the Islanders ahead of the last trade deadline — traded, Dylan Larkin request a trade and rumors surround fellow Team USA Olympians Connor Hellebuyck and Zach Werenski, the Islanders have mostly been on the periphery of all the noise.
Darche’s two-pronged strategy of trying to make the playoffs and compete as the old guard cycles out — including captain Anders Lee, who, with whatever caveats you want to throw at it, appears likely to hit free agency July 1 — while keeping the prospects who should form the nucleus of a Cup contender a few years down the line means that he must pick his spots carefully.
The Islanders general manager, though, has said publicly he doesn’t find the free agent class appealing. He has some cap space to work with — $10 million to $15 million depending on how creatively you account for it — and plenty of holes to fill on a roster crying out for help on the right side of its blue line and more scoring on its wings.
Islanders general manager Mathieu Darche said he isn’t a big fan of this year’s NHL free agent class. Robert Sabo for New York Post
There doesn’t seem to be an obvious star for the Islanders to target in a trade, especially with Kyrou now off the board, but Brayden Schenn was not an obvious target when Darche dealt for him at the trade deadline either. By the way, here was Schenn the very next day, talking about the leaguewide perception of the Islanders:
“When superstars in the league are good guys that take care of their teammates, guys are only gonna want to be around him and guys are only gonna want to come to the New York Islanders in the future just because of his talent and character.”
At least for the last few years, the trend has been that, though the Islanders aren’t a destination per se, once players come, they don’t want to leave. Listen to how Schenn, Bo Horvat, Kyle Palmieri, JG Pageau, Tony DeAngelo and even David Rittich have talked about the place.
Schaefer’s singular brilliance can be what moves the perception up a level and makes Long Island a place players ask — no, demand — to go. The Rangers have been making noise for two years about trying to attract Connor McDavid, sounding not unlike the Knicks circa 2010, deluding themselves into thinking LeBron James would ride into Madison Square Garden on a white horse.
Why shouldn’t the Islanders, who can offer McDavid a better hockey situation and less of a daily spotlight, quietly hope he’ll hear their pitch?
Granted, that is a question for after Mike Babcock flames out in Edmonton.
As for the matter of how the Islanders will fit into the flurry of activity leading into Friday, it is a question of opportunity and salesmanship.
Oct 5, 2023; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Detroit Red Wings forward Amadeus Lombardi (78) pursues the play against the Toronto Maple Leafs in the third period at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images
It’s draft season, so there are some moves and the Devils made a couple of them, first acquiring 23-year-old center Amadeus Lombardi from the Detroit Red Wings for the Devils 4th round selection in the 2026 NHL entry draft.
🚨 TRADE ALERT 🚨
We’ve acquired Amadeus Lombardi from the Detroit Red Wings in exchange for our fourth-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft. pic.twitter.com/46te2tnVW7
Lombardi has been nearly a point-per-game player for the Grand Rapids Griffins of the AHL for the past two seasons. My initial reaction is this is a smart gamble. Fourth round picks rarely materialize and clearly the Devils see something in Lombardi, who would be competing for a bottom 6 center role in camp this year. The Devils need center depth and they obtained that in this move for minimal cost.
[Lombardi] has consistently posted strong play-driving results in all three zones and is known for his two-way play and attention to detail. Still only 21, he continues to fly under the radar in fantasy circles, though that will change when he starts to see reps in a Red Wings uniform in the near future.
All good things. Welcome to the Devils, Amadeus.
For a good read on Lombardi’s statlines, please check out Andrew Streitel’s article reviewing his season on Grand Rapids Griffin’s site.
Devils Acquire Chisholm
Later in the day, the Devils also acquired left-handed defenseman Declan Chisholm for a 2027 fourth round pick.
🚨 TRADE ALERT 🚨
We’ve acquired Declan Chisholm from the Washington Capitals in exchange for our fourth-round pick in the 2027 NHL Draft. pic.twitter.com/uW3i7TkvcD
The 26-year-old defender scored a goal and six assists in 26 games for the Capitals last season. Chisholm has played a combined 125 NHL games for the Capitals, Wild, and Jets over the past several seasons.
Flyers Have Clear Bowen Byram Trade Alternative in Young Hurricanes StarAfter missing out on some big trades, the Philadelphia Flyers must be all-in on Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Alexander Nikishin.
