Category: Ice Hockey

The Devils have made a move ahead of this week’s NHL Draft.

New Jersey sent defenseman Simon Nemec and winger Maxim Tsyplakov to the Calgary Flames in exchange for a prospect and a package of draft picks.

The first of those selections is the Rangers’ second rounder for this year, and the other two are conditional top-10 protected first-round picks via the Golden Knights and Avalanche. 

The Devils now hold six picks in this year’s draft, and a total of five first rounders over the next three years. 

Nemec landed in New Jersey as the second overall pick in the 2022 Draft. 

He played parts of three seasons after debuting with the club and is coming off his best statistical campaign to this point, finishing with 11 goals and 15 assists over 68 games. 

The 22-year-old RFA is set to receive a big payday this summer. 

Tsyplakov appeared in just 22 games down the stretch with the Devils after being acquired from the Islanders as part of the return for Ondrej Palat ahead of the trade deadline. 

Etienne Morin, the prospect sent to New Jersey, is a 22-year-old d-man who skated in 42 AHL games last season.

The Devils have made a move ahead of this week’s NHL Draft.

New Jersey sent defenseman Simon Nemec and winger Maxim Tsyplakov to the Calgary Flames in exchange for a prospect and a package of draft picks.

The first of those selections is the Rangers’ second rounder for this year, and the other two are conditional top-10 protected first-round picks via the Golden Knights and Avalanche. 

The Devils now hold six picks in this year’s draft, and a total of five first rounders over the next three years. 

Nemec landed in New Jersey as the second overall pick in the 2022 Draft. 

He played parts of three seasons after debuting with the club and is coming off his best statistical campaign to this point, finishing with 11 goals and 15 assists over 68 games. 

The 22-year-old RFA is set to receive a big payday this summer. 

Tsyplakov appeared in just 22 games down the stretch with the Devils after being acquired from the Islanders as part of the return for Ondrej Palat ahead of the trade deadline. 

Etienne Morin, the prospect sent to New Jersey, is a 22-year-old d-man who skated in 42 AHL games last season.

One of the Montreal Canadiens' top goals this off-season should be to bring in another right-shot defenseman. 

Unfortunately for the Habs, one of the top right-shot defenseman trade candidates is no longer a potential option for them. 

This is because the Calgary Flames have acquired defenseman Simon Nemec from the New Jersey Devils in exchange for the Vegas Golden Knights' 2027 first-round pick, the Colorado Avalanche's 2028 first-round pick, the New York Rangers' 2026 second-round pick, and defenseman Etienne Morin. The Flames also added forward Maxim Tsyplakov from the Devils in the deal. 

With Nemec being a 22-year-old right-shot defenseman with high potential, he would have had the potential to be an excellent addition to the Canadiens' roster. He could have fit very nicely in the Canadiens' young core, but alas, he is heading to the Flames instead. 

With Nemec no longer available, the Canadiens will need to consider other options if they hope to land a new right-shot defenseman this off-season. The top right-shot defenseman trade candidates right now are Dougie Hamilton, Braden Schneider, and Rasmus Ristolainen. This year's top pending UFA options currently are John Carlson, Rasmus Andersson, and Jacob Trouba. 

One of the Montreal Canadiens' top goals this off-season should be to bring in another right-shot defenseman. 

Unfortunately for the Habs, one of the top right-shot defenseman trade candidates is no longer a potential option for them. 

This is because the Calgary Flames have acquired defenseman Simon Nemec from the New Jersey Devils in exchange for the Vegas Golden Knights' 2027 first-round pick, the Colorado Avalanche's 2028 first-round pick, the New York Rangers' 2026 second-round pick, and defenseman Etienne Morin. The Flames also added forward Maxim Tsyplakov from the Devils in the deal. 

With Nemec being a 22-year-old right-shot defenseman with high potential, he would have had the potential to be an excellent addition to the Canadiens' roster. He could have fit very nicely in the Canadiens' young core, but alas, he is heading to the Flames instead. 

With Nemec no longer available, the Canadiens will need to consider other options if they hope to land a new right-shot defenseman this off-season. The top right-shot defenseman trade candidates right now are Dougie Hamilton, Braden Schneider, and Rasmus Ristolainen. This year's top pending UFA options currently are John Carlson, Rasmus Andersson, and Jacob Trouba. 

ST. LOUIS -- The St. Louis Blues have traded Jordan Kyrou to the Washington Capitals for forward Connor McMichael, the No. 16 pick in the 2026 NHL Draft, and forward Milton Gastrin, a 2025 second-round pick.

It brings an end to Kyrou's career with the Blues, who selected the forward with the 35th pick in the 2016 Draft (second round). 

The 28-year-old has five years remaining on a contract that pays $8.125 million average annual value and a full no-trade clause, so he had to approve the move to D.C. There is no salary retained by the Blues in the trade, and they currently hold four picks in the first round this year (No. 11, 15, 16 and 29).

Last season, Kyrou played in 72 games and had 46 points (18 goals, 28 assists). In 488 regular-season games played over eight NHL seasons, Kyrou had 378 points (168 goals, 210 assists).

McMichael, 25, played in 78 games for Washington last season and had 46 points (14 goals, 32 assists). In six seasons for the Capitals, he had 154 points (67 goals, 87 assists).

McMichael, a first-round pick in 2019 (No. 25), is a restricted free agent with arbitration rights; he had a career year in 2024-25 with 57 points and 26 goals.

Gastrin, 19, was originally drafted by the Capitals with the 37th pick in 2025.

He played played last season for MoDo Hockey in the Swedish Hockey League and had 24 points (10 goals, 14 assists) in 39 games.

Blues general manager Doug Armstrong will address the trade on Wednesday at 11 a.m.

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ST. LOUIS -- The St. Louis Blues have traded Jordan Kyrou to the Washington Capitals for forward Connor McMichael, the No. 16 pick in the 2026 NHL Draft, and forward Milton Gastrin, a 2025 second-round pick.

It brings an end to Kyrou's career with the Blues, who selected the forward with the 35th pick in the 2016 Draft (second round). 

The 28-year-old has five years remaining on a contract that pays $8.125 million average annual value and a full no-trade clause, so he had to approve the move to D.C. There is no salary retained by the Blues in the trade, and they currently hold four picks in the first round this year (No. 11, 15, 16 and 29).

Last season, Kyrou played in 72 games and had 46 points (18 goals, 28 assists). In 488 regular-season games played over eight NHL seasons, Kyrou had 378 points (168 goals, 210 assists).

McMichael, 25, played in 78 games for Washington last season and had 46 points (14 goals, 32 assists). In six seasons for the Capitals, he had 154 points (67 goals, 87 assists).

McMichael, a first-round pick in 2019 (No. 25), is a restricted free agent with arbitration rights; he had a career year in 2024-25 with 57 points and 26 goals.

Gastrin, 19, was originally drafted by the Capitals with the 37th pick in 2025.

He played played last season for MoDo Hockey in the Swedish Hockey League and had 24 points (10 goals, 14 assists) in 39 games.

Blues general manager Doug Armstrong will address the trade on Wednesday at 11 a.m.

For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.

The Chicago Blackhawks have lots of options when it comes to the off-season. The draft, free agency, and trades are all ways for Kyle Davidson to improve the roster before the sport goes mostly idle for the summer. 

A report that came out on Tuesday from ESPN suggested that the Chicago Blackhawks are still interested in Toronto Maple Leafs forward Matthew Knies, and they would be willing to move the 4th overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft. 

The NHL draft is days away and free agency begins on July 1.

ESPN reporters @emilymkaplan, @kristen_shilton and @wyshynski have made calls around the league for the latest buzz on what the next big moves are on the horizon. https://t.co/vNdnZtBDvt

— ESPN (@espn) June 23, 2026

If the Hawks made a move like this to acquire Knies, regardless of what it costs, he would instantly make the team better both on and off the ice. 

For one, despite being just 23 years old, Knies has some big-game experience under his belt. He played a big role on some good teams at the University of Minnesota, and every year with the Toronto Maple Leafs has been a playoff year except for this past one. 

In 2024-26, the Leafs lost in seven games to the eventual champion Florida Panthers in the second round. It was an emotional roller coaster for Knies and his teammates, which will be a long-term learning lesson. His five goals and two assists in 15 playoff games showed great postseason ability, despite being one of the younger contributors on the team. 

That familiarity with big moments could make him a great asset around the young Blackhawks players who haven't experienced much in the NHL. 

In addition to this leadership that Knies can provide off the ice, he is an incredibly good player on the ice. He missed Mitch Marner in 2025-26, but he still had 23 goals and 43 assists for 66 points in 79 games played.

As Knies continues to improve and develop, he would be perfect alongside Connor Bedard on the top line. They are both capable of scoring goals and making plays, which may allow them to feed off each other well. 

The Maple Leafs won't trade Matthew Knies for just anything, especially knowing that they still have Auston Matthews, William Nylander, and the number one overall pick coming in, but the Blackhawks do have the assets needed to make a move of this caliber. 

Visit The Hockey News Chicago Blackhawks team site to stay up to date on the latest news, game-day coverage, player features, and more.

For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting on the article below on THN.com or by creating your own post in our community forum.

The Chicago Blackhawks have lots of options when it comes to the off-season. The draft, free agency, and trades are all ways for Kyle Davidson to improve the roster before the sport goes mostly idle for the summer. 

A report that came out on Tuesday from ESPN suggested that the Chicago Blackhawks are still interested in Toronto Maple Leafs forward Matthew Knies, and they would be willing to move the 4th overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft. 

The NHL draft is days away and free agency begins on July 1.

ESPN reporters @emilymkaplan, @kristen_shilton and @wyshynski have made calls around the league for the latest buzz on what the next big moves are on the horizon. https://t.co/vNdnZtBDvt

— ESPN (@espn) June 23, 2026

If the Hawks made a move like this to acquire Knies, regardless of what it costs, he would instantly make the team better both on and off the ice. 

For one, despite being just 23 years old, Knies has some big-game experience under his belt. He played a big role on some good teams at the University of Minnesota, and every year with the Toronto Maple Leafs has been a playoff year except for this past one. 

In 2024-26, the Leafs lost in seven games to the eventual champion Florida Panthers in the second round. It was an emotional roller coaster for Knies and his teammates, which will be a long-term learning lesson. His five goals and two assists in 15 playoff games showed great postseason ability, despite being one of the younger contributors on the team. 

That familiarity with big moments could make him a great asset around the young Blackhawks players who haven't experienced much in the NHL. 

In addition to this leadership that Knies can provide off the ice, he is an incredibly good player on the ice. He missed Mitch Marner in 2025-26, but he still had 23 goals and 43 assists for 66 points in 79 games played.

As Knies continues to improve and develop, he would be perfect alongside Connor Bedard on the top line. They are both capable of scoring goals and making plays, which may allow them to feed off each other well. 

The Maple Leafs won't trade Matthew Knies for just anything, especially knowing that they still have Auston Matthews, William Nylander, and the number one overall pick coming in, but the Blackhawks do have the assets needed to make a move of this caliber. 

Visit The Hockey News Chicago Blackhawks team site to stay up to date on the latest news, game-day coverage, player features, and more.

For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting on the article below on THN.com or by creating your own post in our community forum.

SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) — The San Jose Sharks traded William Eklund and two other forwards to the Ottawa Senators on Tuesday for the ninth pick in the draft.

San Jose acquired that pick for Eklund and prospects Kasper Halttunen and Brandon Svoboda. The Sharks now have the Nos. 2, 9 and 27 picks in the first round of the draft Friday night.

Eklund, a Swede who turns 24 in October, was second on the team with 38 assists, fourth with 53 points and seventh with 15 goals. He has 163 points in his first 252 NHL games and is signed for three more seasons at a salary cap hit of $5.6 million, with additional team control in restricted free agency beyond that in 2029.

“William is a dynamic and skilled forward who plays with a competitive edge,” Senators general manager Steve Staios said. “We are excited to welcome him to the Senators organization, and he will fit in well with our core group of players.”

The ninth pick was part of the return Ottawa got from Florida for Brady Tkachuk in that trade over the weekend.

___

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

SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) — The San Jose Sharks traded William Eklund and two other forwards to the Ottawa Senators on Tuesday for the ninth pick in the draft.

San Jose acquired that pick for Eklund and prospects Kasper Halttunen and Brandon Svoboda. The Sharks now have the Nos. 2, 9 and 27 picks in the first round of the draft Friday night.

Eklund, a Swede who turns 24 in October, was second on the team with 38 assists, fourth with 53 points and seventh with 15 goals. He has 163 points in his first 252 NHL games and is signed for three more seasons at a salary cap hit of $5.6 million, with additional team control in restricted free agency beyond that in 2029.

“William is a dynamic and skilled forward who plays with a competitive edge,” Senators general manager Steve Staios said. “We are excited to welcome him to the Senators organization, and he will fit in well with our core group of players.”

The ninth pick was part of the return Ottawa got from Florida for Brady Tkachuk in that trade over the weekend.

___

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

The 2028 first-round pick the Colorado Avalanche sent to the Calgary Flames in the Nazem Kadri deal has already changed hands again.

In a notable summer move, the Flames have added former second-overall pick Simon Nemec along with winger Maxim Tsyplakov in a multi-piece trade with the New Jersey Devils, a deal that brings both immediate NHL help and longer-term upside while reshuffling a handful of future draft assets.

Heading the return for New Jersey is a package that includes a conditional 2027 first-round pick (VGK), a conditional 2028 first-round pick (COL), a 2026 second-round pick (NYR), and defenceman Etienne Morin. Both first-round selections are top-10 protected, softening the risk on Calgary’s end while still underlining the cost of acquiring two young, NHL-established players.

Nemec is the centerpiece of the move, a right-shot defenceman who was selected second overall by New Jersey in the 2022 NHL Draft and has already accumulated significant NHL experience at a young age. He appeared in 68 games during the 2025-26 season, finishing with 26 points (11 goals, 15 assists) and 26 penalty minutes, marking his most productive campaign to date. Since debuting in 2023-24, he has now reached 155 career NHL games, steadily expanding his role and offensive impact from the blue line.

On the international stage, Nemec has been a consistent presence for Slovakia. He suited up in all six games at the 2026 Milano Cortina Olympics, collecting two assists as Slovakia finished just shy of the podium in fourth place. That followed a bronze-medal performance at the 2022 Beijing Olympics, giving him two Olympic appearances before turning 23.

His development track has been highlighted by standout performances at every level. Nemec captained Slovakia at the 2021 Hlinka Gretzky Cup, earning tournament MVP honors after recording six points, and later set a record for most points by an 18-year-old defenceman at the 2022 IIHF World Championship with six points in eight games.

Tsyplakov arrives as a different kind of addition — a late-blooming, physical winger whose path to the NHL has been built through extended professional experience overseas and a rapid adjustment to North American play. Across 126 NHL games with the New York Islanders and New Jersey Devils, he has posted 39 points, including 12 goals and 27 assists. After signing as an undrafted free agent in 2024, he quickly established himself as a regular in New York before being moved to New Jersey during the 2025-26 season, where he added 22 more appearances.

Prior to his NHL arrival, Tsyplakov spent parts of nine seasons in the KHL with Spartak Moscow, appearing in 327 games and recording 121 points, including 63 goals and 58 assists. His game is built around size, straight-line speed, and a direct, physical style that has translated effectively at the NHL level.

The 2028 first-round pick was one of several draft assets the Colorado Avalanche moved in recent seasons while pursuing a Stanley Cup. However, Colorado has begun to recoup some of that draft capital in smaller increments.

General manager Joe Sakic acquired two picks from the Nashville Predators in exchange for Ross Colton and goaltender Isak Posch: a 2026 third-round pick and a 2027 third-round pick originally belonging to Colorado.

The 2027 third-round selection returns to the Avalanche after previously being sent to Nashville in the Juuso Pärssinen trade. It was later included in a separate transaction during the 2025 trade deadline involving Ryan Lindgren.