On Monday, the Pittsburgh Penguins announced the schedule for their annual prospect development camp, which will take place during the week immediately following the NHL Entry Draft.
In years past, the camp has featured some of the organization's very best prospects. And while that may not be the case across the board this time around, there is still plenty of intrigue with the players who will be showing up.
Development camp will be held from Jun. 29 - Jul. 3, which is right after the draft and during the onset of free agency. It will be open to the public and offers a rare opportunity for fans to see a glimpse of the Penguins' future.
Some of the most prominent prospects featured will be 2025 first-round pick (24th overall) Will Horcoff, defensive prospect Quinn Beauchesne, newly signed NCAA prospect defensemen Jake Livanavage and Maleek McGowan, and goaltender Gabriel D'Aigle.
The initial roster features 22 players, but more will be added to the roster following the draft, which will take place on Jun. 26-27.
The camp will kick off each of the first four days with a goaltending session - at this point, featuring only D'Aigle - followed by three different sessions split into three teams. As always, the final day of camp will feature a tournament between the three teams.
TURN ON YOUR TELEVISION on any given night and retire to the barcalounger and you’re bound to see a 21-year-old Connor McDavid or Auston Matthews do something so incredible that it will make the hair on the back of your neck stand up. Is that a 22-year-old Mikko Rantanen we see leading the whole freakin’ league in scoring? And what about that 21-year-old Thomas Chabot kid in Ottawa? Ain’t he something special?
Everything we’ve heard and everything we’ve seen keeps pounding at the notion that the NHL is now a young man’s league. Like the late Whitney Houston, the NHL believes that children are the future. And it’s right. What were once thought to be “generational talents” are now being churned out every couple of years. And if you go to your local youth hockey arena and watch the kids, chances are you’re going to see some young boys and girls who can do some very special things on the ice.
But take a dive into the most important position in the game and you find that the goaltending fraternity has clearly not received the memo. While the rest of the league is having trouble developing a duster in the month of November, the goaltenders are at the point where they’re applying Grecian Formula and getting two minutes for looking so good.
It seems that once teams find a reliable goaltender, and it often takes a while, they hang onto him and ride him well into his 30s. That’s certainly the case these days, which leaves us wondering from where their replacements are going to come.
Consider this: the 31 No. 1 goalies in the NHL have an average age of 31.3. Last year, the average age of an NHL player was 27.1. Twenty-two of these starting goalies (or co-No. 1s) have already blown out 30 candles on their birthday cakes, and just two – Matt Murray of the Pittsburgh Penguins and Andrei Vasilevskiy of the Tampa Bay Lightning – are younger than 25. Pekka Rinne, who became the oldest first-time Vezina Trophy winner since the league began awarding it to the best goalie as chosen by the NHL’s GMs in 1982, just signed a two-year extension with the Nashville Predators that will take him past his 38th birthday, despite the fact the Preds have a top-notch 23-year-old backup in Juuse Saros patiently waiting his turn.
In The Hockey News’ annual Future Watch edition in 2018, we had only eight goaltenders in our top 100 NHL-affiliated prospects. Only 12 teams had a future goaltender among its top five prospects, and six teams – the Anaheim Ducks, Carolina Hurricanes, Chicago Blackhawks, Minnesota Wild, Nashville and the San Jose Sharks – did not have a single stopper among their top 10.
When THN prospect savant Ryan Kennedy produced the top 100 players aged 21-and-under in the world, which included non-drafted players, just four goalies appeared on the list, and only one – Carter Hart of the Philadelphia Flyers – ranked in the top 25. Only one goalie, Jake Oettinger by the Dallas Stars, has been selected in the first round of the past three NHL drafts.
We realize that some of this is due to the fact goaltenders are notorious for taking longer to develop than skaters, and they often only do it with their second or third organizations. And there are probably some young men out there toiling in the minors who have yet to blossom. But with the greying of the goaltending position and the prospect of a good number of them aging out in the next few years, you have to wonder where teams are going to find their replacements.
By the end of this season, five No. 1 goalies will have eclipsed their 35th birthdays, and within five years, 11 of them will be at least 38. It’s been clearly established that it takes about five years for a goaltender to develop from the day he’s drafted, so either some of the backups in the NHL are going to have to step up or the league might be looking at a dearth of quality goaltending – which, when combined with the talent that is on the way, might not be a bad thing for hockey fans who prefer offense.
Ask any amateur scout how easy it is to find good goalies these days and he or she will tell you a tale of woe. Part of that is because Canada, which was once a place where you shook a tree and good goalies would fall out, has lagged in producing elite netminders.
One scout had a theory that it might be because from the time kids are seven until they’re 14 or 15, they’re sharing the goaltending duties and it doesn’t allow them to develop quickly enough. In fact, the Canadian Hockey League, tired of seeing the best European netminders go to the USHL, opened its doors once again to European goalies this season.
And these things tend to ebb and flow. Finland was once the country producing all the talent, and now Russia – with top prospects Ilya Samsonov, Igor Shestyorkin, Ilya Sorokin and Daniil Tarasov – seems to be providing the pipeline.
The top players on a good number of teams would have trouble getting into a bar where the drinking age is 21. But the goalies? They’d have a 31-seat table all to themselves. And it doesn’t look as though they’re going to be giving up their comfortable spots anytime soon.
Malte Gustafsson is a name that’s starting to come up more and more ahead of the 2026 NHL Draft.
He’s 6-foot-4, 201 pounds, so the size is already there, and that’s usually what gets teams interested early. But it’s not just the frame. He actually moves pretty well for a defenseman that size, which is part of why he’s been able to handle tougher competition in Sweden.
Most of his game is built in his own zone. He stays on top of plays, uses his reach to break things up, and makes it hard for forwards to get comfortable once they enter the zone. It’s not the type of game that stands out every shift, but you notice it over time.
Offensively, there’s something to work with, just not much flash. He can make a first pass, move the puck out cleanly, and keep things simple when he needs to. That’s probably where it ends, at least for now.
Scout's Takes:
Here are some of the scouting reports put out by the most notable scouts/hockey writers in the NHL.
"His skating is good for his size, allowing him to play a very mobile game. Gustafsson rarely struggles to get the puck out of his zone. A lack of flash and high-end offensive instinct likely won’t help his draft projection, but there’s still a ton to like about the way he defends and takes up space."
- Steven Ellis, Daily Faceoff
"Gustafsson’s game isn't about his offense despite having some elements (above-average skating and respectable handling for a big man). He’s a big, rangy, strong, sturdy defender who plays a physical, competitive brand and moves well. He projects as a solid two-way NHL D, and his profile is the coveted one in the league these days."
- Scott Wheeler, The Athletic
"He has a presence to his game. Gustafsson isn’t shy about engaging physically and pushing opponents off his crease to clear shooting lanes for his goaltender to see pucks clearly. He’s also capable of occasionally rushing the puck and pulling up to make plays in the offensive zone."
- Jason Bukala, Sportsnet
"On top of having excellent positional play with a great stick, he's added a physical element that helps him win battles in the corners. His passing on the breakout has always been solid, but he's added a layer of puck carrying to his transition game."
- Tony Ferrari, The Hockey News
Draft Projection:
As we enter NHL Draft week, Gustafsson finds himself in a very unique spot. He is projected to go anywhere from 10-15, which depends on what the team's picking in the 10-15 range decides to do. Obviously, with the Predators picking at number 10, if he is available, there's a good chance they could call his name. Especially with some scouting reports comparing him to former Predators' defensemen Mattias Ekholm.
A day after his NHL star sons joined forces in Florida, Keith Tkachuk was elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame on Monday.
The Hall of Fame election was the icing on the cake of a “great weekend for the Tkachuks” after Brady was dealt to the Panthers in a deal with the Senators that united him with his older brother Matthew in South Florida on Sunday, and also included a celebration for the duo’s gold medal at the Winter Olympics and a baptism, the Associated Press reported.
Keith waited 45 minutes to clue his family in on his good news after he got the call.
St. Louis Blues Keith Tkachuk keeps an eye on the puck during the second period against the Edmonton Oilers at the Scottrade Center in St. Louis on November 12, 2006. UPI
“I said, ‘Hey, you guys want to have a beer together?’” Tkachuk recalled. “And I told them and broke the news to them there.”
Keith played 18 years in the NHL, spending time with the original Winnipeg Jets and making the move with the franchise to Arizona when the club relocated in 1996. He played for the Blues and briefly for the Atlanta Thrashers.
He had 1,121 points in 1,290 games, which includes playoffs, while being part of the victorious 1996 United States team at the World Cup of Hockey and won silver during the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, Utah.
“It’s been a crazy weekend, but this tops it off. … This is the ultimate, for sure,” Keith said.
Keith joins Patrice Bergeron, Carey Price, Pekke Rinne, Cindy Curley and Brian Burke as part of the Hockey Hall of Fame’s class of 2026.
Keith Tkachuk celebrates with his son Matthew Tkachuk #19 of the Florida Panthers after the Panthers defeated the Edmonton Oilers in Game Six of the 2025 Stanley Cup Final at Amerant Bank Arena on June 17, 2025. Getty Images
The trade of Brady to Florida ended speculation around his stay in Ottawa, which seemed uncertain, and united him with his brother on a team one season removed from winning back-to-back Stanley Cups.
“Brady is a dynamic competitor and one of the most physical and relentless forwards in the league. A proven leader and exactly the type of player we want in our locker room, he strives to make everyone around him better both on and off the ice,” Florida general manager Bill Zito said in a news release. “We’re thrilled to welcome Brady to South Florida to join our group as we continue our pursuit of championship hockey.”
As the fallout continues from the explosive reported trade request earlier this month from Detroit Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin, a new club has reportedly emerged as the potential frontrunner.
According to a report from NHL Insider Nick Kypreos, the Dallas Stars, who are led by former Red Wings assistant GM Jim Nill, are now Larkin's preferred landing spot in the wake of the Florida Panthers acquiring Brady Tkachuk from the Ottawa Senators.
While Kypreos notes that another former Red Wings executive in Pat Verbeek, a former Detroit teammate of Steve Yzerman who also served under him as assistant GM in both Tampa and Detroit, could try and acquire him for the Anaheim Ducks, the Stars "appear" to be Larkin's preferred destination.
"Frustration and lack of playoff games finally got Larkin to a point where he requested a trade from Detroit with multiple years left on his contract and a full no-trade clause. While Larkin will have some control over his next destination because of that clause, GM Steve Yzerman also has control on if Larkin gets traded at all. There is a strong push for Larkin to expand his list of teams he’s willing to go to. Yzerman will not move him if he feels he’s getting squeezed. Look for Yzerman's former assistant GM, Pat Verbeek, to try and get in on this. However, it appears Larkin's destination of choice is Dallas."
The elephant in the room regarding a potential trade of Larkin to the Stars is whether Detroit could pry away the rights to pending RFA forward Jason Robertson, a Michigan native who has scored 40 or more goals multiple times in his career, to his hometown.
Robertson's contract expires at midnight on June 30, and will also be eligible to receive offer sheets from other NHL clubs.
A likely stipulation from Yzerman would be that Robertson agree to a long-term extension with Detroit before any trade is finalized.
According to multiple unconfirmed reports, a potential December deal that would have brought defenseman Quinn Hughes to the Red Wings fell through due to his reported reluctance to commit to a long-term extension, despite being ineligible to sign one until this summer.
The Stars were not included in Larkin's initial reported short list of teams he'd be willing to accept a trade to; that list only included the Panthers, the Vegas Golden Knights, and Minnesota Wild.
However, Yzerman reportedly asked Larkin’s representation to expand that list, and they were said to be receptive.
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Brian Burke is officially becoming a member of the Hockey Hall of Fame.
The former Vancouver Canucks General Manager was one of six individuals named to the Hockey Hall of Fame’s class of 2026, the likes of which features former Boston Bruins captain Patrice Bergeron, Keith Tkachuk, three-time World Championship silver medalist Cindy Curley, and legendary goaltenders Carey Price and Pekka Rinne.
Burke, whose career as an NHL executive and with the league itself spans over 30 years, first got his start with none-other than the Canucks as the team’s Director of Hockey Operations in 1987. He spent five seasons with Vancouver before serving as GM of the Hartford Whalers. After six seasons as the NHL’s Director of Hockey Operations, Burke returned to Vancouver — this time adding the role of General Manager to his collection.
During his second stint with the Canucks, Burke pulled off one of the most notable moves the franchise has ever made to this day. In an ambitious draft-day move, Burke acquired the second and third-overall selections in the 1999 NHL Draft, selecting franchise icons and now co-Presidents of Hockey Operations Daniel and Henrik Sedin.
Burke’s career as an NHL executive also features tenures with the Anaheim Ducks (with whom he won his first Stanley Cup), Toronto Maple Leafs, Calgary Flames, and Pittsburgh Penguins. He has also owned a variety of WHL franchises including the Tri-City Americans and Chilliwack Bruins.
The 2026 Hockey Hall of Fame induction weekend takes place from November 7 to 9.
Feb. 9, 2012; Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Brian Burke during an NHL press conference for the 2013 Winter Classic between Detroit Red Wings and Toronto Maple Leafs at Michigan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
Make sure you bookmark THN's Vancouver Canucks site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, don't forget to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum. This article originally appeared on The Hockey News.
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When it came to Brady Tkachuk and the Ottawa Senators, there was always a lingering seed of doubt that the captain’s future with the organization would continue for much longer.
Not many anticipated that it would end this soon, however.
Steve Warne and Gregg Kennedy discuss the Brady Tkachuk trade to Florida.
With a little over a year before the Senators could formally offer a contract extension to him, the organization unexpectedly traded Tkachuk yesterday afternoon to the Florida Panthers for the ninth and 25th overall selections in the 2026 NHL Draft, Florida’s top-10 protected 2029 first-round pick, and a 2027 second-round pick.
Inevitably, when Brady returned to Ottawa following the birth of his second child, Lila, at the end of April, a difficult conversation between him and the organization was necessary. And, obviously, from the information that general manager Steve Staios gleaned from that meeting, it became clear that Tkachuk was uncertain or hesitant about signing an extension with the Senators. Rather than have that distraction linger over the team for the next year, the general manager pivoted and ultimately sent Tkachuk packing.
It is a staggering development at a pivotal point in this franchise’s competitive window.
The Ottawa Senators were an analytical darling, finishing in the top-five in the percentage of shots for (52.85 CF%, 5th), percentage of shots on goal (54.08 SF%, 4th), and percentage of expected goals (54.54 xGF%, 3rd). If the organization had gotten the saves early in the season, this would have been a team that would have finished amongst the top teams in the Eastern Conference.
There is something to be said for the maturation process and finding success with a young core group of players who had grown up together after some challenging seasons.
And Tkachuk could not commit to that.
For some, it will be a bitter pill to swallow. In his episode of the Amazon Prime docuseries ‘FACEOFF: Inside the NHL’ that aired earlier this season, Tkachuk detailed how he had a unique story to tell.
“Everybody ties what he did, and everyone's expecting me to do the same thing,” Tkachuk stated. “It's just two different stories. Matthew on his path, and it worked out for him. My path is chugging along, grinding it out and winning a Stanley Cup for the Ottawa Senators."
A lot can obviously change within a year.
From his thumb surgery, to Linus Ullmark’s leave of absence and the accompanying speculation that occurred, to the post-Olympics gold medal victory fallout and dealing with the ramifications of Kash Patel’s inclusion and Donald Trump’s crack regarding having to include the women’s team for a White House visit, to his Wingmen Podcasts where he and his situation in Ottawa were frequently a target of his co-host brother and father, Tkachuk dealt with off-ice adversity and controversy.
Some of it he had no control over, but over other parts, he most certainly did.
All of it was a distraction.
And that is before even mentioning the omnipresent trade speculation that dogged the captain for the past few years. It was a frustrating development for this market because all of that noise and speculation was fuelled by outside forces, yet Tkachuk still had to respond to it.
Eventually, speculation regarding his future led to this answer during his end-of-year media availability.
“I haven't had the chance to talk to Steve (Staios), but I feel like I've answered this hundreds of times,” Tkachuk explained. “None of those things ever came out of my mouth. And quite honestly, it's just getting frustrating. It's becoming a distraction. I've been fully committed to this team, to the city, and it's just becoming a distraction and frustrating to (continue to) do it.”
Tkachuk chose his words carefully, but whenever he spoke about his level of commitment, it was impossible not to notice that he always used the present or past tense. There is no doubt that Tkachuk would have played out the remaining two years of his contract here before testing unrestricted free agency, but he conveniently never referenced any prospective commitment to this city or the organization beyond what was left on his deal.
So understandably, Steve Staios had to have a frank discussion with the captain regarding his future. When it became clear that the odds of Tkachuk remaining in Ottawa were remote, the general manager pivoted and got ahead of the situation. And after seeing the discourse in Detroit following the revelation Dylan Larkin had requested a trade, the Senators and Tkachuk’s representatives deserve credit for keeping this situation under wraps until a trade was being finalized.
Now the Ottawa Senators and Staios have work to do.
For a team in its competitive window, their core is ready to win.
Not landing a young and NHL-ready asset in return was a blow, but it was not for a lack of trying. The Athletic’s Pierre LeBrun reported that the Senators had inquired on Anton Lundell, but were rebuffed by Florida general manager Bill Zito, who viewed Lundell as a key foundational piece.
Despite giving the Senators a list of teams that he would be interested in waiving his no-movement clause for, including the Minnesota Wild, who Michael Russo indicated made a “huge offer”, the reality was that Tkachuk’s full no-movement clause gave him control of the process.
He ultimately wanted to be in Florida with his brother, and it left the Senators accepting a package laden exclusively with futures.
The silver lining is that this accrued draft capital and cap space afford the organization a ton of flexibility in terms of the direction it can take.
The Fourth Period’s David Pagnotta indicated that the Senators really like Dallas’ Jason Robertson, who is a restricted free agent. The caveat is that, as a restricted free agent who is also American, a Brady-less Senators team may not necessarily be high on the list of places where he’d be willing to sign a long-term extension.
If Robertson is not a realistic option for the Senators, the market is not exactly laden with established high-end talent that teams are looking to move.
As an organization that needs to maximize the value of the picks they have accrued, the best opportunity to add a high-end player may be to draft one. Armed with seven first-round picks across the next four drafts, the Senators have the capital to move up in this year’s draft.
In the Senators’ official press release announcing the trade, general manager Steve Staios said, “This was not a decision we took lightly, but ultimately we did what we felt was best for the long-term future of our hockey club. We now possess cap space and draft capital and will be actively working to improve our roster.”
It could be reading too much into his wording, but if the organization viewed a Tkachuk deal within that “long-term future” lens, it stands to reason that moving up in this year’s draft would align with that vision.
The best trade in franchise history was made under similar circumstances when the Senators dealt Alexei Yashin to the New York Islanders for Bill Muckalt, Zdeno Chara, and the second overall selection in the 2001 NHL Draft that became Jason Spezza.
Regardless, the Senators need to maximize the value of its draft picks.
We do not even have to go too far back in history to recognize that follow-up trades after significant departures can create buzz, but have the potential to fall short of expectations.
Following Daniel Alfredsson’s free agent departure, the Senators traded a significant opportunity cost to the Anaheim Ducks for Bobby Ryan. Ryan was a decent player, but he was never a dynamic one who could move the needle. Ultimately, the organization would have been better served holding onto the assets they moved out.
It may take a season or two for whoever the Senators could pick to turn into an impactful player, but if said player is adjudged to be the best value, that should be the route the team should take. At least a player on an entry-level contract would theoretically allow the organization to allocate more money towards free agency.
Whatever the case, for a front office renowned for its analytical approach and for exploring every avenue through due diligence, having flexibility is key.
As for Brady, it’s a disappointing end to his career in Ottawa.
He was the face of the franchise and the captain of a Canadian market. He was one of the most productive players in this team’s modern existence, and his goal-scoring, shot generation and physicality made him one of the most unique players in the NHL. After years of clamouring for a Gary Roberts-type during this organization’s heyday, Ottawa finally had one.
He was also an unbelievable contributor to this community through his philanthropic work. Unfortunately, when this team was finally trending in the right direction and playing the right way, he left. Not only did he leave, but he chose the path of least resistance that flew in the face of everything he had said previously.
He followed Matthew’s path.
He had a chance to write his own story and be his own person, and he balked.
That is his legacy here.
By Graeme Nichols The Hockey News
Move coverage of the Brady Tkachuk Deal at The Hockey News at the links below:
The Hockey Hall of Fame announced the Class of 2026 on Monday, and multiple names familiar to fans of the Detroit Red Wings were included.
Among the names heading to Toronto later this year include Keith Tkachuk, Patrice Bergeron, Pekka Rinne, Carey Price, and Brian Burke.
However, a pair of notable former Red Wings players who more than proved their worth of being enshrined in the Hall of Fame during their respective playing careers were once again snubbed.
Henrik Zetterberg, the 2008 Conn Smythe Trophy winner who is also a member of the Triple Gold Club, along with goaltender Chris Osgood, who won the Stanley Cup three times (twice as a starter) and accumulated 400 career wins, will have to wait another season.
— Hockey Hall of Fame (@HockeyHallFame) June 22, 2026
Zetterberg has already earned well-deserved inductions into the International Ice Hockey Federation Hall of Fame along with the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame.
A late-round gem discovered by the Red Wings, Zetterberg was selected 210th overall in the 1999 NHL Draft, and would burst onto the scene as a rookie in the 2002-03 season on a club still chalk-full of future Hall of Fame players.
He was snubbed for the Calder Trophy as the NHL's top rookie, falling short to St. Louis Blues defenseman Barrett Jackman. However, Zetterberg would go on to become one of the best defensive forwards in recent hockey history.
His best production came between 2005 and 2011, including a 43 goal, 49 assist campaign in 2007-08 that culminated not only in the Stanley Cup, but the Conn Smythe Trophy.
Upon the retirement of fellow Swede Nicklas Lidstrom in 2012, Zetterberg would be named the 36th captain in team history. His 960 points rank fifth overall in team history.
Osgood, whom the Red Wings selected with the 54th overall pick in the 1991 NHL Draft, spent the early years of his NHL career in Detroit. He saw significant action during the regular season and the 1994 Stanley Cup Playoffs before the club acquired Hall of Fame goaltender Mike Vernon from the Calgary Flames.
Named Detroit's starter for the 1996 postseason, Osgood also handled the bulk of the workload the following season. However, coach Scotty Bowman turned to Vernon's veteran experience for the 1997 playoffs, a decision that helped lead Detroit to its first Stanley Cup in 42 years while Vernon captured the Conn Smythe Trophy.
Vernon was traded to the San Jose Sharks later that summer, leaving Osgood as Detroit's unquestioned starter. He responded by backstopping the Red Wings to a second consecutive Stanley Cup championship in 1998.
After Detroit acquired Dominik Hasek, Osgood was placed on waivers before the 2001-02 season and claimed by the New York Islanders. In his first year on Long Island, he helped lead the Islanders to Game 7 of their Eastern Conference Quarterfinal series against the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Osgood was traded to the St. Louis Blues the following season, where he remained until the 2004-05 NHL lockout.
Following the lockout, he returned to Detroit on a one-year contract and formed a goaltending tandem with Manny Legace.
Though he spent most of the next two seasons backing up Hasek, Osgood took over during the 2008 playoffs after Game 4 of Detroit's opening-round series against Nashville and carried the Red Wings the rest of the way to their 11th Stanley Cup title.
While Osgood struggled during the following regular season, he was again named Detroit's playoff starter and received Conn Smythe Trophy consideration as the Red Wings finished one win shy of repeating as Stanley Cup champions.
Eventually supplanted as starter by Jimmy Howard, Osgood won his 400th career game in December 2010, and called it a career later that summer with 401 career wins, which currently rank 15th all time.
His 317 victories with the Red Wings are second in team history behind only Terry Sawchuk.
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Trades around the NHL may be picking up right now, but the Montreal Canadiens have been quiet so far. While this is the case, the possibility of the Habs making a trade before or at the 2026 NHL Entry Draft is certainly there.
The Canadiens are entering the summer with some roster needs to address, with a top-six center and right-shot defenseman being their most notable. This could lead to the Canadiens looking to free up some cap space.
Because of this, let's take a look at three Canadiens who could be traded before or at the draft.
Brendan Gallagher
Brendan Gallagher is an obvious trade candidate for the Canadiens. Gallagher was honest following the Canadiens' playoff run that his time with the Habs was coming to a close. The Canadiens have been looking to find him a new home, and ridding of his $6.5 million cap hit would offer Montreal a good chunk of money to make an upgrade elsewhere.
Samuel Montembeault
It would not be surprising in the slightest if the Canadiens traded Samuel Montembeault this off-season. He dropped to the No. 3 spot on the Canadiens' goalie depth chart and simply is no longer a fit on their roster because of it. With this year's free agent market being weak, there could be some teams out there willing to take a chance on Montembeault because of his past success. His $3.15 million cap hit would also be good for the Canadiens to move on from.
Kirby Dach
Kirby Dach is another Canadiens player who should be watched leading up to the draft. If the Canadiens do not view the pending restricted free agent as a part of their plans, it would make sense for them to try to move him elsewhere. The former third-overall pick could interest some teams looking for help down the middle.
It appears the Vancouver Canucks could be losing two veterans come free-agency.
Earlier today, CHEK TV's Rick Dhaliwal reported that veterans Teddy Blueger and Derek Forbort are expected to test free-agency come July 1. Both players just wrapped their respective two and one-year deals with Vancouver.
Blueger skated in 35 games for the Canucks in 2025-26, having missed the bulk of the season due to injuries. The center scored an impressive nine goals and eight assists in this span of time, the likes of which made him an intriguing trade candidate come the 2026 NHL Trade Deadline.
The forward first signed with Vancouver in free-agency, joining the club for their playoff run during the 2023-24 season. During that season, Blueger tied a career-high in points with six goals and 22 assists in 68 games, setting a new personal record for assists in a single season with 22.
Blueger signed a contract extension with Vancouver in 2024, joining the Canucks for two more years at $1.8M AAV.
Mar 9, 2025; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Vancouver Canucks forward Nils Hoglander (21) and forward Teddy Blueger (53) and defenseman Derek Forbort (27) celebrate ForbertÕs goal against the Dallas Stars in the second period at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-Imagn Images
Forbort played in two games for the Canucks this season, missing the rest of the year due to an injury that ultimately did not recover as planned. Prior to 2025-26, he skated in 54 games for Vancouver in 2024-25, cementing himself as a solid penalty killer for the team while logging two goals and nine assists.
Before signing back-to-back one-year deals with Vancouver, Forbort spent time with the Boston Bruins, Winnipeg Jets, Calgary Flames, and Los Angeles Kings.
The Canucks' other pending unrestricted free-agents include forwards Evander Kane, Curtis Douglas and Joseph LaBate, defenceman Guillaume Brisebois, and goaltender Jiří Patera.
Make sure you bookmark THN's Vancouver Canucks site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, don't forget to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum. This article originally appeared on The Hockey News.
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Matt Foley lived in a van down by the river. Bill Foley wants to put a basketball team in a stadium down by the casino.
Yes, after years of professional sports leagues avoiding Las Vegas, Sin City could be completing the superfecta of franchises. Vegas already has the NHL's Golden Knights and the NFL's Raiders. The A's of Major League Baseball are expected to move there in 2028.
And the NBA is likely next.
Golden Knights owner Bill Foley has announced that he will be pursuing an NBA franchise. Foley has hired Morgan Stanley to serve as the "exclusive financial adviser" in an effort to "structure an ownership platform" that will be built around his existing holding.
"Las Vegas has earned its place among the great sports cities in America, and an NBA team belongs here," Foley said.
Earlier this year, the NBA decided to target Las Vegas and Seattle as the locations for a pair of expansion franchises.
"This is the NBA's decision to make," Foley said. "Our job is to provide the league a Las Vegas option that is ready, credible, and built to last."
Obviously, other potential owners could get involved. In the end, it likely will come down to money. Likely, a whole lot of it; the expansion fee is expected to land between $7 billion and $10 billion.
The final number will become highly relevant to the valuation of NFL franchises when they are sold — and to the expansion fee the NFL would charge if/when expansion is on the table.
Recently, UFL co-owner Mike Repole casually said the NFL is "talking about two more expansion teams," as if it were already a given. The NFL has officially (or unofficially) said nothing about expanding.
Given the current push for more inventory, expansion could be as inevitable as an 18th regular-season game.
Keith Tkachuk waited more than a decade and a half from the end of his NHL playing career to get the call from the Hockey Hall of Fame.
When it finally came, the timing only gave his family more reason to celebrate.
Tkachuk was elected to the Hall of Fame on Monday, less than 24 hours after his sons became teammates when Brady was traded from Ottawa to Florida, joining older brother Matthew.
The patriarch nicknamed “Walt” Tkachuk is part of a player class that includes center Patrice Bergeron, who won the Stanley Cup with Boston in 2011 and the Selke Trophy as the league’s top defensive forward six times, and goaltenders Carey Price from Montreal and Pekka Rinne from Nashville.
U.S. women’s hockey pioneer Cindy Curley and executive Brian Burke also are set to be inducted on Nov. 9 at a ceremony in Toronto.
Tkachuk was one of the premier power forwards of his era, playing in the 1990s and 2000s as part of the first great generation of American pro players. He recorded 1,121 points in 1,290 games, counting the playoffs, with Winnipeg, Phoenix, St. Louis and Atlanta, and was part of the U.S. team that won the 1996 World Cup of Hockey.
“I was blessed to play in the greatest sports league in the world,” Tkachuk said. “Through good times and bad times, it was always the best experience imaginable.”
Bergeron, who spent his entire career with the Bruins, was chosen in his first year of eligibility. Price and Rinne were selected in their second, with Henrik Zetterberg and Rod Brind’Amour among those passed over again.
Price and Bergeron played together on Canada’s 2014 Olympic gold medal-winning team. Bergeron also won gold in 2010.
Curley skated in the first International Ice Hockey Federation Women’s World Championship in 1990. Her 11 goals, 12 assists and 23 points in five games remain single-tournament records.
Burke won the Stanley Cup as Anaheim’s general manager in 2007, one of several front-office stops for him, along with time spent as the NHL’s director of hockey operations. Burke also took on a leading role in hockey’s Pride efforts and was a longtime advocate of the women’s game, including a stint as executive director of the Professional Women’s Hockey League Players Association.
Brady will join his 28-year-old sibling Matthew on the Panthers roster, reuniting the American bash brothers that have become the faces of Team USA hockey in recent years.
The move also gives Florida arguably the deepest and most talent-filled forward group in the NHL and places the Panthers back among the league’s top teams and Stanley Cup contenders.
On Tuesday, Tkachuk and Panthers General Manager Bill Zito will address the media and answer questions about the trade.
Tkachuk will surely be grilled on the circumstances that led up to the trade, what in the past may have contributed to the move and how he sees himself fitting in with his new team moving forward.
One interesting nugget that dropped on Monday regarding Tkachuk has to do with his jersey number.
The Panthers’ official team shop posted a video on social media of them making a new Tkachuk jersey with the number 8 on the back.
This is probably due to his usual No. 7 already being taken by Panthers veteran defenseman Dmitry Kulikov.
Tkachuk wore No. 7 during his entire seven years in Ottawa, and before that he wore No. 27 at Boston University, No. 7 with the U.S. U18 and U17 teams he’d played for, and No. 71 for the St. Louis AAA Blues 16U squad.
That being the case, this would seemingly be the first time he’ll wear a jersey that didn’t include No. 7, which was the number his father Keith Tkachuk wore 1,183 of his 1,201 NHL games.
It’s also worth noting that papa Tkachuk was named a 2026 inductee into the Hockey Hall of Fame, capping off quite a week for the family of hockey stars.
And if you’re wondering what number Keith used for the 18 games he didn’t wear No. 7…you guessed it, it was the No. 8, which he wore during a very brief tenure with the Atlanta Thrashers in 2007.
Perhaps Brady will divulge more into his number-selecting thought processes during his introductory press conference.
Photo caption: Feb 28, 2026; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Ottawa Senators forward Brady Tkachuk (7) warms up before playing the Toronto Maple Leafs at Scotiabank Arena. (Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images)
At long last, Keith Tkachuk is a Hockey Hall Of Fame member.
The former St. Louis Blues left wing, among the greatest goal scorers among American-born players in NHL history, was indicted into the Hockey Hall of Fame for the Class of 2026, which was announced on Monday afternoon, 16 years after the power forward retired from the NHL.
“I think like a lot of people on this (call), the inductees, I was shocked," Tkachuk said. "You don’t go into your career thinking you’re going to be a Hall of Famer. You don’t play for that. But as you get older, when you get that call, it was truly the biggest honor I could ever have. I’m thrilled. I don’t know how I’m going to react in the NHL in November. It’s going to be overwhelming. But we’re doing this for our families who have sacrificed everything for us. I’m looking forward to spending that time with my family, my grandkids, my wife Chantal who sacrificed a ton for me. I’m looking forward to going in representing all the teams that I played for, especially the St. Louis Blues. I’ve been here a long time, so I’m looking forward to that.”
Tkachuk, who played the final eight-plus seasons of his NHL career with the Blues (2000-2010), who also had stints with the old Winnipeg Jets/Phoenix Coyotes and a short stint with the now-defunct Atlanta Thrashers, who relocated to make up the current Winnipeg Jets franchise, played in 1,201 regular-season games and had 1,065 points (538 goals, 527 assists).
— Hockey Hall of Fame (@HockeyHallFame) June 22, 2026
Tkachuk, who played 18 seasons in the NHL starting in 1991, never won the Stanley Cup in his career, and one wonders if that was a sticking point as to why it's taken him this long to finally be enshrined, is third among American-born players in NHL history in goals scored behind former Blue Brett Hull (741) and Mike Modano (561).
It's a long time coming and well-deserved for the 54-year-old, who currently serves as the team's director of recruitment. It was a decade-long wait.
"I don’t think about that," Tkachuk said. "I’m enjoying life right now. I’ve got a great family, grandkids now. This is the ultimate, for sure. The Tkachuks are never known to be patient, but we had to be a little patient."
Tkachuk was enshrined into the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame in 2011 and Blues Hall of Fame; he will become the 27th former Blue to be enshrined in the Hockey Hall of Fame.
Tkachuk played in 543 regular-season games with the Blues and ranks 14th in franchise history with 427 points and sixth with 208 goals.
He is a five-time NHL All-Star (1997, 1998, 1999, 2004, 2009) and two-time selection to the NHL’s Second All-Star Team (1995, 1998).
"Keith Tkachuk’s induction into the Hockey Hall of Fame is richly deserved," Blues chairman Tom Stillman said in a statement. "One of the greatest American-born hockey players of all time, ‘Big Walt’ brought a unique blend of skill and toughness to the St. Louis Blues. It was a privilege to watch him play in the Blue Note for nine seasons, and his impact on the franchise and our broader hockey community continues to be felt to this day. On behalf of the Blues organization and Blues fans everywhere, heartfelt congratulations to Keith and the entire Tkachuk family on this prestigious honor."
The news came 24 hours after Tkachuk's youngest son, Brady, was traded by the Ottawa Senators to join forces with older brother Matthew and the Florida Panthers.
“They’ve dreamt of playing together," Keith Tkachuk said of his sons. "They had an opportunity in the Olympics and 4 Nations. They’re best friends, they wanted to do this together and fortunately, it worked out. Both parties found a way to get it done.
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