The Anaheim Ducks entered the 2026 offseason with a projected $38.8 million in cap space, holes throughout their depth chart (most notably on the right side of their blueline), and six NHL RFAs (Leo Carlsson, Cutter Gauthier, Olen Zellweger, Pavel Mintyukov, Tyson Hinds, Ian Moore) in need of new contracts, with two of them projected to be sizable extensions: Leo Carlsson (21) and Cutter Gauthier (22). 

After signing Moore to a two-year contract extension, trading Mason McTavish to the St. Louis Blues, and trading Olen Zellweger to the Buffalo Sabres, the Ducks entered the July 1 free agency period with a projected $44.6 million in cap space, and the number of NHL RFAs in need of contract extensions decreased to four (Carlsson, Gauthier, Mintyukov, Hinds).

What AJ Greer Brings to the Anaheim Ducks

Ducks Make Slew of Signings on Day 1 of 2026 Free Agency

Offer sheets are an intriguing aspect of every NHL offseason, but notoriously, they’re rarely extended and signed. NHL clubs may sign opposing RFAs to offer sheets between July 1 and Dec. 1, and once signed, the player’s original team has seven days to either match the offer or send the player to the team they signed with in exchange for predetermined compensation.

Of the Ducks’ four current RFAs, only Carlsson, Mintyukov, and Hinds are eligible to sign offer sheets with opposing teams, as Gauthier does not meet the experience criteria. Typically, offer sheets have only been successful when extended to second-tier RFAs. When offered to top-tier players, they’re immediately matched.

The Ducks were relatively quiet to open the NHL free agency period despite losing a trio of veteran RHDs, as well as some depth forwards from their 2025-26 roster. Their only NHL acquisitions to date have been forward AJ Greer, forward Jeff Malott, defenseman Nick Jensen, and goaltender Laurent Brossoit. 

They currently have a projected $35.2 million in cap space, the most in the NHL by over $5 million. 

A combination of a seeming lack of reverence for the 2026 NHL Draft, an ever-increasing salary cap, and a thin unrestricted free agent market has led to the most eventful NHL offseason in recent memory. 

Which brings us back to offer sheets. The New Jersey Devils have already signed Utah Mammoth center Barrett Hayton to a one-year, $4.78 million offer sheet, of which Utah has until July 8 to match or lose the player for a second-round pick as compensation. 

With high-profile RFAs such as Jason Robertson, Connor Bedard, Leo Carlsson, Adam Fantilli, Simon Edvinsson, etc., currently eligible for offer sheets, some have speculated whether this may be the offseason where these prolific players sign offer sheets.

Premier NHL insider Elliotte Friedman reported on Twitter that if teams were to attempt to acquire Carlsson from the Ducks via offer sheet, it would be immediately matched, and the reason for their lack of activity to this point in the offseason is to maintain cap flexibility.

“Saw one offer sheet yesterday, Barrett Hayton (with) New Jersey, and are wondering about more,” Friedman wrote. “Heard over the past few hours Anaheim guaranteed it will match any attempt on Leo Carlsson, and the reason the Ducks haven’t made many moves is to make sure to be in a safe cap position.”

Ducks general manager Pat Verbeek has established a reputation as one of the tougher GMs in the NHL to negotiate with, especially for RFAs, and especially more when they’re coming off their ELCs. Since he’s taken over in the Ducks’ front office, he’s taken negotiations with Troy Terry to the minutes before entering his scheduled arbitration hearing, and he’s taken negotiations with Trevor Zegras, Jamie Drysdale, and Mason McTavish well into training camp without a deal in place.

The two significant RFA contracts Verbeek “got ahead of” in terms of negotiations were Lukas Dostal in the summer of 2025, where a five-year contract extension was signed several days before arbitration hearings were set to commence, and Jackson LaCombe in Oct. 2025, where an eight-year deal was signed nine months before his current one was scheduled to expire. 

Author’s opinion: By not having Carlsson under contract by July 1 and this report coming out a day after, it appears, from the outside, as though Carlsson and his representation have been given all leverage in negotiations with the Ducks.

It’s become more fashionable over the last 5-10 years in the NHL for GMs to sign their young star players well before their ELCs expire so as to have them committed to their teams for as long as possible, to as low an AAV as possible, before they truly break out and acquire more leverage.

“We reached a point, maybe late October/early November, that we decided to table talks with any of our young players and just focus on playing hockey,” Verbeek said when asked about contract negotiations with pending RFAs at the trade deadline. “And if they play hockey well, then all the contract stuff will take care of itself. I just wanted their mindset to be worried on playing good hockey and helping this team win and get into the playoffs.”

During Verbeek’s exit interview, Verbeek expressed his desire to get his high-profile RFAs (Carlsson and Gauthier) signed before training camp.

“In a perfect situation, I’d like to get them done in a week here,” Verbeek said on May 15. “I’m hoping for the best to try and make sure that everybody’s excited for training camp and all of us are happy. I don’t have a crystal ball to say how it’s going to go, but we’re going to do our best to make sure that we get everybody excited and there for camp.”

“I’d like to get it done as soon as possible, but we all have to cooperate with one another, right? That’s the goal,” Verbeek continued when asked about the motivation to get contracts signed before July 1.

Carlsson reiterated Verbeek’s sentiments at his own exit interview, on May 15, to get a contract agreed upon before training camp and relayed that negotiations hadn’t taken place to that point. 

“No, not really. We’ll just take it into summer, see what happens,” Carlsson said when asked about any preliminary contract talks between him, his representation, and Verbeek.

When asked about a preferential timeline for a deal, Carlsson said, “I want to get it done before training camp so I can be here with the team as early as possible.”

At of the end of the first round of the recent NHL Draft, the last time the media spoke with Verbeek, when asked about the status of RFA contract negotiations, he said, “They’re ongoing. That’s all I can say. We’re talking, and we’ll see where it goes.”

This remains an important offseason in the growth of the Anaheim Ducks franchise, on the heels of their first playoff appearance since 2018 and with the goal to “keep pushing this football down the field,” as Verbeek stated at the Draft on June 26. 

The landscape of the Ducks roster and depth chart, along with projections regarding the upcoming season, is still very much in question after recently losing McTavish, Zellweger, John Carlson, Jacob Trouba, Radko Gudas, Ross Johnston, and Jeffrey Viel, and acquiring Greer, Mallot, Jensen, and Brossoit.

Author’s opinion: It seems as though by not having contracts agreed upon with Carlsson and Gauthier, the Ducks were and remain unable to significantly add to and improve their roster due to uncertainty regarding the amount of cap space they’d have to work with. 

AJ Greer Speaks on Signing with the Anaheim Ducks

Anaheim Ducks Extend Seven RFAs Qualifying Offers, Four Not Tendered

Report: Ducks Sign A.J. Greer to Four-Year Contract

Ducks Acquire A.J. Greer from Panthers

The Philadelphia Flyers have finally expanded on the ailment that has chronically been plaguing top center prospect Jett Luchanko for the last few years.

Luchanko, 19, was held off the ice for back-to-back development camps due to injury, though no procedures were ever officially announced... until now.

Despite playing each of the last two seasons mostly as normal, Flyers assistant general manager Brent Flahr revealed after the conclusion of development camp Friday that Luchanko had a procedure done on his core to address a "lingering" injury.

"He had a proceudre done on his core. It's been lingering for about a year and a half. I don't even know the timeline. He's been working out lots down there, should be skating over the week and be ready to go," Flahr said. "He doesn't like to make excuses, but at the same time, his speed, skillset, there's hopefully a full summer to train and train properly."

While there typically isn't a silver lining we can take from a prospect's injury, Luchanko hasn't produced a ton of offense in the two years since being drafted, and now there's a good chance that Luchanko just hasn't been fully healthy for much of that time.

Exclusive Q&A: Flyers GM Danny Briere on Matthew Schaefer's Calder, Top Prospects, and Free AgencyIn an interview with The Hockey News, Philadelphia Flyers general manager Danny Briere discusses his top prospects, former players, free agency, and more.

The Flyers' 2024 first-round pick is expected to compete for an NHL roster spot out of training camp when healthy, and so long as Luchanko indeed remains healthy, there is a good chance he can do it.

Regardless of he makes the NHL or not, the 2026-27 season will be Luchanko's first as a full-time professional player.

The speedster has played nine NHL games with the Flyers, including one in the Stanley Cup playoffs this past postseason, as well as 16 AHL games with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms between the regular season and Calder Cup playoffs.

Of note, Flyers general manager Danny Briere told The Hockey News in a recent Q&A that Luchanko would not make the Flyers' NHL roster as a reserve player, and would only be kept up if he was one of the top-12 regular forwards.

Considering how much hockey Luchanko has missed, and how much hockey he's played at less than 100%, this is the smartest and safest move by the Flyers.

Flyers rookie camp opens on Sept. 11, leaving Luchanko with two more months to rehab, recover, and train.

When Zakhar Bardakov's time with the Colorado Avalanche came to an end, it never felt like a permanent goodbye.

Just weeks after returning to Russia, the 25-year-old forward has officially signed a one-year contract with KHL powerhouse SKA St. Petersburg, taking the next step in a move that had been building since his arrival in North America. While the signing closes one chapter of his career, the Avalanche have quietly ensured another could still be written by extending Bardakov a qualifying offer, allowing the organization to retain his NHL rights.

Bardakov's departure from Colorado was never a surprise behind the scenes. When the Avalanche signed him from the KHL, his contract included a clause allowing him to return to Russia if he was assigned to the American Hockey League. It was a unique provision that reflected his status as an established professional rather than a traditional prospect expected to spend years developing in the minors.

Although Bardakov earned a roster spot out of training camp and steadily adjusted to the North American game, his opportunity remained limited throughout the season. He finished with one goal and nine assists in 60 games while averaging just 7:12 of ice time, spending much of the year on Colorado's fourth line. His lone assignment to the AHL with the Colorado Eagles, where he scored in his only appearance, ultimately reinforced the reality that a larger role wasn't likely to come in Colorado.

That reality became even clearer in the playoffs, when Bardakov was a healthy scratch for the entire postseason despite appearing in 60 regular-season games.

Rather than remain in limbo, Bardakov chose the more familiar path. His one-year deal with SKA St. Petersburg gives him an opportunity to play significant minutes for one of the KHL's premier organizations while continuing his development against high-level competition.

For the Avalanche, however, the story doesn't necessarily end there.

By issuing Bardakov a qualifying offer before his departure, Colorado retained his NHL rights, meaning any future return to North America would still go through the Avalanche. If Bardakov thrives with SKA and decides another NHL opportunity is worth pursuing, Colorado—not another club—would control that next chapter.

The Senators have had an extremely quiet start to free agency, at least in terms of adding impactful NHL players to their roster.  

But GM Steve Staios was able to address another important area, and that's adding prospects and depth to a farm system that badly needs it.

On Wednesday, Staios signed five free agent players who are all expected to begin the year in Belleville. But some of them are also players capable of helping in Ottawa right now when the inevitable injuries strike.

The Sens signed forwards Sammy Blais, Philippe Daoust, Ryan Suzuki and Philip Tomasino, along with defenceman Christian Kyrou, to two-way contracts.

That followed the late June acquisition of winger Kasper Halttunen from the San Jose Sharks and the drafting of Jonas Lagerberg Hoen and Jaxon Cover in the first round of the 2026 NHL Draft.

None of the Canada Day signings generated headlines around the NHL, but collectively, they tidily improved the Sens' organizational depth.

Among the new signees who might play in Ottawa this season, the headliner is undoubtedly Sammy Blais, who helped the St. Louis Blues win the Cup in 2019.

The 30-year-old has appeared in 278 NHL games and has some bite to his game, something the Senators suddenly have a little less of following Brady Tkachuk's departure.

Blais plays an abrasive style, finishes checks, and makes life uncomfortable around the opponent's crease. In many ways, his style resembles Nick Cousins, a player the Sens valued enough to bring back this summer on a two-year deal.

Blais gives the Senators another veteran capable of stepping into a fourth-line NHL role if injuries create an opening.

Philip Tomasino has the highest offensive ceiling of the new signings.

The season after Nashville made him a first-round pick in 2019, Tomasino returned to the OHL and had 100 points in 62 games. As an NHL rookie, he then had 32 points in 76 games for the Predators, but it's been a slow fade in productivity ever since.

He's played in 218 NHL games and is still just 24 years old.

Although he spent much of last season in the American Hockey League, he produced 41 points in 52 games while splitting time between the Pittsburgh and Philadelphia organizations. His last meaningful NHL season was two years ago with 23 points in 50 games for Pittsburgh.

If Tomasino rediscovers some of the offensive game that made him a first-round selection in 2019, he could force his way back into NHL consideration.

As a sidebar, we could have turned this article into a smooth piece of clickbait by announcing that the Sens had acquired Kyrou and Suzuki. They did do that, but the players are, in fact, the younger brothers of Jordan and Nick.

Christian Kyrou brings intriguing upside.

Kyrou is coming off his best pro season in pretty much all categories after recording 34 points in 59 games with Lehigh Valley in the American Hockey League. Ottawa's NHL blue line appears settled, but offensively skilled, right-shot defencemen are always valuable organizational assets.

Ryan Suzuki arrives after helping lead the Chicago Wolves to the Calder Cup Final, where he led the club in playoff scoring with 18 points in 21 games. Like Tomasino, Suzuki is a former first-round pick who gives Belleville another skilled offensive player.

The signing of Philippe Daoust is a Belleville success story. The Senators' 2020 Draft pick was on an AHL deal last season and went off with a 50-point season. It was his best pro season in all categories by a country mile, more than doubling his previous personal bests in goals, assists, and points.

The question he'll need to answer is how much of his production came from playing on a line with Arthur Kaliyev and Xavier Bourgault. Kaliyev is a UFA and won't be back, while Bourgault is an RFA, waiting on a new deal.

Beyond the signings, there's also Kasper Halttunen, who could be a beast in Belleville this year. He was acquired in the William Eklund trade, a spinoff of the Brady Tkachuk deal.

Halttunen provides organizational depth, but he's more than that. He's immediately become one of the Senators' best prospects.

In 2024 and 2025, the big Finnish winger (6-foot-3, 205 lbs) helped the London Knights win back-to-back OHL titles with an outrageous 32 goals in 35 playoff games.

His rookie AHL season with the San Jose Barracudas this year was a learning experience, but at age 20, he still managed 35 points in 69 games.

On their own, none of these additions is likely to change the current roster. But combined with Lagerberg-Hoen and Cover, they do provide important new depth and paint a clear picture of a GM keeping a better eye on the future.

By Steve Warne
The Hockey News

This article was first published on The Hockey News Ottawa Senators site. For full coverage of the Senators, check out one of the latest headlines below:

Senators Walk Away From Belleville Sniper Who Scored 40 Goals This Season
Are The Senators Planning To Carry Three Goalies On Their Roster?
Former Senators Defenseman Joins Belleville's Coaching Staff
Former Sens Goalie Traded To Rangers As Sens Continue To Pick Up Part Of His Tab

Senators Officially Sign Samuel Ersson As Their Backup Goalie
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At A Glance, Senators' Draft Day Trades Are Head Scratchers
Brady Tkachuk Had a Chance to Write His Own Story. He Chose Matthew's

Now, two days removed from the beginning of free agency, the dust has settled, and the rapidness of the moves has slowed down. 

The St. Louis Blues have added Ross Johnston,  a physical fourth-line forward, while also re-signing Jonatan Berggren and Dillon Dube. The Blues have also made some other deals, most notably trading for Mason McTavish on draft night.

But while the team adds, players are always going to be leaving the organization.

That statement is true for four former Blues players: Matthew Kessel, Hunter Skinner, Akil Thomas and Justin Holl.

While none of these players were major factors in the Blues’ lineup, losing depth, especially three right-handed defensemen, is nothing to really scoff at. With that in mind, the Blues should be able to navigate these losses without any issues.

Hunter Skinner, D, Nashville Predators

Skinner was a player Blues fans wanted to see in the NHL, but it just never happened. Originally a fourth-round draft pick by the New York Rangers in 2019, Skinner played just one NHL game with the Blues in the 2025-26 season.

His Blues tenure was spent in the AHL with the Springfield Thunderbirds, where he was a solid two-way defender. 

He’ll now join the Nashville Predators on a two-way contract for one season. The 25-year-old will become a Group-6 UFA if he doesn’t play 79 NHL games this season.

Matthew Kessel, D, New York Islanders

Kessel was given a better opportunity to shine in St. Louis, but he was never able to emerge as an everyday defenseman. During his Blues tenure, Kessel played 99 NHL games over five seasons, scoring three goals and totaling 13 points.

Most of his early career has been spent shuttling between the NHL and AHL. 

Now with the New York Islanders, Kessel is on a standard one-way contract, which means that if the Islanders want to send him to the AHL, he’ll have to clear waivers. As with the Blues this past year, Kessel will likely be used as a seventh defenseman, entering the lineup when someone is injured.

Trio Of Blues Defensive Propsects Invited To Team USA's World Junior Summer ShowcaseThree St. Louis Blues 2026 NHL draft prospects will participate in Team USA’s 2026 World Junior Summer Showcase.

Akil Thomas, C, Vancouver Canucks

Once a highly coveted prospect, Akil Thomas just hasn’t been able to take that next step and lock down a role in the NHL. In fact, he hasn’t played an NHL game since 2024-25.

Acquired in a mid-season trade, Thomas joined the Thunderbirds for 20 regular-season games, scoring five goals and nine points. In the post-season, he potted three goals and six points in 12 games.

Thomas now joins the Vancouver Canucks on a two-way contract. With the Canucks in a rebuilding state, there could be an avenue for Thomas to earn a call-up and impress in the NHL.

Justin Holl, D, Washington Capitals

Holl was once a trusted defensive defenseman for the Toronto Maple Leafs, but his career has turned sideways very quickly, and he is now fighting tooth and nail to keep a spot in the NHL.

Holl played just nine games with the Blues and joins a Washington Capitals team where he will likely serve as a seventh defenseman until Rasmus Sandin returns from his long-term injury. 

In the 2025-26 season, Holl played his first game in the AHL with the Grand Rapids Griffins since the 2017-18 season. 

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There’s no denying that Brendan Gallagher wasn’t what he used to be anymore with the Montreal Canadiens this season. Father Time had caught up with the veteran in a big way, and while that had a huge effect on his on-ice performance, it didn’t change his leadership role. He still wore the A on his jersey and played a big role in building the culture the Habs are now renowned for. Now that he’s been traded to the Vancouver Canucks, though, who should get to fill his shoes?

The easy candidate is Josh Anderson. He was the one who had it when Gallagher was scratched last season, and in the playoffs, he has proven that he can be the guy who leads his teammate into the physical battle. However, he only has one year left on his contract. He’ll be entering the seventh and final year of the 7-year pact he signed with Marc Bergevin, which carries a $5.5 million cap hit. Will the Canadiens decide to keep him around beyond the upcoming season? That’s far from guaranteed. If some of the Habs prospects, such as Florian Xhekaj, progress as expected and make their mark on the team, he, too, could become surplus to requirements.

Canadiens Hughes Hits A Home Run But Not By Bringing In A Free Agent
Canadiens’ Prospects Put Through Their Paces At Development Camp
Despite Qualifying Offer, Canadiens Forward Is Not Safe

When the time came to appoint a new captain after Shea Weber stopped playing, the organization could have gone with a good veteran, a proven leader who had been around for years in Brendan Gallagher, but it didn’t. It opted for Nick Suzuki, who was only 23 years old at the time. They did that because they wanted the young core to take over the team; isn’t it time to make another move in that direction?

Who better to do that than Lane Hutson? The blueliner is just about to enter his 8-year contract with the Canadiens and is the picture-perfect example of a leader. He performs on the ice, and his dedication is second to none. It’s July right now, and on Canada Day he was on the ice at 7:50 AM prior to development camp. After getting his skating in, he didn’t just go; he stuck around, and he watched the prospects on the ice alongside the likes of Nick Bobrov.  The next day? He once again skated before the prospects, stuck around, and watched the scrimmage with Ivan Demidov and the Habs' brass. He was even asked to do a presentation to the prospects during the camp. That’s a leader.

He was also instrumental in Demidov signing a long-term contract. At the end of the season media availability, he spoke about how Hutson had told him that it was important to sign long-term and be a part of what could be a championship-winning team. That right there is an example of how strong the culture is in Montreal, and of Hutson’s awareness of the role he can play and his embrace of it.

He might only be 22 years old, but he is wise beyond his years and has stepped into the Canadiens’ core as if it were his destiny. As soon as he joined, he seamlessly integrated into the lineup and worked his way to quarterbacking the Canadiens’ power play, leapfrogging Mike Matheson. When the Habs are trailing and need a big goal, Hutson is left, right, and center trying to make things happen; he plays a huge role on this team, and officializing it with a letter would make sense.

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The Buffalo Sabres completed their four-day development camp with a three-on-three scrimmage on Thursday, and after being mostly quiet on the opening day of free agency, GM Jarmo Kekalainen made a number of signings aimed mostly at bolstering the AHL Rochester Americans, with the trade of Anton Wahlberg to Anaheim and likelihood that youngsters like Konsta Helenius and Noah Ostlund will be in Buffalo full time next season. 

The Sabres signed big winger Aidan McDonough to a one-year, $850,000 contract, and forward Matthew Peca to a two-year AHL deal. McDonough, 26, played four years at Northeastern University and the last three seasons has played for three AHL clubs. Last season, he scored 23 goals for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. Peca, 33, has played for four NHL clubs, starting with Tampa Bay in 2016 and mostly with Springfield and Syracuse in the AHL. 

The Amerks will be going through a significant roster upheaval next season, as 2025 first rounder Radim Mrtka, 2023 second-rounder Maxim Strbak, and 2022 sixth-rounder Jake Richard will be joining the club, and after the trade of Devon Levi to Edmonton on Wednesday, they will likely have Topias Leinonen and Scott Ratzlaff sharing the duties.  

Other Sabres Stories

Sabres Emotionally Devastated By Game 7 Overtime Loss

According to Puckpedia, the Sabres have $8.6 million in cap space remaining after re-signing defenseman Olen Zellweger earlier this week. Forward Peyton Krebs is a restricted free agent and is eligible for arbitration, which likely means that Kekalainen has room to add one player to help fill the offensive gap created by the departure of Alex Tuch.  

Future Hall-of-Famer Patrick Kane remains unsigned after the first two days of free agency. The three-time Stanley Cup winner spent the last three seasons with the Detroit Red Wings, but with the impending departure of Dylan Larkin, the 37-year-old appears to be open to moving on. There was some speculation that Kane would be heading to Toronto to play with Auston Matthews, but after the barrage of signings the Leafs made on July 1, they do not have the room under the salary cap. 

Rumors of the Buffalo native heading to his hometown team have circulated ever since he was dealt by the Blackhawks in 2023, but the circumstances with the Sabres as a playoff team could be a good fit. Kane being added for secondary offense and as a Tuch replacement on the power play would be beneficial,, since he posted 79 assists over the last two seasons. It is just a question of whether he wants to play in his hometown at the end of his career.  

Follow Michael on X, Instagram @MikeInBuffalo

The Toronto Maple Leafs announced that they have signed four more players to their roster including the re-signing of AHL playoff leading scorer Vinni Lettieri.

Vinni & some new Buds 🔷

— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) July 3, 2026

Vinny Lettieri (F) | 1 Year, 

Lettieri returning to the organization is an absolute no-brainer for management. The 31-year-old veteran was a driving force behind the Marlies’ incredible run to capture the 2026 Calder Cup last month, putting up a stellar 26 points in 23 playoff games and scoring the championship-clinching goal against Chicago. He returns on a projected league-minimum two-way deal, giving the Leafs an experienced, high-energy injury replacement option who has 155 games of NHL experience under his belt.

Cole McWard (D) | 2 Years, $1.75 Million ($875,000 AAV)

This is where the contract structure gets interesting. According to PuckPedia, McWard has signed a straight one-way contract carrying an $875,000 annual average value. The 25-year-old right-handed defenseman split time in the Islanders system last year, getting a brief three-game look in the NHL. Giving a one-way designation to a player who will likely battle for a depth or Marlies spot shows Toronto sees a real upside in his puck-moving abilities—or at least wants to make him a more seamless option to carry on the main roster. 

Henrik Rybinski (F) | 2 Years, $1.75 Million ($875,000 AAV)

Rybinski comes to Toronto with a ton of winning pedigree, having won back-to-back Calder Cups with the Hershey Bears in 2023 and 2024 before putting up 30 points last season. Per PuckPedia, his contract features a hybrid structure: it's a two-way deal in the first year (with a minor-league salary cap hit of $450,000) that automatically converts into a one-way contract for the second season. He brings excellent minor-league utility and a heavy internal push for the bottom-six forward spots. 

Samuel Hlavaj (G) | 1 Year, 

With the Leafs' goaltending depth shuffling after the dramatic trade of Dennis Hildeby to Tampa Bay on July 1, the crease needed reinforcements. Hlavaj becomes an unrestricted free agent after Minnesota opted not to tender him a qualifying offer, and the Leafs jumped to sign him to a one-year, two-way flier. The 25-year-old Slovakian international struggled behind a weak Iowa team in the AHL last year, but raised eyebrows at the 2026 Winter Olympics, posting a highly respectable .908 save percentage against elite international competition. He figures to battle for reps in the Marlies' crease.

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Nick Paul

On Thursday, the Calgary Flames made a trade with the Minnesota Wild, moving Blake Coleman and Olli Määttä in exchange for Jacob Middleton and a couple of draft picks, including a third-round pick in 2027, a third-round pick in 2028, and a second-round pick in 2029. 

Historically, this is only the fourth deal between the two clubs since the Wild joined the NHL in 2000. Moreover, the latest transaction is the first not to involve a goalie.

Here's a look at the three trades between the Flames and Wild. 

The First Deal Involved a Future Hall of Famer (2000)

In late 1999, the San Jose Sharks traded Mike Vernon to the Florida Panthers for Radek Dvořák. The future Hall of Famers skated 34 games with the Panthers before the Wild claimed him in the 2000 Expansion Draft. However, Vernon never even donned a Minnesota sweater, as the new club traded him back to Calgary the same day so he could finish his career where it all started, in his hometown.

In the deal, the Flames parted with Dan Cavanaugh and an eighth-round pick in 2001, which Minnesota used to select Jake Riddle. As a former second-round pick, Cavanaugh never played a game in the NHL; instead, collecting 147 points in 419 AHL games. He'd go overseas to finish his professional career, which ended in 2009.

Meanwhile, the Wild selected Riddle, who was born in Minneapolis. Like Cavanaugh, he never made it to the NHL and played only 6 games in the AHL. He spent the majority of his professional career in the ECHL and CHL, retiring after the 2012 season. 

Once Vernon returned to the team he led to a Stanley Cup championship in 1989, he went 14-32-6 in his final 59 games and retired partway through the 2001-02 season.

Another Goalie on the Move (2002)

TSN analyst Jamie McLennan is no stranger to Flames fans, having guarded the crease for the club on two separate occasions from 2002-04 and again in 2006-07. As a member of the St. Louis Blues, the Wild drafted him in the 2000 Expansion Draft. 

McLennan played one season in Minnesota, going 5-23-9, with a respectable .905 SV% and 2.64 GAA. However, one day before the first anniversary of his Expansion Draft selection, the Wild traded him to the Flames for a ninth-round pick in the 2002 Draft.

Minnesota selected Mika Hannula with that pick, who, like the players involved in the previous deal, never played in the NHL. He spent one year in the AHL, then stayed in Europe, played nine seasons in the SHL, and bounced around among the KHL, DEL, and Liiga before retiring in 2014.

Eventually, McLennan would depart from Calgary in 2003 for New York (Rangers) and then Florida, before finishing out his 11-year career in Southern Alberta. He went 17-25-8 in 57 games with the Flames. 

A Third Netminder Swaps Sides (2016)

Undrafted goalie Niklas Backström debuted with the Wild in 2006-07 and led the NHL in SV% and GAA at 28 years old to win the William M. Jennings Trophy, finishing sixth in Vezina Trophy voting. For nine seasons, he led Minnesota to the playoffs twice, posting a 196-144-50 record in 409 games.

Then, in a leap year, on Feb. 29, 2016, the Wild traded Backström to the Flames, along with a sixth-round pick in that year's draft, for David Jones. At that point, Jones was also a nine-year veteran who had 102 goals and 188 points in 446 games. 

He'd go on to play just 16 games with Minnesota, scoring two goals before leaving pro hockey. Meanwhile, Backström played only four games in Calgary, going 2-2-0 with an .885 SV% and 3.35 GAA before returning home to finish his career in Liiga.

Regarding the draft pick involved in the trade, the Flames selected Calgary native Matthew Phillips, who would play just three games with the club before moving to Washington and Pittsburgh, finishing his NHL career with one goal and five points.

Flames Deal Veteran Leader (2026)

Coleman is a two-time Stanley Cup champion and a multi-time 20-goal scorer. During his time with the Flames, he became a valuable leader, a model for the young stars coming in during the current rebuild. However, he was entering the final season of his six-year deal, and Calgary needed to decide whether to extend him or flip him for more assets.

TRADE ALERT‼️

We've acquired Jacob Middleton, a 2029 second round pick, a 2027 third round pick, and a 2028 fourth round pick from Minnesota in exchange for Blake Coleman and Olli Määttä. pic.twitter.com/ESC1o7JPTC

— Calgary Flames (@NHLFlames) July 2, 2026

Finally, the situation came to a head on July 2, 2026, when the Flames sent him to the Wild in exchange for Middleton and a handful of draft picks. Another player included in the deal is defenseman Määtta, who relocated to Calgary in March and played only 21 games.

Recently, Määtta won a World Championship with Finland, bringing invaluable experience to Minnesota as a two-time Stanley Cup winner with the Pittsburgh Penguins. 

Coming to the Flames is 30-year-old Middleton, who has played 381 games with the San Jose Sharks and Wild over the past eight years. He's tallied 24 goals and 94 points while collecting 722 blocks and 588 hits. 

Although it is way too early to discuss the winners and losers of the latest deal between the Flames and Wild, since three draft picks are involved, it is safe to say that Minnesota is getting two veteran players who can help the club as early as opening night. Meanwhile, the rebuild in Calgary continues, with Craig Conroy collecting draft picks to shape the franchise's future, as the team approaches 40 years since its last championship.

The Chicago Blackhawks had one of the best penalty kill units in the NHL last season. At 83.6 percent, they finished in second place, only trailing the 84.6 percent put up by the Colorado Avalanche. 

The Hawks led in this statistic for most of the year, but they tailed off just a little bit after the trade deadline saw Connor Murphy, Jason Dickinson, Nick Foligno, and Colton Dach all leave. 

There are plenty of players on the team now, Frank Nazar, Oliver Moore, Ryan Greene, and Alex Vlasic, amongst others, who can help keep it up to standard, but losing Ilya Mikheyev certainly hurts. 

Mikheyev, one of the best penalty kill forwards in the NHL, signed a four-year deal with the Tampa Bay Lightning on Wednesday. There is no sugar coating it: this is a huge loss for the Blackhawks. 

To try and make up for this, Kyle Davidson and his staff signed veteran forward Cole Smith and defenseman Ian Cole. Both of these free agents will get their ice time at even strength, but they are going to be relied upon heavily on the penalty kill. 

During a media session during Development Camp, Davidson mentioned the PK as a reason for signing these two. They bring a sense of grit and physicality in all situations, but keeping the puck out of their net during opponent power plays will play a key role in winning. 

There are going to be a lot of young players competing for these jobs as well, but having guys like Smith and Cole to lean on will take the pressure off them when it comes to these specialty roles. 

Are the Blackhawks going to have a top-two unit again? Likely not. However, they may not fall as far back as people think, and these two new additions would play a big part in that.

If the young guys grow into their roles while Smith and Cole lead the way, and Spencer Knight stays locked in, it will remain difficult to score power-play goals against the Chicago Blackhawks. 

If the power play then improves with the addition of Bowen Byram, they could be a team that wins a lot more games due to their special teams. 

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With all the amount of player movement the Penguins have made in the few days since we last gave a look at the organization’s depth chart a whirl, let’s look at it again now that the early rush of free agency has concluded.

First line forwards: Sidney Crosby, Rickard Rakell, Bryan Rust

Nothing has changed officially, though one wouldn’t be blamed for wondering what bringing in wingers like Andrei Kuzmenko AND Nick Robertson mean for the possible future of players like Bryan Rust and Rickard Rakell..As it stands, the Rakell/Rust duo have remained in tact in Pittsburgh and remained penciled in as key players for the Pens next year.

Other key NHL forwards: Evgeni Malkin, Egor Chinakhov, Ben Kindel, Andrei Kuzmenko, Tommy Novak

This essentially could be the core of the second and third lines of the team, as it stands today. Perhaps there is more movement to come and some names from this list are still to change. You wouldn’t think that would be Chinakhov or Kindel, but at this point who knows what the future might hold or big swings that the Pens might try to make. Kuzmenko stands in nicely as a Anthony Mantha type option for next season for a veteran secondary scorer, though there are very big shoes to fill there.

‘Fourth’ liners: Connor Dewar, Blake Lizotte

Still the same base of a fourth line is still here. It will be curious to see who gets the first crack at rounding out the line, Soderblom got some looks with Lizotte last season during Lizotte’s injury, so he could be penciled in here reasonably enough. Seeing how much opportunity a young player like Rutger McGroarty or Avery Hayes gets to have a legit shot at sticking out of camp in this spot is already setting up to be a key storyline for the fall.

Fill out forwards (2 lineup spots, 2 more for scratches): Nick Robertson, Elmer Soderblom, Justin Brazeau, Hendrix Lapierre, Rutger McGroarty, Avery Hayes, Ville Koivunen, Filip Hallander, Tristan Broz

Now this is where something is going to have to give. Presumably the Pens acquired Robertson and Lapierre to play them, though neither have the style to be a fit in a defensive fourth line role the way that line has been previously constructed. Soderblom and Brazeau have strong cases to find a spot somewhere in the lineup regularly too, but there just isn’t enough spots currently open compared to the numbers on hand.

Then there’s a batch of young options right on the cusp of being NHL level players who all now look completely blocked out until future injuries occur. All this depth seems to indicate names from this list or from above have to be moved out in order to clear up the jam.

Left Defense: Sam Girard, Declan Carlile, Ilya Solovyov

The left side of the Pens’ defense lost Parker Wotherspoon and Ryan Shea but gained a player in Carlile who is about where Wotherspoon and Shea were in their respective careers 12 months ago as unestablished NHLers with some hopeful elements. This position is still very weak and ideally in need of a quality player to join up. Where and how the Penguins go about finding that, or if they even will be able to do so before the start of the season, who can say. At this point, the possibility looks very real for the less than ideal option of dressing four right handed defenseman going based on roster splits alone from this material on hand.

Right Defense: Erik Karlsson, Kris Letang, Trevor van Riemsdyk, Kaeden Korzcak

The Pens spent over $7 million in cap space in recent days to round out the right side of their defense by trading for Korczak and signing van Riemsdyk as a free agent. That’s good news for them to shore up what once was a weak area, not so much for the immediate NHL outlook for Harrison Brunicke. And it’s also curious that they have four legitimate right shot, right side NHL lineup caliber defenseman at the moment…Whether that foretells a summer trade of someone in this group or a plan to use a right shot on the left side remains to be seen.

Goaltender: Arturs Silovs, Sergei Murashov/Joel Blomqvist

No change here, as expected Stuart Skinner went onto free agency and the Pens didn’t make any move to replace him with an external option. The big question in net worth watching will unfold over training camp to see what – if anything – that Blomqvist can do in order to win a roster spot for opening day. Based on the track Murashov has been on, it would figure he is comfortably in the pole position for that upcoming battle.

It's been a little over a year since the Pittsburgh Penguins selected Jordan Charron in the fifth round of the 2025 NHL Draft. 

Everyone knows how much Penguins general manager and president Kyle Dubas loves the Soo Greyhounds, and when he saw an opportunity to take a member from that team, he didn't hesitate. 

Charron compiled 10 goals and 21 points in 48 games with the Greyhounds before he was drafted. He showcased a wicked release and some solid skating during his draft year, leading the Penguins to select him with the 154th overall pick.

He came to development camp last year, and while you can't take too much away from it, you could tell that he was above some of the other prospects that were there.

His development continued at the Soo for the 2025-26 season, and he broke out in a big way, finishing the season with 25 goals and 47 points in 66 games. There were times during the season when nobody could slow him down.  

He spoke about his growth during the year at Penguins' development camp this week. 

"Coming back to my second year, just being stronger and faster, I think just coming back for that second year gave me more confidence and kinda gave me some idea what the league was about," Charron said. "I kinda grew into my lower body and tried owning the puck in the corners more, tried to be a bigger guy on the forecheck, disrupt pucks, and I think I did that really well." 

Charron is also super excited to be back at Penguins' development camp and is having a blast. 

"Yeah, it's my second year back, and it just feels good," Charron said. "Good to see the guys again, my other draft pick guys too, and meet some new guys in the organization, and it's been really fun."

'They're Making It So Easy For Me': Newly Signed Defensive Prospect Taking Strides In DevelopmentIntriguing Penguins' defensive prospect Maleek McGowan was signed to an AHL contract for the 2026-27 season, and he's continuing the path of development the organization has laid out for him.

Charron is set to attend the University of Massachusetts at the end of his junior career after flipping his commitment to that school earlier this year. 

"I think meeting them and going to the campus, I kinda fell in love," Charron said. "The food there is really good, they're one of the best in the country, so I kinda fell in love with that, and I love to eat. Even with the staff, they really made me feel comfortable, and I love how they play the style of hockey they have there, and I think I'm going to do really well there and try to make the NHL."

Charron will look to finish development camp in style on Friday when he plays in the development camp tournament. It's set to start at noon ET and will take place at the UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex. 

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Danai Shaiikov didn’t know what had happened. 

While watching the NHL draft Saturday at a hotel in Miami — the city where he’d been for a predraft showcase conducted by his agents, he said — he stepped away to the bathroom during the third round. When he returned, everyone started clapping and looking at him.

The 19-year-old goaltender from Kazakhstan, who played for the Gatineau Olympiques in the QMJHL last season, was surprised that the Rangers grabbed him with the No. 67 overall pick. Shaiikov knew he’d get drafted, but he thought it’d be later. It validated his decision to jump from Russia to Quebec last season. Shaiikov said he wanted to play in North America to help achieve his goal of reaching the NHL after not getting drafted during his first year of eligibility.

“It’s a good moment for me and for my family, for like all my former coaches,” Shaiikov, the Rangers’ first goaltender drafted since Talyn Boyko in 2021, said Thursday after the final day of development camp in Tarrytown. “But real work starts now for me. It’s like a lot of work ahead of me, so yeah, nothing changed. It’s good, but it’s just one day of good like memories and everything.”

In predraft interviews, Shaiikov said new Maple Leafs goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky is his idol but that he compares himself more to Rangers star Igor Shesterkin.

The season in Quebec — when he logged 50 games and finished with a .903 save percentage and a 2.78 goals-against average — forced him to adjust to a quicker pace on a smaller rink, with more dangerous chances unfolding each game. Shaiikov’s goalie coach helped him change some “structure things,” he said, and it helped him adapt.

“Small details,” Shaiikov said, “but it’s important details.”

Rangers director of player personnel and director of amateur scouting John Lilley said that goalie scout Scott Clemmensen pushed to draft Shaiikov. He’ll play again for Gatineau in 2026-27, but down the road, once his juniors career is over, Shaiikov could factor into the organizational depth — with goaltenders Hugo Ollas (ECHL last season) and Boyko (Liiga in Finland and AHL Hartford) both not receiving qualifying offers last week.

Still entrenched atop the depth chart is Shesterkin, with whom Shaiikov hasn’t yet spoken but would “of course” consider a cool moment if he does. The Rangers backup situation became complicated with the acquisition of Joonas Korpisalo and the presence of Dylan Garand. But Shaiikov could carve out a role somewhere in the organization once he eventually turns pro.

“I’m just happy to be here,” Shaiikov said. “It’s an honor to be in such a legendary organization.”

The Rangers signed defenseman Dennis Cholowski and forward Glenn Gawdin to two-year contracts Thursday. Cholowski, 28, has skated in 173 games, including 17 with the Devils last season. Gawdin, 29, finished with 51 points in 71 games for AHL Ontario during the 2025-26 campaign.

Following the trade of Jacob Markstrom to the Florida Panthers, it would appear that the Devils are slated to enter the 2026-27 season with Jake Allen and Nico Daws.

Earlier on Thursday when Devils GM Sunny Mehta met the media, he commented on the Devils goaltending tandem.

Per Amanda Stein:

“Nico Daws has been a pretty big prospect for us for years now, and hasn’t really had the path to develop. For me, we’re pretty excited about the potential opportunity in front of him.”

Mehta would later add that this wasn’t necessarily going to be the goaltending tandem heading into the season, but if it is, he is comfortable with that.

Allen and Daws might indeed wind up being the NHL tandem for the Devils for this upcoming season, but that doesn’t mean Mehta’s work is done or that he’s not going to add more competition in training camp.

PuckPedia reported on Thursday night that the Devils would be signing UFA goaltender David Rittich to a one-year, $1M contract. The deal is reportedly a one-way contract and does not include any trade protection.

Rittich is a 10-year veteran goaltender with previous stops in Calgary, Toronto, Nashville, Winnipeg, Los Angeles, and with the New York Islanders. Rittich has a .903 save percentage over 260 career games at the NHL level.

Last year was a tale of two seasons for the veteran. Rittich had a strong start this past season, with a .918 save percentage prior to January 1st while backing up Ilya Sorokin. From January 1st on, he had an .856 save percentage.

Still, a deeper look into the numbers would suggest there are things to like about Rittich’s game.

Rittich saved 4.2 goals above expected this past season. Among all goaltenders with 25 appearances, than ranks right between Connor Hellebuyck and newly minted Stanley Cup champion Brandon Bussi, and not too far behind Jake Allen. His save percentage on low danger unblocked shots is .968, which is well ahead of what Jacob Markstrom did last season at .949. Meanwhile, his high danger save percentage was .818, 6th in the league and again, well ahead of Markstrom at .734.

I don’t write that to pick on Markstrom now that he’s no longer in New Jersey, but one of the main critiques of Markstrom was that not only was he not making the easy saves…..he was also not making the tough saves. Last season, Rittich did that over the course of the season. He might’ve outkicked his coverage in the first half of the season, but overall, the body of work was solid.

Rittich struggled in 2024-25 with an .886 save percentage and -11.4 goals saved above expected. But he played brilliantly in 2023-24 with a .921 and 13.8 GSAX. His performance has fluctuated between being good, bad, and perfectly cromulent throughout the course of his career. In many ways, he is the epitome of the modern-day goaltender where you don’t quite know what you’re going to get from year-to-year. Or in the case of this past season, from month to month.

With that out of the way, I think the Devils bringing him in makes sense.

If the idea going into the season is that the Devils want to give Nico Daws a legitimate chance to compete for, and earn, a roster spot, bringing in an experienced veteran like Rittich for him to beat out is the right move.

If one of Allen or Daws were to suffer an injury, I don’t blame the Devils if they don’t want to throw Jakub Malek directly into the fire. Having someone with NHL experience who could potentially play well for a stretch to serve as the #3 goaltender makes sense.

Rittich’s $1M one-way salary is below the buryable amount, so it really doesn’t have any significant impact on the Devils books as far as salary cap space is concerned. Obviously, Rittich would need to clear waivers at the end of camp (unless the Devils are planning on carrying three goaltenders), but the Devils shouldn’t have much trouble doing so unless there’s a rash of injuries at the goaltending position across the NHL come September.

Perhaps most importantly, the pathway is there for Nico Daws to earn an NHL roster spot.

I would consider Rittich to be legitimate competition, but not an actual roadblock that is blocking him from an NHL job. Not like how Markstrom and Allen have been for the previous two seasons where no matter what Daws did in camp, he was not making the NHL roster outside of an injury.

If Daws, who is entering his age 26 season and his sixth season in North America, isn’t ready or capable of beating out a journeyman like Rittich for a roster spot, it’s probably never going to happen for him at this level.

Obviously, I’m rooting for Daws to succeed. His limited appearances over the past two seasons have been encouraging. And if we’re asking the goaltenders to clear the comically low bar of what we got from Markstrom last season, the Devils should be better if they’re capable of doing that. But I’m also rooting for Rittich to succeed. How can you not root for a player with the nickname “Big Save Dave”?

Perhaps most importantly, the Devils don’t currently have any major commitments to the goaltending position beyond this season, unless you want to consider the four years remaining on Allen’s deal a major commitment.

If Daws doesn’t work out, he doesn’t work out and the Devils can let him play out his contract at the AHL level. If Rittich doesn’t work out, he doesn’t work out and the Devils can either terminate the deal or let it expire. If Allen doesn’t work out, he doesn’t work out and the Devils can explore a trade or try to convince him to retire.

These might not be great options at the end of the day, but at least they’re cheap options with a relatively clean long-term slate. If they don’t work out, Sunny Mehta can pivot at any point, whether it’s in season at the trade deadline or next summer. And while its unlikely the Devils bring in yet another veteran goaltender this summer after signing Rittich, I don’t think there’s anything in place that is blocking the Devils from doing so if an opportunity presents itself.

At the end of the day, goaltending is voodoo. Rather than commit a bunch of money to one goaltender who was objectively bad last season, the Devils are opting to go for the strategy of throwing a bunch of options at the wall and seeing what sticks. It worked for an organization like Carolina last season with Brandon Bussi playing well and ultimately helping them win a Stanley Cup. It worked for an organization like Colorado where Scott Wedgewood outplayed Mackenzie Blackwood for the majority of the season.

We’ll see if this ultimately works for the Devils.

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The Detroit Red Wings needed to add some toughness and grit to their bottom six, and they found a player who has proven himself to be a valuable presence on a championship team they can now call theirs.

Forward Keegan Kolesar, who won the Stanley Cup with the Vegas Golden Knights in 2023 and helped them reach the Cup Final this spring, was acquired by the Red Wings on Wednesday in return for a 2029 third-round draft pick and a 2027 seventh-round draft pick.

Kolesar is not only excited to join a group of players that he views as up and coming, but to add an element of physicality that had been missing. 

"Really excited to join a group that I've played against for years now. They have a tremendous amount of skill and talent in their lineup," he said on Thursday during an introductory Zoom call. "Just talking to guys now, they felt as though there was a missing piece and maybe identity of having that - not the fighting aspect, but more the toughness and being hard to play against, being a veteran presence on the front end, bringing guys into the fight."

"That's something I can provide," he continued. "I think with the skill that they have, that part of the game is fine for them. I think they're going in a great direction with a lot of young studs that I felt have been good for a number of years and are tough to play against.

I just want to bring whatever I can to (be) more of an identity for the team."

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Kolesar has spent the last several seasons with Vegas, a place where he established roots and gained several close friends over the years. Naturally, it wasn't an easy thing to get the message that he was going to be leaving. 

"Crim (GM Kelly McCrimmon) gave me a text and just said, 'Hey Keegan, I have bad news, give me a call,'" Kolesar said of finding out he was being dealt. "You see that text and you know right away, I'm getting out of here."

"It's a whirlwind - you play your entire career in one spot, it's very rare," he continued. "It'll take some time to get over it because I've made so many great relationships in that city. It'll take some time to turn the page but that's just the human side of it.

"But there's a lot of excitement too."

While being traded often overlooks the human element, Kolesar knows that at the end of the day, playing in the NHL is a business. 

"Idon't know if I was expecting it, but it's always in the back of your mind because it's hockey, it's how the game works, and people can be in and out," Kolesar said. "I didn't expect it, but you're always prepared for it. It's the business of it."

Kolesar has skated in 439 career NHL games, and has scored 44 goals to go with 76 assists. 

His 270 hits last season were good for seventh most among all NHL players. 

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