Detroit Red Wings defenseman Simon Edvinsson remains unsigned through the first three weeks of the NHL's free agency period.
The Red Wings extended a qualifying offer to Edvinsson, ensuring they maintain control of his restricted free agent rights. However, he remains eligible to sign an offer sheet with another NHL team.
Despite him having yet to affix his signature to a contract, it doesn't appear as though the Red Wings are in danger of the Swedish blue liner being lured away via an offer sheet.
Per the latest from longtime Red Wings beat writer Ansar Khan, the club is ready to match any offer sheet that he could potentially receive.
Ansar Khan: Re Red Wings: The Simon Edvinsson thing, I don't think that was ever really a concern among the organization, they were prepared to match whatever he received if he were to get an offer sheet - Jason Gregor Show (7/15)
— NHL Rumour Report (@NHLRumourReport) July 18, 2026
Since being chosen sixth overall by the Red Wings in the 2021 NHL Draft, Edvinsson has emerged as a foundational piece of Detroit's defense corps. The 22-year-old has solidified himself as one of the club's premier blueliners and is widely viewed as second only to Moritz Seider in the team's long-term plans on the blue line.
Edvinsson took another step forward in 2025-26, dressing for 72 contests while setting personal bests offensively. He found the back of the net nine times and added 16 assists to finish the year with 25 points.
His season was briefly interrupted when a nagging injury flared up again toward the end of January, ultimately requiring surgery. Despite the setback, he recovered quickly enough to return to Detroit's lineup before February came to a close.
Through 175 NHL appearances, Edvinsson has accumulated 60 points on 19 goals and 41 assists. He's also logged more than 21 minutes of ice time per game over his career while posting a plus-17 rating.
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Former Maple Leafs and Edmonton Oilers goaltender Jack Campbell has announced his retirement from professional hockey at 34, confirming the news via an update to his Instagram bio.
In a video where he discussed his career and personal struggles behind the scenes, he now describes himself simply as a "former NHL goaltender" and an "identity and performance coach." His goal is to help others get through what he needed help getting through.
Former Maple Leafs goaltender Jack Campbell has announced his retirement from professional hockey at 34 via Instagram.
Campbell now lists himself as a “former NHL goaltender” and an “identity and performance coach” in his Instagram bio.
Campbell's career was full of fascinating twists and turns. Selected by the Dallas Stars as the highest-drafted goaltender in franchise history (#11 in 2010), he played only one game for the Stars before joining the Los Angeles Kings. He played 56 games as a King before going to Toronto. His numbers for both the Kings and the Maple Leafs were solid. It led to him signing a lucrative deal with the Edmonton Oilers.
On the heels of a season where he played 49 games, posted a 2.64 goals against average and a .914 save percentage, Edmonton gave him a five-year, $25 million deal as a free agent in 2022 — but the fit never worked. He lost the starting job almost immediately, was eventually sent to the AHL, and was bought out by the Oilers after just two seasons.
In October 2024, while with the Detroit Red Wings, Campbell entered the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program for an indefinite period, a program that supports players dealing with anything from substance issues to mental health struggles. He never played in the NHL again.
What stands out now, in retirement, is how openly Campbell has spoken about his struggles. He wants to apply what he's learned when he said it took him getting a life coach to find his way, and help others. His path from a "can't-miss prospect" to burned-out backup did a number on him personally. It took him time to get back on track, never being able to get there in terms of becoming an NHL goalie again.
It's good to see that he's found a new path and seems to be doing well.
In due time, the Philadelphia Flyers will be back big-game hunting, as they have to wait only a few years to begin putting pressure on the Chicago Blackhawks to pry Connor Bedard away from the flailing franchise.
On Saturday, Bedard, 21, signed a five-year, $75 million extension ($15 million AAV) with the Blackhawks, but there are a few factors that could make push come to shove and force a departure.
For starters, Bedard does not have trade protection at any point in his new deal until Year 5: 2030-31, when he has a full no-move clause. That means that if Bedard is not traded before July 1, 2030, he will spent that full season with Chicago and walk into unrestricted free agency at age 25 if he is not extended before then.
Bedard's new deal buys him only one year of UFA status, too, which is what makes his situation similar to the Leo Carlsson offer sheet. Those contracts are virtually identical, with the exception that Carlsson makes most of his money up front and is $3 million more expensive per year; those were products of the Flyers doing what they needed to do to try and strongarm Anaheim out of their franchise player.
This is all to say that, if it becomes apparent to Bedard and his camp that the Blackhawks are not turning the corner and prepared to win, he can be traded to any other NHL team four or fewer years into the deal.
If that doesn't happen, Bedard can simply wait out Year 5, go to free agency, and pick his team.
While his camp insists he wanted to stay with the Blackhawks and never considered signing an offer sheet himself, it is obvious that the 2023 No. 1 overall pick has numerous ways out of Chicago if and when the opportunity presents itself.
As for the Flyers, well, they proved with the offer sheet to Carlsson that they are prepared to spend big money against the cap and give up whatever draft capital necessary to land themselves a young, elite player in the middle of the ice.
Bedard unquestionably fits that bill and is an even more dynamic talent than Carlsson, even if injuries and size have been question marks in his nascent NHL career thus far.
On top of the Flyers being among the most willing to and brazen about flopping their wallets on the table, we must also consider the Matvei Michkov friendship factor.
Bedard and Michkov are two fierce competitors whose bond began to form on the ice at the international level during the 2021 U18 World Championships
Bedard and Michkov outside the locker rooms after their first NHL matchup in Nov. 2024. (Photo: Philadelphia Flyers)
Michkov took the first NHL matchup between he and Bedard back on Nov. 23, 2024, playing hero with his "cold-blooded" overtime winner.
"It was really good to see him on the ice. It was a long time we don’t play against each other. I hope it’s only the beginning," Michkov had said. "I think he will try to get it back. I have to be ready for it."
Bedard did get Michkov back with a 7-4 win on March 23, 2025, but the Flyers won their two matchups with Chicago last season, putting Bedard down 3-1 in the all-time "series" against his Russian counterpart.
It's tough to be on that side of the rivalry for so long, isn't it?
It may not be tomorrow, next week, next month, next year, or the year after that, but soon, the Blackhawks must make something of themselves with Bedard on the team, or else they'll have to trade him or eventually lose him in free agency for nothing. You can count on the Flyers being prepared for that.
The Buffalo Sabres should consider adding another skilled forward to their roster before the start of the season. When looking at trade candidates around the NHL, Boston Bruins forward Pavel Zacha is an interesting potential option to consider.
Zacha just had an excellent 2025-26 season with the Bruins, posting new career highs with 30 goals and 65 points. He has also recorded at least 57 points in three out of his last four seasons. With numbers like these, he would have the potential to be a very good addition to the Sabres' roster. This is especially so when noting that he also plays a strong two-way game.
With Zacha entering the final season of his contract, questions have come up about his future in Boston. If negotiations do not go well and he ends up being made available for trade, the Sabres would be very wise to make a push for him. He would offer them with an upgrade for their second-line center spot. However, he can also play the wing, which only adds to his appeal.
It will be interesting to see if the Sabres end up making a push for Zacha this off-season, but the fit looks strong on paper.
There was a time when a $10 million cap hit stopped people in their tracks.
Nathan MacKinnon became the NHL's highest-paid player at $12.6 million less than three years ago, Auston Matthews pushed the market to $13.25 million shortly after, and now Leo Carlsson has an $18 million cap hit after signing a five-year offer sheet with Philadelphia that Anaheim matched. Connor Bedard agreed to a five-year extension worth $75 million, collecting nearly $49 million through signing bonuses while settling at $15 million against the cap. Those contracts arrived only days apart, yet neither felt particularly out of place.
That's how quickly the conversation has changed.
The flat-cap years trained everyone to think differently. General managers guarded every dollar because they had no reason to believe another one was coming. Players still landed enormous contracts, but negotiations rarely wandered far beyond the financial reality sitting in front of them. Every long-term commitment came with the understanding that flexibility would remain scarce.
With a continouslly rising salary cap, nobody is negotiating that way anymore.
The numbers being thrown around this summer are tied to where the NHL expects itself to be by the end of the decade, when the salary cap is projected to sit comfortably above where it stands today and contracts that currently dominate headlines could look surprisingly ordinary.
That's what Carlsson's offer sheet represents. One 141 points in 201 NHL games doesn't resemble the résumé that traditionally produces the richest cap hit in hockey, but Philadelphia saw a young centre with size, skill and years of team control remaining. They recognized how rarely players like that become available and attached a number large enough to force Anaheim into making a decision immediately.
Bedard's extension reflected many of the same realities. Chicago secured the face of its franchise before another negotiation had the chance to become more expensive, while $49 million in signing bonuses served as another reminder that cash has become every bit as important as average annual value in discussions involving the league's biggest stars.
Every negotiation involving Macklin Celebrini, Adam Fantilli, Will Smith and the next wave of franchise players now begins with fresh comparables, signed under financial conditions that barely resemble those from only a few seasons ago. Agents will point to Carlsson. Teams will point to Bedard. Neither side will spend much time talking about contracts signed before the cap began climbing again.
Offer sheets could find their way back into the conversation as well.
They spent years feeling more theoretical than practical, largely because front offices preferred preserving relationships over creating uncomfortable situations. Philadelphia demonstrated there are circumstances worth testing, particularly when cap growth softens the long-term consequences of a contract that might have felt impossible to absorb only a few years ago. It won't surprise anyone if another general manager decides the risk is worth taking.
Fans still react to these numbers the way they reacted when double-digit cap hits first appeared, even as the league continues moving the goalposts. That's understandable. Hockey has never experienced sustained financial growth like this under a salary cap system, and perspective usually lags behind reality.
Reality has already moved on.
The next contract that resets expectations probably isn't far away. Neither is the one that makes it seem modest.
When the Colorado Avalanche traded Justus Annunen to the Nashville Predators during the 2024-25 season, it looked like a move between two teams searching for stability in goal.
Colorado needed a reliable presence behind Alexandar Georgiev. Nashville was hoping a change of scenery could unlock the potential of a goaltender who had shown flashes of being something more.
A year and a half later, both teams may have gotten exactly what they needed.
Scott Wedgewood has become one of the NHL’s most dependable goaltenders in Colorado, while Annunen is coming off the best season of his career and followed it with a gold medal performance on the international stage.
The player Colorado once hoped would develop into a long-term option is now looking like a goaltender on the verge of becoming a star.
Annunen spent parts of four seasons with the Avalanche organization, arriving as a promising goaltending prospect with the size, athleticism, and potential to become an NHL regular.
Annunen did not play, but hoisted the Stanley Cup when the Avalanche won in 2022. Credit: Mark J. Rebilas - Imagn Images
But by the end of his time in Colorado, it became clear something had to change.
His final season with the Avalanche was difficult. Much of his workload came after Alexandar Georgiev struggled, leaving Annunen in a difficult position as he tried to find consistency while often entering games with the pressure already mounting.
Instead of continuing to fight for sporadic opportunities, Annunen needed somewhere he could play, develop, and build confidence.
That opportunity came when Colorado traded him to Nashville along with a 2025 sixth-round pick in exchange for Scott Wedgewood.
At the time, neither goaltender had fully lived up to expectations.
Looking back, however, it may have been the perfect trade for everyone involved.
Wedgewood immediately found his game with the Avalanche, providing the steady play Colorado needed behind its starter. Annunen received something equally important in Nashville: an opportunity to grow.
The transition wasn’t easy.
After joining the Predators, Annunen posted an .888 save percentage and a 3.17 goals-against average while playing behind a Nashville team that struggled defensively. The Predators allowed 3.34 goals per game, ranking among the worst defensive teams in the NHL.
Those numbers were not an accurate reflection of Annunen’s ability.
Even the beginning of the 2025-26 season was a challenge. Through his first six starts, he recorded an .857 save percentage and a 3.83 goals-against average.
Then, something changed.
Starting with a 30-save performance against the Washington Capitals in his first start of 2026, Annunen began to settle in. The confidence grew, the performances improved, and by the end of the season, he looked like a completely different goaltender.
Annunen appeared in a career-high 28 games, posting a 10-12-2 record with a 2.68 goals-against average and a .907 save percentage.
Those were career-best numbers for Annunen in any season where he appeared in at least 20 games.
He also delivered one of the best performances of his NHL career, stopping all 43 shots he faced to record Nashville’s first shutout in more than a year.
“I thought Big Juice was outstanding,” Predators head coach Andrew Brunette told reporters after the win. “We’ve had a lot of [shutouts] that slipped away and they weren’t going to let this one go for Big Juice. He’s been put in real tough scenarios. I think they all wanted to get him a shutout.”
The momentum carried over beyond the NHL season.
Annunen earned the starting role for Finland at the 2026 IIHF Men’s World Championship and delivered when his country needed him most.
He was perfect in the gold medal game, stopping all 22 shots he faced in a 1-0 overtime victory against Switzerland to secure the championship for Finland.
The victory came against Predators captain Roman Josi, who captained Switzerland to a silver medal.
Annunen finished the tournament with a 7-1-0 record, a 1.47 goals-against average, and a .933 save percentage while serving as Finland’s starter.
For a goaltender who spent much of the previous year trying to establish himself, it was another reminder that his ceiling may be much higher than many originally thought.
His development also caught the attention of Chris MacFarland.
Now Nashville’s general manager, MacFarland knows Annunen better than most. He was part of the Avalanche front office that helped oversee his development before ultimately trading him to the Predators.
“I’m not surprised that Justus came here and found his game with his commitment and work,” MacFarland said. “I think the goaltending department here has done some really good work and it allowed him to develop, stretch his wings a little bit.”
That may become one of the biggest storylines for Nashville heading into next season.
Juuse Saros has been the Predators’ unquestioned starter for the last five seasons, but 2025-26 was easily one of the most difficult years of his career.
In 59 games, Saros posted a 28-22-8 record with a 3.16 goals-against average and an .894 save percentage.
Meanwhile, Annunen enters the offseason with confidence, momentum, and a two-year contract extension signed in January.
Nashville doesn’t need to rush into replacing Saros, but it may make sense to give Annunen a much larger role next season. A true rotation between the two goaltenders could allow both players to stay fresh while giving the Predators a better evaluation of what they have.
But if Annunen continues playing at this level, the conversation could change quickly.
Starting goaltenders rarely emerge overnight. They earn that opportunity through consistency, confidence, and proving they can handle the pressure.
Annunen is doing exactly that.
If he takes another step forward, Saros could eventually become one of the most intriguing names on the trade market next season.
It may not happen. It may not even be the direction Nashville wants to go.
But for the first time, there is a legitimate question surrounding the Predators crease.
Who is the future in net?
Colorado believed Annunen had that potential when they drafted and developed him. Nashville gave him the chance to finally prove it.
The trade worked out exactly as both sides hoped.
The Avalanche found a dependable veteran in Wedgewood, who has played the best hockey of his career in Colorado.
Annunen found something just as valuable in Nashville: opportunity.
Now, the potential Colorado once saw is finally turning into production.
The Buffalo Sabres snapped their 15-year postseason drought, winning the Atlantic Division and advancing to the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, but after an offseason that saw Bowen Byram and Alex Tuch being dealt, the task of repeating as division champion or finishing in the top three of the Atlantic could be significantly more difficult.
This week, we will look at the seven other teams in the Atlantic to see where they stand in comparison to where they were at the end of last season and see where they potentially stack up as competition with the Sabres.
The Ottawa Senators were the polar opposite of the Detroit Red Wings after the Olympic break, going 16-5-4 to beat out the Wings, Columbus Blue Jackets, Washington Capitals, and NY Islanders for one of the two Eastern Conference wildcard spots. The Sens battled the eventual Stanley Cup champion Carolina Hurricanes, but only scored five goals in a four-game sweep.
After the season, there was little hint that things between the club and team captain Brady Tkachuk had reached a crossroads, but behind the scenes he indicated that he would not be re-signing in Ottawa after the final two years of his contract, which led to him being traded to the Florida Panthers to join his brother Matthew.
William Eklund - acquired from San Jose for the ninth overall pick in the 2026 Draft (Keaton Verhoeff), under contract for three more years at $5.6 million AAV
Philip Tomasino - signed to one-year, $900,000 deal
Samuel Ersson - acquired from Toronto for a 2027 fifth round pick
Andre Burakovsky - acquired from Chicago for a 2027 sixth-round pick
Will Patrick Kane sign with Buffalo?
Subtractions
Brady Tkachuk - 59 points (22 goals, 37 assists) in 60 games, dealt to Florida for the 2026 ninth overall pick, 2026 25th overall pick (Jonas Lagerberg-Hoen), a 2027 second-round pick in the 2027 draft and conditional 2029 first round pick.
Outlook
The Sens core group (Tim Stutzle, Shane Pinto, Dylan Cozens, Eklund, Jake Sanderson) are all 25 or younger, and head coach Travis Green has veterans Drake Batherson, Artem Zub, Thomas Chabot, and Claude Giroux who are contributors. Ridly Greig provides sandpaper, Tyler Kleven and Jordan Spence provide quality depth on the blueline, and Linus Ullmark has returned to Vezina form in stretches.
As currently constructed, Ottawa and Buffalo are about even in goal with Ullmark and Ersson against the Sabres trio. Defensively, Sanderson and Chabot are quality top four defenders, but they do not come up to the level of Rasmus Dahlin and Owen Power, the departure of Byram has weakened the Sabres defensive depth, and Ottawa draws close to even with the second and third pairing blueliners. Where the Sabres have a clear advantage is up front, where the loss of Tkachuk is by far more impactful than the departure of Tuch.
The Senators have also taken a step back, to the point where they are likely battling to stay out of the bottom of the Atlantic Division next season instead of competing for a wildcard spot.
The Hamilton Hammers, the New York Islanders' American Hockey League affiliate, announced on Sunday afternoon that they had signed right-shot defenseman Ryan Healey.
.@hammersahl have signed RHD Ryan Healey, who #Isles acquired the rights to from #mnwild for future considerations.
Healey, 22, was drafted by the Minnesota Wild in the fourth round of the 2022 NHL Draft and had spent the last four seasons at Harvard, where he recorded 55 points (19 goals, 36 assists) in 130 NCAA games.
The Islanders acquired the rights to Healey on June 27 from the Wild for future considerations.
His rights were set to expire on Aug. 15. Because it is strictly an AHL deal, any NHL team can sign Healey.
It’s been three weeks since the opening of free agency, and the Montreal Canadiens have not put pen to paper with any NHLers aside from players who were already theirs. Kent Hughes has also been quiet on the trade market, although that wasn’t for lack of trying; as things stand, the Habs are set to run it back with the same lineup that lost the Eastern Conference Final in five games.
Nobody can complain about the work Hughes has done so far, and staying away from the big contracts and overpayment that normally characterize free agency has served him well in the last five years. However, with so many of the Canadiens’ core players signing team-friendly contracts, the Habs GM will need to have something to show them for it sooner or later. Of course, that could be later down the line when the Habs’ prospects join the lineup, and there’s plenty of cap room to get them to commit long term, but in the meantime, Montreal’s lineup could do with a placeholder.
A veteran player who can still produce and is seeking a short-term contract would be ideal. There’s one veteran player who’s still a free agent and who has signed a one-year deal for his last three contracts: Patrick Kane.
The 37-year-old put up 57 points in 67 games with the Detroit Red Wings last season and is still a productive player in the NHL. For a Habs team that is hoping to see Michael Hage and Alexander Zharovsky join at the end of the season, the American could be just what the doctor ordered.
Of course, Kane has never been known as a genius on the defensive side of the game, but he does have a very high hockey IQ and elite decision-making, which could make him an ideal candidate to thrive in Martin St-Louis’ brand of hockey.
Would he be able to commit to playing a complete game on both sides of the puck? That’s the question, but he may very well be worth a one-year gamble, especially since the Habs have been unable to get anyone else so far. Last year, Kane had a $3 million cap hit; the year before, it was $4 million, and three years ago it was $2.75 million. He’s won three Stanley Cups with the Chicago Blackhawks and knows what it takes to make it all the way. He’s at the very least an option to seriously consider, as his presence on Ivan Demidov’s wing could be a game changer.
Opening day is rapidly approaching, as we're down to 74 days until the San Jose Sharks host the Florida Panthers to kick off the 2026-27 season. There has only been one player to ever wear the number 74 for the Sharks: Dylan DeMelo.
The Sharks drafted DeMelo with the 179th overall pick in the 2011 NHL Draft. He went on to make his professional debut during the 2011-12 season with the Sharks' American Hockey League affiliate at the time, the Worcester Sharks, appearing in four games before returning to the Ontario Hockey League for the 2012-13 season.
After his final junior season came to an end, he returned to Worcester for another short stint at the end of the 2012-13 season, appearing in 10 games this time. He then spent two full seasons with the Sharks' farm team before making his NHL debut during the 2015-16 season. He played 45 games for the Sharks in his rookie campaign, splitting time between the NHL and the Sharks' newly relocated AHL affiliate, the San Jose Barracuda.
DeMelo remained with the Sharks through the end of the 2017-18 season. On September 18, 2018, DeMelo was traded to the Ottawa Senators along with multiple other assets in a deal that brought star defenseman Erik Karlsson to the Bay Area.
DeMelo only spent a season and a half in Canada's capital, as the Senators traded him to cross-country to the Winnipeg Jets in February of 2020 in exchange for a third round pick. Since then, he's been a mainstay on the Jets' blue line.
All-in-all, DeMelo has played 718 career NHL games at this point, certainly a respectable total for a former sixth-round draft pick. He still has quite a bit of gas left in the tank as well at just 33 years of age.
Now that the full Florida Panthers schedule for the 2026-27 season has been released, it gives us a chance to dive into the details and analyze what we find.
An element of a schedule that is often highly scrutinized due to its impact on a team’s advantage, or disadvantage, on a given night are back-to-back games.
Teams playing on the second night of a back-to-back set have traditionally had a much harder time obtaining two points than when they played the night before.
Last season, the Florida Panthers played 13 back-to-back sets. On the second night of those occasions, Florida went just 4-8-1.
Looking at the new schedule, the Panthers are among a group of five teams (Boston Bruins, Buffalo Sabres, Ottawa Senators, Washington Capitals) who will play 14 sets of back-to-back games this season.
Only the Pittsburgh Penguins will play more, as they’ll play on consecutive nights 15 times.
On the flip side, facing a team playing on the second night of a back-to-back can be a major advantage, one that Florida will enjoy only nine times this season, which is among the lowest amount in the league.
The Toronto Maple Leafs and Winnipeg Jets will play a team on the back end of a back-to-backer just five times, which is the fewest of all teams, while the Minnesota Wild will play seven teams in the same situation, the Bruins, Senators and Utah Mammoth will face eight such teams, and then it’s the Panthers and the San Jose Sharks at nine.
At the opposite end of that you’ll find the Montreal Canadiens, who will face a team that played the night before 19 times this season, followed by the Anaheim Ducks at 18, the Detroit Red Wings and St. Louis Blues at 16 and a group of five teams – the Calgary Glames, Chicago Blackhawks, Dallas Stars, New Jersey Devils and Capitals, looking forward to 15 such games.
From the Florida perspective, the argument would be that a fully healthy Panthers squad will be able to take care of business on might nights regardless of when or where they may be playing.
Add it to the list of reasons why the Cats will be carrying a chip on their collective shoulder as they embark on their latest quest to re-claim the Stanley Cup.
Photo caption: Apr 15, 2026; Sunrise, Florida, USA; Florida Panthers head coach Paul Maurice speaks to assistant coach Jamie Kompon against the Detroit Red Wings during the third period at Amerant Bank Arena. (Sam Navarro-Imagn Images)
Connor Bedard has become one of the NHL's highest-paid players. The Chicago Blackhawks signed the 21-year-old to a five-year deal on Saturday, which carries an AAV of $15 million. As of writing, Bedard will have the third-highest cap hit for the 2026-27 season while his $17 million total salary ranks fourth.
Ever since Bedard was first drafted into the WHL, Vancouver Canucks fans have hoped he would one day play for the franchise. Born in North Vancouver, the rising NHL star grew up a fan of the Canucks and at one point, listed former Vancouver forward Tyler Motte as his favourite NHL player. With Bedard set to become an unrestricted free agent once his new extension is complete, Canucks fans are already dreaming that a John Taveres-type situation could unfold in five years.
"HE'S COMING HOME TO VANCOUVER!!!! WALKING HIM TO UFA!!!! GREATEST MOMENT IN CANUCKS HISTORY SINCE 2011!! HE'S FOLLOWING THE GAMEPLAN PERFECTLY!!!!" wrote @taj1944 on "X".
As noted in the post, there has been a big push on social media to get as many BC-born players to Vancouver. The other player constantly mentioned in this social media campaign is San Jose Sharks forward Macklin Celebrini, who will be a restricted free agent next year. The Canucks already have Macklin's brother, Aiden, in their system, as he was drafted in 2023.
Another comment on "X" came from @TrevBeggs, who wrote. "This is the best birthday present I could ask for."
Finally, @LaheyHNIC on "X" wrote, "420 games until Connor Bedard is a Canuck. Official countdown"
The next few years will be intriguing, especially as Bedard inches closer to becoming an unrestricted free agent. With a passionate fan base in Vancouver, there are going to be constant posts, whether on social media or Canucks Reddit, about a potential homecoming. This season, Bedard and the Blackhawks play twice at Rogers Arena, with games scheduled for November 22, 2026 and March 3, 2027.
Nov 5, 2025; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Chicago Blackhawks forward Connor Bedard (98) collides with Vancouver Canucks goalie Kevin Lankinen (32) in the first period at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-Imagn Images
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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On Saturday, one day after his 21st birthday, Connor Bedard and the Chicago Blackhawks came to terms on an extension. It’s a five-year deal with a cap hit of $15 million per year.
There was a lot of drama surrounding this contract, but it didn’t have much to do with negotiations. Bedard injured his shoulder during a summer skate, which complicated things, and there has been offer-sheet drama around the NHL.
It is worth noting that Bedard signed for $3 million less than Anaheim Ducks forward Leo Carlsson, who signed a 5-year, $18 million offer sheet with the Philadelphia Flyers before Anaheim matched it. Bedard could have commanded that, or more, but he gave Chicago a break.
On the flip side, this is the start of a competitive clock for the Chicago Blackhawks. When Connor Bedard’s new 5-year deal is up, he will be a 25-year-old unrestricted free agent. You’d think he is going to walk if the Blackhawks are still consistently a lottery team by that point.
At that time, Bedard will likely have established himself as one of the best players in the NHL. The current wave of players in their prime will be starting to slow down, and this new generation will be entering their greatest years.
The Blackhawks, specifically Kyle Davidson, believe in what they’ve seen from Bedard. There is internal confidence that he has the tools to lead the team for a long time.
“Connor has continuously defied our expectations since being drafted, and has quickly established himself as an elite player in the NHL,” Davidson said. “He utilizes all aspects of his game to not only be a constant threat, but to make the players around him better every time he steps on the ice. Connor’s strong work ethic and determination to always improve his game has set an extraordinary standard for our young core, and we’re excited for the incredible impact he’ll have in this next chapter of Blackhawks hockey.”
If Kyle and his staff don’t have this team in a good spot by the fourth year of this deal, however, things will get ugly.
A no-move clause kicks in for the fifth year of this contract, so Bedard will then control the situation even more. If they start making the playoffs and showing the potential to make deep runs, then Bedard will be more likely to extend again on another long-term deal.
Connor Bedard’s contract takes up 14.4 percent of the salary cap, which is about right for an NHL team’s top star. The fact that an offer sheet never entered the equation and he took less money than he could have gotten shows his commitment to the team that selected him first overall.
That loyalty would wear off if the team doesn’t do right by him now when it comes to the talent surrounding him, and they have the next five years to make their case.
Next up for the Blackhawks when it comes to Bedard? For one, naming him the captain would go a long way. Bedard has already mentioned that as a challenge he welcomes in the next chapter of his career.
They also need to, over the next year or so, find him his true running mate when it comes to his wing. The plan is for Frank Nazar and Anton Frondell to play center, so getting Bedard a sniper on his line is a must. Is that player already in the organization, or will external options come into play?
The first order of business is done with his newest contract following his entry-level deal. Now, the focus can go back to being the roster around Connor Bedard. Superstars are a must, but depth around them is as big a factor.
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Every season, each team will have a small handful of AHL players get an opportunity in the NHL. It's often to fill in for an injured player or because they've been impressing in the American League and deserve a look in the big league.
With the Toronto Maple Leafs' organization, the situation is a little bit different than usual, considering their AHL affiliate, the Toronto Marlies, is coming off their second Calder Cup championship in franchise history.
Several players from that Marlies team deserve a regular chance with the Maple Leafs. However, GM John Chayka made a considerable splash on July 1, acquiring an abundance of players to fill the NHL roster for 2026-27.
The path up to the NHL within the organization for some of those Calder Cup winners isn't so clear now. But that doesn't mean a few can't see some action with the Maple Leafs.
This past year, four Marlies players received a notable opportunity with the Maple Leafs. Jacob Quillan, Dakota Mermis, Dennis Hildeby and Bo Groulx all featured in more than 10 NHL games in 2025-26.
Quillan played the most, appearing in 23 contests and scoring a goal and two assists. Next is Hildeby, who played 20 games in relief due to the absences of Joseph Woll and Anthony Stolarz, with most of his action coming from November through January.
Groulx was introduced to the Maple Leafs lineup later in the campaign, making his season debut on March 10 and playing 13 games for the club. Mermis was used as an injury replacement throughout the year, playing 11 games for the Leafs, all before Dec. 9.
With those numbers from this past year, how much action in the NHL can some of the Marlies' core players expect for this coming season?
For starters, it certainly won't be much playing time if the majority of the Maple Leafs roster remains healthy. Chayka's free agency haul blocks out some opportunity for the impressive AHL champions.
With the goaltending, Woll was shipped to the Philadelphia Flyers, and Hildeby to the Tampa Bay Lightning. However, future Hall of Famer Sergei Bobrovsky was added to the mix with a three-year contract.
Therefore, for Akhtyamov to get a stint in the NHL, he'd have to be patient for either an injury or a serious dip in performance from Stolarz or Bobrovsky. And to be fair, that's very possible.
Stolarz has had an injury-riddled career so far and has never played more than 34 games in a single season. Also, Bobrovsky is coming off the worst campaign of his lengthy NHL tenure and will be turning 38 before the next season's start. So to say Akhtyamov could get 15 to 20 games like Hildeby did last year isn't the biggest stretch of the imagination.
One thing that sticks out with the Maple Leafs' defense is Chris Tanev. The veteran blueliner didn't see a whole lot of action after suffering multiple injuries early in the year. As a result, he only featured in 11 contests for Toronto, so it'll be interesting to see how he carries himself in 2026-27 as a 36-year-old.
Add Tanev's return to the lineup with the additions of Darren Raddysh and Emil Andrae to the back end this off-season. With that, there's still Troy Stecher, who was re-signed to a two-year deal, and even Philippe Myers is still a depth piece in the organization.
That leaves scraps for a player like 24-year-old defenseman William Villeneuve. Which is a shame because he finished second in the AHL's playoff scoring race with 23 points in 24 games. In another situation with another team, Villeneuve would potentially see at least 20 games based on that Calder Cup performance, and still at a relatively young age.
Not to mention, 20-year-old Ben Danford has made it clear multiple times that he's looking to crack the Maple Leafs' roster out of training camp this fall. That would certainly be a tall task considering the bodies ahead of him on the depth chart.
In terms of Toronto's forward group, Quillan and Groulx would be the obvious candidates to be the first in line for a call-up.
Quillan, 24, has shown great signs of growth in the American League this past year, almost reaching a point-per-game average in the regular season. He scored 14 goals and 36 points in 40 appearances with the Marlies. What helps his case even further is his NHL experience, as he spent over a quarter of the NHL regular season with the Leafs.
As for Groulx, he was a pleasant surprise with how quickly he produced offensively for the Maple Leafs when he was called up in March. In his first six games in the NHL, the 26-year-old scored three goals and five points.
Unfortunately for those two, the additions of Nick Paul, Colton Sissons, Teddy Blueger, Jack Roslovic and Gavin McKenna hinder the chance of replicating the time they got with the Leafs in 2025-26. This time around, they would be lucky to see more than 10 games, barring a long-term injury to an NHL regular.
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Some players get you to the Stanley Cup playoffs, players who get you through them, but some players solidify your lineup despite seeing very little ice time. That’s what former Montreal Canadiens’ forward Nicolas Deslauriers has done with the Carolina Hurricanes. The Canes acquired the 35-year-old La Salle native on trade deadline day to add depth, experience, and physicality to the Stanley Cup Champions-to-be.
Even though he had only played 24 games with the Philadelphia Flyers in the regular season, GM Eric Tulsky didn’t hesitate to strike a deal for the gritty forward, sending a conditional seventh-round pick at the 2027 draft to Daniel Briere and the Flyers. Speaking about the trade, Tulsky said:
Nicolas is a strong, physical player who plays with an edge, factors that become even more important as we get to the postseason.
Deslauriers played only seven regular-season games with the Hurricanes, recording an assist and five penalty minutes. He got a fighting major against Mathieu Olivier in his very first game with the Canes. With his team trailing 2-0 against the Columbus Blue Jackets, the 6-foot-1 and 208-pound heavyweight decided to try to wake his team up. In the playoffs, he saw one match of action in the fourth game of the Canes’ first-round series against the Ottawa Senators, taking a double minor for roughing on then-captain Brady Tkachuk andfor unsportsmanlike conduct.
While he definitely fell short of meeting the threshold to have his name engraved on the Stanley Cup (having played at least 41 regular-season games with the champions or one game in the final), it was a no-brainer for the Canes to petition the league for permission to put his name on the Cup. The winger found out from Tulsky that he would get his name on Lord Stanley’s mug:
“I got a call, I think, on the day before the (championship celebration) parade talking about what I did for the organization. It was a long, 15-minute talk with Tulsky and me, and then he said that they petitioned for my name and that it was actually not hard and asked me how I wanted to write it on. Still thinking about it gives me chills."
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The Canes recognized the importance of the leadership role he assumed with the team and even signed him to a new two-year contract, live from the stage during their championship celebration. Speaking about his role in the conquest, Tulsky said:
"Nic was there in the room with the guys every single day from April to June," he said. "And regardless of how many games he played, he was part of the team."
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On Friday, Deslauriers chose to spend the day with the Cup in North Wildwood, a vacation spot he and his family fell in love with during his four seasons with the Flyers, where he bought a home on June 30. He spent most of the day taking pictures with fans on the Seaport Pier as over 1,100 fans turned up.
Deslauriers spent two seasons with the Habs in 2017-18 and 2018-19 before being traded to the Anaheim Ducks for a 2020 fourth-round draft pick on June 30, 2019, in a cap-space-clearing operation that also saw them trade veteran Andrew Shaw. The gritty Deslauriers put up12 goals and 19 points in 106 games over two seasons with Montreal but wasn’t one of then-coach Claude Julien’s favorites. His last season in Montreal didn’t start well when he suffered a facial fracture in a preseason fight against New Jersey Devils’ Brandon Baddock, and he only skated in 48 games in that campaign, which led to the forward wanting out even though playing for the Habs had been a childhood dream of his.
Since being selected in the third round of the 2009 draft by the Los Angeles Kings, Deslauriers has skated in 708 NHL games, totaling 106 points and 799 penalty minutes along the way. The fact that the Canes made it a priority to get his name engraved on the Cup and sign him to a new contract goes to show how important that kind of player can be to an organization. The Hurricanes are not the Broad Street Bullies from the 1970s, but they recognize just how useful Deslauriers has been and can be. One has to wonder if the Habs are aware, as their own tough guy, Arber Xhekaj, is still waiting to sign a new contract.
