Welcome to The Hockey News Vancouver Canucks site's 2026–27 player preview article series. This series will outline the expectations for every player projected to play for Vancouver during the 2026–27 season. Today's player is Canucks forward Trey Fix-Wolansky.

Fix-Wolansky's 2025-26 Season

Fix-Wolansky spent the 2025-26 campaign with the Hartford Wolf Pack of the AHL. He scored 31 goals while recording 55 points in 72 games. Fix-Wolansky also picked up 121 penalty minutes, which ranked 17th in the AHL. 

Overall, Fix-Wolansky brings toughness and experience to the Abbotsford Canucks. The 27-year-old has played 361 AHL games and recorded 314 points. In addition to his time in the AHL, Fix-Wolansky has also played 26 NHL games, with the most recent coming during the 2023-24 season. 

This year will be Fix-Wolansky's return to Canada. Before starting his pro career, he played three seasons in the WHL with the Edmonton Oil Kings. Fix-Wolansky's final WHL campaign was in 2018-19, when he recorded 102 points as the Oil Kings' captain.  

Fix-Wolansky's 2026-27 Predictions 

This off-season, Fix-Wolansky signed a two-way contract with Vancouver. While the winger has a chance to make the NHL roster, he is projected to spend the majority of the season in the AHL. Fix-Wolansky should help the younger players adjust to life in the AHL while also playing a key role in the top six. 

Last year was a good reminder of how important depth is in the AHL. Because of all the injuries, Abbotsford often played with a very inexperienced lineup that featured a significant number of ECHL players. Adding a player like Fix-Wolansky adds an extra level of depth to the organization in case injuries hit again. 

Bold Prediction: Fix-Wolansky finishes the season at a point-per-game in the AHL. 

Canucks 2026–27 Player Previews: 

Akil Thomas

Ty Mueller

Aatu Räty

Kirill Kudryavtsev

Arshdeep Bains

Ilya Safonov

Braeden Cootes

Linus Karlsson

Nikita Tolopilo

Victor Mancini

Kevin Lankinen

Filip Chytil

Thatcher Demko

Jonathan Lekkerimäki

Elias Pettersson (D)

Marco Rossi

Max Sasson

Jamie Oleksiak

Drew O'Connor

Luke Schenn

Paul Cotter

Brendan Gallagher

Liam Öhgren

Tom Willander

Jake DeBrusk

Zeev Buium

Brock Boeser

Filip Hronek

Elias Pettersson

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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It’s Sunday, why not take a look at some NHL team lines and chop it up?

Last summer when I did this exercise, it worked pretty well. Can’t do better than 5-0 (went under on Calgary, Utah, Florida; over on Buffalo and Detroit). Not shabby. Shame I didn’t actually make any of the bets but let’s try to take a look at it for this upcoming season. I grabbed this from an online sportsbook as of this week for the totals.

Some interesting numbers on the table, let’s start on the teams that I think can overshoot.

Boston 86.5 – The Bruins had 100 points last year. They’re a team that doesn’t make sense on paper, it doesn’t look like they should be particularly good but usually come through (unless their goalie has a protracted contract holdout and screws up the timing for the year, anyways). Boston is minimally changed from last season, having lost Viktor Arvidsson and Andrew Peake while adding JJ Peterka and Connor Clifton. I don’t even know if they’ll make the playoffs again, but in an 84-game season, I don’t see how they can’t get at least 87 points considering they’re usually strong in net, defensively and score a little more than you might expect (their 268 goals were 10th last season). Going with Swayman, MacAvoy and Pastrnak to coax out at least decent performance from their team seems like a good bet to make.

San Jose 93.5 – The Sharks finished with 86 points last year, so an improvement is already priced in for this year’s over/under. I think they’re ready to get there. It helps that a decent amount of their division (SEA, CGY, VAN) is pretty poor. Anaheim is basically the same, listed at 94.5, I like the Sharks’ goaltending and team better considering that Macklin Celebrini is emerging as such a great player that can elevate others. This is risky to bet on an ascending team that hasn’t done it with this core just yet, but SJ showed enough signs last year to believe they are heading back towards at least playoff contention.

Montreal 98.5 – Big numbers should be scary in over/unders, but this one isn’t big enough. The Habs had 106 points last year, and all of their best players are in the 20-27 age range that should be able to replicate what they did last year or play even better. They also have two young goalies that should be improving. Montreal is in a very competitive division but I don’t see this being a major sweat. Montreal ought to be staying towards the top of the standings for a while, I think they’re an easy 100+ point team this year.

Now, some numbers that aren’t adding up in the summer.

Florida 108.5 – There’s no doubting that Panthers should be back to very good this year. This good? They did have 110 points in 2023-24 and now have Aleksander Barkov healthy and Brady Tkachuk joining up. But 110+ points with Jakob Markstrom and Akira Schmid as the goalies? Can’t say I see that. It’s a tough call than it looks since this could easily be a 105ish point team and it only takes winning a couple extra games to hit the over (and again, with 84 games there’s more opportunities to get there) but gee, this number is a bit too high (only Carolina at 109.5 is higher).

Toronto 95.5 – There’s been so much roster turnover that it’s tough to get behind what to expect. Being a popular team with star power, a high number is understandable for the books to not want to give in too much. Sergei Bobrovsky is 38 and wasn’t that great last year in Florida. The Leafs have some offense but everything is so new from management to coaches to the goalie and as many as 10 new players that they’re tough to get a read on. Sometimes things don’t gel instantly and provide great results, so I guess I’ll lean to thinking an under-performance is on hand.

Vancouver 74.5 – Vancouver has the lowest number on the board, and I still don’t think it’s low enough. Their defense has like one good player left. Elias Pettersson has been in a funk to put it mildly. There’s rumors they might be selling off Brock Boeser next. They have a rookie NHL head coach and new GM. I think they’ll be an outlier on the low-end this year, mired in some pain as they look to the future, of which they don’t even have that much U-22 material expected at the NHL level this season to even give hope for the immediate term. The Canucks had an NHL low 58 points last year, and even if they do better it would have to be a massive improvement to hit the over. Just don’t see that happening based off the minimal changes to the roster of adding Brendan Gallagher (who looks spent and might just replace the 31 points from the departed Evander Kane), Jamie Oleksiak and Luke Schenn while trading Marcus Pettersson for a first round pick four drafts from now.

The season isn’t here yet. We’re making do.

Islanders News

• The wondefully-haired fan behind the winning 3rd-jersey design talks about his moment, and his late dad. [Isles | Newsday]
• Ryan Pulock was a guest on the Tri-State Hockey Podcast. He gives a pretty thorough answer at the 36-minute mark about the changes he’s seen in his decade-plus with the organization. They also talk about “the save” vs. Tampa. [YouTube]
• The Islanders named people to various strength and conditioning roles. [Isles | THN]

Elsewhere

• Cale Makar and the Avalanche agreed to a record, monster deal, $20.4 million per year. [Sportsnet] That raises the bar for top player salaries. [NHL]
• Yes the landscape has changed, but players like Macklin Celebrini are still taking “less” to allow cap space for other good players around them. [NHL | TSN]
• Connor Hellebucyk’s agent said the quiet part out loud, publicizing a trade request that is a few months old. Here are eight potential landing spots. [Athletic]
• Or maybe here are five potential spots. [Sportsnet]
• Or hell, maybe here is just one, Buffalo. [Sportsnet]
• Victor Hedman was “not [him]self” last season. [NHL]

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We're counting down until the Detroit Red Wings begin the 2026-27 season, and with each passing day, we’ll be taking a look back at the best player in franchise history to wear that day’s jersey number.

The Top No. 34 In Red Wings History: Manny Legace

He didn't begin his NHL career with the Red Wings, nor did he finish it in Detroit. But during his time wearing the Winged Wheel, goaltender Manny Legace put together a notable stretch in the Motor City.

He ranks ninth overall in Red Wings history with 112 victories, and has his name on the Stanley Cup as part of the legendary 2001-02 squad. 

Originally taken in the 1993 NHL Draft by the Hartford Whalers with the 188th overall pick, Legace would actually begin his career with the Los Angeles Kings in the 1998-99 campaign, appearing in 17 contests. 

He'd sign with the Red Wings that summer, only to be exposed to waivers and scooped up by the Vancouver Canucks. But as fate would have it, Legace would once again be waived and subsequently reclaimed by the Red Wings. 

It was in the 2000-01 season that Legace's NHL career took off. Because starter Chris Osgood struggled to start the year, Legace began earning trust from head coach Scotty Bowman and impressed with his play on the ice. 

While Osgood eventually returned to form and started for Detroit in the 2001 playoffs, Legace's numbers were too good to ignore, going 24-5-5 with a pristine 2.05 goals-against average and a .920 save percentage. 

Legace spent the next two seasons backing up Dominik Hasek and Curtis Joseph before finding himself caught between the two veterans in 2003-04. Hasek had returned from retirement after helping Detroit win the 2002 Stanley Cup, while Joseph still had two years remaining on his contract.

Legace handled the unusual situation as Detroit's No. 2 option behind both goaltenders, but Hasek's decision to step away again in early 2004 eventually left Joseph as the clear starter.

An injury to Joseph then opened the door for Legace, who took advantage of the opportunity and earned the starting job for Detroit's first-round playoff series against the Nashville Predators.

He started the first four games before Joseph reclaimed the crease for the remainder of the postseason.

Bookmark The Hockey News Detroit Red Wings team site to stay connected to the latest news, game-day coverage, and player features. 

Legace then beat out Osgood, who returned to Detroit prior to the 2005-06 campaign, for the starter's role to begin that season. He once again posted strong numbers in the regular season, going 37-8-3 and helping the Red Wings to the NHL's best record.

Legace struggled in Detroit's first-round series against the No. 8-seeded Edmonton Oilers, and the Red Wings ultimately suffered a stunning upset series defeat.

Legace had accurately predicted before the playoffs that his time in Detroit could be over if they didn't make a deep playoff run. The Red Wings opted not to re-sign him, and he subsequently joined the division-rival St. Louis Blues.

35 Days Until Red Wings Opening Night: Detroit’s Best No. 35With 35 days left until the Detroit Red Wings open the 2026-27 season, we take a look at the top player to have worn jersey No. 35.

He'd play two and a half seasons with the Blues before being waived in February 2009 after he struggled in a game against the Red Wings. He'd eventually bounce around the minor leagues while also getting another 28 games of NHL experience with the Carolina Hurricanes in 2009-10.

He would complete his professional playing career with the AHL's Springfield Falcons in 2011-12, and would retire after having compiled an NHL record of 187-99-18 with a 2.41 goals-against average, a .912 save percentage, and 24 shutouts. 

He's joined the Red Wings for multiple alumni events since then. After a stint with the Columbus Blue Jackets as goaltending coach, Legace currently works for the New Jersey Devils as their head amateur goaltending scout and development coach. 

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Nine players throughout the San Jose Sharks' history have worn the number 33. Currently though, it belongs to backup goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic, who is about to enter his second season as a member of the Sharks. 

The 37th overall selection in the 2014 NHL Draft by the Carolina Hurricanes, Nedeljkovic was a fairly highly-touted prospect early in his career. It took him quite a while to finally reach the NHL, but he made a major impact during the 2020-21 season, his final campaign in the Hurricanes organization, and earned himself consideration for the Calder Trophy alongside Kirill Kaprizov and Jason Robertson. Ultimately, Kaprizov took home the award, but Nedeljkovic seemed to be on a path to stardom.

While many bought into the hype around Nedeljkovic, the Hurricanes didn't and they traded him to the Detroit Red Wings. He struggled to regain his prior form in Detroit and seemed like a completely different goaltender. After just two seasons, the Red Wings opted to let Nedeljkovic leave the organization, and he signed with the Pittsburgh Penguins for the 2023-24 campaign.

While Nedeljkovic wasn't great during his first season in Pittsburgh, he was on par with the Penguins' other netminder, Tristan Jarry and as a result, he earned a two-year contract extension. After his play dropped even further during his second season in Pittsburgh, he was traded to the San Jose Sharks, where he remains today. 

Despite disappointing counting stats during the 2025-26 season, Nedeljkovic was often more reliable than Yaroslav Askarov and as a result, Ryan Warsofsky showed quite a bit of trust in the veteran. The Parma, Ohio native earned himself another two-year contract with the Sharks and is set to start the 2026-27 season behind the aforementioned Askarov.

The New York Rangers ranked No. 7 in The Hockey News’ current series ranking of the offseasons of every NHL team.

It was a busy offseason for Chris Drury and company, as it all started on draft night when the Rangers acquired Pavel Dorofeyev from the Vegas Golden Knights in exchange for the No. 26 pick in the 2026 NHL Draft, a third-round pick (No. 92) in the 2026 draft, and a conditional first-round pick in the 2028 NHL Draft.

The Rangers selected defenseman Alberts Šmits with the No. 5 overall pick, minutes after the Dorofeyev trade was completed. 

Drury made two substantial trades on July 1. After months of speculation, the Rangers traded Vincent Trocheck to the Utah Mammoth in exchange for  Sean Durzi, forward prospect Cole Beaudoin, and a third-round pick in the 2027 NHL Draft. 

On top of the Trocheck deal, the Rangers acquired Marcus Pettersson from the Vancouver Canucks in exchange for a conditional first-round pick in the 2030 NHL Draft.

The Blueshirts also added Joonas Korpisalo, Oliver Bjorkstrand, and Joe Veleno.

CHICAGO (AP) — The Chicago Blackhawks have agreed to a two-year contract with defenseman Kevin Korchinski.

Chicago announced the deal with the restricted free agent on Saturday. It carries a salary-cap hit of $1,325,000.

The 22-year-old Korchinski posted two assists in 13 games with the Blackhawks last season. He also had two goals and 24 assists in 53 games with Rockford of the American Hockey League.

Korchinski was selected by the Blackhawks with the No. 7 overall pick in the 2022 draft. He has six goals and 13 assists in 105 career NHL games.

___

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

The first draft pick that Kyle Davidson made as the full-time General Manager of the Chicago Blackhawks was Kevin Korchinski, 7th overall in 2022. Since then, his development has had an up-and-down curve. 

Before his NHL career started, Korchinski won a Gold Medal with Connor Bedard at the 2023 World Junior Championships. He has big-game experience, and that could come to help him down the line. 

Korchinski played his entire rookie pro season in the NHL, where there were some good and bad moments. Over the last two years, however, he spent most of both seasons in the AHL. He was an All-Star both times, including the All-Star Game MVP in 2025. 

He is still working on becoming a full-time NHL player again, which is becoming increasingly difficult with all of the young talent around him. 

The Blackhawks clearly believe in him, however, as the restricted free agent locked down a two-year extension on Saturday. He is going to carry a cap hit of $1.325 million, starting in 2026-27, and that will go through the 2027-28 season. 

KEVIN‼️‼️

📰 ➡︎ https://t.co/6yBfmSnAovpic.twitter.com/TZpo1hHklu

— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) August 29, 2026

If Korchinski wants to become an important NHL player rather than an above-average AHL player, he has two years to put it all together. If he blossoms into his full potential, this will be a great deal for Chicago over two years. At the same time, there isn't much risk if it doesn't work out.

Korchinski has a lot to prove, but the skills are there for him to do so. Now, he must take advantage of this opportunity to get better with an organization that has invested in his long-term success. 

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

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It didn’t take long for San Jose Sharks forward Macklin Celebrini to be surpassed for the title of highest-paid player in the NHL. Roughly a month after Celebrini signed his massive contract extension, Cale Makar of the Colorado Avalanche took over the title and changed the landscape of contracts in the NHL, especially for defensemen, as the first player to surpass the $20 million threshold.

On Friday, the Avalanche announced that they had signed Makar to an eight-year contract extension worth just over $163 million, which carries an average annual value of $20.4 million per season. Meanwhile, Celebrini signed his landmark five-year, $94 million contract, which carries an $18.8 million cap hit on July 29th. 

Neither Makar nor Celebrini will have their new contract start until the 2027-28 season, which means there’s a chance they drop down the NHL’s highest-paid player rankings before their contracts even begin. A player like Quinn Hughes could now realistically demand the first maximum contract in NHL history, and given the Minnesota Wild’s approach to signing Kirill Kaprizov, it seems that he’d get it. 

Sharks General Manager Mike Grier said that the Sharks would’ve given Celebrini a max deal if asked, but he was willing to take a pay cut to remain in the Bay Area and help the team win. While many on social media disregarded the idea that his $18.8 million cap hit was team-friendly, Makar’s new deal truly iterates the fact that Celebrini left money on the table to get business done this summer instead of waiting.

Erik Portillo has done just about everything the Los Angeles Kings could have asked of him at the AHL level.

The 25-year-old Swedish goaltender has steadily developed with the Ontario Reign, shown flashes of NHL-caliber ability, and put together a strong enough body of work to make the Kings believe he can eventually handle a bigger role.

But there’s a difference between being ready for an opportunity and having an opportunity available.

That’s the problem Portillo faces heading into the 2026-27 season.

The Kings already have two goaltenders with legitimate claims to the NHL crease. Darcy Kuemper is coming off a disappointing finish to last season and has plenty to prove as he looks to reestablish himself as Los Angeles’ No. 1. Meanwhile, Anton Forsberg arrived with experience and proceeded to play some of the best hockey of his career when the Kings needed him most.

Portillo may be knocking on the door, but someone has to open it.

The Kings Have A Goaltending Logjam

There’s no question Portillo has the physical tools to play in the NHL.

At 6-foot-6, he has the size teams traditionally covet in a goaltender, and his development with the Reign has given the Kings plenty of reason to remain intrigued. He also has one NHL appearance under his belt, stopping 28 of 29 shots in a 2-1 victory over the Anaheim Ducks on Nov. 29, 2024.

That performance showed he wasn’t overwhelmed by the moment.

But one strong NHL appearance doesn’t mean the Kings should simply hand him a roster spot.

That would be especially difficult to justify given what the organization already has in front of him.

Kuemper, a former Stanley Cup champion with the Colorado Avalanche, is entering the final year of his contract and has every reason to come into camp determined to reclaim the starting job. His 2025-26 season ended on a sour note, and there will be plenty of motivation for the veteran goaltender to prove that the struggles late in the year were an aberration rather than a sign of what’s to come.

Then there’s Forsberg.

The veteran goaltender wasn’t merely a placeholder last season. He stepped into a much larger role and played extremely well, posting a .910 save percentage and a 2.54 goals-against average during the regular season. More importantly, when the Kings reached the Stanley Cup Playoffs, Forsberg was trusted to start all four games of their first-round series against the Colorado Avalanche.

Los Angeles ultimately got swept, but it’s difficult to pin that result on its goaltender.

Forsberg gave the Kings a chance.

That matters.

Portillo Will Have To Earn It

This is where Portillo’s situation gets interesting.

It isn’t about whether he is talented enough to become an NHL goaltender. He very well might be. It’s about whether he can force the Kings to make a difficult decision.

That starts in training camp.

Portillo probably needs to be outstanding. Not just good. Not just solid. He needs to make the organization seriously consider whether keeping him in the AHL is still the best option.

And even then, it might not be enough.

The reality is that Portillo may need some help from circumstances beyond his control.

An injury to Kuemper or Forsberg would immediately create an opening. A significant decline from either goaltender could do the same. If one of the veterans struggles badly enough, Portillo could suddenly become a much more realistic option.

That’s not necessarily a knock on Portillo. It’s simply the nature of the position.

Goaltending depth is one of those things every NHL team wants to have until it suddenly needs it.

The Kings have that depth right now.

His Chance Is Coming

Portillo shouldn’t be discouraged by the current situation.

If anything, he’s in a position where patience could pay off.

He has already established himself as a legitimate prospect within the organization, and another strong season with Ontario would only strengthen his case. The Kings also know that NHL seasons rarely go according to plan, particularly when it comes to goaltenders.

Injuries happen. Performance fluctuates. Players lose their jobs.

Eventually, something will create an opening.

When that happens, Portillo needs to be ready.

The temptation would be to look at his size, his AHL numbers and his previous NHL appearance and conclude that he should simply be handed the backup role. But that isn’t how this should work.

Portillo has to earn it.

And the good news for him is that he has plenty of time to do exactly that.

The Kings don’t need to rush him into the NHL just because he appears close. They can allow him to continue developing, keep pressure on him to perform, and wait for the right opportunity.

If Portillo plays out of his mind in camp, perhaps he forces the issue.

If Kuemper struggles or gets hurt, perhaps the door opens.

If Forsberg can’t replicate last season’s success, perhaps another opportunity appears.

But if Kuemper returns to form and Forsberg continues playing like the goaltender Los Angeles saw last season, Portillo may simply have to wait.

That doesn’t mean he isn’t ready.

It means the Kings have two goaltenders in front of him who have earned the right to be there.

And eventually, Portillo will get his chance.

When he does, he’ll have to make sure the Kings have no reason to send him back.

As the anticipation for the 2026-27 NHL season grows, TheHockeyNews.com will be taking a look at the top 10 prospects in the St. Louis Blues' system, with skilled and high-energy forward Otto Stenberg coming in at the fourth spot.

The players in this ranking do not have extensive NHL experience and are all 23 and under. Therefore, players like Jimmy Snuggerud, Dalibor Dvorsky, and Logan Mailloux, among others, won't feature in this ranking for those reasons.

The order of these rankings reflects a mix of their ceilings and potential, as well as how they've performed over the past year with their respective clubs. 

Otto Stenberg might lack size, listed at just 5-foot-11 and 188 pounds, but that doesn't affect his determination to win the puck back. Stenberg hounds the puck on the forecheck and doesn't back down from anyone.

In a 32-game stint in the NHL during the 2025-26 season, Stenberg finished with three goals and 10 points while averaging just 13:37 of ice time. In addition to his production, Stenberg fired 31 shots on goal, recorded 49 hits, and blocked 15 shots, showcasing an all-around approach.  

According to naturalstattrick.com, the Blues outscored their opponents 11-9 at 5-on-5 with Stenberg on the ice, but were below 50 percent in statistics such as Corsi For, expected goals for, and high-danger chances. 

Five Blues Prospects Who Will Be Competing For An NHL Roster Spot In Training CampWith the prospect pool depth the St. Louis Blues possess, they have five youngsters who can compete for an NHL roster spot during training camp and pre-season.

Despite that, his first stint in the NHL showed plenty of positive traits, and although he is facing an uphill battle to make the team out of training camp, it has at least opened the door to give it his best shot.

But more likely than not, Stenberg will begin the season in the AHL with the Springfield Thunderbirds and wait for injuries or poor performances before earning a call-up. 

Last season, the 21-year-old posted four goals and 17 points in 36 games. The production was underwhelming for a former 25th overall pick of the 2023 NHL draft, but the Blues coaching staff and front office were confident in the details Stenberg showed. 

Heading into the 2026-27 season, Stenberg must continue to shine in the small details but find ways to turn it into production. If he can do so, he'll find himself in the NHL rather quickly and will force his way up the line in a permanent role. 

Should The Blues Explore The PTO Market Or Is Their Roster Set?Should the St. Louis Blues explore the professional tryout market during pre-season and training camp, or is the roster set?

Like Theo Lindstein, Maddox Dagenais, and Milton Gastrin, who were previously mentioned in these rankings, Stenberg projects more as a middle-of-the-lineup player. In the middle six, Stenberg can provide scoring depth with defensive capabilities. 

Stenberg could develop into a top-line player, but he lacks the necessary skill set to be a play driver on a top line. He could still become a strong complementary piece on a top line, which is why he lands at the fourth spot in these rankings. 

For now, a safer projection is a versatile middle-six winger. 

St. Louis Blues Prospect Rankings:

5. Maddox Dagenais

6. Theo Lindstein

7. Milton Gastrin

8. Dmitri Buchelnikov

9. Colin Ralph

10. Aleksanteri Kaskimaki

Honorable Mentions: Love Harenstam, Marcus Gidlof, Juraj Pekarcik, Zach Dean, and Lukas Fischer

---

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NHL history was broken on August 28 when the Colorado Avalanche signed star defenceman Cale Makar to an eight-year, $20.4M AAV contract. This deal now makes him the league’s highest-paid player. 

Makar wasn’t the only defenceman to sign a hefty long-term deal this off-season. Chicago Blackhawks defenceman Bowen Byram inked a $12.5M AAV contract that will keep him with Chicago for six years. Turmoil even surrounds ex-Vancouver Canucks captain Quinn Hughes, who is entering the final year of his $7.85M AAV come 2026–27. 

These bulky contracts for high-calibre NHL defencemen, while not on the same scale, serve as a stark reminder for the Canucks of something that they should be mindful of regarding young star Zeev Buium. The 20-year-old defenceman will enter the final year of his entry-level contract in 2026–27 and will become a UFA if not signed by the end of the season. 

Observing the trends with players like Makar and Byram, and even Hughes, should encourage the Canucks to not just re-sign him, but lock Buium up long-term sooner rather than later if they can. 

Vancouver doesn’t need to look far to see the benefits of a long-term signing. 

When Hughes signed his six-year deal with the Canucks in October of 2021, his $7.85M AAV was still notably less than the $9M AAV deal signed by Makar only a couple of months before. In looking at what Hughes has provided in the years since signing this contract (a James Norris Memorial Trophy, three straight 70+ point seasons), and reflecting on other players that have signed much more expensive deals since, it’s clear that Vancouver was right to tack the defenceman down at the number they did — regardless of how things ultimately shook out with their former captain. 

There are, of course, a variety of other factors that played into Hughes’ contract signing with Vancouver, which complicates this example a little more. 

A better example to look at when it comes to high-term, cost-efficient extensions may be the contract signed by Montréal Canadiens defenceman Lane Hutson. Hutson signed an eight-year extension before his ELC even concluded, in October of 2025, with his AAV falling to $8.85M. He’ll enter the first year of this deal in 2026–27, at only 22 years old, with 66 and 78-point seasons already respectively under his belt. In comparison, Hutson is making less money per-year than players such as Dougie Hamilton, Darnell Nurse, and even fellow Canadiens defenceman Noah Dobson. All three of these players are a fair bit older than Hutson and have yet to make the same offensive impact that the 22-year-old already has. 

That’s a tidy deal for a defenceman that will be a key piece of Montréal’s future. 

Taking The Stage: Canucks Will Look To Buium For Breakout SeasonA dazzling skill set makes Zeev Buium hard to miss. And as the Vancouver Canucks look to turn the page on a miserable season, he’s poised to help lead them into the future

Where things are different in Buium’s case is the fact that the Canucks defenceman has only played in one NHL season —2025–26. While he’s shown legitimate potential and offensive creativity, at the same time, there’s always going to be a reasonable concern that the defenceman may not match the expectation of the contract he could be signed to. In other words, there’ll always be concern that the Canucks will rush when it comes to signing him. 

The thing is, though, that Buium’s first NHL season saw the defenceman get shipped to a league-worst Vancouver team after only 31 total games in the league. Even with the Canucks’ struggles, Buium was still able to gain a foothold on the league and was even named the team’s Most Exciting Player by the end of the year. More time in different situations, such as extended power play usage or top-pairing minutes, will help the defenceman gain the experience he needs to blossom into the player many believe he can be. 

Off the ice, Buium is also expected to become a key piece of Vancouver’s leadership core in the long-term future, making it even more imperative that he be locked-up long-term. If the defenceman is on-board when it comes to staying, a long-term move is a no-brainer. 

When it comes to contract comparables, Makar and Buium aren’t even remotely close. Realistically, there are no other — if not very few other — defencemen in the NHL that could currently command $20M a year. That said, as the salary cap begins to rise, and players start getting paid more and more, more and more $20M-AAV contracts will likely start to trickle in. A rise in what one player is being paid will impact every other player in the league regardless of how closely comparable they are on the ice. 

Makar is getting paid $20.4M per year. Hughes will likely command a similar number. Zach Werenski and Miro Heiskanen are both coming up on contract endings in 2027–28 and 2028–29 respectively. Regardless of calibre level, the price for premium defencemen is only going to get higher. The Canucks need to buy on Buium before his price tag starts rising as well. 

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Stuart Skinner signed with the Winnipeg Jets on July 1 with a pretty clear job waiting for him.

Connor Hellebuyck was the starter, and Skinner was there to be the backup, take some of the workload off a goaltender who plays among the most games in the league, and try to get his own career back on track after a difficult season split between the Edmonton Oilers and Pittsburgh Penguins. Winnipeg signed Skinner for two years at $3.75 million per season, giving him some security and a chance to work with longtime Jets goaltending coach Wade Flaherty.

Two months later, Skinner might be Winnipeg's starting goalie.

Hellebuyck publicly requested a trade Thursday after privately asking the Jets to move him several months ago. The 33-year-old said his position hasn't changed and that leaving Winnipeg is the right path for him and his family. Training camp opens in September, leaving general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff with one of the biggest decisions of his tenure.

The decision will have a pretty significant effect on Skinner.

Winnipeg didn't sign him to take Hellebuyck's job. NHL.com still listed Skinner as Hellebuyck's backup at the end of July, and Cheveldayoff said after the signing that Hellebuyck's uncertain future wasn't the reason the Jets pursued Skinner. He was coming off a season in which he went 23-17-9 with an .888 save percentage in 50 games between Edmonton and Pittsburgh.

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Skinner's career has also provided plenty of evidence that a backup or tandem role suits him.

He has played 224 NHL games with a .902 career save percentage, reached consecutive Stanley Cup Finals with Edmonton and finished second in the Calder Trophy voting as a rookie. His workload increased quickly with the Oilers because Edmonton needed him to start, and the results became increasingly uneven. His playoff career included some very good stretches and enough difficult ones that Edmonton questioned its crease during long playoff runs.

Skinner was the hometown goalie playing for a team with Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl during years when anything short of a Stanley Cup was treated as a failure. His final season with the Oilers ended with a trade to Pittsburgh, and he finished the 2025-26 season with the lowest save percentage of his NHL career.

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Winnipeg keeps him in a Canadian market with plenty of attention on the local team. Jets fans will be much more present in the day-to-day conversation surrounding the club than Skinner would have experienced in many American markets. He knows what comes with playing goal in Canada and acknowledged the pressure himself after signing with Winnipeg, saying his experience in Edmonton gave him an understanding of the environment he was entering.

Doing it as Hellebuyck's backup was a reasonable situation for Skinner to be in. Doing it as the man replacing Hellebuyck would bring an entirely different amount of attention.

Hellebuyck has owned the Winnipeg crease for a decade. He has won three Vezina Trophies, won the Hart Trophy in 2025 and started 615 games since entering the NHL. His departure would leave Winnipeg without the player who has covered up plenty of problems during his 11 seasons with the organization.

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There may not be another established starter coming through the door.

It all depends on the return for Hellebuyck. Buffalo has already discussed a Hellebuyck trade with Winnipeg, with Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reporting during the NHL Draft that the Sabres and Jets had held talks. Hellebuyck was reportedly willing to waive his no-movement clause for Buffalo. Those discussions stalled, and Buffalo remains an obvious team to watch now that Hellebuyck has made his request public.

Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen would change the picture for Skinner.

Luukkonen has been included in versions of a possible Buffalo package for Hellebuyck, and sending him to Winnipeg would give the Jets another NHL goaltender capable of taking a significant share of the starts. The Jets could enter the season with Luukkonen and Skinner sharing the crease while Flaherty works with both. Reports around the earlier Buffalo discussions linked Luukkonen to a potential deal, although no agreement was reached.

A Hellebuyck trade involving forwards, prospects and draft picks leaves a different depth chart.

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Winnipeg's top goaltending prospect, Domenic DiVincentiis, hasn't played an NHL game. He went 13-16-2 with an .896 save percentage in 34 AHL games last season, and there has been little indication that the Jets intend to hand him a substantial role in their organization immediately. 

Skinner would be sitting at the top of the depth chart in that situation.

There has already been some thought in Winnipeg that his signing could eventually lead there. The Winnipeg Free Press raised the possibility in July that Skinner could play 50 to 55 games depending on the goalie Winnipeg receives in a Hellebuyck trade, while noting that neither DiVincentiis nor Thomas Milic appeared ready for the backup job.

That would put Skinner back in familiar territory.

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He started 50 games last season. He started 57 for Edmonton in 2022-23 and another 57 the following year. His performance over that schedule has been the issue, not whether he could handle the schedule.

Winnipeg also offers Skinner an opportunity to work with Flaherty, one of the reasons he wanted to sign with the Jets. Skinner said he had heard positive reviews from other NHL goalies about Flaherty and was looking forward to working with him.

He may be getting considerably more work with him than anyone expected.

Hellebuyck wants out; everyone knows that, and the trade market has already included Buffalo. There are also several American teams he would be happy with, fitting with the possibility that the Michigan native and United States Olympic gold medallist would prefer the next stage of his career to come south of the border. His no-movement clause gives him substantial control over where Winnipeg can send him.

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Skinner's place in all of this depends on what Cheveldayoff brings back.

A goalie such as Luukkonen leaves Winnipeg much less worse off. A trade built around skaters, prospects and picks would leave Skinner as the most experienced goalie in the organization by a wide margin.

He came to Winnipeg expecting to back up one of the best goaltenders of his generation.

There is a very real chance he arrives at training camp with Hellebuyck gone and the net sitting there for him.

If there was any doubt about Winnipeg Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck's intentions heading into next season, the Hart and Vezina Trophy winner made it clear late last week when he confirmed through his agent that he has requested a trade. The 33-year-old had knee surgery, and a career-worst .895 save % with the Jets last season, but still played 57 games (23-23-11) and was the key to Team USA’s gold medal victory at the Winter Olympics in Milano-Cortina. 

The Buffalo Sabres were connected to Hellebuyck around the NHL Draft in late June, but Sabres GM Jarmo Kekalainen and Jets GM Kevin Cheveldayoff could not find common ground on a deal. The conventional wisdom is that now that Hellebuyck has made his trade request public, that Cheveldayoff is not in as strong a negotiating position to get the best deal for the netminder, but he reportedly is open to going to a wide swath of teams. 

Unless Hellebuyck is prepared to hold out, Winnipeg could wait into the season for the right return for such a valuable commodity.

The Sabres could be in the mix for Hellebuyck, but deals that had previously been offered that  included goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen might be off the table, since he has a five-team no-trade clause that could block a trade to Winnipeg. It is expected that any deal involving Buffalo would include one of their young centers (Noah Ostlund or Konsta Helenius), one of their top prospect defenseman (Daxon Rudolph or Radim Mrtka) and/or an established NHL forward (Jack Quinn or Ryan McLeod).

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Other teams could be in the mix for the veteran netminder, either to get them into the playoff mix, or to elevate them from a consistent postseason entrant to a legitimate Stanley Cup contender.

New Jersey Devils

Team Status: The Devils let go of Lindy Ruff in 2024 in favor of Sheldon Keefe, and the former Leafs coach succeeded in making the postseason in 2025, but last season missed the playoffs again with a 42-37-3 record (87 points), due in part to center Jack Hughes missing over 20 games with a hand injury and getting subpar goaltending from veteran Jacob Markstrom.

Current Goalie Situation: Markstrom was traded to Florida in June, leaving the Devils with a three-headed monster between the pipes (similar to the Sabres) of veterans Jake Allen, David Rittich, and youngster Nico Daws, who had subpar numbers with AHL Utica  the last three seasons.

Assets To Trade: Reportedly, Cheveldayoff is looking for a young goaltender as part of any trade, but the main focus would be getting help up the middle. GM Sunny Mehta could put Daws as part of a Hellebuyck trade, and 24-year-old pivot Dawson Mercer would be an attractive get, but there is some indicators that Mehta is keeping his powder dry in case Quinn Hughes does not agree to an extension with Minnesota. 

If the Hughes contract situation is resolved with a deal with the Wild, the possibility of the Devils engaging on Hellebuyck increases exponentially.  

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