Category: NHL

The Vancouver Canucks’ 2026 development camp was not the first time Austin Brimmer had come out to Abbotsford. 

It was, however, the first time he truly got to sit back and enjoy the beauty of BC’s landscape. 

The winger, who turns 25 in October, was one of six players invited to Vancouver’s development camp this year. While he may have officially gone through camp with the invitee title, Brimmer’s already officially a member of the Canucks organization, having signed a PTO and a one-year contract with the Abbotsford Canucks as a free-agent. 

“It was actually a really quick turnaround,” he told The Hockey News on the final day of development camp. “I was at Rochester Institute of Technology and had a great season there and we unfortunately got beat in the playoffs, lost back-to-back overtime games in Boston on the Saturday, and Sunday we drove back to Rochester, and by Monday I had my plane ticket booked to come out to Abbotsford, so got on the plane, landed Tuesday night, and then Wednesday I played my first pro game. 

“It was honestly just such a quick turnaround, but it was an awesome experience,” Brimmer added. 

Brimmer played in a total of 13 games for Abbotsford towards the tail-end of the AHL regular season, during which he collected his first professional-league point with an assist on Jayden Grubbe’s goal against the Henderson Silver Knights on March 15. 

While it wasn’t a whole lot of time, Brimmer noted how significant those 13 games will be in how he approaches his first full professional hockey season. 

“For me, it was huge, because I got a chance to see what it takes to succeed at that next level, and for me, I got to see areas of my game that I have to improve in the off-season in order to step into next year and be an impactful player and play the capability that I want to play at. Having that experience was huge for me in my development, and I’m very fortunate for that.” 

Between that hasty journey out to Abbotsford and the six away-games the AHL Canucks played during Brimmer’s beginning stint with the team, it’s safe to say there wasn’t much time for him to further investigate his surroundings. 

Which is why Brimmer appreciated the fact that camp started off with the daunting activity of river rafting. 

“It was a great way to kind of break the ice, getting to know all the guys, and just getting thrown into a boat with random players, random guys that you’ve never really met before — so you’re kind of forced to get to know each other and communicate with each other, as well as have fun, and kind of get to see British Columbia in the beautiful way that it is,” he said. “Great opportunity to see how beautiful BC really is.” 

As a whole, the week of learning, connecting, and developing was a big one for Brimmer, who will be returning to Abbotsford for the 2026–27 season. Having made the jump from the NCAA to the AHL within a matter of days, getting the chance to absorb knowledge and learn from both his fellow prospects as well as the development coaches has been integral to his growth as a player. 

“It’s been an awesome opportunity for me. In a way, it’s something that you’ve always dreamed of as a kid, kind of being in these spots where you get to be surrounded by all these excellent hockey minds and NHL-calibre coaches and management and facilities,” he said. “For me, I was just trying to be a sponge and just soak it all in, I was around and got to play with some unbelievable players out there on the ice, and [...] we had coaches who have NHL experience, like 15, 17 seasons, and just hearing what they have to say was just awesome for me to take that all in.” 

There are plenty of lessons Brimmer will be taking with him as he takes the next step in his professional hockey career with Abbotsford. The one thing he’s learned most from camp, he says, is the importance of the little details of the game. 

It’s something that Abbotsford fans can look forward to when Brimmer hits the ice at the Rogers Forum next season. 

“It’s one thing to have the talent and the compete level, but you’ve gotta totally love it and dedicate your whole life to it if you want to succeed at that next level. And that’s just zoning in on the little details that will separate you from the rest.” 

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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As of writing this, it’s T-minus 48 hours until the Anaheim Ducks need to decide on whether or not to match the offer sheet extended to, and signed by, Leo Carlsson from the Philadelphia Flyers to the tune of five years and $18 million. 

As compensation, if the Ducks were not to match, they would receive the Flyers’ next four first-round picks. Like the Ducks, the Flyers took a sizable step in their build toward contention in 2025-26, making the playoffs and advancing to the second round. If the Flyers were to add Leo Carlsson (21) to their roster, it can be assumed that their next four first-round picks, though unprotected, will likely land in the 20th-32nd overall range.

Ducks Sign Tyson Hinds to Two-Year Contract Extension

Report: Ducks Sign Pavel Mintyukov to Five-Year Contract Extension

It’s widely accepted that Carlsson is worth more than four late first-round picks. It’s also widely accepted that he isn’t worth an AAV of $18 million just yet, a price that will have unprecedented ramifications for the Ducks’ cap sheet moving forward (and every team’s cap sheet moving forward). 

However, to the Ducks, at this point in their franchise history, Leo Carlsson’s value far exceeds four first-round picks and is much closer to the $18 million AAV number, potentially even exceeding it. 

On the ice, Carlsson has blossomed into the straw that stirs the drink of what the Ducks accomplish offensively. He brings a rare combination of size, skill, and speed that most teams can only dream of acquiring. 

In his 201 NHL games over the first three years of his career, he’s learned how best to build up speed in open ice and has become one of the top puck transporters in the NHL. He’s a menace when he can find open ice, which is quite often, and is deadly when attacking downhill. He’s one of the few players who can bring an entire building out of their seats. 

In 2025-26, he added change-of-pace elements to his offensive repertoire, which, when compounded with additional confidence and understanding of what works at the NHL level, rendered him a true star player. 

As far as he’s come and as impactful as he’s become on a game-to-game, shift-to-shift basis, he’s seemingly just scratching the surface of his ultimate potential. 

His new contract will make him the highest-paid player in the NHL, which might come as a surprise given his relatively modest production in his breakout year with 67 points (29-38=67) in 70 games.

However, peeking under the hood, he was in the early Hart Trophy conversation through the first couple of months of the season, scoring 41 points (17-24=41) through his first 33 games, but his production fell off as he was attempting to play through a rare thigh injury (Morel-Lavalle’s lesion) until he ultimately required surgery. 

As advertised, Carlsson was Anaheim’s best player during their run to the second round of the playoffs, where they lost to the eventual Western Conference champion Vegas Golden Knights in six games. He finished with 11 points ( 4-7=11) in 12 games during his first taste of playoff experience. 

If possible, what Carlsson represents to the Ducks organization exceeds his value on the ice or on the depth chart. 

He has become the face of the franchise, the face of Swedish hockey, and for rebuilding teams like the Ducks were for so long, he represents the very reason for entering a rebuild in the first place. 

True #1 centers in the NHL are rare and can typically be only acquired at the very top of the NHL draft, and only if teams are lucky enough to be drafting there in a year when one is available. If they’re acquired via trade, they’re typically extremely expensive, and if they’re acquired via unrestricted free agency, they’re likely past their true prime years (and also very expensive). 

Many rebuilds come and go without acquiring a player of Carlsson’s caliber. The Detroit Red Wings were never able to draft one during their elongated rebuild, nor were the Carolina Hurricanes, Calgary Flames, Montreal Canadiens, and, of course, the Philadelphia Flyers. 

At the mid-point of their painful seven-season playoff drought, the 2022-23 season, where they recorded a franchise-worst 58 points in the standings, the idea of the Ducks hitting rock bottom and earning the right to select either Connor Bedard, Adam Fantilli, or Leo Carlsson in June 2023 was the light at the end of a long, dark tunnel. 

The Ducks lost the first lottery in 2023, but won the second, and that pick would become tied for the highest the franchise had ever selected (2005, Bobby Ryan). 

The public consensus had Fantilli ranked above Carlsson, after Bedard, but in somewhat surprising fashion, the Ducks selected Carlsson. They identified him as the best available player at that spot in the draft and as the centerpiece of their entire rebuild. 

He was their guy, and the Ducks would only go as far as Leo Carlsson could take them. He represented the reason for all of it: the selling of former core pieces, the bottom-of-the-standings seasons, and the growing pains of a new, young core. (To put it even more dramatically) He was tasked with bearing the torch and leading the Ducks out of the darkness. 

The decision to postpone negotiations with a player as important to the Ducks as Carlsson has seemingly cost the team millions of dollars in cap space. If they were to lose the player, it could prove far costlier in the grand scheme of the organization. 

Speculation: Will Ducks GM Pat Verbeek Retaliate for Leo Carlsson Offer Sheet in the Future?

Speculation: To Match or Not to Match, is There a Hidden Third Option?

What Will the Ducks Look Like if They Match Leo Carlsson’s Offer Sheet?

Anaheim Ducks Outlook Should They Choose Not to Match Leo Carlsson's Offer Sheet

Ridly Greig might be the most talented player ever to wear No. 17 for the Ottawa Senators.

Fortunately for him, he only wore it for 20 games before switching to No. 71.

A look through the Sens' archive reveals that No. 17 may quietly be the most snake-bitten jersey in franchise history. According to the club's all-time sweater database at hockeyreference.com, 19 different players have worn No. 17, making it the most commonly-assigned number in franchise history.

The Senators' Five Most Commonly Worn Jersey Numbers

No. 17 – 19 players

No. 27 – 17 players (William Eklund about to make it 18)

No. 10 – 16 players

No. 23 – 16 players

No. 28 – 16 players

Despite all those opportunities, No. 17 has produced almost nothing in terms of long-term success for the player who wore it.

No captains, no all-stars, no franchise cornerstones. No. 17 has become an organizational hand-me-down, and history has been extremely unkind to those who chose to wear it. 

I'm not saying Ottawa's No. 17 is cursed. But after exploring its horrors, I'm not "not saying" it either.

The "17" Crew: The One-and-Dones

Jody Hull (1993)

Hull wore 17 with the expansion Senators, and like everyone on this part of the list, was gone after one season here. When he returned a decade later, he didn't have the option of repeating history. Forward Bill Muckalt was already in the process of proving the curse of 17 was real, scoring 0 goals in 70 games in his one season here.

Eric Lacroix (2001)

Lacroix had played 463 NHL games when he arrived in Ottawa to throw on No. 17. Nine games later, his NHL career was over.

Bill Muckalt (2002)

Again, a forward who played 70 games for the Sens and had 0 goals. That’s tough to do. But apparently not for No. 17.

Fillip Novák (2006)

0 points in 11 games for the Sens. He’d play 6 more NHL games before going back to Europe.

Denis Hamel (2007)

Hamel scored 56 goals in the AHL wearing No. 17. But the following year, when he grabbed Ottawa’s No. 17, he had 4 goals in 43 games in Ottawa.

David Legwand (2015)

Legwand wore No. 11 all through his time in Nashville, but it was kind of spoken for in Ottawa. So he made the ill-fated decision to jump on 17 and was gone after one year.

Nate Thompson (2018)

11 points in 43 career games for the Sens.

Brian Gibbons (2019)

Gibbons played just 20 games for the Sens, but had 14 points. But because he wore No. 17 (probably), he never had another NHL point after that.

Max McCormick (2019)

For parts of three years, McCormick was happily wearing 89 whenever he got looks in Ottawa, but then he offered it to Mikael Boedker when he arrived. McCormick switched to 17 and then played only 14 more games for Ottawa.

Jonathan Davidsson (2020)

Davidsson was acquired in the Matt Duchene trade to Columbus. He played six games for the Sens, wearing No. 17. Those would be his only NHL games. He’s now a full-timer in Sweden.

Alex Galchenyuk (2021)

The former Canadiens star played just 8 games before the Senators had seen enough and dealt him to Carolina. 

Adam Gaudette (2022)

In Gaudette’s first go-around with the Sens, he wore No. 17 and failed to stick with the Sens after half a season. By the time he returned in 2024-25, Zack MacEwen had scooped up 17, so just like Hull, he had to switch. He chose 81. Without the drag of No. 17, Gaudette had his best NHL season with 19 goals.

Ridly Greig (2023)

For his first 20 NHL games in the league, Greig wore 17 like his father, Mark, did with the Hartford Whalers. But when the Sens signed Zack MacEwen, Greig gave MacEwen the number and flipped his digits to 71. It was a narrow escape for one of Ottawa's top emerging young players.

"The No. 17 All-Stars:" The Ones Who Lasted More Than One Season

Dave McLlwain (1994-1995)
- 55 points in 110 games

Tom Chorske (1996-1997)
- 55 points in 140 games

Chris Murray (1998-1999)
- 15 points in 84 games

Colin Forbes (2000-2001)
- 8 points in 84 games

Zack MacEwen (2024-2025)
- 6 points in 51 games

Filip Kuba (2009-2012)
- No one did more with No. 17 in Ottawa than Filip Kuba, and it isn't close.

Kuba played four years here for the Senators, often alongside Erik Karlsson, then signed a two-year, $8 million deal with Florida. That's when the curse activated and followed him to Sunrise. After one lockout-shortened season, the Panthers bought him out, and Kuba retired.

These six brave souls fought off the curse longer than the others, gloriously managing to bear it across more than one Ottawa season.

It's almost unbelievable: A jersey number that's been so much, yet produced so little. 12 of the 19 players who have worn No. 17 lasted just a single season of wearing it in Ottawa. Of the six who held on to it longer, only Kuba could truly be considered a clear success.

Everyone else was either a depth player, a veteran nearing the end of his career, or someone who never established himself as a long-term piece of the franchise.

Maybe it's just a coincidence. Or maybe No. 17 really is the unluckiest jersey in Senators' history.

Either way, if you're the next Senator offered No. 17, you might want to see if there's another option available.

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:

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Daniel Alfredsson Joins... The Toronto Maple Leafs???
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Now that we are a week into NHL free agency, a lot of this year's top unrestricted free agents (UFAs) have found their new homes. While this is the case, there are some interesting UFAs still on the market who the Montreal Canadiens could consider targeting.

One specific UFA who could make sense for the Canadiens to bring in on a short-term deal is forward Michael Bunting. 

The Canadiens could use another top-nine winger on their roster. Bunting would be an interesting player for them to bring in, as he is capable of providing decent secondary offensive production to go along with some bite. 

In 74 games during this past season split between the Nashville Predators and Dallas Stars, Bunting posted 14 goals and 33 points. This was after he had 19 goals, 38 points, and 68 penalty minutes in 76 games during the 2024-25 season. He also had 55 points in 81 games during the 2023-24 campaign, so he could be a solid pickup for the Canadiens. 

If the Canadiens signed Bunting, he could be a good fit on their third line. However, he also would be capable of moving up and down the lineup because of his versatility and ability to play both wings. 

Overall, on a one-year prove-it deal, Bunting could be worth taking a chance on. From 2021-22 to 2024-25, he scored at least 19 goals each season. 

Many of this year's most notable UFAs have signed their new contracts now that it has been a week since NHL free agency started. Yet, there are still a decent number of players who have yet to land deals at this point in the summer.

A good chunk of them just so happen to be former Pittsburgh Penguins players.

Anthony Mantha, Michael Bunting, Matt Grzelcyk, Reilly Smith, and Danton Heinen are some of the former Penguins without deals at this stage of the off-season.

In Mantha's case, it is likely that he is waiting to find the right deal. He has set himself up for a nice raise, as he posted career highs with 33 goals, 31 assists, and 64 points last season with the Penguins. 

With Bunting being a gritty forward who can produce decent offense, he should be able to land his next contract soon. The 30-year-old forward posted 14 goals and 33 points in 74 games last season split between the Nashville Predators and Dallas Stars. He appeared in 79 games over two seasons with the Penguins from 2023-24 to 2024-25, posting 20 goals and 48 points. 

Grzelcyk was a great fit on the Penguins' blueline during his lone season with the team in 2024-25. In 82 games, he set career highs with 39 assists and 40 points. He cooled off last season, as he posted 12 assists in 69 games with the Chicago Blackhawks. However, his experience could lead to him landing another NHL contract this summer. 

Smith spent the 2023-24 season with the Penguins, recording 13 goals and 40 points in 76 games. The veteran winger saw a dip in offensive production last season with the Vegas Golden Knights, as he posted 26 points in 69 games. He could land a one-year deal with a team if they feel he can bounce back. 

As for Heinen, he spent four seasons over two stints with the Penguins. He played in 13 games last season with Pittsburgh before being traded to the Columbus Blue Jackets, where he had a goal and an assist. He followed that up by recording 10 points in 33 games with Columbus. Teams looking for help in their bottom six could consider taking a flier on the 10-year veteran. 

Chicago Blackhawks star Connor Bedard had surgery on his left shoulder on Wednesday, July 8, and will be out for four months, the team announced.

Video last week showed Bedard leaving the ice grabbing his shoulder after he was hurt while practicing with other players in Vancouver.

The four-month timeline will keep Bedard out of the lineup until early November. The starting date for the 2026-27 season won't be announced until next week, but he will likely miss a month or more.

Bedard, the No. 1 overall pick of the 2023 draft, is a restricted free agent and will need a new contract before the start of the 2026-27 NHL season.

I have video of Connor Bedard leaving practice today with a left shoulder injury, as first reported by @RyanmcgregorCHI. You can hear him in severe pain as he leaves the ice: pic.twitter.com/MySM1UwLht

— BHF (@BlackhawksFocus) July 2, 2026

Connor Bedard injury history

This is the third major injury of Bedard's young career.

The 20-year-old injured his right shoulder last season during a last-second faceoff on Dec. 12 and missed 12 games before returning. He also missed another game that season with injury.

As a rookie, Bedard suffered a broken jaw during the 2023-24 season and missed 14 games.

More: NHL free agency winners, losers: Blackhawks' big extension raises eyebrows

What does Connor Bedard injury mean for the Blackhawks?

The Blackhawks are 8-17-2 over three seasons when Bedard is out of the lineup, so him missing the first month is not a good sign for a team that finished second to last in the league last season. A slow start would be costly in the strong Central Division.

Bedard had 44 points in 31 games before last season's injury and had four points in the first eight games of his return before his production began picking up.

His 75 points were more than 35% of the Blackhawks' 210 goals.

Frank Nazar was the No. 2 center last season, so he could move up. The Blackhawks will also have Anton Frondell, the 2025 No. 3 overall pick, for a full season.

When does the 2026-27 NHL season begin?

The full schedule for the 2026-27 NHL season will be announced on July 16. The season typically begins in early October but could move earlier because the league is switching to an 84-game schedule.

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NHL draft tracker: Scouting reports on all 32 first round picks

NHL key dates 2026-27

• July 15: Opening day announced for 2026-27 season
• July 16: Full 2026-27 season schedule announced
• July 20: Arbitration hearings begin
• September: Training camps open
• October: 2026-27 NHL season begins
• December 18-20: 2026 NHL Global Series Germany (Blackhawks vs. Senators in Dusseldorf)
• February 6: NHL All-Star Game at UBS Arena in Elmont, New York

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Connor Bedard injury update: Blackhawks star has shoulder surgery

On Wednesday, GM Alexander Steen announced that the St. Louis Blues have hired Joey Hishon as an organizational skills coach.

The 34-year-old has been working with the OHL’s Owen Sound Attack since retiring from professional hockey in 2017-18. With the Attack, Hishon began as a scout and skills coach before being promoted to assistant GM and assistant coach midway through his first season with the club. 

He held that role for the next three seasons. Hishon has not had a recorded role in hockey since 2022, but will be joining the Blues for the 2026-27 season. According to the Blues press release, Hishon most recently served as a private skills coach for NHL players, offering individualized development programs focused on all aspects of the game.

Before entering the coaching world, Hishon was a former 17th overall pick of the Colorado Avalanche in 2010. Things didn’t pan out too great for Hishon in the NHL, as he played just 13 career games, all of which came in the 2014-15 season. In those 13 games, Hishon scored just one goal and two points.

Most of his career was spent in the AHL, but the Stratford, Ont., native wasn’t potent offensively there either, mustering 41 goals and 109 points in 141 career games. Following his North American career, Hishon spent two seasons in Europe, one in Russia and the other in Sweden, but his production never improved. 

Blues Promote Tkachuk, Thorburn; Hire Bortuzzo Among Front Office ChangesTkachuk, recently named to Hockey Hall of Fame, was previously director of recruitment; Thorburn was development coach; Bortuzzo hired to be pro scout

Despite struggling after being a highly touted prospect, Hishon has found his path in the coaching world and has moved up the ladder impressively. 

As an organizational skills coach, Hishon will work with the Blues’ development staff and players throughout the organization, with a primary focus on the NHL roster.

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On Wednesday morning, the San Jose Sharks announced that they had reached an agreement with former New York Rangers defenseman Libor Hajek on a one-year, two-way deal.

Hajek, who had spent the past three seasons back in his native Czechia, last played an NHL game for the Rangers during the 2022-23 season. The 28-year-old defenseman has had considerable success since returning to the Czech Extraliga as he led the league in game-winning goals by a defenseman during the 2023-24 season, led the league in postseason plus/minus during the 2024-25 campaign, and then won the Extraliga Championship with HC Dynamo Pardubice during the 2025-26 season.

Over the summer, Hajek also represented Czechia at the IIHF World Championship, failing to record a point in eight games, but finishing the tournament as a +3. 

When Hajek signed with Dynamo Pardubice, the contract was reportedly set to run through 2028, but it appears he either had an NHL out-clause in his deal or the Sharks opted to buy him out of his contract.

During his NHL career with the Rangers, Hajek appeared in 110 games, scoring four goals and 12 points in the process. He also registered 40 penalties and was a -9.

MARYLAND HEIGHTS, Mo. -- For those that are familiar with the sports scene in St. Louis and the landscape of baseball, the Cardinals and Busch Stadium are pillars of the sports landscape.

For one St. Louis Blues prospect who got to witness the scene for the first time, it was an eventful experience, and one he won't soon forget.

Dmitry Buchelnikov, acquired from the Detroit Red Wings in the Match 6 trade as part of the Justin Faulk deal, and fellow prospects -- as part of their experience of being in St. Louis -- took in the experience of baseball for the first time and was amazed.

"It was a great experience for being in baseball stadium," the 22-year-old said. "I've never been before. We were catching; never did that before. And what is that, like swinging (a bat)? This is an amazing time spending here. Then a little soccer. We were doing penalties with MLS goalies. I scored, yeah, 100 percent! I really liked this."

Yes, there was a visit to the facilities of St. Louis City SC and Energizer Park. Soccer is more familiar in Russia than baseball, if at all, but it was an opportunity for the second-round pick in the 2022 NHL Draft to soak in the experience of even a glimmer of life in the NHL.

It was Buchelnikov's first in-person experience with the organization that took a liking to him after being traded, a trade that didn't surprise him, and a trade he welcomed.

"No, not really," Buchelnikov said. "They just call me that I got traded. I told them, 'Thank you for everything.' But this is a new (chapter) for me.

"It was like a good feeling, the same when you were drafted. You just have an opportunity to be here. This is amazing. This is for what you want to be. This is why the people here believe in you."

It was a key reason why the Nizhny Tagil, Russia native felt it was important to come to North America and spend a few days with his new NHL organization, to get to know the city and a new fan base that will be pulling for him.

"No, I just know about this team before. It's kind of a cool moment for me," Buchelnikov said. "I'm just switching (teams) and I'm here and at development camp. It's been amazing, my first time here. I like the city, I like what we (did) here for this week. Fun time."

The 5-foot-10, 173-pound left wing, who has played the three seasons in the KHL after a 10-game stint there as a 19-year-old in 2022-23 with SKA St. Petersburg. Last year was a bit tumultuous after spending three months from Nov-Feb. rehabbing a surgically-repaired shoulder that limited him to 44 games with CSKA Moskva (25 points; 14 goals, 11 assists) plus another 10 games competing for the Gagarin Cup.

Buuuuch! Dmitry Buchelnikov fires 7th goal in last 8 games! pic.twitter.com/SV6RTAArCh

— KHL (@khl_eng) October 20, 2025

"It was a really good year. Yeah, I had the injury in the mid-season," Buchelnikov said. "I spend like three months for doing my rehab. I played 10 games before playoffs started and it's good having that new experience for me. I just played first time in playoffs in my adult career. Before I just played in juniors league or minor league. It was a really good experience for me and for what I need to work (on) and what I need to do."

And make no mistake, Buchelnikov said his aspiration is to play in the NHL, and he fully understands there are areas of his game that need to meet the standards before subjecting himself to what he terms "the best league in the world."

"Be more physical," he said. "That's probably first because this is a tough league. You need to be ready every time. Also thinking more quick. This is why they call (the NHL) the best league in the world. I just need to be ready for that."

And playing in another season in the KHL best suits him for this, he feels, because the KHL competition is top notch.

"Probably yes. This is the kind of league where you have guys that can give you that kind of experience and opportunity for being better," Buchelnikov said. "I like this league. My team was believing in me, giving me ice time, so yeah. I like it."

Buchelnikov, who has 108 points (42 goals, 66 assists) the past three seasons, signed on for one more year with CSKA; he didn't want to say without having those discussions with the Blues what his future beyond the upcoming season would be, but he sure sounded like someone committed to coming to North America, a kid that had a dream of playing in the NHL that now wants to make that a reality.

Goodness! Dmitry Buchelnikov!#GagarinCuppic.twitter.com/iqfWtyf5ko

— KHL (@khl_eng) March 25, 2026

"I just don't know what I want to say for that. I have a contract in Russia," Buchelnikov said. "This is like when I was a kid, the dream to play in the NHL. This needs to be goal, not to be (just) a dream right now because you (feel) you have the skill, you have the potential. You need to work with that and be better every day.

"This team believes in me. It's a great opportunity for me. I have one more year in Russia. I need to spend (that) time to be better, more physical. I need to work for that."

Mason McTavish Has Plenty of Motivation Coming To St. LouisThird overall pick in 2021 didn't have strong finish in Anaheim last season, eager for fresh start with Blues after being traded to St. LouisConnor McMichael One Of 15 Players To File For Salary ArbitrationNewly acquired forward, Blues had until 4 p.m. (CT) Sunday to sign offer sheet, elect to go to arbitration if not signedBlues Release 2026-27 Preseason ScheduleWith NHL season at 84 games starting with upcoming season, teams' preseason schedule reduced to four games; Blues to play Stars, Blackhawks twice each

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The Toronto Maple Leafs revealed their pre-season schedule ahead of the 2026-27 NHL season on Wednesday. With the new CBA, NHL pre-seasons will be much shorter than it has been in the past, and that's what the Maple Leafs get here.

Toronto will play four pre-season games within two separate days in the coming campaign, two of which will be at Scotiabank Arena on home ice.

Pre-season begins on Sept. 19 with two split-squad games against the Montreal Canadiens. The second day of the Maple Leafs' pre-season will feature the Ottawa Senators, which will also include two split-squad games on Sept. 23.

That's in contrast to this past year, when the Maple Leafs played six pre-season games, two each against the Senators, Canadiens and Detroit Red Wings.

This marks the sixth straight pre-season in which Toronto faces its neighboring rivals in Montreal and Ottawa in a campaign. That streak was reset when the 2020-21 COVID-19-affected season didn't include a pre-season.

This pre-season will be the first real look at what the new Maple Leafs will look like. The new front office, new coaching staff, and several new players.

The 2026-27 regular-season schedule is yet to be announced. However, it's been revealed that the opening night matchups will be unveiled on July 15, followed by the full schedule release on July 16.

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The Buffalo Sabres could go a number of different ways as the NHL is in the midst of trade season following the NHL Draft and the opening of free agency on July 1. With the departure of winger Alex Tuch and defenseman Bowen Byram, GM Jarmo Kekalainen is expected to seek out offensive reinforcements to make up for the 44 goals lost by their departures. 

Over the next few weeks, we will continue to look at potential options for the Sabres.  Some of the possibilities are not going to match Tuch’s stats, but any additions could provide some relief to the pressure that youngsters Konsta Helenius, Jiri Kulich, or Noah Ostlund will be under to make up the deficit.

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Kekalainen ideally would like to replace the 60-to-70 point production that he lost with Tuch, and another possibility is someone the former Columbus GM is quite familiar with and that is Blue Jackets winger Kirill Marchenko. The 25-year-old was a 2018 second round pick who spent three seasons with SKA St. Petersburg before coming to North America in 2022. 

In four NHL seasons, has exceeded the 20-goal mark each year, with a career-high 31 goals in 2024-25. Marchenko has one year remaining on a three-year bridge deal at a $3.85 million AAV and has one more year before becoming an unrestricted free agent in 2027. Similar to the report that Norris Trophy winner Zach Werenski would not sign a long term extension with Columbus,  the big Russian winger indicated he would not be staying with the Blue Jackets past the remaining two years of control. 

Columbus GM Don Waddell was able to quiet the heated trade chatter regarding Werenski, but there still appears to be some talk about Marchenko, with teams like Montreal looking for top-six scoring help. The Sabres could be a viable option for the winger, since he does not have any no-trade protection and Kekalainen has a number of NHL ready assets with years of control that Waddell would be looking for in return. 

There may be no haste on the part of the Blue Jackets, since they have control of Marchenko for two years, but the Sabres need to add a scorer to replace as much of Tuch’s production as possible might make them willing to move a promising youngster like Noah Ostlund in a trade that Waddell cannot turn down. The fact that Marchenko would not be a one-year rental makes him more valuable to any interested team, and given the Sabres hope of building on their Atlantic Division title and playoff run last season, they may be willing to pay the price that Columbus is looking for. 

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The New York Islanders' summer business has churned to a halt, as most teams start to breathe for a few months.

The Islanders, as expected, did not undergo any major surgery. They did lose longtime captain and franchise stalwart Anders Lee to free agency, where Lee signed with the Utah Mammoth.

The #Isles are making #NHL history by becoming the first team to let fans design an official jersey.

One fan's creation will become the club's 2027-28 Third Jersey.

All the details on the contest @TheElmonters [FREE]:https://t.co/O2m7DAc6Nl

— Stefen Rosner (@stefen_rosner) July 8, 2026

The Islanders signed Matias Maccelli to a one-year, $2.25 million deal. Depth one-year signings in Matthew Kessel ($850,000) and Vitek Vanecek ($1 million) made up the rest of New York's business on July 1.

With all the dust settled, the Islanders currently have a team cap hit of $101,002,083 million. The new cap ceiling sits at $104,000,000, meaning the Islanders have $2,997,917 in cap space remaining.

However, that cap number is based on the Islanders carrying three goalies and 20 skaters, with Vanecek on the books. 

In reality, Vanecek likely begins in Hamilton, with his entire hit getting buried.

That one change gives the Islanders just under $4 million in cap space.

With that type of money, they have plenty of room if they choose to offer a one-year deal to any of the remaining free agents.

If they make no other changes, the Islanders could carry one of Isaiah George ($913k cap hit), Victor Eklund ($974k cap hit), Mitchell Chaffee ($850k cap hit), or Liam Foudy ($850k cap hit).

That gives additional wiggle room, even if only in a small amount.

The Islanders can save that space for Matthew Schaefer's likely $3.5 million in bonuses for 2026-27. 

Next summer, the Islanders will begin with over $40 million in cap space before any trades or extensions for Simon Holmstrom and Emil Heineman.

The entire setup for this summer is about flexibility, and that's exactly what the Islanders have.

With two days to go until a final resolution, the Philadelphia Flyers officially have the last remaining active offer sheet in the NHL with Leo Carlsson.

On Wednesday, ahead of their 5 p.m. deadline, the Utah Mammoth matched the one-year, $4.775 million offer sheet tendered to forward Barrett Hayton by the New Jersey Devils, setting some precedent for the Flyers and Anaheim Ducks.

Hayton, 26, is eligible to sign a contract extension on Jan. 1, but cannot be traded for one calendar year, and like Carlsson, there is little logic being followed by the matching team.

Hayton played bottom-six minutes for Utah last year and agreed to sign with the Devils by taking them up on the offer sheet, so by matching, the Mammoth pass up on a second-round pick for a player who tried to leave, won't play significant minutes, and could leave for nothing as an unrestricted free agent this time next year.

The Ducks have until 5 p.m. Friday to match the Flyers' eye-watering five-year, $90 million ($18 million AAV) offer sheet for Carlsson, and if they don't, they will receive four first-round picks from the Flyers.

Insider: Flyers Planned Heist for NHL Superstar Before Leo Carlsson Offer SheetThe Philadelphia Flyers were hot in pursuit of Kirill Kaprizov, according to NHL insider Elliotte Friedman, before the Minnesota Wild locked down the superstar forward.

Like Hayton, Carlsson provisionally agreed to leave his team, and the Flyers can offer Carlsson much more from a hockey perspective than the Ducks as currently constructed.

And should the Ducks match the Flyers' Carlsson offer sheet, they will have to do major roster surgery to become cap-compliant, with an already terrible defense, a shallow forward group, and a number of veteran forwards with prohibitive no-trade lists that greatly limit the potential suitors they'll have on the trade block.

But, with Hayton, the Mammoth, and the Devils all square without much fanfare, all eyes around the NHL now turn to the Flyers and Ducks.

The Flyers have entered uncharted territory with their bold move, and the final outcome, one way or another, will send shockwaves through the NHL in short order.

The Utah Mammoth are matching the New Jersey Devils' offer sheet to forward Barrett Hayton.

The Devils made the one-year, $4.775 million offer sheet to Hayton on July 1 after the Mammoth had announced it had traded for Vincent Trocheck and signed Anders Lee to a three-year deal with a $5.4 million cap hit. If Utah hadn't matched, the Devils would have given the Mammoth a second-round pick.

The Mammoth have $4.5 million left in cap space after the move. The only complication with matching is Utah can't trade Hayton for a year, and that takes him to unrestricted free agency.

But Utah indicated Hayton is a key part of its plans.

"Barrett is a key piece of our team and important to what we are building here in Utah," Mammoth general manager Bill Armstrong said in a statement. "He’s strong in the faceoff circle, plays both sides of the puck and can play with anyone in our forward group. We are grateful to be able to count on Barrett in our lineup next season."

Here's more to know about the Mammoth matching the offer sheet:

NHL draft tracker: Scouting reports on all 32 first round picks

What did Barrett Hayton say?

"I’m fired up to get back with my teammates and remain in Utah,” he said in a statement released by the team. “I’ve been with this core group for my whole career and it’s exciting that we have an opportunity to do some special things next season in front of the best fans in the NHL."

Barrett Hayton statistics

The 2018 No. 5 overall pick had 25 points in 67 games last season, but had a career-best 20 goals, 26 assists and 46 points in 2024-25. That includes a hat trick on Feb. 22, 2025.

All told, he has 65 goals and 155 points in 358 career games with Utah and the Arizona Coyotes.

What's next for the New Jersey Devils?

With the offer sheet matched, the Devils could still look for a depth center via the trade route. Seattle Kraken center Shane Wright, whose numbers the last two seasons are similar to Hayton's, is reportedly available in a trade.

What's up with the Leo Carlsson offer sheet?

The Anaheim Ducks have two days left to match the Philadelphia Flyers' five-year, $90 million offer sheet to Leo Carlsson that makes him the league's top-paid player. The Ducks would receive four first-round picks from the Flyers if they don't match.

Since the offer sheet, the Ducks have re-signed defensemen Pavel Mintyukov and Tyson Hinds, leaving them with $9 million in cap space if they match. That won't be enough to re-sign Cutter Gauthier long-term unless they move out a player or two.

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When does the 2026-27 NHL season begin?

The schedule for the 2026-27 NHL season will be released on July 16, with the opening day games announced on the 15th. The season typically begins in early October.

NHL key dates 2026-27

• July 15: Opening day schedule announced
• July 16: Full NHL schedule announced
• July 20: Arbitration hearings begin
• September: Training camps open
• October: 2026-27 NHL season begins
• December 18-20: 2026 NHL Global Series Germany (Blackhawks vs. Senators in Dusseldorf)
• February 6: NHL All-Star Game at UBS Arena in Elmont, New York.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Utah Mammoth match New Jersey Devils' offer sheet to Barrett Hayton