On Sunday, the Pittsburgh Penguins announced a slew of RFA signings, which included one-year deals to goaltender Arturs Silovs and forward Daniel Gustafsson, a two-year deal to netminder Joel Blomqvist, and a three-year contract for scoring forward Egor Chinakhov.

Chinakhov, 25, impressed the Penguins and fans last season with 18 goals and 36 points in 43 games after he was brought over from the Columbus Blue Jackets in a change-of-scenery trade in late December. It was finally the breakout that was expected of him since his debut during the 2021-22 season, as he finished the season with 21 goals and 42 points total - both career-highs.

In years past, a 2-3 year bridge deal worth around $3-4 million average annual value would have been appropriate for a player like Chinakhov. Yes, he flashed brilliance with the Penguins last season using his elite-level shot, his surprisingly keen playmaking skills, and his chemistry in the Penguins' top-six - with almost all of his production coming at even strength since he didn't see top power play minutes.

Penguins Announce Slew Of RFA SigningsThe Pittsburgh Penguins re-signed a lot of their restricted free agents on Sunday.

Despite that, it was still a flash-in-the-pan sample size in what has, largely, been an underwhelming and injury-riddled young career. So, once again, in years past, giving a player like Chinakhov $6.25 million for three years may have seemed a bit steep.

But gone are those days. The market is changing, and Chinakhov's contract is one of several that highlight the pretty seismic shift in the NHL salary cap landscape.

In the past several weeks, we have seen - in different ways - how the market is changing with relation to player value. Brady Tkachuk was dealt to the Florida Panthers for three first-round picks and a second-round pick, something that may have seemed excessive just a year or two ago. Defenseman Bowen Byram - hardly one of the NHL's elite defensemen - returned the 2026 fourth overall pick to the Buffalo Sabres and was extended by the Chicago Blackhawks for six years, $12.5 million average annual value, making him the highest-paid blueliner in hockey.

Stars, Jason Robertson Enter New Phase of Contract NegotiationsA high-stakes arbitration filing pushes Dallas toward a potential disaster, forcing Jim Nill to navigate a tightening cap crunch before his star winger hits unrestricted free agency.

Then, there was the reported trade offer from the Seattle Kraken for Dallas Stars superstar Jason Robertson - who the Penguins have been interested in - that included three first-round picks and a rostered NHL player. Robertson ended up saying he wouldn't extend in Seattle, rendering the offer moot, but those three first-round picks are a pretty decent bet to be in the lottery zone. 

And, most recently, Anaheim Ducks center Leo Carlsson - who is 21 years old and has yet to hit the 30-goal or 70-point plateau - was offer-sheeted $18 million by the Philadelphia Flyers, which demands four first-round picks as compensation and which will make him the highest-paid player in hockey next season despite being nowhere close to hockey's best player.

Shortly after that happened, Anaheim extended 22-year-old RFA defenseman Pavel Mintyukov - intriguing but still largely unproven - to a five-year deal worth $7.2 million annually, which he is, realistically, unlikely to play up to.

Pavel Mintyukov isn't ~$7.4 million-caliber yet and doesn't project to be worth that over the next five years, either. The offer sheet effect is real and shaking up the Ducks' cap picture. pic.twitter.com/ubRQLfamqJ

— Shayna (@shaynagoldman_) July 5, 2026

Speculation: To Match or Not to Match, is There a Hidden Third Option?Philadelphia’s massive offer sheet for Leo Carlsson forces a high-stakes gamble in Anaheim, weighing a franchise centerpiece against cap flexibility and a potential blockbuster trade-based alternative.

All of a sudden, perceived overpays are quite literally happening everywhere in every facet, whether it be offer sheets, extensions, acquisition cost, or anything else. All of a sudden, acquiring elite talent requires paying a premium on premiums, putting teams attempting to get over the hump by leveraging assets for that talent at a major disadvantage. All of a sudden, "prove-it" deals or bridge deals hardly exist, as NHL general managers are paying forward for potential rather than what the most realistic outcomes are likely to be.

In a market that's so rapidly and drastically changing to favor players and their agency, there is a lot of guessing when it comes to player value. With the cap expected to rise substantially year-by-year, some of the league's best players are going to look vastly underpaid very quickly, and players like Robertson and Connor Bedard, both RFAs, are likely to demand even more money because their perceived worth will be ballooned when compared to a player like Carlsson.

Should The Penguins Follow The Flyers' Offer Sheet Blueprint?The Flyers shocked the NHL on Friday when they sent a lucrative offer sheet to Anaheim Ducks' forward Leo Carlsson, and the Pittsburgh Penguins should take notes.

So, it's a tricky game for GMs. That's why Penguins' POHO and GM Kyle Dubas giving Chinakhov $6.25 million for three years is a good bet, even if his salary pretty handily exceeds that of the Penguins' two best and most established wingers in Bryan Rust and Rickard Rakell. If Chinakhov can build on what he did last season with the Penguins and reach the star-caliber ceiling that Pittsburgh believes he can, that $6.25 million is going to look like a bargain contract as early as sometime this season. If not, $6.25 million isn't going to affect them very much, anyway.

Assuming he does continue to blossom, however, it also means that Chinakhov would be due for a hefty raise on his next deal, which would take effect in his age 28 season.

There is a seismic shift happening in the NHL. Players have more say in where they go, and they'll have increased negotiating power when it comes to dollar figures in contract talks. The Penguins may have found a shining jewel in Chinakhov, and although they may be betting on potential here, it's certainly a bet worth taking in what looks to be a new era of the NHL.

Does A Three-Way Trade Make Sense For Penguins To Land Robertson?The Penguins may not have the assets, at least, more so than other teams, to pull off a straight deal for Jason Robertson. But what if another team got involved?

---

Bookmark THN - Pittsburgh Penguins on your Google News tab to follow the latest Penguins news, roster moves, player features, and more!    

It's no secret that the Pittsburgh Penguins have been connected to Dallas Stars forward Jason Robertson this offseason. 

Penguins general manager/president Kyle Dubas is a big fan of him and has tried to land him via trade this offseason, per multiple reports. 

Heck, just look at the way Penguins assistant general manager Jason Spezza danced around a question regarding Robertson on July. 1. 

"I won't speak directly on him, but I will tell you that we've done lots of work and inquired on lots of different players throughout our time here in the last few weeks, and we will continue to," Spezza said. "I think that's the job, and that's what we're trying to do, is to make sure we're always in on everything and understanding what's going on around the league, and where that fits into our puzzle. Jason's obviously a good player that lots of teams have interest in, and we're going to continue to investigate everything that's out there."

That's the closest you'll get an executive to say that a team has called on a certain player without fully admitting it. 

Over the weekend, Robertson was one of 15 players to file for arbitration since he's still a restricted free agent. This means that teams cannot sign him to an offer sheet. 

15 players have filed for arbitration:

Bourgault, Xavier (Ottawa Senators)
Dach, Kirby (Montreal Canadiens)
Drysdale, Jamie (Philadelphia Flyers)
Greaves, Jet (Columbus Blue Jackets)
Jefferies, Alex (New York Islanders)
Krebs, Peyton (Buffalo Sabres)
McMichael, Connor (St. Louis…

— David Pagnotta (@TheFourthPeriod) July 5, 2026

The Stars would like to avoid arbitration with Robertson because if he signs an arbitration deal, he would become an unrestricted free agent after next season. 

They can still look for a trade partner for him or potentially offer more money on an extension. Going off that, Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reported on the Monday edition of 32 Thoughts that there's still a "gap" in the contract talks. The Stars are in at $12-12.5 million, while Robertson is asking for around $14 million.

This is definitely a situation that the Penguins will continue to monitor throughout the offseason, especially if the Stars can't get anything done. 

---

Bookmark THN - Pittsburgh Penguins on your Google News tab to follow the latest Penguins news, roster moves, player features, and more!   

According to NHL insider Elliotte Friedman, a potential reunion between Claude Giroux and the Philadelphia Flyers is officially dashed.

Friedman reported Monday night that Giroux, 38, "will return to Ottawa," ending any potential farewell tour fairytale ending to the legendary forward's career.

"Word tonight the Senators remain very much in the Claude Giroux mix. Nothing done yet, though," Friedman initially reported.

Then came the kicker.

"He will return to Ottawa, it is getting done," Friedman posted to his X account a few minutes later.

The Flyers had interest in their former captain until the end, but it was ultimately up to Giroux to decide to run it back in Ottawa with the Senators for his 20th NHL season.

Flyers Confirm 'Discussions' on Claude GirouxThe Philadelphia Flyers are exploring the possibility of re-signing former captain Claude Giroux in free agency.

Of course, a potential fit for Giroux became complicated when the Flyers went ahead and signed Leo Carlsson to a $90 million offer sheet that will cost them $18 million against the salary cap.

And in addition to that, the Flyers also signed a veteran right-shot center in free agency with journeyman Noel Acciari, adding even more depth to a suddenly crowded Flyers forward group, even without Giroux in the mix.

Assuming this is really it for Giroux, the veteran of 1,345 NHL regular season games and counting finished his Flyers career with 291 goals, 609 assists, and 900 points in 1,000 games donning the Orange and Black.

There's always next year, of course, if Giroux hits free agency again, but with the amount of deliberation and fanfare it took just to get to this point, that's far from a guarantee.

At least for now, Giroux returns to the Senators as an experienced, well-respected leader who the team will rely on to steady the ship after the rocky departure of former captain Brady Tkachuk.

Follow Michael Whitaker On X

The hockey world was stunned with the mammoth offer sheet that was made public over the weekend from the Philadelphia Flyers, who targeted Anaheim Ducks forward Leo Carlsson.

The offer sheet, which Carlsson signed, is for five years and a whopping $90 million, carrying a salary cap hit of $18 million. It would make Carlsson the highest paid player in NHL history per season if the Ducks don't match it. 

Speaking of offer sheets, could the Detroit Red Wings be victimized by one? 

Defenseman Simon Edvinsson was tendered a qualifying offer by the Red Wings, meaning they retain his RFA rights, but that he's still eligible to be extended an offer sheet from an opposition NHL club. 

During his recent "32 Thoughts" podcast, NHL Insider Elliotte Friedman openly wondered if the Carolina Hurricanes, who are the current defending Stanley Cup champions, could make such a move - especially if they were to lose RFA defenseman Alexander Nikishin.

"I'll tell you, the other player that I heard in conjunction with them was Simon Edvinsson from the Red Wings," Friedman said. "He's a really good player, and - if they lose Nikishin, they're gonna need a defenseman, right? And I think Edvinsson would be excellent for their system.

So, I've kind of wondered if they're eying him up and down, too." 

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

Friedman continued: 

"Carolina has earned that, sort of - you'd better think of creative things they can do, and they're not afraid to try them," he said.

Selected by the Red Wings with the sixth overall pick in the 2021 NHL Draft, Edvinsson has quickly developed into one of Detroit's most valuable blueliners, trailing only Moritz Seider in terms of overall importance on the back end.

During the season, he skated in 72 games and established a new career high with nine goals while contributing 16 assists for 25 points.

After re-aggravating a lingering injury in a game late in January, Edvinsson underwent surgery but successfully worked his way back into the lineup before the end of February.

Edvinsson has appeared in 175 career NHL games, and has scored 19 goals with 41 assists. He's averaged 21:09 of ice time per game, and is a plus-17. 

Never miss a story by adding us to your Google News favorites!

For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.

Now that it has been multiple days since the start of NHL free agency, many of this year's top unrestricted free agents (UFAs) have been signed. Although this is the case, there are still plenty of UFAs still looking for their next contracts.

Interestingly, a decent amount of the NHL's remaining UFAs are former Flyers players.

Claude Giroux is the most notable former Flyer who is still a UFA at this point in the summer. However, he has been heavily linked to Philadelphia since hitting the market. A reunion between the Flyers and their former captain would make for a fantastic story.

Giroux would provide the Flyers' forward group with a nice boost if successfully brought back, as he is still a very useful player at this stage in his career. In 82 games last season for the Ottawa Senators, he posted 14 goals and 49 points. 

James van Riemsdyk is another former Flyer who is still a UFA. The 37-year-old winger is still a solid offensive contributor at this stage of his career. With that, it is possible that he could land a one-year deal if he does not retire. In 72 games last season for the Detroit Red Wings, the 2007 second-overall pick posted 15 goals and 31 points. 

Former Flyers goalie Cam Talbot is one of the top goalies still available in free agency. The 39-year-old had a tough year for Detroit, posting an .883 save percentage and a 3.19 goals-against average in 34 games. However, the two-time All-Star also had a .900 save percentage or better in five out of his previous six seasons before 2025-26. This kind of past success could help him get at least a PTO from an NHL club. 

Other former Flyers who are also still UFAs include Kevin Hayes, Rodrigo Abols, Luke Glendening, and Petr Mrazek.

Radko Gudas has only been a back with the Florida Panthers for a few days, but the veteran NHL defenseman is already starting to stir things up.

Since it’s still only July, there isn’t much Gudas can do on the ice to get our attention.

That didn’t stop him from making a little comment that will likely only anger the anti-Panthers (and anti-no tax states) mob even more.

After officially signing his new 6-year deal with Florida last week, Gudas was interviewed by Pavel Barta of Denik Sport’s iSport.cz.

During their chat, Gudas was asked about his decision to sign with the Panthers.

While speaking about the team Florida has built and his desire to win the Stanley Cup, Gudas let another interesting little piece of information slip out.

“Because of the lower income taxes, players are willing to play there even for a little less money,” he said.

Radko Gudas on taxes. In an interview with @DenikSport, he made an interesting point: “Because of the lower income taxes, players are willing to play there even for a little less money.“ He talked about Florida. He chose Florida because he wants to win the Stanley Cup.

— Rono (@RonoAnalyst) July 5, 2026

Well, well, well.

I guess the rumors are true. The cat is out of the bag.

With the Panthers operating in the no-tax state of Florida, it gives them a clear and obvious edge over the majority of the teams in the NHL who are not located in a state that provides a similar advantage.

That doesn’t solve the problem of why players never seemed have the same kind of desire to play for the Panthers for the first 25 or so years of the team’s existence, but I digress..

All kidding aside, the tax situation is something that helps give places like Florida (and Texas and Nevada and Tennessee and Washington) a leg-up when players are weighing where to sign, there is no denying that.

But you better believe that if and when the day comes where the Panthers (or Stars or Golden Knights or Predators or Kraken) become less successful and as such, less desirable for free agents, those tax breaks won’t hold the same kind of wight as players decide where they want to spent the next several years of their respective careers.

For now, South Florida is the ultimate hockey haven for any pro looking to combine making money with winning titles while living in a tropical climate.

Not that tough of a sell, eh?

LATEST STORIES FROM THE HOCKEY NEWS - FLORIDA

Florida Panthers' Akira Schmid Files For Arbitration

Brady Tkachuk Wants To Experience With Panthers Same Big Game Success He's Enjoyed With Team USA

'I Can't Thank Them Enough': Sergei Bobrovsky Speaks To The Media For First Time Since Leaving The Panthers

Examining All Moves Made By Panthers Over Past Few Days, Exploring How Roster Could Shake Out

Panthers Sign Forward Cole Schwindt, Defenseman Alexander Petrovic To Two-Year Contracts

Former Panthers Goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky Signs Three-Year Contract With Atlantic Division Rivals

Photo caption: Jan 28, 2023; Sunrise, Florida, USA; Florida Panthers center Aleksander Barkov (16) and defenseman Radko Gudas (7) celebrate a victory over the Boston Bruins at FLA Live Arena. (Jason Mowry-Imagn Images)

Drew Commesso, one day after choosing not to file for arbitration, has signed a two-year extension with the Chicago Blackhawks. This is a contract that will carry a cap hit of $875 million. 

Year one of the contract is a two-way deal that will pay him $800K in the NHL, $200K in the AHL, and has a $250K guarantee. In year two, it is a one-way deal worth $900K. Once it expires, Commesso will be a restricted free agent with arbitration rights once again. PuckPedia was the first with the details. 

This is a wise bridge deal for Commesso and the Blackhawks, as they now have two years for him to continue developing. The expectation, based on the structure of this deal, is that Commesso will be Spencer Knight’s full-time backup going into the 2027-28 season. 

Arvid Soderblom still has one year left on his current deal, which might give him the edge for the job going into 2026-27. There is a chance that Commesso plays in the NHL, but another year of AHL seasoning may be in front of him as well. 

In 3 NHL appearances last season, Commesso had a .918 save percentage, a 2.31 goals against average, and 1 shutout. It’s a small sample size, but he was great when called upon. With the way the NHL is trending these days, having 3 capable goalies will help the Blackhawks navigate an 84-game schedule. 

Commesso has the talent to become a starter years down the line, but he has a lot to prove before he can be that for the Blackhawks or someone else. For now, he has a contract set up to give him the best chance at success. 

Now, Connor Bedard, Kevin Korchinski, and Ethan Del Mastro are the only three remaining restricted free agents in the Chicago Blackhawks system. 

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

For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting on the article below on THN.com or by creating your own post in our community forum.

The Winnipeg Jets are looking to make meaningful additions to their offense heading into next season as they push to get back into playoff contention, and it may come by way of another trade with the Buffalo Sabres, though not involving the player most people are thinking of. 

It's well known by now that the Jets received a substantial trade offer for superstar goaltender Connor Hellebuyck that reportedly included the fourth overall pick, starting goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, a player believed to be Jack Quinn and at least one additional asset.

Now the trade talks between the two clubs appear to be shifting toward a much smaller piece of that same deal. The Fourth Period's Dave Pagnotta has once again linked the Jets to Quinn as Winnipeg continues searching for an impact forward to add to its top six. 

Quinn, 24, is a young two-way winger with plenty of upside as a former eighth overall pick at the 2020 NHL Draft, and his game has continued to trend in the right direction. The Cobden, Ontario native is coming off a career-best 51-point season on 20 goals in all 82 games for Buffalo, along with seven points in the playoffs.

Buffalo may look to move the young talent as he enters the final year of his contract before becoming a restricted free agent next summer, and the Sabres have reportedly been shopping him since before the draft in search of a roster upgrade rather than more draft capital.

If the Jets can find a way to make it work, it could give them a meaningful addition to their top six, though the exact cost of acquiring Quinn on his own, separate from any larger Hellebuyck package, is not yet known. 

It could take a notable return, especially with Buffalo looking to build off the momentum from this past season, when the Sabres beat the Boston Bruins in six games in the first round before falling to the Montreal Canadiens in a seven-game battle in the second.

For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.

The Calgary Flames have wasted little time locking up one of the biggest additions of their offseason.

Just weeks after acquiring defenceman Simon Nemec from the New Jersey Devils, the Flames have signed the 22-year-old to a five-year contract worth $36.25 million. The deal carries an average annual value of $7.25 million and keeps the former second-overall pick under contract through the 2030-31 season.

Nemec was acquired via trade on June 23 and is expected to play a significant role on a retooled Flames blue line.

The Slovak defenceman is coming off the best offensive campaign of his NHL career, finishing the 2025-26 season with 11 goals and 15 assists for 26 points in 68 games. 

Selected second overall in the 2022 NHL Draft, Nemec has long been viewed as one of the league’s premier young defencemen. At 6-foot-1 and 200 pounds, the right-shot blueliner combines mobility, vision and poise with the puck, making him a key piece of Calgary’s long-term plans.

Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen has been the subject of trade speculation for multiple seasons. It has carried over to this off-season, and it makes sense with the big right-shot defenseman entering the final season of his contract in 2026-27.

If the Flyers end up moving Ristolainen, these two teams could be good fits for the veteran blueliner. 

Montreal Canadiens 

The Canadiens were connected to Ristolainen leading up to the 2026 NHL Trade Deadline. When noting that they could still use a right-shot shutdown defenseman in their top four, it would make sense if they kicked tires on him again this summer. The Habs have yet to make any notable additions this summer, so it would be understandable if they tried to change that by landing Ristolainen. 

Ottawa Senators 

The Senators could be another team to keep an eye on when it comes to Ristolainen. Like the Canadiens, they have been linked to the Flyers blueliner in the past. The Senators' right side has also been in need of a boost for a while now, and acquiring Ristolainen could provide them with just that. He would slot well on their second pairing and would be an obvious option for their penalty kill. 

The Chicago Blackhawks made a blockbuster trade earlier this off-season when they acquired Bowen Byram from the Buffalo Sabres in exchange for this year's 4th overall pick, 45th overall pick, and defenseman Louis Crevier. Byram is now expected to be Chicago's No. 1 defenseman, and they made that clear when they signed him to a six-year, $75 million contract extension earlier this month.

While Byram was the big prize for Chicago in their major summer trade with the Sabres, new Blackhawks forward Jordan Greenway should not be ignored. The 29-year-old forward has the potential to be a solid addition to the Blackhawks' roster as they look to take that next step in 2026-27. 

Greenway is coming off a quiet season offensively, as he posted one goal and six points in 40 games for Buffalo. While the veteran winger had a tough year offensively, he provides his most value when it comes to his size and physicality. These elements are what should make him a solid addition to Chicago's bottom six.

The Blackhawks are going to need some tougher players to stand up for their young guns, and Greenway should fill that role nicely. Furthermore, the Blackhawks also need veterans to help mentor their youngsters as they look to take that next step in their rebuild. This is an area that Greenway should be able to help the Blackhawks as well. 

Greenway has also shown in the past that he has the potential to provide decent offense when playing at his best. Just back during the 2023-24 season with the Sabres, he posted 10 goals and 28 points in 67 games. He has also recorded at least 24 points five times in his nine-year career. 

It will be interesting to see how much of an impact Greenway will make for the Blackhawks next season. While he was primarily added to the deal to help the Sabres' salary cap situation, he could end up being a sneaky good pickup for their bottom six. 

The Pittsburgh Penguins have brought in a few new players this off-season. Among them is defenseman Kaedan Korczak, as the Penguins acquired him from the Vegas Golden Knights in exchange for blueliner Parker Wotherspoon.

The Penguins' decision to trade Wotherspoon was certainly surprising, as the left-shot defenseman just had a breakout year for Pittsburgh in 2025-26. While this is the case, it is also understandable that Pittsburgh has decided to acquire Korczak.

At 25 years old, Korczak is still young enough that he could hit a new level after getting this change of scenery with the Penguins. He should be a nice addition to their bottom pairing at a minimum, but it would also not be surprising if the 2019 second-round pick even competed for a spot in their top four. 

Korczak appeared in a career-high 78 games last season with the Golden Knights, where he recorded three goals, 13 assists, 16 points, 95 blocks, and 102 hits. Overall, the right-shot defenseman showed promise last season with Vegas and was a regular in their lineup because of it. Now, he will be looking to take another step forward after being dealt to Pittsburgh. 

Korczak's contract also adds to his appeal, he has an affordable $3.25 million cap hit through the 2029-30 season. With this, he has the potential to be a key part of the Penguins' blueline for multiple seasons if he breaks out. It will be interesting to see how much of an impact he can make with the Penguins from here. 

On Monday, new reports surfaced that may see a fan favorite leave the Detroit Red Wings. 

On his podcast, 32 Thoughts, Elliotte Friedman spoke on several topics when it came to the Red Wings, including the Dylan Larkin trade situation, a possible offer sheet for restricted free agent Simon Edvinsson and, lastly, the future of future Hall of Fame winger Patrick Kane.

The 37-year-old hockey legend is coming off his 19th NHL season, in which he surpassed 500 career goals, crossed 1,400 points and became the all-time leader in points recorded by an American-born player. 

Kane finished the season with 16 goals and 41 assists for 57 points in just 67 games after missing time due to injury. The hope was that with the Red Wings likely pushing to end their decade-long playoff drought next season, Kane would play a large role on the team once again, but that may not be the case. 

The Buffalo native has been rumored to be exploring options outside the Motor City, and Friedman quickly addressed the topic, saying, "I don't know that I expect him to go back to Detroit."

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

It would be a big blow for a Red Wings team to lose a player still capable of 50 to 60 points out of the middle of their lineup, and it would create another hole general manager Steve Yzerman would need to fill. Detroit has already made it known it wants Kane back, but with the organization also dealing with uncertainty surrounding Larkin, the roster picture in Detroit is far from settled.

The rumor mill has suggested Kane may look to explore the possibility of chasing one more Stanley Cup, having already won three during his dynasty days in Chicago alongside Jonathan Toews. 

With Toews having recently retired after 16 NHL seasons and a storybook final year with his hometown Winnipeg Jets, Kane may look to follow a similar path and try to go out on top by joining a true contender. 

Multiple reports have floated Kane's hometown Buffalo Sabres as one of the more realistic landing spots, should he ultimately decide his time in Detroit has run its course.

Never miss a story by adding us to your Google News favorites!

For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.

After the Nashville Predators extended him a qualifying offer on July 1, defenseman Justin Barron has signed a one-year contract worth $1.575 million. 

The new contract is a $425,000 raise AAV from his previous one. Nashville now has $7,546,277 left in cap space. 

The 24-year-old righty reached the end of a two-year, $2.3 million contract that was originally offered by the Montreal Canadiens in the 2024 offseason. Barron was traded to Nashville for Alexandre Carrier in a one-for-one transaction. 

Since arriving in Nashville, Barron's numbers have been lackluster. During the 2024-25 season, Barron had 12 points in 45 games and a plus-minus of -14.

Staying in Smashville ✍️

We've signed defenseman Justin Barron to a one-year contract.

Full details » https://t.co/b3dEyvrCOIpic.twitter.com/MT5z7IC9D7

— Nashville Predators (@PredsNHL) July 6, 2026

This past season, he logged just 9 points in 52 games and was healthy scratched a handful of times. 

Barron is just the second defenseman that Chris MacFarland has signed as a free agent, and the fourth defenseman acquired via trade.

Those defensemen that MacFarland traded for are Adam Edstrom (New York Rangers), Jack Ahcan (Colorado), Hunter Skinner (St. Louis) and Ilya Lyubushkin (Dallas.

Edstrom and Lybushkin will likely play in the bottom four, while Ahcan and Skinner will likely be in Milwaukee. 

Nashville Predators 2026 Signings 

June 28: C Jack Drury to a 5-year, $22.5 million contract.

July 1: C Alex Kerfoot to a 2-year, $7 million contract.

July 1: D Jack Ahcan to a 2-year, $1.75 million contract. 

July 1: D Hunter Skinner to a 1-year, $850,000 contract. 

July 3: LW Chase Bradley to a 2-year, $1.75 million contract. 

July 4: C Mavrik Bourque to a 5-year, $33 million contract. 

July 6: D Justin Barron to a 1-year, $1.575 million contract. 

The Kings have signed defensemen Scott Perunovich and Erik Gustafsson to one-year contracts. More moves are expected to be made as these two signings aren’t good enough to improve the defense.

Last season, the Kings had a top 10 defense with 2.9 goals allowed per game. The success on defense was in large part due to the two-way forwards and the first two defensive lines.

The success on defense was in large part due to the two-way forwards and the first two defensive lines. The depth was not up to the defensive standards that the Kings needed to be a complete defense.

Los Angeles saw struggles from Cody Ceci and Brian Dumoulin on the third line in 2026. A big flaw of both of these players is that they brought very little physicality.

Ceci dished out 37 hits and had 166 hits taken, while Dumooulin had 36 hits and 137 hits taken. Both players received 100 more hits than they gave, which is a major problem for defensemen.

Physicality is required for depth defensemen, so that they bring energy and keep the opponent's offense in check. The Kings lacked that physical force last season and the new signings don't necessarily fix that problem.

Perunovich is only on a two-way contract as he likely won’t even spend a lot of time with the Kings. Even if Perunovich were on the Kings roster, the physicality would still be a major question for him.

From his brief stint with the St. Louis Blues, Perunovich had only 30 hits in 2024, a season-high for his career.  Since then, Perunoich found himself out of the league last season. So it would be hard for Perunovich to come into the NHL and become the physical enforcer he never was.

On the other hand, Gustafsson was once a physical presence back in his days with the Chicago Blackhawks. However, time has past and Gustafsson struggled with the Detroit Red Wings back in 2025. He only dished out 28 hits and had 112 hits taken, which is part of the reason he was moved down to the AHL last season.

Neither Perunovich nor Gustafsson brought physicality in their last NHL stints, which is why both players spent 2026 in the AHL. The Kings will not fix their lack of physicality from either player, which is why another solution is required.

If the Kings want to improve the depth of the defense, Los Angeles need to stay on the free agency market. The Kings need more physical defensemen on the third and fourth line, which was not solved by signing Perunovich and Gustafsson.