The Buffalo Sabres' underwhelming roster changes thus far this off-season have some fans itching to see them make a move of consequence, particularly when it comes to the future of RFA defenseman Bowen Byram. But what if nothing else transipres on the roster alterations front? What if the Sabres roster we see in early July is highly similar to the one we see when next season begins?

Indeed, if this is how the Sabres are going to look next season, will anyone be surprised when just about everyone picks Buffalo to miss the Stanley Cup playoffs for the 15th consecutive season? And more importantly, will Sabres fans be blamed for giving up on this organization? 

It's one thing if the Sabres spend to the salary cap ceiling and still miss out on the playoffs. But it's something different if all these signings and trades are simply about the bottom line financially. Buffalo fans aren't buying tickets and merchandise to see Sabres management penny-pinch their way through another disappointing season.

And we're not advocating trades or signings for the sake of trades or signings. Teams can take steps forward by sticking together and moving forward with most, if not all of the same players as important components. 

However, it's not as if these Sabres have had any of thoese days to point to as particularly-wonderful days. In 10 of its 14 straight seasons withought playoffs streak, this Buffalo team has finished between sixth-to-eighth in its division. This is not a team that missed out on the post-season by a win here or there. This has been sustained, almost-predictable crap, and everyone who has seen it doesn't want to see. it again.

After Sabres' Latest Trade, Don't Expect Much From New Buffalo DefensemanThe Buffalo Sabres made a trade Saturday, but it wasn't the trade many were expecting, as star defenseman Bowen Byram remained a Sabre, at least, for the time being. However, Sabres GM Kevyn Adams reshaped his defense corps by sending rugged blueliner Connor Clifton and the 39th-overall pick in this year's draft to the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for D-man Conor Timmins and minor leaguer Isaac Beliveau. 

And so we again ask,  when will it arrive to Sabres managent that Buffalo fans want more? There can be no more excuses, or talk about a "youth movement". Buffalo has to do what San Jose GM Mike Grier is doing -- namely, adding many veteran voices to be a smart support seaon. And while that approach didn't work well when the Chicago Blackhawks did it last year for Connor Bedard, it's still worth trying another time.

We don't expect the Sabres to set the world on fire with a team that can win the Atlantic Division. But that doesn't mean expectations aren't sky-high for them. Being realistotic and adding players who can help play meaningful hockey isn't a stretch, but Buffalo ownership has to spend the money needed to move past their other Atlantic teams and finally carve out a playoff spot.

The Sabres have to spend all their money to prove to Sabres fans that they are doing their utmost to give Buffalo a decent shot at winning, but when you're not spending as an owner, you're telling fans,  in essence, that you don't care about them.

Sabres' Signing Of Veteran Goalie A Solid Gamble That May Wind Up Saving Buffalo's SeasonThe Buffalo Sabres' first day of the NHL's free-agent frenzy saw Sabres GM Kevyn Adams take some low-risk, decent-return gambles in signing mid-tier veterans like winger Justin Danforth and defenseman Zac Jones. But another Sabres signing could prove to be extremely important as the season goes on -- and that's the signing of experienced goalie Alex Lyon.

It may be unfair, but it's undenable -- if you're not trying with all your might to improve, you're not a team worth rooting for. And the Sabres fans that you're in danger of losing (if you haven't lost them already) may just say that this latest indignity is the straw that breaks the camel's back.

When speaking to the media following the signing of Mitch Marner, Vegas Golden Knights general manager Kelly McCrimmon touched upon having to apologize for false trade rumors surrounding veterans William Karlsson and Tomas Hertl.

"It’s shameful that I had to phone William Karlsson and say, ‘Karly, I’m sorry you’ve gotta go through this sh*t, you’re not for trade. Tomáš, relax, you’re not for trade," said McCrimmon.

Throughout the process prior to completing the sign-and-trade for Mitch Marner, rumors surrounding a Hertl trade to the Carolina Hurricanes and Karlsson possibly being on the move to create cap space gained a lot of traction. 

In the end, both remain with the team. 

Hertl had a stellar first full season with the Golden Knights, scoring 32 goals and 61 points in 73 games. The 31-year-old played his role to perfection, dominating as a net front and bumper presence on the first power play unit. Recently, Hertl was interviewed by a Czech outlet, where he spoke about the trade speculation. 

“Honestly, I didn’t even know – it was the people around me who told me. I knew the situation – they can’t trade me at all until July 1, and then I have three teams that I can choose from. Then general manager Kelly McCrimmon, called me and said he was sorry that this had even come up, and that nothing was being discussed. I was calm; I have the situation in hand. When a journalist writes something, everyone’s reaction is quick. I know that (the Golden Knights) are counting on me for next year, but you can never know anything 100 percent. That’s just how it works.”

INTERVIEW: Tomáš Hertl Responds To Trade Rumors Tomáš Hertl, who was acquired by the Vegas Golden Knights from the San Jose Sharks late in the 2023-24 season, has recently been the subject of trade rumors again, which THN Vegas writer Julian Gaudio recently explained in detail.

Unsurprisingly, when the rumors began to generate steam around Karlsson, several teams were interested, but many trusted insiders, including Elliotte Friedman, continued to reiterate that he didn't believe Karlsson was being made available. 

The 2024-25 season was challenging for the 32-year-old. His defensive game remained potent, but offensively, he scored just nine goals and 29 points in 53 games, dealing with a pair of injuries. Entering the seventh year of an eight-year deal which pays him $5.9-million annually, Karlsson remains a vital piece to the Golden Knights' success, and a bounce-back season of full health will go a long way in becoming a threat for the Stanley Cup.  

Stay updated with the most interesting Golden Knights stories, analysis, breaking news and more! Tap the star to add us to your favourites on Google News to never miss a story.

REPORT: Golden Knights Interested In Trading For A Pair Of DefensemenThe Vegas Golden Knights are reportedly interested in trading for defensemen Rasmus Andersson and Bowen Byram.

The St. Louis Blues are continuing to be linked to one of the NHL's top trade candidates. 

According to The Athletic's Jeremy Rutherford, he heard from a league source that the Blues are working hard to acquire Buffalo Sabres defenseman Bowen Byram. Rutherford also added that Byram is a candidate to receive an offer sheet, but noted that the Blues would not get him that way. 

The Blues have been “trying hard” to get Bowen Byram from Buffalo, according to a league source. There’s still a possibility that Byram gets an offer sheet. #stlblues

— Jeremy Rutherford (@jprutherford) July 3, 2025

To be clear, the offer sheet could be from another club, not the Blues. But that would obviously take the Blues out of the mix. #stlblues

— Jeremy Rutherford (@jprutherford) July 3, 2025

This is not the first time that the Blues have been connected to Byram. Late last month, NHL insider Darren Dreger reported that the Blues were one of the teams interested in the Sabres blueliner. Now, the Blues are only continuing to be linked to Byram with this latest report. 

However, it also makes sense that the Blues are reportedly making a push to acquire Byram. Nick Leddy and his $4 million cap hit were claimed off waivers by the San Jose Sharks. Thus, the Blues have a spot available on their blueline and more cap space to work with.

If the Blues acquired Byram, it would be a significant move for the Central Division club. This is because the 24-year-old is a top-four defenseman who provides solid offense and is right in his prime. Thus, he could be a long-term part of the Blues' core if brought in. We will need to wait and see if the Blues end up winning the sweepstakes from here. 

Blues Lose Veteran Forward To Division Rival The St. Louis Blues worked hard to try to re-sign forward Radek Faksa, but he is now heading elsewhere. 

Photo Credit: © Timothy T. Ludwig-Imagn Images

The Winnipeg Jets have signed forward Mason Shaw to a one-year, $775,000 two-way contract.

The 26-year-old played his first season with the Jets organization this year, recording 17 goals and 37 points in 72 games with the Manitoba Moose in the AHL. The Moose's alternate captain led the team in points and finished second in goals. 

Shaw was a fourth-round pick (97th overall) to the Minnesota Wild in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft. With the Wild, Shaw recorded eight goals and 20 points in 82 NHL games, but spent most of his tenure with the organization in the AHL with the Iowa Wild. 

Although Shaw is listed at just 5'10, he plays the game with a physical edge, willing to mix it up. He finished second on the Moose in penalty minutes, recording 114. His two-way game is solid for his size, and he's now a veteran AHL player who can be viewed as a positive voice in the dressing room for young players like Nikita Chibrikov, Brad Lambert, Brayden Yager, Colby Barlow and Elias Salomonsson. 

The Jets did not extend a qualifying offer to Shaw on Jun. 30, which allowed him to become an unrestricted free agent, but he and the Jets were able to agree on a contract anyway. Shaw will be in contention throughout the 2025-26 season to be called up to the NHL if the Jets run into injury issues. 

Stay updated with the most interesting Jets stories, analysis, breaking news and more! Tap the star to add us to your favourites on Google News to never miss a story.

Jets Hand Out Five One-Year, Two-Way ContractsThe Winnipeg Jets have handed out one-year, two-way contracts to Isaac Poulter, Kale Clague, Phillip Di Giuseppe, Walker Duehr and Samuel Fagemo.

It’s no secret that in recent years, good things have happened when players have joined forces with the Florida Panthers.

Particularly, there is a growing list of defensemen who have found that they played some of the best hockey of their careers while wearing a Panthers sweater.

First it was Brandon Montour revitalizing his career in South Florida, earning a massive offer from the Seattle Kraken after three excellent seasons, and postseasons, with the Panthers.

Radko Gudas took a pay cut to sign with Florida in 2020 as a 31-year-old, only for his next offer from Anaheim three years later to come with the highest average annual value (AAV) of his career.

Then Oliver Ekman-Larsson signed with the Panthers during the summer of 2023 for a fraction of what he’d previously been making after two very tough seasons in Vancouver. He parlayed a bounce-back season in Sunrise, at age 32, into a four-year, $14 million deal with Toronto.

The situation for Florida’s newest defensive signing, veteran Jeff Petry, may be a little bit different.

The 37-year-old is entering the twilight of his career, and in addition to knowing how well defensemen have fared recently when joining the Panthers, he’s also quite keen on trying to hunt down a championship before hanging up his skates.

“An important part of my decision was wanting to be in the playoffs, wanting to compete for a Stanley Cup again,” he said. “That feeling of being really close in Montreal, and then losing in the Final, that was a tough feeling. I always said, before my career is over I want to be in that position again and be on a team that can compete for a Stanley Cup. Coming to Florida, that gives me a very good opportunity to do that.”

To be fair, the aforementioned success found by newcoming blueliners who join up in South Florida is something that absolutely factored into Petry’s decision to sign with the Cats.

“You consider all things, and the track records of the players (who have come and gone) is apparent,” said Petry. “I think it speaks to the group that they have, that you can bring a new player in, and they fit in and do well.”

Indeed, it’s an incredibly welcoming group, as long as you are willing to put in the work.

One of the main reasons the Panthers have found so much success, and teams have not found a way to match Florida’s intensity and style of play, is that it is incredibly difficult, physically demanding and mentally challenging to play within the Cats’ systems.

If the Panthers pursued Petry, it’s because they feel he can thrive within those systems.

Usually, when Florida targets a player, they turn out to be a good fit.

“I’ve heard from several people that you’re not expected to be something that you’re not,” Petry said of joining the Panthers. “They want you to come in and be the player and person that you are and not try to do something that isn’t within your characteristics.”

For now, it seems like a good match between Florida and their newest defenseman.

Petry is a smooth skating, high hockey IQ blueliner who should acclimate well to Florida’s way of doing things.

His size, strength and above-average mobility will suit him well with the Panthers.

The excitement and desire certainly seem to be there, as Petry explained it was a pretty easy decision once Florida reached out.

“When I got the call that there was interest (from the Panthers) in me coming there, I saw (Sam) Bennett and (Aaron) Ekblad and (Brad) Marchand re-signing, so when they called it was a no-brainer,” he said. “You hear about the group, what they do together on the ice and off the ice, you hear so many good things about it.”

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Photo caption: Nov 29, 2024; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Detroit Red Wings defenseman Jeff Petry (46) looks on during a faceoff in the first period against the New Jersey Devils at Little Caesars Arena. (Brian Bradshaw Sevald-Imagn Images)

The Vegas Golden Knights are showcasing impressive talent this camp season. Not only from the players taking shots on the net, but also from the young stars defending it, stars like Cameron Whitehead. 

Dreams will come true tomorrow at the NHL Draft 🤩 That dream was realized for Cameron Whitehead when he was selected in the fourth round of the 2022 NHL Draft by the @GoldenKnights. Whitehead made his pro debut with Henderson during the 2024-25 season. pic.twitter.com/GBLsZvtoc5

— Henderson Silver Knights (@HSKnights) June 26, 2025

Whitehead, 22, stands at 6-foot-3 and possesses a tracking prowess that reveals his strong read on the game. He was Vegas’s fourth-round selection back in 2022 and has played his last two seasons at Northeastern University. He has a 30-31-6 NCAA record posted with a 2.68 goals-against average and a .914 save percentage.

Prior to his time with the Huskies, he played two USHL seasons with the Lincoln Stars from 2021–23. Over that time span, he compiled a record of 41-23-6 with a 2.98 goals-against average and a .899 save percentage. 

He was named to the USHL’s Third All-Star Team in 2023, and in 2025, backstopped the Huskies to the Hockey East Semifinal.

“I would say that when Northeastern won games in the last two years, he was often the best player, not always, but often their best player, and would give them a chance to win those big games,” Golden Knights director of player development Wil Nichol said. “He did play his best in big games. So just his strength, his maturity, all those things–the thing about Whitey that's really impressive is he's got such a calm demeanor to him, yet he's such a competitive kid. So he's got a great combination for people who know that position.” 

Whitehead, meanwhile, is staying focused as he prepares for the next steps in his career.

“Just taking it one day at a time,” Whitehead said. “Obviously, pro hockey is different from anything else. Everyone’s really good, and everyone could shoot the puck, so just focusing on trying to get better one thing at a time. Just trying to feel as prepared as I can going into September.” 

Whitehead is set to return to the ice with the Henderson Silver Knights for the upcoming AHL season.

Los Angeles Kings GM Ken Holland has been one of the busiest GMs in NHL free agency. 

The longtime NHL executive has only been on the job in L.A. since the middle of May, but Holland put his stamp on the Kings extremely quickly. 

That said, after a flurry of signings, has Holland made this team better? And specifically, has he made the Kings better than the team he left in June 2024 – the Edmonton Oilers?

If we’re being honest, we have to question some of Holland’s signings this summer. Re-signing left winger Andrei Kuzmenko to a one-year, $4.3-million extension was a good gamble, given that Kuzmenko produced 11 goals and 37 points in 66 games this past season. The year before that, Kuzmenko posted 22 goals and 46 points in 72 games, and a show-me contract could see him put up even better numbers in 2025-26.

Holland also added two veteran right wingers with former Montreal Canadien Joel Armia and former Oiler Corey Perry. The two new Kings will count for a combined $4.5-million cap hit next season, although Perry’s deal is a performance-bonus-laden pact that could add another $2 million. Still, that’s a total the Kings should be happy to pay out.

The biggest issue for Holland that he failed to address so far is the Kings’ defense corps. L.A.’s group of blueliners took a major hit on July 1 when cornerstone veteran Vladislav Gavrikov left the Kings in favor of the New York Rangers. Gavrikov had a $5.875-million cap hit in Los Angeles for the past two seasons, and Holland had more than enough cap space to match or better the Rangers’ eventual offer of $7 million per campaign for the next seven years.  

However, rather than bring Gavrikov back, Holland opted for two veteran D-men: Brian Dumoulin and Cody Ceci. 

Dumoulin bounced between four teams since 2022-23 before signing with the Kings on a three-year deal worth $4 million per season. But the most curious signing was Ceci on a four-year deal worth $4.5 million per season.

Since 2021-22, 31-year-old Ceci has played on three different teams – the Oilers, San Jose Sharks and Dallas Stars – and his totals on offense have been decidedly unimpressive. In 85 games this past season, Ceci had four goals and 24 points. Ceci is also hardly a defensive shutdown menace. Why did Holland give him a big-money, long-term deal? It’s mind-boggling.

So, when you compare Holland’s new-look Kings to the Oilers, you have to come to the conclusion that Edmonton is, on paper, still a better team than Los Angeles. 

The Oilers have two of the top five forwards in the world in Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. They also have terrific depth up front, and their defense corps – with newly-signed star Evan Bouchard, rugged Mattias Ekholm, Darnell Nurse, Brett Kulak and Jake Walman filling out the top-three pairings – is better than the ‘D’ corps of the Kings.

If there is one area where L.A. has an advantage over the Oilers, it’s in net. 

The Kings have Stanley Cup-champion Darcy Kuemper as their starter, and Holland added a decent-enough backup with former Ottawa Senators veteran Anton Forsberg at the relatively cheap rate of $2.25 million. The Oilers, on the other hand, have the tandem of Stuart Skinner and Calvin Pickard – and many expect Edmonton GM Stan Bowman will break up that tandem via trade at some point this summer.

On the whole, though, we have to say we like Holland’s former team as a group more than we like his new-look Kings. But don’t get us wrong – we still see the Kings as a lock to make the playoffs in the relatively weak Pacific Division.

NHL Free Agency 2025: Six Losers So FarThe first day of the NHL’s 2025 free-agent frenzy is now in the books, and as is tradition on THN.com, we’re examining the winners and losers from the beginning of the free-agent period. 

Once again, Edmonton and Los Angeles could be facing each other in the first or second round of the 2026 playoffs. If that happens, and the lineups remain relatively the same as they are on July 3, we see the Kings losing to the Oilers for the fifth straight season. 

Who knows – stranger things could happen, and Holland’s changes could ultimately be enough for L.A. to avenge prior losses to Edmonton. But it’s just as likely, if not more likely, that McDavid and Draisaitl once again overwhelm the Kings’ defense and the Oilers send Los Angeles home for another long summer.

At that point, Holland’s imprint on the Kings should face intense scrutiny.

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The Pacific Division looks a lot different now than it did a week ago. Some of the Vancouver Canucks biggest rivals made intriguing signings in the opening days of free agency, which will impact how the division shapes up in 2025-26. Here is a recap of the moves made by teams in the Pacific Division at the start of 2025 free agency.

Anaheim Ducks

The Anaheim Ducks were able to land the top center available this season, as they signed Mikael Granlund to a three-year contract, which carries an AAV of $7 million. The Ducks also made a surprising move at the draft, trading John Gibson to the Detroit Red Wings for Petr Mrazek, a second-round pick in the 2027 draft, a fourth-round pick in 2026, and a fourth-round selection in the 2026 draft. With the Granlund deal complete, the Ducks can now shift their focus to re-signing Mason McTavish, who is currently a restricted free agent. 

Calgary Flames

The Calgary Flames added some depth on July 1, signing Nick Cicek and Ivan Prosvetov to one-year contracts. Calgary also re-signed Joel Hanley and Morgan Frost to two-year extensions. Just like Vancouver, it appears that the Flames' 2025-26 roster will resemble the one they finished with last year. 

Edmonton Oilers

The Edmonton Oilers' big move this off-season was signing Evan Bouchard to a four-year extension, which carries an AAV of $10.5 million. Edmonton also added some scoring on the wing, signing Andrew Mangiapane to a two-year contract which carries an AAV of $3.6 million. Lastly, the Oilers added some depth to their roster, inking forward Curtis Lazar to a one-year deal, while bringing in defenceman Riley Stillman and goaltender Matt Tomkins on two-year contracts. 

L.A. Kings

The L.A. Kings made multiple splashes on July 1st, as they added plenty of experience to their roster. L.A. signed Corey Perry to a one-year contract, Joel Armia and Anton Forsberg to two-year deals, Brian Dumoulin to a three-year contract and finally, Cody Ceci to a four-year deal. Overall, the Kings were one of the most active teams once free agency opened up, as they signed nine contracts over the past three days. 

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San Jose Sharks

The San Jose Sharks have also been very active since the start of free agency. Some of their key signings include Philipp Kurashev and John Klingberg on one-year deals, as well as Adam Gaudette and Dmitry Orlov signing two-way contracts. San Jose also claimed Nick Leddy off waivers from the St. Louis Blues while buying out the contract of Marc-Edouard Vlasic. 

Seattle Kraken

The Seattle Kraken have made two signings during the opening days of free agency. Seattle locked up Ryan Lindgren to a four-year contract while Matt Murray signed a one-year deal. Ultimately, the Kraken will be an interesting team as they could have one of the youngest rosters this season. 

Vegas Golden Knights

The Vegas Golden Knights took a massive swing as they acquired Mitch Marner from the Toronto Maple Leafs. In exchange for Marner, who signed an eight-year contract with an AAV of $12 million before being traded, Vegas sent Nicolas Roy to the Maple Leafs. Vegas was also able to re-sign Kaedan Korczak to a four-year contract extension while adding Jaycob Megna for the next two seasons. 

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, be sure to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum.

The Philadelphia Flyers have lost one of their most effective players from the end of this past season in Jakob Pelletier for no good reason.

Pelletier, 24, signed a three-year, $2.33 million ($775K AAV) contract with the Tampa Bay Lightning that will pay him league minimum in each of the three seasons.

With these kinds of players - former first-round picks who bounce around looking for opportunities - a three-year deal is very uncommon. Comparatively, the Flyers could have retained Pelletier on a one-year deal, at minimum, had they extended him a qualifying offer of $840k.

By failing to do so, the Flyers relinquished Pelletier's signing rights, and the fact that a team like Tampa Bay swooped in before sunrise on Day 2 of free agency to sign him for multiple years indicates Pelletier had value around the league, or at least to them.

Instead, the Flyers let him walk for free. The optics of that don't look great, considering Maxim Shabanov passed on the Flyers for the New York Islanders on Wednesday.

Plus, the team has known for a few weeks now that there is a possibility Tyson Foerster might not be available come opening night due to injury.

Yes, Pelletier is only 5-foot-11, and yes, he scored eight points in 25 games in Philadelphia, but he was actually much more effective than the raw stats indicate.

Pelletier played 16 games under John Tortorella after arriving via trade, posting an on-ice scoring chance percentage of 52.73% (58-52), trailing only Owen Tippett, Egor Zamula, Rasmus Ristolainen, and Erik Johnson, per Natural Stat Trick.

In terms of high-danger chance creation under Tortorella, Pelletier was the clubhouse leader at forward as the Orange and Black out-chanced opponents 21-15 (58.33%) with him on the ice.

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Of the 14 players that played in 16 or more games from Pelletier's arrival to Tortorella's dismissal, Pelletier played the second-fewest minutes ahead of only Nick Deslauriers.

After Tortorella was dismissed by the Flyers with nine games to go in the regular season, Pelletier still played the least 5-on-5 ice time of the 15 skaters who played in all nine remaining games, but led the Flyers in scoring chance percentage (40-32, 55.56%) down that stretch.

Additionally, Pelletier was the only Flyers player to have a positive high-danger scoring chance differential (17-15, 53.13%) during this period. Defenseman Travis Sanheim was the only other Flyers skater to reach 50%.

This is all to say that the Flyers got the job done with Pelletier on the ice much more often than not and still chose to let him go for free despite having perceived value on the market.

In the wake of Foerster's injury and Shabanov's heel turn, the Flyers will now be forced to pivot towards unproven (but exciting, nonetheless) options like prospects Alex Bump, Porter Martone, and Nikita Grebenkin.

The NHL free agency market has been extremely unkind to buyers this summer, and the Flyers have paid the price after signing Christian Dvorak and Dan Vladar - literally.

It limits how high they can go on salary with RFA defenseman Cam York, it limits their ability to make injury call-ups if they suffer another injury in addition to Foerster given their unwavering desire to avoid using LTIR, and it limits their ability to further remedy the winger situation.

But an error or a misstep only becomes a mistake if it isn't learned from or fixed. The Flyers' next step from here will decide that.

On Thursday, the Pittsburgh Penguins opened their annual Prospect Development Camp, which features 48 players both from the Penguins' system and outside of it.

And fans and media got their first glimpse at some of the new faces as well.

All 13 of the Penguins' new draftees took the ice for the first time in uniform - including first-round picks Ben Kindel, Bill Zonnon, and Will Horcoff - along with some development camp veterans. 

Other notable names on the camp roster include defensemen Harrison Brunicke and Emil Pieniniemi - as well as forwards Mikhail Ilyin and Melvin Fernstrom, who each played overseas last season. 

The players were split into three groups - Team Stevens, Team Patrick, and Team Johnston - with each of the three first-rounders being put into separate groups. There was a lot to like about what was shown by prospects on the camp's inaugural day, and - given where the Penguins are at organizationally - there is a ton of excitement surrounding this year's camp.

Here are three standouts from Day One:

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Harrison Brunicke

Out of everyone today, the player who stood out most was Brunicke.

His skating is so incredibly smooth, his puckhandling skills were on display, and he led the way for his defensive group consisting of Chase Pietila, Kalle Kangas, and 2025 draftees Charlie Trethewey and Brady Peddle.

I found myself trying very hard not to compare him to everyone else. But, Brunicke looked like he didn't belong here in the very best way. He just looks miles ahead of everyone else on the blue line at this camp, and it's only Day One.

This kid should have a real shot at the NHL roster this season. And - as he told NHL.com's Wes Crosby - he is absolutely making it his goal this year to make the big leagues out of training camp.

"Oh yeah," he said in response to being asked about whether his personal goal is to crack the NHL roster.

Asked Harrison Brunicke if his personal goal is to make the NHL club of training camp: "Oh yeah." #Pens

— Wes Crosby (@OtherNHLCrosby) July 3, 2025

Brunicke is going to be a player to watch throughout development camp, training camp, and for the years to come. The more I watch this kid, the more I think he is really going to translate into something special at the NHL level. And, according to Scott Wheeler of The Athletic, he will also receive an invite to Team Canada's World Junior Summer Showcase, which features the best of the best Canadian junior prospects.

Speaking of juniors: I'm not entirely convinced that juniors would be the best thing for Brunicke's development next season. Some think he isn't ready for the NHL, and that's understandable. But there are a plethora of reasons why going back to Kamloops may be an even worse path. 

More to come on that later. Regardless, keep an eye on him, folks.

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Bill Zonnon 

Fans are going to love Bill Zonnon.

First thing's first: His shot is more impressive than I realized. It really pops off his stick, and he seems to be able to pick his spots. I was also impressed with his tenacity, anticipation, and work ethic.

But the thing that stood out most to me is that he always seemed to be in the right place. He picked up on the drills, he adapted quicky, and he read and anticipated plays like the back of his hand while working with players he's never skated with before.

And - by all accounts - he seems like a very coachable player.

This comparison has been made elsewhere, but he reminds me a bit of Patric Hornqvist. Just like with everyone else today, the sample size was small, so getting carried away prematurely would be futile. But some of that feistiness, that competitive fire, and those scoring-area smarts that he is known for were on display.

I think this guy has real potential to become an impact middle-six player for the Penguins. His game looked pretty mature in comparison to his peers, so it will be interesting to see how that shakes out for the rest of camp.

Reaction: Penguins Select Forward Bill Zonnon With 22nd Overall PickThe Pittsburgh Penguins have officially made their second of three first-round selections in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft. 

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Travis Hayes

Hayes - a 2025 fourth-round pick (105th overall) for the Penguins - stood out today, but not in quite the same way as the others. 

No, he wasn't skating circles around everyone like Brunicke was. No, he wasn't "wowing" with his shot and hockey smarts like Zonnon.

But he was getting physical and competing hard in front of the goaltender.

Hayes was abrasive, scrappy, and making use of his frame - at just 5-foot-11 - to gain positioning at the net front. Like Zonnon, you can see that competitive fire. But there was a little extra edge to Hayes's game. 

Penguins Forward Prospect Earns Entry-Level Contract A potential key part of the Pittsburgh Penguins' future at the forward position earned himself a payday.

On several accounts, he plays the game pretty similarly to his brother, Avery, who has climbed his way up the prospect ranks after going undrafted and earned a two-year entry-level contract at the conclusion of last season. And, according to director of player development Tom Kostopoulos, more guys like Avery Hayes in the system - and his literal blood brother, nonetheless - is a really good thing for the Penguins.

"It's pretty impressive what Avery Hayes did since he signed his AHL contract, and he earned the NHL contract," Kostopoulos said. "We're talking to these kids about coachability, competitiveness, and work ethic, and when you think of those things, that's what Avery Hayes did.

"And getting to know his brother... I don't know how many of you watched him out there, but, man, I liked the competitiveness. He seemed to be able to understand what we're trying to tell him, and the compete is something that seems to be built into that family's DNA."

Family Reunion In Order As Penguins Select Brother Of Forward ProspectThere appears to be a family reunion on the horizon for a pair of Pittsburgh Penguins prospects.

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Feature image credit: Kelsey Surmacz - The Hockey News

The Pittsburgh Penguins have brought in several new players this off-season as they continue to retool their roster. Among the Penguins' newcomers is winger Justin Brazeau, as the Metropolitan Division club signed him to a two-year, $3 million contract.

While this was a bit of a quieter signing in the NHL, Brazeau has the potential to be a nice surprise for the Penguins. 

Brazeau has shown at times that he has the potential to provide both secondary scoring and physicality early on in his NHL career. After making the jump to the NHL with the Boston Bruins in 2023-24, the 6-foot-6 winger posted five goals, seven points, and 43 hits in 19 games. During this past season, he had 11 goals, 22 points, and 123 hits in 76 games split between the Bruins and the Minnesota Wild. He also recorded two assists in six playoff games for Minnesota.

Ultimately, with the Penguins needing more grit and depth scoring, there is no harm in them taking a shot on a big forward like Brazeau. At times with the Bruins, he demonstrated that he has some offensive upside, and now that he is entering his third NHL season, it will be intriguing to see if he taps into it a bit more.

When looking at the Penguins' roster, Brazeau could have a real shot of playing in their top nine. Furthermore, due to his effectiveness in front of the net, he also could get reps on the Penguins' power play. Thus, he could have more chances to succeed on a team like Pittsburgh. 

Nevertheless, it is going to be intriguing to see how Brazeau fits into the Penguins' system from here. If he becomes a more consistent scorer while maintaining his tenacious style of play, he could be a sweet pickup for the Penguins. 

NHL News: Penguins Lose Defenseman To CanucksFormer Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Pierre Olivier-Joseph has found his new home. 

Photo Credit: © Matt Blewett-Imagn Images 

The Buffalo Sabres completed their Development Camp on Thursday, but the focus on the club continues to be the status of restricted free agent defenseman Bowen Byram. TSN’s Darren Dreger reported earlier in the week that interested clubs were contemplating an offer sheet, but that there are also teams looking to make a deal for the 23-year-old blueliner. One of the clubs listed was the St. Louis Blues and according to Jeremy Rutherford of the Athletic, the Blues are trying to consummate a deal with the Sabres. 

“We believe Bo is an excellent hockey player that can help our team win,” Sabres GM Kevyn Adams said on Wednesday. “I've maintained the same position that if there's a deal out there that makes sense for us that we think is going to improve our roster we're open to it. If there's not, we're not in a situation where we're looking to move him out or looking to move him for futures and stuff like that, for me we want to help our team win hockey games and he helps us do that.”

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Byram is two years away from unrestricted free agency, but the Blues would likely be willing to commit to a long-term deal with the blueliner, since the majority of their defensive corps (Cam Fowler, Justin Faulk, Colton Parayko) is in their early 30’s, hence the reason St. Louis GM Doug Armstrong made the offer sheet bid for Philip Broberg last summer and traded with Montreal for former first round pick Logan Mallioux. 

Rutherford indicated that he does not believe that the Blues would go the offer sheet this time around, but that other interested clubs (Dreger indicated that the Calgary Flames, Vegas Golden Knights, and Los Angeles Kings are talking to the Sabres) could be. Intriguing possibilities who could be involved in the deal are former St. Louis first-rounders Jake Neighbours, Jimmy Snuggerud, and Dalibor Dvorsky.

Neighbours is the same age as Byram, has scored 20+ goals the last two seasons, and is under contract for two years at a reasonable $3.75 million cap hit. Snuggerud, 21, the son of former Sabre Dave Snuggerud, made his NHL debut last season, playing seven regular season and playoff games, while Dvorsky, was the 10th overall selection in 2023 and scored 21 goals with AHL Springfield last season. 

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Get your fill-in on another day of the NHL's off-season with rapid-fire discussion on The Wraparound.

Predicting Connor Bedard's Next Contract With The Chicago Blackhawks by The Wraparoundundefined

Here's what Emma Lingan, Stephen Kerr and Michael Augello discussed in today's episode:

0:00: Predicting Connor Bedard’s next contract with the Chicago Blackhawks

5:52: What to make of the Dallas Stars’ decision to hire Glen Gulutzan as coach

9:50: Was signing Brent Burns a low-risk move for the Colorado Avalanche?

12:06: How will losing Pius Suter affect the Vancouver Canucks?

16:35: Does Don Cherry deserve to be inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame next year?

20:26: Breaking down Ken Holland’s first free agency with the Los Angeles Kings

24:55: Was Morgan Frost’s extension with the Calgary Flames a good signing?

27:05: Making sense of the Seattle Kraken’s off-season trades and signings

29:49: Could Andrew Mangiapane be re-ignited by playing with the Edmonton Oilers?

33:20: Assessing the San Jose Sharks’ free agency decisions

36:30: Reacting to Nikolaj Ehlers’ contract with the Carolina Hurricanes

See below for where to subscribe to the show for future episodes.

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Promo image credit: Marc DesRosiers-Imagn Images

The Carolina Hurricanes added arguably the best free agent still available on Thursday.

They agreed to a six-year, $51 million deal with former Winnipeg Jets winger Nikolaj Ehlers. The average annual value of the deal is $8.5 million. 

This is a major win for the Hurricanes. They are bolstering their lineup for another long playoff run next season after losing to the Florida Panthers in the Eastern Conference Final this past season. It was the second time in three seasons that the Hurricanes lost to the Panthers in the ECF.

Ehlers is an immediate upgrade to their top six and is someone who can score from anywhere in the offensive zone. He finished the 2024-25 season with 24 goals and 63 points in 69 games. 

He had been with the Jetsfor the last decade and was the ninth overall pick in the 2014 NHL Draft. Ehlers is an eight-time 20-goal scorer and has compiled 225 goals and 520 points in 674 games. 

The Penguins have struggled to beat the Hurricanes in recent seasons due to stylistic differences, and that seems unlikely to change this upcoming season. 

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Featured Image Credit: Terrence Lee-Imagn Images

The Carolina Hurricanes could have other NHL teams going back to the drawing board after agreeing to terms with Nikolaj Ehlers on a six-year contract worth $8.5 million per season.

One of the NHL's top remaining UFAs leaves the Winnipeg Jets after 10 seasons to join the Hurricanes. The left winger now has the second-highest cap hit on the Hurricanes behind Sebastian Aho's $9.75 million. Some NHL squads will have to look at next steps after missing out on Ehlers, who's now signed through the 2030-31 season.

“Nikolaj was the top free agent available on July 1, and we are proud that he’s chosen to make Carolina his home,” Hurricanes GM Eric Tulsky said in a news release. “He’s a highly skilled winger who can really skate and will fit very well with our forward group.”

Ehlers, 29, had 24 goals and 39 assists for 63 points in 69 games with the Jets this past season, adding another seven points in eight playoff contests. His ice time per game has been between 15 and 16 minutes for the past three seasons after logging a career-high 18:04 average in 2021-22.

He's only played at least 70 games in a season four times, either due to shortened campaigns or injuries. That said, he's coming off back-to-back seasons of at least 60 points, which previously occurred in the 2016-17 and 2017-18 seasons.

Of the top UFA forwards left, Ehlers had 24 points than the next-highest scorer, former Hurricanes center Jack Roslovic, who recorded 39 points this past season.

Chris Johnston of TSN and The Athletic posted to X earlier on Thursday, saying there's a sense that Ehlers' decision could spur trade activity among clubs who missed out.

Mitch Marner, Brock Boeser, Mikael Granlund and Brad Marchand all came off the board either before the market opened or shortly after. Even some middle-six options, such as Jonathan Drouin and Pius Suter, signed with new clubs.

Aside from Roslovic, other remaining UFAs who can play on the wing include Victor Olofsson, Jeff Skinner, Anthony Beauvillier, Joel Kiviranta and Michael Carcone.

There's also the option of going the offer-sheet route and targeting RFAs, which include Kaapo Kakko and Alex Laferriere or centers Gabriel Vilardi, Marco Rossi and Mason McTavish. But those players would have to be willing to leave their current clubs, which can also choose whether to match the offer sheet or not.

A team looking to take away an RFA needs at least its own first-round pick and third-round pick to sign a player for an average annual value of over $4,680,076 when dividing the total salary by the term length or five years, whichever is lower. If the offer sheet AAV is over $7,020,113 but below $9,360,153, the compensation would have to be a first-, second- and third-rounder.

The trade route opens up more possibilities to acquire a top-six winger.

The Pittsburgh Penguins, which finished fourth-last in the Eastern Conference this past season, have two forwards who could be trade bait, according to The Hockey News' Kelsey Surmacz.

Rickard Rakell, 32, has three years left on his contract with a $5-million cap hit and an eight-team no-trade list, according to PuckPedia. He had 35 goals and 70 points for the Penguins this past season, both career highs.

Bryan Rust, 33, is also under contract for three more years at a $5.125-million cap hit. He had 31 goals and 34 assists for 65 points – all career highs – in 71 games.

Dallas Stars left winger Jason Robertson surfaced in trade speculation before NHL free agency, as the Stars faced a cap crunch while trying to re-sign their pending UFAs. The 25-year-old has been one of Dallas' best forwards, recording 80 points in the past two seasons and 109 points in 2022-23 while staying healthy. He has one more year on his contract with a $7.75-million cap hit before becoming an RFA with arbitration rights.

The Stars re-signed Jamie Benn, Matt Duchene, Mavrik Bourque and Nils Lundkvist, among others, and they brought back longtime Stars center Radek Faksa after he played one season with the St. Louis Blues. Dallas has rounded out its roster but sits nearly $1.8 million over the salary cap ceiling. Nevertheless, a trade return for Robertson would have to be so good that Dallas remains a Stanley Cup contender, gains cap space and maintains a high level of scoring.

If Rust, Rakell and Robertson aren't available, then Nashville Predators right winger Jonathan Marchessault has also been a topic of trade speculation after the team finished third-last in the Western Conference in 2024-25. The 34-year-old put up 21 goals and 56 points in 78 games this past season, and he has four years left on his contract with a $5.5-million cap hit and a full no-movement clause.

If it's back to the drawing board for teams that couldn't find what they were looking for in NHL free agency, they at least have options to pursue during summer.

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