Mike Grier, Sharks look like winners after first three picks in 2026 NHL Draft originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Editor’s note: Sheng Peng is a regular contributor to NBC Sports California’s Sharks coverage. You can read more of his coverage on San Jose Hockey Now, listen to him on the San Jose Hockey Now Podcast, and follow him on Twitter at @Sheng_Peng.

BUFFALO — The Sharks, no doubt, were big winners during the first round of the 2026 NHL Draft on Friday.

We’ll see if it leads to be being big winners on the ice.

The Sharks selected winger Ivar Stenberg at No. 2, defenseman Keaton Verhoeff at No. 9 and defenseman Ryan Lin at No. 21.

What did an NHL scout, not with the Sharks, think of the picks?

None of these picks were used to address next year’s Sharks’ most glaring need, their blue line, but Stenberg, Verhoeff and Lin all are excellent prospects. Verhoeff and Lin were strong value choices, where they were selected.

And of course, the draft is not about today, it’s about tomorrow. But it’s worth noting that the widely held belief is that the Sharks acquired the No. 9 pick from the Ottawa Senators, in exchange for young winger William Eklund, to try to deal for a young-but-experienced, high-impact NHL defenseman.

That deal didn’t materialize, though Sharks general manager Mike Grier admitted that San Jose took one offer for No. 2, which included an established NHL player coming back to the Sharks, under “strong consideration”.

Anyway, 20-something, high-impact blueliners don’t grow on trees, so if you can’t find the right trade, drafting at Nos. 2 or 9 or 21 is no small consolation prize.

The scout raved about Stenberg, “He’s a complete player.”

To that point, while the 5-foot-11 winger is considered a future point-per-game scorer.

“You also appreciate his ability to work under pucks and play on both sides,” Sharks director of amateur scouting Chris Morehouse emphasized. “He’s a dynamic offensive player, but he’s got that hard competitive skill that you’re always looking for.”

Grier said Stenberg was the No. 1 player on the Sharks’ board, ahead of winger Gavin McKenna, who went No. 1 overall to the Toronto Maple Leafs.

“Celebrini and Stenberg are going to be a terror for many years to come,” the scout said. “Talking in a world where need isn’t considered for San Jose, he’s an awesome pick.”

Stenberg is thought by many to be NHL-ready, and maybe one reason why the Sharks deemed popular winger Eklund expendable.

There was a lot of thought that the Sharks would go for a defenseman at No. 2 — Daxon Rudolph was the surprise first defenseman off the board at No. 4 to the Buffalo Sabres, while Chase Reid was a betting favorite for a while — but the Sharks, as they always said they would, went with their “best player available.”

“We didn’t pay attention to all the writers saying we should take a D,” Morehouse said, joking but not joking.

San Jose did address its organizational need on defense, at least in the future, with their next two picks.

Six-foot-4 right-hander Verhoeff had a fascinating campaign, entering the season as consensus No. 1 defenseman in the draft and ending up as the fifth blueliner off the board — still a tremendous feat.

Grier said the Sharks were entertaining trade offers until No. 7, when it was clear to them that Verhoeff would drop to No. 9.

“All things go right, you’re looking at a first-pair defensive anchor and first PK,” the scout opined.

“He’ll be more defensive-leaning,” the scout added. “Maybe not as much of an offensive sense? That showed up in college with more structure and tighter checking.”

Of course, the University of North Dakota defenseman deserves a lot of credit for playing in the NCAA as a 17-year-old, testing himself against older-than-junior players.

Sharks director of player personnel Scott Fitzgerald said the plan at the moment is for Verhoeff to return for more seasoning with North Dakota.

The Sharks showed how much they liked right-hander Lin, trading Nos. 27, 62, and 120 picks to the Philadelphia Flyers for the No. 21 pick.

“That’s a great swing to take Lin there,” the scout said. “He’s an excellent all-around defenseman, who just happens to be small.”

It doesn’t sound like Lin is projected to run a first-unit power play at the highest level, but like Stenberg, he’s a highly competitive smaller player who’s expected to make a significant two-way impact.

In one night, Grier blew up the narrative that he’s a size-obsessed GM, which was the thought of some, despite premium picks used on smaller talents like Will Smith and Leo Sahlin-Wallenius in previous years.

“Hard competitive skill” is the buzz phrase for all three of the Sharks’ first-round picks, including the smaller Stenberg and Lin.

“It’s something when you watch Carolina, they have some smaller guys, but they’re all competitive,” Grier said of this year’s Stanley Cup winner. “It’s a trait that goes back through the years, and in this league, if you’re a smaller guy and you want to have success, you better be competitive, and both these kids are.”

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The spotlight will be firmly fixed on the Calgary Flames when they step to the podium with the sixth overall selection at the 2026 NHL Entry Draft on Friday night at KeyBank Center in Buffalo.

It’s a franchise-defining opportunity. A player chosen in the top 10 is expected to become a foundational piece, and Calgary is hoping its first selection helps accelerate the organization’s ongoing development.

But inside the Flames’ draft room, the focus extends far beyond the opening round.

With 10 selections through the first three rounds, Calgary enters the draft with a rare opportunity to reshape the organization’s prospect pool. While the sixth-overall pick will generate the headlines, history has shown that some of the franchise’s most impactful players have come long after the television cameras have moved on from the first round.

General manager Craig Conroy knows as well as anyone that every selection carries value, regardless of where it falls.

“You just never know,” said Conroy. “We got Johnny Gaudreau in the fourth round… Dustin Wolf in the seventh. Each pick is important.”

For Calgary’s scouting staff, those success stories serve as reminders that the draft isn’t won solely on Day 1. Countless hours are spent evaluating players, debating projections and searching for overlooked talent that could develop into NHL contributors years down the road.

Conroy emphasized that every prospect selected should represent more than simply adding another name to the system.

“You want to put that Flaming ‘C’ jersey on them and be proud of that,” he told FlamesTV.

Few examples illustrate that philosophy better than Johnny Gaudreau.

Selected 104th overall in the fourth round of the 2011 NHL Draft, Gaudreau was considered too small by many teams despite his elite offensive skill. The Flames looked beyond his size and bet on his talent, a decision that paid off in spectacular fashion.

Gaudreau went on to become one of the most electrifying players in franchise history, recording 210 goals and 609 points in 602 games with Calgary while establishing himself as one of the NHL’s premier playmakers.

More recently, Calgary struck gold again with Dustin Wolf.

Taken 214th overall in the seventh round of the 2019 draft, Wolf faced many of the same concerns that followed Gaudreau throughout his draft year. Questions about his size caused teams to pass, but his production and competitiveness told a different story.

Since then, Wolf has developed into one of the NHL’s top young goaltenders. After dominating at every level, he has emerged as both the Flames’ goaltender of the future and an integral part of the club’s present, validating Calgary’s willingness to trust its scouting staff over conventional wisdom.

Those two success stories are reminders that draft position doesn’t always determine NHL impact.

"We really feel this is going to be a draft that changes the trajectory of the team."#Flames GM Craig Conroy sounds off on the work put in and focus headed into the #NHLDraft! pic.twitter.com/wvvWqkGFR3

— Calgary Flames (@NHLFlames) June 24, 2026

Every year, stars emerge from unexpected places. For organizations that scout well and remain committed to their evaluations, the later rounds can be just as important as the first.

That’s why Calgary’s draft table will remain just as engaged when the fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh rounds begin.

The player selected sixth overall may ultimately become the face of the franchise’s next era. But if history is any indication, one of the Flames’ biggest victories from the 2026 NHL Draft could come from a name called much later, one that today few fans are talking about, but years from now could become another draft-day steal.

Well, folks, after a long, eventful week, the 2026 NHL Draft has finally arrived.

For the Pittsburgh Penguins, there is a lot of intrigue surrounding this draft, even if they currently only possess five picks in this year's draft as opposed to the 13 they had last year. Trade chatter has been swirling around them, as they are rumored to be one of the teams interested in Dallas Stars superstar left wing Jason Robertson. There are also rumors that Pittsburgh is trying to move up in the draft from their 22nd overall selection, as they are rumored to be interested in Swedish center Viggo Bjorck.

As of now, the Penguins' draft board looks like this:

- Round 1, Pick 22
- Round 2, Pick 39 (acquired from Winnipeg Jets)
- Round 2, Pick 54
- Round 3, Pick 86
- Round 6, Pick 170 (acquired from Nashville Predators)

Again, a whole lot can change between now and 7:00 p.m. ET, when the draft is set to begin. As of now, the Toronto Maple Leafs will select first - presumably, to select consensus first overall pick Gavin McKenna -  followed by the San Jose Sharks at two, the Vancouver Canucks at three, the Buffalo Sabres at four courtesy of the Bowen Byram trade with the Chicago Blackhawks, and the New York Rangers at five.

The Penguins certainly have some tradeable assets they can use to acquire a better pick - Rickard Rakell, Bryan Rust, and Erik Karlsson come to mind - but there should also be some pretty good players available in their range as-is.

With that, what will they decide to do? Will they trade up to the top-10 for a more premium prospect? Trade up as needed? Will they stand pat? Will they trade down to garner more picks in the 30s and 40s, perhaps by striking a deal with a team like the Calgary Flames, who pick three times in the 30s? Will they trade their 22nd overall pick altogether for an NHL player?

Here are THN co-editor Hunter Hodies and my predictions for the Penguins - as well as the first round, courtesy of the mock draft function on CapWages - in this year's draft.

2026 NHL Draft Tracker: Round 1 Picks, Reports, Rankings And MoreCheck out expert NHL draft coverage and track the first-round picks as they're announced. You can also catch up on NHL draft rankings, mock drafts, player profiles and more.

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Hunter's pick

With the 22nd overall pick, the Pittsburgh Penguins select… LW J.P. Hurlbert of the WHL’s Kamloops Blazers.

I went back and forth on this but ultimately landed on Hurlbert because of the familiarity (Penguins' prospect Harrison Brunicke also played for Kamloops this past season), and he fits the mold of past Kyle Dubas/Wes Clark picks.

Hurlbert has excellent hockey IQ and an underrated ability to forecheck. He can also go 1-on-1 against defenders and is tough to knock the puck off of. He can really rifle the puck and knows where to pick holes in each goaltender he faces. Don’t forget about his vision, either. He can anticipate a player being in a certain spot on the ice before he’s there.

There is a lot to like about this player. 

Penguins' Draft Prospect Profiles: J.P. HurlbertJ.P. Hurlbert is a player that the Pittsburgh Penguins definitely had their eyes on this season. Does he make sense for them at pick No. 22?

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Kelsey's pick

With the 15th overall pick, the Pittsburgh Penguins select... RD Ryan Lin of the WHL's Vancouver Giants.

If the Penguins select at 22, my pick would be forward Adam Novotny. I quite like Novotny, as he has a pretty high floor and is the type of hybrid power forward-type player and relentless workhorse the Penguins love.

However, I do think they're going to move up in this draft - just not the way many folks think. Moving up into the top-10 - and, even, closer to the top-five - to be in Bjorck range is simply going to cost more than the Penguins should pay for a "maybe." They desperately need blue line talent in their system as much as they need center depth.

As discussed on our Pucks N'at Podcast with Jesse Marshall on Friday, Lin could be a sleeper to fall a few spots in the draft just depending on how much teams will value centers as well as the blueliners set to be selected ahead of him. If he falls to 15, the St. Louis Blues are set to pick at 15 and 16 and may be willing to negotiate a trade down to 22 if the Penguins offer one of their second-round picks, and perhaps, a sweetener, if necessary. 

Lin is a legitimate two-way defenseman already, and he plays a mature game for his age. He has all the offensive tools to be excellent in transition at the NHL level, and he already defends well, too. According to Marshall, he's a more complete version of a promising young Penguins' defensive prospect in Harrison Brunicke, and there's even more room to grow.

I think Lin would be a fantastic add for the Penguins, and it would significantly bolster their blue line prospect pool. He's someone worth trading up for if he's still on the board within reason. 

If Pittsburgh Targets Forward In 2026 Draft, This Should Be Their GuyPeterborough Petes forward Adam Novotny might just be the perfect forward for Kyle Dubas and the Pittsburgh Penguins to target in this year's draft.

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Talk about the NHL Draft here, if you please!

Details-

When: 7:00pm eastern
What: First round of the draft (Rounds 2-7 begin tomorrow at noon)
How to watch: ESPN (tomorrow, NHL Network)
Penguin pick: Currently 22nd overall, but they have a manager with a history of draft night trades

Draft day has arrived, and it represents one of the most important dates on the Calgary Flames’ calendar.

The Flames enter the 2026 NHL Entry Draft in an enviable position, with an abundance of draft capital and the chance to further accelerate the organization’s rebuild. With multiple selections in the opening rounds, Calgary has the flexibility to add high-end prospects, package picks to move up the draft board, or use those assets in trades for NHL-ready talent.

The club currently holds two first-round selections; sixth overall and 30th overall, the latter acquired from the Vegas Golden Knights, along with three second-round picks and additional selections throughout the draft.

That collection of picks gives general manager Craig Conroy several options as he looks to strengthen both the present and future of the franchise. Whether Calgary stands pat, moves around the draft board, or swings a trade, the decisions made over the next two days could play a significant role in shaping the next phase of the team’s retool.

For Conroy, however, the priority remains straightforward: select the best players available, regardless of where the Flames are picking.

“We’re looking for best player,” Conroy told FlamesTV. “We want to have the best player at each pick, but really, with all those picks we want to make sure - whether you’re the sixth overall pick or our last pick in the sixth round - we want to make sure the guys are ready and we want to be excited about the player we pick at that position.”

With ten selections at their disposal, the Flames have an opportunity to add significant depth to one of the NHL’s improving prospect pools. How they utilize those assets, and whether they keep every pick or leverage them in trades, will be one of the biggest storylines of the 2026 NHL Draft.

Calgary Flames 2026 NHL Draft Picks:

• 6th Overall
• 30th Overall (from Vegas)
• 36th Overall
• 51st Overall (from Utah)
• 55th Overall (from Utah/Ottawa)
• 65th Overall (from Vancouver)
• 68th Overall
• 100th Overall
• 132nd Overall
• 164th Overall

For full Flames coverage of the 2026 NHL Draft follow along with our draft tracker here.

The Ottawa Senators announced on Friday afternoon that they have acquired goaltender Samuel Ersson from the Toronto Maple Leafs for their fifth-round selection in the 2027 NHL Draft.

The acquisition is an odd one.

Ten days ago, the Leafs sent goaltender Joseph Woll and defenceman Simon Benoit to the Philadelphia Flyers for defenceman Emil Andrae, Ersson, and a 2026 third-round pick.

The inclusion of Ersson in that deal was a head-scratcher, simply because the Leafs already had a ton of goaltending depth in the form of Dennis Hildeby and the Calder Cup-winning Artur Akhtyamov.

Considering that Ersson was coming off a two-year contract with an average annual value of $1.4 million, as an impending restricted free agent (RFA), he would need a qualifying offer of $1.6 million for the Maple Leafs to retain his rights.

While playing professionally over parts of five seasons across the AHL and NHL, Ersson has never recorded a season with a save percentage greater than .900. In 33 appearances with the Flyers this past season, the 26-year-old posted a 14-11-5 record, a 3.12 goals against average, and an .870 save percentage.

According to Evolving-Hockey’s model, Ersson’s -6.09 goals saved above expected (GSAx) was the fifth-lowest total in the league. In 2024-25, his GSAx of -22.09 was the league’s worst.

Using their ‘wins above replacement’ model, Ersson has been worth -3.3 wins over the course of his NHL career. Meaning, had he been replaced by a league-average goaltender over the same period, it would have benefited the Flyers by three wins. The only season in which he posted a positive GSAx was his rookie 2022-23 campaign.

Ersson is still relatively young at 26, but he has not performed well in North America. Albeit, his experiences in the NHL, with the exception of this season, came while playing in front of a porous Philadelphia Flyers team.

It is worth noting that Ersson is arbitration-eligible, but a player must still be qualified by a club to maintain his rights and take him to arbitration. Given his ineffectiveness and the relatively high cost to qualify him as a RFA, there were rumours that the Maple Leafs were not going to qualify Ersson, allowing him to become an unrestricted free agent (UFA).

The Maple Leafs obviously exhausted the market trying to trade Ersson’s rights, but the Senators must have had confidence that another team was close to acquiring his services. Otherwise, it doesn’t make sense to give up any assets for a player that they could have likely signed as an unrestricted free agent on July 1st.

On many levels, it would make sense for the organization to target Ersson as a young goaltender with NHL experience who could be called up from Belleville in the event that injuries or ineffectiveness beset other options, but on the surface, this feels like the Senators have tabbed Ersson as their backup.

There is simply no reason for Ersson to turn down his qualifying offer. Given his body of work, a $1.6 million one-way salary would be way too expensive as a luxury in Belleville.

It is a puzzling move given the team’s goaltenders' performance this past season.

Until Linus Ullmark returned from his leave of absence in late January, the Senators’ goaltending collectively let the organization down. Despite some of the best defensive metrics in the league, they had created a deficit in the standings that the team just barely overcame.

In his end-of-season media availability, general manager Steve Staios acknowledged that his greatest misstep was not insulating Ullmark with a veteran option, because of the pressure it put on him and rookie Leevi Merilainen. The addition of veteran James Reimer had a noticeable effect on the dressing room and on Ullmark, but Ersson has only 143 games of experience, and the performances have not been particularly inspiring.

In consideration of Ullmark’s mental health battles and the fact that he has never appeared in more than 50 games in a regular season, entrusting the backup duties to an unproven Ersson feels like a massive gamble with the Senators taking on a lot of risk.

In fairness to Staios, however, the free agent market is not exactly brimming with desirable options. And of the veteran goaltenders who are somewhat intriguing, like Stuart Skinner or Connor Ingram, they are not going to come cheaply.

It feels odd to hang hopes on the fact that goaltending is such a volatile position and that maybe there’s a reality where Ersson comes in and does a great job. But the organization obviously has some measure of familiarity and confidence in its ability to turn around Ersson’s game.

If anything, the acquisition may speak to the influence of the newly-hired director of goaltender development, Maciej Szwoch. There does not appear to be any overlap in the respective careers of Ersson and Szwoch from their time in the SHL. Szwoch worked as a goaltending coach for MODO and Färjestad BK, while Ersson played for Brynäs IF.

If Ersson can't turn it around, it could be one of those moves that gets heavily scrutinized in retrospect.

By Graeme Nichols
The Hockey News

This article first appeared at The Hockey News/Ottawa, where you can read more articles at the links below:

Dollars And Spence: Senators Re-Sign Defenseman Jordan Spence
Forget Brady Day: Ottawa's Pro Baseball Team Offering Free Tkachuk Jersey Exchange
Mike Babcock Hires Former Senators Head Coach In Edmonton

Bruins trade for JJ Peterka, add much-needed speed and skill originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

The Boston Bruins have finally made a meaningful upgrade to their roster, and it’s come right before the 2026 NHL Draft is scheduled to start Friday night.

The B’s have acquired Utah Mammoth forward JJ Peterka in exchange for their 2026 first-round pick (No. 23 overall) and the Florida Panthers’ 2028 first-round pick, the team announced. If the Panthers pick lands in the top 10, the Bruins can keep it and instead send their unprotected 2029 first-rounder to the Mammoth.

It’s not a small price, but it’s not an overpay, either. The Panthers pick is expected to be a late first given the fact that Florida is a Stanley Cup contender. The B’s still have their own 2027 and 2028 first-round picks, plus the Toronto Maple Leafs’ first-rounder in 2027 or 2028.

Updated look at the Bruins' draft picks after the JJ Peterka trade. pic.twitter.com/L0yKUkKp1h

— Nicholas W. Goss (@NickGossNBCSB) June 26, 2026

Peterka had a somewhat disappointing 2025-26 season in Utah, but he still managed to score 25 goals with 22 assists while playing all 82 games.

He has actually scored 25-plus goals in three straight seasons. Peterka spent his previous four NHL seasons with the Buffalo Sabres, including a 68-point campaign (27 goals, 41 assists) in 2024-25.

Some JJ highlights for the feed 🔥 pic.twitter.com/VJ5qH7KH3M

— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) June 27, 2026

The Bruins desperately needed to add more high-end skill and speed to their lineup over the offseason, and Peterka helps address both of these concerns. Peterka has the ability to be a consistent 30-plus goal scorer.

He’s only 24 years old and projects to be a top-six right wing for the foreseeable future. He’s especially dangerous off the rush, which is a skill set the Bruins need more of. They were not very dangerous in transition against the Buffalo Sabres during the first round of the 2026 playoffs.

In short, Peterka is the kind of player the Bruins should be betting on.

JJ Peterka, reportedly acquired by BOS, is a top six rushing winger with a great release, slick hands, and nice timing off the puck. Rounded his game out a bit this season but there might have been too many cooks for him to be as impactful offensively as in the past. pic.twitter.com/MYxku5vUjv

— JFresh (@JFreshHockey) June 26, 2026

Peterka is also signed long term.

His current contract runs through the 2029-30 season with a salary cap hit of $7.7 million — a figure that will look cheap as the salary cap continues to rise.

The Bruins still need to upgrade the right side of their blue line this offseason, but this trade for Peterka is a good first step in bolstering the roster.

The Chicago Blackhawks were in line to buy out Andre Burakovsky this offseason. After a decent start to the first half of his 2025-26 season with the Chicago Blackhawks, he had just 4 points in his final 37 games. 

In those 37 games, it wasn't like Burakovsky made up for it in other areas of the game either. There was a lot of turning the puck over and frustrating defensive plays. 

Instead of being forced to eat some money and buy him out, however, the Blackhawks were able to find a trade partner in the Ottawa Senators. Burakovsky goes to Canada's capital in exchange for a 6th-round pick in the 2027 NHL Draft. Chicago will not retain any of Burakovsky's contract. 

trade alert 🔔 pic.twitter.com/YTmiDwCZ4m

— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) June 26, 2026

It isn't a consequential draft pick, but Burakovsky's lackluster play for a $5.5 million cap hit is off the roster. That is a tremendous amount of flexibility added when it comes to cap space. 

Burakovsky has a strong past of productive NHL play, and the Ottawa Senators are going to try to rekindle that for him. They just traded Brady Tkachuk earlier in the week, so they need forwards who can bring some offense, assuming Burakovsky (somewhat) gets back on track. 

The fact that the Senators were willing to give up a draft pick on a risky player shows that it is a legitimate seller's market in the NHL right now. Teams are desperate to add on and are willing to overpay for it. More of that is on the way as draft weekend heats up. 

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

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Sharks trade up, select defenseman Ryan Lin at No. 21 overall in 2026 NHL Draft originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

The Sharks made a big move with their third pick of the 2026 NHL Draft’s first round, trading up to No. 21 overall and selecting another Canadian defenseman, Ryan Lin of the Vancouver Giants.

San Jose certainly wanted Lin, sending Nos. 27, 62 and 120 to the Philadelphia Flyers to move up six spots and draft the 18-year-old. The mobile, right-shot defender grew up in Richmond, across the Fraser River from Vancouver, and posted 14 goals and 57 points in 53 games for the Giants this past season.

Welcome to the Sharks, Ryan Lin! pic.twitter.com/fEn392qUzO

— San Jose Sharks (@SanJoseSharks) June 27, 2026

Lin is the second defenseman drafted by the Sharks on Friday and third 18-year-old after they took Swedish forward Ivar Stenberg at No. 2 overall and North Dakota defenseman Keaton Verhoeff at No. 9.

The Sharks originally acquired the 27th pick from the Buffalo Sabres, along with defenseman Michael Kesselring, in exchange for the No. 20 selection. Now they’ve utilized that trade to make another in search of talent that can help shore up their blue line.

To the delight of many, Sharks general manager Mike Grier got greedy in the first round, and San Jose certainly hopes it pays off.

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The Ducks' 2025-26 season has been over for just over a month and with the 2026 NHL Entry Draft just around the corner, it feels like a good time to start recapping this past season for each player in the organization.

Today's edition of 'By the Numbers' will feature players who wore Nos. 91-98 this season.

If you missed the previous edition of 'By the Numbers', you can click here to read it.

Leo Carlsson

Carlsson had a productive season in his third year in the league. He came one goal away from a 30-goal season and was second on the team with 67 points despite missing 12 games due to surgery to remove a Morel-Lavallée lesion on his thigh. If not for that, he likely would have reached 70 points and likely also reached the 80-point threshold.

His hot start to the season gave him early Hart Trophy consideration, as he put up 34 points in 25 games through the first two months of the season. December is when things started to take a downturn, around when the lesion became an issue for him. But once he returned following the Olympic break, he was firing on all cylinders again, putting up 15 points in 16 games in March.

Because he underwent surgery in mid-January, Carlsson was unable to compete for Sweden in the Winter Olympics. He had been named to the Olympic squad, but the recovery period (three to five weeks) put any chance of him competing to bed. Due to his pending RFA status, Carlsson also did not compete for Sweden in the IIHF World Championship this past May, after being part of last year's team.

Now firmly established as the Ducks' No. 1 center, Carlsson––like many others on the team––got his first taste of the Stanley Cup Playoffs this past season. He had a strong first round against the Edmonton Oilers with eight points in six games. Things were a little more difficult against a stouter Vegas Golden Knights team in the second round, where he had three points in six games.

With another year of NHL experience under his belt, it's starting to feel like Carlsson is breaking through the surface as a true star in the league. His skating, which was noted to be an issue coming out of the draft, has now become one of his strengths, allowing him to burst past opponents and use his vision to set up teammates or pick a corner. When rush opportunities are stifled, he does still have trouble creating in those instances. But at 21, he is also learning how to combat those adjustments.

The expectation is that general manager Pat Verbeek will try to lock Carlsson down to a long-term deal this summer. He's established himself as the centerpiece of the Ducks' core and will likely be the next captain.

Roger McQueen

McQueen was one of the many young players who made the transition from the CHL to the NCAA this past season. In his freshman season with Providence, he had 27 points (11 goals) in 36 games and was named the Hockey East Rookie of the Year. He also earned a spot on the Hockey East All-Rookie Team.

It was slow going at first for McQueen, but once he picked up his first collegiate point, the wheels started turning. He was the top line center for Nate Leaman's team, which focused on having a strong defensive structure and a good forecheck. Perhaps that system isn't the most optimal for McQueen's playstyle, but it helped him become a stronger 200-foot player.

After his collegiate season concluded, McQueen signed an amateur tryout (ATO) with the San Diego Gulls in the AHL. He also signed his entry-level contract (ELC) with the Ducks, with the deal beginning in the 2026-27 season. He played in seven games for the Gulls and had three goals while serving as the team's second line center. He also got his first taste of the Calder Cup Playoffs, but failed to register a point in two games against a powerhouse Colorado Eagles team.

This fall, McQueen will compete for a spot on the NHL roster, much like Beckett Sennecke did last season. With how uncertain the future is for Mason McTavish and 34-year-old Mikael Granlund having just two years remaining on his deal, there may be an opportunity for McQueen to seize. Assistant general manager Martin Madden said that expectations for McQueen should be tempered going into next season, with this progression not quite at the point where Sennecke was going into last season. Nevertheless, McQueen is expected to have a large role next season, whether he is in the NHL or AHL.

Pavel Mintyukov

Mintyukov played the most games of his professional career in 2025-26, appearing in 73 of 82. He missed a few games towards the end of the regular season due to a lower-body injury, but returned and played in all 12 playoff games.

He began the season as part of the bottom defensive pair alongside Drew Helleson, with Jackson LaCombe and Olen Zellweger above him in the pecking order on the left side. Radko Gudas' early-season injury elevated Helleson to the top pair alongside LaCombe and inserted Ian Moore next to Mintyukov on the bottom pair.

The Mintyukov-Moore pairing showed promise, though the offensive upside that Mintyukov had displayed early into his career was not seen as frequently. Gudas' return rendered Mintyukov a healthy scratch for three consecutive games, which gave the Ducks' fanbase nightmares of last season's defensive carousel between Mintyukov and Zellweger.

Upon his return to the lineup, Mintyukov continued to be part of the bottom pair, whether it was with Helleson or Gudas. He received a pair of healthy scratches at separate points of the season, but otherwise was a regular in the lineup for the rest of the season.

When John Carlson was acquired from the Washington Capitals in early March, he started out as Zellweger's defensive partner. But Mintyukov and Carlson quickly became a pairing that head coach Joel Quenneville relied on down the stretch, and that carried into the playoffs. While Mintyukov was touted as more of an offensive-focused player coming out of the draft, the switch has now flipped into more of a steady, defensive-minded player who is also capable of breaking out the puck offensively.

With Carlson hitting the open market, Mintyukov will have a new defensive partner next season. He himself is also a pending RFA and will likely receive a bridge deal. With Olen Zellweger dealt to the Buffalo Sabres on Friday morning, the left side of the Ducks' defense looks to be set for the 2026-27 season. Mintyukov and Zellweger had frequently been compared and had been competing for a regular spot in the lineup over the past couple of seasons, with neither able to gain a foothold. Removing Zellweger from the picture now gives Mintyukov ample opportunity to do so.

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The Buffalo Sabres continued their string of transactions prior to hosting the NHL Draft on Friday night, acquiring defenseman Olen Zellweger from the Anaheim Ducks for minor leaguer Anton Wahlberg, and a 2026 second-round pick (45th overall). Zellweger, 22, is a restricted free agent after completing his entry-level deal with the Ducks. 

Last season with Anaheim, he scored 22 points (7 goals, 15 assists) in 76 games and has played 164 NHL games over three seasons, but in the playoffs, the 5'10", 194 lb. blueliner played only three of the Ducks 12 games against Edmonton and Vegas. 

 

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We have acquired defenseman Olen Zellweger from the Anaheim Ducks in exchange for forward Anton Wahlberg and the 45th overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft.

Details → https://t.co/sHg2HAnVeEpic.twitter.com/Pzea0YbJjH

— Buffalo Sabres (@BuffaloSabres) June 26, 2026

Wahlberg, the Sabres second round pick in 2023 and played two-plus seasons for the AHL Rochester Americans. The 6'4", 205 lb. forward scored only 21 goals in 140 AHL games, and never appeared to be making any offensive progress, but does have the size that could eventually lead him to the NHL. 

The second-round pick was acquired from Chicago in the Bowen Byram deal earlier this week. Zellweger played for Canada in two World Junior Championships, and after four years in the WHL, split time between AHL San Diego and the Ducks. He is known as a good skater, who moves the puck well, and has solid offensive instincts, but with Jackson LaCombe and RFA Pavel Mintyukov on the left side, it is likely that GM Pat Verbeek was looking to move out the 22-year-old rather than use up significant cap space on his next contract. 

Zellweger will likely be added to the mix with Conor Timmins, Louis Crevier, and Zach Metsa for a spot in the top four with Rasmus Dahlin, Owen Power, and Mattias Samuelsson next season. 

Follow Michael on X, Instagram @MikeInBuffalo 

The Senators appear to be back to an all-Swedish goaltending combo.

On Friday, in the lead-up to the NHL Draft, the Senators acquired goalie Samuel Ersson from the Toronto Maple Leafs. In return, Toronto gets Ottawa’s fifth-round draft selection in next year's NHL Draft.

Here's the catch, though. Ersson still needs a new contract. The 26-year-old will be a restricted free agent on July 1. He's coming off a two-year deal at $1.45 million a year.

Ersson spent each of the past four seasons with the Philadelphia Flyers and played a career-high 51 games in 2023-24. In 2025-26, Ersson appeared in 33 games for the Flyers, posting a 14-11-5 record with a 3.12 GAA.

The 6-foot-3 is regarded as one of Sweden's finest goaltenders, just like the man he'll be backing up.

Ersson represented his country at the 4 Nations Face-Off in a third-place finish. He also represented Sweden twice at the World Hockey Championship, winning bronze in 2024 and 2025. He played for Sweden at last year's worlds, even though Linus Ullmark expressed a desire to play at season's end.

The Sens goaltending was all-Swedish two seasons ago when Ullmark was backed up by Anton Forsberg, who has since moved on to Los Angeles in free agency. Last year, the backup duties were split between Leevi Merilainen and James Reimer.

The Ersson acquisition speaks volumes about how mightily Merilainen's stock has fallen. He was anointed as the undisputed backup last season, and the Sens clearly aren't ready yet to give him that opportunity again.

By Steve Warne
The Hockey News 

The trade market around the NHL continues to heat up ahead of the 2026 NHL Draft, and another former member of the Minnesota Wild has found a new home.

Defenseman Declan Chisholm was traded by the Washington Capitals to the New Jersey Devils on Thursday in exchange for a 2027 fourth-round pick.

It marks the second consecutive offseason Chisholm has been dealt after the Wild traded him to Washington during last year's draft.

Chisholm, 26, spent the 2025-26 season with the Capitals, appearing in 26 NHL games while recording one goal and seven points. 

Wild fans remember Chisholm from the 2024-25 campaign when he enjoyed the best season of his NHL career.

After being claimed off waivers from the Winnipeg Jets midway through the 2023-24 season, Chisholm became a regular in Minnesota's lineup.

He played a career-high 66 games during the 2024-25 season, posting two goals and 10 assists for 12 points while showcasing his skating ability and puck-moving skills.

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A feverish start to the 2026 NHL offseason just got a tad bit more interesting, as a former Philadelphia Flyers starting goalie, who was already traded once, finds himself on the move again.

On Friday, the Toronto Maple Leafs announced that former Flyers goalie Sam Ersson, first acquired in the Joseph Woll trade, has been traded to the Ottawa Senators in exchange for a 2027 fifth-round pick.

The Senators have done plenty of wheeling and dealing the last two weeks, moving on from captain Brady Tkachuk and replacing him with William Eklund and two prospects.

This new Maple Leafs trade confirms two things: Toronto will be sticking with a combination of Anthony Stolarz, Dennis Hildeby, and Artur Akhtyamov, and Ottawa has found its backup goalie… at least for now.

Last season was a tough one, both for Ersson and for Senators prospect Leevi Merilainen, who were among the two worst goalies in the entire NHL statistically.

NHL Mock Draft: Flyers Projected to Make Massive Choice... LiterallyThe Philadelphia Flyers select the 2026 NHL Draft's most aggressive defender in the latest expert mock draft.

Ersson, a pending RFA, at least has some experience as a starter for the Flyers and shown his potential when the environment around him is strong.

The Flyers obviously did not feel that this kind of form was sustainable (it wasn't), prompting them to go and get Woll as an upgrade behind incumbent starter Dan Vladar.

It is interesting, though, that Ersson was included in the Woll trade, only for the Maple Leafs to turn around and flip him for a late-round draft pick.

And it is interesting that Ersson, who had a dreary end to his Flyers career, fetched a useful asset in return at all after the way last season went.

In any case, Ersson needs a new contract, and we will soon find out if he's the next successful goalie to take off after leaving Philadelphia.

The Colorado Avalanche have announced they have re-signed Brent Burns to a one-year deal worth $850 thousand. Still, he can earn just over $2 million in performance bonuses, and Brett Kulak to a five-year deal worth $22.50 million with a $4.5 million AAV. Both contracts come with no trade protection. 

Brett Kulak, five years x $4.5M AAV
Brent Burns, one year, base salary is $850k but can earn just over $2M more in performance bonuses.
Great to have Burns back for another year! https://t.co/Ceecg90PdB

— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) June 26, 2026

After being acquired by the Avalanche from the Pittsburgh Penguins, where he had one goal and six assists for seven points, he finished with three assists in 27 regular-season games with the Avalanche. While the production was lower than his time with the Penguins, the playoffs were where he really shone. In 13 games, he had one goal and five assists, with that one goal coming against the Minnesota Wild in Game 5 as the game-winner.

Despite the offensive numbers, Kulak's game is all about what he does on the defensive side of the ice, and it really showed. Paired with Sam Malinski, Kulak delivered a quality defensive pairing that showed great offensive play from Malinski and allowed him to show off his skills while having a reliable defensive structure with Kulak in case of any mistakes, something Malinski has struggled with at times when paired with other defensemen.

THE AVS KNOCK OUT THE WILD IN THE SECOND ROUND 🏔️

BRETT KULAK SCORES THE SUBWAY CANADA OT WINNER IN GAME 5! pic.twitter.com/LHuifsY67Q

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) May 14, 2026

Playing just over 19 minutes a game last season, there were times when they needed him more to hold onto leads and help kill penalties on the penalty kill, where there were games where he played less because they were behind, so they ran Malinski and Makar more for the offensive push.

Brett Kulak Delivers The Different Look Bednar WantedLess than 24 hours after arriving, Brett Kulak delivered 19 steady minutes that quietly reshaped the Avalanche blue line and stabilized their structure from the back end out.

Burns joined last offseason and finished with 12 goals and 23 assists for 35 points. In the playoffs, he finished with four assists in 13 games. For what was, at the time, a relatively small signing, often seen as a 6-7 man in the defensive pairings, Burns at times showed his importance to the team. 

Why The Avalanche Can’t Afford To Let Brent Burns WalkBrent Burns may be 41 years old, but the leadership, work ethic and culture he brings to the Colorado Avalanche make a compelling case for one more season.

Though at times his age did show, especially on the defensive end, where he would either be beaten by a faster player or make a defensive mistake, compared with his AAV and production, there were often bigger faults than the ones he made.

Entering his 23rd NHL season, he would tie for ninth place in most seasons played in league history, joining players like longtime teammate Patrick Marleau, Ron Francis, and Al MacInnis.

With this move, the Avalanche now round out their defense with the same players as last season and have $5.6 million in cap space to either spend in free agency or make a trade. With the 2026 NHL Entry Draft tonight, we shall see if the Avalanche make any other moves with the draft capital and cap space they have.

Colorado Avalanche NHL Draft Guide: Needs, Targets And Top FitsColorado’s thin prospect pool and aggressive push to add draft capital set the stage for a critical offseason as the Avalanche look to address center depth and add more physicality throughout the lineup.