The St. Louis Blues are looking to add young but established players this off-season, highlighted by the additions of Connor McMichael and Mason MacTavish.

Now, a recent report indicates that the Blues are trying to do so again, this time with Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Alexander Nikishin. 

Nikishin is a 24-year-old left-handed defenseman who just completed his rookie season with the Hurricanes, winning the Stanley Cup. In the regular season, Nikishin posted 11 goals and 33 points in 81 games while averaging 18:11 of ice time.

In the playoffs, Nikishin’s role diminished, and he played in 17 of 19 games. However, he was on the receiving end of a heavy hit in the first round against the Ottawa Senators, recording just one assist and averaging just 14:50. 

Despite his role diminishing, Nikishin remains a very solid two-way defenseman who can play in any situation. In his time in the KHL and briefly on the Hurricanes’ second power play unit, Nikishin demonstrated the ability to quarterback a power play. He has a heavy shot, but also possesses the vision to distribute the puck from the blueline. 

On the defensive side, Nikishin boasts a 6-foot-3, 218-pound frame and uses his long reach to knock pucks off his opponents’ sticks. Physically, Nikishin doesn’t fear getting involved, as he threw 132 hits and blocked 94 shots. 

NHL Rumor Roundup: Latest Buzz On Jason Robertson, Dylan Larkin And Alexander NikishinContract talks continue between the Stars and Jason Robertson, the Red Wings set a high asking price for the Wild for Dylan Larkin, and the Rangers were interested in Alexander Nikishin.

In the regular season, Nikishin posted a Corsi For percentage of 58.39 percent, an expected goals percentage of 55.56 percent, and a high-danger for percentage of 53.8 percent at 5-on-5 according to naturalstattrick.com.

Adding Nikishin to the lineup would give the Blues four left-handed defensemen, as he would join Philip Broberg, Cam Fowler, and Theo Lindstein. 

The Hurricanes have placed a high price tag on Nikishin, and recently, David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period reported that teams interested in Nikishin will have to take Jesperi Kotkaniemi as well. 

Nikishin is currently a restricted free agent but is ineligible to receive an offer sheet. If the Blues are serious about a trade, the only path is through a trade. 

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Free agency in the NHL is off to a flying start. After the first four days, teams around the league have over 200 contracts and committed over one billion dollars. With this in mind, here is a look at where players who were part of the Vancouver Canucks organization in 2025-26 have signed during Free Agency 2026. 

Danila Klimovich:
1 Year, $850,000 AAV, Philadelphia Flyers

Former Canucks Forward Danila Klimovich Signs With The FlyersDanila Klimovich is headed to the Philadelphia Flyers.

Teddy Blueger:
2 Years, $2.5 million AAV, Toronto Maple Leafs

Former Canucks Forward Teddy Blueger Signs With The LeafsFormer Canucks forward Teddy Blueger is now a member of the Toronto Maple Leafs

Curtis Douglas:
2 Years, $1.25 million AAV, Seattle Kraken

Former Canucks Forward Curtis Douglas Signs Two-Year Deal With Seattle KrakenEx-Canucks forward Curtis Douglas is now a member of the Seattle Kraken.

Jiří Patera:
1 Year, $850,000 AAV, Boston Bruins

Chase Stillman:

1 Year, $850,000 AAV, Detroit Red Wings

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It may be summertime, but the Montreal Canadiens’ top players have already started gearing up for next season. Ivan Demidov now has the keys to the Canadiens’ CN Sports Complex in Brossard and skates multiple times a day; he has taken Alexander Zharovsky under his wing and brings him along, too, until the youngster must head back to Russia for the KHL season, which starts much earlier than the NHL's. When Demidov’s on his way out, he stops to sign autographs for fans despite the unbearable heat outside.

Lane Hutson, who was in town for the Habs’ development camp, joined his road roommate on the ice in Brossard as both worked intensely with Adam Nicholas ahead of the prospects' ice time. After that, he stuck around to watch the organization’s future on the ice and to give the rookies a presentation.

Even the bests of the bests cam improve their skating working with Adam Nicholas #GoHabsGo@thehockeynews#THNpic.twitter.com/0icvflnphJ

— Karine Hains (@KarineHains) July 2, 2026

On The Canadiens’ Excellent Relationship With Dan Milstein and Gold Star Agency
Shots Fired In The NHL, Canadiens And Hughes Safe In Their Culture-Built Bunker
Is There A Market For Canadiens’ Montembeault?

Alex Carrier, Jake Evans, and Zach Bolduc all signed up to play in the three-on-three Living Sisu hockey league starting July 7th at Hockey Etcetera.

Players do not have to be in Montreal to work out, though. This week, pictures of Juraj Slafkovsky training in his native Slovakia alongside Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Erik Cernak surfaced on Instagram.

Juraj Slafkovsky training with Erik Cernak in Slovakia 🇸🇰 pic.twitter.com/ijqhtlxZCB

— /r/Habs (@HabsOnReddit) July 3, 2026

Meanwhile, newly re-signed goaltender Jakub Dobes spoke to the media live from his summer home in St. Louis after signing his new contract and said he would keep training there for three to four weeks before moving back to Montreal to continue preparing for the season.

Watching them all go this summer, it feels like the NHL season is right around the corner. It’s not that far away since the NHL has decided to start earlier this time around, having a condensed preseason and a longer 84-game regular season. The preseason games will be played from September 19 to 26. Last season, the Canadiens held their golf tournament on September 15 and their preseason games from September 22 to October 4th. We can therefore expect the season to start at the end of September or the start of October at the latest.

Follow Karine on X @KarineHains Bluesky @karinehains.bsky.social and Threads @karinehains.  

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Malte Gustafsson hasn’t allowed himself to think about it yet, to envision a future Islanders blue line with him and Matthew Schaefer — both first-round picks, both left-handed, both just 18 years old — in prominent roles.

“He’s very, very grounded and humble when it comes to his journey,” recalled Tom Jankovic, his head coach with the HV71 under-20 team and assistant coach with Sweden’s under-18 national team.

When Schaefer introduced Gustafsson in Buffalo as the Islanders’ selection at No. 13 in last month’s NHL draft, there was something fitting about the duo overlapping.

One obvious piece of their future welcomed another one who could possibly — and rapidly — play his way into it.

Gustafsson, who said it’d be amazing to skate with Schaefer, rose quickly through the ranks in Sweden as an indispensable defenseman and plans to play for HV71 again next season.

After that, though, the Islanders might have a decision to make with the 6-foot-4, 230-pounder who “came as advertised” to development camp last week, Islanders head coach Pete DeBoer said.

“I think he will be a top Swedish defenseman in the NHL someday,” Jankovic told The Post. “If it’s when he’s 24 or when he’s 28, I don’t know, but I think he will be there because he has all the tools. He has the right mindset.”

There’s no rush, either. Gustafsson planned to improve his offensive game and add muscle next season in the Swedish Hockey League.

Niklas Eriksson, his HV71 head coach who took over near the end of last season, said that he can use the larger rinks in Sweden to prepare for the smaller ones in North America.

It’ll force Gustafsson to simplify his game and to make first passes quickly, something on which he’ll get to work while likely logging 20-plus minutes a game and filling roles on both the power play and penalty kill.

Jankovic thought Gustafsson, a self-described “annoying” defenseman, would get picked earlier in the draft.

He can skate alongside both defensive and offensive defensemen, seamlessly complementing both and able to pick up either role when needed.

He constructed a two-way game where size, reach and an ability to carry the puck became his defining traits, and his movement near the blue line and passing ability could make him an option to quarterback a power-play unit in the NHL — perhaps the Islanders’ second one behind Schaefer, Jankovic said.

“He has so many tools when it comes to what he can do,” Jankovic said, “so I think that’s his biggest strength, and as a coach, you want that on the ice.”

Even before the draft, Gustafsson appeared in plenty of games with stakes attached.

He collected 12 points in 19 games with the under-20 team last season and added another three points in 27 regular-season games in the SHL.

He helped Sweden earn a gold medal at the U18 World Championship, skating over 28 minutes against Canada in the quarterfinals, over 29 against Czechia in the semifinals and another 26:39 against Slovakia in the gold-medal game.

Gustafsson helped HV71’s men’s team avoid relegation in the SHL, too, by contributing to their sweep in a best-of-seven series between the 13th- and 14th-place teams — with massive financial ramifications at stake if HV71 lost.

He quarterbacked the second power-play unit and impressed general manager Johan Hult with how he handled the pressure of those games.

“How I use my size and length to shut down players, play physical, really being annoying on the ice, showing that I’m there,” Gustafsson told The Post after the Islanders’ development camp scrimmage last week, “I think that’s the biggest part of my game.”

And if Gustafsson adds strength in his legs to become more explosive, Hult said, he’ll “be even more annoying, that’s for sure.”

Hult found it difficult to describe a ceiling for him because, in his eyes, “the ceiling is not set.”

Gustafsson could represent Sweden in the Olympics.

He could live up to Jankovic’s prediction as one of the best Swedish defensemen in the NHL.

He could make the five other teams who took other defensemen ahead of the Islanders in the first round look foolish.

That would all unfold years in the future.

That takes more than an initial introduction at development camp to actually achieve.

This — the draft, the HV71 games, the final SHL season before taking the leap to what’s next — has been just the start for Gustafsson.

“I think the sky’s the limit for this kid,” Jankovic said.

Christian Wolanin has spent years proving he belongs one phone call away from the NHL. On Saturday, that call came from the Colorado Avalanche, who signed the veteran defenseman to a one-year, two-way contract.

The deal carries a salary of $850,000 at the NHL level and $400,000 in the AHL.

It’s a depth move designed to handle injuries, call-ups, and the long grind of an 84-game season that inevitably creates openings on the blue line. However, there's a clear incentive built into the deal: if Wolanin puts in the work and performs well enough to earn a promotion, he can cash in on NHL opportunities and NHL paydays. Even at the AHL level, however, $400,000 remains a solid salary.

The former 107th overall pick in the 2015 NHL Draft brings both experience and production in the minors. Wolanin has bounced between NHL opportunities and extended AHL stretches throughout his career, carving out a reputation as a steady puck-moving defenseman who can run a power play and contribute offensively when given the chance.

That offensive profile has followed him at nearly every stop. From his junior days in the USHL through his time at North Dakota, Wolanin steadily climbed the ladder before reaching the NHL with the Ottawa Senators. In 79 NHL games split between Ottawa, Los Angeles, Vancouver, Buffalo, and St. Louis, he has recorded six goals and 17 assists for 23 points, with his more consistent impact coming in the American Hockey League.

Across more than 300 AHL games, Wolanin has been a reliable offensive presence from the blue line, highlighted by a standout 2022–23 season with the Abbotsford Canucks when he posted 55 points in 49 games. He followed that with another strong stretch the next year and most recently added 31 points in 53 games with the Providence Bruins, continuing a long track record of production wherever he lands.

There’s also a familiar hockey lineage tied into the signing. Wolanin is the son of Craig Wolanin, a former NHL defenseman who played more than 600 games and won a Stanley Cup with the franchise during its Quebec Nordiques era after the move to Colorado in 1996.

For Wolanin, it’s another opportunity to stay in the mix and push for NHL minutes over the course of the season.

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Right now, the main storyline for the Detroit Red Wings is the ongoing saga stemming from the explosive trade request from captain Dylan Larkin in early June. 

And while the Red Wings have signed free agent forward Viktor Arvidsson and acquired Keegan Kolesar via trade, there remains some doubt on whether or not future Hall of Fame forward Patrick Kane will sign another extension.

While there was expressed mutual interest in another contract, Kane remains unsigned through the first four days of free-agency; he'd previously inked one year deals on June 30 of both 2024 and 2025. 

And while Kane has been linked to a pair of divisional rivals in the Buffalo Sabres and Toronto Maple Leafs, he's reportedly still open to returning to Detroit. 

According to NHL Insider Chris Johnston, there remains an avenue for Kane to sign another extension.

Chris Johnston: Re Patrick Kane: I know he hasn't fully closed the door on Detroit - Nielson Show (7/3)

— NHL Rumour Report (@NHLRumourReport) July 4, 2026

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

Additionally, according to fellow Insider Pierre LeBrun, Kane is "keeping the door open" on what would be a third full campaign in Detroit. 

Patrick Kane is going to market today while keeping the door open to Detroit.

— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) July 1, 2026

Kane, who was limited to 67 games in 2025-26, finished fifth overall on the club in scoring, tallying 16 goals with 41 assists while seeing regular time on the power-play. 

Red Wings Sign Veteran Forward Viktor Arvidsson On the opening day of the NHL free-agency period, the Detroit Red Wings are adding some veteran talent up front with the signing of Viktor Arvidsson.

Among the milestones that Kane hit last season was scoring his 500th career goal, along with becoming the highest-scoring American-born player in NHL history. 

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The Colorado Avalanche don’t have many true “must-keep” players. Artturi Lehkonen is one of them.

The soft-spoken Finnish winger has become one of the most reliable clutch performers in the NHL, a player whose value rises the deeper the stakes get. Call him Mr. Clutch, call him Mr. Big Time — the label has followed him for years, and it’s not going away any time soon. He has one year remaining on a five-year, $22.5 million deal signed in July 2022.

One of the primary reasons Avalanche general manager Joe Sakic targeted Lehkonen was his ability to score meaningful goals in meaningful moments. That reputation was cemented in 2021, when he delivered arguably the biggest goal in nearly three decades of Montreal Canadiens hockey, scoring in overtime to send Montreal to the Stanley Cup Final, where it ultimately fell in six games to the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Everything changed the following season when Sakic struck at the trade deadline, acquiring Lehkonen from Montreal in exchange for Justin Barron and a 2024 second-round pick, with the Canadiens retaining 50 percent of his salary.

From the moment he arrived in Colorado, the “clutch” reputation only grew. Lehkonen scored another overtime winner in the Western Conference Final to send the Avalanche to the Stanley Cup Final after a sweep of the Edmonton Oilers, then delivered the defining moment of the run — the Cup-clinching goal in Game 6 — securing the third Stanley Cup championship in franchise history.

His big-game résumé has even carried beyond the NHL. At the Milano Cortina Olympics, Lehkonen brought that same timing to the international stage, scoring the decisive goal in a 3–2 comeback win for Finland at Rho Arena to send his country into the semifinals in what marked its fifth appearance in six Olympic tournaments featuring NHL players.

For Colorado, the conclusion is straightforward: this is not a player you gamble with. An extension feels inevitable. The only real question is structure — term and AAV — with injury history likely shaping how both sides approach the deal.

Lehkonen has dealt with a notable injury history throughout his career. Of his 12 documented absences, a significant portion stem from upper-body issues, particularly his shoulder — roughly three-quarters of his injury history. He underwent shoulder surgery in May 2024 to repair substantial damage and also endured a difficult 2023 season that included finger surgery and a neck injury requiring a brace, which ultimately led to a stint on long-term injured reserve.

Durability remains the primary concern. Lehkonen has only completed a full 82-game regular season once in his career — a number that will rise to 84 games in 2026–27.

That said, it’s a risk the Avalanche are well aware of and willing to manage given what he provides when healthy. Lehkonen is an elite two-way winger with high-end penalty-killing ability, driven by relentless pressure that disrupts opposing power plays and consistently creates shorthanded chances. Offensively, his game is built on timing and positioning — consistently finding soft ice in dangerous areas and finishing plays around the net.

He also plays a far heavier game than his frame suggests. Listed at 5-foot-11 and 179 pounds, Lehkonen routinely battles larger defensemen and pays the physical price for it. He absorbs contact, creates contact, and rarely avoids the dirty areas, even if it means ending up on the ice. That willingness is part of what makes him so valuable.

Lehkonen is coming off another strong season with 21 goals and 27 assists for 48 points in 70 games, just shy of his career-high 51 points set in 2022–23.

At 31 years old — a milestone he reached on the day of publication — he remains exactly the type of player contenders don’t replace, they retain, even if it costs more the second time around.

The NHL was thrown on its ear on Friday by the news that the Philadelphia Flyers had signed Anaheim Ducks center Leo Carlsson to a five-year, $90 million offer sheet, making him the highest-paid player in the NHL. The 21-year-old was selected second overall in 2023 and scored a career-high 29 goals in his third NHL season. The Flyers, desperate to acquire a top-line center, are prepared to surrender four first-round picks as compensation if the Ducks do not match the offer sheet by July 10. 

Anaheim did not dip into free agency on July 1 and cleared out restricted free agent defenseman Olen Zellweger in a trade with the Buffalo Sabres last week because they were holding back cap space to sign RFA’s Carlsson, winger Cutter Gauthier and defenseman Pavel Mintyukov, but are now in a vulnerable position if they match the offer sheet, since it will leave Anaheim only $17 million in cap space to re-sign Gauthier (who scored 41 goals last season), and add to a short-handed defensive corps. 

Ducks GM Pat Verbeek had a chance to sign Carlsson to an extension throughout last season, but his modus operandi was on display last summer with forward Mason McTavish, who held out until training camp before signing a seven-year, $49 million extension (he was traded to St. Louis last weekend). 

 Other Sabres Stories

Sabres Emotionally Devastated By Game 7 Overtime Loss

Buffalo Sabres GM Jarmo Kekalainen wisely was proactive on the restricted free agent front with winger Zach Benson, signing the 21-year-old to a seven-year, $52.5 million extension before becoming eligible for an offer sheet.  While it is always speculated that offer sheets will become the rule rather than the exception, the increasing salary cap and the gentleman’s agreement between rival GM’s may be going the way of the do-do bird, which will force teams like the Ducks and the Sabres to either match deals to young emerging players for more money than they would choose to, or prepare to accept draft pick compensation and become feeder systems for more financially powerful clubs.  

The Sabres trade of goalie Devon Levi to Edmonton for a 2028 third round pick last week left the club with a pair of young and inexperienced goalies in 2022 secoond-rounder Topias Leinonen and 21-year-old Scott Ratzlaff. The pair split time between AHL Rochester and ECHL Jacksonville last season, but totalled only 21 games with the Amerks, leaving the Sabres affiliate without a full time starter. On Saturday, the club signed veteran minor-leaguer Matt Villalta to a one-year, two-way contract. 

The 27-year-old spent last season with AHL Tucson (AHL affiliate of the Utah Mammoth) and had a 16-12-3 record, 3.10 GAA, and .895 save percentage in 33 games.

A third-round draft pick by Los Angeles in 2017, Villalta has seven years of AHL experience between the Ontario Reign and Roadrunners, and will likely split duties with one or both of the Sabres young goalies in Rochester, while the other will get playing time in Jacksonville. 

 Follow Michael on X, Instagram @MikeInBuffalo

After trading Devon Levi to the Edmonton Oilers earlier this week, the Buffalo Sabres have added to their goalie depth.

The Sabres have announced that they have signed goaltender Matt Villalta to a one-year, two-way contract for the 2026-27 season. 

Villalta spent all of this past season in the AHL with the Tucson Roadrunners. In 33 games with the AHL club during the 2025-26 season, he posted a 16-12-3 record, an .895 save percentage, and a 3.10 goals-against average. 

While Villalta did not play a game for the Utah Mammoth this past season, he made NHL appearances during both the 2023-24 and 2024-25 seasons. In three career NHL games split between the Arizona Coyotes and Utah, the 6-foot-3 goalie has a 1-1-0 record, a 3.64 goals-against average, and an .867 save percentage. 

With the Sabres having Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, Alex Lyon, and Colten Ellis, Villalta has been signed to help out Buffalo's AHL affiliate, the Rochester Americans. 

In 235 career AHL games, Villalta has a 123-83-20 record, a .903 save percentage, a 2.93 goals-against average, and 10 shutouts. 

Minnesota’s misstep turned into Los Angeles’ opportunity.

Bill Guerin is fresh off General Manager of the Year honors, but his bid for a repeat has taken a hit this offseason.

Longtime Minnesota Wild winger Mats Zuccarello signed a one-year deal with the Los Angeles Kings worth $1 million, plus bonuses, in recent days—ending a lengthy tenure in Minnesota and adding another veteran piece to an already experience-heavy Kings roster.

The departure wasn’t entirely seamless. Zuccarello was reportedly “ticked” at the Wild over what he viewed as a lack of communication regarding his future. That, however, appears to be only part of the story. Guerin later acknowledged he took too long to reach out after the season, accepting responsibility for the breakdown.

“I don’t blame him. Honestly, I took way too much time after the season to reach out and communicate with him, and that’s on me. Zuccy probably deserved better than that. When we did connect a couple of weeks ago, we had a great conversation,” Guerin told reporters.

Zuccarello is no longer in his prime at 38 years old, but his production hasn’t fallen off a cliff. He finished last season with 54 points in 59 games and added nine points in eight playoff appearances. Over seven seasons in Minnesota, he totaled 389 points in 452 regular-season games, cementing himself as one of the franchise’s most consistent offensive drivers of the past decade.

Given that production and tenure, it’s understandable why the situation left a sour taste. From Minnesota’s perspective, the delayed communication only intensified uncertainty around a longtime core piece. From Zuccarello’s standpoint, it became a clear signal that a change of scenery made sense.

That change now lands him in Los Angeles, where the Kings are betting on experience, fit, and offensive rebound potential rather than a full-scale reset.

“They feel like they could play a little bit more offensive-minded at times,” Zuccarello told NHL.com. “Hopefully, I can contribute with that.”

That need is real. Offense, not defense, was Los Angeles’ biggest issue last season. The Kings finished near the bottom of the league in goals per game (2.68) and struggled on the power play at just 17 percent. Despite that, a steady stream of overtime losses was enough to push them into a Western Conference wild-card spot before they were ultimately swept by the Colorado Avalanche.

Rather than pivoting toward a rebuild, Los Angeles has doubled down on short-term competitiveness and veteran stability. Alongside Zuccarello, the Kings brought back 41-year-old Corey Perry on a one-year deal worth $1 million plus bonuses after a midseason stint that saw him play 50 games before being traded to Tampa Bay. They also added center Scott Laughton on a three-year deal carrying a $3.5 million average annual value.

The message from Los Angeles is clear: stay competitive now, even if it means leaning heavily on aging but proven contributors to patch a scoring problem that nearly derailed their season.

Nick Blankenburg's late-season stint with the Colorado Avalanche appears unlikely to continue, with the defenseman now headed to unrestricted free agency and little expectation of a return.

Acquired from the Nashville Predators in March for a fifth-round pick in the 2027 NHL Draft, Blankenburg arrived as a depth addition to strengthen Colorado's blue line for the stretch run and postseason.

The 27-year-old split the season between the two clubs, recording 21 points (six goals, 15 assists) in 49 games with Nashville before adding three points (two goals, one assist) in 12 regular-season appearances with the Avalanche.

He also suited up in five playoff games, scoring his first career postseason goal in memorable fashion. Blankenburg buried a cross-seam pass from Valeri Nichushkin past Jesper Wallstedt during Colorado's 9-6 victory in Game 1 of its second-round series against the Minnesota Wild. The celebration quickly became one of the defining moments of Colorado's postseason, as Blankenburg launched himself into the glass before Gabriel Landeskog, Brock Nelson, and Cale Makar piled in.

Like Nichushkin, who was traded to the Columbus Blue Jackets earlier this offseason, Blankenburg appears headed for a new opportunity.

Well... maybe.

There are still a few scenarios worth considering.

A reunion with Nashville is among the most logical.

Blankenburg quickly became a fan favorite with the Predators after earning his opportunity following time in the AHL. His skating, puck-moving ability, and willingness to play much bigger than his 5-foot-9 frame made him an easy player to appreciate, and he rewarded that confidence with the most productive offensive season of his NHL career.

Then there's the Chris MacFarland factor.

The former Avalanche general manager has made a habit of bringing familiar faces to Nashville since taking over the organization. At this rate, you might as well start calling them the Nashville Predalanche.

Already this offseason, MacFarland has acquired Ross Colton, Isak Posch, Jack Drury, and Chase Bradley in separate trades. He also signed former Avalanche defenseman Jack Ahcan to a two-way contract, continuing to fill the organization with players he already knows well.

A return to Nashville would make sense for more than just hockey.

Blankenburg has been open throughout his career about the importance of his Christian faith, often crediting his relationship with Christ as the foundation of both his life and career. During his time in Colorado, he spoke about sharing that bond with teammates Josh Manson and Brent Burns, relationships that helped him quickly settle into a new organization.

From a hockey perspective, the fit is just as sensible. MacFarland wanted Blankenburg badly enough to trade for him just a few months ago, and Nashville could certainly use an affordable, dependable depth defenseman capable of filling a third-pairing role while providing competition throughout the lineup.

There's also another possibility.

If Blankenburg values familiarity over a fresh start, returning to the Avalanche organization on a two-way contract can't be completely ruled out.

Colorado’s AHL affiliate has undergone significant turnover this offseason. The Eagles lost head coach Mark Letestu after he joined the Vegas Golden Knights as an assistant coach, while T.J. Tynan signed with the Springfield Thunderbirds. Ahcan’s departure to Nashville also opens another spot on the blue line, potentially creating an opportunity should Blankenburg continue his career within the Avalanche organization.

Whether that door is actually open remains to be seen.

For now, though, Nashville feels like the cleanest fit. The organization already knows exactly what Blankenburg brings, MacFarland has shown he's more than willing to reunite with former Avalanche players, and the opportunity to compete for NHL minutes could be more realistic there than with many other clubs.

One thing is certain: wherever Blankenburg signs, he'll be bringing the same relentless motor, underrated offensive instincts, and infectious energy that made him a fan favorite in both Nashville and Colorado in a relatively short amount of time.

As July 1st, 2026, has passed, Cale Makar is available for a contract extension. He is set to be an unrestricted free agent next summer, and with how much the cap is going up, today's price is not tomorrow's price. Another potential Norris Trophy season for Makar could make what many suggest he might make this summer look like a joke this time next summer.

Though Joe Sakic has stated that a contract will be done this summer, this brings up another potential extension to tackle: Artturi Lehkonen’s. In the last year of his five-year, $22.5 million deal that carries a cap hit of $4.5 million, what number do the Avalanche want and can expect to sign someone turning 32 this season, who has dealt with injuries?

Avalanche Needs To Be Careful With Their Next Extensions

There is no question about how important Lehkonen has been for the team during this time with them. A massive part of the 2022 Stanley Cup run, and despite time and time again dealing with nagging injuries each season, the effort he brings when in the lineup can be irreplaceable, or if so, can be pretty expensive.

As we saw this summer and the following summers, the cap is set to jump exponentially each year. More precisely, the cap ceiling is expected to be $113 million for the 2027-28 season, the first year of their new deals. Every season, the talks between players and management will differ as teams, agents, and players view the rising cap differently and consider how to make the most of it.

Avalanche Sign Veteran Forward Jaden Schwartz To A Three-Year ContractThe Colorado Avalanche's first 2026 free agency signing is forward Jaden Schwartz

While everyone in hockey is excited about the rise in the cap, especially with how stagnant it has been during the COVID-19 days and how it limited many teams in making many moves, teams like the Avalanche, who are excited to see the cap increase, need to be careful with how much they send out to pending UFAs and free agents.

The Ins And Outs Of A New Lehkonen Contract

In terms of what a new Lehkonen contract might look like, what plays into his new extension, and if so, how long of a term and how much do the Avalanche value him?

The unfortunate part of Lehkonen you can compare to is Valeri Nichushkin, and it's the phrase “When he's available, he's at his best,” with “when available” as the major standout.

Avalanche Trade Valeri Nichushkin To Columbus Blue Jackets For Multi-Pick ReturnValeri Nichushkin’s run in Colorado ends as one of the franchise’s most complicated chapters—defined equally by championship impact, constant uncertainty, and a long-running debate the Avalanche finally resolved on Thursday.

Since joining the Avalanche in the 2021-22 season, Lehkonen has only played over 70 games twice, and every other season he has missed at least 25% of the regular season. Adding to the two missed games of the second round this season and looking pretty bad in his return during the Conference Finals.

His value is way above the 104 goals and 112 assists for 216 points; those totals, not including the playoffs, could have been way higher, barring some injury luck. His two-way, physical, penalty-killing prowess is crucial to the Avalanche and is even more pronounced during the playoffs.

So injuries are a factor, but beyond that, we know he can produce and raise his game in the playoffs. How does it compare to other wingers based on his age, production, and the cap hit he could be looking for?

His new contract will take him into his mid-to-late thirties; add in some injury history, but don’t discount the level of production he can bring when healthy or his competitiveness in the playoffs.

I think of players like:

1. Victor Arvidsson (Red Wings) with a two-year, $8 million contract at $4 million AAV.
2. Tyler Toffoli (Sharks), with a three-year $16.2 million contract, $5.4 million AAV.
3. Reilly Smith (Knights), three-year $15 million contract, $5 million AAV.
4. Vincent Desharnais (Capitals), four-year $16.8 million contract, $4.2 million AAV
5. Anders Lee (Mammoth), three-year $16.20 million contract, $5.4 million AAV

You can make the argument that, in Lehkonen's position, he is more important to his team than those listed to theirs. Still, they are all players who can fit the mold of a player with a contract heading into their mid-to-late thirties, with a contract comparable to what Lehkonen can be given.

Among those listed, those cap hits take up roughly just over 6% of the team's cap. The problem is, as I said in the beginning, today's price is not tomorrow's price. Next season, with the cap increase, the amount will be just around 7%. So if you're in Lehkonen’s camp, you could make an argument for north of $5 million AAV for his next deal, when you can make the argument that, when Lehkonen is at his very best, he's well over $6.5 million.

NHL, NHLPA To Increase Salary Cap Significantly Over Next Three SeasonsOn top of the NHL salary cap's upper limit increasing to $95.5 million next season, the cap is expected to jump to $104 million and $113.5 million in the following two seasons.

Does $6.5+ million work for the Avalanche? While I think $5-6 million would be a sweet spot, the biggest factor would be the term. How many years do the Avalanche want to keep this “core” together, and do they think they can make a run with them?

There is no denying the importance Lehkonen brings, but considering his age and injury history, getting him a contract with the right term and value, and potentially moving him down the lineup for other top-six wingers as the years go on, might be the best play for the Avalanche going forward.

Leo Carlsson’s $90 Million Deal Just Reignited The Cale Makar Contract Debate — And It’s Missing The PointLeo Carlsson’s $90 million extension in Philadelphia sparked immediate questions in Colorado, but Cale Makar’s next contract was never going to be shaped by it.

The opening days of NHL free agency provided a reminder of just how many players have passed through the Senators organization.

Since free agency opened on Wednesday, a long list of former Senators have signed contracts with new or existing clubs. In part two, we look at the ex-Sens who received two-way deals, looking to earn NHL roster spots with fresh starts this fall. 

Max Guenette - Boston Bruins

After five seasons in the Senators organization, Max Guenette signed with Boston after being traded last season in the deal that brought Dennis Gilbert to Ottawa. Guenette was drafted back in 2019, and as a seventh-round pick, he continued to be an excellent AHL player for Lehigh Valley this season.

His 24 points in 42 games put him second in scoring among Phantoms defensemen, behind only Christian Kyrou, who just signed with the Senators this week.

Andreas Englund – Calgary Flames

Andreas Englund established himself as an everyday NHL defenceman with the Los Angeles Kings during the 2023-24 season, but he dropped down in the Kings' batting order the following year, and was eventually claimed off waivers by Nashville, where he struggled to stick.

His one-year deal with Calgary this week now offers him another opportunity to work his way back into a regular NHL role. Englund was the Sens' second round pick in 2014 and played four seasons with the club, including 33 games in Ottawa.

Noah Gregor – Winnipeg Jets

Noah Gregor signed a one-year contract with the Winnipeg Jets as he continues his search for a permanent NHL home. He was signed as a free agent in Ottawa in 2024 and left at the deadline in the San Jose deal that brought Fabian Zetterlund to town. The Jets will be his fifth NHL organization since 2024.

Gregor spent this season with the Florida Panthers, playing 37 games, including the one where he gave Carter Yakemchuk a concussion with a shoulder to the head.

Mads Sogaard – Tampa Bay Lightning

After seven years in the Senators organization, goaltender Mads Sogaard signed a one-year contract with the Tampa Bay Lightning.

The 25-year-old appeared in 31 NHL career games with Ottawa but spent most of last season in Belleville before becoming a Group 6 unrestricted free agent. With the Sens signing Samuel Ersson and Leevi Merilainen this week, the writing was on the wall for Sogaard.

The last time the Sens let a 6-foot-7 goalie get away to Tampa was Ben Bishop, and that worked out pretty well for the Lightning, who gave up Cory Conacher in the deal. Sidebar fun fact: Conacher came back from Switzerland and played two games for Belleville in 2022.

Dylan Gambrell – Minnesota Wild

Veteran forward Dylan Gambrell agreed to a one-year deal with the Minnesota Wild. The Sens got some good mileage out of Gambrell, acquiring him in 2021 for a 7th round draft pick. He played north of 60 games for two straight seasons in Ottawa.

But since leaving Ottawa, he hasn't played a single NHL game since. He'll be hoping to land a fourth-line job in Minny after putting up a point per game for the Wild's farm club this year.

Boko Imama – Florida Panthers

Imama signed a one-year contract with the Florida Panthers, giving the defending Stanley Cup champions another rugged depth option entering training camp. Imama spent the 2023-24 season with the Sens, mostly in Belleville. He got into just six games with Ottawa before signing that summer in Pittsburgh.

None of these players will ever be mistaken for NHL superstars, but Sens Nation will always have a soft spot for the men who once proudly wore the centurion crest.

Read part one of this Sens alumni article here. 

By Steve Warne
The Hockey News

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