NHL insider Frank Seravalli released his latest trade board for Hockey 24/7, and three Pittsburgh Penguins were among the players featured on it. Tommy Novak, Rickard Rakell, and Bryan Rust all made the cut. 

Novak was given the No. 23 spot on Seravalli's trade board. The 29-year-old forward is entering the final season of his contract in 2026-27 and will be a pending UFA. With this, he could be a decent trade chip for the Penguins to dangle if they do not view him as a long-term part of their plans. He is a solid top-nine forward, as evidenced by his 16 goals and 42 points in 82 games last season. 

Rakell was given the No. 24 spot, and it makes sense when noting that he has created plenty of chatter in the rumor mill for a long time now. With this year's UFA class not being strong, the Penguins could get a significant return for a top-six forward like Rakell. In 60 games last season for Pittsburgh, he had 24 goals and 48 points.

As for Rust, he landed the No. 37 spot on Seravalli's trade board. Like Rakell, he has been a popular name in the rumor mill for a while now. The Penguins trading Rust would be significant, as he has spent his entire 12-year career in Pittsburgh. However, it could be worth dealing him if they get a significant offer. In 72 games last season, he had 29 goals and 65 points. 

All things square, the Philadelphia Flyers failed to leave the NHL Draft with more than one or two good-value selections. and it makes you wonder about where things are headed for the organization in the near future.

The crown jewel of their draft class, the Flyers drafted Maksim Sokolovskii with the 27th overall pick after trading down with the San Jose Sharks to recoup some mid-round draft capital.

In a vacuum, I actually liked this pick.

Reviewing the Flyers' 2026 Draft Class

Sokolovskii, a 6-foot-7 monster on defense who actively seeks to punish his opponents, has a ton of potential. He's quite young for this draft class, is already filled out at 240 pounds, and defends well and hits hard.

The best way to look at this pick is that the Flyers basically have five or six years to teach him how to play offense and do stuff with the puck.

Sokolovskii is a wildly good skater for his size and has enough talent to put moves on defenders, but his passing ability isn't very expansive, needs to learn how to shoot (when and where, not how hard), and needs to practice making decisions under pressure.

Why Flyers Drafted Maksim Sokolovskii With 27th PickThe Philadelphia Flyers explained their rationale for the surprising but exciting selection of Maksim Sokolovskii in the 2026 NHL Draft.

The physicality and stick work are already good, but the Flyers are going to need to teach Sokolovskii how to do anything with the puck on his stick and in the opposing zone. Flyers general manager Danny Briere believes that the massive Kazakh rearguard made significant strides throughout the year, and how far Sokolovskii can go will determine if he's a first-pair guy or a third-pair guy at the NHL level.

Another question I have with the Sokolovskii selection: who is he going to play with? As a natural insulator, you have to imagine he would be best suited playing alongside an offensive player. Is that Jamie Drysdale? That's looking increasingly unlikely.

The Flyers left this draft without a true power play specialist or offensive defenseman, and that's a sticking point for me, even if it doesn't have anything to do with Sokolovskii directly.

He already struggles with the puck, and the last thing the Flyers should want to do is stick him with another defenseman who either can't skate or pass the puck, or both.

Grade: B

I was less a fan of the Brek Liske pick at 53rd overall in the second round.

Liske is a 6-foot-2 right-shot defenseman, but the Flyers already have a ton of those. Think names like Oliver Bonk, David Jiricek, Spencer Gill, Carter Amico, Luke Vlooswyk, Austin Moline, and even Helge Grans. Why use a third second-round pick in as many drafts on another right-shot?

Liske is a well-rounded defender who doesn't do anything particularly special, and his draft stock was undoubtedly boosted by a WHL playoff run that saw him score 17 points in 18 games, despite having only 24 in 52 regular season games.

Left-shot defensemen Alexander Bilecki and Ben MacBeath, who are both highly regarded for their skating ability and are both 6-foot-2, would have been much better choices if defense was the play.

Grade: C

Goalie Martin Psohlavec was a fine bet at 62nd overall, but this goalie class was not the greatest, and a second-round pick felt a bit rich, even with his outstanding size (6-foot-5) and production. He went one spot ahead of MacBeath, who was picked by the rival New York Rangers.

Grade: C+

Exclusive Q&A: Flyers GM Danny Briere on Matthew Schaefer's Calder, Top Prospects, and Free AgencyIn an interview with The Hockey News, Philadelphia Flyers general manager Danny Briere discusses his top prospects, former players, free agency, and more.

With their next selection, the Flyers went with another Czech goalie in Marek Sklenicka, who is 6-foot-4 and quite athletic for his size. Sklenicka, all things considered, was a better value pick than Psohlavec was.

Grade: B

Flyers' Strange Asset Management

The Flyers hadn't drafted a goalie since 2023 before this draft, but it is a bit strange that they both drafted two of them and did so back-to-back.

It is unfortunate that high-upside talents like Mikey Berchild and Lavr Gashilov went to two rivals in the Carolina Hurricanes and New Jersey Devils, respectively, in the same round the Flyers drafted Sklenicka.

Sure, the Flyers didn't have many draft picks, but it would have been nice to see them get aggressive and move up to get someone they really want.

Berchild (105th) and Gashilov (119th) weren't out of reach with the Flyers sitting at 120th, but they opted for the goalie in Sklenicka instead of a forward.

Speaking of forwards, the only forward the Flyers drafted in 2026 was K.J. Sauer, who played high school hockey for Andover High in Minnesota before getting into 13 games with the USHL Lincoln Stars.

He's big and physical, but we'll have to wait until he plays for the WHL's Edmonton Oil Kings next year to get a better read.

Alex Bump was drafted out of high school, after all, but this is a file-it-away pick until this time next year. Beckham Edwards and Giorgos Pantellas were still on the board here, and better options at that.

Grade: D

With their last pick in the 2026 draft, the Flyers took Max Laatikainen, a smaller Finnish defender at 5-foot-11 who played in some Liiga games last season, 213th overall. He picked up two assists in six games for Kiekko-Espoo.

NHL Trade Rumors: Flyers Weighing Zach Werenski TradeAccording to multiple reports, the Philadelphia Flyers are heavily considering a trade for superstar defenseman Zach Werenski.

Laatikainen was one of five draft-eligible players to record multiple points in Liiga this season.

Alberts Smits, Oliver Suvanto, and Juho Piiparinen were all first-round picks (and regulars), and Anttoni Uronen went to Columbus in Round 6.

Laatikainen played in 23 fewer games than Piiparinen and had only one less assist, so there's potential there.

Grade: A

Similarly to Max Westergard last year, I liked that the Flyers threw a dart at a kid who already played some pro hockey and was productive doing it, especially compared to much more esteemed peers.

The Flyers' Path Ahead

Overall, though, it was a pretty uninspiring draft for the Flyers, who made some boring picks going after the same traits as always: size and experience.

The Flyers did not draft any speed or skill this year whatsoever, and that isn't hyperbole.

It is a recurring theme, at this point, in the fourth draft I covered since I started writing about the Flyers in 2023.

It hasn't all been bad, to be fair, but the lows have been too low, and the highs haven't been high enough.

That 2023 draft saw the Flyers take Carter Sotheran and Matteo Mann, and neither player signed a contract with the team. Alex Ciernik, injury issues notwithstanding, was probably lucky to get a contract from the Flyers, too.

The 2022 draft was Cutter Gauthier and... that was what it was. In 2021, the Flyers traded their first-round pick for Rasmus Ristolainen, and used their second-round pick to take Samu Tuomaala, who isn't with the team anymore and has yet to play an NHL game, over Logan Stankoven and Matthew Knies.

In 2024, it was Jett Luchanko over Konsta Helenius, and in 2025, it was Jack Nesbitt over Jackson Smith and Cam Reid.

Overall, the Flyers have just made a habit of making uninspiring picks and hunting for concepts of players, rather than the players themselves.

The outlook in Philadelphia hasn't changed much after this draft, and that isn't a good thing. This draft class will likely hinge entirely on the continued development of Sokolovskii.

If the first-round of the 2026 NHL Draft dragged on, things proceeded much faster on Saturday, as is customary; still, the seven rounds took over five hours to wrap up. As always, there was a lot of pick swapping, and the feel-good story of the day was the Pittsburgh Penguins picking Markus Ruck at 39th overall, allowing him to join his twin brother, Liam, who they had picked up on Friday. Meanwhile, the Detroit Red Wings drafted Derek Roy’s son, Victor, two years after picking his brother Max.

Just like on Friday, the Montreal Canadiens made a trade to move up in the second round. They sent pick 61 and pick 125 to the Carolina Hurricanes and then selected Timofei Runtso. The 6-foot-2 and 186-pound right-shot defenseman was ranked 48th among North American skaters. Playing in the WHL with the Victoria Royals, he put 44 points in 68 games. The soon-to-be 19-year-old was ignored at last year's draft but became a fast riser on the Central Scouting list thanks to a breakthrough season with the Royals after joining from the St. Cloud Norsemen of the North American Hockey League, a tier two junior league.

Update On Gleb Pugachyov And His Potential Impact On The Prospect Pool
Canadiens’ Hughes Confident He Can Make A Move And How The Stars Might Align For Marchenko
Canadiens Move Up And Get A Big Winger In First Round

At number 93, they picked Cooper Cleaves, yet another big right-shot defenseman out of Dartmouth College. The 6-foot-3 blueliner weighs in at 203 pounds and put up 10 points in 30 games. He projects as a depth defenseman and describes himself as a two-way defenseman. Last summer, he attended the Canadiens development camp. He also played with Emmett Croteau, a Canadiens’ goaltending prospect this season. Interestingly, he played with Martin St-Louis’ kids growing up and told the media he was very tight with them. He’ll be going back to college for his sophomore season.

With pick number 117, the Canadiens went for yet another defenseman, a left shot one who’s 6-foot and 174 pounds and in his first year of eligibility: Brayden Klimpke. He put up 46 points in 68 games with the Saskatoon Blades. Described as big and tough, he’s a two-way defenseman and was an alternate captain last season. He has some leadership qualities, and he’s described as a character guy with a high compete level.

Montreal then went for a couple of forwards at picks 189 and 190. The former was used to select Parker Trottier, the grandson of former NHL legend Bryan Trottier. While the youngster has great bloodlines, his game is not the same as his grandad’s. At 6-foot-1 and 185 pounds, the USNTDP product is a power forward who loves to finish his checks, works hard on the forecheck and is good at puck retrieval. All the little things Canadiens’ coach Martin St-Louis classifies as “not fun to do” but that must be done to win hockey games.

At 190, the Habs picked up Wesley Royston, also a winger but with an even bigger body at 6-foot-4 and 186 pounds. He only picked up 19 points in 59 games played, mostly with the Owen Sound Attack in the OHL. He has rare speed for a player of his size, and he loves laying big hits all over the ice.

The Canadiens had three picks in the seventh and last round: 221, 223, and 224, but they traded pick 223 to the Los Angeles Kings in return for the California side’s seventh-round pick in 2027. With pick number 221, Montreal selected Jean-Samuel Daigneault, a 6-foot-3 and 190-pound left-shot blueliner who specializes in hitting opponents hard and often. Finally, with pick 224, they opted for forward Tyler Deakos, a 6-foot-1, 174-pound right winger.

This year's draft for the Canadiens can be summed up in two words: size and aggression. As Kent Hughes said on Friday night, the team is no longer just looking to add talented pieces; they are also looking for pieces to address particular needs. Should the Habs fail to address their size issue via trade, this draft class should definitely help down the line.

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In his first media availability following the conclusion of the 2026 NHL Draft, Maple Leafs general manager John Chayka addressed a wide range of topics, but questions about the club’s goaltending future carried particular weight. With a veteran Florida Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky set to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1, getting a tender of quality like the two-time Stanley Cup champion could certainly look like an upgrade, for the right price.

The Leafs made one significant roster adjustment on draft weekend, sending defenseman Brandon Carlo to the St. Louis Blues in exchange for third-round picks No. 73 and 76. Chayka called the decision tough but necessary to create future value and roster flexibility. 

“For Brandon, I think it was a fresh start. And so I think that’s important to him. I think it’s a good fit with St. Louis,” he said. “And I think it’s a good fit for us to get some fresh blood in the back end.” 

The move also aligned with Chayka’s desire to alter how the team defends and transitions the puck. It’s a position he’s been consistent about since taking on the role in May.

Just days earlier, Toronto had demonstrated its willingness to move quickly on goaltending assets. Acquired from Philadelphia in the mid-June Joseph Woll trade, goaltender Samuel Ersson was flipped to the Ottawa Senators for a 2027 fifth-round pick. Chayka described it as pure asset management. 

“He was a part of the transaction, and the harvesting of their asset off of that transaction made a lot of sense for us,” he explained.

Talks with Ersson’s camp about a potential fit and contract ultimately led the Leafs to prioritize the return over retention.That backdrop made Chayka’s comments on the current goaltending situation and future plans especially relevant. The Leafs enter the summer with Anthony Stolarz as their primary netminder and a developing pipeline that includes recent draft selections Artur Akhtyamov and Dennis Hildeby. But is that enough to go with next season?

“We’ve got this really interesting goalie pipeline,” he said. “And part of our evaluation is the young guys and what they’ve shown. So I think we’re trying to balance that. Anthony’s (Stolarz) been, by our models, a top goalie the last two years. Obviously health and durability has been the question, but we can’t guarantee that it’s going to be different. On another goalie that we bring in, that’s always a bit of a question mark. So we’re trying to find some balance in all of that, but it’s a key position, and if there’s a chance to make it better, like any position, we’ll do that. But that’s where we’re at today.”

Akhtyamov and Bobrovsky during warm ups pic.twitter.com/fUMaYPP9na

— Omar (@TicTacTOmar) April 11, 2026

Toronto selected two goalies as part of a broader 10-pick haul at the Draft. 

Financially, the Leafs are well-positioned to act if the right opportunity presents itself. Following the Carlo trade and other adjustments, Toronto projects to have approximately $22 million in cap space for the 2026-27 season against the NHL’s $104 million ceiling, per PuckPedia.com. 

“I think we’re going to try to make the team better. I think that’s an avenue for us. And up to today we created more flexibility even with the move,” he said. 

Would the Leafs be willing to pull off a Darren Raddysh-style move before free agency? Chayka poured cold water on the idea. But you have to wonder if they are done in goal or if another move at the position is coming.

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The Vegas Golden Knights weren’t expected to make much noise during the 2026 NHL Entry Draft. Their earliest draft pick was a third-rounder, 95th overall. But if the past nine years have taught us anything, it’s that with this team, you have to be ready for anything.

By the time the San Jose Sharks made the second overall pick, two-time leading goalscorer Pavel Dorofeyev was a New York Ranger, and the Golden Knights had a first-round selection. 

The Dorofeyev trade should have been an indication of what was to come. When the Draft finally came to an end on Saturday, the Golden Knights had made a total of five trades and seven selections.

Here’s a breakdown of the players they selected.

29th overall: Juho Piiparinen 

Despite entering the day without a first-round draft pick, the Golden Knights found themselves on the clock at 26th overall. They traded down twice, but eventually selected Finnish defenseman Juho Piiparinen out of Tappara, Liiga.

At 17 years of age, Piiparinen stands 6’3” and weighs in at 203 lbs. He’s a smooth-skating right-shot defenseman who likes to create offense with breakout passes.

“[Piiparinen is] a really good two-way defenseman,” said Golden Knights Director of Amateur Scouting Raphaël Pouliot. “He’s really good in transition; he’s a good skater. He can contribute in every aspect of the game, and I think he’s got lots of places to grow. His game is really mature. He played in the World Junior this year, started as a 7th defenseman for Finland, and worked his way up and was really effective. He didn’t make many mistakes. And I think there’s the potential for his game to grow as well.”

92nd overall: Benjamin Wilmott

The Golden Knights used the second 2026 Draft pick they acquired in the Pavel Dorofeyev trade to select Benjamin Wilmott out of the OHL Barrie Colts. 

Wilmott is a 6’1”, 190 lb player who plays bigger than his size. He’s a great playmaker who likes to do his damage off the rush.

“He’s a really versatile player,” said Golden Knights Director of Amateur Scouting Raphaël Pouliot. “He could play the wing; he can play center. He’s a guy who can play both special units— power play and PK.

“He was really good in the playoffs,” Pouliot continued. “In the Conference Final, his team was down 3-1, and they lost their first-line center, who was a first-round pick by Utah. And they came back. They won Games 5, 6, and 7, and two games on the road against Branford, which was arguably one of the best teams in the league; they have 4 first-round picks on their team. I thought [Wilmott] really elevated this game in the playoffs.”

Wilmott is committed to playing D1 hockey at the Ohio State University for the 2026-27 season.

95th overall: Sean Burick

The Golden Knights used the 95th overall pick in the 2026 Draft to select defenseman Sean Burick out of the WHL Penticton Vees.

Burick is a giant, clocking in at 6’8” and 214 lbs. He’s a physical defensive defenseman who doesn’t shy away from dropping the gloves.

“[Burick is] a really interesting player,“ said Golden Knights Director of Amateur Scouting Raphaël Pouliot. “He’s got a really big frame, but for his size, he can move pretty well… He’s a guy that’s hard to play against. He’s long, and he makes really good use of his stick. He’s able to be physical. He’s really good at puck retrieval, too; he’s able to absorb contact and make good transition passes.”

Burick will spend another year in the WHL before heading to the University of Denver to play D1 hockey for the 2027-28 season.

113rd overall: Jonah Sivertson

The Golden Knights used the 113th overall pick in the 2026 Draft to select forward Jonah Sivertson out of the WHL Prince Albert Raiders. 

Sivertson is a 17-year-old sharpshooter who weighs in at 6’3” and 194 lbs. He scored 24 goals and 53 points in 66 games during the 2025-26 season. He’s not the fastest skater, but he makes up for his lack of footspeed with his heavy shot and physical play.

Sivertson was a player the Golden Knights expected to go before the fourth round, so when he was still available, they traded up to get him.

“He’s got lots of tools,” said Golden Knights Director of Amateur Scouting Raphaël Pouliot. “
It was his 1st year this year with Prince Albert in the WHL. He started on the fourth line on a contending team that made it to the League Final. Even though they added three forwards at the deadline, he made his way up the lineup all year, and he was a solid contributor in the top six in the second half. 
And I think there’s some growth that can be made in his game.

“We really like his smarts, too,” Pouliot continued. “I think he’s got really good hockey sense, that’s one thing we really like about his game. It was his 1st year in the league, and I thought he adapted really well as the year went on and added some layers to his game. He’s got good puck skills as well, really reliable player.”

159th overall: Will McLaughlin

The Golden Knights used the 159th pick in the NHL Draft to select defenseman Will McLaughlin out of the WHL Portland Winterhawks. 

McLaughlin is yet another big blue liner, and stands at 6’3”, 185 lbs. He’s a mobile, two-way defenseman who uses his exceptional skating to create offense. He registered nine goals and 30 points in 68 games during the 2025-26 season. 

McLaughlin is committed to playing D1 hockey at Colorado College for the 2026-27 season.

191st overall: Matthew Minchak

The Golden Knights used the 191st pick in the 2026 Draft to select goaltender Matthew Minchak out of the OHL Kingston Frontenacs.

Minchak, who weighs in at 6’5” and 194 lbs, was one half of a goaltending tandem in Kingston. He earned his net and made the most of every opportunity, posting a 12-12-3 record and an average save percentage of .910 in 30 games played during the 2025-26 season. 

“[Minchak] came in, he earned his ice, and was really solid, especially the first half of the season,” said Golden Knights Director of Amateur Scouting Raphaël Pouliot. “I think he was second in the league in save percentage and goals against average. 
So I think there are lots of tools for him. He’s got a really likable size. He’s got a good development path as well. So, this guy, we were really excited to get in the 6th round.”

Minchak is committed to playing D1 hockey at Colgate University for the 2026-27 season.

207th overall: Noel Pakarinen

The Golden Knights used their seventh and final pick in the 2026 NHL Draft to select forward Noel Pakarinen out of Kiekko-Espoo, Liiga.

At 17, Pakarinen is already 6’2”, 198 lbs. He’s a power forward who plays a 200-foot game. He has a heavy shot and notched 16 goals and 35 points in 44 total games across Kiekko-Espoo’s three squads. 

Pakarinen will spend one more year overseas before playing D1 hockey at Michigan Tech for the 2027-28 season.

It had been a long day. Some teams were using all of their allotted time, even in the later rounds to make their draft decisions. Then came Carolina, and time had expired while the world waited for them to make pick number 192 in the Draft.

What happened?

Eric Tulsky and company smacked everyone in the face with another shocking trade announcement. The Hurricanes traded their final pick, along with Kyle Masters, (leant to Greensboro last season), to Anaheim for the rights to John Carlson. Yes, that John Carlson.

Carlson will be a Free Agent come July 1st, so the Canes have three days to sign the defenseman. It won’t be easy.

While the blueliner is a bit long in the tooth at 36 years old, he had 14 goals and 60 points last season in 71 games playing for both the Capitals and the Ducks. He averaged playing over 23 minutes a game and he is going to be highly sought after if he makes it to free agency.

The Caps traded him to the Ducks at the deadline last season for a conditional first rounder and a third rounder. He is coming off an eight year, 64 million dollar contract averaging $8 million a year. The rumor is that he is looking for $9 to $10 million for next year.

Obviously, this puts Alexander Nikishin’s future with Carolina in question. Also, if Carlson is signed, that would most likely end any Connor Hellebuyck or Zach Werenski rumors as well.

His hardest shot last season was clocked at 99.77 MPH, so he still has it. He was ranked in the top 80% with his skating.

https://www.nhl.com/nhl-edge/skaters/john-carlson-8474590

His offense is rated higher than his defense but Carolina could probably live with that.

Stay tuned. We will find out within the next three days.

The Canes could manipulate their salary cap situation a bit if they decide to buy-out Jesperi Kotkaniemi. If I had to guess, they tried to trade the center for a draft pick today and were unsuccessful. He was healthy scratched 40 times during the season and never saw any action in the playoffs.

“KK” currently earns $4.8 million annually. The buy out, if it happens before July 1st, would be about $850,000 per year for eight years. So the savings to the Cap would be about $4 million per year. We will get more details about this later if it happens.

I asked Darren Yorke about the situation after the Draft today and this was his answer.

“We’ll evaluate what happened today and as we go through July 1, we’ll always try to do what we think is the best thing for the organization to get better.”

Prospect Development Camp starts soon with on ice sessions at Invisalign Arena. These sessions are open to the public. All draft selections today will attend except for Wiggo Sorensson.

Monday, June 29th

10:00 a.m.: Skills sessions

3:00 p.m.: Skills Sessions

Tuesday, June 30th

9:00 a.m.: Fitness testing

1:00 p.m.: On-ice testing

Wednesday, July 1

10 a.m.: Skills Sessions

As Steve detailed in his NHL Draft Preview, a number of Michigan State Spartans were going to hear their names called. However, unlike the more familiar styles of the NFL and NBA Drafts, pro hockey’s version is full of names that will still play at the amateur levels. In these cases, all the newly drafted players associated with MSU have not actually laced up for the Green & White yet. All the top names you heard during MSU’s most recent season had already been drafted in previous years. Some will be back next season, while some are off to the NHL. The names picked over the past two days are the ones to continue giving us fans hopes for an NCAA championship.

The NHL Draft began with its 1st round on Friday followed by rounds 2-7 on Saturday. (I think I would like the NFL to follow this arrangement rather than its current 3-day program.) Five players who have given commitments to Sparta went in the first round, four who we will see in 2026-27 and a fifth who will keep us waiting for 2027-28. Here are those selections:

• #7: Chase Reid, D – Seattle Kraken
• #15: Nikita Klepov, LW – Anaheim Mighty Ducks
• #17: Ethan Belchetz, C- Utah Mammoth
• #30: Jack Hextall, C – Calgary Flames
• #31: Thomas Bleyl, D – Nashville Predators (*coming to MSU in 2027-28)

In addition to the quintet of first rounders, four more future members of MSU’s hockey program were selected in rounds 2-7 including the very first pick of round 2.

• Rd. 2, #1: Brooks Rogowski, C – Vancouver Canucks
• Rd. 4, #2: Jonas Kemps, D – Florida Panthers (*coming to MSU in 2027-28)
• Rd. 5, #11: Nicholas Bogas, D – St. Louis Blues (*undecided for 2026-27)
• Rd. 7, #24: Cullen McCrate, D – Boston Bruins

Nine total selections in this NHL Draft will eventually play for Michigan State, assuming “reopening my recruitment” doesn’t come to college hockey. 6, and maybe 7, of those draftees will be in East Lansing for the 2026-27 season, four of which are forwards. While the Spartans lost a good deal of talent to the NHL after last season, this could be a case of reloading, not rebuilding.

The future still looks bright inside Munn Ice Arena.

Semyon Varlamov is intent on returning to the Islanders, and he appears to be on track after missing most of the last two seasons due to major knee problems. 

“As of today, actually, ‘Varly’s’ been on the ice. He told me he felt the best the last four, five years with his knees,” general manager Mathieu Darche said over Zoom on Saturday after the completion of the two-day NHL draft. “I told him you feel 25? He just said, no, 26. We’re excited the way he played in the AHL. Right now, if he’s healthy we plan on him.” 

Darche is hopeful that Varlamov can play more frequently next season as Ilya Sorokin’s backup.

The team will bring in other goaltenders as insurance. One option is last year’s backup, David Rittich, who is an unrestricted free agent. 

“We’re obviously going to sign other goalies, because we have to protect ourselves,” Darche said. “Hopefully, he gives us the 25-30 starts we want from a backup. He would be an awesome addition, if that works out. He’s under contract, he feels great. If he’s healthy, he’s going to be our backup next year. 

“He’s been training, no medication, no anything. He’s been on the ice at Northwell [Health Ice Center] probably twice a week, if not more, and in the gym. It’s very encouraging what we’re seeing right now.” 

The 38-year-old Varlamov last appeared in a game for the Islanders on Nov. 29, 2024. It was revealed late in the season he underwent two knee replacement surgeries. He was able to appear in two games for the team’s AHL affiliate in Bridgeport, while on a conditioning loan. It marked his return to professional hockey after missing over 500 days. 

Darche said he isn’t planning to make a qualifying offer to restricted free agent defenseman Adam Boqvist, partly to give prospect Isaiah George an opportunity at the NHL level. It could either be as a seventh defenseman, or a bigger role. 

“He might start in the top six,” Darche said. “We want competition. Maybe he pushes someone out of the lineup. We have some flexibility with the right and left guys that can play on both sides.” 

When Darche said his team can never have enough quality defensemen Friday night, he wasn’t kidding. 

The Islanders followed up using their first-round pick on blueliner Malte Gustafsson by selecting two more defensemen Saturday with his first two picks of the day. 

After taking Gustafsson 13th overall, the Islanders chose American Lincoln Kuehne (109th) in the fourth round and Czech Vladimir Dravecky (141st) in the fifth. Both are right-handed defensemen, significant since the Isles are thin on the right side of their prospect pool. 

They capped the draft by taking Russian center Artyom Matyuk in the sixth round (173rd) and American right wing Robert Cowan (205th) in the seventh. 

Without a second- and third-round pick, the success of this draft likely will hinge on the development of Gustafsson, a big, physical defenseman who will take part in the team’s upcoming developmental camp for prospects.

The 6-foot-4, 203-pound, 18-year-old is planning to return next season to HV71 of the SHL, the top professional league in his native Sweden. 

The Islanders acquired defenseman Ryan Healey from the Wild for future considerations, the team announced.

The 22-year-old was a fourth-round pick in 2022 and spent the last four seasons at Harvard.

How Sharks can improve for upcoming season after future-focused 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 — And on the second day of the 2026 NHL Draft, Mike Grier rested.

That’s just a joke — after a whirlwind first round of the draft, the Nos. 2, 9, and 21 picks set up by three trades in 10 days, including a draft day deal on Friday — no doubt that the SHarks general manager was hard at work the next day. It just felt like a break with just three picks in six rounds (and a signing) on Saturday.

But Grier’s hardest work is at hand, the challenge of turning the Sharks, out the Stanley Cup playoffs for seven seasons and counting, into a contender this summer.

What can Grier do to get back — responsibly — to the postseason?

San Jose is on two timelines: In the present, Macklin Celebrini is a superstar and needs lots of help. And in the future, the Sharks’ enviable farm system lords over the league.

You can’t ask Celebrini to wait three years.

Grier did serve the future well with three picks in the first round and three to close the draft.

“He’s more hard skill, more F.U. skill than [Lucas] Raymond,” an NHL scout, not with the Sharks, said about No. 2 pick, winger Ivar Stenberg. Raymond is a point-per-game winger for the Detroit Red Wings.

“I had Verhoeff as the best [defenseman] in the draft,” the scout said about No. 9 pick Keaton Verhoeff.

“He’s just one of the best players in the draft, period,” the scout said about No. 21 pick, smaller defenseman Ryan Lin.

“Our goalie group with Ryan Miller really believes in Brady, and really likes the upside and potential,” Sharks director of amateur scouting Chris Morehouse said about No. 127 pick, 6-foot-5 goaltender Brady Knowling. “The skating, the quick feet, the athleticism, those are all things that profile really well at the next level.”

“He’s a big kid, we like his development path,” Morehouse said about No. 174 pick, 6-foot-4 center Jake Gustafson, also the son of SAP Center vice president Jon Gustafson. “He’s going to fill out his frame, he’s a good athlete, and on top of that, he’s a fantastic kid…we liked the upside.”

“There’s athleticism there, untapped,” Morehouse said about No. 201 pick, 7-foot-1 defenseman Alexander Karmanov, the tallest player ever drafted, “Raw project…we just like the potential that could be here…it’s going to be a long-term project, but kid’s a great kid, he wants to work.”

Besides expected-to-be NHL-ready winger Stenberg, however, all this doesn’t help the Sharks today. And Stenberg’s addition, theoretically, is canceled out, at least in the short-term, by the subtraction of winger William Eklund for the No. 9 pick.

So how will Grier address his team’s needs today, up front and on defense? The goaltending appears set, between young Yaroslav Askarov and veteran Alex Nedeljkovic.

Here are some ideas, a few days before the beginning of NHL free agency on July 1.

Forwards

Grier did lock up fourth-line center Zack Ostapchuk on the second day of the draft, to a four-year, $9.4 million contract ($2.35 million AAV).

Celebrini, Michael Misa, Alex Wennberg and Ostapchuk should hold the fort down the middle for the Sharks.

Stenberg, Will Smith, Igor Chernyshov, Collin Graf, Tyler Toffoli, Kiefer Sherwood, Adam Gaudette and Barclay Goodrow project to be on the wing.

Ty Dellandrea can swing between center and wing.

That’s 13 forwards already.

It doesn’t mean that the Sharks can’t get better up front. Last summer, they were interested in adding an impact winger like Mitch Marner, Nikolai Ehlers or Brock Boeser. Last summer, however, the Sharks weren’t an attractive free-agency destination.

This summer, San Jose is far more attractive, but the UFA wingers, headed by inconsistent Anthony Mantha, aren’t as tempting.

The Sharks could use more size and finish up front.

Six-foot-5 Mason Marchment has potted 63 goals over the last three seasons and could be a more realistic and reliable UFA signing.

The Athletic’s most recent offseason trade board has a host of upgrades on the wing, but most seem far-fetched, like Jason Robertson or Kirill Marchenko or Owen Tippett. If San Jose brings in an established star via trade, it should be a defenseman.

So perhaps more realistic, 6-foot-1 Rickard Rakell isn’t the biggest winger, but he’s a 200-pound player who can absolutely finish, to the tune of 20-plus goals seven times. The 33-year-old is signed to a reasonable $5 million AAV for two more years, and while acquiring him might deplete assets needed for a blueliner, he’s also not going to be close to Robertson cost-wise.

Defense

Grier probably wouldn’t admit this, but I would bet money that his dream first round would’ve been coming out with Stenberg and 25-year-old defenseman Bo Byram, the two-way right-hander potentially coming to San Jose for the Nos. 9 and 27 picks that eventually became Verhoeff and Lin.

Instead, the Chicago Blackhawks overpaid for Byram, surrendering the No. 4 pick. I certainly wouldn’t have beat that by offering the No. 2 pick for Byram.

That said, the Sharks have just left-handers Dmitry Orlov and Sam Dickinson signed. Lefty Shakir Mukhamadullin and right-hander Michael Kesselring are RFAs, both expected to be signed.

Best guess, they bring back pending UFA and right-handed PK stalwart Vinny Desharnais.

The Sharks still need a high-impact blueliner in the worst way, especially on the top power play unit.

Problem is, the UFA market appears bone-dry for top defensemen.

Twenty-two-goal scorer Darren Raddysh would’ve been the obvious play, but he’s already gone to the Toronto Maple Leafs. John Carlsson would’ve been ideal, but the veteran wants to return east.

Rasmus Andersson had an up-and-down post-NHL trade deadline stint with the Vegas Golden Knights, but he’s just 29 and can run a power play. But is the upside there with Andersson, as it was with Raddysh, to offer the right-hander a maximum-length contract?

The physical Jacob Trouba, 32, and late bloomer Ryan Shea, 29, can help, but again, how much term do you want to give them?

Meanwhile, the trade market is highlighted by reigning Norris Trophy winner Zach Werenski, and the 28-year-old superstar would solve a lot of the Sharks’ blue line woes. But acquiring the left-hander would gut San Jose’s organization depth, and there’s no guarantee that the soon-to-be UFA is staying beyond 2028.

Left-hander Alexander Nikishin, just 24, is promising, but it’s concerning that the Carolina Hurricanes seem to want to move so quickly away from a rookie once trumpeted as the “best defenseman outside of the NHL.”

So, the Sharks might not be able to find high-impact defensive help this off-season? They already gave it a pretty good shot by trading Eklund away for a No. 9 believed to be earmarked for Byram.

Thirty-two-year-old Morgan Rielly, signed for $7.5 million AAV through 2030, could help the Sharks, as long as you think that his already declining skills won’t fall of a cliff. The same could be said for Darnell Nurse, but he doesn’t appear to want to go to San Jose, while Rielly is thought to be open to it.

Mason Lohrei, 25, is a gamble, and like Nikishin, why are the Boston Bruins in such a hurry to dump a young, productive defenseman?

But again, maybe the Sharks will have to wait in-season to really upgrade their defense? You never know what might become available then.

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The 2026 NHL Entry Draft is complete, with nine new prospects joining the Vancouver Canucks' organization. The common theme for this draft appeared to be size, as only two of the nine prospects are listed at 6'0" or shorter. Vancouver also added five prospects listed at 200 lbs or heavier, indicating a desire to build a stronger, heavier prospect pool. 

This draft was the first under Ryan Johnson as GM. While there was a regime change, the scouting staff remained the same, including Todd Harvey, the Canucks' Director of Amateur Scouting. After the draft, Harvey spoke to the media and highlighted Vancouver's plan for the 2026 draft. 

"Well, obviously we've got direction, and things have changed here, obviously," said Harvey. "And you know, our direction was we wanted to get quicker. We wanted to get bigger and harder to play against. We kind of went down, sat, we talked through the list. You guys don't want to know how many times we've gone through that list. We've done it over and over again. And we got it to where we thought everything aligned, and you never know what the draft, how it kind of plays out. But to get the guys we got and kind of targeted really fit the mould here."

The Canucks newest draft class also had an international feel as eight different countries were represented. Of the eight, the only country that featured multiple prospects was Canada, with players from Belarus, Czechia, Norway, Russia, Slovakia, Sweden and the US also hearing their names called. For Harvey and his staff, the main focus of the draft is picking the best prospect, regardless of nationality. 

"It's kind of funny now. Everybody's coming over. You have (Niklas Aaram-Olsen) going to BU. It's all about their development path. And, you know, I don't think we look at it that way. There were players that were from the West that were on our board, and there was players from Quebec that were on our board. So we just kind of felt that in the late round, we had some size and some speed, and he's coming over here, and I thought that was a good way we should go."

Vancouver's new draft class also features a handful of players who have already committed to the NCAA for either this season or the 2027-28 campaign. This includes third overall pick Caleb Malhotra as well as Brooks Rogowski, who was selected 33rd overall. As Harvey explained, he and his staff want to have an idea of a prospect's timeline before potentially selecting them. 

"We talk about it when we're sitting in our meetings. That's a big thing. Where's he going? What's his plan? You really like when, especially when you're in the interview process with the kids, you like to know that they have a plan and kind of know the path that they're on. It does make a bit of a difference. I think this whole new way of things has changed a lot of things. And I think it's good for the players, because a lot of them sometimes aren't ready physically, and this is another path that they can go on."

Vancouver Canucks 2026 NHL Entry Draft Selection TrackerA list with articles on all prospects the Vancouver Canucks select at the 2026 NHL Entry Draft, updated throughout the draft.

Harvey was asked about the contract status of Ian Clark, who is listed on the team site under Scout and Goalie Development. Clark has helped shape the Canucks' goaltending group for nearly a decade and is considered one of the best goalie coaches in the NHL. Harvey was unable to provide an update, but did say that the organization has been in contact with Clark. 

Lastly, Harvey revealed that eight of the nine prospects drafted are expected to attend development camp this year. The only exception is Russian goaltender Dmitri Ivchenko. Development camp will take place in Abbotsford this year, with on-ice sessions open to the public. 

Canucks 2026 NHL Draft Selections:

3rd Overall: Center Caleb Malhotra

24th Overall: Left Winger Adam Novotný

33rd Overall: Center Brooks Rogowski

41st Overall: Left Winger Niklas Aaram-Olsen

78th Overall: Goaltender Dmitri Ivchenko

97th Overall: Left Winger Yaroslav Bryzgalov

129th Overall: Right Winger Connor Davis

176th Overall: Right Winger Lucian Bernat

184th Overall: Defenceman Samuel Eriksson

Make sure you bookmark THN's Vancouver Canucks site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, don't forget to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum. This article originally appeared on The Hockey News.

Latest From THN’s Vancouver Canucks Site:

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In the middle of all that Draft chaos, we almost forgot that a trade happened!

The Bruins announced that they have traded Forward Prospect Fabian Lysell to the Colorado Avalanche in exchange for Prospect Ivan Ivan. The trade is one for one.

The Bruins acquired Lysell in the 2021 NHL Draft as a first round selection. While he is unquestionably talented, the AHL level seemed to be where his skillset was best utilized, as after his single season with the Vancouver Giants, he joined the Providence Bruins, and was one of their better forwards. He was, however, rarely utilized at the NHL level, only playing 12 games with the big boy club and all of it from last year. As it increasingly became clear this was not going to be a viable option for him, I think a trade like this became inevitable for the young Swede.

Ivan Ivan, on top of maybe being the best name in the NHL, was an undrafted signing for the Avalanche who has split time between the Colorado Eagles and the Avalanche. He has been a major part of the Eagles’ success through the last few years, and while he hasn’t been able to do much with last year’s Avalanche, this could be a much better opportunity for the young man to get some strong minutes, as Boston’s roster is notoriously in flux.

Analytically, Ivan Ivan is a solid depth guy who’s strength is in backchecking.

Given the team he just joined, I think he’ll do just fine.

Let’s all welcome Ivan to the Boston Bruins!

The Colorado Avalanche moved on from Ivan Ivan on Saturday—but the deal was about far more than just a name.

In a one-for-one trade with the Boston Bruins, Colorado acquired former 2021 first-round pick Fabian Lysell, a once-hyped offensive winger still trying to turn prospect pedigree into consistent NHL production. In return, the Avalanche parted ways with Ivan, a depth forward who carved out an NHL role after arriving to the organization as an undrafted free agent.

For Colorado, it’s a bet on untapped upside. For Boston, it’s a swap for reliability.

Lysell arrives in Denver after spending most of last season with the Providence Bruins, where he put together 17 goals and 25 assists for 42 points in 57 AHL games. He was a key contributor on a Providence team that finished with the league’s best regular-season record and claimed the Macgregor Kilpatrick Trophy, finishing sixth on the roster in scoring and fifth in both goals and assists.

Across four seasons in the AHL, the 23-year-old Swedish winger has been productive, totaling 57 goals and 106 assists for 163 points in 219 games with Providence. At the NHL level, he has appeared in 12 games for Boston in the 2024-25 season, recording one goal and adding two assists.

His track record before turning pro reinforced the offensive projection. With the WHL’s Vancouver Giants in 2021–22, Lysell posted 62 points in 53 games and then elevated his game in the playoffs with 21 points in 12 contests, leading the league with 17 assists during that run.

Originally selected 21st overall in the 2021 NHL Draft, Lysell also developed through Luleå HF in Sweden’s SHL after coming up in Frölunda’s junior system. On the international stage, he has represented Sweden twice at major tournaments, earning bronze at both the 2021 IIHF Under-18 World Championship and the 2022 IIHF World Junior Championship.

Ivan’s path looks very different.

Signed by Colorado in March 2024 after going undrafted, he worked his way into 49 NHL games with the Avalanche, producing five goals and four assists while establishing himself as a steady, energy-driven bottom-six presence. He also logged extensive time with the Colorado Eagles, recording 25 goals and 44 assists across 169 AHL appearances. That should have been enough to graduate to the NHL level but with his contract now complete the Avalanche were at a crossroads with him.

The move ultimately comes down to projection versus production. Colorado is wagering that Lysell’s offensive toolkit still hasn’t fully translated at the NHL level, while Boston adds a player whose role and identity are already defined. Both are Restricted Free Agents but with Lysell coming off his Entry Level Contract he does not hold arbitration rights like Ivan does. Clearly Colorado’s strategy is to hope one of these 2021 first round picks (along with Fyodor Svechkov and Zach L’Heureux) stick hoping another organization’s development will pay off for them.

Just when it appeared they were probably done selecting in the 2026 NHL Entry Draft, Kyle Dubas and the Pittsburgh Penguins snuck in to snag one more player to complete their draft class.

The Penguins acquired the 160th overall pick from the Carolina Hurricanes in exchange for a 2027 fifth-round pick and used it to draft Russian goaltender Matvei Nikonovich. The Belarusian netminder posted impressive numbers last season in the MHL - Russia's junior league - including a 20-14-4 record with a .939 save percentage and a 1.96 goals-against average in 38 games. 

He stands at 6-foot-2, 187 pounds, and, according to Elite Prospects, he is known for his strong tracking ability as well as his power. 

Nikonovich was one of 31 goaltenders selected in this year's draft, which is an atypically high number. He was obviously what the Penguins deemed a "value pick" in the later rounds, where they've found some value before: top goaltending prospect Sergei Murashov - a fellow Russian - was a fourth-round selection (118th overall) in 2022, and he took a similar path as Nikonovich and had similar numbers in the MHL.

He completes the Penguins' 2026 draft class, which also consisted of twin brothers Liam (22nd overall) and Markus Ruck (39th overall), defenseman Tomas Galvas (54th overall), left wing Pierce Mbuyi (86th overall), and defenseman Parker Von Richter (111th overall).

Family Reunion: Penguins Select Markus Ruck With 39th Pick, Get Both TwinsIt appears a family reunion is in order for the Ruck family in Pittsburgh.

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

After a frantic Friday that featured two first-round picks, two trades and a contract extension, Saturday was a little quieter for the Ottawa Senators.

But while there wasn't nearly as much drama, day two of the NHL Draft revealed a lot about organizational need. When a team spends its first five picks on skilled forwards, it's difficult not to conclude that management believes the organization needs more skill up front.

The Senators had three picks in round three, then the standard single pick in rounds four, five, and six. Just as they did in round one with Jonas Lagerberg Hoen and Jaxon Cover, the Sens used all of their third-round picks on skilled forwards.

72 W Adam Nemec (OHL, Sudbury)
87 C Oscar Holmertz (SWE-Jr, Linkoping HC)
91 W Louis-Felix Bourque (QMJHL, Drummondville)
110 G Elliot Lennon (MA-HS, Deerfield)
151 D Harris Pangretitsch (OHL, Sault Ste. Marie)
183 D Alexander Grunin (RUS-MHL, Sibirskie Snaipery Novosibirsk)

72 W Adam Nemec (OHL, Sudbury)

The Sens opened day 2 of the draft at 72 with number 71 from the Sudbury Wolves, Adam Nemec. Nemec certainly comes from fine NHL bloodlines as his older brother, Simon, was the second overall pick in the 2022 NHL Draft. Simon, an RFA, was just traded from New Jersey to Calgary.

The younger Nemec started his draft year in Slovakia, playing 28-games with HK Nitra. But being a men's league, he didn't get a ton of ice time, which wasn't ideal for his NHL draft year. So after putting up five points in five games at the World Juniors, he shifted to the OHL, right in the middle of the season, to play for the Sudbury Wolves.

If that proved to be a culture shock, it didn't show. Nemec, a 6-foot, 173 pound winger, put up 35 points in 31 games for the Wolves.

87 C Oscar Holmertz (SWE-Jr, Linkoping HC)

The Senators have suddenly developed a fondness for Swedish players.

In the last week, they've acquired winger William Eklund, goalie Samuel Ersson, winger Andre Burakovsky, and at the draft they made Jonas Lagerberg Hoen their first pick at 25th overall.

On Saturday, they went with another Swedish forward at 87, drafting Oscar Holmertz. The 6-foot, 187 pound centre had 34 points in 36 games with Linkoping HC Jr. He also got into 11 games with Linkoping's men's team.

91 W Louis-Felix Bourque (QMJHL, Drummondville)

The Senators stayed with their forward theme with their final third-round pick, taking Louis-Felix Bourque. Bourque had 24 goals and 49 points in 54 games for Drummondville in the Q this season. At just 17, he already possesses NHL size at 6-foot-2 and 214 pounds.

110 G Elliot Lennon (MA-HS, Deerfield)

In round four, the Senators decided to end the run of forwards by adding to their goaltending depth, drafting 6-foot-six high schooler, Elliot Lennon. As you might imagine, Lennon posted fantastic stats in his three years at Deerfield Academy. He's committed to Brown University for the 2027-28 season. He'll play this fall for the USHL's Madison Capitols. He suited up for two games with the Caps this season.

151 D Harris Pangretitsch (OHL, Sault Ste. Marie)

At this stage in the draft, the Senators turned their attention to shutdown defensemen with size, and at 6-foot-4, 219 pounds, the right-shot Pangretitsch certainly fits that bill. He won't drive offence, but his improvements through the season were obvious.

Pangretitsch also has a strong academic reputation, reportedly carrying a 95 average in school.

183 D Alexander Grunin (RUS-MHL, Sibirskie Snaipery Novosibirsk)

At 6-foot-4, 185 pounds, Grunin still has some filling out to do, but he's also seen as a shutdown defenseman with good mobility. He scored 15 points in 44 games with the wonderfully-named Sibirskie Snaipery Novosibirsk. (RUS-MHL).

Dylan Griffing from Elite Prospects mentioned on social media that Grunin is very raw, but hyper-mobile and one of the biggest wild cards in the draft, but also had a scary year-end, getting stretchered off the ice during the Russian U18 Finals. He played in the following game, but only for a few minutes.

The Sens' 2026 draft class paints a fairly clear picture.

The team prioritized offensive skill early, leaned heavily into European talent, and then rounded out the class with size on D. As with any draft, it will be years before we can properly evaluate these choices, but the organization's blueprint was hard to miss.

By Steve Warne
The Hockey News