Last summer, the Buffalo Sabres faced a dilemma in getting defenseman Bowen Byram signed to a contract extension. The Stanley Cup winner went into mid-July as a restricted free agent while reportedly Sabres GM Kevyn Adams pondered trading the young blueliner, but after not finding a satisfactory return, the Sabres inked the British Columbia native to a two-year, $12.5 million deal in mid July. Less than a year later, after posting career-high numbers and helping Buffalo reach the postseason for the first time in 15 years, Byram’s name has popped up again in trade chatter.
The 25-year-old put up 42 points (11 goals, 31 assists) in 82 games, and seven points (4 goals, 3 assists) in 13 playoff games last season, and in his season-ending comments to the media last month, Sabres GM Jarmo Kekalainen expressed a desire to get Byram signed to a long-term extension when he becomes eligible on July 1.
"(Keeping that top four intact as long as possible is) very important. I said that to Bo today. I'd like to lock him up for a long time," Kekalainen said. "I think the top four of our defense is our driver, our engine, and their mobility, ability to move the puck, ability to support offense, but also play good defensively. There's a lot of untapped potential there too. I think Bowen is still a young defenseman. He can get better."
Byram switched agents to Darren Ferris last summer, the same agent as Vegas Golden Knights forward Mitch Marner. Ferris is a tough negotiator who usually recommends players to go to unrestricted free agency, as Marner did by orchestrating his exit from the Toronto Maple Leafs last summer. Entering the walk year of his bridge deal and with the salary cap projected to going up again next season, it likely would necessitate the Sabres to pay market rate to get him extended.
TSN’s Darren Dreger said that multiple teams are exploring a trade for Byram, and NHL reporter Frank Seravalli indicates that Byram likes playing in Buffalo, but that the opportunity to be a #1 defenseman and hitting the jackpot in free agency may be foremost on his agenda.
The bridge deal signed by Adams last summer pushed the issue down the road, and that paid off this season with him being an integral part of their success, but the issue has returned and Kekalainen must deal with it. Offers from potentially interested teams will be less due to the fact that acquiring Byram will likely be a one-year rental, and that could manifest itself in the Sabres getting a package of futures or keeping him for another playoff run and potentially losing him for nothing next July, as it appears they will be losing Alex Tuch next month.
Carels is coming off of a season with the Prince George Cougars of the Western Hockey League, in which he recorded 20 goals, 53 assists, and 73 points in 58 games.
The 17-year-old defenseman is committed to playing NCAA hockey this upcoming season for the University of North Dakota.
Ranked third among all North American skaters in the NHL Central Scouting Rankings, Carels is known as a defenseman who plays a strong two-way game, capable of producing offense while also playing a shutdown role against the opposition's best forwards.
“Carels is a unique all-around defenseman who has offensive talent and brings a physical element while playing sound defensively,” via NHL Central Scouting. “He can play big minutes and is deployed in all situations with the ability to run a power play.
“An excellent puck transporter and distributor who drives offence and shows some elite offensive skill. He skates very well with excellent mobility and agility and can defend with speed. A potential top-pairing defenseman.”
In Pronman’s latest mock draft, Carels is the second defenseman off the board, with Chase Reid being slotted to be selected by the Chicago Blackhawks at the No. 4 overall pick.
Standing at 6-foot-2, 198 pounds, some scouts described Carels as the most physical defenseman when compared to some of the top blueliners in the draft class, according to The Athletic’s Vincent Mercogliano.
During his time in the WHL, Cougars head coach Brad Lauer relied heavily on Carels, who led the league in ice time, averaging 27:39 minutes per game.
Other defensemen the Rangers could look to draft with the No.5 pick include Alberts Šmits and Keaton Verhoeff.
The former Chicago Blackhawks captain had joined his hometown Jets in 2025-26 after missing two years with health issues. He played all 82 games, finishing with 11 goals, 18 assists and 29 points.
Toews, 38, was a standout with the Blackhawks, recording 372 goals, 511 assists and 883 points in 1,067 career-regular season games over 15 seasons. He was named captain at age 20, and "Captain Serious" helped the team win Stanley Cup titles in 2010, 2013 and 2015.
Toews said winning one Stanley Cup — let alone three — was surreal.
"When (Patrick Kane) scored that (2010 overtime) goal, I think I was one of the last guys off the bench," he said during his retirement announcement at the Jonathan Toews Sportsplex in Winnipeg. "I wasn't ready to let go until I knew for sure that it was over. Next thing you know, you're hoisting the Cup and you have it back home and in your living room and you're just like, 'How is this happening to me right now?'"
Toews won the 2010 Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP after leading all postseason scorers with 29 points as the Blackhawks ended a 49-year championship drought.
He won the Selke Trophy as top defensive forward during the lockout-shortened 2012-13 season. The Blackhawks opened that season with a 24-game point streak and captured the Stanley Cup. He had 21 points in 23 games during the 2015 Cup run.
He also won Olympic gold medals with Canada in 2010 and 2014, scoring in both championship games.
Toews' final years in Chicago were marked by health issues.
He missed the COVID-shortened 2020-21 season because of chronic immune response syndrome and also sat out for two months in 2021-22 because of the effects of that and of long COVID. After playing in 2022-23, he skipped two seasons in order to get healthy.
After his comeback season, he was a finalist for the Masterton Trophy for perseverance.
"Sometimes I catch myself wishing that things had gone differently and I could have finished my career on a different note these last five years or so, but truth be told, I'm grateful for the struggle and learning experience I've been through," he said. "Ironically, I feel I've learned so much more about myself and about life through the low points than I ever did when my career was at its heights."
Is Jonathan Toews a Hall of Famer?
Easily. He was a captain of three Stanley Cup championship teams and won several individual awards.
The Hall of Fame also factors in international play and he won two Olympic gold medals. He's a member of the triple gold club, winning a Stanley Cup, Olympics and world championships.
Top NHL free agent defenseman Darren Raddysh is off the market after being acquired by the Toronto Maple Leafs from the Tampa Bay Lightning in a sign-and-trade deal on Friday, June 19.
Raddysh gets an eight-year deal worth a reported $8.5 million a year. The Lightning received a fifth-round pick in the trade.
The 30-year-old defenseman had a breakout season with 22 goals and 70 points and filled in well while Tampa Bay's Victor Hedman was out with injuries and personal leave. His top season before that was 37 points, so there's some risk with the term in the deal.
"Darren has emerged as one of the NHL’s premier two-way defensemen, combining elite puck-moving ability with poise, competitiveness, and strong play in all three zones," Maple Leafs general manager John Chayka said.
But there are intriguing names left on the board. Here's what to know about NHL free agency:
When does NHL free agency open?
The free agent market opens at noon ET on July 1.
Who are the top NHL unrestricted free agents?
10. Anders Lee, New York Islanders
He has been the Islanders' captain since 2018 and is good for 20-plus goals, though he had 19 in 2025-26. Current cap hit: $7 million.
9. Bobby McMann, Seattle Kraken
He had a career-best 29 goals in 2025-26 and took off after his trade from Toronto to Seattle, getting 10 goals and 14 points in 18 games. Current cap hit: $1.35 million
8. Mason Marchment, Columbus Blue Jackets
He struggled with the Seattle Kraken after his offseason trade, but his trade to Columbus revived his season with 32 points in 39 games. He's also an agitator. Current cap hit: $4.5 million.
7. Anthony Mantha, Pittsburgh Penguins
He's the third-highest-scoring player on the free agent list with 64 points after he signed a one-year deal with Pittsburgh. Will a general manager be tempted to think he can do that again or look at his subpar production before that? Current cap hit: $2.5 million.
6. Viktor Arvidsson, Boston Bruins
The forward bounced back from a couple subpar seasons and had 25 goals and 54 points after being traded to Boston. Current cap hit: $4 million.
5. Sergei Bobrovsky, Florida Panthers
The goalie won back-to-back Stanley Cup titles and two Vezina Trophies. He'll be 38 next season. Current cap hit: $10 million.
4. Alex Ovechkin, Washington Capitals
The NHL's all-time leading goal scorer is expected to either re-sign with the Capitals or retire. Otherwise, he'd be higher on the list. He scored 32 goals at age 40. Current cap hit: $9.5 million.
3. John Carlson, Anaheim Ducks
Carlson, the Capitals' all-time leader in scoring among defensemen, was traded to the Ducks in a shocker. He totaled 60 points in 71 games. Current cap hit: $8 million.
2. Rasmus Andersson, Vegas Golden Knights
The defenseman was traded to the Golden Knights this season by the Flames. He can provide offense with one 50-point season and others topping 40 points, including 47 points in 2025-26. He had an average playoffs. Current cap hit: $4.55 million.
1. Alex Tuch, Buffalo Sabres
The forward can score (two 36-goal seasons) and also kills penalties. He had 33 goals this season as the Sabres ended a 14-season playoff drought. After scoring four goals in the first round, he was held without a point in the second round as the Sabres lost in seven games. Current cap hit: $4.75 million.
Others to watch: Patrick Kane, Frederik Andersen, Mats Zuccarello, Brent Burns
Heading into the 2026 NHL Draft and then Free Agency, many Calgary Flames fans are discussing which direction the 2026-27 team will head and whether they can collectively take a step forward in their rebuild.
At the moment, the Flames have four free agents, Ryan Lomberg, Victor Olofsson, Jake Bean, and John Beecher (RFA), who may or may not be with the team next season. According to PuckPedia, General Manager Craig Conroy has roughly $22.7 million in cap space, giving him plenty of room to swing a deal to boost the lineup or trade a veteran like Blake Coleman or Jonathan Huberdeau.
Although it is way too early to talk about the end of Dustin Wolf's contract or when Yegor Sharangovich's contract comes off the books, it is interesting to see who Calgary has committed to on long-term deals.
Possible Free Agents in 2027
At the conclusion of the final season at the Saddledome, several players may or may not still be in the lineup for that last game, including Ryan Strome ($5 million), Morgan Frost ($4.38 million), Adam Klapka ($1.25 million), Joel Hanley ($1.75 million), Brayden Pachal ($1.19 million), Yan Kuznetsov ($954k), and Coleman ($4.9 million).
Among the future free agents, Coleman's name ranks among the top 25 on most NHL trade boards, as many await to see whether the Flames work on an extension or opt to trade one of their veteran leaders.
If all the previous names depart the organization, Calgary could reallocate possible $20 million in savings to lock up prospects or acquire younger talent on team-friendly deals.
Whose Sticking Around in 2028?
Although the summer of 2028 is two years away, the Flames may be a completely different franchise, with only nine contracts on the books. Those deals include Huberdeau ($10.5 million), Matt Coronato ($6.5 million), Sharangovich ($5.75 million), Martin Pospisil ($2.5 million), Kevin Bahl ($5.35 million), Olli Määttä ($3.5 million), Zach Whitecloud ($2.75 million), Zayne Parekh ($954k), and Wolf ($7.5 million)
Many of the team's core will still be under contract at the conclusion of the first season at Scotia Place, including Coronato, Pospisil, Bahl, Parekh, and Wolf. But the question then will be, which prospects have stepped up and earned a spot in the Flames lineup, and which veterans could be interested in playing in Southern Alberta in the league's newest arena.
Credit: Sergei Belski-Imagn Images
Meanwhile, Parekh will enter the final year of his entry-level deal. If he turns into the team's best defenseman, he could be in line for a significant pay increase, one that could rival Huberdeau's salary. In addition, 2028 also marks the end of captain Mikael Backlund's current deal, meaning the longest tenured Flames player could hang'em up instead of seeking a new start with another team. Finally, that summer will also be the end of Connor Zary's entry-level deal, and it will be interesting to see whether he blossoms into the player the Flames hope for or becomes trade bait for someone else.
2028 and Beyond
Ahead of the 2029-30 season, the Flames will have five contracts still guaranteed as of today, including Huberdeau, Coronato, Sharangovich, Bahl, and Wolf. In 2030, Sharangovich's deal runs out, followed by Huberdeau and Bahl in 2031, Coronato in 2032, and Wolf in 2033.
During the recent CBA renegotiation, the NHLPA and NHL agreed that teams can re-sign their own free agents for up to seven seasons and free agents for up to six seasons. By that point, which current Flames prospect will be in line for a max deal, or could a high-profile player like Cale Makar come home in a free agency blockbuster?
As mentioned before, thinking about roster construction for 2028 and beyond is a little far-fetched, since the 2026 NHL Draft hasn't taken place yet. However, the moves Conroy makes today could go a long way toward shaping the roster at the end of the decade, a point when long-suffering Flames fans would hope their team is contending.
Will the Flames be a playoff team in 2028? Which prospects are you hoping to be NHL regulars by that time? Let us know in the comments.
Connor Ungar probably wasn't thinking about Grant Fuhr when he signed his contract with the Edmonton Oilers.
He was probably thinking about how far he'd come.
From Calgary to Brock University. From U Sports to the ECHL. From being largely ignored to becoming one of the better stories in the Oilers' system. Yesterday, all that work resulted in a one-year contract and another step toward what every young goalie dreams about.
An NHL crease.
Good for him.
But the thing is, being a goaltending prospect in Edmonton isn't quite like being one anywhere else. Around these parts, goalies are less developed than they are debated. Every rough outing becomes a referendum while every hot streak sparks a round of "maybe he's the answer."
And everybody wants an answer; they've wanted one for decades.
Curtis Joseph left. Tommy Salo broke hearts. Dwayne Roloson came close. Cam Talbot had his moments. Mikko Koskinen was alternately loved and blamed. Mike Smith somehow became both cult hero and lightning rod. Stuart Skinner experienced the full emotional roller coaster, and now Tristan Jarry and Connor Ingram find themselves carrying the latest version of the NHL's least enjoyable group project.
So yah, there was something amusing about the reaction to Ungar's signing.
Oil Country has developed a habit over the years. Every time a new goalie emerges, somebody starts wondering whether this is finally the one.
As if the position itself can be solved.
The funny thing is, maybe Ungar has a chance.
His path hasn't exactly been conventional, but unconventional isn't necessarily bad when it comes to goaltenders. Tim Thomas was nearly 31 before becoming a full-time NHL player. Adin Hill bounced around before helping Vegas win a Stanley Cup. Logan Thompson wasn't drafted at all. Goalies are strange creatures.
Nobody handed him anything. He wasn't a first-round pick. He wasn't even a draft pick. Every level he's reached has been earned. And after putting together strong numbers in Bakersfield, he's done enough to convince the organization that he's worth another look.
Twenty-four years old isn't old for a goalie, but it's not young either. He hasn't played an NHL game, and other names are ahead of him. Fans should expect setbacks, because that's what happens.
Some nights you're the future. Some nights people are wondering if you'll ever make it.
Just ask Stuart Skinner.
The Oilers themselves seem to understand this better now than they once did. Instead of rushing prospects and declaring them saviours, they're trying to build depth.
The truth is, nobody knows whether Connor Ungar will become a starting NHL goaltender. Nobody knows whether he'll spend ten years in the league or ten years riding buses in the minors.
While a lot has been written and said about how Kent Hughes will be looking to improve the Montreal Canadiens over the summer, it must be remembered that he’ll also have to deal with a few expiring contracts. Joe Veleno, Kirby Dach, Zachary Bolduc, and Arber Xhekaj will all be RFAs at the end of June.
The easiest case to deal with will likely be Bolduc. The 23-year-old has just completed his ELC, and while he’s proven to be a promising young player, it feels like we’ve only just scratched the surface. In 78 regular-season games, Bolduc has put up 30 points, including 12 goals. In 2024-25 with the St. Louis Blues, he gathered 36 points and 19 goals, but 12 of his goals came on the power play. With the central division team, he had a plus-20 differential, but finished with a minus-6 with the Canadiens this past season.
That’s not regression, that’s needing some time to adapt to a new way to play the game, the Martin St-Louis way. It’s a game that relies on reads and reactions rather than an established system, a man-on-man defensive system, which takes time to understand and process. If the youngster looked lost in defensive coverage early in the season, that happened a lot less in the later stages of the year.
While he averaged 1:36 of power play time per game, that was with the Canadiens’ less successful second unit, not with the big guns, so to speak, so it’s not all that surprising that his man-advantage production dropped from 12 points with the Blues to just six with the Habs.
Clearly, Bolduc has more to show, and that’s why he won’t be signing a long-term deal. Just like Dach and Alex Newhook, he’ll have to sign a bridge deal, which will allow the Canadiens to see what he can do as he develops as a hockey player under St-Louis’ tutelage. The former signed a four-year deal with a $3,362,500 million cap hit coming off a 26-point season in 70 games with the Chicago Blackhawks, while the latter had a four-year pact with a $2.9 million cap hit coming off a 30-point season in 82 games with the Colorado Avalanche. Both were former first-round picks, just like Bolduc. Dach went third overall, while Newhook was 16th overall, and Bolduc was 17th overall at the 2021 draft.
Bolduc’s last ELC year was quite similar to Dach and Newhook’s, so it’s highly likely that Hughes will follow the same blueprint with the Trois-Rivieres native. Given the fact that the salary cap will be going up for the next few seasons, his cap hit is likely to be higher than what Dach and Newhook had, but he really shouldn’t be all that expensive. He’ll likely come in somewhere between $3.5 and $3.75 million, since the GM will no doubt use his tried and tested recipe to sign his player to a team-friendly contract, giving himself as much cap flexibility as possible moving forward.
PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA - FEBRUARY 18: Mario Lemieux, Ron Francis and Kevin Stevens look on during the jersey retirement ceremony for Jaromir Jagr before the game between the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Los Angeles Kings at PPG PAINTS Arena on February 18, 2024 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Penguins announced that Ron Francis is back with the organization as special advisor for hockey operations.
A champion returns.
After winning two Stanley Cups with the Penguins, Ron Francis is back with the organization as Special Advisor, Hockey Operations.
The Penguins have named Ron Francis as Special Advisor, Hockey Operations, it was announced today by President of Hockey Operations and General Manager Kyle Dubas.
In his new role, Francis will assist the Penguins’ hockey operations leadership group with strategic planning, roster construction and optimization of all internal systems and processes to help further implement best practices within the organization. Francis will provide expertise and counsel during key events during the season including training camp, the NHL Draft, trade deadline and free agency, while also supporting the Club’s minor league operations and Player Development staff.
“Ron has a deep affinity for the city of Pittsburgh and the Penguins. He cherishes his time spent here as a player where he had tremendous success and is an outstanding ambassador for the Penguins and the city of Pittsburgh,” said Dubas. “Ron’s playing experience, management experience, and familiarity with the Penguins and Pittsburgh will be a great benefit to our organization and all members of our management team. We look forward to having a person of Ron’s experience and character in our front office as we continue to work to build the Penguins back into a perennial Stanley Cup contender.”
Francis, 63, most recently spent the past seven seasons with the Seattle Kraken organization, joining them in 2019 as their first General Manager in franchise history, holding that role until 2025 when he was promoted to President of Hockey Operations. While with Seattle, Francis oversaw the buildout of the Kraken from the ground up, spearheading the hiring of all members of their hockey operations department, the construction of their practice facility, their affiliation agreement with their AHL club, Coachella Valley, as well as the selection of their inaugural NHL roster via expansion draft.
Seattle’s best season under Francis came during their second in existence, the 2022-23 campaign, as the Kraken eclipsed 100 points, going 46-28-8 to finish fourth in the Pacific Division and earn the first Stanley Cup Playoff berth in franchise history.
Prior to his time in Seattle, the native of Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, spent 12 years in management with the Carolina Hurricanes (2006-18), holding various roles including Executive Vice President and General Manager (2014-18), Director of Hockey Operations (2011-14), Director of Player Personnel (2008-11), Associate Coach (2008-11), Assistant General Manager (2007-08) and Director of Player Development (2006-07).
While with the Hurricanes, Francis was part of the management group that acquired multiple key players via draft or trade that played integral parts on Carolina’s 2026 Stanley Cup Championship team including Sebastian Aho (2015), Jacob Slavin (2012) and Jordan Staal (2012).
The Penguins have built up a robust front office under Dubas, Francis’ experience as a general manager makes him a natural fit and value add on the managerial side as the Pens look to continue to reshape their team.
As a result, Boston will get the Leafs’ first-rounder in 2027 or 2028 to complete the Brandon Carlo trade from March of 2025. This also means the Bruins’ only 2026 first-round pick is their own selection at No. 23 overall.
The Bruins really need a top-six center, particularly a No. 1 center. They don’t have one at the NHL level, although it’s possible that recent first-round picks James Hagens and/or Dean Letourneau could develop into that kind of player.
The B’s also need a right-shot defenseman. If you look at Boston’s top 10 prospects, maybe one of them is a defenseman (Frederic Brunet). The rest are forwards. The organization needs more high-end skill on the blue line.
Even though the Bruins have plenty of specific needs to address, they really should just take the best player available, regardless of position. Boston’s prospect pool came in at No. 19 on The Athletic’s most recent rankings, which is a great improvement from being ranked No. 30 in those rankings in 2025.
But the Bruins still lack elite-level talent in their system, so if a player falls to them at No. 23 and he has a high ceiling, it’s worth taking a shot on him. They took a home run swing on Letourneau at No. 25 in the first round of the 2024 NHL Draft, and two years later, that pick is looking very nice for Boston.
Which players should the Bruins target in the first round? Here’s a roundup of predictions from recent expert mock drafts.
“The Bruins haven’t used a top-50 pick on a defenseman since 2017, and I’m sure they’d consider Bleyl. But I’m not convinced he gets here, and if he doesn’t, I’m not convinced that Jakub Vanecek, Adam Goljer, Juho Piiparainen or William Håkansson fit in this range when there are likely going to be forwards who are hard to pass up on for their group. All of Hurlbert, Hextall, Novotný and Maddox Dagenais would give them a future top-nine forward with a different look from James Hagens and Dean Letourneau.”
“The Bruins keep the Boston College pipeline active. Mutryn, who will be a BC freshman, aims to become the next version of James Hagens. Mutryn is a different type of forward than the explosive Hagens, but he projects to be a dependable middle-of-the-lineup wing/center with a pro game.”
“Hermansson goes to the Bruins, who, after selecting James Hagens last year, continue to add talent and scoring to their farm system. Hermansson is extremely skilled, but his effort level can waver.”
“Dagenais (6-4, 196), the son of retired NHL forward Pierre Dagenais, is known for his strong offensive toolkit. The left-handed shot added a welcome layer of physicality to his power game this season, something that would resonate well with Bruins fans. In 62 games, the 18-year-old had 62 points (30 goals, 32 assists) and 25 power-play points (10 goals, 15 assists), highlighting his effectiveness with the man advantage.”
“So who is Hermansson at his best? A highly skilled playmaker who can create in a variety of situations and who has especially been dominant against his own peer group. Driving play is second nature to him thanks to high-end handling abilities and the good facets of his skating; namely, his top speeds and the edgework that allows him to be slippery and elusive.
“His skating posture could use some work, but that’s what skating coaches are for. His physicality could use some improvement, and we’d like to see greater clarity on whether he can translate those creation abilities to the professional level.”
The Toronto Maple Leafs made a big splash by acquiring and signing defenseman Darren Raddysh to an eight-year deal reportedly worth $8.5 million per season. It’s no secret that a top defenseman who can help in all situations was Toronto’s top priority to address this offseason, and acquiring Raddysh certainly helps in that regard. After signing Raddysh, the Leafs have 19 contracts signed with a projected salary cap space of $18,795,951, according to PuckPedia.com.
That’s plenty of cash remaining to make a big splash, and there could be more if Max Domi isn’t cleared to return to the Leafs when he is examined at training camp following complications that arose from off-season back surgery.
Given where things are going in that regard and John Tavares entering next season at age 35, the Leafs will definitely want to target a top-six centre who can play in difficult matchups, while freeing up someone like Auston Matthews to help turn up his production offensively.
Does someone like a 33-year-old Boone Jenner make sense for the Leafs? Perhaps a better solution comes via a trade. If the Leafs part ways with Morgan Rielly, that $7.5 million plus Domi’s $3.75 million could give Toronto an additional $10.25 million to work with, increasing Toronto’s space to $29,045,951.
The Leafs have decisions to make on several restricted free agents including Nick Robertson, Mattias Maccelli, and Jaco Quillan. Newly acquired defenseman Emil Andrae is in the same boat. Same with goaltender Sam Ersson. Arbitration awards could be so high that it may not make sense to qualify guys like Robertson or Maccelli with arbitration rights that could set those numbers to be higher than desired. The Leafs have until June 29 at 5 p.m. ET to tender qualifying offers to their restricted free agents. If they are not tendered, they will become unrestricted free agents.
In the span of four days, the Leafs pulled off a trade with the Philadelphia Flyers, hired a new head coach in Jim Hiller, and now acquired Raddysh. With the NHL Draft set for next week, expect the Leafs to remain busy.
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The Chicago Blackhawks have some options with the 4th overall pick, but it will mostly depend on what the teams ahead of them do.
Chicago needs forwards more than they need defensemen at both the NHL level and within the pipeline, which begs the question about best player available vs organizational need.
The truth is, if Gavin McKenna, Ivar Stenberg, and Caleb Malhotra are the first three picks, that doesn't mean that the Blackhawks are forced into taking a defenseman.
If they don't think that one of Chase Reid, Keaton Verhoeff, or Carson Carels is going to be better than Artyom Levshunov or Sam Rinzel, and there is a fourth forward that they really like, they must not hesitate to take the risk.
Forwards like Viggo Bjorck, Tynan Lawrence, Ethan Belchetz, and Wyatt Cullen are projected to be NHL-caliber forwards in the future, and the Blackhawks need as many of those as they can.
If one of them is at the top of their board, even more than any of the defensemen, there is no shame in that. Kyle Davidson has to do what he feels will make the team better in the long term, even if it goes against popular opinion.
Of those forwards, Viggo Bjorck and Tynan Lawrence appear to have the highest ceiling. For Bjorck, he shone at the World Juniors and World Championships, which featured other young stars like Ivar Stenberg and Anton Frondell.
If the Blackhawks ended up with a forward like him, he has the mold of a player who could slot in on a line with his countryman Frondell. The success that they've had with Sweden on the national stage could translate to the NHL.
As for Lawrence, he had times when he was projected to be a top-three pick in the draft. His time at B.U. showed just how hard the transition to college hockey can be, and he wasn't the only one who dealt with that reality check in 2025-26.
Chicago also doesn't have to use the 4th overall pick. If those top-three forwards are gone, there is the option of trading the selection. Trading down could still land them one of the other forwards mentioned, plus another asset.
As with any other team that has selected 4th overall in the past, some decisions must be made depending on what the three teams ahead of them decide. For the Blackhawks this year, positional need could come into play.
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The Philadelphia Flyers and general manager Danny Briere got off to a blazing start to the offseason with their first trade, and the NHL draft and the start of free agency rapidly approach.
With Joseph Woll and Simon Benoit in the fold, the Flyers have already addressed a few immediate needs, and they have a number of prospects still on the way.
In a recent one-on-one with The Hockey News, I had the pleasure of picking Briere's brain, gleaning some insights into the Flyers' plans, how their prospects are coming along, and other odds and ends.
Here, we'll be covering topics like Egor Zavragin, David Jiricek, free agency, Jett Luchanko, former Flyers friends, and more.
Note that some questions and answers in this interview were edited for clarity and brevity.
Jonathan Bailey: "You have Simon Benoit now. You have talked a lot about Hunter McDonald, Ty Murchison, and those guys in the past. Do you think this changed anything for them? Benoit’s got one year on his deal, Seeler’s got a few more, but does that change anything for them now?"
Danny Briere: "You know, the way I see it is, those young guys, they both took a step forward last year. They're going to have to beat someone out of a job, like that's just the reality to make it in the NHL. You have to show that you can beat someone out of their job; that's going to be the challenge for them. So that's always the tough part, you know. Nothing is handed for free. You got to earn it.”
JB: "A few weeks ago, you re-signed Aleksei Kolosov for one year, but his goal was to play in the NHL. Now he’s the No. 3 goalie coming into the year. What's your confidence like in him, because he played pretty well last year?"
DB: "With Aleksei, two years ago, it was kind of a wasted year for him. So spending the year up as a third goalie with the Flyers, it wasn't ideal, and I think it was a little bit of a season that was lost for him last year. He had a good season, stepped back up, so we still see him as a young goalie that's still developing, but he needs more time. We feel it's a good spot for him to be in, as the No. 3. Most likely, there's going to be some injuries along the way, and sometimes he's going to have to play, he’s going to have the chance to play a few games. We don't know how many, and it's kind of the same thing that goes for McDonald and Murchison. You have to beat someone out of the job, so that's going to be the challenge for him."
JB: "Egor Zavragin is off to a new KHL team, maybe a tandem situation, but probably going to play. How optimistic does that make you now after the way this past year went?"
DB: "Yeah, I mean, it was a little disappointing to see, and there was a time where he, early in the year, had the best stats out of the group of three, and I think it almost felt like it was decided before that he was the youngest and he was going to be the one going to the VHL. So it's unfortunate, but we have no control over what they do now. There's a little bit of hope that he's going to be in the KHL the whole year and play some KHL games next year. I think it's going to be great for his development, and there's no rush, especially now knowing and seeing what we have here. We have a good group of four goalies that are under NHL contracts, and hopefully, we don't have to use all four, but we know it's there. And especially in Kolosov and Bjarnason’s cases, it's good to see them developing and playing some games. I think we're comfortable with where it's at, at the moment."
JB: "Jett Luchanko is turning pro this year. He made the team out of training camp both years he’s been here. Is that the expectation now, or do you want to leave that up to him and see where he's at?"
DB: "It’ll be up to him now. We’ll see. I mean, it's a big summer for Jett. Last year was a tough one, missed a lot of training, and he missed development camp. He came in, and he was still a little dinged up. So it's a big summer for him, but there's also no rush if we don't feel he's quite ready. We have Lehigh Valley that's down the road from here, and he's going to play a lot of minutes there, so I don't see us keeping Jett Luchanko as an extra player as a 13th or 14th forward on the team. If he doesn't fit into the top 12, he's most likely going to be in Lehigh so he can play lots of minutes and lots of responsibilities in every situation."
JB: "David Jiricek, I think he needs waivers. All things considered, pretty good in Lehigh, very productive. Where do you see him now that, especially because you have Benoit, is kind of like the insulator? If Juulsen isn’t coming back, that leaves a spot on the right for him… where do you see him right now?"
DB: “Yeah, like you said, he had a really good stint in Lehigh Valley. He proved that he's ready for the next level. For him, it's gonna be a battle for ice time. It's going to be up to him. Big summer for him. Yeah, he needs waivers. We're aware of that, and he's going to get a good look, and we hope that he's ready for it. We feel he's ready for it, but he's going to have to show it on the ice. We know the offense is there, the big shot is there, the size is there, and that's just for him to round out his game, where he becomes a player that the coaches trust every night."
JB: "Are there any players who definitely are, or definitely are not, coming back this summer?"
DB: "[Rodrigo Abols] will most likely not be back. [Luke Glendening] we still have in the mix. Yeah, there's so many moving parts still, right? We're looking at different things, we're exploring. That's our job, to explore what's out there. Look at trades, you know. Three weeks ago, I would be talking about [Emil Andrae] as a guy who has a chance to find his way into the top six, and it'll be up to him, and now today, he's out. Same thing with [Sam Ersson]. So things changed, things evolved. It's a little too early, right? I don't want to pigeonhole myself and say, ‘Oh, this guy's definitely not coming back’ yet. We're keeping the door open, but it's our duty to look at what's out there, and if there’s an improvement that we can make to help the team."
JB: “Coming into this, I had Sergei Bobrovsky and Claude Giroux written down, two of your old teammates who are now free agents.”
DB: Smiles. "Yeah, it's pretty safe to say that there's not much room for Bob. I still have the feeling that Bob will re-sign in Florida. I don't think they have a goalie signed, so, yeah, they're gonna need a goalie, at least one, maybe two. I mean, Bob's a fantastic teammate, and great work ethic. He would have been a really good example for our guys, but no, I don't know how realistic that would have been."
JB: "Giroux, I assume, the same thing? I'm thinking of Rick Tocchet talking about Luke Glendening, having that veteran right-hand center for matchups, making that connection. You never know?"
DB: "Yeah, you never know where it's at. G's had a really good stint in Ottawa. I'm sure they want to keep him there, so I'm not sure he's thinking about going anywhere else. But I think he's been invested in the Senators for a while now, and they have a pretty good team."
JB: "Nick Deslauriers, Stanley Cup champion. You guys gave him the chance to go play for a contender, got nothing back, but showed the young guys they’ll be rewarded for being good teammates and working hard. How nice is it to see him actually go do it from your perspective?"
DB: "Yeah, it was pretty cool. Nick, again, what he did for us, protecting some of our young guys the last few years, it's not an easy job, and you don't play a lot, and you sacrifice, and you do extra work. It's a really tough job to do. So, we're thankful for what he did, and I feel it was the right thing to do, to give him a chance to go somewhere and have a shot at the Cup at the time. If you remember, like, we weren't looking too, too good to have a chance to make the playoffs, so yeah, it was pretty cool to watch him lift when it happened a couple nights ago."
JB: "A bit of a personal one, but Matthew Schaefer has special place in the heart for you, and not to talk about other teams' players too much, but is there a personal sense of pride for you to see him win the Calder Trophy, and then on Good Morning America, where they brought it out to surprise him?"
DB: Smiles. "Yeah, I'm not supposed to talk about players on other teams, but there's a special connection there with the family, not just Matthew, but also his brother and his dad. So it was pretty cool to see that, and a surprise on the show. Yeah, there's a little special place for him, obviously. [New York Islanders GM] Mathieu Darche knows that as well, so it's not a secret. Very proud of him. The only thing I don't like about him is that he plays in our division. That makes it tough. But, otherwise, on most nights, I'm happy for the Schaefer family and Matthew, and he’s a special talent to watch play."
DB: "No, there's nothing still at this point that we can share. We're still in a holding pattern with him, so I don't have anything to share yet."
JB: "Is he still someone you see, like just the way he plays, his style, his traits, long-term, bottom-six, pushing for that role?
DB: “Yeah, that's what we are hoping for, believing that he can give us. He's just got to get healthy, but yeah, we love his spunk. We love the sandpaper that he brings, great personality, really well-loved, too, in the locker room. So we're just hoping that we can get him to a place where he can provide that feistiness for us every night.”
Hiller's introduction to the Maple Leafs caps an abundance of decisions with the purpose of reshaping the organization. And Raddysh joining Toronto's blueline is a big change to the team's D-core.
In other words, it's the beginning of a new era for the Maple Leafs.
The start of this new era in Toronto began last off-season when Mitch Marner departed from the Maple Leafs in that sign-and-trade with the Vegas Golden Knights. But as the year went along, there were plenty more changes on the cards, and maybe some were not anticipated at the conclusion of the 2024-25 campaign.
Here are some of those notable changes and decisions that led to this new era for the Maple Leafs organization.
Joe Bowen's Retirement
After being the voice of the Maple Leafs for over 3,800 games and over 40 years of broadcasting, Joe Bowen has just wrapped up his final year in the booth.
It won't be the same for Leafs fans with Bowen no longer behind the microphone. But the 75-year-old will be in retirement as a new era of Maple Leafs broadcasting begins, starting next season.
The Maple Leafs have been a perennial playoff team in the NHL. In fact, this past season was the first time Toronto missed the post-season in nine years.
Until last year, the Leafs have consistently made the playoffs since 2016-17. In other words, they've never missed out on the post-season in the Auston Matthews era.
That change last season when Toronto ended their campaign as the last-place team in the Atlantic Division and fifth from the bottom of the entire NHL standings.
With that, the organization finds themself in a situation that it hasn't experienced in a decade, marking a new timeline for the Leafs.
John Chayka And Mats Sundin Hiring
Following that disappointing 2025-26 campaign by the Maple Leafs, ownership believed it was time for a change in the front office.
Former GM Brad Treliving was fired in late March, and current GM John Chayka and senior executive advisor Mats Sundin were named the successors to the previous management.
It was an interesting and unpredictable decision for MLSE to hire Chayka as the GM when he hadn't been in the league since 2019-20. To add to that, they brought in Sundin, a former captain and icon of the Maple Leafs, but he never experienced a role in an NHL front office or in any league, for that matter.
This different approach and assignment of roles is something the Maple Leafs organization hasn't gone through in recent years, and certainly marks a new era for the hockey club.
2026 First Overall Pick
In the aftermath of misery from the end of a poor regular season and the initial backlash from MLSE's front office hires, Toronto's spirits were reborn when they surprisingly won the 2026 NHL draft lottery.
Toronto had the fifth-best odds and an 8.5 percent chance of winning the lottery, and with a little bit of fortune, that hope became a reality. It marks the first time the Leafs will get the first overall pick in a draft since they selected Matthews in the 2016 draft.
With the likelihood of taking left winger Gavin McKenna in this year's draft, or even left winger Ivar Stenberg, Toronto is sure to get a talented youngster to boost a franchise that was trending downward at the end of the last campaign.
Hiller was another surprise hire by the Maple Leafs, both because of the lack of reports that included his name and also his previous tenure with the Los Angeles Kings.
Nonetheless, Hiller returns to the Maple Leafs after four years as an assistant coach from 2015-16 to 2018-19. And the word is, Toronto's stars are a big fan of Hiller.
As an assistant, he ran the power play, and over the course of his Leafs tenure, he guided them to be a top-five power play. With someone like Matthews dropping in production over the years, maybe Hiller can bring the best out of him.
Additions To Blueline
The latest move Chayka has executed is a sign-and-trade with the Tampa Bay Lightning for Raddysh. They acquired him from the Bolts for a 2026 fifth-round pick, and then reportedly inked him to an eight-year extension worth $8.5 million per season.
Raddysh, a Toronto native, was one of the top players in the 2026 UFA class, making this a big grab by the Leafs and a boost to their back end.
With that, throw in the trade with the Philadelphia Flyers when Toronto received 24-year-old defenseman Emil Andrae and sent away Simon Benoit. This improves the Leafs' ability to advance the puck up the ice with Andrae's puck skills, along with his ability to skate.
Not to mention, the biggest change to Toronto's back end may be yet to come. With talks of Morgan Rielly potentially being moved this summer, that would be the most era-changing move Toronto could make, considering he is actively the longest-tenured Maple Leaf on the team.
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We’re now just one week away from the 2026 NHL Draft in Buffalo and less than two weeks from the start of a new league year.
Between the annual prospect selection and the opening of free agency a few days later, player movement and contract signings will make for a fun few days around the NHL.
The Florida Panthers should be in the thick of the fun.
Florida holds the ninth overall selection at next week’s draft, and they also have over $15 in cap space to work with.
That means Panthers General Manager Bill Zito will have some options to work with, and you better believe he and his staff have been diligently preparing for several potential situations, depending on how the chips may end up falling.
Either of those two netminders landing in Pantherland would almost certainly mean that Bobrosky was not returning, so one domino falling will impact the other, whichever and whenever that may be.
Both Binnington and Hellebuyck are under contract and would require a trade to end up wearing a Panthers sweater next season.
Binnington, 32, has one year remaining on his current deal with a $6 million average annual value (AAV), while Hellebuyck, 33, has five years left on his contract that pays an AAV of $8.5 million.
Even though he just turned 36, Gudas can still play at a high level and has an idea of what would be expected of him under Paul Maurice in Florida.
The final season of Gudas’ three with the Panthers was Maurice’s first, when Florida marched to the 2023 Stanley Cup Final only to come up short against the Vegas Golden Knights.
After a successful run with Florida, Gudas signed with the youthful Anaheim Ducks, who promptly named him their captain.
He’s hitting the market after earning a $4 million AAV over three years on his last deal, and will likely be seeking something in the $3.5 to $4 million range on his next deal, according to Weekes.
Currently, the Panthers have six defenseman under NHL contracts for next season: Aaron Ekblad, Gus Forsling, Seth Jones, Niko Mikkola, Dmitry Kulikov and Uvis Balinskis.
Obviously there are only so many assets and so much money to go around, so it will be interesting to see whatever ends up happening with the Panthers at all three positions.
Will Zito go into the season with seven defensemen on NHL contracts?
What direction will the team end up doing in goal?
How does the ninth overall pick at next week’s draft play into the decision?
Let us know down in the comments how you think things should play out.
Photo caption: Jan 15, 2024; Sunrise, Florida, USA; Anaheim Ducks defenseman Radko Gudas (7) looks on against the Florida Panthers during the second period at Amerant Bank Arena. (Sam Navarro-Imagn Images)
The 2026 Stanley Cup has been awarded to the Carolina Hurricanes, and the NHL is now firmly in the 2026 offseason. The 2026 NHL Entry Draft is one week away, qualifying offers are due to RFAs after that, and unrestricted free agency will begin shortly after that.
A handful of trades have already taken place throughout the league, and more are reportedly on the way. This is the time of year when breadcrumbs from NHL insiders are entire meals for interested parties.
The Anaheim Ducks are coming off their most successful season in a decade, and their roster situation has them as one of the more intriguing teams when it comes to potential movement.
Here’s what’s been reported and speculated about the Ducks over the last week:
Mason McTavish
The smoke continues to billow around McTavish (23) and from a variety of outlets. It undoubtedly stems from interested opposing teams looking to land a talented, distressed asset and the fact that he served as a healthy scratch for two of the Ducks’ 12 playoff games this spring after signing a six-year contract with a $7 million AAV.
Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Citizen continues to link McTavish to his hometown Ottawa Senators. He listed McTavish as one of a handful of forwards with whom the Sens have shown “some level of interest.”
“A league executive told ‘The Citizen’ that they believe that McTavish is a legitimate fit for the Senators,” Garrioch reported in his latest column.
ESPN’s Kevin Weekes joined in, taking to Twitter on Wednesday to report on opposing clubs’ interest in McTavish.
“Per sources another name getting plenty of attention is (forward) McTavish of the (Anaheim Ducks), he has skill, grit, term, and upside,” Weekes tweeted. “Teams are calling, it would have to be a quality ‘hockey trade’ I’m told. See how this goes…”
Darren Dreger of TSN seems convinced it’s a “when, not if” situation in Anaheim in terms of McTavish’s future.
“I’m in the belief that Mason McTavish of the Anaheim Ducks is going to be traded. I know there’s definitely a lot of chatter around McTavish, around the National Hockey League,” Dreger relayed on the “Starr and McKenna” radio show.
Right Shot Defensemen
The current biggest hole on the Ducks’ depth chart sits on the entire right side of the blueline. All three of their veteran blueliners (Jacob Trouba, John Carlson, Radko Gudas) will see their contracts expire on July 1 if they’re not signed to extensions.
Carlson has already made it known, via his agent, that he will not be returning to the Ducks and intends to test the unrestricted free agency waters. The Athletic’s Pierre LeBrun was first to break the news.
“John Carlson is headed to market. His agent, Rick Curran, has informed the Anaheim Ducks GM Pat Verbeek of that,” LeBrun reported on Tuesday. “Both sides talked about a potential extension, but Carlson is moving on.”
The most probable of the three to return seemed to be Jacob Trouba, who found a fit next to Jackson LaCombe on the team’s top pair for the majority of his tenure in Anaheim. However, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported in passing on “The Fan Hockey Show” on Wednesday that Trouba intends to follow Carlson to free agency.
“(John) Carlson’s hitting the market, and it sounds like (Jacob) Trouba is hitting the market here too,” Friedman said.
Ducks captain Radko Gudas may not be far behind his brethren, as Kevin Weekes, again, tweeted that if Gudas hits the market, teams will be interested in his services.
“Per sources, I’m told Anaheim Ducks captain (defenseman) Gudas is gaining interest in the marketplace,” Weekes tweeted. “If him and the Ducks can’t get a deal done, the Florida Panthers and Toronto Maple Leafs are among potential fits. He’s physical, experienced, playoff tested, on a 2-3 year term between $3.5 million and $4 million-plus.”
The Blockbuster that Got Away
Lastly, Dreger dropped a bombshell to end last week, when he was on the “Starr and McKenna” show, indicating there were discussions of a deal being had between the St. Louis Blues and the Ducks that included Robert Thomas and Colton Parayko heading to Anaheim and Mason McTavish, Pavel Mintyukov, and Roger McQueen going back to St. Louis.
“There was a bigger deal, I’m told, that was down the road, and it included Mason McTavish going to the St. Louis Blues,” Dreger said. “I believe that (Robert) Thomas and (Colton) Parayko could have been part of that. I head Mintyukov, maybe McQueen, who signed not that long ago with the Anaheim Ducks. So, it doesn’t matter because it didn’t happen, but Mason McTavish’s name has been out there for a while.”
There were likely other pieces in play with that potential deal, and we’ll never know what halted the discussions. It would have changed the complexion of the Ducks on their playoff run and into the future. It’s since been reported that Thomas is now off the table from St. Louis, so any hopes of this trade being revisited should be quelled.
