A couple of days ago a Rangers fan posted a notice on X/Twitter accompanied by a photo of Russian offensive ace Maxim Shabanov.

"Are we getting him next?" was the text message. It was clear to the Blueshirts' loyalist that Shabanov would look good on Seventh Avenue.

Well, the fact of the matter is that Shabanov will look good, but skating for the New York

Islanders who signed him – and not the Rangers.

We all know that the New York-New York rivalry dates back to 1972, when the Islanders were born, but it's taking on a new form this summer. And for a good reason since  both clubs are desperate to rebuild. 

The race to sign Shabanov is Exhibit A.

"These two teams are battling each other," says The Old Scout, "because they both missed the playoffs and don't want to do it again. At the least, they want a Wild Card berth."

Both teams are set in goal but the Rangers admittedly are fortifying their blue line corps. K'Andre Miller had become  defensive debit so GM Chris Drury signed the veteran Slava Gavrikov.

The Islanders lost Mike Reilly – also, like Miller, to Carolina – and might replace him with their number one Draft pick Matthew Schaefer. But that's only a "might."

"Rushing Schaefer to the NHL right from Junior hockey could be a mistake," adds The Old Scout, "but if the kid has the goods then he might work as a longshot gamble."

What To Make Of The Rangers' Free Agent Frenzy Performance There's a new day dawning for the Blueshirts and its official flying object is The Bluebird of Happiness. 

The Islanders missed the playoffs – one point behind the Rangers – in the Wildcard race. Now both New York clubs have two more months to lift themselves to playoff calibre for the 2025-26 campaign.

And wouldn't it be something if both made it. Even better; if both made it and faced each other in the 2026 playoffs!

The Toronto Maple Leafs haven't yet made any big splashes in this summer's UFA pool. Their most notable move was signing former Montreal Canadiens checking-line forward Michael Pezzetta to a two-year deal. 

Meanwhile, their most notable trade was the sign-and-trade deal that sent right winger Mitch Marner to the Vegas Golden Knights on June 30 for Nicolas Roy.

Jonas Siegel of The Athletic believes Marner's departure leaves the Leafs in need of a top-six forward. He suggested they add either a right winger to skate alongside Auston Matthews or John Tavares, or a center who could push Tavares to the wing or centering the third line.

This year's thin free-agent market is tapped out of prime scoring talent.  Sportsnet's Luke Fox thinks GM Brad Treliving will turn to the trade market for a bona fide top-six forward. 

The Hockey News’ David Alter observed that the Maple Leafs have over $4.9 million in cap space for this season. He suggested Treliving could weaponize that space later this summer, targeting cap-strapped teams to acquire a player the Leafs need. 

Terry Koshan of the Toronto Sun shares that opinion. He felt Treliving could draw on his glut of affordable bottom-six forwards for trade chips. 

That could include Nick Robertson, an RFA with arbitration rights. The 23-year-old left winger created a stir last summer when he requested a trade, only to sign a one-year deal a week before training camp opened last September.

Meanwhile, the Canadiens have been active in the off-season trade market. Less than a week after their bombshell acquisition of defenseman Noah Dobson from the New York Islanders last Friday, they shipped blueliner Logan Mailloux to the St. Louis Blues for middle-six forward Zack Bolduc. 

Both moves received positive reviews, but failed to address their pressing need for a second-line center.  They must also cope with the departures of veteran forwards Joel Armia and Christian Dvorak.

Arpon Basu of The Athletic believes Canadiens GM Kent Hughes is willing to look within the organization to address that issue in the short term. Sportsnet's Eric Engels thinks their best option would be to try Kirby Dach in the second-line center role.

Engels acknowledged that the oft-injured Dach struggled last season before undergoing knee surgery. However, he didn't have wingers like Bolduc and Ivan Demidov as potential linemates. 

Following the acquisition of Dobson, there was speculation that Mike Matheson might be used as a trade chip for a second-line center or winger. The 31-year-old puck-moving defenseman is a year away from UFA eligibility, but Hughes told reporters he's not moving him, citing the big minutes he played last season.

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When the Ottawa Senators selected Shane Pinto 32nd overall in the 2019 NHL Draft, some Sens fans raised an eyebrow or two, wondering if Hamilton Bulldogs winger Arthur Kaliyev might have been the better choice. Kaliyev had just put up a 51-goal OHL season, and ended up being chosen by the LA Kings with the very next pick after Pinto.

Needless to say, over the past six years, Pinto has firmly established himself as the better NHL player, leaving Kaliyev in the dust in both development and impact. So that discussion has been dead for a few seasons now.

But Kaliyev re-entered the Ottawa chat a few days ago after the New York Rangers opted not to extend him a qualifying offer. Suddenly, Kaliyev was a UFA at 24. And as we speculated he might earlier this week, Senators GM Steve Staios took the opportunity on Wednesday to grab Kaliyev, one of his star players from his days as Bulldogs GM.

Under Staios and team owner Michael Andlauer, Kaliyev helped the Bulldogs capture the OHL championship in 2018, then scored 95 goals over the next two seasons. But at the NHL level, his skating and defense have both been an issue. But few people would argue one thing: His slap shot and one-timer are both fierce. Unfortunately for the player, that hasn't translated to NHL success.

On Wednesday, the Senators announced that Kaliyev was one of five players signed to a two-way contract to help out Belleville and add some NHL depth in the event of injury. Along with rejoining Staios and Andlauer in Ottawa, Kaliyev might also be able to recreate some of the junior magic in Belleville with his former OHL teammate, Jan Jenik, who received a qualifying offer from the Senators but remains a restricted free agent. 

Kaliyev last played in March against the Winnipeg Jets when he suffered a season-ending upper-body injury. To that point, he had four points in 14 games for the Rangers after being claimed off waivers by the Kings in January. Prior to being claimed, Kaliyev had missed the entire Kings' season to that point, reportedly fracturing his clavicle during Day 2 of training camp.

For Kaliyev, the move offers a fresh start among familiar faces who still believe in him and have seen firsthand what he's capable of. At this point in his career trajectory, there's probably no better landing spot for him than this organization. For the Sens, it really doesn't cost them anything to see if there's still an NHL player in there. At the very least, he'll help in Belleville.

Speaking of which...

Other Signings

In addition to Kaliyev, the Senators also signed forwards Hayden Hodgson, Wyatt Bongiovanni, Olle Lycksell, and goaltender Hunter Shepard to two-way deals.

Hunter Shepard joins the Senators after playing 39 games for the Hershey Bears (AHL) last season, finishing with a 23-11-4 record, a 2.80 goals-against average, and a .891 save percentage. Over 118 AHL games, Shepard has a crazy 78-26-12 record with a 2.22 GAA and .914 SV%. He also appeared in five NHL games for the Washington Capitals, posting a 2-2-1 record.

Wyatt Bongiovanni returns after a solid season in Belleville, where he scored 22 goals and 11 assists for 33 points in 54 games, tying for the team lead in goals. Originally acquired from the Winnipeg Jets in March 2024, Bongiovanni has 76 points (51 goals) in 161 career AHL games.

Olle Lycksell split his 2024–25 season between the Philadelphia Flyers and their AHL affiliate, the Lehigh Valley Phantoms. The 25-year-old had five assists in 19 NHL games, while posting 19 goals and 25 assists in 43 AHL games. Lycksell has 128 points in 134 career AHL games, along with 11 points in 45 NHL appearances.

Hayden Hodgson is a big body at 6-foot-two, 221 pounds, known for his forecheck and physical play. He played two games for Ottawa and 43 in Belleville, where he put up 11 points and 156 penalty minutes for the B-Sens.

By Steve Warne
The Hockey News - Ottawa

Sens Headlines:

Claude Giroux Reveals Why He Signed Back In Ottawa
Senators Bid Farewell To Six UFAs On Day One Of NHL Free Agency
Senators Sign Lars Eller, Offseason NHL Additions Are Now 'Most Likely' Complete
Senators Clarify Their Goaltending Picture for Next Season
Sens First-Rounder Says He Models His Game After Jake Sanderson
Senators Acquire Defenseman Jordan Spence From Los Angeles
Sens Nation Podcast: Breaking Down the Giroux and Spence Deals and the NHL Draft

To date, the biggest signing the Anaheim Ducks have made this offseason has been the addition of unrestricted free agent forward Mikael Granlund.

The Ducks have made some organizational depth moves in the last two days, however, inking four players to AHL contracts to play for the San Diego Gulls.

On July 1, the Gulls announced they’d signed forward Judd Caulfield and defenseman Will Francis to standard player contracts.

Anaheim Ducks Fill Assistant Coaching Vacancies at NHL, AHL Levels

Breaking: Anaheim Ducks Sign Mikael Granlund to Three-Year Contract

On July 2, they announced they’d added forward Matthew Phillips and defenseman Nikolas Brouillard, both on standard player contracts.

Of these four signings, the clear feel-good story is that of Will Francis. Five years and three battles against acute lymphoblastic leukemia, Francis is now officially living out his dream of playing hockey professionally.

“It was super special,” Francis said after signing his deal. “It’s something that I’ve worked toward ever since I was drafted into the organization. They’ve been first class to me, and it’s just a great feeling, and I got to celebrate it at home with my family.”

Francis (24) was drafted in the sixth round by Anaheim (163rd overall in 2019) six years ago from the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders in the USHL. He didn’t play any hockey during recovery in 2020-21 and, with two more diagnoses, only played a total of 39 games during his four-year NCAA career with the University of Minnesota-Duluth.

Francis made his AHL debut with the Gulls in April, playing three games at the end of the 2024-25 season on an amateur tryout.

“The biggest thing is just never stop believing in yourself,” Francis said. “To accomplish anything you want to accomplish in life, you've just got to start with that belief. I'd say that's something that's going to stick with me the rest of my life.”

Though four months younger than Francis, Caulfield (24) is an AHL veteran at this point in his career, having played 133 games for the Gulls over three seasons. He’s tallied 51 points (21-30=51) in that time, playing a versatile role up and down the lineup. Caulfield was a former fifth-round draft pick (145th in ’19) of the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Phillips (27) is a slight winger (5-foot-8, 161 pounds) who’s been productive at every level of hockey at which he’s played except the NHL. He’s a nine-year veteran of the AHL and has totaled 300 points (124-176=300) in 339 games. He’s a former sixth-round draft pick of the Calgary Flames (166th in ’16) and has scored five points (1-4=5) in 34 games at the NHL level.

Brouillard (30) will return to San Diego for his second stint in his career with the Gulls. He played 167 games over three seasons with the Gulls from 2020 to 2023. He spent the previous two seasons with the Hartford Wolfpack in 2023-24 and the Coachella Valley Firebirds in 2024-25.

These four players will look to provide a stable and nurturing environment for a young Gulls team in 2025-26 that will consist of budding talents like Nathan Gaucher, Stian Solberg, Yegor Sidorov, and Nico Myatovic, among others.

Eight Anaheim Ducks Players Receive Qualifying Offers, Three Do Not

2025 Anaheim Ducks Draft Grades, Analysis

Ducks GM Pat Verbeek on John Gibson Trade

Photo Credit: Patrick Present-The Hockey News

On July 1, the day free agency opened and following the announcement of the signing of veteran forward Mikael Granlund, the Anaheim Ducks announced they had filled out their coaching staffs at both the NHL and AHL levels.

As had been reported the week prior, Jay Woodcroft (48) was hired to run the forwards and power play. He entered the 2025 offseason as one of the NHL’s top head coaching candidates, even interviewing for the Ducks vacancy, but after a second consecutive summer missing out on the coaching carousel, he joined Joel Quenneville’s staff in Anaheim.

Breaking: Anaheim Ducks Sign Mikael Granlund to Three-Year Contract

Eight Anaheim Ducks Players Receive Qualifying Offers, Three Do Not

“Jay and I have a long history. He was in Detroit when I was there with the Detroit Red Wings, he was the video coach there,” Pat Verbeek said after the hiring announcements. “He’s really grown as a coach. He ran the power play when he was in San Jose, and had a top-ten power play when he was there.

“What I like is how he teaches progressions, whether it’s the breakouts, whether it’s the plays that get made in the zone to create chances. I really love that part about his coaching and his presentation.”

On the other side of Quenneville, opposite Woodcroft, will be Ryan McGill (56) to run the defensemen and penalty kill. McGill has been a head coach at both the CHL and AHL levels. He was an assistant with the Vegas Golden Knights from their inception in 2017 until 2022, whereafter he joined the New Jersey Devils, where he’d been an assistant for the past three seasons.

“Ryan’s going to run the defense,” Verbeek stated. “In New Jersey, I think this year, he was top-two in the league as far as the penalty kill. We went through the last three years with him, so his first year there, he was top-four, fell to top-ten, and then last year, second overall. If we get anywhere close to that, I’ll be ecstatic.”

McGill’s Devils had the second-best PK in the NHL in 2024-25 (82.7%), the tenth-best in 2023-24 (80.7%), and the fourth-best in 2022-23 (82.6%).

Both Woodcroft and McGill will be expected to flip one of the Ducks’ greatest areas of weakness, special teams, into an area of strength. In 2024-25, they had the 29th-ranked PK, killing at a 74.2% clip, and the 32nd-ranked PP, converting at a horrendous 11.8% clip. With the talent on both sides of the puck on the roster, those numbers were clearly viewed as unacceptable. Merely raising both units to league average will contribute to an improvement in the league standings in 2025-26.

The Ducks also added Andrew Brewer (39) to the coaching staff. Brewer was Hockey Canada’s video coach from 2011-2014, the Detroit Red Wings video coach in 2014-15, and the Florida Panthers video coach from 2020-2022. He has experience as an NHL assistant, coaching the Toronto Maple Leafs from 2016 to 2020. It’s unclear what his day-to-day responsibilities will look like.

“We just really focused in on quality quality coaching,” Verbeek continued. “I feel very, very fortunate that we got the guys we got. Mixed in with Joel, I think we’ve got an outstanding staff.”

The NHL club wasn’t the only team in the organization to round out its coaching staff on July 1. The San Diego Gulls hired Dave Manson and Michael Babcock to be assistants to head coach Matt McIlvane.

Manson (58), father of eight-year Ducks defenseman Josh Manson, most notably coached alongside Woodcroft both with the Bakersfield Condors in the AHL from 2018 to 2021 and the Edmonton Oilers of the NHL from 2021 to 2023. He was let go when Woodcroft was, just six games into the 2023-24 season.

Manson played for 16 years and 1103 games in the NHL from 1986 to 2002 for the Chicago Blackhawks, Dallas Stars, Edmonton Oilers, and Phoenix Coyotes/Winnipeg Jets.

It is presumed Manson will run the defensemen and penalty kill for the Gulls.

Michael Babcock (30), son of longtime NHL coach and former Ducks head coach Mike Babcock, joins the Gulls after spending the last two seasons in the St. Louis Blues organization as a skills coach.

As a player, Babcock played prep school hockey in Michigan, for the Fargo Force of the USHL, and Merrimack College for four seasons in the NCAA, before playing a season overseas in France’s top professional division.

Babcock will presumably run the forwards and power play in San Diego.

2025 Anaheim Ducks Draft Grades, Analysis

Ducks GM Pat Verbeek on John Gibson Trade

Photo Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

Last Friday, the Montreal Canadiens elected not to submit a qualifying offer to Rafael Harvey-Pinard. This didn’t necessarily mean they were done with him; they could have wanted to sign him again, but at a lower price. Still, the absence of a qualifying offer made him a UFA, and he didn’t stick around to find out if the Canadiens would throw a bone his way.

The 26-year-old Saguenay native signed a one-year, two-way contract with the Pittsburgh Penguins on July 2. A seventh-round pick at the 2019 draft, Harvey-Pinard has played 84 games in the NHL so far, all with the Canadiens, recording 17 goals and 14 assists for a total of 31 points. He made a name for himself during the 2022-23 season when he made the most of the opportunity he got when several regulars were injured for the Canadiens. He found himself skating alongside Nick Suzuki on the first line and scored 14 goals and 20 points in just 34 games. In 185 regular season games in the AHL, he has gathered 126 points, the second highest total in team history.

Long Gone Canadiens Land In Intriguing New Spots
Canadiens’ GM Believes There’s Still Room For Matheson In Montreal
About the Canadiens' Second Big Trade Of The Week...
Canadiens’ Development Camp Day Two

Last season, he played only one game with the Canadiens, spending the rest of his campaign in the AHL, where he collected 19 points in 40 games. Injuries have played a considerable role in Harvey-Pinard’s fate. Last Summer, he had to undergo surgery after suffering a broken leg while training. As a result, he was on the sidelines for four months, meaning he missed training camp and spent the entire season playing catch-up.

While he may not be a big point producer in the NHL, he is as intense and devoted as a player can be. In Laval, he was often nicknamed Lavallagher, because his style and intensity were similar to that of alternate captain Brendan Gallagher.

With the Penguins set to undergo a bit of a rebuild, Harvey-Pinard may have a better chance to make the NHL there than he would have had with the Canadiens who have now turned a corner in their rebuild and are focussing much more on results than development, as evidence by Kent Hughes’ moves so far this offseason.

The Pens also signed another Quebecer on the same day when they added Anthony Mantha to the fold. The former Detroit Red Wings first-round pick has struggled to find a home since leaving Detroit and will be on his fifth team. While these signings might have prompted part of the Canadiens’ fan base to lament the fact that the Habs didn’t sign the Quebecers at one time, Hughes has ensured it wouldn’t happen this year by acquiring Zach Bolduc in a trade and signing Samuel Blais as a free agent.

Photo credit: David Kirouac-Imagn Images

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Pontus Holmberg spoke to the media on Wednesday for the first time since signing a new two-year contract worth $1.55 million per season with the Tampa Bay Lightning. Although he seemed happy to be getting a raise with his new NHL team, he did describe the emotions of the past few days that saw his former club not tender him a qualifying offer.

"First, it was tough," Holmberg told reporters in a Zoom call on Wednesday. "I'm happy to come to Tampa for a bit of a restart of my career."

Holmberg had seven goals and `12 assists in 68 games last season. Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube liked Holmberg's game to the point where the player saw some key minutes at times on the second line during their 2025 playoff run. 

Maple Leafs GM Brad Treliving said they liked Holmberg, but they couldn't agree on a number for a new contract. The Leafs could have tendered Holmberg a qualifying offer of $866,000 to retain his rights, but Toronto was concerned about the money the player could get in an arbitration award. Any AAV under $4.85 million, the Leafs must honor, and there was fear the player could get a number they weren't comfortable paying.

In many ways, Holmberg was a success story for Toronto's scouting department. A sixth-round pick (156th overall) in the 2018 NHL Draft, the Swedish forward established a reputation for being a tough player to knock away from the puck. 

Although Holmberg played in 12 playoff games, he managed just one assist and has just one point in 19 career playoff games. The player admitted that he hasn't been able to demonstrate his offensive skills as much as he would like to at the NHL level, but hopes to get that opportunity in Tampa. Projected to play in the bottom six, Tampa appears to be enthusiastic about the player's defensive ability and speed. The Lightning will also like the player's ability to draw penalties, where he led all Leafs with 28 and was 21st in the NHL. 

Why The Maple Leafs Didn’t Qualify Pontus Holmberg As Player Signs With Lightning Pontus Holmberg is moving on from the Toronto Maple Leafs to the Tampa Bay Lightning.

He told The Hockey News that he was good at drawing penalties his entire career, including the SHL where the player helped the Vaxjo Lakers HC win an SHL championship in 2021. Holmberg took SHL Playoffs MVP that year and also won Swedish Forward of the Year honors.

(Photo credit: Tampa Bay Lighting YouTube Channel)

Why the Maple Leafs Are Expected to Target Top-Six Forward Help Through Trades, Not Free AgencyThe Toronto Maple Leafs have a Mitch Marner-sized hole in their lineup opted for a sign and trade with the Vegas Golden Knights. But when the clock struck noon for the opening of free agency, the Leafs were quiet. Why The Maple Leafs Signed Vinni Lettieri To A One-Year, $775K ContractThe Toronto Maple Leafs have added another depth player via NHL free agency. 'We Wanted To Get Through The First Part Of Free Agency': Maple Leafs Not Closing The Door On Max Pacioretty ReturnEven after a quiet free agency, the Toronto Maple Leafs aren't closing the door on bringing Max Pacioretty back.

Sharks sign Dmitry Orlov, claim Nick Leddy to surpass NHL's $70.6M salary floor originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

The Sharks have been busy filling out their roster since NHL free agency opened Tuesday, and they made two more important moves Thursday.

Veteran defenseman Dmitry Orlov signed a two-year contract with the Sharks worth $6.5 million annually.

Welcome to San Jose, Dmitry! 🦈

— San Jose Sharks (@SanJoseSharks) July 3, 2025

San Jose also claimed 34-year-old defenseman Nick Leddy off waivers from the St. Louis Blues.

Leddy’s headed to San Jose.

— San Jose Sharks (@SanJoseSharks) July 3, 2025

NHL insider Elliotte Friedman first reported news of Leddy being claimed.

Leddy has a $4 million AAV for the 2025-26 season, meaning the Sharks added $10.5 million in salary Thursday, putting them above the $70.60 million salary floor.

Per PuckPedia, the Sharks currently have $72.55 million in salaries — second-lowest in the NHL — for next season.

Orlov is a 13-year NHL veteran, having spent time with the Washington Capitals, Boston Bruins and most recently, with the Carolina Hurricanes.

In 76 games with the Hurricanes last season, Orlov scored six goals and recorded 22 assists. He has 327 points in 867 career NHL games.

“Dmitry is a strong, two-way defenseman who brings physicality and versatility on the ice,” Sharks general manager Mike Grier said in a statement released by the team. “He has a wealth of NHL experience, both in the regular season and playoffs, and his Stanley Cup championship pedigree is a valuable addition to our team. We are happy to have him.”

Leddy brings even more experience to the Sharks, having played for the New York Islanders, Chicago Blackhawks, Detroit Red Wings and Blues during his 15-year NHL career.

He appeared in just 31 games for the Blues last season, registering two goals and three assists. In 1,042 career NHL games, he has 416 points.

The Sharks are building an exciting young core, but the downside of that strategy is that they have one of the NHL’s youngest teams.

Adding Orlov and Leddy, both of whom have won the Stanley Cup, gives the Sharks two much-needed veteran leaders.

Download and follow the San Jose Hockey Now podcast

Like most NHL teams, the Montreal Canadiens are holding a development camp this week to get a look at the players they’ve just drafted and to assess those they drafted in previous years who are still in the development process. Yesterday, the prospects underwent various physical tests, and today, they finally took to the ice.

The first on-ice session featured the organization’s goaltending prospects: Alexis Cournoyer, Arseni Radkov, Mikus Vecvanags, and Yevgeni Volokhin. They spent the first 15 minutes working on skating and positioning drills before being joined on the ice by six forwards to face some shots.

Long Gone Canadiens Land In Intriguing New Spots
Canadiens’ GM Believes There’s Still Room For Matheson In Montreal
About the Canadiens' Second Big Trade Of The Week...

Michael Hage, Filip Eriksson, Sam Harris, Tyler Thorpe, Israel Mianscum, and surprise addition Jack Gorton, son of Jeff Gorton, who plays with Boston University, all spent over an hour testing the goaltenders with various kinds of shots and in different drills.

The forwards and defensemen then went to the ice on two separate rinks. The forwards participated in several drills, the first of which was a one-on-one scenario. Despite being the shortest player at camp, LJ Mooney displayed a lot of agility and an ability to hang onto the puck. Even though he’s not tall, he’s strong and hard enough to move off the puck. They then worked an interesting drill, which started as a two-on-two before a third attacker joined the play.

On the other ice, the blueliners were put through their paces with various passing and shooting drills under the watchful eye of Montreal Victoire coach Kori Cheverie, one of the guest coaches. Speaking of watchful eyes, Kent Hughes, Jeff Gorton, and Trevor Letowsky were keeping a close eye on proceedings by the forward’s rink.

The Canadiens made some of the prospects’ media availability available online, and these kids seem to have their heads on straight. LJ Mooney was an interesting interview to watch; he’s Logan Cooley’s cousin and said that he grew up with him, but was also fortunate enough to train with him. When asked if he was still growing, he only shrugged and said he didn’t know and didn’t think it mattered. As for someone to look up to in the game, he mentioned Cole Caufield right away.

Centre L.J. Mooney is the smallest player at Canadiens development camp at 5-foot-7 and 162 pounds, but also one of the most skilled. #Habs selected him in fourth round (113th overall) of last Friday’s NHL Draft. He is inspired by Cole Caufield and Lane Hutson. pic.twitter.com/m3Bllgr7pZ

— Stu Cowan (@StuCowan1) July 2, 2025

As for Aatos Koivu, he looked incredibly excited to be there. He wasn’t at development camp last time around and had a bit of a rough year after catching mononucleosis and being out for five weeks, but he did add that he learned a lot from the challenges of the latest season. He’s in town with his whole family, and while some people have recognized his father on the streets, the fans have been respectful, and no one has gone overboard. He was blown away by the Bell Center and the organization and said it would mean everything to one day play for the Canadiens. Kovu also repeated numerous times how much he loves the city.

Alexis Cournoyer was still beaming with excitement and sought advice from his cousin, Olivier Cournoyer, who is a boxer who has competed at the Olympics. Asked which goaltender he idolized growing up, he answered it used to be Carey Price, but it’s now Samuel Montembeault. In the Summer, he’s been training with the Canadiens’ goaltender for years, and he texted him right after he was drafted. Asked about the fact he’d be facing the best Canadiens’ prospects at camp, he replied right away that he’s not worried about it since he’s one of the best as well. Describing his compete level, the goaltender said he constantly battles to the very end for a puck; he never gives up. As for whether his dad went through his draft promise on social media, the youngster laughed and said Oh no, I made sure of it.

Michael Hage, who was in his second development camp, enjoyed his day at camp, saying it was tough but a lot of fun. He mentions that he still needs to get stronger and work hard in the gym; he has put on 10 pounds; he has realized in the NCAA that it’s not easy to play against older players. He said that he will be at Team Canada’s camp at the end of the month, unlike last year. Asked about what he thinks when he hear people suggest the Canadiens need to sign a center as a stop gap solution until he’s ready, he explained that he doesn’t listen to that kind of noise and focuses on becoming the best player he can be, the type of a player a coach knows what he’s going to get when he puts him on the ice.

Michael Hage est en forme. pic.twitter.com/mJ2a8a1tvF

— Anthony Martineau (@Antho_Martineau) July 2, 2025

Tomorrow, the prospects will return to the ice for the final day of development camp, which will feature a Red vs. White scrimmage. It'll be the last bit of organized action in Brossard until rookie camp starts in September, and until then, we’ll be keeping an eye on Hughes. You never know when the GM will surprise the league with another deal.

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Michael Pezzetta is living his childhood dream.

Several hours after signing a two-year contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs carrying a $812,500 annual average value, the 27-year-old Toronto, Ontario native sat in his childhood room at his parents' house thinking, "How crazy is this?"

"I got a big picture of Mats Sundin on my wall and a couple of pictures of CuJo (Curtis Joseph) and some other guys," Pezzetta smiled as his dream had come full circle. "I get to fight for the opportunity to put this sweater on, and it's just something that I've dreamed of my whole life, and I'm just, it feels amazing."

A sixth-round pick by the Montreal Canadiens in the 2016 NHL Draft, Pezzetta didn't have it easy. Usually, selections that late become career AHL players, but throughout the years, the forward fought tooth and nail—quite literally—to earn his spot on an NHL roster.

"I think it was just always believing in myself and just putting the work in. I mean, especially in the summers and during the seasons, I'm just in love with getting better and in love with that grind, and it's what drives me every day," Pezzetta said over Zoom on Wednesday afternoon.

"It's what I wake up and I love to do."

'We Wanted To Get Through The First Part Of Free Agency': Maple Leafs Not Closing The Door On Max Pacioretty ReturnEven after a quiet free agency, the Toronto Maple Leafs aren't closing the door on bringing Max Pacioretty back.

After five seasons of OHL hockey with the Sudbury Wolves and Sarnia Sting, Pezzetta turned pro, playing his first year with the AHL's Laval Rocket, along with a cup of coffee down in the ECHL with the Maine Mariners.

Following two more seasons with the Rocket, Pezzetta finally got his first taste of NHL action, making his debut with the Canadiens on Nov. 2, 2021. Nearly a lifetime of hard work paid off with the forward playing on one of the most coveted franchises in the league.

"It took me, I think, five or six years to get my first exhibition game with Montreal and the organization from when I got drafted," Pezzetta said. "But when I did [get that game], I was ready for it because I put all those hours in."

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Pezzetta prides himself on being a hard-working forward, always ready to stand up for his teammates while playing strong at both ends of the rink. Over his time in the NHL, the forward's defensive game has improved, and that'll be an area of his game which'll make or break his spot in the lineup with Toronto.

"It gives us some more depth and he's got a skill set in terms of his physicality, good foot speed, able to get in on a forecheck," Maple Leafs GM Brad Treliving said on Tuesday after signing Pezzetta. "Certainly, excellent teammate. Those are the sort of boxes he checks, and happy to have him with us."

In three seasons with the Canadiens, Pezzetta has scored 15 goals and 23 assists in 200 games. He played 25 games last season and didn't register a point, but said on Wednesday that's not what his game is.

"I know in the years prior, pretty steady player, kind of always getting my 10-15 points in the 50 or so games that I played, and I'm pretty confident I can continue to do that in terms of a points perspective," he said.

"But I think a lot of my game is just being hard to play against, being someone that is defensively responsible a coach can trust, and then you're gonna go out there and you can change the shift of a game with a big hit or just good forecheck, make a good play, and really change the energy and the energy in the room on the bench."

Why Matthew Knies 'Wanted To Go Long-Term' On Six-Year Extension With The Maple LeafsToronto Maple Leafs forward Matthew Knies was never interested in signing an offer sheet.

After signing with his hometown team, Pezzetta says plenty of people in his circle are happy for him, especially his close family members.

"Yeah, like I'm insanely fired up. They might be even more over the top," he laughed.

"I know my mom's super excited that I get to stay home, it's been a while. And then even all my friends and everybody's like all Leafs fans, just through and through, and they're so excited. So many people messaged me the last day-and-a-half now, and it's just surreal. Like, to think that it's a possibility I get to put this sweater on, so I'm just really grateful for the opportunity."

If there's one moment that sticks out to Pezzetta when reminiscing on the Montreal/Toronto rivalry, it's his first point against his hometown team. It was a primary assist on Rafael Harvey-Pinard's second-period goal on Jan. 21, 2023, a game the Canadiens won in overtime.

"I got a nice assist one time against them," Pezzetta said, "and my family was there, and some of my friends were at the game in Montreal, so that was pretty cool. Then we've just had some good battles, where especially when I started in Montreal, we weren't the best team in the standings, and we had beat the Leafs, and it was always a good feeling."

'My Favorite Player Growing Up Was Mats Sundin' Nicolas Roy Reacts To Be Traded To Maple Leafs In Mitch Marner DealNic Roy was on a trip with family and friends when he found out that he was being traded from the Vegas Golden Knights to the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Pezzetta will be on the other side of the rivalry now, and he'll wear the jersey once worn by his favorite player, Mats Sundin, but with the name "Pezzetta" on the back of it.

"It's hard not to cheer for the Leafs being from Toronto. I can't even explain how stoked I am right now," Pezzetta said.

"It was just like kind of a whirlwind of emotion. I almost, like, couldn't believe it. Came into free agency, and just first time being an unrestricted free agent, and you're wondering how things are going to go. I had some options to go to different places, but to have the opportunity to sign in Toronto, like, I just couldn't pass up on that."

(Top photo of Pezzetta: David Kirouac / Imagn Images)

The Philadelphia Flyers may have lost out on Maxim Shabanov, but they have plenty of in-house replacements who are just as good, if not better options.

Shabanov, 23, is wildly skilled indeed, but he's also a 5-foot-8 forward who can play either center or inverted right wing.

The problem is that Shabanov wasn't likely to play center for the Flyers, meaning that he would have been pigeonholed into the right winger position.

Many skilled Russians play and have played inverted in the past. Names like Alex Ovechkin, Ilya Kovalchuk, Nikita Kucherov, Matvei Michkov, might come to mind.

But is Shabanov that? Maybe, maybe not. But he certainly isn't proven, just like the Flyers' top options to replace him in a hypothetical lineup.

The Flyers love reigning NCAA champ Alex Bump, for example, and he's got quite the goal-scoring pedigree. It helps that he's a natural left wing to boot.

Bump, 21, is perhaps the favorite to crack the Flyers' opening night roster, especially in the wake of the offseason injury to Tyson Foerster. Bump's unrelenting will to prove himself while doing things the right way has quickly endeared him to Flyers management and will do the same with fans in short order.

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Aside from Bump, another contender for a roster spot will be Nikita Grebenkin, acquired from the Toronto Maple Leafs in the Scott Laughton trade.

The 22-year-old already has seven games of NHL experience and has dabbled in pro hockey since the 2021-22 season despite his relatively young age.

Between the KHL, AHL, and NHL, Grebenkin has already played 177 pro games, and that experience should serve him well as he competes with his fellow Flyers prospects.

Astute fans might recall that the Flyers actually brought Grebenkin up on an emergency basis once, only to send him back to the AHL 30 minutes later with the emergency conditions no longer present.

That's about as close to the NHL as someone can get without stepping on the ice.

Plus, the Flyers and Porter Martone himself have told us to never say never on the unusual but very plausible possibility that the teenaged draft pick makes the NHL come opening night.

And, if worst comes to worst - and fans will hate this - the Flyers will decide these prospects are best suited playing significant minutes in the AHL or elsewhere to start the season, they have some capable veterans at their disposal, too.

Rodrigo Abols is capable of flexing out to the flank if needed, and last year's preseason darling, Anthony Richard, is still under contract for one more year.

It's possible the oft-injured Samu Tuomaala, who has played two full seasons with the AHL Lehigh Valley Phantoms, makes a case for an opportunity with his speed and heavy shot.

The Flyers will be disappointed not to have landed Shabanov, to be sure, but they have no reason to dwell on it or pivot to a Plan B.

This year should be about believing in and developing the guys they already have.

The Florida Panthers will wrap up their 2025 Development Camp on Thursday.

Over the past three days, 31 Panthers prospects have participated in on-ice work and off-ice training, getting a small taste of how the big club does it while being hosted at their practice facility in Fort Lauderdale.

On Thursday, the hard work put in all week will culminate with a scrimmage.

Every player at D-camp will be on the ice, showing off what they’ve learned and trying to make one last strong impression before heading back to their respective summer homes.

Some of these players will be invited back for the Panthers official training camp in September, which will present a good opportunity to show they absorbed what was taught and put it to good use.

One cool note about the scrimmage is that the goaltenders will be wearing some very special jerseys.

Each of the jerseys worn by Florida’s goalies during the scrimmage were specially decorated by patients at Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital in Fort Lauderdale during a visit with the Panthers prospects on Wednesday afternoon.

For fans who would like to check out the scrimmage, the pucks drops at 11 a.m. and it will be open to the public and free to attend.

Seats are available at a first come, first served basis inside the Baptist Health IcePlex in Fort Lauderdale.

A full camp roster can be found below:

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Photo caption: Florida Panthers prospects take part in a Development Camp practice at the Baptist Health IcePlex on July 2, 2025. (Florida Panthers)

As Day Two of unrestricted free agency draws to a close, there aren’t too many bigger names left on the market.

The biggest name - and only impact name left, really - is forward Nikolaj Ehlers, who registered 24 goals and 63 points in 69 games last season with the Winnipeg Jets. If the latest updates on Ehlers’s situation are to be believed, the Carolina Hurricanes and the Washington Capitals are the frontrunners to land him.

And - as discussed Tuesday with forward Bryan Rust’s situation - Kyle Dubas and the Pittsburgh Penguins’ phone lines will get a whole lot busier once Ehlers is signed.

Rust is one of Pittsburgh’s primary trade targets for other teams, as the 33-year-old veteran put together a career season with 31 goals and 65 points in 71 games in 2024-25. He is highly coveted, but Dubas said that the price to acquire Rust will be very high given his production, the term on his contract, and his tenure with and meaning to the organization.

But, there may be a very intriguing second option for teams if they can’t land Rust. And that is forward Rickard Rakell.

There has been interest in Rakell going back to the trade deadline, and - like Rust - he enjoyed the best year of his career last season. He put together a 35-goal, 70-point campaign - both career-high marks - and it is the third time in Rakell’s career that he hit the 30-goal mark. 

30-goal scorers don’t grow on trees in the NHL, and that’s especially true for guys who manage to do it on a pretty consistent basis. And it’s even rarer for 30-goal scorers - especially with the cap skyrocketing - to be locked in for three more years at just $5 million average annual value.

Suffice to say, whoever lands Rakell is getting their hands on a proven goal-scoring winger for term and for cheap. And - while that’s going to come at a cost - it’s a price worth paying for teams that are either in win-now mode or that are looking to take the next step. 

Here are four potential landing spots for the Penguins’ top goal-scoring winger.

Penguins Rumors: 4 Teams Linked To Rickard Rakell Pittsburgh Penguins forward Rickard Rakell has been creating plenty of chatter in the rumor mill again now that the off-season is here. With the Penguins retooling their group, questions have naturally come up about the 32-year-old winger's future in Pittsburgh.

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Carolina Hurricanes/Washington Capitals

We’re going to group them into one here, because - again, if the Ehlers rumors have merit - one of these teams is going to lose out on him.

And when that happens, either team should immediately be giving Dubas a call. 

For Carolina, they have been missing out on a lot of the big names on the market, even if they’ve come their way for a brief time. Jake Guentzel decided to walk after being dealt to Raleigh by Pittsburgh at the 2024 trade deadline. The Canes traded for star forward Mikko Rantanen well in advance of the deadline only to trade him again to the Dallas Stars leading up to this year’s trade deadline.

They desperately need a win, and they desperately need top-line scoring help. The Canes are a great team structurally, but they lack oomph on offense and don’t have the high-end talent to get them over the hump.

Carolina Hurricanes In On Top Free Agent Target Nikolaj EhlersThe Carolina Hurricanes made quite a splash on Tuesday, landing defenseman K'Andre Miller from the New York Rangers for a package of just picks and prospects.

While neither Rakell or Ehlers is cream-of-the-crop like Guentzel and Rantanen, they’re still very good players. Carolina was rumored to be in on Rakell at the deadline, and they will probably be again if they lose out on Ehlers.

As for Washington? The calculus is simple: They have a lot of supporting cast members and even foundational pieces to keep competing beyond the point of Alex Ovechkin’s retirement. But - even with Ovechkin still in the picture - their most glaring weakness is in their top-six.

There was a rotating cast of characters in the top-six for the Capitals in the playoffs that included the likes of Anthony Beauvillier - traded to the Caps by the Penguins at the deadline - as well as Tom Wilson and Connor McMichael. While all of those guys are perfectly serviceable, they could still use a more surefire trigger man in their top-six - especially with Ovechkin’s future uncertain beyond next season.

They need to start preparing for the post-Ovechkin era. And having another high-end goal-scorer for three more years will help them bridge that gap.

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Dallas Stars

In what could be considered cap hell, the Stars are in a bit of a bind because of the Rantanen contract that pays him $12 million annually. They are currently nearly $1.8 million over the cap right now, and they only have 12 forwards, eight defensemen, and two goaltenders signed on for next season.

They are going to have to shed salary somewhere, whether that’s by sending one of their defensemen in Matt Dumba or Ilya Lyubushkin packing somewhere else or by shipping out one of their biggest contracts - a la Jason Robertson - and trying to get cheaper talent for similar output.

Rakell matched Robertson’s goal total last season, and he makes $2.75 million less for three more years. Robertson is also a pending-RFA next season and will command a hefty raise. 

If Dallas decides to move out Robertson - and perhaps one of those defensemen - going after Rakell makes a lot of sense. This one will be very situation-dependent, but never say never.

With Robertson's Name Out There, Could Penguins Swing Blockbuster Trade?With both the NHL Draft and free agency on the horizon, trade speculation is running rampant in hockey circles at the moment.

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Los Angeles Kings

It seems like the Kings have been linked to Rakell since, well, forever. And that’s probably because they have been.

It’s no secret that Los Angeles seeks a goal-scorer, even after acquiring Andrei Kuzmenko - who, although is a good add, hasn't been able to replicate his 39-goal rookie campaign. They made some calls on Rakell at the deadline, and nothing came to fruition. The Kings also have some pieces that Pittsburgh may be interested in - defenseman Brandt Clarke, for example - that a package involving Rakell may be able to net. 

With a tick under $6 million left in cap space - and a key RFA in Alex Laferriere - the Kings have some decisions to make. If they want surefire goal-scoring help to bolster their top-six and their power play, Rakell can provide exactly what they need. But they’ll need to do a small bit of maneuvering to get that, but - realistically - that shouldn’t pose much of an issue.

If the Kings want Rakell, they’ll pay up for him. And they could definitely use him.

Kings Trade Target: Rickard RakellThe sun is setting on an incredible era of Pittsburgh Penguins hockey. After making the playoffs for 16 straight seasons and winning Stanley Cups in 2009, 2016 and 2017 on the backs of Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Kris Letang, and Marc-Andre Fleury, they are now headed for their third consecutive playoff absence.  

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Chicago Blackhawks

The one thing that makes a move for Rakell a bit tricky is that he does possess an eight-team no trade list, hence, why the Buffalo Sabres were not included on this list. Sorry, Buffalo.

Another team that may or may not be on that list? The Blackhawks.

However, if the Hawks aren’t on Rakell’s no-trade list, they figure to be a favorite to land him. They have already been linked to Rakell, and they are one example of several teams that are looking to take the next step from rebuild mode to “go for it” mode.

Chicago already has a good young core of forwards such as Connor Bedard, Frank Nazar, and Ilya Mikheyev. But they could use a surefire goal-scoring talent - as well as a seasoned veteran - to help get them to the next level.

Rakell is a fit in a lot of ways, and Chicago has a lot of the assets that Pittsburgh would covet. Keep an eye on them as a potential trade partner for Rakell, as it makes sense in a lot of ways - so long as Rakell is okay with playing there.

Blackhawks Are Wisely Headed For Another Development YearThe Chicago Blackhawks are not very active on the free agent front. They may add another piece or two when it comes to NHL or AHL depth, but they are not interested in acquiring bad contracts as the youngsters start to take over the lineup.

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Feature image credit: John Jones-Imagn Images

The Seattle Kraken used their second-round pick (36th overall) in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft to select defenseman Blake Fiddler, a right-handed shot with size and tools coaches dream of.

Listed at 6-foot-4, 209 pounds, Fiddler has the frame of a true shutdown defenseman, comparable to the likes of Adam Larsson, but the 17-year-old is much more than that. Fiddler knows how to use his body to defend, but he is not reliant on it. 

He's an excellent skater, described as having explosive backwards crossovers and the ability to take the puck from behind his goal line and start transition breakouts. EliteProspects describes him as a player who "skates through his hands." 

"Fiddler’s impact comes through his defensive impact and frequent advantage creation. With explosive backward crossovers, he wins the race to the middle before pivoting and surfing into the stop. Always thinking about body position, he skates through the hands, intercepts opponents with his back, and eliminates off-puck threats. On retrievals, he picks up the puck cleanly, waits for pressure to engage, and places it in a good spot for a teammate to carry it out." -EliteProspects 2025 NHL Draft Guide.

Fiddler flashed some of his offensive potential and creativity with the Edmonton Oil Kings in the WHL this season, recording 10 goals and 33 points in 64 games. A player of Fiddler's size and position, it's rare to be deemed a two-way defenseman, but Fiddler is just that. 

Despite being considered a strong skater, the American defenseman believes there is more to add to that aspect of his game, and he thinks the Kraken development staff can help him do just that. 

"Everything can get better," said Fiddler when asked about what he can improve on. "I'm going to continue to work out everything. I'm a strong skater for my size, but I want to become elite at that, and that's something that definitely as I get older, I want to be able to do and continue to work at. I also want to use my physicality edge a little more and on a consistent basis. It's there, but I want to do it more consistently." 

"Something I didn't know is how great of a development staff they have, and they've all been super good to me and helping me on the ice and off the ice."

2025 NHL Draft - Kraken Select Blake Fiddler 36th Overall in 2025 NHL DraftBlake Fiddler Brings Size and Skill to Seattle Kraken.

After making four forward selections in the first round in four drafts, many people thought the Kraken would select a defenseman, but they elected to draft center Jake O'Brien. Fiddler was predicted by many to land in the first round, but when he slipped to the second, the Kraken wasted no time trading up, moving the 38th and 57th picks to take what could very well be a steal in Blake Fiddler. 

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

First Look - 2025 Draft Picks at Kraken Development CampSeattle - The Kraken of the future hit the ice today for the first skating day of Development Camp at the Kraken Community Iceplex. While some prospects have been here before in previous years, it was our first chance to see the freshly drafted players wearing the Kraken logo for the first time. Here is a first look at each of the Kraken's 2025 Draft Picks from the sessions today.

Brent Burns signed a one-year contract with the Colorado Avalanche as he gears up for a 22nd career NHL season.

The teamannounced the 40-year-old defenseman's signing on Wednesday evening but didn't reveal an average annual value. Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reports the contract has a $1-million base salary with the potential to earn another $3 million in games-played bonuses. Burns was a UFA after finishing an eight-year contract with an $8-million cap hit.

This past season with the Carolina Hurricanes, Burns recorded six goals and 23 assists for 29 points in 82 games. He can extend the fourth-longest ironman streak in NHL history, which stands at 925 straight games.

In 1,497 career regular-season NHL games, Burns has 261 goals and 649 assists for 910 points. He's  added another 24 goals and 80 points in 135 playoff games, making the Stanley Cup final with the San Jose Sharks in 2015-16.

Burns won the Norris Trophy as the defenseman of the year in 2016-17 after putting up 76 points, and he was the 2014-15 recipient of the NHL Foundation Player Award.

At 6-foot-5 and 228 pounds, Burns has continued to log many minutes of ice time per game, with 20:57 this past season and a career average of 22:22. He ranked second on the Hurricanes in blocked shots, with 98, and he ranks 19th in the NHL in total blocked shots since his first season in 2006-07, with 1,785.

The Avalanche are Burns' fourth NHL team. Before the Hurricanes and 11 seasons with the Sharks, Burns' first seven campaigns came with the Minnesota Wild, which drafted him 20th overall in 2003.

As a right-shot blueliner, Burns could slot behind Cale Makar and Josh Manson the Avalanche's depth chart. On the left side, Colorado has Devon Toews, Samuel Girard and Sam Malinski. They lost Ryan Lindgren in free agency to the Seattle Kraken, and Erik Johnson and Tucker Poolman became UFAs as well.

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