The Toronto Maple Leafs made a doozy of a trade with the Philadelphia Flyers on Tuesday. In a major shakeup, the Leafs sent Joseph Woll and Simon Benoit to Philly in exchange for defenseman Emil Andrae, goaltender Samuel Ersson, and a 2026 third-round pick. 

The move made a ton of sense for the Flyers, who got bigger on defense with Benoit and improved their goaltending by adding Woll. But with Toronto’s crease looking a little crowded, I wondered if Ersson will actually be a Maple Leaf at the end of the month. 

Ersson, acquired as part of a deal that also netted Toronto a promising young defenseman and draft capital, is a restricted free agent. His previous two-year, $2.9-million contract with the Flyers carried a $1.45-million AAV. The qualifying offer required to retain his rights sits at roughly $1.6 million for the 2026-27 season. General manager John Chayka was deliberately noncommittal when asked about it Tuesday afternoon. 

“We’re going to make some decisions as to what our goalie pipeline looks like,” Chayka said. “He’s a good young goaltender. He’s someone we identified with upside and someone our staff could work with, so we will get together with (Director of Goaltending) Curtis McElhinney and make that decision.” 

"He's a battler, he's a gamer."

"He doesn't care if you're 6'4', 6'8', he'll go right through you."

Flyers GM Daniel Briere shares what the Leafs are getting in Sam Ersson and Emil Andrae pic.twitter.com/LMZxY0mdMD

— OverDrive (@OverDrive1050) June 16, 2026

That measured response, combined with the current state of Toronto’s crease, led me to believe that the Leafs are not likely to extend the qualifying offer—a move that would turn Ersson into an unrestricted free agent on July 1. 

The Arbitration Risk

It’s not that the Leafs wouldn’t be interested in him; it’s more to do with the fact that qualifying him would also give the goaltender a chance to drive up his price via arbitration. Although Ersson’s numbers aren’t anything to boast about, the arbitration process is deemed to weigh heavily in a player's favor. With the salary cap rising to $104 million from $95.5 million the year before, it’s not inconceivable to see Ersson receive a small bump from his $1.6 million qualifying offer. 

The optimal situation for both Ersson and the Leafs would be to work out a deal before the June 29th deadline to tender a qualifying offer—perhaps for the same money, or even a little less. But the last thing the Leafs would want is to tender Ersson a qualifying offer and then see the player go to arbitration. The Leafs would not be able to walk away from an arbitration award less than $4,950,080. 

Re: Ersson, I asked GM John Chayka if the #Leafs intend to qualify him (He's an RFA). Says he and Curtis McElhinney will discuss their plans in the coming weeks.

— David Alter (@davidalter) June 16, 2026

The Depth Chart Dilemma

Beyond the financial risks, Toronto's current depth chart makes a heavy investment unnecessary. With Anthony Stolarz locked into a long-term extension and Dennis Hildeby emerging as a legitimate NHL option after a strong 2025-26 campaign, Toronto already possesses two goalies who project as its primary tandem. Adding Ersson at a $1.6-million commitment would make him, at best, a third or fourth option behind Stolarz, Hildeby, and whichever prospect (Artur Akhtyamov or another) the organization chooses to develop internally. 

Ersson’s recent track record in Philadelphia—a pair of uneven seasons that ultimately led the Flyers to move on—does little to change the calculus. At 26, he remains young enough to rebound, but the Leafs don’t appear to want to see that at any cost. 

Prioritizing Cap Flexibility

Cap flexibility also factors heavily. By declining to tender, Toronto avoids locking in $1.6 million on a player who would likely spend most of the season in the American Hockey League or as injury insurance. That money can instead be deployed toward other roster needs or simply preserved as the front office navigates a busy offseason that includes further decisions on the blue line and forward group. The trade itself already delivered meaningful cap relief by moving Woll’s remaining two years at approximately $3.67 million annually and Benoit’s $1.35-million deal. 

Chayka’s public comments emphasized the “upside” the organization sees in Ersson and the willingness of goaltending development staff to work with him. However, the acquisition of Ersson was never framed as the centerpiece of the deal. Andrae, a mobile, offensively inclined defenseman still on an entry-level deal, and the third-round pick carried more obvious long-term value. Ersson functioned as the necessary third piece to facilitate the swap and give Toronto a temporary goaltending body while decisions are finalized. 

In today’s NHL, where cap space and roster flexibility are premium assets, carrying three or four NHL-caliber goalies at meaningful salaries has become increasingly rare. The Leafs have already shown a preference for blending established netminders with high-upside prospects rather than accumulating mid-tier veterans at premium rates. Declining to qualify Ersson would align perfectly with that philosophy.

See more of The Hockey News on Google — Save us as Preferred Source

For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.

For the first time in quite a long time, goaltending is looking like a strength for the Philadelphia Flyers, and the organization is hoping they can keep it that way for the long haul, too.

The 2026 NHL Draft is just under two weeks away now, and the Flyers traded their third-round pick, in addition to Emil Andrae and Sam Ersson, to the Toronto Maple Leafs for goalie Joseph Woll and defenseman Simon Benoit.

As a result, they now have just four picks: first, second, sixth, and seventh-rounders.

The middle rounds have been completely exhausted, but the Flyers have not drafted a goalie since 2023, when they took both Carson Bjarnason and Egor Zavragin.

If the Flyers had it their way, they would land another decent goalie prospect in the 2026 draft.

"We'd like to. You remember a few years ago, we ended up drafting Bjarnason and Zavragin back-to-back, and it's just the way our guys saw the value of those guys. That was the time we didn't think Zavragin would be there, where we was, we could pass up on him," Flyers general manager Danny Briere said at his pre-draft media availability Tuesday.

"We're not going to force it. If it falls in the right slot, then we're going to jump on it. . . We still have [Aleksei Kolosov], Bjarnason, and Zavragin developing nicely. So, again, it has to make sense for us to take them. If there's a better player at a different position in the first or second round, we're probably going to go in a different direction, but we'd like to add a goalie if we had the chance."

Flyers Prospect Early Favorite to Win 2027 Calder TrophyPundits have taken real notice of the ascension of Philadelphia Flyers young star Porter Martone.

Woll, 27 going on 28, and Dan Vladar, 28 going on 29, are in their primes now, while Bjarnason had an up-and-down first year playing professional hockey for the AHL Lehigh Valley Phantoms and ECHL Reading Royals.

Kolosov, who will quietly already be 25 come Jan. 4, has come along nicely as the starter for the Phantoms this past season, but he's on a one-year contract looking to prove himself, eventually, at the NHL level.

As for Zavragin, well, the 20-year-old was just traded to Metallurg Magnitogorsk in hopes that he'll play regular KHL minutes this season after taking a back seat to Artemi Pleshkov and Sergei Ivanov on SKA St. Petersburg.

The 2023 third-rounder has one year remaining on his current contract, and reports are swirling that he'll extend with Metallurg for another year as well.

That all said, the Flyers have no apparent sure things for the long-term yet, which makes adding more young talent at the goalie position a prudent strategy.

"Goalies, you almost have to be lucky to fall into place. Either you step up in the range, sometimes they fall. Once one goes, typically a bunch go right away, so you can't just reach," Flyers assistant general manager Brent Flahr added.

Flyers Must Consider Top Goalies in 2026 NHL DraftThe Philadelphia Flyers badly need some new blood in their goalie prospect pool, and the 2026 NHL Draft awaits.

"If your second-round pick's later, you can't just reach to take a goalie just to take the goalie. If they're in that range that makes sense for your organization, you do it, but at the same time, some years it falls into place for goalie. I, personally, would like to try to draft a goalie most years. When we took two the one year, it kind of took pressure off the year after. We didn't see the value of drafting another one at some of those times, but if it happens, it happens."

Before Kolosov (2021), Bjarnason, and Zavragin (2023), the last goalie the Flyers drafted was Roddy Ross, who went 169th overall in the sixth round of the 2019 draft.

Ross, 25, never signed with the Flyers, spending four seasons playing in USports for the University of Saskatchewan before finally turning pro last season, playing 40 ECHL games for the Wichita Thunder.

The Flyers' goalie outlook can rapidly change with an injury to Vladar or Woll, or if Kolosov doesn't remain with the organization beyond the upcoming season.

Now, even the Flyers themselves have admitted it's probably time to add a new face between the pipes through the draft.

I have a Bernese Mountain Dog named Bear. He’s an absolute doofus, a rescue that we foolishly adopted after he’d basically run the streets of a rural area for the first two years of his life. So he knows not personal space nor manners. He drools — and flings his drool — more than any dog we’ve ever had (and we’ve had some drooling gentle giants). He yelps like an absolute baby when you so much as tap his paw, yet barrels headfirst into you without pain whether your napping, cooking, reading or walking.

But…Bear would not intentionally hurt a fly. He loves EVERY human, dog, or car (because they contain humans, typically) that he sees and cannot fathom why they would not want to make his acquaintance. Bear does not understand his own size and cannot grasp why others might be intimidated and recoil from 100 lbs. of galloping black fur and drool.

Rescuer’s remorse? Not exactly. We’ve had big drooling giants before (Great Pyrs), but we definitely bit off a different breed with this one.

All of which is my slow offseason-day way of saying, when the Isles send out a press release headlined “Islanders Sign Bear,” I pause and chuckle.

Islanders News

• J-G Pageau discusses his summer, on Long Island and with a trip to Italy. [Isles]
• The Isles announced signing Ethan Bear to another one-year, two-way deal. He missed time with injuries last year but if healthy he could be a good veteran callup option. [Isles | Post]
• Could a refurbished Belmont Park host an outdoor NHL game? Ask the Cheeseman. [Newsday]
• Dan and Mike reflect on offseason news, the Cup final, and whether the Knicks’ stunning title after half a century changes our outlook. [Islanders Anxiety via LHH]
• The first offseason buyout window has opened. Will Ondrej Palat get a call? [THN]

Elsewhere

Tuesday at the World Cup, Lionel Messi scored a hat trick, ho hum — albeit his first in a World Cup — while Norway dumped Iraq and France dispatched Senegal.

• Mitch Marner opens up a bit about the “dark” days in Toronto, importance of mental health and family support. [ESPN]
• Speaking of his old Leafs, they traded goalie Joseph Woll in a curious deal. [NHL] A third-pair defenseman, is apparently why. [Sportsnet]
• Carolina’s Cup win is proof hockey analytics nerds and jocks can get along. Canes GM Eric Tulsky — who used to share neutral zone research here with us at Lighthouse as well as lots lots more on Broad Street Hockey — is quite the story. [ESPN]
• Brandon Bussi, journeyman hero. [NHL]
• And Jackson Blake, getting emotional enjoying the cup with his dad, Jason. [NHL]
• Three change-of-scenery trade candidates this summer. [Sportsnet]
• John Carlson will head to free agency, enjoyed Anaheim but wants to play back east. [Athletic]
• Former NHLer Kyle Calder has died at age 47. [TSN]
• Colorado’s old GM acquired his old player Ross Colton for the Predators. [NHL]
• The Golden Knights are done with their little John Tortorella sugar boost. [ESPN]

Former Los Angeles Kings forward Kyle Calder, a hard-nosed winger who built a decade-long NHL career through relentless effort and determination, has died at the age of 47.

Calder passed away Monday, June 15, following what the Los Angeles Jr. Kings described as a brief illness. His daughter, Madison, confirmed the heartbreaking news in an emotional social media post, remembering the man she called not only her father, but her greatest influence.

"Dad, there will never ever be enough words in the world to describe how incredibly lucky I was to have you as my dad. Never in a million years would I have thought this day would come. There will forever be a void in my heart, but forever a spot just for you."

She continued:

"The father, husband, son, man, friend, coach, hockey player, and everything in between that you were is truly indescribable. The lessons you taught me, the strength you showed me, and the person you pushed me to become every single day—I carry all of it with me."

Madison ended her tribute with a message that reflected her father's lifelong love for hockey.

"I love you more than anything in the world to the moon and back infinitely. Save me a spot on the ice, Dad. I know you're skating around in heaven cheering all of us on from above. Fly high ♥️🕊️🏒 6/15/26."

No official cause of death has been released.

Calder appeared in parts of two seasons with the Kings during a 10-year NHL career that also included stops with the Chicago Blackhawks, Philadelphia Flyers, Detroit Red Wings, and Anaheim Ducks. Though his playing days eventually came to an end, his passion for the sport never faded.

From 2020 to 2022, he returned to Southern California as a coach with the Los Angeles Jr. Kings, helping develop the next generation of players and remaining an active presence in the hockey community.

The NHL Alumni Association remembered Calder as a player whose toughness was matched only by his generosity.

"Kyle embodied the values that make our alumni family so special: his loyalty, toughness, generosity, and an unwavering commitment to those around him.

"He was tough as nails on the ice, a fierce competitor who never backed down, yet behind that grit was a teddy bear heart. Kyle cared deeply for his teammates, friends, and everyone fortunate enough to know him. He was a protector, a loyal friend, and someone who always put others before himself.

"Kyle will be greatly missed and forever remembered by our NHL Alumni Hockey family. The friendships he built, the lives he touched, and the memories he created will remain with us always."

Originally selected by the Chicago Blackhawks in the fifth round of the 1997 NHL Draft, Calder carved out a career that far exceeded expectations. Despite standing 5-foot-9, he became known for his fearless style of play and willingness to battle against anyone on the ice.

Over 590 NHL games, Calder recorded 87 goals and 194 points while earning the respect of teammates and opponents alike for his work ethic and competitive spirit.

Chicago Blackhawks owner Danny Wirtz also paid tribute to Calder's impact, both during and after his playing career.

"The Chicago Blackhawks mourn the loss of Kyle Calder and extend our deepest condolences to Kyle's family during this extremely difficult and tragic time. Kyle approached life with the same passion, intensity and incredible dedication that defined his play."

Wirtz added:

"His commitment to the game remained strong long after his professional career ended, sharing his love for hockey with all generations of players through his work with Little Blackhawks, local youth teams and the Chicago Blackhawks Alumni Association. While Kyle's time with us was far too short, I'm comforted in knowing his legacy will live on for many years to come."

For Kings fans, Calder's tenure in Los Angeles represented only a small chapter of his NHL journey, but his return years later to coach young players ensured his influence reached far beyond the scoresheet. He leaves behind a legacy built on perseverance, passion, and a lifelong commitment to the game he loved.

For fans hoping that the Vegas Golden Knights will change their minds on Bruce Cassidy now that the playoffs are over, don't hold your breath.

While a guest on The  Nielson show on Edmonton Sports Talk, NHL insider Darren Dreger gave an update on Bruce Cassidy’s status.

Trending Stories

Can The Oilers Learn From Florida Without Trying To Become Florida?

If The Oilers Make Their Babcock Bed — They’ll Have to Sleep In It

Players Are On Board As Babcock To Oilers Is Real, Just Waiting for Approval

“It is possible that Kelly McCrimmon and the Vegas Golden Knights relent, and they allow the Oilers to have permission and get to Cassidy. I highly, highly, highly doubt that,” Dreger said.

“That was amplified by somebody who I feel is in-the-know there last night, I checked in when I landed.”

So you're saying there's a chance...

Doesn't appear that way. 

The Golden Knights have decided that they don't want Cassidy coaching the Oilers. So much so, they're willing to pay him $4.5 million next season not to do so. And, it's not like the Golden Knights are hiring Cassidy back with the announcement that John Tortorella is moving on. Elliotte Friedman reports that many believe the plan is to hire Ryan Craig, the current AHL Henderson head coach and former Golden Knights assistant.

As it stands, the Oilers are shifting gears anyway. They've now identified Mike Babcock as their top target and appear prepared to wait for the NHL to finish their investigation into his conduct. Once cleared -- which insiders are now starting to believe will happen -- the Oilers will likely officially hire Babcock. 

As for what happens with Cassidy at the end of next season? If the Oilers give Babcock one year to prove himself, we could be having this Cassidy conversation all over again. 

Bookmark The Hockey News Edmonton Oilers team site to never miss the latest news, game-day coverage, and more. Add us to your Google News favourites, and never miss a story.

The Hockey News has released its archive to all THN subscribers: 76 years of history, stories, and features.

Subscribe now to view the full THN Archives here

Also, go to thn.com/free to subscribe.

The O'Reilly Factor – Mar 20, 2023 - Vol 76, Issue 11 - Ken Campbell

AS INCONCEIVABLE AS IT is now, there was a time when Ryan O’Reilly felt like he would have showed up on The Oprah Winfrey Show and opened an empty box. Oprah would have gone around pointing at members of the audience saying, “You get a car! You get a car! You get a car!” And when she reached O’Reilly, there would have been a lonely guy standing there with a trombone doing the “wah, wah, wah” sound. Think Buffalo, circa 2017-18. Or St. Louis, the first half of 2018-19.

O’Reilly started to wonder whether or not it was him. He had experienced so little success in so many places that perhaps it wasn’t just a coincidence. Prior to the 2019 playoffs and dating back to his days with the OHL’s Erie Otters, he had played a total of 18 playoff games in 11 years and had failed to win a series. Doubts that he’d ever play for a winner began to creep in. In his first nine NHL seasons, his teams had played barely above .500 hockey and had never won a playoff series. In his final season in Buffalo, he lost his passion playing for a team that was so bad it got Rasmus Dahlin. And until the Blues channelled their inner Laura Branigan and went on a historic heater in January 2019, they were holding down 31st place in a 31-team league.

Yes, he had won the Lady Byng Trophy in 2013-14, but you know what they say about where nice guys finish. He had helped Canada to gold medals at the 2015 and 2016 World Championship tournaments, but that was only because his NHL team failed to make the playoffs. (Anytime a guy goes to the worlds in six of seven seasons, it’s a pretty good indication things aren’t going so great.) And there was that World Cup title in 2016, but does it really count when you win an NHL/NHLPA invitational, a tournament where the organizers have to fabricate teams? As far as the NHL was concerned, O’Reilly was making a lot of money and playing at an elite level…and wasn’t able to shake the stink of losing.

But when Toronto GM Kyle Dubas dealt, among other things, a first-round pick to get O’Reilly on an expiring contract as a hired gun for this season, he was getting a battle-tested champion, a player who helped St. Louis end the longest active Stanley Cup drought at the time. Now all O’Reilly has to do is help end the longest Cup drought of all-time in Toronto. “I always thought about it,” said O’Reilly of the prospect of playing in Toronto, “but I never really thought it would actually happen. I’m still kind of shocked that I’m actually playing here. It’s still a little surreal, putting on this sweater and being here with this team. I’m still kind of pinching myself.”

It’s actually a great fit for O’Reilly. Both his parents are from Toronto. His wife’s father was a high-school teacher and rugby coach there. And prior to going first overall in the 2007 OHL draft, he made the move to the big city from the small town of Clinton, Ont., and won a Greater Toronto League title with the Toronto Jr. Canadiens under-16 team. As part of a remodelling of the Leafs’ supporting cast leading up to the trade deadline, O’Reilly was brought in for one reason only. And now he’s uniquely equipped to deal with it. “You can tell with the energy in the room and in between periods,” O’Reilly said. “The way these guys are and the focus and detail they put into things, you can just tell they’re trying to win. And, for myself, it’s fun to be part of that mindset. Obviously there’s tons of work that has to happen, but it’s rejuvenating for me to be around that kind of energy.”

But anyone who has watched the Leafs underachieve in the playoffs and count its moral victories in “mad respect” from the defending Stanley Cup champion knows that it takes more to win in the post-season than strapping on the pads and being talented. You need players such as O’Reilly, even if they’re in the form of a 32-year-old who isn’t quite where he was in 2019 when he had about a sixth-month stretch of being one of the best players in the world.

Predators Acquire Ross Colton From AvalancheGeneral Manager Chris MacFarland bolsters Nashville’s middle six by adding grit and goaltending depth, reuniting with versatile forward Ross Colton in his first major move since joining the Predators.

Because with a O’Reilly in their lineup, there is not one area of the game where the Leafs aren’t a better team. They’re grittier, they’re playoff hardened, they’re better defensively, better in the faceoff circle and more talented in both their top- and bottom-six. Perhaps it was a slight indictment of the players who have failed to win in the playoffs when Dubas said of O’Reilly, “He’s doing everything the exact way I think you have to play when you really want to win.” But it’s indisputable that if his teammates ever get a long lip after a bad period or playoff loss, there will be at least one player in the room who can talk about how his team was in last place at Christmas and went on to win the Stanley Cup.

And the Maple Leafs are getting a player who can back up his words on the ice. “His hockey IQ is near the tops of anyone I’ve ever worked with,” said Blues GM Doug Armstrong, the man who traded O’Reilly. “He just does the right thing all the time. And that’s almost impossible to find. He affects the game without affecting the scoresheet.”

O’Reilly was knocked out of the lineup with a broken finger after taking a shot in the hand in his eighth game after the trade, but he was expected to return before the playoffs. And, really, it’s the post-season where the Leafs believe he’ll have a defining impact. Starting with getting O’Reilly and Noel Acciari from the Blues, the Leafs essentially changed the entire complexion of their secondary elements. Dubas was bold and decisive at the deadline, not only because he himself is on an expiring contract but because he believes this is the season where this team can do something special. A long playoff run is absolutely essential in 2023, but “long” in The Center of the Hockey Universe™ is defined by getting out of the first round for the first time since 2004. And that’s a good thing, considering that if the Leafs can beat Tampa Bay in Round 1, their likely opponent in Round 2 will be Boston, a team that is having one of the greatest regular seasons in NHL history and loaded up pretty well itself at the deadline.

Even with the changes, the Leafs will only go as far as Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, William Nylander, John Tavares and Morgan Rielly can take them. If those people don’t show up, it doesn’t matter how well O’Reilly and his band of newcomers play. But having people like O’Reilly in secondary roles puts the star players in the best position to succeed. “From a distance, it looks like Kyle had one of the better deadlines,” Armstrong said. “He created a situation where the top players have to do their jobs and nobody else’s. Their depth now is so strong that they have to do what top players are supposed to do and everything after that will get done by experienced, competent players.”

Predators 2026 NHL Draft Targets: Viggo BjörckSmall in stature but elite in speed, this Swedish dynamo pairs vision with a high-octane offensive drive that could ignite Nashville’s future alongside their rising young stars.

That’s why the Leafs don’t need the Conn Smythe Trophy-winning Ryan O’Reilly, but they could use a version of the one that won the Selke Trophy the same season. The visorless, gap-toothed and ebullient O’Reilly just has to be the best version of himself, whether that’s centering Tavares and Marner on the second line (and taking away the defensive heavy lifting away from his linemates) or being a reliable third-line center. This certainly has the feel of a relationship that could extend beyond this season, although Dubas said after acquiring O’Reilly that he thinks couples should live together before they get married. There is still a lot of time for that, but a successful playoff run would go a long way toward both sides being able to co-exist without fighting over who takes out the garbage.

HIS HOCKEY IQ IS NEAR THE TOPS OF ANYONE I’VE EVER WORKED WITH. HE JUST DOES THE RIGHT THING ALL THE TIME. AND THAT’S ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO FIND– BLUES GM DOUG ARMSTRONG

After watching his team grind out a win against Calgary (and before putting up a stinker against Vancouver) in early March, Dubas talked about how the Maple Leafs have evolved. “The (Calgary game), in the third period, sort of exemplifies the difference of the team,” Dubas said. “Just a little bit more competitive, a little bit more sacrifice. And I just sense that, with the players that we’ve added and also the growth of some of the guys internally, we’re just far better in that realm.”

Predators Should Move On From This Aging VeteranThe Nashville Predators should consider moving on from veteran forward Erik Haula as they continue to get younger and reshape their roster.

The Pittsburgh Penguins made a roster move on Tuesday.

Goaltender Taylor Gauthier, who was set to be a Group-6 unrestricted free agent on July 1, was signed to a one-year deal by the Penguins. 

The team announced the news via its social media.

The Penguins have re-signed goaltender Taylor Gauthier to a one-year contract extension ✍️

Details: https://t.co/LJ4USYiknkpic.twitter.com/BVCOLRC4px

— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) June 16, 2026

The deal is worth $850,000 at the NHL level and $125,000 in the minor league level. 

Gauthier spent the 2025-26 season with the ECHL's Wheeling Nailers and had another incredible season, finishing with a 21-9-5 record, a 2.09 goals-against average, and a .929 save percentage.

He helped the Nailers get to the Eastern Conference Finals of the Kelly Cup Playoffs before they were eliminated by the Florida Everblades. This was Gauthier's fourth season in the Penguins' organization.

Gauthier is expected to compete for a roster spot with the AHL's Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins next year, since Sergei Murashov is slated to make the jump to the NHL. 

---

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

NEW YORK (AP) — The NHL said Tuesday the Stanley Cup Playoffs this spring were the most-watched on record in the U.S. with an average of 1.8 million viewers.

That surpassed the previous record of 1.56 million in 1996 and is up 68% over last year.

ESPN reported this was the most-watched Cup final since 2019. Carolina beat Vegas in six games in a final without some of the biggest hockey markets in the country.

Some of the increase across sports ratings can be attributed to a change in how Nielsen is counting viewers, but hockey is also enjoying a popularity spike, especially among women, after the 4 Nations Face-Off and the Olympics and in light of shows like “Heated Rivalry” and "Off Campus” putting it in front of a different audience.

___

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

TORONTO (AP) — “Hockey Night in Canada,” a program featuring NHL games that has been part of the national fabric for nearly 75 years on CBC television, will not return to the public broadcaster next season.

A sublicensing agreement between Rogers Communications and the CBC that allowed the show to air on the network expired at the end of the Stanley Cup playoffs.

The two sides did not extend the partnership for the 2026-27 season, the first year of Rogers’ 12 year, $11 billion broadcast rights deal with the NHL. The CBC previously aired national games on Saturdays, along with all four playoff rounds each year.

“After a successful 12-year partnership, Sportsnet and CBC today announced the public broadcaster will no longer carry NHL broadcasts after the current season as it moves forward with a new sports programming strategy following the unprecedented success of the Milan-Cortina Olympic Games,” Sportsnet and the CBC said Tuesday in a joint statement. “Watching hockey on Saturday night is a time-honoured tradition for Canadians, and Sportsnet is privileged to continue delivering that tradition."

While the CBC still holds the “Hockey Night in Canada” trademark and could incorporate the brand into future coverage, it’s the first time the traditional program won’t be available to Canadian viewers via the public broadcaster.

“It’s definitely a bit of an end of an era,” CBC Sports executive director Chris Wilson said in a phone interview. “But we’re choosing to look at it more as an opportunity as opposed to a loss.

“But (we) fully understand that it’s going to take an opportunity away from some Canadians to see it on CBC. But that’s unfortunately where we landed, and we’re excited for the next chapter.”

The CBC first aired “Hockey Night in Canada” on television in 1952. It was a Saturday night mainstay for generations of hockey fans.

Broadcasters like Dick Irvin, Bob Cole, Ron MacLean, Don Cherry, Dave Hodge and Foster Hewitt — to name a few — helped provide the soundtrack that Canadians would cherish.

Traditional baby blue blazers — complete with a puck and stick "Hockey Night in Canada" logo on the jacket pocket — were as familiar as the announcers’ voices.

“The CBC’s interest in sports has basically been in amateur sports for quite a while, and other professional sports are on sports channels (like) Sportsnet or TSN,” Hodge said in a phone interview. “Obviously, hockey is on both of those as well. And lately it has come that it’s almost indistinguishable that a game is on this channel or that channel, they all look the same.

“Nobody wears any baby blue jackets with ‘Hockey Night in Canada’ crests to identify it as a Saturday night game. I think that this was coming. It was inevitable.”

Things began to change when Rogers first secured a 12 year, $5.2 billion rights deal with the league in 2013, with many games available on the Sportsnet broadcast platform.

The telecom giant and the CBC agreed on a sublicensing deal for English-language broadcasts of “Hockey Night in Canada," and a separate French-language deal was made with TVA.

Under the setup, Sportsnet produced the games, retained editorial control and managed the advertising.

The CBC’s inclusion helped broaden the reach across the country. It also kept the tradition intact and allowed the broadcaster to promote some of its own programming.

“It was the original appointment television for Canada every Saturday night,” said James Nadler, chair of the radio and television arts media program at Toronto Metropolitan University.

The NHL postseason ended Sunday night when the Carolina Hurricanes beat the Vegas Golden Knights to win the Stanley Cup. The 2026-27 regular season will likely begin in late September.

___

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

A former Buffalo Sabres draft pick and forward is hanging up the skates. 

The NHL Alumni's official X account shared that former Sabres forward Luke Adam has announced his retirement. 

Adam was selected by the Sabres in the second round of the 2008 NHL Entry Draft, 44th overall. From there, he played his first four NHL seasons with the Sabres from 2010-11 to 2013-14.

In 87 games with the Sabres over that span, Adam posted 15 goals, 11 assists, 26 points, and 64 hits. His best season with the Sabres was in 2011-12, though, as he set career highs with 10 goals, 10 assists, and 20 points in 52 games. 

Adam played his final season at the NHL level during the 2014-15 campaign with the Columbus Blue Jackets. However, he played in just three games for the Blue Jackets that year, where he was held off the scoresheet.

While Adam did not spend a lot of time at the NHL level, he put together a long career over multiple leagues. From 2016-17 to 2022-23, he played in the German DEL. He also split the 2023-24 season in both Czechia and Slovakia's leagues before spending each of the last two seasons in the ECHL with the Tahoe Knight Monsters. 

Adam was still an impactful player in the ECHL this season, as he recorded 20 goals, 27 assists, and 47 points in 69 games. However, instead of continuing his career, the 35-year-old is now ready to hang up the skates. 

The Toronto Maple Leafs got the early jump on trade season two days after the Stanley Cup was handed out, shipping goalie Joseph Woll and defenseman Simon Benoit to the Philadelphia Flyers for defenseman Emil Andrae, goaltender Samuel Ersson and a 2026 third-round pick. The Leafs faced the prospect of having to carry three goalies on their NHL roster, with Anthony Stolarz, Woll, and youngster Dennis Hildeby not waiver exempt. 

That situation was better than that the Buffalo Sabres face going into next season, as they have four goalies who would have to clear waivers to be sent down to the American Hockey League. Buffalo Sabres GM Jarmo Kekalainen indicated in his end-of-season remarks last month that he was satisfied with how the trio of Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, Alex Lyon, and Colten Ellis played last season and that it is possible that the club will carry three goalies next season, but that leaves goalie Devon Levi on the outside looking in.  

The 24-year-old has played 120 games over the last three seasons in AHL Rochester and only nine games for the Sabres. After being demoted to the Amerks after training camp, any chance of seeing NHL action last season was eliminated when Buffalo claimed Ellis off of waivers from the St. Louis Blues in early October.   

Other Sabres Stories

Sabres Emotionally Devastated By Game 7 Overtime Loss

"(Devon is) a talented goalie, he's played some great hockey at the American League level, and he's played some games in the NHL. Probably the toughest position of any positions on a hockey team is to get the responsibility to be a goalie that coaches rely upon on a regular basis,” Kekalainen said. “Next year he'll need waivers, so it's another part of that process, and we see how he keeps developing, and I think he's an NHL caliber talent that has a potential to be a good goalie in this league for a long time." 

Ideally, the Sabres would like to get an asset in the form of a prospect or a high draft pick, but the move that Toronto made on Tuesday may have set the market price for available goalies. Veterans with multiple years of term remaining, such as New Jersey’s Jacob Markstrom ($6 million AAV), Vegas’s Adin Hill ($6.25 million AAV) may require salary retention to be moved. Other goalies reportedly on the market like Columbus’s Elvis Merzlikins ($5.4 million AAV) and Montreal’s Samuel Montembeault ($3.15 million AAV) are not as desirable coming off bad seasons. 

Woll has played well at times, but struggled with a defensively inept Toronto club last season, and the return for him was a bottom pairing blueliner who was not in Rick Tocchet’s system in Philadelphia and a low third round pick. Another disadvantage to the Sabres is that Levi is not the only young, inexpensive goalie looking for a new home potentially available. Detroit first rounder Sebastian Cossa is being shopped by the Red Wings. 

Levi has another year remaining on a two-year bridge deal making $812,500, and their will likely be a number of clubs looking for a tandem or backup goalie this summer, but unless Kekalainen includes Levi as part of a package in a larger deal, it is likely thar the once prized prospect will bring back as good of a return as once expected. 

Follow Michael on X, Instagram @MikeInBuffalo

There are a multitude of different options the New York Rangers can go with their No. 5 overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft on June 26. 

Here are three defensemen the Rangers could look to draft with their top five selection. 

Chase Reid:

Scott Wheeler of The Athletic has the Rangers selecting defenseman Chase Reid in his NHL Mock Draft 2.0. 

“I’m also starting to think there’s a chance Reid gets here, and if he does, I think they’d take him,” Wheeler wrote.

Reid is a 6-foot-2, 190-pound defenseman from Chesterfield, Michigan, who is coming off an impressive statistical season with the Soo Greyhounds of the Ontario Hockey League, in which he recorded 18 goals, 30 assists, and 48 points in 45 games. 

The Athletic’s Corey Pronman has the 18-year-old defenseman ranked as his top prospect in the 2026 NHL Draft. 

“Reid is a talented defenseman with a lot of offensive tools. He has the speed, hands, vision and shot to generate chances and be a leading scorer for an NHL team,” Pronman writes. “Reid can create in transition and off the blue line with his feet and creativity, showing high-end improvisation skills. 

“Reid isn't overly physical, but he works hard enough and makes plenty of stops due to his reach, feet and compete level even while playing an aggressive style of play offensively. He projects as a major minutes NHL defenseman who can run a first power play.’”

Alberts Šmits:

Alberts Šmits, a 6-foot-3, 209-pound defenseman, is the No. 2-ranked international skater per NHL Central Scouting.

“The Rangers are the first of these teams that I think would give serious consideration to Alberts Šmits as well,” Wheeler wrote.

The 18-year-old defenseman was the youngest player at the 2026 Winter Olympics, representing Latvia and recording two assists in four games while averaging 18:44 minutes per game.

In 38 games for Jukurit in Liiga, Finland's top league, Šmits recorded six goals, seven assists, and 13 points.

“Šmits is a tall defenseman with impressive mobility and smarts,” Pronman writes. “He can make a reliable first pass and has a big point shot, projecting to have quality amounts of offense at the top level. He isn't a super smart puck-mover, but there's enough touch in his game to project to be reliable with the puck in the NHL. 

“He defends very well due to his length and feet, while also competing hard and being willing to play the body. He projects as a top-pairing defenseman.

Keaton Verhoeff:

Keaton Verhoeff, a 6-foot-4, 215-pound defenseman, was placed No. 4 on NHL Central Scouting's rankings of North American Skaters. 

Wheeler reports that the Rangers like Verhoeff, which indicates that he’s on their radar to be selected with the fifth overall pick. 

The 17-year-old defenseman is coming off a season with the University of North Dakota, in which he posted 17 points through his first 22 collegiate games, but he had only three assists in his final 14 games.

“Verhoeff is a big two-way defenseman. He's a strong skater, especially for his size,” Pronman writes. “He isn't flashy, nor is he overly creative offensively, but he has good skill, sees the ice well and makes difficult plays with a great point shot that will be a threat in the NHL. His decision-making at times can leave you wanting, though. 

“He’s hard on his checks and uses his size. In college, he wasn't a hard minutes defenseman this season, but he has been at the junior level, and he was a 17-year-old on a top college team. He projects as a tough-minutes top-pair defenseman in the NHL who could score at a quality clip.

The Nashville Predators have acquired center Ross Colton from the Colorado Avalanche for two third-round picks, the team announced on Tuesday, June 16.

In the trade, the Predators acquire Colton and goaltender Isak Posch for Nashville's third-round pick in 2026, Colorado's third-round pick in 2027 (which was previously acquired by Nashville), and goaltender Magnus Chrona.

This is Chris MacFarland's first trade since being hired as the Predators' president of hockey operations and general manager.

Colton, 29, scored nine goals and 15 assists in 73 games as a mostly third-line center for the Avalanche last season. Over six seasons, Colton has 89 goals and 87 assists in 404 games for the Avalanche and Tampa Bay Lightning.

Colton is in the final year of a four-year, $16 million deal he signed with Colorado in 2023. He will earn $4 million in 2026-27 and has a modified no-trade clause.

According to Puck Pedia, the Predators have more than $27 million in cap space for the 2026-27 season.

A 6-foot, 197-pound center, Colton brings a balanced approach up the middle. He's not flashy on offense, but he's an excellent possession player and wins face-offs. Barring other moves, Colton should join Ryan O'Reilly, Matthew Wood, and Fedor Svechkov as the team's top centers entering next season.

BLUEPRINT: What the Nashville Predators can learn from Hurricanes' Stanley Cup winning blueprint

Alex Daugherty is the Predators beat writer for The Tennessean. He never uses artificial intelligence when developing or drafting stories. Contact Alex at jdaugherty@gannett.com. Follow Alex on X, the platform formerly called Twitter, @alexdaugherty1. Also check out our Predators exclusive Instagram page @tennessean_preds.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Predators acquire center Ross Colton in trade with Avalanche

The Carolina Hurricanes are Stanley Cup champions as of Sunday, but the off-season rumor mill took no time to get moving. The New Jersey Devils are involved. 

Over the last couple of days, Kevin Weekes of ESPN and NHL Network speculated about two players currently on the New Jersey Devils. 

Over the weekend, Weekes reported that the New Jersey Devils are shopping goaltender Jacob Markstrom. 

After signing him to a contract extension during the 2025-26 season, which is worth $12 million over 2 years (cap hit of $6 million each year), they are already trying to move off of him.  

Per sources, although a deal isn’t imminent , I’m told the @NJDevils are
gauging market interest from clubs on
G Markstrom . #HockeyXpic.twitter.com/spVTY3AWN9

— Kevin Weekes (@KevinWeekes) June 13, 2026

For one, Markstrom wasn't good enough in 2025-26. He was supposed to be a stopgap at the position for the Devils during his tenure, but he has not lived up to it. 

Markstrom took over as the starting goalie for Sweden in the Olympics, but his NHL numbers left a lot to be desired. His 3.07 goals against average and .883 save percentage were simply not good enough. 

Not only would the Devils be upgrading at the position if they moved on from Markstrom, but they would also free up all of that cap space, which they desperately need. 

Weekes also reported that teams are calling about defenseman Simon Nemec. This is an entirely different situation, because Nemec still has a long NHL future ahead of him. He could even be a star. 

A name per sources that’s of interest to other clubs is RFA D Nemec , as it hasn’t been the smoothest path / usage with @NJDevils , and he’s an attractive option
given age, talent, upside, should it be decided that they want to move him.#HockeyXpic.twitter.com/m3nF2bfAQW

— Kevin Weekes (@KevinWeekes) June 16, 2026

Nemec was the second overall pick in the 2022 NHL Draft, but his transition to the NHL hasn't gone the way he had hoped. The Devils didn't unleash him once he reached the NHL, and his usage has been questionable at best. 

2025-26 was a career year for the young Slovakian defender. He had 11 goals and 15 assists for 26 points in 68 games played. His defensive game is still a work in progress, which is normal for a 22-year-old with under 200 NHL games played. 

The prize for trading Markstrom is freed-up cap space and the potential for better goaltending from elsewhere. The prize for Nemec could be high-end help at forward, specifically a goal-scoring winger, which is something the Devils also need. 

Dougie Hamilton has been in trade rumors since last fall, but it hasn't come up in a while. Hamilton, Luke Hughes, Brett Pesce, Brenden Dillon, Jonathan Kovacevic, and Jonas Siegenthaler are the NHL defencemen currently under contract. 

If another team were to acquire Nemec, they would need to sign him, as he is a restricted free agent. He is likely to get a nice contract with his upside as the main point of emphasis. 

As for goaltending, potentially without Markstrom, Jake Allen is signed to a long-term deal. They also have Nico Daws and the potential to make a trade for someone else that they think can help them. 

Reporting on Nemec and Markstrom isn't the only New Jersey Devils nugget from Kevin Weekes over the last week. He also noted that talks are ongoing between the team and captain Nico Hischier. He speculated that they will come to a medium-term contract in the $11-13 million range. 

👀 Although talks are ongoing, my speculation is that C Hischier and @NJDevils will land on a medium term contract extension somewhere between
11M- 13M range … #HockeyXpic.twitter.com/UgX43i5Cjj

— Kevin Weekes (@KevinWeekes) June 11, 2026

It is incredibly important for the Devils to sign Hischier unless they are bringing in another center of equal or better value. Hischier is a premier two-way player who impacts the game in all three zones. 

Paired with Jack Hughes, who is a dynamic offense-focused center, Hischier is a perfect complement. Getting him extended, as he is entering the last year of his current deal with a cap hit of $7.25 million, is the most important task of the entire offseason. 

One thing is for certain: Sunny Mehta is wasting no time when it comes to trying to make the roster better. 

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

For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting on the article below on THN.com or by creating your own post in our community forum.

The Nashville Predators have announced that they've acquired forward Ross Colton and goalie Isak Posch from the Colorado Avalanche.

The Predators are sending back their own 3rd round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft, as well as Colorado’s 3rd round pick in the 2027 NHL Draft and goalie Magnus Chrona. Colorado's pick was previously acquired in another deal.

This is the first move that Chris MacFarland has made as general manager of the Predators. And it's a move to bring a player that he bought to the Avalanche to his new team.

Colton, 29 scored nine goals and 15 assists for 24 points in 73 games last season. He is known as a bit of a sparkplug who uses his body to energize his teammates. He had 159 hits last season, which was third on the Avalanche.

In a statement released by the Predators, MacFarland had this to say:

“We are very excited to add Ross Colton to our forward mix,” MacFarland said. “Ross is a versatile, two-way winger who will add sandpaper and grit into our middle six group.”

As for Posch, he is an AHL goalie who played the last two seasons with the Colorado Eagles. In the 2025-26 season, he had a record of 15-8-4. 

MacFarland also commented on the acquisition of Posch.

“Isak Posch is a talented young netminder who was selected to play in the AHL All-Star game this past year,” MacFarland said. “He is a big goaltender who will add to our already impressive goalie depth.”