Bruins falling behind as East rivals make bold moves to improve originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

Tuesday was one of the most exciting days of player movement in the NHL in a long, long time. There were several trades made, many including a star player and/or a first-round pick.

The salary cap is rising, and teams are motivated to make bold moves to improve their roster in pursuit of a Stanley Cup title.

The Boston Bruins did not participate in Tuesday’s action, and they have been very quiet so far this offseason.

In fact, the B’s have done pretty much nothing. They did trade prospect Andre Gasseau and a draft pick to the San Jose Sharks for two draft picks last week, but that’s a very minor move.

The Bruins’ inactivity is putting them in a tough position. Right now, they look like the fifth- or sixth-best team in a loaded Atlantic division. They appear, as currently constructed, destined to be fighting for a wild card playoff berth next season, with another first-round exit as the most likely outcome.

“(It’s) obviously an important time in the season for us,” Bruins general manager Don Sweeney said at his pre-draft press conference Wednesday. “And it’s been busy, obviously, around the league and chatter. I don’t think the transactions are going to stop between now and the timeframe in July.

“We’re eager to be participating, haven’t yet, I guess what we did with [Andre] Gasseau, but there’s been a lot of chatter so I expect things to continue in terms of player movement and stuff heading into the draft to be busy.”

The Bruins better get busy.

They returned to the Stanley Cup Playoffs last season and took a big step toward becoming a good team again following a disastrous 2024-25 campaign. But maintaining their standing as a playoff team and inching closer to contender status could prove very difficult next season.

Why is that? Look no further than the Bruins’ rivals in the division.

Over the last few weeks, several of these teams have made substantial moves to change their roster and try to improve.

The Florida Panthers’ run of three straight trips to the Stanley Cup Final ended this past season due to injuries. But the Panthers should be a top contender again next season with a healthy roster, and they recently traded for a top-six power forward in Brady Tkachuk. Florida sent the Ottawa Senators three first-round picks (including No. 9 overall in Friday’s draft) and a second-rounder.

The Senators, who made the playoffs last season, wasted no time in using those assets to replace Tkachuk. They sent the No. 9 pick to the San Jose Sharks to acquire promising young William Eklund.

The Buffalo Sabres returned to the postseason in 2026 after a 15-year absence and defeated the Bruins in a six-game first-round series. They made a blockbuster deal with the Blackhawks on Tuesday that sent defenseman Bowen Byram to Chicago in exchange for the No. 4 overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft, among other pieces involved. Buffalo can use the No. 4 pick to draft an elite prospect or trade it for a veteran star (maybe a goalie?).

Brian Fluharty-Imagn Images

The Tampa Bay Lightning finished second in the division last season, and their roster is much better than the Bruins’. It features the reigning Hart Trophy winner (Nikita Kucherov) and a Vezina Trophy finalist in net (Andre Vasilevskiy). The Montreal Canadiens reached the Eastern Conference Final after a 106-point regular season. After some tough years in Montreal, the Canadiens are back. Their roster is loaded with premium young talent signed to team-friendly contracts.

Even the Toronto Maple Leafs should be much better next season after winning the NHL Draft Lottery in May and signing the top free agent defenseman, Darren Raddysh, after trading for his rights.

Despite all of these rival teams being proactive in bolstering their rosters, Sweeney seems unconcerned with the strength of the division.

“Florida, obviously they had injuries last year. They were a good team prior, they’re a good team now,” Sweeney said. “Montreal just took a step, Detroit’s looking to take a step, Buffalo took a step, they just traded some players. The moving parts are there. Ultimately, you’re going to have to show up and win your games. I think we’re competitive within our division. We were last year. And you’re going to need to be, because you are playing those games more frequently than the others.

“I don’t think it’s to the point where you’re like, oh, our division is overwhelming us by any stretch. I think we’re perfectly fine to compete within our division, but we have to address some areas in order, to your point, to acknowledge that other teams have finished ahead of us right now.”

Teams outside the division have improved, too. The Washington Capitals missed the playoffs by just four points last season. Over the last 24 hours, they have made bold trades for two top-six forwards in Jordan Kyrou and Alex Tuch.

The most impactful moves the Bruins can make to improve the roster would be adding another top-six forward (preferably a center) and a top-four defenseman who plays on the right side of the blue line. Boston’s lack of speed and skill were obvious in the playoffs. Those upgrades aren’t going to come from within, at least not in 2026-27. Outside reinforcements are required, and the trade market is the place to make those deals.

“You have to be in the trade market at this time of the year,” Sweeney said. “I just don’t think you can be singularly focused on UFA and internal growth and expectation that somebody’s just going to take the job. You’ve got to go out and actively find some guys that your pro guys have identified can help you.”

Many of the Bruins’ core players are in the win-now stage of their careers. David Pastrnak is 30 years old. Pavel Zacha is 29. Charlie McAvoy is 28. Jeremy Swayman is 27. If the Bruins plan to win with these players, the clock is ticking.

“We’re trying to improve our hockey club,” Sweeney said. “We’re competitively driven as I said, our players are going to be impatient in that regard. Organizationally, we’ve tried to look at this as, what’s our window. We did a good job to get back and be competitive this year relative to where we were a year ago. We had some players, you know, young players get integrated and take steps. We’d like to add to the group, you know, so it has to be. Whether that’s in a move up or move back or if that’s in a player acquisition, you know, we have to be in the marketplace.”

The Bruins need to get in the marketplace ASAP and make some moves or the 2026-27 season could be lost before it even starts. There’s no worse position to be in than a fringe playoff team, and that’s exactly where the Bruins stand on June 24, 2026.

In his media availability on Monday afternoon, Senators general manager Steve Staios indicated a desire to determine the value of the ninth overall pick he acquired in the Brady Tkachuk blockbuster.

Twenty-four hours later, he had his answer.

On Tuesday afternoon, the Senators announced that they had traded the ninth overall selection in the 2026 NHL Draft to the San Jose Sharks for William Eklund and prospects Kasper Haltunnen and Brandon Svoboda.

The 23-year-old Eklund is the obvious centrepiece of Ottawa’s return. The left winger, who turns 24 in September, was the seventh overall pick in the 2021 NHL Draft. He has played parts of five NHL seasons, but with the last three as a regular, recording 50 goals and 163 points in 252 career games.

Listed on the NHL website at 5’10” and 188 lbs, Eklund will never be mistaken for Tkachuk. The Swedish product isn’t exactly a burner, ranking in the 53rd percentile in max skating speed (22.31 mph) and 55th percentile in 22+ mph speed bursts according to his Edge data, but he does possess elusiveness through his edgework. It is a skill that creates separation and affords him the time and space to make plays.

Eklund’s best season came as a 22-year-old during the 2024-25 campaign when he tallied 17 goals and 58 points in 77 games. This past season, the winger recorded 15 goals and 53 points in 78 games.

Admittedly, it is always concerning when a young, rebuilding team is willing to move on from one of its young assets. Why would the Sharks not want to keep using Eklund as a young building block?

The answer is simple: with the Sharks possessing the second overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft, this trade to procure the ninth overall selection ensures that San Jose will draft left winger Ivar Stenburg and then use that ninth overall selection to address their blue line, their biggest position of need.

At the time the Tkachuk trade was announced, there was some disappointment that the organization did not acquire a warm body that they could immediately pencil into the lineup. With Eklund, the organization added a player with NHL experience and pedigree who will play on one of the top two lines. It also helps that his age aligns with the rest of this team’s young core.

Eklund has three years left on a contract that carries an average annual value of $5.6 million. When his deal expires at the conclusion of the 2028-29 season, Eklund will still have one year of restricted free agent status left before he’s eligible for unrestricted free agency.

Although he has never cracked the 20-goal or 60-point marks, the Senators are obviously hoping that there is untapped upside in the Swedish forward with some room for growth. Intriguingly, despite playing on a porous San Jose team, Eklund has demonstrated some decent defensive metrics, which leads one to believe that the Senators’ structure could bring out the best in his two-way play.

The move is not without risk, however.

The gamble is that Eklund is more of a playmaker than a finisher, and after trading one of the best volume shooters in the league and one of their top goal scorers in Tkachuk, the Senators need someone to help fill the net. Eklund’s five-on-five production rates last season were also relatively unimpressive.

Of the 546 skaters who logged more than 600 minutes of five-on-five ice time, Brady Tkachuk finished 24th with 2.48 points per 60 minutes, and 99th with 0.88 goals per 60. Eklund finished tied for 178th with 1.67 points per 60 and 221st with 0.59 goals per 60.

According to Evolving-Hockey, Eklund played predominantly with Alex Wennberg and Tyler Toffoli, but he did spend some time playing in the top six with other line combinations. Similarly, he spent time between San Jose’s first and second power play units playing to little effect. Per Natural Stat Trick’s data, of the 117 skaters who logged more than 200 minutes on the power play, Eklund finished 96th, averaging 4.23 points per 60 and 101st, averaging 1.35 goals per 60.

Here is his analytical stat card via HockeyStats.com.

Those metrics leave something to be desired, but after hurting his wrist in an exhibition game leading up to the 2025 World Championships, Eklund’s offseason training was negatively impacted. The hope is that, with a healthy summer and playing within the Senators’ system in front of a blue line featuring several strong puckmovers, this new environment will allow Eklund to thrive.

After losing Tkachuk and with aspirations to maintain their level of competitiveness, they will need Eklund to.

Considering how much of the talk leading into the offseason focused on how it was important for Steve Staios to find a winger for Tim Stützle, is Eklund’s style of play a fit, or would he be better suited playing alongside Dylan Cozens on the second line?

As an aside, I am genuinely interested to see how Cozens fares away from Brady Tkachuk, considering how well the two played off each other with their ability to use their size and puck protection to control the cycle game and preserve possession in the offensive zone. Without Tkachuk, can Cozens be as effective as he was last season? That’s the challenge he will face this year.

Looking at the other two prospects, Kasper Halttunen was San Jose’s second-round pick in the 2023 NHL Draft (36th). The 6’3”, 205 lb Finn just completed his first professional season in North America playing for San Jose’s AHL affiliate, where he scored 16 goals and 35 points in 69 games.

The 21-year-old right winger is renowned for his unbelievable OHL postseason production with the London Knights, in which he scored 32 goals in 35 games across two seasons. Blessed with size and an excellent shot that is capable of beating quality goaltenders from distances, Haltunnen projects as a bottom-six NHL forward.

Brandon Svoboda was San Jose’s third-round pick (71st overall) in that same 2023 NHL Draft class. The right-shot centre finished his sophomore season at Boston University, where he tallied six goals and 15 points in 35 games. Svoboda is listed at 6’3”, and his skating and physical tools project favourably to give him a chance to play professionally, but he projects as a safe floor depth piece.

In a vacuum, I’m left a bit torn. I like the idea of targeting a young piece in Eklund, who has produced at the NHL level and whose timeline aligns with the rest of this young core. I am intrigued to see how he integrates onto the roster and whether this team’s blue line and its structure can benefit his offensive numbers and take them to another level. Adding two prospects in Halttunen and Svoboda to a relatively thin farm system to bolster its depth isn’t a terrible idea either.

At the same time, however, the Senators paid a significant price with a top-10 pick to acquire this trio of players. For a team within its competitive window of opportunity, it is not every year that a top-10 pick winds up in a team’s hands, and they have to maximize its value to make that ascent and be recognized as a Stanley Cup contender.

Obviously, with Brady Tkachuk requesting a trade, there was pressure to get a warm body back in return who could help preserve competitiveness. The risk is that, if Eklund is not a frontline player, the Senators will have a harder time escaping that muddy middle, wherein they’re simply a competitive team whose success is predicated on their structure.

There are more dominoes to fall, so I want to wait to see how the rest of Ottawa’s offseason goes before passing judgment. With approximately $19.5 million in cap space remaining, the Senators have lots of money left to make a splash and improve their roster.

That said, the opportunity cost of acquiring Eklund was high, and when moving such a high pick, the goal is to add impactful players, and I just can’t confidently say that the organization did that on Tuesday.

By Graeme Nichols
The Hockey News

When the Ottawa Senators traded Brady Tkachuk to the Florida Panthers for a truckload of futures earlier this week, it didn’t feel like the pressure was mounting up for Montreal Canadiens GM Kent Hughes. After all, Tkachuk was in the division before and was staying there. Of course, a rival got better, but one could argue another got significantly worse at the same time. That was before Tuesday’s trading mayhem, though.

The Senators made another move on Tuesday. They knew they needed to replace their former captain in the lineup for the upcoming season, so they used some of the draft capital they got from the Panthers, sending the ninth overall pick to the San Jose Sharks to acquire William Eklund, Kasper Halttunen, and prospect Brandon Svoboda. While Eklund doesn’t have the same playing style as Tkachuk, their offensive production isn't that different, and, of course, it will be interesting to see how he does away from Macklin Celebrini. Still, the trade achieves what the Senators needed: getting back on track.

Meanwhile, the Buffalo Sabres, knowing that they couldn’t re-sign left-shot blueliner Bowen Byram, sent him and Jordan Greenway to the Chicago Blackhawks in return for the fourth overall pick, the 45th overall pick at the upcoming draft, and 6-foot-8 right-shot defenseman Louis Crevier. Somehow, Jarmo Kekalainen managed to barter the former fourth-overall pick, who had already been traded once, for a fourth-overall pick in a deep draft. Granted, Crevier’s 25 points don’t quite measure up to Byram’s 42 points, but he’s still a right-shot D with a big body.

Furthermore, a player rumored to be of interest to the Canadiens, Jordan Kyrou, was sent to the Washington Capitals in exchange for Connor McMichael, Milton Gastrin, and the 16th overall pick in the next draft. That wasn’t exactly a king’s ransom, but more importantly, that’s a door that’s now shut for the Canadiens.

It’s also worth noting that another right-shot defenseman who was rumored to be on the move was traded on Tuesday. The New Jersey Devils sent Simon Nemec and Maxim Tsyplakov to the Calgary Flames for two first-round picks (in 2027 and 2028), a second-round pick at the upcoming draft, and Etienne Mornin. Nemec was the second-overall pick at the 2022 draft, right behind countryman Juraj Slafkovsky. The Canadiens weren’t really linked to Nemec, but it still makes the right-shot defenseman market barer than it already was.

There were quite a few areas the Habs needed to improve this offseason: a second-line center, a right-shot defenseman, more physicality on the bottom six, and that was before the Panthers, the Senators, and the Sabres made significant moves to improve their lineups. It wasn’t exactly easy for the Canadiens to get out of the division in the playoffs; they needed seven games to rid themselves of the Tampa Bay Lightning and Buffalo, and what has happened so far this offseason won’t make coming out of the Atlantic an easier task. In other words, the ball is now squarely in Kent Hughes’ court. Will he watch the parade go by, or will he hop on? Canadiens fans have been accustomed to Montreal making moves in the offseason; Kirby Dach, Alex Newhook, Sean Monahan, Patrik Laine, Noah Dobson, and Zachary Bolduc all became Habs during the summer. Who’s next? Or is anybody next?

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 With free agency set to open next Wednesday, the Winnipeg Jets find themselves at a familiar crossroads as a team with genuine Stanley Cup aspirations but in need of the depth scoring that has recently eluded them.

The Jets averaged just 2.79 goals per game this past season, a mark that tied the New York Islanders for seventh-worst in the entire NHL. While some names have already come off the board in Jason Dickinson and Bobby McMann among those recently re-signed or extended elsewhere, a handful of intriguing options remain available, and Winnipeg would be wise to pursue at least one of them aggressively.

Anthony Mantha, RW/LW, Pittsburgh Penguins

Few players on the open market this summer had a better season than Mantha, who put together a 64-point campaign in Pittsburgh while helping the Penguins pull off one of the more surprising playoff qualifications of the year. The 31-year-old from Quebec has always had the tools to be a difference-maker, and last season he proved what happens when those tools are put to proper use. 

With Pittsburgh's long-term direction still very much in question, Mantha will likely prioritize landing somewhere with a realistic shot at winning and Winnipeg fits that description. A second-line pairing with Cole Perfetti would give both players a chance to thrive.

Oliver Bjorkstrand, RW, Tampa Bay Lightning

There was a time not long ago when Bjorkstrand was one of the more quietly productive wingers in the league, regularly posting 50 to 60 points and looking like a fixture in any competitive lineup. Last season in Tampa told a different story, with just 32 points in 80 games in a bottom-six role that never really suited him. 

The 31-year-old Dane is the kind of player who needs the right environment to produce, and Winnipeg could be exactly that. Give him top-six minutes and real responsibility, and a bounce-back season is well within reach. On a reasonable multi-year deal, the upside far outweighs the risk.

Mason Marchment, LW/C, Columbus Blue Jackets

The Jets had an edge problem this past season. Without Logan Stanley and Luke Schenn, the lineup lost a nastiness that opposing teams had come to respect, and that absence was felt when the games got physical. Marchment solves that problem while bringing genuine offensive value alongside it, a rare combination at 30 years old. 

The Uxbridge native has established himself as one of the more sought-after power forwards available, consistently delivering in the 45-to-55-point range while making life difficult on opponents every shift. Slotting him into the bottom six would free up the second line to focus on pure production, and it would restore an identity to this Jets group that has been missing for the better part of a year.

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The post-Brady Tkachuk era began at least one season earlier than anyone could have imagined on Sunday night, and the announcement ruined many a Father's Day dinner.

Tkachuk was traded to the Florida Panthers for the 9th and 25th overall selections in Friday’s NHL Draft, a conditional, lottery-protected first-round pick in 2029, and a second-round pick in 2027.

GM Steve Staios met the media on Monday and made it very clear this was not his idea and that he felt it best to accommodate the trade request rather than play a waiting game.

Though many Sens purists were in denial about this day ever coming, the signs were there. Matthew relocated to Florida, won two Stanley Cups, played with Brady at the 4 Nations Faceoff, and captured Olympic gold alongside his brother.

Now that the deal is done, rather than roasting the departed, it's important to note what this might mean in the big picture, not just for the Senators, but for all Canadian NHL markets.

1) What Canadian Teams Can Learn From The Brady Tkachuk Trade

This is not the first time this has happened in the NHL or even to the Senators.

Tkachuk was selected in the 2018 draft, and Alex DeBrincat was acquired in a blockbuster trade with the Chicago Blackhawks in 2022.

Neither was ultimately committed to a long-term future with the Senators, and for their own reasons, wanted to return to play in the States. 

The template for this kind of move was set by Matthew Tkachuk, who forced Brad Treliving’s hand in Calgary and landed himself in Florida via trade.

Making a star American-born player the linchpin in a Canadian market via the draft or a blockbuster trade can carry an extra risk if they hope to keep them after free agency hits. Canadian teams need to be cautious and understand that.

2) American Players Currently Available Through Trade or Free Agency 

Potential replacement players in the marketplace for Tkachuk and to fill the already existing top-six scoring forward dilemma are the talk of the town. The Sens got started with a deal on Tuesday for San Jose's William Eklund and two prospects, but their search may not be over.

They've also been linked to American players like RFA Jason Robertson and UFA Alex Tuch.

Robertson seems like a no-brainer if he wanted to come. He would really take the sting off losing a player like Tkachuk. Would he come in a sign and trade scenario? That is the $12 million question.

3) No Movement Clauses in Negotiations

These clauses have become more common with top players.

However, the Tkachuk trade is not the only trade where this sort of clause, regardless of the player’s citizenship, has put the team and others around the league in a bad position when it comes to negotiations and finding them new NHL homes.

Policy on the use of these clauses should be particularly stringent in negotiations with American players where it might be best to pay the higher AAV to ensure maximum return when an asset needs to be moved.

Contracts like Dylan Larkin’s, where the full no movement is in the early years of the player’s contract before any decline has occurred, seem to make more sense than a full NMC end-to-end.

There is a path forward, and there is life after Brady Tkachuk. If Steve Staios believes the team does not need to take a step backwards to recover from this, then let him execute his plan. 

When push comes to shove, the lessons listed above need to be on the minds of all Canadian NHL General Managers.

By Pat Maguire
The Hockey News

What was supposed to be an easy episode about the draft turned into a look at a wild few days in the NHL and where the Islanders sit among the craziness.

We don’t know anything about prospects. So we reached out to our Patrons and asked them who they’d like to see the Islanders draft this Friday. A few names rose to the top for a variety of reasons, some good and some silly. Most of all, we want the Islanders to come out of Buffalo this weekend with a clear direction and a plan forward. Some nice prospects would be good, too, of course. But there’s a difference between working towards a goal and just keeping the lights on.

A few teams around the NHL are certainly working towards their goals, although it’s hard to see what some of those are. The Panthers grabbed Brady Tkachuk with the goal of winning another Stanley Cup, and the Senators replaced their captain by using one of their acquired picks to get William Eklund from the Sharks. The Blackhawks and Capitals spent a lot to get Bo Byram and Jordan Kyrou, respectfully, which makes us think the Islanders might be better off playing it safe. But the reality is, they might not have a choice. With a lot of older players locked into long, expensive contracts, they don’t have the wiggle room to maneuver the way other teams do, which means there’s a good chance next season’s team looks a lot like last season’s. That’s certainly a direction. Just not the one we want.

Along the way, we make some predictions about the draft, come to a startling revelation about the Islanders involvement in one of Wednesday’s trades and lament the hiring of longtime Islander villain Pascal Dupuis to their front office. Really, guys?

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The Pittsburgh Penguins have found a new owner after a Florida-based company struck a deal that's set to cost a little shy of $2 billion.

The sale has yet to officially close, but with the NHL Board of Governors approving the deal on June 23, it's expected to go through shortly.

Here's what to know about the Penguins' buyer.

Who bought the Pittsburgh Penguins?

The sale of the Pittsburgh Penguins from The Fenway Sports Group to Hoffman Family of Companies was unanimously approved by the NHL Board of Governors on June 23.

The sale was announced more than six months ago on Dec. 19, 2025, and it's expected to close imminently.

According to David Pagnotta of the Fourth Period, one name to watch this week, and as NHL free agency opens, is former Edmonton Oilers forward Jesse Puljujarvi.

Pagnotta writes, "We’re a week away from the free agent doors swinging open. One player to look out for: Jesse Puljujarvi." He adds, "He had a monster season in the Swiss League. His hip issues are a thing of the past, I’m told, and there’s already lots interest from several teams eyeing a mid-six upgrade."

Could the Oilers be among them?

This is a different management team that has no real history with Puljujarvi. There's a new coaching crew that would be able to give him a fresh look and while many of the same players are here that saw Puljujarvi struggle, if accountability and effort are going to be the focus of training camp and the 2026-27 season, maybe Puljujarvi thrives under someone like Mike Babcock. Perhaps he needs that structure and no-nonsense leader to finally break through. 

Unapologetic Mike Babcock Says of Oilers Coaching Job: "They're The Ones Asking For This"Refusing to soften his hard-nosed reputation, Edmonton’s new coach insists Connor McDavid and the Oilers' leadership demanded his rigorous style to finally secure a Stanley Cup championship.

He scored 52 points in 52 games this past season playing for Geneve Servette. Prior to leaving the NHL, he spent time with both the Pittsburgh Penguins and Florida Panthers in 2024-25. He's shown flashes of a high ceiling in the NHL, but not been able to put it all together. 

If he gets another shot in the NHL, this could be his last. He'll be extremely motivated and as a big body with skill, maybe he's a fit on a low-cost, relatively risk-free contract. 

He was taken fourth overall by the Oilers in the 2016 draft and there may be a part of this organization that would love to see that selection finally pay off. 

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.

If you’re reading this story, there is a good chance that you remember where you were on June 24, 2024.

It was on that night, inside a packed Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise, that the Florida Panthers became Stanley Cup champions for the first time in team history.

Florida defeated the Edmonton Oilers 2-1 in Game 7 that night, ending an epic series that was an intense roller coaster of emotions for both the teams and their fans.

The Panthers jumped out to a 3-0 series lead, winning the first three games of the Final by a combined score of 11-4.

It looked like they were an unstoppable force destined to cruise their way to a Stanley Cup.

Then the Oilers dominated Game 4, turning Downtown Edmonton into a party zone after beating down the Panthers 8-1.

They followed that up with a 5-3 road win in Game 5 and a strong 5-1 win in Game 6, pulling off the unthinkable and forcing a seventh and deciding game.

With all the momentum squarely on Edmonton’s side, it was an unbelievable situation for the Panthers and their fans to find themselves in ahead of a do-or-die Game 7.

The Panthers got back to their roots, grinding down Edmonton and holding them to only a handful of high-end chances while skating to a resounding 2-1 victory.

For all the blood, sweat and tears it took to reach the pinnacle, it sure seemed worth it during that night of celebrating.

Enjoy the memories today, and relive some of the magic in the videos below.

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Photo caption Jun 24, 2024; Sunrise, Florida, USA; Florida Panthers forward Aleksander Barkov (16) hoists the Stanley Cup after defeating the Edmonton Oilers in game seven of the 2024 Stanley Cup Final at Amerant Bank Arena. (Sam Navarro-Imagn Images)

The St. Louis Blues, after a long time under consideration, have parted ways with Jordan Kyrou, sending him to the Washington Capitals for a package of two players and a pick.

The Blues received 25-year-old Connor McMichael, prospect Milton Gastrin, and the 16th overall pick in the 2026 NHL draft. 

That’s a very positive haul for the Blues, who add another skilled forward prospect in Gastrin, a fourth first-round pick in this year’s draft, and McMichael, an established NHL center with recent success in the league.

McMichael and Kyrou each finished the 2025-26 season with 46 points, although both players clearly had down years. 

The year prior, McMichael scored 26 goals and 57 points in 82 games as the Capitals finished in first place in the Eastern Conference. 

While McMichael’s history of success isn’t as strong as Kyrou’s, McMichael brings versatility to play center or wing. 

Stylistically, McMichael and Kyrou have similarities. McMichael is a speedy winger, ranking in the 77th percentile in max skating speed, while ranking in the 69th percentile of players recording 20-22 miles per hour bursts, according to NHL EDGE.

McMichael is also a dual-threat offensive player, possessing a strong shot and goalscoring instincts while also maintaining a playmaker’s mindset. The former 25th overall pick of the 2019 NHL draft i a capable puck handler, willing to skate with the puck in transition.

But that’s not the only way McMichael is effective. He is a smart player, which makes him an offensive threat without the puck. McMichael is efficient at timing his entrances to high-danger areas. 

His defensive game isn’t as polished as Kyrou’s has become, but there is still plenty of time for him to improve in that aspect of the game.

Blues Own Four First-Round Picks Following Jordan Kyrou Trade; Is A Bigger Move Next?The St. Louis Blues own an embarrassment of riches, holding four first-round picks in the 2026 NHL draft. Is a bigger move on the way, or could the Blues package their picks to move up in the draft?

McMichael is an RFA who was earning $2.1 million on his last contract. His qualifying offer is also $2.1 million, but the expectation is that McMichael is looking for a deserved pay raise. 

Where McMichael fits in the lineup will be an interesting aspect to watch. Robert Thomas is the first-line center, and Dalibor Dvorsky will skate on either the second or third line. Could McMichael play up the middle for the Blues, or will he be shifted to the wing?

The Blues have an abundance of left-handed wingers: Dylan Holloway, Jake Neighbours, Pavel Buchnevich, and Otto Stenberg. On the right side, they have Jimmy Snuggerud and possibly Justin Carbonneau, if the Blues believe he is ready to play in the NHL next season. 

McMichael is a skilled, adaptable forward, who should be able to play anywhere in the Blues lineup.

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The New York Islanders announced their preseason schedule on Wednesday:

#Isles preseason schedule is out: pic.twitter.com/Wz71g2MGWK

— Stefen Rosner (@stefen_rosner) June 24, 2026

The NHL's new Collective Bargaining Agreement cut preseason down from six games to four. This upcoming preseason will be the first time since 2014 that the Islanders hand't faced the Philadelphia Flyers. 

Also included in the preseason release is the scheduling of two rookie camp scrimmages against the New Jersey Devils. 

On Sept. 13, the Islanders rookies will face the Devils' in New Jersey at their practice facility before hosting them at Northwell Health Ice Center on Sept. 15. 

Islanders rookie camp opens a week before NHL camp does.

New Jersey Devils defenseman Dennis Cholowski will hit the free agent market on July 1st, his agent confirmed with The Hockey News on Wednesday morning.

The 28-year-old served as one of the club’s depth defenseman, appearing in 17 games for the Devils in 2025-26 and 13 in the American Hockey League with the Utica Comets. He was acquired by New Jersey in March 2025 from the New York Islanders for forward Adam Beckman.

Drafted in the first round in the 2016 NHL Draft, he has additionally played for the Detroit Red Wings, Washington Capitals, and Seattle Kraken.

Cholowski was among the handful of unrestricted free agents facing uncertain futures with the Devils, alongside Evgenii Dadonov, Zack MacEwen, and Colton White.

When NHL free agency opens at 1 p.m. ET on July 1, it will mark Sunny Mehta's first opportunity to navigate the market as the Devils' general manager.

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On Tuesday, Calgary Flames General Manager Craig Conroy made a blockbuster trade with the New Jersey Devils, acquiring 21-year-old defenseman Simon Nemec and forward Maxim Tsyplakov.

Nemec joins the youth movement in Calgary, one led by 19-year-old Zayne Parekh, 23-year-old Matt Coronato, 24-year-old Dustin Wolf, 24-year-old Connor Zary, and 26-year-old Martin Pospisil. 

“I’m pretty excited to join Calgary, it’s a good young team. I think it can be a really good spot for me, so I’m really happy.”

Simon Nemec is eager to join the squad and reunite with his fellow countrymen!https://t.co/ZuN2Mxq3rJ

— Calgary Flames (@NHLFlames) June 23, 2026

Moreover, the Flames not only acquired a young player with three years of NHL experience, but Nemec has logged a lot of minutes for Slovakia in international hockey. 

Here are five fascinating statistics about Nemec's career.

5. Named MVP of the Hlinka Gretzky Cup

Nemec had a great 2020-21 season. First, he played 39 games with HK Nitra, scoring 26 points. Then, he led all Slovakian U18 skaters in points and earned a Top 3 Player on Team award at the U20 World Juniors. 

However, the following year, in 2021-22, he skated for the first time at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup and won the tournament's MVP award and captured a silver medal. As captain, he had one goal and five assists in six games. 

4. Nemec Will Be Only the 7th Slovakian Player in Flames History

As of 2026, Nemec is one of just 95 players from Slovakia to play in the NHL, and just the 29th defenseman to skate in a game. Moreover, he is about to become only the 7th player from Slovakia to put on a Flamin' C sweater, joining current teammates Martin Pospisil and Samuel Honzek.

Interestingly, Nemec will become the first and only defenseman from his country to play in Calgary, since everyone else has been a forward. Former Flames players from Slovakia include Adam Ruzicka, Ronald Petrovicky, Robert Dome, and Marek Hrivik.

3. Enjoys Playing Flames Goalies, Past and Present

Nemec has scored only 16 goals in the NHL, with his first coming against Philipp Grubauer and the Seattle Kraken on Dec. 7, 2023. So far, he's lit the lamp against 12 goalies, with Spencer Knight of the Chicago Blackhawks surrendering the most, since he gave up Nemec's only career hat trick on Nov. 12, 2025.

Interestingly, the former Devils' defenseman has beaten both of his new teammates, Wolf and Devin Cooley, while also getting one past former Flames goalie Dan Vladar. With five career goals against the Blackhawks, Nemec should enjoy playing in the Western Conference, as the two teams will meet three times.

2. Third-Highest Scoring Defenseman from 2022 Draft

As the second overall pick in the 2022 NHL Draft, Nemec is just one of 76 players from his class to suit up for a game in the league. Of course, that year's leading scorer is first overall pick Juraj Slafkovsky of the Montreal Canadiens with 184 points, while Nemec ranks 10th overall in scoring. 

With 49 points in 155 games, he is the third-highest scoring defenseman from 2022, behind the Canadiens' Lane Hutson (146 points) and the Anaheim Ducks' Pavel Mintyukov (69 points). Regarding games played, Nemec moves up to 8th and is one of 12 skaters in his draft class to surpass 100 games.

1. Won an Olympic Bronze Medal in 2022 

Because Nemec had not yet made the jump to North America in 2022, he had a chance to represent Slovakia at the Winter Olympics. At just 18 years old, he captured a bronze medal when his team defeated Sweden. To make the lineup, Nemec had to play in qualifying games, where he picked up an assist in three contests. At the Winter Olympics, he played in seven games, picking up another assist.

In 2026, Nemec returned to the Slovakian lineup, first in two qualifying games, and six more at the Olympic Games. Once again, they played in the bronze medal game, except this time around, Slovakia lost 6-1 to Finland. Through two appearances, Nemec has already played 13 Olympic games.

With the 2026 NHL Draft taking place on Friday, some NHL teams got active in a major way on Tuesday.

The New York Islanders were not one of the teams involved, but a few of their former pieces were. 

The day started with the New Jersey Devils deciding to move on from disgruntled defenseman Simon Nemec to the Calgary Flames. 

In that deal was former Islanders forward Maxim Tsyplakov who was flipped to New Jersey in exchange for Ondrej Palat and their 2026 third-round pick. 

Devils Trade Defenseman Šimon Nemec to FlamesSunny Mehta has made his first trade as general manager of the <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-jersey-devils/latest-news/devils-q-a-jake-allen-discusses-fatherhood-balancing-hockey-family">New Jersey Devils</a>.

As the day progressed, we saw the Ottawa Senators flip the No. 9 pick they just acquired from the Florida Panthers in the Brady Tkachuk trade to the San Jose Sharks in exchange for William Eklund, hinting that Ivan Stenberg may be their selection at No. 2. 

William is the older brother of Islanders prospect Victor Eklund, who the team selected 16th overall at the 2025 NHL Draft. 

Ottawa Senators Acquire William Eklund From San Jose SharksThe Ottawa Senators traded the No. 9 pick to the San Jose Sharks in exchange for William Eklund, Kasper Halttunen and Brandon Svoboda.

As the day progressed we saw the Washington Capitals acquire Jordan Kyrou from the St. Louis Blues.

Kyrou waived his full no-trade clause. 

Capitals Acquire Jordan Kyrou For Connor McMichael & Milton Gastrin, First-RounderThe Capitals landed their skill forward.

The last trade of the day -- the biggest head-scratcher, too -- was the Chicago Blackhawks trading the No. 4 overall pick and No. 45 in the 2026 NHL Draft to acquire Bowen Byram from the Buffalo Sabres, a gambful, for sure. 

That second-round pick was the Islanders. 

On day two of the 2023 NHL Draft in Nashville, former Islanders general manager Lou Lamoriello traded that pick to Chicago to get them to take the final season of Josh Bailey's deal which carried a $5 million cap hit. 

It's time for Chicago to start acquiring NHL talent over prospects, but this deal has to work, especially when you see Byram's AAV on his upcoming extension. 

BREAKING NEWS: Blackhawks Trade 4th & 45th Overall Pick, Louis Crevier To Sabres For Bowen ByramThe Chicago Blackhawks have completed a trade with the Buffalo Sabres, acquiring Bowen Byram.

The Islanders, after missing the playoffs for the last two seasons, have yet to get involved in these pre-draft trade shenanigans as we wait and see how general manager Mathieu Darche decides to navi his second free agency on Long Island.