Senators Acquire New Backup Goalie From The Leafs

The Senators appear to be back to an all-Swedish goaltending combo.

On Friday, in the lead-up to the NHL Draft, the Senators acquired goalie Samuel Ersson from the Toronto Maple Leafs. In return, Toronto gets Ottawa’s fifth-round draft selection in next year's NHL Draft.

Here's the catch, though. Ersson still needs a new contract. The 26-year-old will be a restricted free agent on July 1. He's coming off a two-year deal at $1.45 million a year.

Ersson spent each of the past four seasons with the Philadelphia Flyers and played a career-high 51 games in 2023-24. In 2025-26, Ersson appeared in 33 games for the Flyers, posting a 14-11-5 record with a 3.12 GAA.

The 6-foot-3 is regarded as one of Sweden's finest goaltenders, just like the man he'll be backing up.

Ersson represented his country at the 4 Nations Face-Off in a third-place finish. He also represented Sweden twice at the World Hockey Championship, winning bronze in 2024 and 2025. He played for Sweden at last year's worlds, even though Linus Ullmark expressed a desire to play at season's end.

The Sens goaltending was all-Swedish two seasons ago when Ullmark was backed up by Anton Forsberg, who has since moved on to Los Angeles in free agency. Last year, the backup duties were split between Leevi Merilainen and James Reimer.

The Ersson acquisition speaks volumes about how mightily Merilainen's stock has fallen. He was anointed as the undisputed backup last season, and the Sens clearly aren't ready yet to give him that opportunity again.

By Steve Warne
The Hockey News 

Former Wild Defenseman Declan Chisholm Traded Again Amid Busy NHL Week

The trade market around the NHL continues to heat up ahead of the 2026 NHL Draft, and another former member of the Minnesota Wild has found a new home.

Defenseman Declan Chisholm was traded by the Washington Capitals to the New Jersey Devils on Thursday in exchange for a 2027 fourth-round pick.

It marks the second consecutive offseason Chisholm has been dealt after the Wild traded him to Washington during last year's draft.

Chisholm, 26, spent the 2025-26 season with the Capitals, appearing in 26 NHL games while recording one goal and seven points. 

Wild fans remember Chisholm from the 2024-25 campaign when he enjoyed the best season of his NHL career.

After being claimed off waivers from the Winnipeg Jets midway through the 2023-24 season, Chisholm became a regular in Minnesota's lineup.

He played a career-high 66 games during the 2024-25 season, posting two goals and 10 assists for 12 points while showcasing his skating ability and puck-moving skills.

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Former Flyers Goalie On The Move After Another Maple Leafs Trade

A feverish start to the 2026 NHL offseason just got a tad bit more interesting, as a former Philadelphia Flyers starting goalie, who was already traded once, finds himself on the move again.

On Friday, the Toronto Maple Leafs announced that former Flyers goalie Sam Ersson, first acquired in the Joseph Woll trade, has been traded to the Ottawa Senators in exchange for a 2027 fifth-round pick.

The Senators have done plenty of wheeling and dealing the last two weeks, moving on from captain Brady Tkachuk and replacing him with William Eklund and two prospects.

This new Maple Leafs trade confirms two things: Toronto will be sticking with a combination of Anthony Stolarz, Dennis Hildeby, and Artur Akhtyamov, and Ottawa has found its backup goalie… at least for now.

Last season was a tough one, both for Ersson and for Senators prospect Leevi Merilainen, who were among the two worst goalies in the entire NHL statistically.

NHL Mock Draft: Flyers Projected to Make Massive Choice... LiterallyNHL Mock Draft: Flyers Projected to Make Massive Choice... LiterallyThe Philadelphia Flyers select the 2026 NHL Draft's most aggressive defender in the latest expert mock draft.

Ersson, a pending RFA, at least has some experience as a starter for the Flyers and shown his potential when the environment around him is strong.

The Flyers obviously did not feel that this kind of form was sustainable (it wasn't), prompting them to go and get Woll as an upgrade behind incumbent starter Dan Vladar.

It is interesting, though, that Ersson was included in the Woll trade, only for the Maple Leafs to turn around and flip him for a late-round draft pick.

And it is interesting that Ersson, who had a dreary end to his Flyers career, fetched a useful asset in return at all after the way last season went.

In any case, Ersson needs a new contract, and we will soon find out if he's the next successful goalie to take off after leaving Philadelphia.

Colorado Avalanche Re-Sign Brett Kulak And Brent Burns

The Colorado Avalanche have announced they have re-signed Brent Burns to a one-year deal worth $850 thousand. Still, he can earn just over $2 million in performance bonuses, and Brett Kulak to a five-year deal worth $22.50 million with a $4.5 million AAV. Both contracts come with no trade protection. 

After being acquired by the Avalanche from the Pittsburgh Penguins, where he had one goal and six assists for seven points, he finished with three assists in 27 regular-season games with the Avalanche. While the production was lower than his time with the Penguins, the playoffs were where he really shone. In 13 games, he had one goal and five assists, with that one goal coming against the Minnesota Wild in Game 5 as the game-winner.

Despite the offensive numbers, Kulak's game is all about what he does on the defensive side of the ice, and it really showed. Paired with Sam Malinski, Kulak delivered a quality defensive pairing that showed great offensive play from Malinski and allowed him to show off his skills while having a reliable defensive structure with Kulak in case of any mistakes, something Malinski has struggled with at times when paired with other defensemen.

Playing just over 19 minutes a game last season, there were times when they needed him more to hold onto leads and help kill penalties on the penalty kill, where there were games where he played less because they were behind, so they ran Malinski and Makar more for the offensive push.

Brett Kulak Delivers The Different Look Bednar WantedBrett Kulak Delivers The Different Look Bednar WantedLess than 24 hours after arriving, Brett Kulak delivered 19 steady minutes that quietly reshaped the Avalanche blue line and stabilized their structure from the back end out.

Burns joined last offseason and finished with 12 goals and 23 assists for 35 points. In the playoffs, he finished with four assists in 13 games. For what was, at the time, a relatively small signing, often seen as a 6-7 man in the defensive pairings, Burns at times showed his importance to the team. 

Why The Avalanche Can’t Afford To Let Brent Burns WalkWhy The Avalanche Can’t Afford To Let Brent Burns WalkBrent Burns may be 41 years old, but the leadership, work ethic and culture he brings to the Colorado Avalanche make a compelling case for one more season.

Though at times his age did show, especially on the defensive end, where he would either be beaten by a faster player or make a defensive mistake, compared with his AAV and production, there were often bigger faults than the ones he made.

Entering his 23rd NHL season, he would tie for ninth place in most seasons played in league history, joining players like longtime teammate Patrick Marleau, Ron Francis, and Al MacInnis.

With this move, the Avalanche now round out their defense with the same players as last season and have $5.6 million in cap space to either spend in free agency or make a trade. With the 2026 NHL Entry Draft tonight, we shall see if the Avalanche make any other moves with the draft capital and cap space they have.

Colorado Avalanche NHL Draft Guide: Needs, Targets And Top FitsColorado Avalanche NHL Draft Guide: Needs, Targets And Top FitsColorado’s thin prospect pool and aggressive push to add draft capital set the stage for a critical offseason as the Avalanche look to address center depth and add more physicality throughout the lineup.
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Former Oilers' D-Man Signs 5-Year Extension With Colorado Avalanche

Congratulations to Brett Kulak. The former Edmonton Oilers defenseman just signed a five-year extension with the Colorado Avalanche, reportedly worth $4.5 million per season. 

The ex Oiler was moved as part of the trade to acquire Tristan Jarry from the Pittsburgh Penguins. He was ultimately flipped by the Penugins to the Avalanche this past season. 

Kulak will go down as one of the big blunders last season by Edmonton. He was essentially a throw-in on a trade that saw Edmonton and Pittsburgh swap goaltenders. Stuart Skinner went to the Penguins (along with Kulak), and Jarry came back. Part of the issue wasn't just that the Jarry trade hasn't worked out well for the Oilers, but that Kulak was overlooked. 

He was an essential part of two playoff runs for Edmonton and was a depth guy who could play a bigger role if required. He had speed, hockey smarts, and wasn't afraid to chip in offensively. The Oilers badly missed him last season as they struggled and lost out in the first round to the Anaheim Ducks. 

The Avalanche have recognized what they have. Given that he's 32 years old, it is a bit of risk to give him five years, but the cap hit is friendly. 

With the deal, the Avalanche keep Kulak from testing the free agency market. They also locked up veteran Brent Burns to a new one-year deal. 

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Why The Maple Leafs Traded Goaltender Samuel Ersson To Senators

The Toronto Maple Leafs traded away the rights to goaltender Samuel Ersson to the Ottawa Senators on Friday, in exchange for a 2027 fifth-round draft pick.

Toronto acquired Ersson in the trade with the Philadelphia Flyers earlier in the month. They also received defenseman Emil Andrae and a 2026 third-round pick while sending away defenseman Simon Benoit and goaltender Joseph Woll.

Andrae was the main grab in that deal for the Leafs, and Ersson's future with Toronto was uncertain, especially considering his recent play in the NHL.

In the end, it seemed unlikely that Maple Leafs GM John Chayka was going to qualify Ersson. The Swedish goaltender is coming off the worst season of his young career, posting a .870 save percentage and a 3.12 goals-against average in 33 games last year.

With no intention of keeping the 26-year-old Ersson, Toronto recouped an asset that they had lost in a separate deal, in a sense.

When the Maple Leafs acquired Darren Raddysh from the Tampa Bay Lightning, they gave the Bolts a 2026 fifth-round pick for the rights to sign him. 

Though the 2027 fifth-round pick they received from Ottawa isn't from the same draft, the value of that fifth-round pick returns to the Leafs organization and faces zero consequences with this move in the meantime.

The Maple Leafs now have three goaltenders in their main system, with Anthony Stolarz assuming the starting role, while 24-year-olds Dennis Hildeby and Artur Akhtyamov are next in line for NHL jobs.

The Pros And Cons Of The Maple Leafs Acquiring Goalie Sergei Bobrovsky This Off-SeasonThe Pros And Cons Of The Maple Leafs Acquiring Goalie Sergei Bobrovsky This Off-SeasonWith the latest speculation regarding the Toronto Maple Leafs and Florida Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky, here are the pros and cons of potentially acquiring the veteran.

Freeing up a goaltending spot may either allow the young netminders to come through and prove themselves in the NHL, or something else could be brewing in terms of bringing in another veteran goaltender to play alongside Stolarz for the Leafs.

It's worth noting that Toronto has been linked to Sergei Bobrovsky this off-season.

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2026 NHL Draft: Blackhawks Selections, How To Watch, & More

The Chicago Blackhawks no longer hold a first-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft. They traded the 4th overall pick to the Buffalo Sabres earlier in the week as part of a deal to acquire Bowen Byram. 

That doesn't make the first round irrelevant for them, however, as there are still plenty of reasons to stay locked in. For one, there has to be knowledge about where other top prospects are going around the league. 

Also, Kyle Davidson has traded into the first round every single year that he's been the GM of the Blackhawks. 

The opening round will take place on Friday night. The rest of the draft will be on Saturday morning into the afternoon. 

Over the course of the event, which takes place at KeyBank Center in Buffalo, the Blackhawks have picks 34, 37, 66, 119, 194, and 200. Despite not being first-rounders, these are all lottery tickets that could turn into regular NHL players with good development. With a little bit of luck, they could be more than just regular NHL players. 

More Trades

There are plenty of trade conversations taking place around the league. The Chicago Blackhawks, according to multiple reports, have a seat at the table for a lot of these players on the market, including Dallas Stars forward Jason Robertson. 

Over the course of the entire draft, these trade possibilities are ones to monitor. If the Blackhawks are serious about continuing to build a winning team, making bold moves is a must. 

How To Watch

For people in the United States, the 1st round can be seen on ESPN and ESPN+. It begins on Friday at 6:00 PM CT. Rounds 2-7 can be seen on NHL Network or ESPN+, beginning at 11 AM CT. In Canada, Round 1 is on Sportsnet while the rest is on Sportsnet+. 

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Report: Canadiens Have Rangers Star Center On Their Radar

The Montreal Canadiens reportedly have their eye one of the NHL's top trade candidates. 

According to TSN's Pierre LeBrun, the Canadiens are keeping an eye on New York Rangers center Vincent Trocheck in the trade market. 

"Speaking of Montreal, by the way, I mean, they’re being pretty aggressive calling around to figure out the market when it comes to being able to upgrade their top-six forward group. They’re monitoring Vincent Trocheck for sure and see where that goes," LeBrun said.   

The Canadiens having Trocheck on their radar is not surprising. It is no secret that they need a boost at the second-line center spot, and he is one of the top centers in the trade market right now. Because of this, it would make sense if they made a real push for him. 

If the Canadiens signed Trocheck, he would give them a top-six center who produces strong offense, works in all situations, and plays a gritty game. His stats from this past season show this, as he had 16 goals, 37 assists, 53 points, and 193 hits in 67 games with the Rangers in 2025-26. 

It will be intriguing to see if the Canadiens land Trocheck, but the fit looks good on paper. 

NHL Has ‘Zero Concerns’ About Drawbacks of Decentralized Draft

Gavin McKenna is projected to be the No. 1 pick in the NHL Draft, and when his name is called in Buffalo, N.Y., on Friday night, he will embrace his family, receive cheers from the sold-out crowd and shake hands with league commissioner Gary Bettman. But for the star left winger, meeting the group that’s actually selecting him, the front office of the Toronto Maple Leafs, will have to wait.

That’s because the NHL switched its draft to a decentralized format last year. The league used to have decision-makers and other personnel from all 32 of its teams gather on the floor of wherever the marquee offseason event was held, which NHL president of content and events Steve Mayer called a “who’s who of hockey.”

Now, the franchises run their draft operations remotely from their home cities, similar to how it’s done in the NFL, the NBA and MLB.

Teams were eager for a change, finding the travel burdensome and the schedule too hectic to focus on roster preparations, with the league’s awards ceremony, the end of the Stanley Cup Playoffs and the start of free agency unfolding in a few weeks’ time. Having competing franchises all in the same room also raised privacy issues, and Mayer said there were discussions on how potential moves could be visually tipped off. So after conducting a vote with its general managers, who polled their respective organizations, the NHL opted to shake the event up.

But shifting the format didn’t necessarily make things easier. While travel expenses went down for the individual franchises, the decentralized draft costs the NHL more, largely because of how technologically intensive it is. In addition to year-over-year improvements in presentation, the league has to manage broadcast feeds from 32 different locations, transmit data back and forth, and coordinate trades and selections, all in real time.

And Mayer isn’t shy to admit the NHL didn’t get everything right in the first year of decentralization. During the 2025 draft, the league had selected prospects proceed into a “Hockey House,” which had giant LED screens so they could immediately talk to their new teams. Yet it proved to be hit-or-miss as to whether the content was compelling, and it came with a bunch of tech issues. So the NHL scrapped it for this year.

The league also vastly underestimated how much space it needed for the event, even without the teams present, moving from the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles in 2025 to KeyBank Center in Buffalo, where the Sabres play, for this draft.

Difficulties aside, Mayer has “zero concerns” about how the draft will play out this year. In fact, he’s extremely bullish on the atmosphere since Buffalo is geographically close to Toronto, which holds the top overall pick for the first time since the Maple Leafs drafted Auston Matthews in 2016. “It is going to be a pretty big moment for sure,” he said.

Mayer acknowledges the NHL player-selection event doesn’t match its NFL counterpart, but then, what does? “It’s hard to compare the NFL,” Mayer said. “I mean, that’s another level, but I put our draft absolutely up against any of the other drafts from the other major leagues for sure.”

As it is, the NHL’s event is generating plenty of commercial opportunities. The league has consistently been adding more elements, such as additional signage and screens, produced player profiles and celebrity activations, giving “our sponsorship team many, many more opportunities to sell,” he added.

The overall growth of the hockey draft has made it more attractive and beneficial to partners, like Upper Deck, which holds the title sponsorship for the event.

“The draft that used to be a business meeting is no longer a business meeting,” Mayer said. “It’s a spectacle, it’s an event, it’s a very sellable item, not only to the spectators in Buffalo, but people that watch it around the world and around the globe and especially for us in North America.”

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NHL trade tracker LIVE: Who changed teams during 2026 draft weekend?

The lead-up to the 2026 NHL Draft has been full of trades.

Though this is a deep draft, picks were shipped for more immediate help and even more players could be moved this weekend.

So far, the Florida Panthers have acquired Brady Tkachuk and Garnet Hathaway, the Chicago Blackhawks shipped out the No. 4 overall pick for Bowen Byram and the Washington Capitals landed Alex Tuch and Jordan Kyrou. Valeri Nichushkin, William Eklund, Michael Kesselring and Simon Nemec also moved teams.

According to reports, Jason Robertson and Mason McTavish were being shopped.

Here's a live look at trades and other transactions that happened during the 2026 NHL Draft weekend:

Maple Leafs trade Samuel Ersson to Senators

Toronto will receive a 2027 fifth-round pick for Ersson, who they acquired from the Philadelphia Flyers earlier this month in the Joseph Woll trade. Ersson is a pending restricted free agent and the Senators will need to make him a qualifying offer to retain his rights.

Islanders defenseman Tony DeAngelo gets two-year deal

The pending unrestricted agent is staying with the Islanders on a two-year deal with a reported $4.5 million cap hit. DeAngelo had 35 points in 76 games in his second season with the Islanders and 10th in the NHL.

Jets listening to offers on Connor Hellebuyck

Jets general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff confirmed he has been listening to offers on star goalie Connor Hellebuyck. “As an organization, it’s incumbent on me to listen,” he said. He didn't answer whether the U.S. Olympic gold medalist has asked for a trade or if there is if a timeline for making a deal. Hellebuyck is under contract through 2031. “What I’ve been hearing hasn’t made me act,” he said.

Jason Robertson turns down Kraken offer

Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reported that the Stars gave Seattle permission to talk to Jason Robertson and he turned down the team's offer for about $15 million a year. Robertson can become a restricted free agent on July 1.

Sharks getting offers on No. 9 overall pick

Sharks general manager Mike Grier said this week he had been getting calls about the No. 9 overall pick and a few others on the No. 2 pick.

Blues have four first-round picks

After trading Kyrou, the Blues have four picks in the first round, including back-to-back at 15 and 16. Could they potentially package some of those picks to move up in the draft, or to go after another team's player?

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NHL trade tracker LIVE: Who changed teams during 2026 draft weekend?

Blues Reportedly In Two-Team Race With Rangers To Land Ducks' Mason McTavish

According to multiple reports, most recently from TSN’s Pierre LeBrun, the St. Louis Blues and New York Rangers are the two teams that have made offers to the Anaheim Ducks for center Mason McTavish.

The Blues have been linked to McTavish for quite some time now, and they could be in the final stretch run of a deal.

LeBrun reports that the Ducks are currently in talks with both teams about their offers. The Blues’ offer reportedly centers on draft picks, notably the 11th overall pick in this year’s draft. For the Rangers, their trade package involves a roster player.

LeBrun also mentions that the Ducks would likely use the picks they acquire from the Blues, if they agreed to the trade, to acquire players who can help their roster now, as they don’t want to be viewed as sellers. 

For the Blues, landing McTavish would solidify their center core. Robert Thomas would remain the No. 1 center while McTavish and Dalibor Dvorsky make up the middle six. 

McTavish is 6-foot-1 and 219 pounds and would look to be an offensive center with the Blues. The 2025-26 season was poor for McTavish, but the prior season, he notched 22 goals and 52 points in 76 games.

While McTavish would have a higher offensive responsibility, Dvorsky would be tasked with defensive duties. 

Report: Blues Attempted To Trade For Stars' Jason Robertson; Wasn't Willing To Sign In St. LouisReport: Blues Attempted To Trade For Stars' Jason Robertson; Wasn't Willing To Sign In St. LouisThe St. Louis Blues reportedly offered the Dallas Stars a package of multiple first-round picks for winger Jason Robertson, but Robertson was unwilling to sign in St. Louis.

Although they wouldn’t be playing on the same line, they would complement each other and allow their strengths to shine. 

At just 23 years old, McTavish is still developing his game and hoping to improve. At this point in his career, McTavish has played 304 regular-season games and 10 playoff games. He has experience in everyday NHL life, but a change of scenery could help him rediscover his game and play like the former third-overall pick of the 2021 NHL draft. 

The 11th overall pick is a steep price to pay for a player coming off a career-worst season, but if the Blues were hoping to land a forward like Tynan Lawrence, Wyatt Cullen, or Viggo Bjorck, trading for McTavish, who is five years older, provides them with more security. McTavish is an established NHLer, and while those three forwards project well, there is still uncertainty surrounding them. 

LeBrun does indicate that teams could circle back and rejoin the McTavish trade discussions, but as of now, it’s a two-horse race between the Blues and Rangers. 


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SOURCES: Teams Inquiring About Islanders Mathew Barzal Ahead Of 2026 NHL Draft

With the trade and free agent market drying up, the New York Islanders are receiving inquiries regarding forward Mathew Barzal

General manager Mathieu Darche has told us numerous times that his job is to listen, so this news shouldn't shock anyone. 

Barzal, 28, who has four seasons left on his deal at $9.15 million annually, has a 22-team modified no-trade clause. That means he can only be dealt to nine teams, with many of those teams already having significant money tied up in their forward group, I'm told. 

Two teams that I believe checked in on Barzal are the Dallas Stars and the Montreal Canadiens.

The Stars are dealing with pending unrestricted free agent Jason Robertson at the moment and if they can't re-sign him, he'll be on the move.

While Robertson doesn't have any trade protection, he controls where he goes like Noah Dobson did last summer. 

Jason Robertson's Contract Situation Mirrors Noah Dobson's With The IslandersJason Robertson's Contract Situation Mirrors Noah Dobson's With The IslandersAs Dallas faces a contract stalemate with their superstar sniper, a blueprint emerges for Lou Lamoriello to leverage draft capital and young talent for a franchise-altering acquisition.

The Stars aren't looking for picks and prospects for Robertson as they want to continue contending for a Stanley Cup so them having interest in Barzal in a potential deal makes complete sense.

The question is would Robertson have interest in signing on Long Island?

He did play for head coach Pete DeBoer, who was hired by the Islanders with four games to go. 

While the Seattle Kraken are  likely an interested party, especially after trying to land Artemi Panarin ahead of the 2026 NHL Trade Deadline and striking out on Robertson, I don't believe that Barzal would be interested in going there. 

The Islanders don't have interest in rebuilding and have previously told the Canadiens "no" when they called about Bo Horvat.

Moving Barzal for picks and prospects makes no real sense, even less sense with DeBoer aboard. 

Blackhawks Named Possible Suitor For Their Former Star Sniper

Alex DeBrincat has been creating some chatter in the rumor mill as a trade candidate as he enters the final season of his contract with the Detroit Red Wings in 2026-27. 

Could the Chicago Blackhawks look to bring the star forward back?

The Fourth Period recently listed the Blackhawks among the possible suitors for DeBrincat this summer.

"The Edmonton Oilers, Chicago Blackhawks, Toronto Maple Leafs, New Jersey Devils, Seattle Kraken and Buffalo Sabres are some of the teams exploring the market for a top-line, scoring winger and could have interest in DeBrincat," The Fourth Period wrote.

The idea of the Blackhawks bringing back DeBrincat is undoubtedly a fascinating one. They memorably traded DeBrincat to the Ottawa Senators during the 2022 NHL off-season as they were getting their rebuild started. It would make for an entertaining story if they brought him back to Chicago four summers later. 

With the Blackhawks needing a star scoring winger, it would make sense for them to try to reunite with DeBrincat. The 28-year-old winger is coming off a fantastic season with the Red Wings, as he scored 41 goals and set new career highs with 44 assists and 85 points in 82 games. With numbers like these, he could be a great linemate for Connor Bedard to have. 

In 368 games over five seasons with the Blackhawks from 2017-18 to 2021-22, DeBrincat posted 160 goals, 140 assists, and 307 points. 

Rangers Trade Brett Berard To Canadiens For William Trudeau

Eric Canha-Imagn Images
Eric Canha-Imagn Images

The New York Rangers have traded Brett Berard to the Montreal Canadiens in exchange for William Trudeau. 

Leading up to this trade, there was mixed reporting on whether Bearard was looking for a change of scenery.

Berard, who showed flashes of promise during the 2024-25 campaign in 35 games with the Rangers, did not make the Blueshirts’ opening-night roster out of training camp to kick off the 2025-26 season and spent the majority of the season in the American Hockey League playing for the Hartford Wolf Pack. 

The 23-year-old played in just 13 NHL games this past season, failing to record a point in the process. 

With Berard set to become a restricted free agent this summer,he’s now lined up to sign a contract extension with the Canadiens. 

He now reunites with Canadiens president of hockey operations Jeff Gorton, who drafted him in the fifth round of the 2020 NHL Draft while serving as general manager of the Rangers.

The Rangers add Trudeau, a 6-foot-1 left-handed, defenseman to their prospect pool. 

Since being selected by the Canadiens in the fourth round of the 2021 NHL Draft, Trudeau has spent four seasons playing for the Laval Rocket of the AHL, unable to break into an NHL role, given Montreal’s depth on the left side of their blueline. 

The 23-year-old defenseman is coming off a season in which he recorded eight goals, 12 assists, and 20 points in 62 games.

Similar to Berard, Trudeau is also set to become a restricted free agent on July 1.