The Sharks locked up another member of their young core Friday, re-signing restricted free agent Collin Graf to a three-year contract worth $4.25 million annually.
Graf’s contract comes two days after the Sharks signed superstar Macklin Celebrini to a five-year contract worth a record-setting $18.8 million AAV.
In just over two years, Graf went from undrafted NHL free agent to a sturdy pillar in the foundation of what the Sharks are building.
The 23-year-old Graf is coming off a breakout 2025-26 NHL season in which he recorded 21 goals and 25 assists in 81 games.
“Collin was a big part of our team’s improvement this past season, being an effective penalty killer for us and his versatility in the lineup was extremely valuable,” Sharks general manager Mike Grier wrote Friday in a statement announcing Graf’s contract. “His hard-working attitude and work ethic is a big reason why his game took another stride last year, and he continues to be an important person in our young group of players. We’re happy we are able to keep him a Shark for the next several seasons.”
For a good change, the Philadelphia Flyers have finally gotten some positive recognition from national media on the heels of their successful 2025-26 season.
After a few unassuming seasons as rebuilders, the Flyers have finally put together a solid nucleus of young talent on an NHL sheet of ice, and this nucleus is already on the ascent as one of the league's most promising groups.
Led by the recently re-signed Trevor Zegras and Jamie Drysdale--trade additions from the Anaheim Ducks--and draft picks Matvei Michkov, Porter Martone, Tyson Foerster, and Cam York, the future looks rather bright in Philadelphia.
Brighter than the majority of the NHL can say, in the eyes of Sportsnet.
In Sonny Sachdeva's recent ranking of the top five 25-and-under cores in the NHL, the Flyers made a true cameo, ranking fifth in the league and earning a real appearance, rather than peeking in as an honorable mention.
"Philly might've struck out on snagging [Leo Carlsson], but the Flyers proved during the 2026 post-season that they're already a squad to watch in the East. A second-round shellacking at the hands of the eventual champs dampened things some, but Philadelphia's emotional Round 1 win over the rival Pittsburgh Penguins — the Flyers' first playoff series win in a half-decade — put the rest of the Metro on notice," Sachdeva said of the Flyers.
Notably, the Flyers ranked ahead of the Chicago Blackhawks, who were listed as an honorable mention despite having 2023 No. 1 pick Connor Bedard, Frank Nazar, Bowen Byram, Anton Frondell, and Frank Nazar.
That speaks volumes of the amount of talent the Flyers have managed to add in recent years.
While only Zegras, Martone, Michkov, Foerster, Drysdale, and York were mentioned by name in the article as the "core", the Flyers also have David Jiricek (22), Alex Bump (22), and Denver Barkey (21) earmarked for important roles on the NHL roster next season.
The forwards of the group are understandably the biggest reasons for excitement around the Flyers, but York, Jiricek, and especially Drysdale cannot be discounted.
Drysdale, 24, put together the best season of his career in 2025-26, matching his career-high 32 points while improving markedly on defense.
If the former No. 6 overall pick continues following this trajectory, there's a chance he can become a legitimate elite two-way defenseman while also being one of the NHL's best skaters.
The Flyers still have work to do as they continue their rebuild--namely adding a No. 1 center similar to Carlsson--but the foundation to support a player of that caliber is very clearly already in place in Philadelphia.
Toronto Maple Leafs GM John Chayka has certainly left his imprint on his team's roster this off-season. With a few notable trades with the Philadelphia Flyers and Tampa Bay Lightning, as well as his haul of signings on July 1, he's been one of the busier GMs in the NHL.
On the scale of GMs across the league, this will be a big season for Chayka. After all, there was a heavy load of criticism when he was hired by the organization.
It's needless to say he'll continue to have a chip on his shoulder throughout this coming campaign. But is he the GM with the most to prove in the NHL?
If Chayka isn't at the top of that list, after being out of the industry for about seven years and having allegedly left a bad impression on the other executives around the league, he's definitely close to the top.
For Chayka, it's more than making a good first impression or reversing bad decisions, both related to and unrelated to the team's roster. It's more about how far he can take the Maple Leafs, the biggest hockey market in the NHL, and a club under immense pressure to get back into the Stanley Cup playoffs.
There isn't much time for an adjustment period from getting hired to getting settled into his new role. That period has already passed, and quite some time ago.
To his credit, Chayka has been spontaneous with his moves and decisions. There were the aforementioned transactions he's made so far through trades and signings, but he also took command of the front office when he relieved an abundance of longtime staff members with the Maple Leafs, and nearly the entire coaching staff.
Toronto's GM already had plenty to prove going into 2026-27 from the moment he was hired. But all his activity since getting the job, from players, coaches, and staff members, has only expanded that magnifying glass.
Given Chayka's history in the NHL, the noise and negativity that carried through his hiring process, the stature of the Maple Leafs' franchise and the state of the team, there is so much riding on this organization for 2026-27. And in terms of the hockey operations department, that's all led by Chayka.
With all that in mind, Toronto's GM is certainly a top-three figure when it comes to NHL GMs with the most to prove going into this coming season.
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The NHL’s arbitration hearing window is coming to an end, and alas we’ve been robbed of the theater that would be a…Alex Jefferies arbitration hearing.
The Isles this week officially announced a one-year, two-way deal with their lone arbitration filing, a player many do not think of and certainly not one whose record (zero NHL games, two-plus AHL seasons) you’d associate with arbitration theater.
His hearing was scheduled for July 31, the second-to-last day for hearings. In the end, all 15 players across the league who filed for arbitration reached contracts before they reached hearings, so…the system works, I guess?
Islanders News
Don’t be misled by the headline, “Catching up with Casey Cizikas” does not mean he’s a retired alum yet. He discussed his summer activity and approaching 1,000 (regular season) games. [Isles]
Maclin Celebrini’s massive $18.8M AAV on his five-year Sharks extension tells us what to expect with Matthew Schaefer’s extension. Thanks to Daniel Briere, the era of discounts for RFA-controlled players is over, at least for the stars. [Newsday | Post]
Islanders games will be streamed on DAZN as part of that MSG/Yes/DAZN partnership. [Isles | Newsday]
Matias Maccelli on his favorite pasta sauce recipe signing with the Islanders. [Isles]
It’s now over 80,000 submissions for the 3rd-jersey deisgn. [Newsday]
In Minnesota, Quinn Hughes’ reps are expected to discuss his next contract, and how they’ll make room for his brothers. (That last part may be my own B.S.) [NHL]
Ranking the league’s top-two center duos: The Isles are below average, especially if you consider Brayden Schenn their 2C. [Athletic]
Zach Hyman praises his former-and-incoming coach Mike Babcock as the PR rehabilitation campaign continues. [Sportsnet]
In some ways, it's hard to believe that Pittsburgh Penguins' captain Sidney Crosby has 21 NHL seasons under his belt. And it all started 21 years ago to the day.
The Penguins' fortunes forever changed on Jul. 30, 2005, when they selected the phenom Crosby with the first overall pick in the NHL Entry Draft. Labeled "The Next One," it was quite fitting that he'd land in Pittsburgh. He may not have been able to succeed The Great One directly, but he did succeed Pittsburgh's Great One, and it was the perfect passing of the torch since Mario Lemieux played with Crosby for a portion of his rookie season.
From that fateful day in 2005 forward, these were Crosby's Penguins, and Crosby's Penguins have accomplished quite a bit in the two-plus decades since - as has Crosby himself. In addition to Stanley Cup championships in 2009, 2016, and 2017, there were also three Olympic medals (two of them gold), World Championship, World Cup, and 4 Nations Face-off wins, two Hart trophies, two Art Ross Trophies, two Conn Smythe trophies, two Maurice "Rocket" Richard trophies, and three Ted Lindsay Awards.
Most recently, he clinched his 21st consecutive season above point-per-game, breaking an NHL record of his own that he overtook Wayne Gretzky for the season prior.
In other words, Sidney Crosby is and always has been one of hockey's best players. At this point, he is a consensus top-10 all-time NHL player, and most agree that he is top-five. He is already sitting seventh all-time in scoring - he passed up Lemieux to take the all-time franchise lead in points during the 2025-26 season - and he figures to, at least, pass Ron Francis at 1,798 by next season's end to put himself in the top-five.
From there, top-three is well within reach as long as Crosby keeps playing. Even 2,000 points is in reach, which would make him only the second NHL player ever to hit that mark. If all of that happens, it would be hard to dispute that the list of players better than him in NHL history will have just one or two names on it.
But where is he right now? Even if he's already a top-five player in history with room to keep climbing, where does he rank beside his much, much younger peers?
- Elite Prospects ranks him No. 12 among active players, and the next-oldest player in the top-25 is goaltender Connor Hellebuyck at age 33.
- EA gave Crosby the eighth-highest player ranking in NHL 26 with a 94 - three points behind the NHL's best in Connor McDavid.
- Crosby finished in the NHL's top-25 (No. 22) in points-per-game last season with 1.088. The only player older to rank higher was teammate Evgeni Malkin right in front of him at 21 (1.089), and there were only seven players aged 30 or higher in the top-25.
So, even if he isn't top-of-the-list in all of those categories anymore, what he's doing heading into his age 39 season is nothing short of spectacular, especially with no one else his age anywhere near him other than Malkin's point-per-game mark last season. Questioning what Crosby has left in the tank is one thing - he did suffer a knee injury while captaining Team Canada at the 2026 Olympic Winter Games in Milan last season, which caused him to miss 14 games - but questioning whether he's still an elite top-of-the-lineup player is another.
As he slipped on that Vegas gold Penguins' jersey 21 years ago, the 18-year-old kid from Cole Harbour, Nova Scotia could not have possibly seen what was to come after more than two decades playing the game he loves.
But, rest assured, the story is still being written - and Crosby will end up going down in history as a consensus top-three player the game as ever seen by the time he decides to call it a career.
Matt Rempe #73 of the New York Rangers looks on during practice for the Discover NHL Winter Classic on January 1, 2026 at LoanDepot Park in Miami, Florida.
The most important part of Matt Rempe’s offseason was getting his hand right.
After undergoing two surgeries to repair a broken thumb last season — and attempting to return to the ice too soon in between — Rempe spent the summer regaining the full function of his hand and strengthening it.
Though Rempe worked on his skating skills as well, the primary focus had to be on his hand following a tumultuous recovery that diminished Rempe’s game and sidelined him for a majority of last season.
Matt Rempe talks to the media when the Rangers held their end-of-season interviews on April 17, 2026 at Madison Square Garden Training Center in Greenburgh, N.Y. Robert Sabo for NY Post
At a critical time in his development, the 6-foot-9 forward was put on pause in 2025-26.
Now, some of his former Wolf Pack teammates will be going toe-to-toe with him in training camp for a spot in the Rangers bottom six.
Nothing is guaranteed for Rempe going forward. He’s about to enter the last year of his contract.
As swiftly as his NHL notoriety came, his NHL chance could dissipate.
“Extremely motivated,” Rempe said Thursday before the Shoulder Check Showcase event at Martire Family Arena on Sacred Heart University’s campus. “I played nine games, and after that, I was shelved. I got a lot to prove. I got to showcase myself and come back a lot stronger. Most motivated you can be.”
Asked if his hand was feeling 100 percent, Rempe said there was “still a little work to be done.”
His timeline certainly was extended by a premature return to the lineup in December, when Rempe said he still was unable to grip his stick properly. Rempe admitted he has to be more honest about how his injuries are feeling, noting the whole process was a learning experience for him.
Matt Rempe looks on during practice for the Discover NHL Winter Classic on Jan. 1, 2026 at LoanDepot Park in Miami. NHLI via Getty Images
“Still some time until the season,” he said. “We’re in a really good spot.”
Since Rempe is no longer waiver-exempt, the Rangers may prioritize keeping the 24-year-old on the roster out of training camp to avoid losing him for nothing. If, say, Jaroslav Chmelar skates circles around him in preseason, however, it might be a risk the organization has to take.
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Rempe plays a niche role that proved to be empowering for the 2023-24 team that reached the Eastern Conference Final. Though it’s been some time since the Rangers worked with that true enforcer element, and it’s unclear how he can be maximized in head coach Mike Sullivan’s system.
Sullivan was impressed by Rempe early on, but the Calgary native’s time away from the ice has allowed for other prospects to emerge and capture the veteran coach’s attention.
The part of Rempe’s game that enticed Sullivan the most was his ability to create momentum.
It’s true, Rempe can influence the energy of a game with one hit or one punch. His physicality is something not only the team can feed off but the fans inside Madison Square Garden.
Matt Rempe skates during the Ranger’s loss to the Islanders on Dec. 27, 2025 at UBS Arena. Getty Images
Alas, Rempemania came at a time when Big No. 73 still was adjusting to the NHL game.
Players always say it’s a lot harder to stay in the NHL than it is to break in.
Last season’s thumb injury may have caused Rempe to fall behind, but coming to training camp with a more complete game could be the difference for him.
“I think we got to come back with vengeance,” he said of the Rangers as a whole. “Two tough seasons and knowing that’s not what we want to be like at all. We got to come back way stronger.”
Whether or not Rempe is part of that “we” is yet to be seen.
KARLSTAD, Sweden (AP) — A hockey team in the Swedish Elite League has terminated the contract of Cal Foote after objections from fans about it. Färjestad BK announced Thursday it was not going to honor the contract after conversations with stakeholders.
He was in the New Jersey Devils’ organization when the NHL suspended the players involved. The situation in 2018 happened before the players reached the NHL.
Former San Jose Sharks and San Jose Barracuda forward Colin White is officially departing the Bay Area, as he has signed a one-year contract with the New Jersey Devils for the 2026-27 season.
White, 29, joined the Sharks organization ahead of the 2024-25 season and quickly became a key player for the Barracuda. He also appeared in three NHL games for the Sharks during his first season under contract with the organization.
Last season, White's offensive production took a major jump for the Barracuda as he scored 21 goals and 48 points in 46 games. He also scored a single goal in the playoffs.
While White signed an NHL contract, he's expected to report to the Devils' American Hockey League affiliate, the Utica Comets, but of course, things can certainly change once training camp comes around.
White's new contract is worth $900k at the NHL level and $400k at the AHL level.
Over the San Jose Sharks' history, there have been just two players to ever wear the number 63, including one of the Sharks' young core players currently on the roster.
Zack Ostapchuk was originally drafted by the Ottawa Senators in the second round of the 2021 NHL Draft. He then went on to make his professional debuts, both at the NHL and American Hockey League levels, during the 2023-24 season with the Senators and their affiliate, the Belleville Senators.
After two seasons splitting time between Ottawa and Belleville, Ostapchuk was included in a trade that saw Fabian Zetterlund heading to Canada's capital city in the middle of the 2024-25 campaign.
Ostapchuk finished out the season with the Sharks, appearing in 13 games for the team in teal. The following season though, he apparently didn't have a strong enough showing in training camp and was reassigned to the San Jose Barracuda to start the 2025-26 season. After 11 games in the AHL though, Ostapchuk was brought back up to the NHL and never looked back.
In 59 games, Ostapchuk's offensive production wasn't overly impressive, even for a fourth-line center, but his other attributes solidified him as the Sharks' 4C of the future. As a result, he earned a four-year contract extension this summer and will remain on the team for the foreseeable future.
The initial rush at the beginning of NHL free agency has concluded, and there remain several notable players who are still available on the open market.
The Detroit Red Wings were active players in free agency, as they signed forward Viktor Arvidsson and goaltender Daniil Tarasov along with a handful of minor-league depth players, but also lost Patrick Kane to the Chicago Blackhawks.
Meanwhile, two players that were part of the 2025-26 roster are still searching for their next NHL opportunity.
Veteran forward James van Riemsdyk provided a valuable leadership presence in the Red Wings' dressing room while contributing 15 goals and 16 assists across 72 games.
During Detroit's strong month of December, van Riemsdyk set a personal milestone by scoring in four consecutive games as part of a stretch in which he found the back of the net in six of seven contests.
Who else other than James van Riemsdyk in front to kick things off? 🚨 JVR has been such a force for Detroit. #LGRWpic.twitter.com/HOMSsQyJil
Drafted with the second overall pick in 2007 by the Philadelphia Flyers, one pick behind Kane, van Riemsdyk has played two stints with the Flyers, and has also suited up for the Toronto Maple Leafs, Boston Bruins, and Columbus Blue Jackets.
In 1,154 career NHL games, he's tallied 342 goals with 354 assists.
Meanwhile, veteran defenseman Travis Hamonic also remains unsigned. Like van Riemsdyk, he was signed by now-former Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman to a one-year contract last offseason.
Skating in 26 games for the Red Wings, Hamonic registered a pair of assists. He's scored 53 goals with 191 assists in 926 career NHL contests for the New York Islanders, Calgary Flames, Vancouver Canucks, and Ottawa Senators.
He was selected in the second round (53rd overall pick) of the 2008 NHL Draft by the Islanders.
And finally, veteran goaltender Cam Talbot, who is coming off his second season in Detroit after being signed as a free agent in 2024, also remains unsigned.
Talbot posted strong numbers for the Red Wings in the early goings of the season before John Gibson caught fire, ultimately finishing with a 12-9-6 record, a 3.19 goals-against average, and an .883 save percentage.
Never drafted into the NHL, Talbot began his career with the New York Rangers and later played for the Edmonton Oilers, Philadelphia Flyers, Calgary Flames, Minnesota Wild, Ottawa Senators, and Los Angeles Kings.
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It’s no secret that the Florida Panthers have one of the deepest forward groups in the National Hockey League.
Panthers General Manager Bill Zito and his front office staff have done an amazing job of building a roster full of talented, hard-working hockey players that has become the envy of the league.
A big part of why Florida’s forward lines are so formidable is due to the men they have lining up down the middle.
Strong centermen play is a major key to success in the NHL, and the Panthers have some of the best in the league at that position.
As you might expect, the Panthers were featured toward the top of that list.
Florida’s top two centermen are Sasha Barkov and Sam Bennett.
Barkov is arguably the best two-way player in the world and Bennett is a gritty, clutch Conn Smythe winner who is great at getting underneath the skin of his opponents.
Those paying attention to Panthers games in recent years know that when either Barkov or Bennett are out of the lineup, the quality of Florida’s play will drop.
It’s just a byproduct of the team playing an incredibly aggressive and physical defensive system that relies on centers to drive play on both ends of the ice.
For Barkov and Bennett, that brand of hockey is a perfect compliment to the strong possession-pushing play they both excel at utilizing.
According to Dayal’s list on The Athletic, only two teams have a better 1-2 punch down the middle: the Edmonton Oilers with Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, and the Colorado Avalanche with Nathan MacKinnon and Brock Nelson.
There were several teams listed in the tier below Florida: the New Jersey Devils with Jack Hughes and Nico Hischier, the San Jose Sharks with Macklin Celebrini and Michael Misa, the Toronto Maple Leafs with Auston Matthews and John Tavares, the Vegas Golden Knights with Jack Eichel and William Karlsson, the Dallas Stars with Wyatt Johnston and Roope Hintz, and the Carolina Hurricanes with Sebastian Aho and Logan Stankoven.
Now, if this list was ranking team’s overall center depth, not just the top two lines, Florida would likely come in at number one.
Adding Anton Lundell to the mix, who would easily slot into the number two center spot on dozens of teams, and new fourth-line center Lars Eller, shows how the physical Panthers are able to come at opponents in waves with little time for rest of reprieve.
What do you think of Florida’s spot on The Athletic’s list? Let us know in the comments below.
Photo caption: Mar 31, 2022; Sunrise, Florida, USA; Florida Panthers center Aleksander Barkov(16) celebrates his goal against the Chicago Blackhawks with center Sam Bennett(9) during the third period at FLA Live Arena. (Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports)
Considering it is the NHL offseason, most players find ways to train and get in some skates, although not overly competitive ones, to stay sharp for the upcoming season. This week, Calgary Flames forward Matt Coronato will be in Connecticut to skate in the Shoulder Check Showcase, which will be available on the NHL Network.
Launched a few years ago by Rob Thorsen, the Shoulder Check Showcase is an annual fundraiser for the HT40 Foundation, whose main goal is to "bring people together through kindness and compassion. To inspire a culture of support through small actions that have a big impact." In 2022, Rob's son, Hayden, took his own life, which led his family to launch HT40 to honor their son and to raise awareness for mental health.
The teams have been announced for the Shoulder Check Showcase at Sacred Heart University.
As anyone can see by this year's lineup of big-name NHLers, this event has drawn considerable attention from the players, who want to help raise awareness not only for the HT40 Foundation but also for mental health. Since the event is taking place at Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, CT, many past and present New York Rangers will be in attendance, including Chris Kreider, Pavel Dorofeyev, J.T. Miller, Matt Rempe, Gabe Perreault, Frank Vatrano, Adam Fox, Tony DeAngelo, and Drew Fortescue.
Although rosters from the 2023 and 2024 events are not available, Coronato may be the first Flames player to partake in the event. As one of the young core players through the rebuild that will close out the Scotiabank Saddledome next spring, it is not surprising to see Coronato continue a Calgary tradition of going above and beyond in the community.
Through the Flames Foundation and the Flames Alumni, the organization has deep connections to the City of Calgary through various fundraising opportunities, including the annual Celebrity Charity Golf Classic, Hockey Alberta Foundation Golf Classic, and the Alumni Hockey School, to name a few. Meanwhile, several Calgary players, like Mikael Backlund, are heavily involved in community programs, with the captain recently being named a Paul Harris Fellow for his ongoing contribution to the community.
Those interested in watching the Shoulder Check Showcase can find it on the NHL Network, while others who wish to donate to the HT40 Foundation can do so at www.shouldercheck.org.
The Chicago Blackhawks pretty much have the team right now that they are going to bring to training camp in the fall. There may be a PTO or two, but they mostly have what they want at this stage of the off-season.
With that said, there are a handful of former Blackhawks looking for work before camps begin in September. The Blackhawks are not in the market for most (if any) of these players, but other teams around the league may be interested.
Some of them would be extra players to consider lower in the lineup, and some of them could be everyday contributors if they land in the correct situation.
Philipp Kurashev
Philipp Kurashev had one really good year with the Chicago Blackhawks in Connor Bedard's rookie season, and it's been a struggle for him ever since. After playing out the 2025-26 season with the San Jose Sharks, he is now a free agent looking for work. If he lands a job, he's likely a 13th forward who plays a fair number of games, unless he grabs a full-time job and plays a significant role in someone's bottom six.
Matt Grzelcyk
Last fall, Matt Grzelcyk signed a PTO with the Blackhawks ahead of training camp. Not only did he make the team, but he also played in almost every game that he was available as a veteran blue-line presence. He didn't produce points as well as he did with the Pittsburgh Penguins one year prior, but his role was reduced a lot.
What he did do is show that he belongs in the league still, that he has more to give from the blue line. Someone looking for a veteran body ahead of the season will give Grzelcyk a chance to earn a spot.
Brandon Saad
Brandon Saad was a very important player for the 2013 and 2015 Chicago Blackhawks, who won the Stanley Cup. He isn't that player anymore, but he can be a 13th forward/depth option for any team at this stage.
Saad played in 49 regular-season games for the Vegas Golden Knights in 2025-26 and five in the playoffs. Of course, Vegas went all the way to the Stanley Cup Final but fell just short to the Carolina Hurricanes.
Nick Leddy
Nick Leddy was on the 2013 Stanley Cup champion Blackhawks, and he was a key part early in his career. It feels like he's been in the league for a long time, and that's because he has. At 35 years old, if he finds an NHL home, it will be his 17th season.
Leddy spent the 2025-26 season with the San Jose Sharks, where he dressed for 32 games on a very exciting team. Will they have him back? Or will someone else consider him as a veteran presence?
Adam Boqvist
The Chicago Blackhawks selected Adam Boqvist with the 8th overall pick in the 2018 NHL Draft. It is a pick they would take back if they could, as multiple elite defensemen were taken after him, but he has managed to stay in the league since then.
He only played in 28 games for the New York Islanders in 2025-26, but now he's looking to find a home for 2026-27. Some time in the AHL may be expected for the 25-year-old, but he is a player motivated to keep his playing career in North America alive.
David Kampf
David Kampf has had an interesting NHL career as a bottom-six center. He could still fill in that role on a team that may be rebuilding its roster.
In 2025-26, Kampf started with the Vancouver Canucks and played in 38 games. He found his way to the Washington Capitals, where he only played in 2 games, giving him 40 games on the year. If there is a team out there looking for a center to act as a placeholder in 2026-27, Kampf could still be had as that type of player.
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The Montreal Canadiens had several players who were expected to welcome little bundles of joy this summer. After Nick Suzuki’s daughter Maya arrived before the start of the playoffs, Mike Matheson became a dad for a third time in May, and Alex Carrier and his significant other Alicia Lessard also became new parents this summer. Goaltender Samuel Montembeault and his wife Daryanne finally welcomed their new bundle of joy to the world.
According to Montembeault’s wife’s Instagram account, their baby was born on July 22, and not to mess with the team’s trend, it was also a little girl. The Montembeaults introduced their daughter to fans on social media with a few pictures of the little one, which were just precious.
The summer must not have been easy for Montembeault, whose future appears to be in limbo right now. He still has a year left on his contract with the Canadiens, but after an atrocious season last year, there is doubt about where he will be playing next season.
Even if the Canadiens do not trade him, he may well have to battle for the right to remain in the NHL out of training camp, with Jakub Dobes clearly being the front-runner for the number one role this year and Jacob Fowler having shown that he can play well at the NHL level.
Photo credit: Daryanne Montembeault
While Fowler doesn’t need to clear waivers to return to the AHL with the Laval Rocket, one can wonder if that’s a route the Canadiens would be interested in taking. GM Kent Hughes has already said that the young netminder needs to see a lot of action this year and that if he stays with the big club, it won’t be to ride the pine. That sounded like the Canadiens were not interested in riding a goalie trio this season, which is good news for Montembeault, who has also made it clear that he’s not interested in a goalie carousel.
If the Canadiens feel like Fowler’s development would be best served in the NHL, it’s highly unlikely that Montembeault will still be with the Habs to start the season. While Montreal could just waive him to send him down to the AHL, that’s not Hughes’ style; he’s not in the business of losing assets for nothing, even if the asset was a waiver pickup in the first place, apparently.
The last time Hughes faced a tricky goalie situation with Jake Allen, Montembeault and Cayden Primeau, he ended up keeping the trio in the NHL (Primeau wasn’t waiver-exempt back then), and it eventually led to veteran Allen being traded to the New Jersey Devils. A year later, the Habs moved on from Primeau after his confidence was shattered by a tough spell in the NHL, and he was sent back down to Laval. Which is not all that different from what Montembeault went through this past season. By the time Hughes managed to find a trade partner for Primeau, all he could get was a seventh-round pick in the 2026 draft from the Carolina Hurricanes. Considering he had been a seventh-round pick at the 2017 draft himself, the Canadiens broke even in that deal.
Perhaps Hughes has yet to find a team ready to give him what he believes to be Montembeault’s value in a trade; that’s not entirely surprising, considering his value is probably at an all-time low right now. Still, it puts the Canadiens in a pickle if they feel Fowler’s development would be best served by staying in the NHL. At least, Montembeault now has something else to occupy his mind as he learns the ropes of fatherhood. This leaves Noah Dobson and his wife as the only Canadiens couple still expecting their new arrival.
Former Buffalo Sabres head coach Don Granato kept his hand in the game in May, as he coached Team USA at the IIHF World Championships in Switzerland, and two years after being fired in favor of Lindy Ruff, he has rejoined the NHL as an assistant coach under Rick Bowness with the Columbus Blue Jackets.
The 58-year-old took over for Ralph Krueger in March 2021 and in 274 games over 3 ½ seasons, led the Sabres to a 122-125-27 record, including a 42-33-7 record in 2022-23, where Buffalo missed the playoffs by a point. Granato was given a contract extension in 2022 that extended through the 2025-26 season, but he was fired in April 2024 before the extension kicked in.
Will the Sabres add some offense before the start of training camp?
Over the last two seasons, he has served as an analyst for NHL Network and NHL Network Radio.
In other news, the Sabres announced the schedule for the 2026 Prospects Showcase against the Boston Bruins. The club last season hosted the New Jersey Devils, Pittsburgh Penguins, and Columbus Blue Jackets over five days, but this season they will host their Atlantic Division rival in a pair of games on Sunday, Sept. 13 (5pm) and on Monday, Sept. 14 at Noon. The head-to-head matchup against last season’s first-round opponents is part of a two-year agreement where the club’s prospects will play in Boston in September 2027.
