Category: NHL

22 years ago today, Evgeni Malkin was selected by the Pittsburgh Penguins with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft.

Before he was drafted by the Penguins, Malkin made his professional debut in Russia, playing for Metallurg Magnitogorsk when he was 17 years old.

The 2004 NHL Draft was held in Raleigh, North Carolina and the Penguins held the second pick after finishing the previous season with a league-worst 58 points, but were jumped in the draft lottery by the Washington Capitals, who landed the top pick and selected Alex Ovechkin.

Malkin’s arrival to Pittsburgh after being drafted with the second pick in 2004 would be delayed for some time due to both a transfer dispute and the NHL lockout.

In 2006, Malkin became the subject of what could be referred to as an international incident as the young Russian had to leave his team’s training camp in Finland, in some ways escaping for America and Pittsburgh.

Malkin was ultimately able to sign his entry-level deal with the Penguins in September 2006, making his NHL debut a short time later.

In his first preseason game with Pittsburgh, Malkin was injured when he collided with teammate John LeClair, meaning his first regular season game with the Penguins would have to wait.

In his debut game against the New Jersey Devils, Malkin scored one of his most memorable goals, being legendary goaltender Martin Brodeur.

Now 22 years, 533 goals, 874 assists, and three Stanley Cups later after being drafted, Malkin could be heading into his final season with the Penguins.

Why Bruins should prioritize defensemen in 2026 NHL Draft originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

The Boston Bruins have been searching for a No. 1 and No. 2 center since Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci retired after the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

They tried to find one in free agency in 2024 by signing Elias Lindholm to a seven-year contract worth $54.25 million. The B’s also have tried to acquire one of these players through the draft. They’ve tried pretty hard, actually.

The Bruins drafted four centers in 2025, including their first-round pick James Hagens and second-round pick Will Moore. Two of their four picks in 2024, including Dean Letourneau in Round 1, were centers. Boston also drafted two centers in 2023 and three in 2022.

It remains to be seen whether any of these players will become top-six centers. Hagens, Letourneau and Moore have the best chance.

There’s another position the Bruins need to start investing heavily in, especially in the draft.

Defensemen.

If you look at the Bruins’ top prospects, none of them are defensemen. In fact, The Athletic’s Scott Wheeler ranked Boston’s top 14 prospects back in April and Frederic Brunet (No. 9) was the only defenseman to make the list.

There is a severe lack of high-end blue line talent in the Bruins’ prospect pool. Specifically, there is a lack of puck-moving defensemen with high offensive upside who can quarterback a power play.

This is a problem because one of the Bruins’ most glaring roster weaknesses at the NHL level right now is the need for another top-four defenseman, preferably a right shot. The solution to that problem is not going to come from within, at least not any time soon. Brunet is nowhere near ready for that role. Mason Lohrei has impressive offensive talent, but his defensive liabilities are impossible to ignore. Henri Jokiharju played well at the Olympics for Finland, but he was a healthy scratch multiple times in the playoffs. Jordan Harris and Jonathan Aspirot are not top-four defensemen on a true contender.

If the Bruins want to acquire a top-four defenseman in the near term, the free agent and trade markets are the only options. Should they pursue Rasmus Andersson in free agency? He is the top defensemen who could hit the market this summer. Andersson is 29 years old, and even though he is a very good player, he isn’t a game-changer. An expensive, long-term contract for Andersson could end up being a huge mistake.

A trade for a defenseman player like Owen Zellweger of the Ducks is a risk worth taking. But the price to make that kind of move could be quite high.

Regardless of what the Bruins do to upgrade their blue line for next season, they need to start investing more valuable draft capital in defensemen.

The 2026 draft class is actually pretty deep at the position, and there are a couple of intriguing options for the Bruins with the No. 23 overall pick.

One of them is Adam Goljer, a right-shot defenseman who currently plays in his home country of Slovakia. Corey Pronman of The Athletic predicted the B’s would take Goljer in a recent 2026 NHL mock draft.

“Goljer is trending up with teams after a strong U18 worlds,” Pronman wrote. “He skates well, breaks up plays effectively and makes a good first pass, even if he doesn’t project as a major offensive driver. He projects as a two-way defenseman of whom the Bruins have very little of in their system.”

Ryan Lin of the Vancouver Giants (WHL), Tommy Bleyl of the Moncton Wildcats (QMJHL), Maksim Sokolovskii of the London Knights (OHL), Sweden’s William Hakansson and Finland’s Juho Piiparinen are other potential options for the Bruins in the first or second rounds if they target a defenseman. Xavier Villeneuve of Blainville-Boisbriand Armada (QMJHL) is a tremendous skater with exciting offensive talent who might still be available at No. 23.

The last time the Bruins selected a defenseman in the first round was Urho Vaakanainen at No. 17 overall in 2017. He was eventually traded to the Ducks as part of the deal that brough Hampus Lindholm to Boston.

The Bruins have a No. 1 defenseman on the NHL roster in Charlie McAvoy. He’s 28 years old and should have several more excellent seasons ahead of him. But he was the only Bruins defenseman who tallied more than 26 points last season. There’s not enough offensive firepower on Boston’s blue line. McAvoy can’t shoulder that burden alone.

Lindholm is 32 years old. Nikita Zadorov is 31 years old. Andrew Peeke could leave in free agency. The Bruins need an influx of impressive young talent on the blue line, and they need it very soon. It’s one reason why accelerating that process by taking a defenseman in Round 1 of the upcoming draft is a great idea.

Tonight’s the night…the first round of the NHL Draft takes place via conference calls and hopefully through less-awkward TV means than last year (though we’ll never forget that Matthew Schaefer moment).

Islanders News

• With the 13th overall pick, the Islanders…will probably select someone. [Newsday]
• This is the Islanders preseason schedule, feel the excitement. [Isles]
• Some more mock drafts…Oscar Hemming enters the chat. [NHL]
• Oh and here’s another mock draft, another one sending Tynan Lawrence to the Isles. [ESPN]
• ERMEGRD, the Canadiens supposedly called the Isles about Bo Horvat and the Isles said no. {click} [THN]

Elsewhere

• Here’s another draft ranking, a top 100. It has Stenberg above McKenna. [Sportsnet]
• And here’s another mock draft. It has OHL LW Ethan Belchetz to the Isles. [Sportsnet]
• Here are some random late thoughts about random top 100 prospects. [Athletic]
• How do 13 NHL scouts feel about the top defensemen in this draft? [Athletic]
• Rumor roundup: Buffalo isn’t done dealing, Blue Jackets will have conversations with Werenski. [Sportsnet | NHL]
• Here’s Kyper’s latest trade board. [Sportsnet]
• The Blue Jackets sent three draft picks to Colorado for Valeri Nichushkin, who probably won’t be happy there and they’ll hope will stay out of trouble and off IR. [NHL]
• The Flyers send asshat Garnet Hathaway to the Panthers for some late-round picks, and retain half his salary. [NHL]

Not the Draft

• The Capitals have tampered done a sign-and-trade for 33-goal scorer Alex Tuch, inking him to an eight-year, $84 million contract. He is 30. [TSN | NHL]
• The Predators and Avalanche swapped a bunch of That Guys. [TSN]
• Why…why did the Blackhawks swing so big for Bowen Bryam? [Athletic]
• Jason Robertson reportedly declined something like eight years and $15 million AAV from the poor Kraken. [Sportsnet]
• He also reportedly declined interest from the Blues, who offered “multiple first-round picks” if they could do a sign-and-trade. [@JeffMarek]
• The “ins and outs” of the NHL exploring expansion in Texas. [TSN]
• Connor McDavid says the Oilers top players all agree it’s high time they have a coach who abuses them; enter Mike Babcock. [Sportsnet]
• The Senators have another uphill climb after having to trade Brady Tkachuk. [Sportsnet]

Ahead of tonight’s NHL draft, let’s take a stab at how the first round could play out tonight. First, a moment of silence for our near miss last year – when we tried to predict that Kyle Dubas would go ‘off the board’ with a high pick on a WHL center that no one saw coming. So close, yet so far (we had Cole Reschny as the surprise pick, the Pens ended up making the choice of Ben Kindel instead. I’d say that worked out well).

Trades have rocked the 2026 draft, which could indicate something about how many teams are valuing this draft somewhat unfavorably. Two top-10 picks have been dealt. St. Louis enters the night with a whopping four picks. San Jose has three. Six other teams have two picks, 10 teams enter the night without a first round pick at all. Ottawa received a league punishment where they were assigned the 32nd pick (and cannot trade it today). That builds up to one of the more unpredictable and turbulent drafts in recent memory, with a high probability that the fireworks continue with even more transactions of teams jockeying around.

1. Toronto Maple Leafs – Gavin McKenna,LW, Penn State (NCAA): No surprise at the top, the Leafs add the top player and hope he will become a focal point in the years to come
2. San Jose Sharks –  Ivar Stenberg, LW, Frolunda (SWE): Trading William Eklund solved the mystery of whether or not SJ would reach for a defenseman to help their prospect pool at No. 2, or just take the best player available. Probably wisely, the coast is now clear to have a spot in the future for Stenberg.
3. Vancouver Canucks – Caleb Malhotra, C, Brantford (OHL): For some reason the Canucks have zeroed in on Malhotra, the sixth ranked North American skater from Central Scouting. Malhotra is considered the best center of the class but going third looks like a steep projection on draft day.
4. Buffalo Sabres –Chase Reid, D, Sault Ste. Marie (OHL): Buffalo has their pick of the defensemen in the class and Reid looks like the right handed, blue chip prospect to one day pair beside Owen Power or Rasmus Dahlin.
5. New York Rangers –Alberts Smits, D, Munchen (GER): Some think Smits could be the most NHL ready player in the draft as a 6’3, 210 pound defender that is rock solid and shined with Team Latvia. I think that fits what the Rangers will covet as a no-maintenance type of big player who could be a bedrock performer. With the top four picks considered somewhat set right now, the Rangers’ choice at No. 5 represents the first major split in the road for how this draft will play out.
6. Calgary Flames –Viggo Bjorck, C, Djurgarden (SWE): The Flames get a little saucy with this one, taking the upside of a 5’9, 180 pound center in a world where players like Brayden Point and Logan Stankoven have flourished. This profile of player usually drops on draft night, but Calgary opts to believe in what they could have here.
7. Seattle Kraken – Carson Carels, D, Prince George (WHL): Seattle has somewhat famously never selected a defenseman in the first round, but now Jason Botterill’s hands are fully on the wheel. A disciple of Ray Shero, a smooth skating, puck moving defender with upside fits the mold and needs of this franchise.
8. Winnipeg Jets – Keaton Verhoeff, D, North Dakota (NCAA): Winnipeg is in a nice spot to draft a quality player that falls to this pick, they’re pleased to add a 6’4″ defender compared to Aaron Ekblad. Verhoeff very well could be selected a few picks prior to this, having him available at 8th would be a great development for the Jets.
9. San Jose Sharks –Daxon Rudolph, D, Prince Albert (WHL): Given team needs (and by taking Stenberg earlier), you’d have to think the Sharks will be in a position to grab the top defender available here at No. 9, depending on who among Smits, Carels, Verhoeff and Rudolph remain. It ends up being Rudolph, who has the frame, tools and ability to be a top-4 player and is exactly what San Jose needs at this point.
10. Nashville Predators – Tynan Lawrence, C, Boston University (NCAA): New GM Chris MacFarland gets to work by adding one of the top centers available. Lawrence had a bumpy draft year but is well-regarded as a potential future impact player.
11. St. Louis Blues – Wyatt Cullen, LW, USA U-18 (NTDP-USHL): Matt’s boy had a recent growth spurt to 6’1 and has dynamic offensive ability. His future is very bright, the Blues are happy to grab him at this point.
12. New Jersey Devils –Ethan Belchetz, LW, Windsor (OHL): New GM Sunny Mehta is from the Panthers’ organization, he knows the value of a 6’5″, 230 pound monster winger that has an edge. Belchetz is headed to Michigan State and could be the next version of a Porter Martone type.
13. New York Islanders – Oliver Suvanto, C, Tappara (FIN): The Islanders have drafted well recently, Suvanto is one of the younger players in the class and already 6’3″, 213 pounds with a a strong two-way game.
14. Columbus Blue Jackets – Malte Gustafsson, D, HV71 (SWE): A 6’4″ defender with good reach, skating and first pass ability, the Jackets keep it simple here with a solid choice at this part of the draft.
15. St. Louis Blues – Alexander Command, C, Orebro Jr. (SWE-JR): Incoming GM Alex Steen adds a countryman with a solid center option for future depth.
16. St. Louis Blues – Ryan Lin, D, Vancouver (WHL): Wait, are the Blues really making all these picks? We already have them down for two forwards, they spread out here to grab an offensive minded right shot defender.
17. Los Angeles Kings – Oscar Hemming, LW, Boston College (NCAA): LA grabs a 6’4″ winger with offensive upside and a great shot.
18. Washington Capitals – Maddox Dagenais, C, Quebec (QMJHL): The Caps can use prospect help up the middle, Dagenais brings a 6’4″ frame and good offensive ability.
19. Utah Mammoth –Ilia Morozov, C, Miami (NCAA): The Mammoth go with a very young player and hope his game develops into his 6’3″, 205 stature.
20. Buffalo Sabres –Adam Novotny, LW, Peterborough (OHL): The Czech player excelled in the OHL, he has a nose for the net.
21. Philadelphia Flyers – Maksim Sokolovskii, D, London (OHL): A 6’7″, 240 pound physical, stay at home defender seems to fit the Flyers. They also tend to like London products (Oliver Bonk, Denver Barkey).
22. Pittsburgh Penguins – JP Hurlbert, LW/C, Kamloops (WHL): I think Hulbert checks almost all the boxes for the players that the Pens tend to take early on. He can play all three forward positions, he’s been complimented for his two-way play and attention to detail away from the puck, he’s a productive WHL player. There’s always the possibility they break pattern and go with a defender or different profile this year, but as a blind guess there’s a lot that points towards Hulbert if he’s available.
23. Boston Bruins –Nikita Klepov, RW, Saginaw (OHL): The Bruins go with a skilled forward to add to their group.
24. Vancouver Canucks – Elton Hermansson, RW, MoDo (SWE-2): The Canucks add a second forward in the draft.
25. Ottawa Senators – Liam Ruck, RW, Medicine Hat (WHL): The Senators go with a skill winger to be part of their future.
26. New York Rangers – Brooks Rogowski, C, Oshawa (OHL): When I look at Rogowski, I see Brian Boyle 2.0. Chris Drury was a teammate of Boyle’s, who once scored 21 goals with the Rangers. NYR will bank on Rogowski’s peak being a little longer/higher but his 6’7″ 235 pound frame is what literally stands out.
27. San Jose Sharks – Xavier Villeneuve, D, Blainville-Boisbriand (QMJHL): The Sharks have enough draft capital with their third pick of the night to take a wild swing on the immense talents of Villeneuve, who comes with just as immense of a risk.
28. Montreal Canadiens – Jack Hextall, C, Youngstown (USHL): Montreal goes with a well-rounded center choice that they’ll hope develops well.
29. St. Louis Blues – Casey Mutryn, RW, USA U-18 (NTDP-USHL): Mutryn fits into a sort of Jimmy Snuggerud/Jake Neighbours/Dylan Holloway mold as a high-IQ, forechecking machine of a big winger.
30. Calgary Flames – Thomas Bleyl, D, Moncton (QMJHL):: The Flames use their second choice to target the blueline and get a right shot player with offensive upside.
31. Carolina Hurricanes – Mathis Preston, RW, Vancouver (WHL): The Hurricanes are always a strong candidate to trade back in the draft, our presumptions rule out trades so we’ll have them stick to type for a player with some dynamic offensive ability.
32. Ottawa Senators – Tobias Trejbal, G, Youngstown (USHL): The first goalie goes off the board with the last pick. Trejbal is a 6’4″ netminder with impressive athleticism for his size.

In recent drafts, the Philadelphia Flyers have gone out of their way to draft big, strong, physical players to add to their prospect pool, and the 2026 NHL Draft is looking to be no different.

The Flyers, of course, could truly end up choosing anyone when they are first on the clock at Pick 21, whether it be a winger, a defenseman, or another center.

Not all of these prospects are cut equal, especially at the defense position, and that could cause some variance at the back of the draft order.

For example, The Athletic NHL prospect expert Scott Wheeler released his final NHL mock draft of the year, and he has the Flyers taking a big swing on defense... literally.

While not everyone may agree with the valuation, including Wheeler himself, the Flyers select defenseman Maksim Sokolovskii in the first round in this mock draft.

Sokolovskii is a 6-foot-8 defenseman who plays for the London Knights (shocker!), and he is widely regarded as the meanest player in the entire draft class.

"Sokolovskii’s name has been one of the most hotly discussed among NHL scouts over the past few months, and I expect he’ll be selected in the 20s now. He’s the biggest player in this class, he might be its most naturally aggressive and he can move. Those three things made him a source of intrigue for the scouts this year," Wheeler wrote.

Flyers Linked to Top Swedish Winger Prospect Ahead of 2026 NHL DraftThe Philadelphia Flyers could be targeting one of the purest talents in the 2026 NHL Draft.

"His steep development curve in the second half of this season sold the league on his prospects as the next Nikita Zadorov type, and the trust in the London Knights to get him there (coincidentally, they also developed Zadorov) is another confidence booster. I believe the Flyers are the start of his range."

The Flyers have made it no secret that they would like to get bigger and stronger on defense, and have admitted that the left side of their defense, where Sokolovskii plays, is far weaker than the right.

Passing, puck skills, and decision-making will be question marks for Sokolovskii, but the Kazakh rearguard is undeniably a punishing defender who can do it all in his own zone.

For myself, Sokolovskii is a harder sell due to the simple fact that I believe it to be easier to teach players to defend (Xavier Villeneuve) rather than to teach them how to pass, handle the puck, and make smart choices under pressure.

At the same time, Sokolovskii's size can't be taught either, and that makes him a true unicorn in the 2026 draft class.

Remember, just two years ago in 2024, Anton Silayev was expected to be a top-five pick, slid a little, and still went 10th overall to New Jersey.

Right or wrong, teams cover those players, and the Flyers understandably accept that risk in this latest mock draft.

The NHL trade market has heavily favored sellers over the last few days, and the Philadelphia Flyers could choose to cash in on one of their most popular players as a result.

Ahead of Friday's 2026 NHL Draft, NHL insider Frank Seravalli posted his compiled list of the top 40 trade targets around the league, which is ordered by likeliness of a trade coming together.

There weren't any surprises at the very top of Seravalli's list: Dylan Larkin, Mason McTavish, and Matthew Knies were among the oft-discussed names high in the ranking.

Notably, there was only one Flyers player included by Seravalli, and that is winger Owen Tippett, who clocks in at 39th on the list of the 40 names.

It has been reported several times over recent weeks and months that the Flyers do not necessarily want to trade Owen Tippett, unless an offer they absolutely cannot refuse is made.

Tippett, 27, will have a 10-team no-trade list kick in on July 1, so that, more than anything else, could be a driving factor in any potential trade from the Flyers' perspective.

Flyers Have Clear Bowen Byram Trade Alternative in Young Hurricanes StarAfter missing out on some big trades, the Philadelphia Flyers must be all-in on Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Alexander Nikishin.

Tippett's $6.25 million cap hit is looking more and modest with each passing year, especially with his ability to create offense for himself using his legs.

At the same time, the Flyers have decisions to consider at the winger position.

Porter Martone will be playing in his first full NHL season in 2025-26, and we can assume that Matvei Michkov will stick around for the long haul, too.

That leaves two more spots in the top-six for Travis Konecny, Tyson Foerster, Tippett, Alex Bump, Denver Barkey, and, potentially, Trevor Zegras if he cannot stick at center permanently.

Plus, the Flyers still hold the 21st overall pick in Friday's draft, which could very well be used on another winger given Tippett's age and Konecny's age.

Some teams picking inside the top-15, like the Buffalo Sabres, Seattle Kraken, and San Jose Sharks (the ninth pick, not the second), may feel incentivized to trade their picks for more immediate help to take the next step.

The Flyers have plenty of wingers to offer, with Tippett clearly being the most valuable of the bunch with his rare combination of size, athleticism, speed, and skill, and defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen could always be included to make it a real package.

Ristolainen was, notably, left off Seravalli's list, though the trade market this week has proven that this could change at any minute.

Tippett's name remains one to watch, however.

Four years ago, the hockey world saw a pretty similar Jason Robertson scenario that is occuring this summer. The superstar for the Dallas Stars took a while to come to terms on an extension with his team, but it ended up getting across the finish line.

Now, however, things may be a bit different. 

Unlike four years ago, there is pretty legitimate smoke surrounding trade rumors. Multiple sources have reported that the two sides are still talking, but it's also been revealed that at least two teams - the Seattle Kraken and St. Louis Blues - were given permission to speak with Robertson about a contract extension, but he had no interest in signing there. He also, reportedly, already turned down an eight-year, $96 million offer from Dallas.

Jason Robertson has rejected an 8-year, $15mil AAV contract offer from the Seattle Kraken, per @FriedgeHNIC

The Stars granted Robertson permission to speak with Seattle pic.twitter.com/zWaltpdP9g

— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) June 26, 2026

The fact that Dallas is open for business on Robertson means there is a more than decent chance he gets dealt in the next 24 hours ahead of the 2026 NHL Draft. There are a few teams still rumored to be interested in acquiring Robertson. 

And one of those rumored teams is the Pittsburgh Penguins. 

On the surface, a marriage between the Penguins and Stars on a Robertson deal might not make much sense, especially for Pittsburgh. They have draft capital - more than any team in the next three drafts - but they only have three of their own first-round picks over the next three years. They have a number of prospects close to NHL-ready who are intriguing, but few who are blue-chip - in fact, blueliner Harrison Brunicke may just be the only "blue-chip" prospect in their system. 

Some late evening chatter:
- Belief Sabres inquired about Knies
- Penguins, Blackhawks, Mammoth among other teams interested in Robertson
- Teams calling Flames on Frost, Whitecloud
- Oilers have discussed Nurse talks, and goalie search today
- Some teams curious about DeBrincat

— David Pagnotta (@TheFourthPeriod) June 26, 2026

And, on top of all of that, Pittsburgh is in a period of transition. They made the playoffs last season, they have new ownership, and GM and POHO Kyle Dubas has expressed that the team wants to take "big steps toward contention" next season while also getting younger, which is hard to do without the premium young players to keep the team competitive while they continue to build. 

But, as mentioned time and time again, he also said he understands that he can't just build a contender through the draft. He knows he has to explore the trade market when the right opportunities arise to acquire the right players, and he mentioned that the Penguins would be targeting impact players in their mid-late 20s specifically.

Well, Robertson happens to fit that mold. And, as it turns out, the fit for both teams might be better than folks think.

So, what would it take for the Penguins to land one of the biggest 20-something stars on the market and one of the best players who will be available in the next several years? It will take a lot, but it might be something the Penguins can pull off without severe detriment to their future.

Stars Reportedly Offered Jason Robertson Eight-Year, $96 Million DealA massive gap between Dallas and their star winger fuels trade rumors, as the contract stalemate intensifies.

The proposition

To Pittsburgh: 
LW Jason Robertson

To Dallas:
- RW Bryan Rust (40 percent retained)
- LW/RW/C Rickard Rakell
- C/LW Will Horcoff
- D Quinn Beauchesne
- 2026 first-round pick
- 2026 second-round pick
- 2027 conditional first-round pick

Three Takeaways From Thursday's Hoffmann Family Press ConferenceThe Hoffmann Family held their introductory press conference on Thursday after buying the Pittsburgh Penguins. Here are a few takeaways from it.

Why this makes sense for Pittsburgh

Dubas and the Penguins are in the midst of a pivotal summer in the trajectory of the franchise. Their new ownership - the Hoffmann Family of Companies - badly wants to win, they still have Sidney Crosby playing at a very high level, and they also desperately need elite talent either infused into their system or onto their NHL roster for many years to come.

If the Penguins want to be better next season, trading both Rust and Rakell - let alone, in the same deal - is quite the risk. After all, they'd be subtracting their two best wingers, both of whom produce around 30 goals per season and between 60-70 points. In some ways, this feels like an overpay for one guy.

However, Roberston is a 45-goal, 100-point player, and you have to pay up big-time to land these kinds of players. And, really, it may not be as much a detriment to lose both Rust and Rakell as it appears to be.

Robertson would be paired with one of the greatest players and greatest playmakers of all time in Sidney Crosby, which - no slight to Roope Hintz or Wyatt Johnston - is a significant upgrade for Robertson as far as a center who can aid his production even more. The Penguins will also - assuming he's re-signed - have Egor Chinakhov for a full season. He scored at a 34-goal, 69-point pace during his time with the Penguins last season, and Pittsburgh believes he has star pedigree.

Do The Penguins Have A Star Player In Egor Chinakhov?The Pittsburgh Penguins may have landed a star winger in Egor Chinakhov, who they acquired from the Columbus Blue Jackets on Dec. 29.

Even with just those two, it's almost enough to offset the losses of Rust and Rakell. Add in the fact that, with the acquisition of Hendrix Lapierre from the Washington Capitals and the potential emergence of a center like Tristan Broz next season, the Penguins might be able to move Ben Kindel up to second-line center duties between Evgeni Malkin and Chinakhov or Tommy Novak, with the other flanking Crosby and Robertson. 

Plus, there are options on the UFA market for the Penguins, too, to help offset that loss in the top-six. Mason Marchment comes to mind, as does Viktor Arvidsson. There's also the opportunity for one of the Penguins' younger wingers like Rutger McGroarty, Ville Koivunen, Mikhail Ilyin, or Avery Hayes to be slotted in the top-six alongside talent that should help them progress in a meaningful way. They can also flip Novak and some assets for an upside winger - perhaps for Jason's brother, Nicholas, in Toronto, who would probably love to play with his brother and who Dubas has some familiarity with.

The Penguins have the cap space to do all of this and sign Robertson long-term, and he would be around and still be effective post-Crosby. He's 26, so he's the exact kind of player Dubas and the Penguins should covet. Also, if the Penguins land Robertson, it's unlikely they'd be selecting in the top-10 of the draft next season, anyway, so that 2027 conditional first probably isn't going to be a franchise-changing player.

Sure, the Penguins could use some of those assets to trade up in the draft for a young prospect who is, ultimately, still a "maybe." Or, they could use those assets to acquire a certain elite commodity.

This is the type of player a team serious about contending short- and long-term pays up for. If the possbility is there, Dubas should throw out next to everything he can.

Penguins Acquire Forward Hendrix Lapierre From CapitalsIf Pittsburgh Penguins' fans are hoping for GM and POHO Kyle Dubas to be active leading up to the 2026 NHL Draft on Friday and Saturday, it appears the first domino may have fallen.

Why this makes sense for Dallas

Sure, it's fair to question why Dallas would want two wingers on the wrong side of 30. Rust is 34, and Rakell is 33. Both are still very good and consistent players, but they are aging, and that's no secret.

Yet there are 50-60 goals between Rust and Rakell, regardless of their age. There are also 120-140 points between them, assuming they stay healthy, and they've developed chemistry from playing together for several years. Most of all, Rust and Rakell make $5.1 million and $5 million for two more years, respectively, and if the Penguins retain on one of them, Dallas would have both for around $8 million - $7 million less than what Robertson is allegedly asking for. 

What does that mean? Well, it means that Dallas has more cap space to work with to build out an even better roster. They would be able to use the extra cap space from the money saved sans Robertson and any other savings from shed contracts plus the assets acquired in the trade to leverage for some coveted talent younger than Rust and Rakell. 

Yes, It's High Time For The Penguins To Trade One Of Their Best Wingers. But It's Not The One You Think It Should Be.The Pittsburgh Penguins have three valuable trade commodities and find themselves at a crossroads in terms of direction - and one player should be the first domino to fall.

Two firsts can land Dallas a good player. Then, they'd have Rakell, Rust, and said player, which could net more value than Robertson alone would.

When a team is in win-now mode like Dallas is, it needs to take the best available players, period. Getting, potentially, three very good players for one great player helps distribute scoring throughout the lineup and gives Dallas the chance to win in the near-term, as is the goal. A package centered on right-now help makes more sense for them than a package focused on futures, anyway.

And, even if they surrender those two firsts, the trade tree should age quite well: Whoever they get for those firsts should make an impact. Will Horcoff is a promising goal-scoring prospect who had a great first full season with the University of Michigan with 29 goals and 39 points in 40 games - and he spent half the season at age `18, scoring at a goal-per-game pace during that time. Quinn Beauchesne, a right defenseman, is more of a wildcard prospect who is farther out, but his raw skill and ability in transition are intriguing. 

Maybe this has to be a three-team trade with something else signficant coming back for those assets from Pittsburgh plus a sweetener from Dallas themselves - maybe involving the Detroit Red Wings and captain Dylan Larkin - in order for the trigger to be pulled. But it fulfills needs for the Stars, and the near-term intrigue is something that could help them win a Cup within the next two years.

Jason Robertson Trade Increasingly Likely With Potential Blockbuster Deal On Table For Dylan LarkinStalled contract talks could trigger a massive swap, sending the elite winger to Detroit while Dallas targets captain Dylan Larkin to inject much-needed speed into their lineup.

Does Pittsburgh make sense for Robertson?

Well, that's the million-dollar question, isn't it?

Robertson has, reportedly, already turned down three offers, which means that he is likely trying to have some control over where he goes. This does handcuff Dallas a bit from a leverage standpoint, as teams are not going to trade for Robertson if he is not interested in signing long-term with them. Because of this, even if he technically has no trade protection, he basically kind of does.

So do the Penguins make sense for him? Maybe, maybe not. St. Louis is in a similar kind of place in terms of being caught somewhere between true contention and rebuilding, which is a murky place to commit to.

3 Big Takeaways From Dubas's End-Of-Season Press ConferenceOn Tuesday, Pittsburgh Penguins' general manager and president of hockey operations Kyle Dubas met with the media to discuss the 2025-26 season and what's next for the organization this summer.

However, there are some encouraging things happening in Pittsburgh. Dubas has managed to infuse the system with some legitimate talent that should help the NHL roster in the coming years, and if he acquires Robertson, he certainly wouldn't be done working his magic. He is the exact kind of player Dubas wants, and he's the kind of player the Penguins desperately need.

And, at the end of the day, any extension would also, presumably, come with trade protection. Robertson could always ask out to go to a contender if things go very, very south for the Penguins post-Crosby.

But the prospect of playing for a team trying to make themselves sustainable contenders - and a team willing to pull all stops to make that happen - isn't the worst place to be. And that's especially true if the opportunity to flank one of the greatest players of all time in his final years and, perhaps, extend his shelf life, is in play.

If a potential deal between the two teams exists, it seems it would, ultimately, be up to Robertson. But, given the storied history of the Penguins and their out-loud commitment to building a winner - plus the results in the form of five Stanley Cups to show for it - it would be unwise to completely discount the possibility that Robertson may find intrigue in Pittsburgh. 

Analyzing The Penguins' Rebuild: Are The Penguins Close To Sustainable Contention?The Pittsburgh Penguins made the playoffs for the first time in four years in 2026, and GM and POHO Kyle Dubas has emphasized that he wants his team to be a sustainable Stanley Cup contender. So, how close are Dubas and the Penguins?

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2005 Draft Revisionist History—May 22, 2026 - VOL. 79, Issue. 11 - Jared Clinton

HERE’S A HORRIFYING THOUGHT for Kings faithful: Kopitar in Anaheim Ducks colors. But if the chance arose for a 2005-draft mulligan, that’s exactly where Los Angeles’ all-time scoring leader would have ended up. And a one-two punch of Kopitar and Ryan Getzlaf down the middle could have ushered in an era of Ducks dominance.

If each club, with the gift of hindsight, selected the best available player, there’s also an interesting conundrum in Carolina. At the time, the Hurricanes couldn’t have known a 22-year-old Cam Ward was about to put forth a Conn Smythe-winning performance as Carolina captured the 2006 Stanley Cup. But if he had, and Price was waiting in the wings, how would the Canes have addressed their crease?

Price in Carolina could have also opened the door for Tuukka Rask in Bleu, Blanc et Rouge. Having spent his career in Boston – by way of the Maple Leafs, as Toronto fans surely recall – the thought of Rask as a Hab will give many a Bruins fan a migraine.

And it’s not just Price and Rask who make for interesting re-draft fodder. The 2005 draft has a claim to producing the best goalie crop in post-lockout history. Five keepers, each of whom would be first-round selections in a do-over, produced 150-plus wins, and four eclipsed the 200-win plateau, the most of any draft since the lockout.

Here’s how the 2005 draft would look if every team owned a crystal ball. Where the player was actually picked is in parentheses.

ROUND 1

1. PITTSBURGH PENGUINS

Sidney Crosby (1st overall by Pittsburgh)

2. ANAHEIM DUCKS

Anze Kopitar (11th overall by Los Angeles)

3. CAROLINA HURRICANES

Carey Price (5th overall by Montreal)

4. MINNESOTA WILD

Jonathan Quick (72nd overall by Los Angeles)

5. MONTREAL CANADIENS

Tuukka Rask (21st overall by Toronto)

6. COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS

Kris Letang (62nd overall by Pittsburgh)

7. CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS

Paul Stastny (44th overall by Colorado)

8. SAN JOSE SHARKS

Keith Yandle (105th overall by Phoenix)

9. OTTAWA SENATORS

T.J. Oshie (24th overall by St. Louis)

10. VANCOUVER CANUCKS

Ben Bishop (85th overall by St. Louis)

11. LOS ANGELES KINGS

Marc-Edouard Vlasic (35th overall by San Jose)

12. NEW YORK RANGERS

Niklas Hjalmarsson (108th overall by Chicago)

13. BUFFALO SABRES

James Neal (33rd overall by Dallas)

14. WASHINGTON CAPITALS

Patric Hornqvist (230th overall by Nashville)

15. NEW YORK ISLANDERS

Anton Stralman (216th overall by Toronto)

16. ATLANTA THRASHERS

Bobby Ryan (2nd overall by Anaheim)

17. PHOENIX COYOTES

Andrew Cogliano (25th overall by Edmonton)

18. NASHVILLE PREDATORS

Matt Niskanen (28th overall by Dallas)

19. DETROIT RED WINGS

Martin Hanzal (17th overall by Phoenix)

20. FLORIDA PANTHERS

Darren Helm (132th overall by Detroit)

21. TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS

Marc Staal (12th overall by NY Rangers)

22. BOSTON BRUINS

Jack Johnson (3rd overall by Carolina)

23. NEW JERSEY DEVILS

Kris Russell (67th overall by Columbus)

24. ST. LOUIS BLUES

Justin Abdelkader (42nd overall by Detroit)

25. EDMONTON OILERS

Ondrej Pavelec (41st overall by Atlanta)

26. CALGARY FLAMES

Cody Franson (79th overall by Nashville)

27. WASHINGTON CAPITALS

Benoit Pouliot (4th overall by Minnesota)

28. DALLAS STARS

Devin Setoguchi (8th overall by San Jose)

29. PHILADELPHIA FLYERS

Alex Stalock (112th overall by San Jose)

30. TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING

Adam McQuaid (55th overall by Columbus)

The St. Louis Blues have reportedly tried to trade for a big-name player, as Jeff Marek reports that they attempted to acquire Dallas Stars forward Jason Robertson, but the player was not willing to sign with the Blues. 

Marek mentioned that the Blues offered a package that included multiple first-round picks, but the deal did not go through because Robertson preferred not to sign in St. Louis.

This report comes after Elliotte Friedman revealed that the Seattle Kraken had a trade in place for Robertson and had offered him an eight-year, $15 million contract, but they, too, were denied. 

Frank Seravalli also mentioned that the Toronto Maple Leafs attempted to be involved in the Kraken-Stars deal by offering Matthew Knies to the Stars in hopes of landing the Kraken’s seventh-overall pick. 

Robertson has reportedly turned down offers from the Blues and Kraken and has also told the Ottawa Senators he would not be willing to sign there. 

The 26-year-old has also declined offers from the Stars, but those contract offers were likely less than what the Blues and Kraken could offer.

Insider Links Young Anaheim Ducks Center To The St. Louis BluesDavid Pagnotta of The Fourth Period has linked the St. Louis Blues to young Anaheim Ducks center Mason McTavish.

Following Robertson’s denial, several reports link the Blues to Anaheim Ducks center Mason McTavish. The Ducks are looking for a first-round pick, and Pierre LeBrun has noted that both the Blues and New York Rangers have submitted offers to the Ducks.

GM Doug Armstrong has mentioned that they might not sit on their first four round picks, and as the draft inches closer, Armstrong’s activity on the trade market ramps up. 

Earlier today, Andy Strickland reported that the Blues are looking to move up in the draft, potentially as high as second overall. 

Lots of moving parts and plenty of action are expected to come from the Blues.

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The Nashville Predators' 2026 preseason schedule has been released by the NHL.

With the league moving to 84 regular season games, the preseason is cut down to just four games. In which case, most NHL clubs will host two games and have two road games. 

That is the case with the Predators, as they have two home-and-home series against the Tampa Bay Lightning and Carolina Hurricanes.

The first game is set to be on Sept. 20 at 4:00 p.m. CT against the Lightning on the road. They will then host them at home on Sept. 22 at 7:00 p.m. CT.

Their two games against the Hurricanes are the same setup. They will play a game on the road on Sept. 24 at 6:00 p.m. CT and their last game is set for Sept. 26th at home at 2:00 p.m. CT. 

This is the first big step in the offseason. Preseason schedules are always released ahead of the NHL Draft. Which kicks off tomorrow night, June 26. 

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If new reports come to fruition, the Philadelphia Flyers could be down another important trade target at the center position without ever getting greatly involved in the matter.

Based on what was already reported throughout the week, the Flyers have some degree of interest in centers Shane Wright, Mason McTavish, Dylan Cozens, Ridly Greig, and Shane Pinto, though they aren't the only ones, and no such trades have been either way so far.

However, when it comes to McTavish, a division rival has entered the chat and is pushing to get a trade over the line.

According to ESPN NHL insider Emily Kaplan, the Anaheim Ducks are weighing two offers for the 2021 No. 3 overall pick at the moment, including one from the Flyers' Metropolitan Division rival New York Rangers.

The other offer could always be the Flyers, of course, but their interest in McTavish in recent weeks has felt lukewarm at best.

McTavish, 23, has five seasons remaining on his new contract at a $7 million cap hit, and it's worth noting that he regressed from a promising 52-point campaign in 2024-25 to just 41 last season: a full-season career-low.

Flyers Trade Garnet Hathaway to PanthersThe Philadelphia Flyers have moved on from veteran Garnet Hathaway after three seasons, completing a surprise trade with the Florida Panthers.

The Flyers have already experienced some success by buying low on former top Ducks draft picks and giving them free rein and opportunity in Philadelphia.

Trevor Zegras looks like a whole new player, and Jamie Drysdale, who was widely considered a bust or trending towards one when the Flyers picked him up, has blossomed into a perfectly viable second-pair puck-mover.

It should go without saying that the Flyers are aware of the success they have had in that vein to this point, though the NHL trade market this year largely favors sellers, and the Flyers are trying to buy, not sell.

Among the Flyers' top trade chips are their glut of wingers and veteran defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen (the Ducks have no RHD under contract for the 2026-27 season), though it is unclear how valuable those pieces are relative to the market right now.

As for the Rangers, it is assumed that 24-year-old right-shot defenseman Braden Schneider, a pending RFA, could be one such target for the Ducks as they attempt to take McTavish off the market.

Like the Flyers, the Rangers and Ducks have an open dialogue for trade talks, too.

This time last year, longtime Rangers forward Chris Kreider was a new face joining the Ducks, and Jacob Trouba was traded for Urho Vaakanainen and a 2025 fourth-round pick in Dec. 2024.

Ultimately, it may come down to the Rangers' trade offer appealing to the Ducks more, whatever it includes, whereas the Flyers seem content staying out of any trade scenarios that they would clearly lose on paper.

The Rangers are set to make more than one pick during Day 1 of the NHL draft Friday for the first time since they won the lottery in 2020. 

With 11 total selections over the next two days, the Blueshirts interviewed upwards of 70 players at the NHL combine earlier this month for what could be the organization’s largest draft class in more than two decades. 

Fifth overall was the lowest the Rangers could’ve drawn in this year’s draft lottery after finishing tied for the third-worst points percentage in the NHL. Replenishing their prospect cupboard must be a priority in this retool. The first pick they make should be of consequence next season. 

Chase Reid impressed many teams in more ways than one, including the Rangers. One source compared the Michigan State commit’s personality and demeanor to Matthew Schaefer, the first overall pick last year by the Islanders who captured the hearts of all hockey fans on and off the ice. 

If Reid falls to No. 5, the Rangers will likely pounce, but there is no guarantee he will still be available at that point. 

While some predict the Canucks will take Caleb Malhotra at No. 3, having his father, Manny, serve as head coach may be more of a deterrent than an incentive. Still, most projections have Malhotra going within the first four selections. 

Even if Malhotra is available for the Rangers, word is they are higher on other players. 

The more likely skaters to still be options at No. 5 are a trio of defensemen: Keaton Verhoeff, Carson Carels and Alberts Smits. Scouts say the 6-foot-3, 209-pound Smits is one of the most NHL-ready blueliners available in the draft, which should be enticing to the Rangers. 

Verhoeff was the youngest defenseman in college hockey this past season and turned 18 just last week, but the righty shot is lauded for his presence and quiet confidence. In his freshman season at the University of North Dakota, Verhoeff was a top four defenseman, quarterbacked the power play and was one of the team’s leaders in ice time. 

“I was really impressed with his ability to compete physically,” UND head coach Dane Jackson told The Post in a recent phone interview. “And then also his ability to adapt and figure out and adapt his game to probably just be a little more efficient and move pucks a little bit quicker than he had to in junior hockey.” 

Committed to UND for the 2026-27 season, Carels put up 20 goals and 73 points in 58 games with the Prince George Cougars of the Western Hockey League. 

The left-handed defenseman grew up working on his family farm just outside of Cypress River in Manitoba, Canada. Concerns over his ability to flourish in an overwhelming city like New York are warranted and will likely be taken into consideration, but he is said to have a well-rounded two-way game already that could outweigh any apprehension. 

“I think Carson’s got a real edge to his game,” Jackson said. “Kind of an old-school type of physicality and kind of hardness that he competes with. Those are always nice defensemen to have in front of your net when you have guys that are punishing the opposition.” 

The New York Rangers could be on the way to making their first trade of the offseason. 

According to NHL insider Frank Seravalli, the Rangers have engaged in advanced discussions on a trade for Mason McTavish with the Anaheim Ducks. 

The Ducks are reportedly weighing offers from the Rangers and St. Louis Blues, according to NHL insider Pierre Lebrun.

According to Vincent Mercogliano of The Athletic, Vincent Trocheck isn’t involved in the trade offer. 

It’s unclear if the fifth overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft or Braden Schneider is involved in the trade. 

MacTavish, a 23-year-old center, is coming off a season with the Ducks in which he recorded 17 goals, 24 assists, and 41 points in 75 games, while averaging 15:19 minutes. 

It’s never too early to start thinking about next hockey season.

Sure, the Stanley Cup Final ended less than two weeks ago, and the new league year has yet to arrive, but that doesn’t mean we can’t start looking ahead to when NHL players will be back on the ice battling one another.

On Thursday, the Florida Panthers announced their 4-game 2026 preseason schedule.

Unlike in past years, the NHL shrunk its preseason schedule to just four games to accommodate for the league expanding the regular season schedule to 84 games.

What that means for the Panthers is that they will be facing only two teams in those four games, and since both are geographically close to the Cats, there is quite a bit of familiarity with each of them.

Florida’s preseason slate will begin on Sunday, Sept. 20 when they host the Carolina Hurricanes at Amerant Bank Anena.

Two nights later, the Panthers will travel up to Raleigh for a rematch with the Canes at Lenovo Center.

Later that week, Florida will make a stop at Benchmark International Arena for a matchup with the Tampa Bay Lightning on Thursday night.

The Panthers will then wrap up their exhibition slate against the Lightning back in Sunrise on Saturday, Sept. 26.

As many of you will recall, the Panthers and Lightning wrapped up the 2025 preseason by facing each other three consecutive games; one in Orlando, one in Tampa and one in Sunrise.

After a fairly mild first night in Orlando, things went a little bonkers during the final two games.

During the second-to-last game in Tampa, the Panthers and Lightning combined for 186 penalty minutes.

That might seem like a lot, but then two nights later in Sunrise the Cats and Bolts took things up a few notches, ultimately being called for an eye-popping 322 penalty minutes throughout the course of the evening.

We’ll see if we get any kind of a repeat performance this year, but the schedule-makers sure put the bitter rivals in a position to continue their penalty box-filling tradition.

The full schedule can be seen below:

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Photo caption: Oct 2, 2025; Tampa, Florida, USA; Florida Panthers center Luke Kunin (71) and Tampa Bay Lightning center Jack Finley (62) lock up in the third period at Benchmark International Arena. (Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images)

According to NHL insider Pierre LeBrun, the Montreal Canadiens called the New York Islanders with interest in forward Bo Horvat.

The Islanders said no. 

Insider Trading: Rielly still available for trade after shift in tone from LeafsTSN's Hockey Insiders have the latest on the possibility of a Morgan Rielly trade, the holdup on the Jets moving Connor Hellebuyck, a pair of Canadian teams that could be potential fits for Mason Marchment, Zach Werenski's future in Columbus, and more.

Horvat, who is entering the fourth season of an eight-year deal worth $8.5 million annually, is the Islanders' No. 1 defenseman who has a full no-trade clause and no interest in leaving town.

#Isles have zero interest in trading Bo Horvat.

Believe MTL called last summer.

Think it's quite clear with Pete DeBoer aboard that NYI isn't looking to move its top talent, who is in their prime.

Teams can call, though. https://t.co/nA6UwRzfgi

— Stefen Rosner (@stefen_rosner) June 26, 2026

The 31-year-old recorded 57 points (31 goals, 26 assists) in 68 games last season, missing time with a lower-body injury.