Among the handful of new names that fans of the Detroit Red Wings could be seeing a lot of in the coming season is defenseman Jacob Bernard-Docker, who was signed to a one-year contract by GM Steve Yzerman.

Bernard-Docker played for both the Ottawa Senators and Buffalo Sabres last season, and already has 144 games of NHL experience under his belt. And he's already looking forward to adding to his total with the Red Wings. 

"There's a lot of potential there, and it's a team on the right trajectory," he said. "I'm super excited to go in there and show what I got and hopefully be a contributor."

Bookmark The Hockey News Detroit Red Wings team site to stay connected to the latest news, game-day coverage, and player features. 

Bernard-Docker drew parallels between the young, rising core of players he suited up alongside with in Ottawa and Buffalo as part of the reason behind his excitement. 

"In a way it's a similar group to where I was in Ottawa, with a real good young core, Buffalo had a real good core," he said. "They're (Detroit) on that edge of breaking out. There's a lot of real good players on the team.

"I'm just pretty pumped about the fit there."

JACOB BERNARD-DOCKER SCORES AGAINST HIS OLD TEAM

HIS FIRST AS A SABRE

ONLY #24 TO SCORE TONIGHT

SABRES TIE IT AT 2 pic.twitter.com/XrIgv7DVQM

— Crossing Swords ⚔️ (@CrossSwordsPod) March 26, 2025

Bernard-Docker will be competing for a roster spot in Training Camp with Justin Holl and Albert Johansson, the latter of which emerged as a reliable option by playing in 61 games in his rookie season.

An area of play for the Red Wings that he can help improve is the penalty killing, which was in danger of being the lowest ranked in NHL history at one point in late 2024 and ultimately finished 32nd overall at just 70.1 percent. 

"That's one area where I was really looking to develop and show kind of how I played in the minors and, maybe I haven't showed as much as I'd like to in the NHL yet," Bernard-Docker said. "It's an area that I really think is a strong part of my game. I'm willing to block shots and I'm pretty good on my stick, areas that I'd really like to show."

Selected by the Senators in the 2018 NHL Draft with the 26th overall pick, Bernard-Docker enjoyed a breakout season in 2023-24, appearing in 72 games and scoring four goals with 10 assists. But a high-ankle sprain earlier this year in January derailed his season, causing him to miss several weeks.

He was then traded to the Sabres along with Josh Norris in the deal that brought Dylan Cozens to the Senators on March 7. In the 15 games he played in a Buffalo uniform, he scored a goal while adding three assists. 

 Never miss a story by adding us to your Google News favorites!

Sharks sign winger Jeff Skinner to one-year, $3M contract in NHL free agency originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Editor’s note: Sheng Peng is a regular contributor to NBC Sports California’s Sharks coverage. You can read more of his coverage on San Jose Hockey Now, listen to him on the San Jose Hockey Now Podcast, and follow him on Twitter at @Sheng_Peng.

The Jose Sharks have added a pure scorer.

15-year NHL veteran Jeff Skinner is joining the Sharks on a one-year, $3 million contract.

The 33-year-old left winger is a six-time 30-goal scorer, topping out at 40 in the 2018-19 NHL season.

Even in reduced playing time, a career-low 13:00 a night, with the Stanley Cup Final-bound Edmonton Oilers last year, Skinner still managed 16 goals.

Oilers, ranked by 5v5 goals/hour last season:

1. Leon Draisaitl 1.17
2. Zach Hyman 1.06
3. Jeff Skinner 1.01

One of these guys is presumably available to 32 teams at a modest cap hit…

— Jonathan Willis (@JonathanWillis) July 4, 2025

So there’s no doubt that the 5-foot-11 left-handed sniper can still fill the net.

Read the full article on San Jose Hockey now

Download and follow the San Jose Hockey Now podcast

Despite the Vancouver Canucks locking down their main core during free agency, many former players — who had moved on from the team by the 2024–25 season — ended up signing new deals elsewhere. Here’s a recap of where former Canucks who were not part of the 2024–25 roster ended up signing. 

Ethan Bear 

Bear spent one season with the Canucks after being traded by the Carolina Hurricanes alongside Lane Pederson. In this time, he scored three goals and 13 assists in 61 games played. On July 1, 2025, Bear signed a one-year, $775K contract with the New York Islanders. 

Anthony Beauvillier

Beauvillier was acquired by Vancouver in 2023 as part of the trade that sent former captain Bo Horvat to the Islanders. A Canuck for 55 games, Beauvillier scored 11 goals and 17 assists in his time with Vancouver. He ended up with the Washington Capitals after a couple of trades and signed a two-year, $2.75M AAV contract with the team this off-season. 

Travis Boyd

Claimed off of waivers by the Canucks back in March of 2021, Boyd played in 19 games for Vancouver and scored two goals. After, he spent three seasons with the Arizona Coyotes and one with the Minnesota Wild before signing a one-year contract with the team that put him on waivers, the Toronto Maple Leafs. 

Justin Dowling

Dowling signed a two-year contract with Vancouver back in 2021, spending the bulk of his time with the Abbotsford Canucks. He headed to the New Jersey Devils shortly after, and just recently signed a two-year, $775K AAV deal with the New York Rangers. 

Adam Gaudette

Gaudette was selected 149th overall by Vancouver in the 2015 NHL Draft and remained with the team up until 2021, when he was traded to the Chicago Blackhawks. He had a breakout season with the Ottawa Senators this year, scoring 19 goals in 81 games. On July 1, he signed a two-year, $2M AAV contract with the San Jose Sharks. 

Matthew Highmore

Speaking of the Gaudette trade, the return piece for Vancouver was none other than Highmore. The forward spent 64 games with the Canucks and scored eight goals and nine assists in this span of time. After stints with the Senators and the St. Louis Blues, Highmore signed a one-year contract worth $775K with the Islanders. 

Curtis Lazar

Vancouver signed Lazar, who is from Salmon Arm, BC, to a three-year deal back in 2022. He was traded to the Devils after 45 games and played out the remainder of this contract with New Jersey. He signed a one-year deal at $775K with the Edmonton Oilers during the 2025 free agency period. 

Tanner Pearson

For a good chunk of Vancouver’s transitional period from the Sedin era to now, Pearson was a big part of the locker room. He was traded to the Canucks in 2019 and departed from the team in 2023. After a season each with the Montréal Canadiens and the Vegas Golden Knights, Pearson signed a one-year contract with the Winnipeg Jets. 

Latest From THN’s Vancouver Canucks Site: 

Vancouver Canucks 2024-25 Report Card: Brock Boeser

Vancouver Canucks Sign Aleksei Medvedev To A Three-Year, Entry Level Contract

Five Years Of Vancouver Canucks Free Agency Moves

Lane Pederson

Pederson’s time with Vancouver only lasted 11 games (and 18 in Abbotsford), but the forward still managed to score a goal and two assists. During the 2025 free agency period, he signed a one-year contract with the Philadelphia Flyers valued at $775K.  

Derrick Pouliot

Pouliot hasn’t worn a Canucks jersey since 2019, as the team let go of him in the free agency period of that season. In 133 games played with Vancouver, he scored six goals and 28 assists. He has played for five different teams since leaving Vancouver, and could be suiting up for his sixth after signing a one-year, $775K contract with the Rangers. 

Nate Schmidt

A Stanley Cup champion after the Florida Panthers’ second consecutive victory, Schmidt signed a three-year contract worth $3.5M per year with the Utah Mammoth. In his lone season with Vancouver, he potted five goals and 10 assists. 

Riley Stillman

Acquired by the Canucks after trading Jason Dickinson, Stillman played 32 games with Vancouver before being flipped to the Buffalo Sabres in exchange for prospect Josh Bloom. He spent the 2024–25 season with the Hurricanes and will take on a depth role in Edmonton after signing a two-year, $775K AAV contract with the Oilers. 

Jack Studnicka

Studnicka found his way to the Canucks after being traded by the Boston Bruins for Michael DiPietro and Jonathan Myrenberg in 2022. Vancouver dealt him to the Sharks the season after , though he remained in California a year past that after signing a deal with the Los Angeles Kings in 2024. By signing a one-year, $775K contract with Florida in 2025, he’ll be a part of the Panthers organization for the 2025–26 season. 

Make sure you bookmark THN's Vancouver Canucks site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, be sure to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum.

The Detroit Red Wings have made a handful of additions to their roster in preparations for the upcoming 2025-26 NHL season, but is GM Steve Yzerman content to go into the new campaign as currently constructed? 

Detroit did pick up depth pieces on both offense and defense, signing forwards James van Riemsdyk, Mason Appleton and John Leanard along with defensemen Ian Mitchell and Jacob Bernard-Docker. 

They also shored things up in the crease, acquiring goaltender John Gibson from the Anaheim Ducks in exchange for Petr Mrazek. 

While their goaltending situation appears to be more stable than it was at this point last offseason, the Red Wings still have a pressing need both up front and on the back end. 

A bona fide offensive threat who can play in the top-six of Detroit's forward units along with a top-four defenseman is still at the top of the Red Wings' wish list, but with just about every impactful free agent no longer available, they will have to explore trade possibilities if they are to make either position need a reality. 

Bookmark The Hockey News Detroit Red Wings team site to stay connected to the latest news, game-day coverage, and player features. 

Unfortunately, Yzerman said that he never had a chance to so much as speak to top free agents who were already either re-signed or traded by their respective teams. 

"We were were certainly open to it," Yzerman said. "The guys that we were hoping to talk to all signed before free agency with their clubs, or got traded. In the case of Mitch Marner, we didn't even get an opportunity to talk to these guys. There's not much you can do about that."

Florida Panthers defenseman Aaron Ekblad, whom the Red Wings were said to have interest in, ultimately re-signed with the team, as did both Sam Bennett and Brad Marchand. That was also the case with Ivan Provorov, who re-signed with the Columbus Blue Jackets. 

Nikolaj Ehlers, formerly of the Winnipeg Jets, signed with the Carolina Hurricanes, while Mason Marchment, formerly of the Dallas Stars, was traded to the Seattle Kraken. 

Additionally, defenseman Noah Dobson was traded from the New York Islanders to the Montreal Canadiens, while Vladislav Gavrikov signed with the New York Rangers. What's more, K'Andre Miller was traded from the Rangers to the Carolina Hurricanes, and subsequently signed to a an eight-year contract. 

The good news for the Red Wings, who still have around $12 million of available cap space, can still make a trade for an impact player that would significantly increase their favorability of ending their postseason drought.

Names like Jason Robertson, Bryan Rust, and Kyle Connor have all been discussed as potential targets for the Red Wings up front, while Rasmus Andersson and Erik Karlsson have been named potential possibilities for the blue line. 

While there are over two months between now and the start of Training Camp in mid-September, Yzerman made it clear that he's leaving the door open to the potential of a trade before then.

"We're going to wait and see if any opportunities arise," Yzerman said. "We'll certainly explore. I know there's a couple of teams that are looking to move some people for various reasons, depending on where they're at or what they need to do.

"I think there's a couple that have to do a few things in relation to the cap, but for the most part, everybody's still got a lot of cap space."

 Never miss a story by adding us to your Google News favorites!

The Pittsburgh Penguins weaponized their salary cap space this week. 

On Thursday, the Penguins acquired veteran defenseman Matt Dumba and a second-round draft pick in 2028 from the Dallas Stars in exchange for depth blueliner Vladislav Kolyachonok. 

The reality of the Stars’ cap situation necessitated this deal, as Dallas was over the cap with Dumba’s $3.75-million cap hit. But after dumping Dumba’s last year of his contract onto Pittsburgh, the Stars have $1.95 million in cap space – enough to eventually add another depth veteran or accrue space ahead of a bigger acquisition during the season.

On Pittsburgh’s end, Penguins GM Kyle Dubas still has about $13 million in cap space after acquiring Dumba. In theory, at least, the Penguins had a roster spot open for a defenseman after veteran Matt Grzelcyk hit the UFA market this summer. 

Dumba’s best days are behind him, as he posted only nine assists and 10 points in 63 regular-season games, and in the playoffs, Dumba was a healthy scratch.

Clearly, there was no future in Dallas for Dumba, just one year after signing a two-year contract last summer. Dubas recognized that fact and stepped in to offer cap relief at the cost of a second-rounder – not an insignificant pick by any means.

Given where the Penguins are in their competitive cycle, they could afford to take on Dumba’s contract and give their amateur scouts an additional swing at the plate three years from now. By that point, the Stars may have fallen in the standings, setting up the second-round pick to be relatively high.

Those are exactly the type of deals that other teams like the Penguins can make. 

For instance, the Chicago Blackhawks retained $2.5 million of defenseman Seth Jones’ contract in each of the next five seasons when they sent him to the Florida Panthers around the trade deadline. That deal might not have happened otherwise, and they got Spencer Knight and a first-round pick as a result. 

Chicago also traded Joe Veleno to the Seattle Kraken for Andre Burakovsky. His $5.5-million cap hit was more than double Veleno’s cap hit, but he scored 37 points this past season, compared to Veleno’s 17.

The Anaheim Ducks used some of their space to eat goaltender Petr Mrazek’s $4.25-million cap hit when sending John Gibson to the Detroit Red Wings. That sweetened the pot in getting a deal done and giving the Ducks a second-round pick in 2027 and a fourth-rounder in 2026.

The Ducks could still weaponize their cap space in case other NHL teams have bloated contracts they want to clear. Anaheim still has about $28.9 million in cap space. Their Pacific Division rival, the San Jose Sharks, have $20.5 million in space after signing Jeff Skinner on Friday and trading for Ryan Reaves on Thursday. Their lineup has started to come into focus, but nothing should stop them from getting more assets by eating a contract as well.

This is how the NHL’s food chain operates in the cap era: different teams are at different points in their competitive trajectories, and not every team needs to spend to the cap ceiling – or anywhere close to it, for that matter. Teams like the Penguins, Ducks, Blackhawks and Sharks can justify absorbing bad contracts when it results in them being able to stockpile picks and prospects to address their long-term needs. 

Even as the cap ceiling rises this season and in the foreseeable future, there will always be NHL teams needing to clear space and other squads looking to capitalize on that. It’s the way the system pushes teams, and it’s not going to change anytime soon.

Get the latest news and trending stories by following The Hockey News on Google News and by subscribing to The Hockey News newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com.

On this day in 2013, New Jersey Devils right winger Ilya Kovalchuk announced his retirement from the NHL. At the time, Kovalchuk still had 12 years and $77 million remaining on his contract.

Kovalchuk was acquired by the Devils on February 4, 2010, and became a free agent that July. On July 19, 2010, the Devils signed him to a landmark 17-year, $102 million deal, the largest contract in NHL history at the time.

But the deal didn’t come without controversy. The NHL rejected the contract, ruling it violated the league’s salary cap structure. The league argued the deal was designed to circumvent the cap by extending well into Kovalchuk’s 40s at a lower salary to reduce the average annual value.

As a result, the Devils were penalized with a $3 million fine and the forfeiture of a first-round pick. Although the league later allowed the team to retain a first-round selection, ultimately awarding them the 30th overall pick in the 2014 NHL Draft, the penalty marked a significant moment in NHL contract history.

Fans are comparing Kovalchuk's contract to Florida Panthers’ Brad Marchand, who just signed a six-year $31 million contract. Marchand’s contract was not rejected by the NHL, but raised similar concerns over his age. 

Following the NHLPA’s appeal, the original contract was voided. The Devils and Kovalchuk then agreed to a revised 15-year, $100 million deal, which was approved by the NHL in September 2010.

Twelve years later, the hockey world still reflects on what could have been. Had Kovalchuk honored the full length of his contract, it would still be active today, set to expire in a little under two months (as of July 11, 2025).

Instead, in a stunning move during the 2013 offseason, Kovalchuk announced his retirement from the NHL at just 30 years old. He then signed with SKA St. Petersburg of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL), where he continued his career for several years.

In 2018, the 2001 first overall draft pick made his NHL return, playing four more seasons with the Kings, Canadiens, and Capitals before stepping away once again.

Today marks the 12th anniversary of Kovalchuk walking away from the Devils and one of the most ambitious contracts in league history. It’s wild to imagine a 42-year-old Kovalchuk skating alongside Jack Hughes, Nico Hischier, and Jake Allen in today’s lineup.

Since Kovalchuk’s departure in 2013, the Devils have posted a record of 414–410–121 and are 7–15 in playoff games. His early exit marked the end of a chapter in New Jersey Devils history.

Photo Credit: © Ed Mulholland-Imagn Images

Pittsburgh Penguins general manager and president of hockey operations Kyle Dubas was busy on the trade market again on Thursday, sending defenseman Vladislav Kolyachonok to the Dallas Stars in exchange for fellow defenseman Matt Dumba and a 2028 second-round pick. 

The Stars were over the salary cap at the time of the trade and had been looking for a team to take Dumba off their hands. He has one year left on his contract and will make $3.75 million this upcoming season. The Penguins easily absorbed that contract because they had over $15 million in cap space going into the trade. 

If the Penguins were still trying to win, this move would be a headscratcher, but that's not where they are right now. They are in transparent rebuild mode and have been since they traded Jake Guentzel to the Carolina Hurricanes before the 2024 NHL trade deadline. They've been stockpiling assets over the last year and a half and now have 29 picks over the subsequent three drafts, including 17 in the first three rounds. They may not even use that 2028 second-rounder that they got with Dumba and could package it for a young player when the time is right. 

All of their moves throughout this offseason so far indicate that they don't care that much about the 2025-26 season. They see how good the 2026 NHL Draft is and could be in line to get a high pick, especially if they trade at least two of Erik Karlsson, Bryan Rust, and Rickard Rakell. They are asking for good returns on all three, and so far, no team has been willing to meet their price. Karlsson feels like the most likely to go right now since there's a bit of a logjam on the right side with him, Kris Letang, Connor Clifton, Dumba, and Harrison Brunicke waiting in the wings. 

Speaking of Dumba, he played in 63 games for the Stars during the 2024-25 season, finishing with one goal and 10 points. He was healthy for the playoffs but got scratched in all of their playoff games. That's telling, considering the Stars had Cody Ceci, Ilya Lyubushkin, and even Alex Petrovic logging big minutes on their blue line. 

Dumba is only 30, but the fall-off in his game has been drastic. Throughout his career, he has been a player who can drive offense and bring some snarl, but the offense has dried up over the last few seasons. The last time he finished with more than 25 points in a season was during the 2021-22 season when he compiled seven goals and 27 points in 57 games with the Minnesota Wild. Dumba has also been below 50% in shot attempts per 60 minutes in six of his last seven seasons and has an expected goal share below 50% in four consecutive seasons. 

He spent 10 seasons with the Wild before bouncing to the Arizona Coyotes (now Utah Mammoth), Tampa Bay Lightning, Dallas Stars, and now the Penguins. The Penguins will attempt to get him back on track a little so that they can try to flip him at the 2026 trade deadline. That means likely starting him on the third pairing and potentially moving him up to the second pairing to "showcase" him to other teams.

It's somewhat similar to when they signed defenseman Matt Grzelcyk to a one-year deal in free agency last year, aiming to "rehab" his game. Yes, he didn't get dealt to a contender at the deadline, but they still wanted to showcase him as much as possible in a top-four role at 5v5 and on the top power-play unit. The Penguins will likely rely on one of Karlsson (if he's not traded) or Letang to quarterback the top unit since Dumba only has a little over 65 power-play minutes over the last three seasons. He used to compile well over 100 PP minutes with the Wild before his game started to fade. Dumba may get a little bit of time on the second PP unit this season, but that's about it. 

The Penguins will "try" to get some of Dumba's 5v5 offense going a bit again to pair with the snarl and physicality that he has brought to the table throughout his career. They want to get a bit bigger, meaner, and tougher to play against after looking a little soft in front of their net last season. 

The Dumba deal isn't a trade that will "wow" anyone, but it provides the Penguins with another body for the right side of their defense and a good future asset that they don't necessarily have to retain. They are also set up to gain more future assets at next year's deadline, as Dumba is one of several players who don't have a contract beyond this season, including Connor Clifton, Kevin Hayes, Anthony Mantha, Blake Lizotte, Noel Acciari, Connor Dewar, and Danton Heinen. In other words, the rebuild is proceeding as planned. 

(Data via Natural Stat Trick). 

---

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

Featured Image Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

The Hockey Show returned on Friday for the first episode of the offseason.

This week, hosts Roy Bellamy and David Dwork starting off by reviewing their Rescue Paws fundraising drive, which raised $300 over the course of the postseason.

Before getting into the meat of the show, the boys played a viral video of former NHL enforcer Nick Tarnasky begrudgingly getting into a fight with a drunk man on the golf course.

Joining The Hockey Show this week is Florida Panthers radio color commentator and NHL Network analyst Bill Lindsay.

He spoke about the difference between experiencing Florida’s first Stanley Cup win last season and then going through the run to their second straight title this year.

The boys also asked Billy about Panthers GM Bill Zito missing out again on the GM of the Year award, Florida’s moves in the offseason to re-sign all their big free agents and his favorite nicknames from during his playing days.

Additionally, this week’s wins and fails of the week included Roy re-upping on his hatred for the New York Islanders over their re-signing of defenseman Tony DeAngelo, some amazing audio from goaltender Alex Lyon after he signed with the Buffalo Sabres and Sam Bennett breaking out the Panthers goal song at his wedding earlier this month.

You can check out the full show in the video below:

LATEST STORIES FROM THE HOCKEY NEWS - FLORIDA

'You don't feel bad for anybody': Matthew Tkachuk speaks on future Stanley Cup motivation, love for South Florida

Blackhawks Third Overall Pick Compares His Game To Panthers Captain

Examining Brad Marchand contract with Panthers amid cap circumvention complaints

What Does Mackie Samoskevich's Future Look Like With The Panthers?

Panthers preparing for another summer with Stanley Cup

The NHL free agency market grew remarkably thin after the initial rush of signings in the opening week. One of the more prominent names unsigned was former Buffalo Sabre Jeff Skinner, but the veteran winger found a home on Friday, signing a one-year, $3 million contract with the San Jose Sharks.  

The 33-year-old was bought out of the final three years of his eight-year, $72 million contract last June and quickly signed a one-year, $3 million deal with the Edmonton Oilers. Skinner was thought to be an option for the Oilers in their top-six playing alongside either Leon Draisaitl or Connor McDavid with another former Sabre Evander Kane expected out for the entire regular season.  

Other Sabres Stories

Byram Situation Leaves Sabres In Limbo

Six Former Sabres Who Signed Elsewhere

The former 40-goal scorer was relegated mostly to a bottom-six role last season and scored 16 goals during the regular season and one goal in five games in his first Stanley Cup Playoff action. The Oilers did not show much interest in bringing back Skinner even after trading Kane to Vancouver Viktor Arvidsson to Boston, and losing Corey Perry and Connor Brown in free agency,    choosing instead to re-sign Trent Frederic and Kasperi Kapanen, and add Andrew Mangiapane and Curtis Lazar as UFA’s.

The Sharks are at best a longshot to make the playoffs and since July 1 have been more focused on adding veterans on short-term deals to get to the cap floor and establish a support structure around youngsters Macklin Celebrini and Will Smith. GM Mike Grier signed defenseman Dmitri Orlov to a two-year deal, John Klingberg to a one-year deal, and claimed Nick Leddy off of waivers from St. Louis, adding $14.5 million in salary. 

If Skinner has a productive season playing in the Sharks top-six, his contract will be easily movable at next season’s trade deadline. 

   

Follow Michael on X, Instagram, and Bluesky @MikeInBuffalo

Former Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Isaak Phillips will be staying put with the Winnipeg Jets.

The Jets have announced that they have signed Phillips to a two-year, two-way contract. Starting next season, Phillips will have a $812,500 cap hit at the NHL level with the Jets.

We've signed defenceman Isaak Phillips to a two-year contract ✍️ pic.twitter.com/KTY0Uqva3R

— Winnipeg Jets (@NHLJets) July 11, 2025

Phillips, 23, was traded by the Blackhawks to the Jets back in January in exchange for defenseman Dmitry Kuzmin. Following this, Phillips played in 39 games with the Jets' AHL affiliate, the Manitoba Moose, where he posted three goals and eight points.

Phillips was selected by the Blackhawks with the 141st overall pick of the 2020 NHL Entry Draft. In 56 games over four seasons with the Blackhawks, Phillips posted two goals, 10 assists, 12 points, 31 penalty minutes, and 89 hits. He also played in three games during the 2024-25 season with the Blackhawks before being traded to the Jets, where he scored a goal and threw three hits. 

Phillips also recorded one goal, eight points, 54 penalty minutes, and a plus-8 rating in 28 games this past season with the Rockford IceHogs before being traded to Winnipeg. 

Now, after signing this new contract with the Jets, Phillips will look to continue to improve his game. It will be interesting to see if he can earn a spot on the Jets' NHL roster next season from here. 

Former Blackhawks Goalie Signs With New TeamFormer Chicago Blackhawks goalie Collin Delia is taking his talents overseas.

Photo Credit: © Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

It came as good news for any hockey fan that the negotiations for the new CBA between the NHL and the NHLPA went so smoothly that they were able to ratify it a year before it even came into force. No strike, no lockout nonsense, just uninterrupted hockey for the next five years (the last year of the current CBA and the four years of the new one).

But amongst the highlights of the new deal is a disposition which could have a significant impact on one Montreal Canadiens player. From the 2026-27 season, the NHL teams will be playing 84 games rather than 82 like they have been for some time now, this means the Habs will be playing 166 games in the next two seasons. That’s the exact number of games Brendan Gallagher needs to reach the all-important 1,000 games milestone.

Canadiens: Zach Bolduc Speaks To The Media
Huberdeau Speaks Highly Of The Canadiens
Canadiens Now Have Goalie Battle To Watch

The alternate captain has two seasons left on his six-year, $6.5 million AAV contract. Although some fans were once critical of his contract, hoping it would be bought out, his recent season has appeased the masses, as he played all 82 games and scored 38 points.

It was the first time since the 2018-19 season that he managed to play all 82 games of the season, and on top of that, 21 of his 38 points were goals. It had been a long time since he reached the 20-goal mark; in fact, the last occurrence was in 2019-20, when he put up 22 goals in a 59-game Covid-shortened season.

The devoted veteran has now played 834 games with the Sainte-Flanelle, and if he manages to stay healthy and isn’t traded or bought out, he could finish his contract having played exactly 1,000 games all wearing the Bleu, Blanc, Rouge.

ALL 21 BRENDAN GALLAGHER GOALS OF THE 2024-25 SEASON! 21 BUTS!Brendan Gallagher had a remarkable bounce back season. He got himself back up the 20 goal mark, hitting 21 total. Here's a compilation of all 21 goals he sco...

It would be a fitting end for the man who was fifth in team scoring this past season and third in goals scored. Not so long ago, I would have laughed at the suggestion that Gallagher could play a full season with his injury track record, but he did manage to do it this past season, so it’s not out of the realm of possibility.

It would be hard not to be happy for the veteran if he did reach the 1,000-game milestone, after all, the odds were hardly in his favour. A fifth-round pick and 147th selection overall at the 2010 draft, who was only 5-foot-9, most counted him out without knowing anything about him, but straight from his first training camp, two things were obvious: he was playing like a player much bigger than he was, and his determination was without limit.

The alternate captain has stuck with the Habs through highs and lows and never wanted to move elsewhere. This season, he climbed his way into the Canadiens’ record book and reached several milestones. His 834 games with the Sainte-Flanelle are the 20th most games played in the storied uniform, with 239 career goals, he is the 15th most prolific goal scorer in franchise history (and that’s a long history), his 225 assists are the 39th highest total. His 464 points are the 27th highest total.

Only five players have played 1,000 games with the Canadiens: Henri Richard (1,258), Larry Robinson (1,202), Bob Gainey (1,160), Jean Beliveau (1,125), and Claude Provost (1,005). That’s some pretty elite company, and for everything he has accomplished on the ice, Gallagher is deserving of joining it. For that to happen, though, everything will need to play out perfectly. It would be agonizing for fans to see Gallagher’s career come to an end just short of the milestone. Think of how many of them still mention Andrei Markov’s 990 games and the way he fell just short…

Photo credit:  Douglas DeFelice-Imagn Images

---

Canadiens stories, analysis, breaking news, and more! Tap the star to add us to your favorites on Google News, never to miss a story.    

Bookmark The Hockey News Canadiens' page for all the news and happenings around the Canadiens.

Join the discussion by signing up to the Canadiens' roundtable on The Hockey News.

The Toronto Marlies are bringing back two more depth players.

The club announced on Friday afternoon that they've signed Cedric Pare and Sam Stevens each to one-year AHL contracts. Both players spent the entirety of last season with the Marlies, with Pare appearing in 59 games and Stevens appearing in 21 games.

Pare played a majority of his minutes as a center in Toronto's bottom six. In 59 games with the club, the 26-year-old scored 12 goals and 14 assists for 26 points, his second-highest total in the AHL since he turned pro.

The forward signed a one-year, $775,000 contract with the Maple Leafs last summer and became a restricted free agent on July 1. You might remember Pare because of his accidental knee-on-knee collision with Montreal Canadiens forward Patrik Laine during preseason last September, which forced the Finnish forward out for two months.

'The Honor Of A Lifetime': Matt Murray Reflects On Maple Leafs Tenure After Signing With Seattle KrakenMatt Murray will forever remember playing for the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Pare has 39 goals and 56 assists in 207 career AHL games over four seasons. The 2017 sixth-round pick by the Boston Bruins has yet to appear in an NHL game. Pare became a restricted free agent after Toronto didn't qualify him as a restricted free agent in June.

Stevens is also a center who spent most games down the middle of the Marlies' top six last season. AHL Toronto first signed the forward after his final season (2023-24) at Boston University, where he scored 17 points (10 goals, seven assists) in 40 games.

The 25-year-old scored two goals and two assists in 21 games with the Marlies this past season. In 142 games at Boston University, Stevens had 26 goals and 24 points. This is going to be the forward's second pro season.

Ranking Every NHL Arena's Media Meal Part 1: The Bottom 8 Revealed (Nos. 25–32)As I write this, I feel blessed that I get to travel as often as I do. And while on the road covering the Toronto Maple Leafs, I like to see what every city has to offer in terms of restaurants, amenities, etc.

It's been a busy couple of days for the Marlies, who revealed their regular season schedule on Thursday and made a significant number of AHL signings earlier in the week. Toronto signed Gunnarwolfe Fontaine, Ben King, and Nick Rheaume to one-year AHL contracts, while also re-signing Marko Sikic and defenceman Ryan McCleary to one-year deals on Tuesday.

The Marlies also signed former Marlie Marc Johnstone to a two-year AHL contract, Ken Appleby to a one-year contract, and re-signed Reese Johnson. Toronto's regular season begins on the road on October 10 against the Rochester Americans.

(Top photo of Pare: Thomas Skrlj / Toronto Marlies)

St. Louis Blues prospect Justin Carbonneau, the No. 19 pick in the 2025 NHL Draft, has made his choice and it's a familiar one.

The forward has decided to return to the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League and play for Blainville-Boisbriand Armada next season.

The 18-year-old, who was with the Blues for prospect camp last week and made terrific impressions on team management, coaches and notably, the fans, was contemplating a choice between a return to the QMJHL or to play college hockey at Boston College.

He made his choice on Friday, announced by the Armada:

Ça, ça commence bien le week-end 😎🎱#LeFuturEstMaintenant⚡️ pic.twitter.com/XNq2GcfBa2

— ArmadaBLB (@ArmadaBLB) July 11, 2025

Carbonneau, who had 89 points (46 goals, 53 assists) in 62 regular-season games last season, projects to play for a squad that will be among the favorites to win the QMJHL and potentially represent a side competing for the Memorial Cup.

He conferred with the Blues last week, but ultimately made the decision with his family that it was best to advance his playing career where he's familiar.

And by doing so, Carbonneau can attend Blues training camp in September, leaving the options open that there's at least a chance of being a player that can come in and steal an NHL job, or if not, he has that option of going to juniors, something that wouldn't have been available had he chosen the college route.

Should Carbonneau somehow made the opening night roster, the Blues can showcase him for nine NHL games before deciding whether he remains with the big club or heads to junior for the season, but it all depends on if he signs an entry-level contract. Stay tuned.

ST. PAUL, Minn - The Minnesota Wild issued a qualifying offer to forward Mikey Milne on July 1st. The Wild have now announced they have re-signed the forward to a one-year, two-way contract.

He will make $775,000 in the NHL and $100,000 in the American Hockey League (AHL) for the 2025-26 season.

Milne, 22, appeared in one NHL game for the Wild during the 2024-25 season. He played 6:34 of ice time and had three hits in a game against the Dallas Stars. 

The 5-foot-10 forward is a speedy and aggressive winger who was drafted in the second round of the 2022 NHL Draft. 

The native of Abbotsford, British Columbia, recorded 15 goals, 11 assists, and 26 points in 60 AHL games with the Iowa Wild last year. He had two power-play goals and one shorthanded goal. 

In three seasons with the Wild, Milne has 30 goals, 30 assists, 60 points and 90 penalty minutes in 157 career AHL games.

Other Wild News

Minnesota Wild Sign Forward Nicolas Aube-Kubel On A One-Year ContractST. PAUL, Minn - The Minnesota Wild announced a few free agent signings. They signed goaltender Cal Petersen along with forward Tyler Pitlick. They have also signed forward Nicolas Aube-Kubel.  Minnesota Wild Sign Forward Nico Sturm To A Two-Year DealST. PAUL, Minn - As previously written, Nico Sturm would be a perfect fit for the Minnesota Wild. The Wild have now announced they have signed the free agent to a two-year contract at $2 million AAV. Wild Issue Qualifying Offers To Marco Rossi, Michael Milne & Part Ways With Four PlayersST. PAUL, Minn - The Minnesota Wild announced qualifying offers for forwards Marco Rossi and Michael Milne. They did not make qualifying offers to Graeme Clarke, Adam Raska, Luke Toporowski, and Ryan O’Rourke.

Jack Eichel is yet to sign a contract extension just yet with the Vegas Golden Knights as questions about his future are beginning to be discussed. 

The growing speculation is that Eichel will sign a contract extension with the Golden Knights at some point, but if that were not to happen for whatever reason, the New York Rangers have been linked as potential destinations for the superstar. 

“I think other teams around the league are expecting it (Eichel contract extension with the Golden Knights) to get done,” ESPN’s Emily Kaplan said.

“I haven’t heard anything about Eichel not wanting to get it done, so my expectation that is something that gets done this summer, but we shall see, and if he does happen to say ‘oh wait, I would rather go play on the East Coast or maybe I’m not ready to make a decision yet,’ then obviously the Rangers would be very high on the list of teams he’d be interested in along with the Boston Bruins of course.”

According to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, Vegas is already working out what Eichel’s contract extension could look like. 

Rangers Finding A Way To Make It Work With Mika Zibanejad And Avoid NoiseWith the dust mostly settled, it appears as if Mika Zibanejad will return to the New York Rangers for the 2025-26 season.

Friedman also added that Eichel’s potential contract extension could be even more expensive than Mitch Marner’s new eight-year, $96 million contract. 

The Rangers have been rumored to have their eyes on some big-name players during the 2026 offseason.