The pickings are slim in this summer's free-agent market, particularly for top four defensemen. That has NHL teams seeking blueline depth returning to the trade market.

Bowen Byram remains the hot topic in recent media rumor chatter. Buffalo Sabres GM Kevyn Adams told reporters last week he'd match any offer sheet from a rival club. With the Sabres taking the 24-year-old RFA to arbitration, he's ineligible to sign an offer sheet.

The Sabres can still trade Byram before his arbitration hearing. Some observers feel the blueliner could be peddled for a top-six winger.

On Thursday, The Athletic's Jeremy Rutherford reported a league source claimed the St. Louis Blues were “trying hard” to get Byram. His colleague, Matthew Fairburn, reiterated that if Byram hits the trade block, the Sabres would want a return that immediately helps their roster.

Fairburn speculated that such a deal could contain multiple players, like the return they received from the Utah Mammoth for JJ Peterka last month. Fairburn also suggested the Sabres could package Byram with a pick or prospect to get a better player.

Rutherford and Fairburn also looked at what the Blues might have to give up to the Sabres to land Byram. They felt he could slot in on the right side of their second defense pairing to replace Justin Faulk if he were part of the return to the Sabres.

Faulk, 33, has two years left on his contract with an average annual value of $6.5 million and a 15-team no-trade list. If the Sabres are on his list, the Blues would have to find another trade partner to take him off their hands.

Both writers felt the Sabres would want a good young player (like Jake Neighbours) included in the deal.

Turning to the New York Rangers, Larry Brooks of the New York Postwondered why there hasn't been any news about a contract extension for Artemi Panarin. The 33-year-old left winger is in the final season of his contract and is UFA-eligible next July.

Brooks believes the Rangers can't let Panarin go. Since coming to New York in 2019, he's been the fourth-highest-scoring player in the NHL. Having him on the roster could also make the Blueshirts an enticing destination for future free agents. Brooks thinks Panarin might agree to a four-year extension.

Panarin could be keen to remain with the Rangers after this season. However, much will depend on their performance in the wake of GM Chris Drury's roster retooling efforts since December. Another disappointing season could prompt Panarin to take his talents elsewhere.

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Not so long ago, Alexander Romanov was wearing the Sainte-Flanelle, until one July evening in 2022, after two seasons, everything changed. The Montreal Canadiens had drafted a left-shot defenseman with the 38th pick overall at the 2018 draft, and at the time, the selection was considered a massive reach.

Four years on, however, New York Islanders’ GM Lou Lamoriello felt comfortable flipping his first-round pick to the Canadiens to obtain the gritty defenseman, and he didn’t have to regret it. Now, Lamoriello is gone, but coach Patrick Roy remains, and when Mathieu Darche was hired as GM, he wasted no time signing Romanov to a long-term deal.

Canadiens Ink Promising Goaltender To New Contract
An Intriguing New Player At Development Camp
Canadiens Prospect Signs With Blainville-Boisbriand

According to an exclusive interview with RG.org, the 25-year-old didn’t expect a long-term contract, certainly not one over six years, and yet he’s put pen to paper on an eight-year deal with an impressive $6.25 million cap hit.

The Russian blueliner is loving his life in New York and didn’t want to end up anywhere else. Given that he spent two years in Montreal, he was also asked if he had any advice for rookie Ivan Demidov, and he did have some words of wisdom for the Canadiens' most exciting offensive player in years.

In a nutshell, he advises Romanov to stay focused on his job, work hard, listen to his coaches, and tune out the distractions. Wise words from the rearguard who knows just how intense things can get in Montreal with knowledgeable and passionate fans.

So far, at least, it looks like Demidov is doing the right thing. He stayed in Montreal to work on his game this Summer, and he hasn't been spotted here and there partying. The videos that did make their way online were all about his working out at the Centre Sportif CN in Brossard.

Of course, there have been some social media posts about his beach holiday, the car he rented, and the fact that he attended Patrik Laine’s wedding, but nothing has been controversial or over the line. This upcoming weekend, he’ll be taking part in a showcase in Blainville-Boisbriand, a shootout contest, and next week, he’ll start playing in the LSHL, where fans can see him compete alongside Nick Suzuki, Alexander Carrier, and Joshua Roy.

So far, so good. Demidov seems to be focused entirely on becoming the best hockey player he can be. Still, Romanov adds that life should be good in Montreal for Demidov, as players in that market often receive freebies. He imagines that if your name is Ivan Demidov, almost everything will be free.

Photo credit: Eric Bolte-Imagn Images

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As Toronto Maple Leafs 2024 first-round pick Ben Danford finishes a battle drill at the organization's development camp, he receives a stick-tap from Jake Muzzin.

The 36-year-old, who moved into a development role with the Maple Leafs last summer after scouting for the 2022-23 season, has been working behind the scenes with Toronto's top defensive prospects this past season.

Muzzin would have calls nearly every week with prospects like Danford and 2023 sixth-round pick Noah Chadwick throughout the year, dissecting their game and, at times, texting them clips of plays from NHL games he was watching. He’d even come to Danford’s games, too.

"A couple times a month [I'd have calls with Muzzin]," Danford said in a one-on-one with The Hockey News Toronto on Friday.

"It was mostly just my kind of video, my shifts. If he would send me a text or something, it might be a clip of an NHL game on just that night. Maybe a D-man had a broken play and it turned into the other team scoring, like things you don’t want to see, so things like that.

"But when it was Zoom calls, it was just looking at my shifts, focusing on myself, really just watching me, how I can make my teammates better, plays I can do better, and stuff like that."

'He Always Wants To Be The Best': Why Tinus Luc Koblar Could Be Maple Leafs' Biggest Steal Of The 2025 NHL DraftA few weeks after being drafted by the Toronto Maple Leafs, Tinus Luc Koblar is soaking up his time in the city.

The 19-year-old Danford is coming off his third season with the OHL's Oshawa Generals, where he captained the club to the OHL Championship Final against Easton Cowan and the London Knights. Oshawa was able to steal one game from London before the Knights won the title and went on to win the Memorial Cup.

Cowan didn’t take to the ice during development camp, though when he spoke about Danford, he recalled how difficult it was to go up against him.

"Some people say he blocks shots like (Chris) Tanev, and he has sneaky-good offensive skill… I’m glad he likes me again [after the playoff series]."

'They Look Like They're 24': Maple Leafs Prospects Inspired Watching Veterans Like Tavares, Tanev, And Laughton Train At Development CampThe Toronto Maple Leafs prospects got a firsthand look at current NHL players as they filed into the rink during development camp.

"He just kills plays," added Toronto 2025 third-round pick Tyler Hopkins, who’s had his fair share of battles with Danford being in the same division. 

"Once you hit that blue line, he’s coming at you and he’s coming at you fast. And he has a really good stick as well, which makes it a lot harder for a player trying to get by and not turn that puck over at the blue line."

When Danford arrived in Toronto a week before development camp, he was able to skate a few times with Tanev. The young defender praised the veteran defenseman for his character, both on and off the ice, adding he’ll be skating with him more over the summer.

"He’s been phenomenal. I’ve looked up to him for quite a few years now. I feel like that’s someone I can really learn off of," said Danford. "He’s just that rock-solid D-man that can contribute second-piece offense as well."

'You Notice Him Out There': Why 2025 Third-Round Pick Tyler Hopkins Stood Out At Maple Leafs Development CampIf you're wondering who might've stood out at Toronto Maple Leafs development camp, look no further than 2025 third-round pick Tyler Hopkins.

Danford might not have had as many points this year compared to last season, though he's certainly taken a step away from the puck. He's become stronger, more physical, and is constantly working on becoming a much meaner defender who'll one day step onto the Maple Leafs' blue line.

"His game is starting to calm down," said assistant GM, player development, Hayley Wickenheiser. "He's a great skater. He moves as well as anyone on the ice here. Sometimes he tries to do too much when he plays in the OHL with Oshawa, and we've just been talking to him about taking the time to play calm, getting inside lanes to block shots."

Throughout Toronto’s 2025 development camp, defensemen have raved about having players like Muzzin and Mark Giordano—who addressed the prospects—being around the facilities.

"Those guys were unreal NHL defensemen," Danford said. "To learn off of (Muzzin) and what he’s taught me already in my first year with the Leafs, I think, yeah, I just want to keep working with him. He’s great, we have a really good relationship."

Maple Leafs Linked To Free Agent Jack Roslovic, Could He Be A Fit In Toronto?The Toronto Maple Leafs are still seeking offensive reinforcements following the departure of star forward Mitch Marner. While a trade seemed the most likely avenue for a replacement, recent talk suggests a compelling free agent option: Jack Roslovic, who shares a history with Leafs star Auston Matthews.

Working first-hand with Muzzin this year has been an eye-opening experience for Danford. 

"If I could ever play like the way he did, I’d be pretty happy with my NHL career. He was a feisty player, someone who was physical. He’d lay hits. He’s a two-way guy. He put up some really good numbers some seasons," the defensive prospect said.

"But defensively, just his details, and I mean, he won a Cup. I mean, to do that, it’s a dream come true, so if I can ever do that, it would be awesome."

Chadwick as well.

"I couldn’t really ask for anything better. He’s a fantastic human being. Good character. He’s special to work with and passed a lot of good lessons on to me. Just hoping to continue to build my game with him as I step into pro."

'I Saw My Name And I Was Going Crazy': Maple Leafs Prospect Rylan Fellinger Describes Getting Drafted Into The NHL While Attending PromRylan Fellinger, the Toronto Maple Leafs’ sixth-round selection (185th overall) in the 2025 NHL Draft, had a quite unique draft experience: he wasn't at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles when his name was called. Instead, the 6-foot-4, 200-pound defenseman was in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, attending his high school prom.

Danford is a strong skater who can move laterally very well. He’s got all the tools to be an NHL defender, from the size, speed, and strength in front of the net. There are a couple of areas of his game that need work if he wants to step into an NHL role sooner rather than later.

"Who knows when I’m going to make the jump to pro, but I think I need to get bigger and stronger and faster," said Danford. "The way (NHL players) can move and stuff and how strong they are on pucks, that’s a really big eye-opener, so I feel like that’s something that I can really get better at."

The most important piece of advice he’s received from Muzzin, though, is to keep things simple with the puck.

"I mean it’s simple, like the word is simple actually," he smiled. 

"To get to the next level, the coaches need to trust you and you need to limit your mistakes when you first come up, so that all starts now in junior. Limiting my mistakes, keeping it simple. When that first pass is there, take it, don’t overcomplicate things. 

"Just use my skating to my advantage, we both think that’s something that can really help me to get to the next level, so I think that’s one thing, though, just really simplify things, don’t overdo things."

'Time Will Tell': Is Maple Leafs Prospect Easton Cowan Ready For The NHL Next Season?One year ago, it was only the NHL or OHL for Toronto Maple Leafs prospect Easton Cowan. However, now, it'll be NHL or AHL for the 20-year-old.

It’s a fascinating situation for Toronto’s top defensive prospects. They have someone a couple of years removed from his hockey career, helping them develop into players who hope to one day play consistently in the NHL.

A player’s game can get to another level when you’re constantly surrounded by players who are still in the league, or those who’ve retired recently.

"I feel like because he just retired, you can relate off him just as much," Danford said. "He knows what the speed and the game is like at the NHL level, he had a long career, a successful one, so it’s really cool to work with him and everything just because of that for sure."

Having players like Muzzin, Tanev, Giordano, and Kyle Clifford around, plus even Wickenheiser and Danielle Goyette, allows prospects an up-close-and-personal view of what’s needed to take another step in their game.

Fight Breaks Out at Maple Leafs Development Camp Between Matthew Hlacar and Rhett ParsonsWe have a fight on day one of Toronto Maple Leafs development camp.

The hope for Toronto is that a few of these prospects can turn into homegrown defensemen who can play a key role with the Maple Leafs down the line, something they haven’t had since drafting Morgan Rielly in 2012.

"I think for these players, they love and look up to the players that played," Wickenheiser said. "When they talk, the players listen. They’ve been through it. They know what it’s like, and they bring a lot of wisdom and experience that they can still relate to."

(Top photo of Muzzin and Danford: Nick Barden / The Hockey News Toronto)

Pittsburgh Penguins' new assistant coach Mike Stothers almost missed the call - literally - to discuss what is now his position on head coach Dan Muse's staff.

While celebrating his 40th wedding anniversary with his wife at their lakeside house in Owen Sound, Ontario, Stothers didn't have his phone on him.

"I didn't have my phone with me all day long," Stothers said. "And, usually, you know... you always have your phone around."

He continued: "I came back late at night, and I looked at my phone, and I went, 'Oh my god, who's this?' Then, I looked, and I'm like, 'Oh, man... he's probably moved on,' because I hadn't responded."

Stothers may have missed the initial calls, but he was eventually able to get in touch with Muse and have good conversations about the potential opportunity to join Pittsburgh's staff. 

"Your staff has to be kind of like your roster," Stothers said. "Everybody has a role, and then, there's a fit. So, it seemed to just move along very, very well from there, and then, they offered me the opportunity. They said, 'Do you want some time to think about it?' And I said, 'No.' I said, 'I haven't stopped thinking about it since the first time you reached out.'

He had plenty of experience travelling to Pittsburgh as a player. Stothers spent most of his professional hockey career in the AHL between the Philadelphia Flyers and the Toronto Maple Leafs organizations. Drafted 21st overall by the Flyers in 1980, he played in 30 NHL games spread across five different seasons, registering two career assists. In 671 career AHL games - mostly played with the Hershey Bears - Stothers racked up 1,843 penalty minutes. 

Penguins Add Mike Stothers As Assistant Coach To Fill Out 2025-26 StaffAfter two long months, the Pittsburgh Penguins' quest to bring on a new coaching staff for the 2025-26 season is finally complete.

His familiarity with the city of Pittsburgh - and the connection he felt to city when he visited as a player - made the decision to accept the job easy for him.

"There was no hesitation," Stothers said. "I was so excited to be a part of Pittsburgh because, when I was with the Flyers - and don't start throwing stuff at me because I was with the Flyers - even as a visiting team coming in, you just knew a city, right? You just have a good feel for it, like that would be a good place to play or that would be a good place to work. So, it just seemed to fall into place."

And Stothers brings plenty of coaching experience to the Penguins' staff. He started his coaching career with the Bears in 1991-92 as a player-assistant, and he remained there for three years before moving on to the Philadelphia Phantoms, and - eventually - to the Flyers, as an assistant from 2000-02.

His first head coaching gig came with the Owen Sound Attack of the OHL in 2002-03, where he remained for five seasons. From there, he rotated between gigs as a head coach in the AHL and WHL and as an NHL assistant for the now-defunct Atlanta Thrashers in 2010-11, and - most recently - his stint with the Anaheim Ducks from 2021-23. 

He is prepared to helm the defense and penalty kill, which could both use some improvement. But - echoing the sentiment of Muse on Friday - Stothers expects it to be a team effort, especially with Muse's and Nick Bonino's experience with PK units.

"I think it's going to be a collaboration between the three of us, to be honest with you," Stothers said. "There are no right answers, there's no '100 percent' way of doing things.... Everything's well-researched. Everybody does their pre-scouts and everything else. So, it's like a chess match, it really is."

Ducks assistant Mike Stothers diagnosed with stage 3 melanoma of the lymph nodeAnaheim Ducks assistant coach Mike Stothers announced Saturday he has been diagnosed with stage 3 melanoma of the lymph node, an advanced form of skin cancer.

Stothers took more than a year away from hockey after being diagnosed with Stage 3 Melanoma of the Lymph Node while with the Ducks, needing ample time to recover both physically and mentally. While he was grateful for that time off, he missed being around hockey and being behind the bench. 

And he can't wait to get right back into the swing of things with the Penguins' organization, especially having previous connections to fellow assistants Todd Nelson and Rich Clune as well as forward Boko Imama, who Stothers said he has a "special relationship with."

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Feature image credit: Kelsey Surmacz - The Hockey News 

The New York Rangers have re-signed forward Brendan Brisson to a one-year, two-way contract worth $775,000 in the NHL, $100,000 in the minors, and contains a guaranteed salary of $125,000. 

Brisson was selected by the Golden Knights in the first round of the 2020 NHL Draft.

After spending most of his time with the Vegas’ American Hockey League affiliate the Henderson Silver Knights, he was traded to the New York Rangers in March in a deal that centered around Reilly Smith. 

The 23-year-old played 16 games for the Hartford Wolf Pack, recording two goals, four assists, and six points. 

Brisson has played in 24 total NHL games, tallying two goals, six assists, and eight points while averaging 11:25 minutes.

We finally got to see some scrimmages between the top Pittsburgh Penguins prospects during development camp on Sunday, and they didn’t disappoint. Several players, including one from yesterday’s session, had solid days and will look to make an even bigger impact during Monday’s tournament. 

Defensive prospect Harrison Brunicke has been the talk of the camp since it started on Thursday, and he continued to make an impact on Sunday. His skating was once again flawless, and he showcased his excellent reach when defending against scoring opportunities during 3-on-3 and 4-on-4 drills. He even scored a seeing-eye goal from the point at the end of Sunday’s session. 

Harrison Brunicke doing Harrison Brunicke things pic.twitter.com/HqMt4ZmvgM

— Hunter (@HunterHodies) July 6, 2025

After the session concluded, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton head coach Kirk MacDonald spoke glowingly about Brunicke, having had the opportunity to coach him for 10 games at the end of the 2024-25 season and two in the playoffs. 

“Huge. Honestly, it was. Credit to him, he figured it out quick,” MacDonald said. “Came in initially and in junior habits, where you can just skate by people and hold on to the puck for a long time; I thought he did a really good job. Last couple of regular season games and the playoff stint, he was moving pucks quick, jumping into the rush, the goal he scored in the playoffs was outstanding.” 

“I thought his ability to kill plays, again, the less he does in certain areas, the more he accomplishes. I mean that by just making a really good first pass and then activating and jumping in the rush. We want our D to be aggressive and try to create offense, but it doesn’t mean necessarily having to skate through everybody. I think once he kinda recognized that, he was a little more patient with his game. The offense came to him. He did a great job.”

If Brunicke keeps it up and has another great training camp and preseason, there’s a chance he will get the nine-game tryout to open the 2025-26 season. He was extremely close to earning the tryout last year before being sent back to the WHL.

Will Horcoff made his presence felt during Saturday’s practice, specifically thanks to his release, which he showcased during Sunday’s drills and scrimmages. His wrist shot was almost unstoppable every time he had the puck on his stick, and he was also excellent around the net-front areas. For someone who is 6’5”, he is a relatively nimble skater. He’s super happy with the way his development camp has gone so far. 

“It’s going great,” Horcoff said. “Today was the first game day, so that was fun. Good competitive atmosphere. Looking forward to the 4-on-4 tomorrow.”

He’s in a great spot at Michigan and could be primed for a breakout season in 2025-26 after compiling four goals and 10 points in 18 games for the program last year. 

Cruz Lucius took a step forward on Sunday after being a bit quieter to start development camp. He was all over the ice and brought a physical element to this game along the boards and up by the point. He got several quality scoring chances and scored a couple of really nice goals, including a one-timer by the goal line, during some drills.

Lucius is back to full health after a shoulder injury kept him out for a good chunk of the 2024-25 season. He scored his first goal with Arizona State back in February and finished the season with two goals and 10 points in 19 games. He’s feeling good going into Monday’s tournament. 

“Yeah, I feel really good,” Lucius said. “I think throughout the start coming back, I had some ups and downs, but I think the training I’ve been doing in the summer, whether it’s skates or working out, I’ve been feeling back to myself now.”

Other miscellaneous thoughts:

Defenseman Quinn Beauchesne was selected by the Penguins in the fifth round of the 2025 NHL Draft and showcased his skating ability on Sunday. He moved well and created space each time he had the puck. Both are things to monitor going into Monday’s tournament. He spent the 2024-25 season with the OHL’s Guelph Storm and finished with six goals and 24 points in 49 games.

Forward Jordan Charron was another one of the Penguins’ fifth-round picks and had some impressive edgework during drills. He also had a nice snipe before the full scrimmage got underway. Charron was picked 154th overall and spent the 2024-25 season with the Soo Greyhounds, compiling 10 goals and 21 points in 48 games. 

Defenseman Charlie Trethewey was one of three players the Penguins selected in the third round of this year’s draft, bringing his strong release to Sunday’s drills and scrimmages. It’s also all over his 24-25 tape with the U.S. National U18 team. He will spend the 25-26 season at Boston University. 

Development camp from the UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex will conclude with a tournament on Monday at Noon ET. It will be free and open to the public. 

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Feature image credit:  Hunter Hodies - The Hockey News 

The St. Louis Blues are staying busy.

According to PuckPedia, the Blues have re-signed goalie prospect Vadim Zherenko to a one-year, two-way contract for the 2025-26 season. 

The #STLBlues signed 24 y/o RFA G Vadim Zherenko to a 1 year two-way contract

NHL: $775K
Minors: $125K

Rep'd by Renat Mamashev https://t.co/8xg7XFJSeK

— PuckPedia (@PuckPedia) July 7, 2025

Zherenko, 24, was selected by the Blues with the 208th overall pick of the 2019 NHL Entry Draft. After developing his game overseas, Zherenko has spent each of the last three seasons with the Blues' AHL affiliate, the Springfield Thunderbirds. Now, with this new one-year deal, he will continue to be a key part of the Thunderbirds' crease. 

Zherenko posted a 12-17-5 record, a .897 save percentage, and a 3.44 goals-against average in 32 games this past season with Springfield. This is after he had a .904 save percentage and a 3.49 goals-against average in 29 games with the Thunderbirds in 2023-24. 

Overall, with this move, Zherenko will continue to be a depth option in the Blues organization. It will be interesting to see if he can take a big step forward next season from here. 

Blues Made Great Move Signing Ex-Canucks ForwardThe St. Louis Blues have had a busy off-season. One of their most notable moves was signing forward Pius Suter to a two-year contract with an average annual value (AAV) of $4.13 million.

Photo Credit: © Jon Durr-Imagn Images  

The National Hockey League's free agent frenzy officially began on July 1, and Detroit Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman snagged a veteran forward with a nose for the net. 

James van Riemsdyk, who was the No. 2 overall pick in the 2007 NHL Draft (one spot behind his now-current teammate Patrick Kane) by the Philadelphia Flyers, joined the Red Wings with a one-year contract worth $1 million. 

He also has the chance to earn another $750,000 in performance bonuses. 

During his introductory video press conference, van Riemsdyk revealed that he had been close to signing with the Red Wings during one of his earlier excursions into unrestricted free agency. 

"Kind of funny, back a few years ago it seemed like it was a team that was interested in bringing me aboard," said van Riemsdyk. "Going through the free-agency process, when they started showing some interest, it seemed like a good fit. The trajectory of the team, they're trying to make a push and the playoffs next year, all the history of being an Original Six place. 

A veteran of 1,082 career NHL games, van Riemsdyk has made a living by being an effective net-front presence, a role that he's not only accustomed to but has grown into over the years. 

“I feel like the more I’ve done it, the more natural it seems to become," he said. "And like I mentioned before, especially down the stretch and into the playoffs, it seems like that’s where you need to go to have the success and score the goals. So I think that’s ultimately why it’s for me, just an attractive place to be on the ice."

Perhaps the most effective net-front presence in recent NHL history was former Red Wings forward Tomas Holmstrom, who made life a living nightmare for opposition goaltenders by routinely taking up residency at the edge of the crease. 

van Riemsdyk, who scored 16 goals as a member of the Columbus Blue Jackets last season, acknowledged that he used to pay close attention to how Holmstrom parked himself at the front of the net. 

"That was a guy over the years I watched and kind of how he went about his craft and pulled different things from him," van Riemsdyk said.

After starting his NHL career with the Flyers, van Riemsdyk was traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2012, with whom he would play the next six seasons before eventually returning to the Flyers in free agency in 2018; he also played a season with the Boston Bruins.

Having skated in 1,082 career NHL games, van Riemsdyk has scored 327 goals and 338 assists, while adding another 21 goals and 15 assists in 82 career playoff games. 

The Vegas Golden Knights have handed out contracts to restricted free agents Cole Schwindt, Raphael Lavoie and Jonas Rondbjerg.

The trio of forwards were all extended qualifying offers on Jun. 30 by the Golden Knights, and just a week later, they've agreed to one-year contracts. 

Schwindt completed his first season with the Golden Knights, playing 42 games before it was cut short due to an injury. The 24-year-old returned for one game before the conclusion of the season, but didn't play in any playoff games. In the regular season, Schwindt scored one goal and eight points. 

Although he had played just seven career NHL games before joining the Golden Knights, Schwindt quickly carved out a role on the fourth line and gained the trust of HC Bruce Cassidy. As it looks, Schwindt will likely serve as an extra forward to start the season, ready to step into the lineup if any Golden Knights forwards sustain injuries. 

Lavoie had an interesting pre-season, being placed and claimed off waivers by the Golden Knights and the Edmonton Oilers. When he finally settled in Vegas, Lavoie skated in nine NHL games, failing to record a point. With the Henderson Silver Knights, the 24-year-old scored 17 goals and 27 points in 42 games. 

Lavoie has a strong shot and a 6-foot-4 frame that allows him to once again move from the AHL to the NHL quite easily, utilizing his two-way contract. Lavoie will likely become a Group-6 UFA when the season ends. 

✍️ The Vegas Golden Knights have agreed to terms with Cole Schwindt, Jonas Rondbjerg and Raphael Lavoie on one-year contracts! #VegasBornhttps://t.co/BLm5AhLYB5

— Vegas Golden Knights (@GoldenKnights) July 6, 2025

Rondbjerg, too, signed a two-way contract with the Golden Knights and will continue to serve as one of the first call-ups from the Silver Knights when the team runs into injury issues. The 26-year-old played in 13 games this season, failing to record any points. In the AHL, Rondbjerg recorded 11 goals and 26 points in 53 games. 

With the three contracts being signed, the remaining RFAs the Golden Knights have to conduct business with are Alexander Holtz and Lukas Cormier.

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Golden Knights Extend Qualifying Offers To Five PlayersThe Vegas Golden Knights have extended qualifying offers to five players, maintaining their restricted free-agent rights. The five players include Lukas Cormier, Alexander Holtz, Raphael Lavoie, Jonas Rondbjerg and Cole Schwindt. 

If you asked all 32 NHL general managers at the draft whether they prefer to select based on positional need or simply take the best player available, most would say, “If all things are equal, we'll select the best player.”

Steve Staios would probably tell you he tried to do that in his first two drafts as Ottawa Senators GM, but at the same time, he didn't exactly ignore his current wish list either.

In 2024, size mattered. The three defensemen the Sens selected averaged 6-foot-5, while the three forwards averaged 6-foot-3. This year, the key theme was more help for the blue line on the right side.

The Senators used the 23rd overall pick in the 2025 NHL Draft to select University of Wisconsin defenseman Logan Hensler, marking the second consecutive year Staios has used his first-rounder on a right-shot defenseman, after selecting Carter Yakemchuk seventh overall in 2024.

Hensler will probably head back to school, and Yakemchuk will likely start in Belleville, but both are considered key pieces for the future.

And just in case going back-to-back with another high-end right-shot D prospect wasn't enough to confirm the theme, Ottawa doubled down and acquired 24-year-old Jordan Spence from the Los Angeles Kings during the draft in exchange for third- and sixth-round picks.

The organization also re-signed 2019 first-rounder Lassi Thomson, who will return to North America after leading Malmö of the SHL in scoring last season. 

Even before all of that, the Senators still had the same three right-shot defensemen they went to war with in this spring's playoffs: Nick Jensen, Artem Zub, and Nik Matinpalo.

It's been well-chronicled that Jensen is a bit of a wild card for this fall. He’s recovering from reported hip surgery in May, and there’s no guarantee he’ll be ready to start the season. He’ll also be 35 years old.

Zub is a similar player to Jensen, but he’s also missed significant time over the past three seasons, playing only 54 games last year. As for Matinpalo, he's still establishing himself as an NHLer, but showed some encouraging signs of growth last year and didn't look out of place in the playoffs.

It’s often said that you can never have too many good right-shot defensemen, but Ottawa must be getting close.

The organizational depth chart on the right side now includes Jensen, Zub, Spence, Matinpalo, Yakemchuk, Thomson, and Maxence Guenette. Unless Hensler plays out of his mind in pre-season, he'll be headed back to school.

That’s a substantial group, the deepest Ottawa has had in some time.

I’d still rank Jensen at the top, assuming he’s healthy and hasn't lost a step. That's an optimistic assumption, I realize. He and Zub are similar players in many ways – neither is flashy, neither is overly offensive-minded, but both take care of business while letting Jake Sanderson or Thomas Chabot drive the offense from the back end.

Because of his age and recent surgery, there are questions about whether Jensen can still be a top-four next season, and whether he even wants to stay in Ottawa beyond that. If both answers are no, that changes the game. But until then, I still rank him as Ottawa’s best right-shot defender right now. 

Some believe Jordan Spence might push for a top-four role. The Senators obviously like him, but the new Kings GM, Ken Holland, did not. The Kings didn't see him playing in their top six every night next season and gave him up for only a third and a sixth-round pick. Typically, with everyone in the league looking for top-four right-shot defenseman, you'd think the cost would have been much higher. And then the Kings effectively replaced Spence on the roster with Cody Ceci.

For those reasons, and barring injuries, I’m not ready to slot Spence into Ottawa’s top four just yet.

Matinpalo is my seven right now, but since he's bigger and more physical, which the Sens generally prefer, he could easily push for the same job he held for most of last season.

Then there’s Yakemchuk and Hensler. Yakemchuk nearly made the team last season, so he'll get some NHL looks if injuries strike. But Ottawa would be wise to keep him in Belleville for a few months to see how he fares against grown men for the first time. It’s clear that the Senators have big plans for him, but there’s no harm in a bit of patience. Hensler is all but certain to return to Wisconsin for another year of development.

I do wonder which of the two first-rounders will be the better long-term player. I haven’t seen enough games from either to say definitively, but it’s notable that last winter Hensler made Team USA’s World Junior squad at 18 and won a gold medal. Meanwhile, the older Yakemchuk, whose numbers tumbled last season, wasn’t invited to the pre-tournament evaluation camp for a Canadian team that failed to make the semifinals.

Lassi Thomson might have the most to lose in all of this. After a fine year in Sweden, he probably saw the current depth chart and the injury concerns and thought he had a chance to compete for an NHL job. But now he finds himself behind the newly-acquired Spence. That can’t be a great feeling, but maybe he'll surprise people at camp. If nothing else, Thomson will make Belleville's back end a lot stronger, heading into group 6 unrestricted free agency next summer.

All of this raises the question: Do the Senators now have the right mix on the right side to make a deep playoff run? That remains to be seen. But one thing is clear: They've upgraded, and they finally have some solid depth. And that matters, because hockey is still a violent game where every team needs a "next man up" mentality.

This season, Staios can think about the next man up and not lose sleep over it.

By Steve Warne
The Hockey News/Ottawa
Image Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

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Senators Bid Farewell To Six UFAs: Where Did They End Up?
Senators Sign Lars Eller, Offseason NHL Additions Are Now 'Most Likely' Complete
Senators Clarify Their Goaltending Picture for Next Season
Senators Acquire Defenseman Jordan Spence From Los Angeles

Rickard Rakell is one of multiple Pittsburgh Penguins players who have been in the rumor mill this off-season. With the Penguins retooling their roster and Rakell coming off a career season, all eyes have been on the 32-year-old winger. 

However, according to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman, Rakell's preference is to stay put with the Penguins rather than being dealt. 

"I've heard Rakell would prefer to stay in Pittsburgh," Friedman said. "It's just that it's not his call. I've heard he is not averse to staying, but, ultimately, Dubas will make that decision."

With the success Rakell just had with the Penguins in 2024-25, it is understandable that he wants to stick around. In 81 games this past season with the Penguins, he set new career highs with 35 goals and 70 points. It was a big bounce-back year for the veteran, and he undoubtedly found his fit in the Penguins' top six. 

However, Rakell putting up a monster season also means that his trade value is higher now. With the Penguins retooling their group, it is fair to wonder if the Penguins could take advantage of this and move him this off-season.

Nevertheless, the Penguins have a big decision to make with Rakell. If the veteran forward has it his way, he will stay put in Pittsburgh. 

NHL Trade Rumors: Penguins Star Generating 'A Ton Of Interest'The Pittsburgh Penguins are certainly a team to keep an eye on this summer. It is no secret that they are open to making changes, and multiple players from their roster have been discussed as trade candidates. 

Photo Credit:  © Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

New insider reports indicate Carolina's Jack Roslovic wanting to join former teammate Auston Matthews in Toronto

The Toronto Maple Leafs have made some major moves this offseason and according to NHL Insider Elliotte Friedman, the team isn't done yet. 

On Sunday's episode of his podcast "32 Thoughts" Friedman explained that the Buds are looking to potentially clear out more of their bottom six forwards like Pontus Holmberg, who left to join the Tampa Bay Lightning. 

Friedman believes this is because the Maple Leafs are targeting unrestricted free agent Jack Roslovic from the Carolina Hurricanes. The connection makes sense as Roslovic played with Leafs captain Auston Matthews extensively during their time together at the U.S. National Development Program. 

Toronto will be looking to replace the production lost by star winger Mitch Marner heading to the Vegas Golden Knights and have made headway with some of their adds already. From Utah, the Maple Leafs picked up a solid 40-point player with Matias Maccelli, who could grow into a 50-60 point player when playing in Toronto's top six and is only 24 years old. 

Early projections of Toronto's lineup next season had Maccelli on the top line alongside Matthew Knies and centred by Auston Matthews but he could be moved down to play with John Tavares and William Nylander while Roslovic slides into the top right wing spot. This has been indicated as a possibility to Friedman in the case of free agent Andrew Mangiapane. 

The Bolton, Ontario native was reportedly interested in returning to his hometown team but Friedman had heard that the Maple Leafs told him that they are looking to move out forwards like David Kampf, Calle Jarnkrok and restricted free agent Nick Robertson. Mangiapane ultimately decided not to wait on the Maple Leafs roster decisions and instead signed with the Edmonton Oilers. 

Roslovic is a notable player that teams are interested in yet he has not signed with any team yet and it could be that he is waiting to play with Matthews according to Friedman. The 28-year-old has found his way into being a regular 40-point player and has be unable to truly tap into his elite upside that many projected when he went 25th overall in the 2015 NHL Draft to the Winnipeg Jets. 

This would be a massive boost for the Maple Leafs next season as their top six would be more balanced and could contributed the same level of offence as last season and could make them a steal at +2500 to win the Stanley Cup next season.

Odds to certainly look at for the Maple Leafs would be to make the playoffs at -300 and to win the Atlantic division for the second straight season at +390 behind the Florida Panthers and Tampa Bay Lightning.

  More NHL: 2026 Stanley Cup Odds: Oilers, Panthers Lead Early Contenders But One Unexpected Favourite Emerges

Not all that long ago, the Detroit Red Wings were the gold standard of NHL teams. For an incredible 25 years, the Red Wings were in the Stanley Cup playoffs – and on four occasions from 1997-2008, the Wings won the Cup. In the modern era, you couldn’t ask for more from a franchise.

And all that success makes it especially painful for Red Wings fans to struggle through what they’re currently struggling through – a whopping nine straight years without a post-season appearance. 

In those nine years, the Wings have finished in seventh or eighth place in their division five times. And this past year, they finished sixth in the Atlantic Division. For the most part, the Red Wings’ efforts have been nowhere close to good enough, and the increasing degree of fan frustration has never been more evident than it is right now. 

Of course, things would be different if Detroit GM Steve Yzerman came away from the NHL’s recent ffree-agent frenzy with at least a couple of veteran talents to carry them across the finish line and make the playoffs next year. 

Instead, Yzerman added a goalie in former Anaheim Ducks starter John Gibson – admittedly, an upgrade on what the Wings had in goal – and after that…well, he traded non-factor winger Vladimir Tarasenko to the Minnesota Wild, and signed third-line winger Mason Appleton, journeyman winger James van Riemsdyk, and third-pair defenseman Jacob Bernard-Docker. 

Are you impressed by those changes? If you are, you’re in the minority. And if you’re a Wings fan, you can’t help but be pessimistic about this Detroit team’s chances of getting back into the post-season next year. 

There are definitely some NHL GMs out there who are feeling the pressure to have their team produce positive results in 2025-26, but Yzerman is probably right at the top of the list of the GMs facing the most pressure. He’s been on the job running things in the Motor City since April of 2019, and he has nothing tangible to show for it. 

Yzerman’s incredible playing career has given him a long runway to try and stick the landing as Wings GM, but even hockey icons only get so much time to turn things around before they are added to the list of people who couldn’t get the job done as managers. And that’s where Yzerman is now in Detroit.

Yzerman can point to youngsters in the organization who he believes will step up and help the Red Wings make it to the playoffs next year, but here’s a better metric of sorts – which Detroit youngster is truly a generational talent? Defenseman Moritz Seider qualifies in the minds of some observers, so let’s be generous and say Seider makes the cut. After that, what current Wings talent is top-10 in the league in any regard? Detroit doesn’t have those truly elite, high-end players. And when you miss the playoffs for that many years, you should’ve been able to draft and develop a couple of top talents.

That may be Yzerman’s biggest sin as Wings GM – not tanking for top players, which is the most proven way to land the foundational talent needed to compete for Cups over the long haul. Yzerman might’ve drafted Chicago Blackhawks center Connor Bedard if he’d done that. He may have wound up with San Jose Sharks center Macklin Celebrini if he’d done that. He might’ve landed New York Islanders defenseman Matthew Schaefer if he’d done that. Instead, it’s been nothing but mediocrity for the Red Wings, 

From this writer’s perspective, if you’re not good enough to be a playoff team, you should be doing everything in your power to land a top draft spot. And it has never felt like Yzerman and Co. have been willing to do that. There have been excuses left and right, and as things have unfolded not in Detroit’s favor, Yzerman has grown testy with the media and unable to lay out a specific plan Wings fans can look to for comfort. And he also can’t point to season-after-season improvement in the win column.

And now, the Red Wings are entering a season in which no one will be projecting them to make the playoffs. The defending Cup champion Florida Panthers will be a playoff team next year. The regular-season Atlantic champion Toronto Maple Leafs will also be a playoff team, as will the Tampa Bay Lightning. And after that, the Ottawa Senators, Montreal Canadiens and Boston Bruins will be in a ferocious battle for one of the final playoff spots in the Eastern Conference. You can lump the Wings into that latter group, but the reality remains – making the playoffs will be an extremely tall order for Detroit.

And if things pan out the way we think they’ll pan out and the Red Wings fail to make the playoffs once again, Yzerman will almost assuredly be out of a job, and the process of rebuilding will start over in earnest. That’s why this coming season already looks and feels like a wasted year. Detroit ownership has entrusted Yzerman with another season to try and accomplish something positive, but unless he pulls off a minor miracle, Yzerman is going to come away with his hands stuck out and nothing in them.

Maybe Yzerman will prove the doubters wrong, and the Wings will sneak into a playoff spot. Even then, does anyone feel like Detroit will be anything other than first-round roadkill? This Red Wings team simply doesn’t have the horses to run with the legitimate Cup frontrunners, and just getting into the playoffs can’t be the sole goal for Wings management. 

All in all, it feels like it’s going to be another long season for the Red Wings, and another year of excuses and frustration is in store for Detroit. And this could be Yzerman’s final kick at the can.

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.

ST. 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. 

The contract for Aube-Kubel is a one-year, two-way contract worth $775,000 in the NHL and $500,000 in the American Hockey League (AHL). 

Aube-Kubel, 29, recorded one goal, one assist, 40 hits and 19 penalty minutes in 22 games with the Buffalo Sabres and New York Rangers last season. He has 32 goals, 48 assists, 80 points, 672 hits and 202 penalty minutes in 304 career NHL games across seven seasons. 

He won the Stanley Cup with the Colorado Avalanche in 2022. The 6-foot forward recorded 11 goals, 11 assists, 22 points, 123 hits and 41 penalty minutes in 67 games that year for the Avs. 

This provides the Wild with some AHL depth and someone who can play NHL games if needed. He has 56 goals, 61 assists and 117 points in 255 career AHL games as well. 

Other Wild News

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. Minnesota Wild Sign Goaltender Cal Petersen To A One-Year, One-Way ContractST. PAUL, Minn - The Minnesota Wild announced the signing of goaltender Cal Petersen to a one-year, one-way contract worth $775,000.  Minnesota Wild Sign Forward Tyler Pitlick To A Two-Year, Two-Way ContractST. PAUL, Minn - The Minnesota Wild will announce some American Hockey League (AHL) depth signings pretty soon. They started things off with the signing of forward Tyler Pitlick. 

As the hype from the NHL’s free-agent frenzy dies down, it’s as good a time as any to take stock of the league’s seven Canadian teams. 

We’re going to break down the teams alphabetically, so let’s get to it:

1. Calgary Flames

Contender, Pretender Or Somewhere In The Middle? Pretender

Why? The Flames narrowly missed out on a playoff berth this past season, but that was when basically everything went right for them. The injury bug avoided them, they picked up long-term pieces in a trade with Philadelphia, and this summer, Flames GM Craig Conroy held onto his salary cap flexibility, as Calgary now has $15.4 million in cap space. He might have spent more of it to acquire some veteran help, but the fact that he didn’t speaks volumes about where they are in their competitive trajectory.

The big picture for the Flames shows a team that is still in transition into being a legitimate Stanley Cup contender. Calgary doesn’t have the generational talent to go head-to-head with archrivals like the Edmonton Oilers or Vancouver Canucks. And many hockey observers expect Conroy to trade top-pair defenseman Rasmus Andersson, and perhaps, veteran center Nazem Kadri. For those reasons, we see the Flames still in the early stages of a rebuild, and that means they’re currently a pretender. 

2. Edmonton Oilers

Contender, Pretender Or Somewhere In The Middle? Contender

Why? Don’t get it twisted – we believe the Oilers took a step backward thus far this summer, losing key veterans, including wingers Corey Perry and Connor Brown in free agency. But that doesn’t mean Edmonton is now a pretender, or worse. They still employ two of the top-five players on the planet in Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, and they just re-signed star defenseman Evan Bouchard to a long-term contract extension. There’s a lot to like here.

By the time the next regular season has concluded, we expect the Oilers to be up there with the Vegas Golden Knights and Los Angeles Kings as one of the top teams in the Pacific Division. But Edmonton GM Stan Bowman needs to make good use of the trade market to keep up with the Joneses. 

The Oilers have next to nothing in cap space, so Bowman will have to be creative to improve his roster. Because at a time when every team in the Western Conference will be targeting Edmonton as a true test of their playoff readiness, the Oilers have to keep getting better. And thus far, they haven’t been able to do that.

3. Montreal Canadiens

Contender, Pretender Or Somewhere In The Middle? Somewhere In The Middle

Why? We’re not here to tell you the Canadiens are pretenders. They’ve made genuinely legitimate strides as a team, and Montreal GM Kent Hughes made one of the biggest splashes of the off-season by acquiring star defenseman Noah Dobson from the New York Islanders. But while we definitely see the Canadiens battling for a playoff spot all season long, the truth is improvement isn’t always linear, and in a highly competitive Atlantic Division, the Habs aren’t a lock to make the playoffs next year.

As Montreal’s young core continues to develop, the Canadiens are likely to be a powerhouse in the Eastern Conference. But there’s also a possibility they take a lateral step or a slight step backward in 2025-26. The Habs are essentially capped out, so Hughes will have to be crafty in attempting to improve his team. 

We like Hughes’ work a lot, but making notable improvements isn’t always a cakewalk, and that’s why we see the Habs having the potential to struggle a bit more this year than they did last year.

4. Ottawa Senators

Contender, Pretender Or Somewhere In The Middle? Contender

Why? The Sens made major strides last season, getting into the playoffs for the first time in eight years. Once they got to the post-season, though, they were quickly disposed of by the Maple Leafs. Still, just getting into the playoffs was a terrific accomplishment, and a harbinger of better days ahead.

In free agency and trades this summer, the Sens have been relatively quiet, re-signing veteran center Claude Giroux and adding experienced pivot Lars Eller to help fill out the bottom-six group of forwards. But the fact is that Senators GM Steve Staios doesn’t need to do much at the moment, as he has $4.29 million in cap space to use to improve during the season. Ultimately, we like what we see in the Sens as a whole, and we expect their internal improvement will push them even further this coming season.

5. Toronto Maple Leafs

Contender, Pretender Or Somewhere In The Middle? Contender

Why? The Maple Leafs won the Atlantic last season, and although their offense will take a sizeable hit with the departure of Mitch Marner, what remains in Toronto is still very much a playoff team. 

Adding grinders like former Golden Knight Nicolas Roy and former Canadien Michael Pezzetta will make the Leafs harder to play against, and the continuing development of youngster Matthew Knies and the trade addition of former Utah Mammoth winger Matias Maccelli will help replace some of the offense Marner took with him. And the Leafs still have $4.98 million in cap space to spend on a top-six forward.

What’s also true of this Leafs team is that their defense is the envy of most NHL organizations. Even if veteran Morgan Rielly is traded, Toronto has a top-six set of blueliners who can get the job done and make life easier on goalies Anthony Stolarz and Joseph Woll.

 It would take some catastrophic injuries and spectacular underachievement for the Buds to miss the playoffs, and we don’t see either of those two things happening. The post-Marner Era may not have as many highlight-reel plays, but Leafs GM Brad Treliving has crafted a lineup that will fight for home-ice advantage in the 2026 playoffs.

6. Vancouver Canucks

Contender, Pretender Or Somewhere In The Middle? Contender

Why? Virtually everything that could go wrong did go wrong for Vancouver last season, including in-house drama between star forwards Elias Pettersson and J.T. Miller, as well as injuries to star goalie Thatcher Demko and superstar blueliner Quinn Hughes. However, everything has cleared up in Vancouver’s favor, including the re-signing of star winger Brock Boeser and the addition of rugged winger Evander Kane.

With everyone healthy and ready to go, there’s no reason why Vancouver can’t quickly put last year behind them and once again be a top team in the Pacific. They’ll need Pettersson to be significantly better, and they’ll need their goaltending tandem of Demko and Kevin Lankinen to hold up their end of the bargain, but there’s too much talent in B.C. for the Canucks to falter for the second-straight season. 

7. Winnipeg Jets

Contender, Pretender Or Somewhere In The Middle? Contender

Why? The Jets lost star winger Nikolaj Ehlers to the Carolina Hurricanes in free agency, but Winnipeg has the best goalie in the league – at least, in the regular season – in Connor Hellebuyck, a deep collection of fast and skilled forwards, and a defense corps that may be underrated. 

The Jets were the NHL’s top regular-season team last season, and the additions of star center Jonathan Toews and veteran winger Tanner Pearson make an already-dangerous squad all the more imposing.

The Jets play in the toughest division in the league in the Central, but with Hellebuyck, center Mark Scheifele and winger Kyle Connor leading the way, Winnipeg once again will be right up there as one of the NHL’s top teams, and a genuine threat to go deep in the post-season. And with a good deal of cap space still available, the Jets have the potential to be even better next year.

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