Former Pittsburgh Penguins forward Mark Letestu has landed an exciting new job. 

The Colorado Avalanche's American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Colorado Eagles, have announced that they have hired Letestu to be their new head coach. 

Ohio ✈️ Colorado

Welcome to #EaglesCountry Mark! pic.twitter.com/aiLFW4fPJI

— Colorado Eagles (@ColoradoEagles) July 5, 2025

Before landing this new job with the Eagles, Letestu spent each of the last four seasons as an assistant coach of the Cleveland Monsters, who are the AHL affiliate of the Columbus Blue Jackets. Now, after gaining a good amount of coaching experience as an assistant, he will now be the Eagles' bench boss. 

Letestu began his NHL career as a player with the Penguins. In 85 games over three seasons as a Penguin from 2009-10 to 2011-12, he recorded 15 goals, 14 assists, and 29 points. His time with the Penguins ended during the 2011-12 season when he was traded to the Blue Jackets in exchange for a fourth-round pick. 

Following his Penguins tenure, Letestu had stints with the Blue Jackets, Edmonton Oilers, and Winnipeg Jets. In 567 games over 11 NHL seasons, he recorded 93 goals, 117 assists, and 210 points. Now, he will look to thrive as the Eagles' new head coach from here. 

Ex-Penguins Defenseman Is Top Free Agent LeftWith it now being multiple days after July 1, most of this year's top unrestricted free agents (UFAs) have found their new homes. While this is the case, there are still some solid players available who should get signed before the start of the campaign. 

© Kim Klement-Imagn Images

Egor Zamula will be one of multiple Philadelphia Flyers battling for a roster spot come training camp and preseason.

Injuries to other defensemen saw an early season surge from Emil Andrae, who supplanted Zamula in the Flyers' lineup for parts of the season.

Zamula, 25, played 66 games last season and 63 games this past season, coming in and out of John Tortorella's gameday squad due to inconsistencies and, sometimes, struggling with the pace of play.

With new head coach Rick Tocchet coming to town, the 2025-26 season will be a fresh start for Zamula, who now faces competition for a roster spot in the form of Andrae, as well as Helge Grans, Adam Ginning, Hunter McDonald, and newcomers Noah Juulsen and Dennis Gilbert.

Two-time Olympic Gold medalist Igor Kravchuk, a former NHL defenseman and current KHL assistant coach, believes the book is not closed on Zamula in Philadelphia.

Kravchuk noted that Zamula and Alexander Romanov, who just signed a massive eight-year, $50 million contract extension with the New York Islanders, were both standouts on the same Russian U18 and U20 national teams, but their careers have since gone in opposite directions. 

Aleksei Kolosov Must Change Attitude Towards NHL, Legendary Coach SaysThe Philadelphia Flyers haven't fully given up on Aleksei Kolosov yet, but has Aleksei Kolosov given up on the Flyers?

"By the way, Romanov was a leader of the defense in the Russian youth team, along with Egor Zamula. Unfortunately, Zamula’s career is not going as well as Romanov’s," Kravchuk told Russia-Hockey.ru in a recent interview. "The current Philadelphia is a peculiar team. There are problems with the balance of the roster, with the entertainment. Zamula is a little lost in it, but there is still time to return his career to the right trajectory. Especially since the coach has changed in the club."

Heading into the crucial third full season of his NHL career, Zamula has already played for Alain Vigneault, Mike Yeo, John Tortorella, and Brad Shaw in parts of five seasons.

Next up will be Tocchet, who's previously coaxed career years out of Jakob Chychrun, Filip Hronek, and Quinn Hughes during his time working with those players.

Assistant coach Todd Reirden, tasked by Tocchet with running the penalty kill and defense, has previously worked with John Marino, Marcus Pettersson, Mike Matheson, Alex Goligoski, Kris Letang, Matt Niskanen, Dmitry Orlov, John Carlson, Karl Alzner, and Nate Schmidt when those players were in their early and mid-20s, too.

Whether or not the previously undrafted Russian can follow in their footsteps remain to be seen, but the potential is there.

Zamula, at 6-foot-3, 200 pounds, has the size the Flyers need and want on their defense, even if he seldom uses it to his advantage.

The left-shot defender also has a penchant for sneaking shots through traffic, and has a better shot in general than most would give him credit for.

That's something that led to Tortorella and Co. icing him for power play minutes, even though Zamula is not particularly agile and one of the slowest skating defenders in the NHL.

But, for a guy who played even strength minutes almost exclusively this season, Zamula's underlying analytics looked amazing, as noted in the image above.

He cut his penalty minutes from 32 to six from 2023-24 to 2024-25, and those can be a good indicator of whether or not a young, non-physical, non-fighter player is struggling to keep up with his competition.

Don't Discount Nikita Grebenkin in Battle for Flyers Roster SpotWith an open battle brewing amongst wingers for an NHL roster spot with the Philadelphia Flyers, don't discount Nikita Grebenkin.

And yes, Zamula scored only three goals, 12 assists, and 15 points in 63 games this season, but he only registered 37 shots on goal. Zamula's 8.1% shooting percentage actually impressively ranked in the 85th percentile amongst his defensemen peers, according to NHL EDGE.

The big flaw, as previously referenced, will be Zamula's skating. His top speed, 22+ MPH bursts, 20-22 MPH bursts, and 18-20 MPH bursts all ranked below the 50th percentile.

The 6-foot-3 defender will now need to shift his focus towards building trust with a new coaching staff with his in-zone defending and play with the puck; managing the puck effectively will be crucial to Zamula's success, given his weaknesses with mobility and turnovers.

Heading into the last year of his contract, Zamula's Flyers future is entirely in his hands.

The NHL's free-agent frenzy has colmed down considerably, with most of the available talent now off the market. And the Buffalo Sabres still have approximately $13.6 million in salary cap space to utilize. So, is there anything left for Buffalo to spend on the open market, or is the only road to improvement via trades?

From this writer's perspective, it's a no-brainer -- there's next-to-nothing left in free agency. Sure, the Sabres can take a run at center Jack Roslovic, who posted 22 goals for the Carolina Hurricanes this past season. Or perhaps Buffalo can offer former Vegas Golden Knights winger Victor Olofsson a second stint with the Sabres; Olofsson had 15 goals and 29 points with Vegas last season, and who knows -- he might get back to the 28-goal form he had with Buffalo in 2022-23. 

Otherwise, Sabres GM Kevyn Adams is looking at a whole lot of slim pickings in free-agency. And that means it's almost certainly going to be trades Adams makes that remodels Buffalo's lineup for next season.

Of course, everyone and their know-it-all neighbor is expecting the Sabres to trade RFA defenseman Bowen Byram. Adams came out after free-agency began and stated plainly that he's going to match any offer sheet a team would present to Byram, but let's remember that GMs are always playing a long game of chicken with their counterparts. We're not suggesting Buffalo won't match a Byram offer sheet, but we are saying Byram is the biggest trade chip Adams is likely to use in the coming days and weeks, and that's not going to change anytime soon.

Personally, it's our opinion that Adams should be prepared to trade other Sabres veterans, but for argument's sake, let's presume that Buffalo trading Byram is the Sabres' biggest move before training camp begins in the fall. You'd better believe that Adams has to hit a home run with a Byram trade -- we're talking an experienced forward who can contribute meaningfully right away next year -- to justify parting ways with Byram.

Olofsson Another Former Sabre Still Unsigned The signings by NHL clubs have ground to a halt five days into free agency, with the most sought-after players locked up on Day 1 and the biggest fish in Nikolai Ehlers finally signing with the Carolina Hurricanes on Thursday. A pair of former Buffalo Sabres are among the most prominent players still not signed. Jeff Skinner had 16 goals last season with Edmonton, but played sparingly in the playoffs, while Victor Oloffson had a solid injury-shortened season with the Vegas Golden Knights.   

If Adams doesn't come away with a major trade in the coming days and weeks, a sense of despair will wash over Sabres fans. They're not naive enough to imagine that Buffalo's lineup as-is can somehow vault over most teams in the hyper-competitive Atlantic Division and end their 14-year streak without Stanley Cup playoff hockey. They know it's going to be a long season if they're at that point.

Adams can pretend all he wants he's going to retain Byram's services. But if Byram returns, the Sabres are going to be top-heavy with defensemen, and light on the type of high-end forwards Buffalo needs to be a true playoff contender. So it's up to Adams to find a team that is (a) in need of Byram's skills, and (b) prepared and stocked to give the Sabres the high-impact forward they're looking for in return.

That said, nobody is going to be doing the Sabres any favors as they make alterations to their lineup. So Adams has to drive a hard bargain on the trade front. He can't pretend he's happy with the roster as it's currently constructed. He's really only added role players thus far, and that can't be the final result he's looking for.

Are The Sharks Hunting For Byram?Most of the speculation surrounding the Buffalo Sabres continues to be on restricted free agent defenseman Bowen Byram. Earlier this week, TSN’s Darren Dreger reported that interested clubs were contemplating an offer sheet and that could still be the case if Byram does not opt for salary arbitration by 5 pm Saturday. The St. Louis Blues according to Jeremy Rutherford of the Athletic are in hot pursuit of the blueliner, but the Blues may have company.

If we're still waiting for a Byram trade a month from now, something seriously wrong has taken place in Buffalo. Whether it's trade paralysis on Adams' behalf, a directive from ownership to keep the payroll well below the salary cap limit, or both, there's going to be a clear issue in the front office, and Sabres fans will see right through it.

You can't say Adams is on the clock in terms of making a trade or two in the next day or so. But every day that passes without a major trade only builds pressure on him to do something of consequence.

Adams has to come up with something he can show Sabres fans and give them something to invest in, financially and emotionally. Otherwise, the backlash against Adams will be heavy, prolonged and justified.

After a start to the NHL’s 2025 free agency period saw the Toronto Maple Leafs trade away star right winger Mitch Marner, Leafs GM Brad Treliving hinted at more moves to come from his team. 

“Mitch was a top-six forward, and we haven’t replaced that hole,” Treliving said after Marner was dealt to the Vegas Golden Knights Tuesday. “That’s really where our focus is.”

We’re taking Treliving at his word, and we don’t expect him to make any more notable moves in free agency. So, trades are going to be the route the Maple Leafs make to fill that need, and one trade in particular makes a lot of sense for Toronto, is acquiring veteran center Nazem Kadri from the Calgary Flames in return for defenseman Morgan Rielly.

Now, before we go any further, let’s be clear – both Kadri and Rielly would have to sign off on this deal to make it happen. Each of them has a no-trade clause, and in Rielly’s case in particular, Flames GM Craig Conroy would have to sell Rielly on coming to Calgary – at least, in the short term.

Why is that? Well, because the smart thing Conroy could do would be flipping Rielly to a playoff-bound team in need of an experienced blueliner who can contribute on offense and eat up 20 minutes a night. That’s probably not the Flames right now, especially after they do what many think they’ll do by trading veteran blueliner Rasmus Andersson. But if Rielly agreed to be moved to Calgary for the time being, with the knowledge that he can direct Conroy as to where to flip him, the deal definitely makes sense for both sides.

Certainly, the money involved in a Kadri/Rielly trade is almost a perfect match. Kadri is signed at $7-million per season for the next four years, while Rielly is signed at $7.5- million per season for the next five years. If the Flames are taking on that extra year of Rielly’s salary, Treliving may have to add another asset to make a deal work for the Flames – something like a second-round draft pick, which the Maple Leafs have in the 2027 and 2028 drafts.

But if that deal goes down, the Leafs change their DNA and add a second-line center, probably moving freshly re-signed pivot John Tavares to the wing. And all of a sudden, the Leafs would have a plethora of centers – Auston Matthews, Kadri, Tavares, new Leaf Nicolas Roy, Scott Laughton and David Kampf. That’s more than Toronto needs down the middle, but at that point, Treliving could trade or buy out Kampf, freeing up more money to spend on wingers, or perhaps, on a depth defenseman.

It won’t be easy for the Leafs to turn a position of need into a position of strength, but one trade – albeit a big trade – could do the trick for them in that regard. A reunion with Kadri surely would be welcomed by the former Leaf, and his growth as a competitor and his Cup championship pedigree from his time with the Colorado Avalanche would only help the Buds become a significantly harder team to play against.

Saying goodbye to Rielly – a cornerstone component in Toronto and a terrific human being – would be tough for the Leafs. But the time to act and move on from Rielly is now, and if the Leafs and Calgary can work together on finding him a better work situation, Rielly would be erring if he didn’t accept a trade and get a new lease on life on the ice, the same way Marner has. 

If Treliving is able to pull off this deal, don’t say you didn’t see it coming. The fit on Toronto’s end is just about perfect, and the Leafs’ desire to change their makeup would be fulfilled by bringing Kadri back to a place he still considers home.

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Multiple high-profile players have been on the move during this off-season, and with these moves, there is the possibility of seeing new partnerships and dynamic duos come into fruition. 

Several teams across the NHL have two players who share undeniable chemistry with each other. A great example of that is with the Edmonton Oilers’ Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, who always complement each other on the ice with their elite abilities.

Here are three pairs of players who have never played together before, but could dominate once they get a chance to share the ice.

Mitch Marner And Jack Eichel, Vegas Golden Knights

The Vegas Golden Knights were the winners of the Mitch Marner sweepstakes before he was able to officially enter free agency. GM Kelly McCrimmon acquired the right winger from the Toronto Maple Leafs in a sign-and-trade in exchange for center Nicolas Roy.

Marner is one of the league’s best playmakers. He finished the season as the fifth-best scorer in the league with 102 points. Marner ranked three spots above new teammate Jack Eichel, who scored 94 points last year.

Marner and Eichel are similar in a lot of ways in how they play the game. They’re premier playmakers who recorded a combined 141 assists, 74 of those being primary helpers. In addition to their offensive skill, they take pride in the other side of the ice as they both finished top 10 in Selke Trophy voting.

Noah Dobson And Lane Hutson, Montreal Canadiens

The Montreal Canadiens made a huge splash in acquiring 25-year-old Noah Dobson from the New York Islanders. The defenseman was traded to the Habs for left winger Emil Heineman, as well as two first-round picks from the 2025 draft.

Dobson is coming off a down year with the Islanders, but is more than capable of taking over a game from the blueline. Two seasons ago, he recorded a 70-point campaign that saw him receive a top-10 ranking for the Norris Trophy.

There is a prime opportunity for Canadiens coach Martin St. Louis to pair Dobson with reigning Calder Trophy winner Lane Hutson. The two D-men complement each other with their contrast in size and could be a successful pairing for years to come.

Trevor Zegras And Matvei Michkov, Philadelphia Flyers

Trevor Zegras’ time with the Anaheim Ducks has come to an end after five seasons with the club. He was traded to the Philadelphia Flyers for center Ryan Poehling, a second-round pick in the 2025 draft and a fourth-round pick in the 2026 draft. 

Zegras is known for his creativity, soft hands with the puck and his playmaking ability. New Flyers coach Rick Tocchet hinted at pairing Zegras and his playmaking with right winger Matvei Michkov when he spoke to The Athletic following the trade.

“We’d be idiots not to explore it and talk about it, and try to manifest it where it can work,” Tocchet said after Philadelphia acquired Zegras. 

The 24-year-old has played left wing and center with the Ducks, but because of his size, there’s a risk putting Zegras in the middle. “I definitely think it’s our obligation to see if he can play centre,” Tocchet said. “He really wants to give it a shot.”

Michkov and Zegras have shown they are confident in how skilled they are, attempting multiple ‘Michigan’ moves between them in their short careers. It could be breathtaking to see what they could potentially do together if they shared a line.

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.

For the first time in his tenure with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Nick Robertson has leverage. The forward filed for salary arbitration on Saturday, which allows a third party to decide his compensation for the upcoming season.

The 23-year-old Robertson scored a career-high 15 goals and added seven assists last season. He played in 69 games with the Leafs last season, a positive sign that the player’s history of injury is indeed in the past. However, the forward was limited to playing in just three of Toronto’s 13 playoff games this past spring, due to decision-making from Leafs head coach Craig Berube.

Robertson has been in the Leafs organization since he was drafted in the second round (53rd overall) in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft. Expectations were high for him to replicate his elite goal-scoring at the Ontario Hockey League level, especially when the player was fast-tracked to an NHL debut by suiting up for the club during the 2020 NHL playoffs. However, a combination of injuries and underperformance, coupled with the back-and-forth he experienced in the 2023-24 season between the Maple Leafs and Toronto Marlies (AHL) as the club managed its salary cap, has stunted the player’s growth.

'I Understand It But I'm Not Going To Sit Here And Say That I'm Happy': Maple Leafs' Roster Shuffle Tests Nick Robertson's Patience Upon His Return to the TeamRobertson was called up to the Maple Leafs after being sent down to help the team open up some salary cap space.

Last year, Robertson began the summer by requesting a trade away from Toronto. Instead of getting his wish, however, he signed a one-year, $875,000 deal to remain with the team. This past week, the Leafs tendered a $919,000 qualifying offer to Robertson in order to retain the forward’s rights.

Report: Maple Leafs Restricted Free Agent Nick Robertson 'Still Would Prefer A Change Of Address'Robertson reportedly requested a trade away from the Maple Leafs back in June and hasn't changed his stance.

With the departure of Mitch Marner this offseason, players like Robertson will be counted on to pick up the slack in the scoring department. This makes assessing his fair value an interesting exercise if the team and player are unable to come to an agreement beforehand.

The Maple Leafs and Robertson can continue negotiating up until their scheduled hearing begins. Once that happens, both sides will make their case based on prepared comparables (i.e., other players with similar stats, age, and roles) before a third party rules on final compensation.

'The Puzzle Has Got To Come Into Play': Maple Leafs Not Rushing Contracts Of RFAs Nick Robertson And Pontus HolmbergWhile the talk of the town might be whether the Toronto Maple Leafs can sign John Tavares before July 1 rolls around, you cannot forget about their younger restricted free agents.

The “walkaway” number in the collective bargaining agreement is $4.85 million, according to Puckpedia.com. Any award exceeding that number would allow the Leafs not to be obligated to sign the California-born forward, and he would then become an unrestricted free agent.

Robertson currently has 32 goals and 24 assists in 156 NHL games. Given the history, it's not a surprise at all that the player would exercise his right to leverage for the first time in his NHL career. Finding the right value on the player will be interesting.

An arbitrator can only award a one or two-year contract for Robertson. Hearings for all 11 players announced for arbitration will run from July 20 to August 4. 

(Photo Credit, Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images)

'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. Maple Leafs Goaltender Anthony Stolarz Spotted Back On Ice In New Training Video Shared by Offseason Coach George BosakToronto Maple Leafs fans breathed a sigh of relief when Anthony Stolarz unexpectedly took the ice as Joseph Woll’s backup goaltender in their Game 7 defeat against the Florida Panthers in May, especially as the goaltender later confirmed he was fully cleared from the concussion he sustained from an incident with Panthers forward Sam Bennett in Game 1 of their second-round series. A further positive sign was seeing the goaltender take the ice in full gear with his off-season goaltending coach George Bosak, a moment shared on the coach’s Instagram account on Friday. 'What's This Horse About?': Maple Leafs Prospects React To Having Wild Colt At Development CampThe Toronto Maple Leafs prospects didn't know what they were getting themselves into when they rolled into Exhibition Place on Friday morning.

Nashville Predators development camp came to a close Saturday morning in the Future Stars Game at Ford Ice Center in Bellevue. 

Fans packed the stands to get a glimpse of what the Predators future could look like, and who they could potentially see on the ice this fall. 

It wasn't a traditional game, as there were two 25-minute halves, with 15 minutes of 5-on-5 play, 10 minutes of 4-on-4 play, and a five-man shootout. Goals scored in every segment counted toward the final score. 

Here are the biggest takeaways from this year's Future Stars Game. 

Future Stars Game rosters

Gold

Forwards: Brady Martin, Kalan Lind, Matthew Wood, Viktor Norringer, David Edstrom, Joey Willis, Felix Nilsson, Ryker Lee, Teddy Stiga, Erik Pahlsson.

Defense: Viggo Gustafsson, Tanner Molendyk, Jacob Rombach, Tristan Sarsland, Alex Huang. 

Goalies: Jack Ivankovic, Jakub Milota 

Blue

Forwards: Miguel Marques, Adam Ingram, Cole O'Hara, Aiden Fink, Egor Surin, Ryan Sullivan, Jack Stockfish, Hiroki Gojsic, Austin Roest, Oasiz Wiesblatt. 

Defense: Drew Hockley, Andrew Gibson, Luke Shipley, Cameron Reid, Mac Gadowsky. 

Goalies: Lawton Zacher, T.J. Semptimphelter. 

1. Veterans showed out 

One thing about Matthew Wood... he's going to SHINE ✨ pic.twitter.com/2468hASW3F

— Nashville Predators (@PredsNHL) July 5, 2025

There is a lot of pressure on prospects playing in their first development camp, wanting to make an good early impression. At the same time, there's pressure on veteran players to prove they're ready to contest for a roster spot and show that they are continuing to progress. 

Forward Matthew Wood highlighted that effort with a highlight reel goal and an assist. He tried to deke past Mac Gadowsky while entering the zone but hit Gadowsky's skate while trying to pull the puck.

Luckily, the puck came back to Wood, and he wristed it past Zacher for the goal. Wood played six games with Predators last season after finishing up his final college season at Minnesota. As one of the leaders at the development camp, we could see more of him in Nashville. 

Defenseman Andrew Gibson had two goals, one in 4-on-4 play and the other in the shootout. Mixed with his strong defensive performance, he could be an offensively minded blue-liner that the Predators are looking for. 

The Detroit Red Wings 2023 third-round draft pick, who was traded to the Predators in June 2024, just finished his fourth and final season in the OHL. 

2. Ryker Lee, Cole O'Hara pack an offensive punch 

Cole O'Hara. BETWEEN THE LEGS. TOP SHELF 🤯 pic.twitter.com/UvGNN0AxO5

— Nashville Predators (@PredsNHL) July 5, 2025

The Predators, traditionally, aren't known for having the flashiest players in the world. General manager Barry Trotz's mindset has been focused on size and strength. 

However, Ryker Lee and Cole O'Hara could change that. 

The pair of forwards were extremely active in the game. Lee had a ton of chances and a shootout goal where he essentially threw a change up at TJ Semptimphelter, faking a wrist shot and a leg pump to go bardown on him.

Lee dazzled in the USHL this year, scoring 68 points in 58 games. He's headed to Michigan State this fall, which will only further strengthen his game. Lee's skill set could be even sharper come next year's development camp. 

O'Hara, who's another veteran of the development camp, had a shootout goal, an assist and the most impressive goal of the day. He caught a pass from Egor Surin, who was along the boards, pulled the puck in between his legs and went bar down on Jack Ivankovic. 

The Predators 2022 fourth-round pick played two games in Milwaukee after scoring 51 points with UMass Amherst. A full pro season, whether that be in Milwaukee or Nashville, should say a lot about O'Hara's pro skillset and his overall potential. 

3. TJ Semptimphelter had a shutout in scrimmage 

Considering all the scoring that occurred later in the game and the fact that TJ Semptimphelter started the game, it was notable that he had a shutout before in the 5-on-5 and 4-on-4 segments he played. 

While he ended up letting in two goals in the shootout, with Gold still maintaining a 3-2 lead after that segment, he was the only netminder to not suffice a goal in live action. 

Semptimphelter was one of the two goalies invited to the development camp but not drafted by the team. 

He just completed his final college season at North Dakota, where he played 31 games, posting an 18-11-2 record, a save percentage of .910, and a goals-against average of 2.64. 

Semptimphelter made his pro debut with the Bridgeport Islanders, which was a little rougher, allowing four goals on 22 shots in a 5-2 loss to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. 

Goalie development takes some time, but Semptimphelter showed the most promise out of the goalies. 

Saturday marked day three of the Pittsburgh Penguins development camp, and there was a lot to like. 

Mikhail Ilyin made his debut after getting into Pittsburgh late Thursday night and arriving at the facility on Friday. He participated in the first group session, and his skill was evident right away. He had an excellent release and used it every time it was his turn during a drill. He was also showcasing his playmaking ability, making some slick passes to his teammates.

Some people have concerns about his skating, but I don't view it as a negative at all. He's very methodical with it, but I would like to see him use his top-end speed a little bit more. Ilyin signed his three-year entry-level contract with the Penguins on May 31, but won't be playing for the organization yet. Penguins assistant general manager Jason Spezza told Taylor Haase of DK Pittsburgh Sports that Ilyin will stay in the KHL for the 2025-26 season. The hope is that he will come over to North America full-time for the 2026-27 season. 

If you haven't started putting at least some stock into defensive prospect Finn Harding, I suggest you do so. He was all over the ice on Saturday, showcasing his superb skating and his ability to walk the blue line. I know these are only drills, but he looked super calm and composed each time he had the puck. He was one of two players the Penguins selected in the seventh round of the 2024 NHL Draft, and is already looking like a steal. 

Harding has developed his offensive game since being drafted, finishing the 2024-25 season with seven goals and 57 points in 67 games with the OHL's Brampton Steelheads. He will play for either the Wheeling Nailers or the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins this year after signing his ELC in March.

Will Horcoff was a little quiet during the first two days of development camp, but that changed on Saturday. The 2025 first-round pick was showcasing his release, specifically his one-timer, during drills, and it's pretty impressive. He roofed one over Justin BriseBois during a drill before going top shelf with two more goals a short time later. 

He's a bit more of a "project" compared to fellow first-rounders Ben Kindel and Bill Zonnon, and Michigan is the perfect place for him to keep developing. He will have the opportunity to play with the Wolverines for a full season this year after appearing in 18 games for them last year, where he compiled four goals and 10 points. 

Development camp will resume on Sunday, concluding with a tournament on Monday.

---

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Featured Image Credit: Brian Bradshaw Sevald-Imagn Images

Most of the speculation surrounding the Buffalo Sabres continues to be on restricted free agent defenseman Bowen Byram. Earlier this week, TSN’s Darren Dreger reported that interested clubs were contemplating an offer sheet and that could still be the case if Byram does not opt for salary arbitration by 5 pm Saturday. The St. Louis Blues according to Jeremy Rutherford of the Athletic are in hot pursuit of the blueliner, but the Blues may have company.

According to the Fourth Period’s David Pagnotta, the San Jose Sharks are also interested in the 24-year-old defenseman. Sharks GM Mike Grier has been busy over the last week adding to his blueline and getting over the cap floor with the signings of veterans Dmitri Orlov, John Kingberg, and the waiver claim of Nick Leddy, but Grier is undoubtedly looking for long-term stability on the blueline, as San Jose has five defensemen in the final year of their contracts.  

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Byram is two years away from unrestricted free agency, but if he elects for salary arbitration, he could sign a long-term extension.  

“We believe Bo is an excellent hockey player that can help our team win,” Sabres GM Kevyn Adams said on Wednesday. “I've maintained the same position that if there's a deal out there that makes sense for us that we think is going to improve our roster we're open to it. If there's not, we're not in a situation where we're looking to move him out or looking to move him for futures and stuff like that, for me we want to help our team win hockey games and he helps us do that.”

The issue with the Sharks is that they do not have many players who fit the need of what the Sabres are looking for, which is young NHL players under team control. San Jose will not move core pieces like Macklin Celebrini or Will Smith, and the Sabres are reportedly not interested in picks or top prospects like defenseman Sam Dickinson, who was selected with Buffalo’s pick at the 2024 Draft in Las Vegas. Former first round pick William Eklund is the only player who would seemingly fit GM Kevyn Adams criteria, and the 22-year-old forward just signed a three-year contract extension for $16.8 million.   

Follow Michael on X, Instagram, and Bluesky @MikeInBuffalo

After the first four days of the NHL’s free-agent frenzy, most of the available talent is now off the market. But for the right price, there are still decent-enough players looking for work. What players of note are left? That’s the focus of this column. 

Here are our picks for the top players remaining as UFAs, listed on their most recent teams:

1. Ilya Samsonov, G, Vegas Golden Knights

We have Samsonov at the top of our list not because we believe he’ll get the most money out of all the players we’ve listed here, but rather, because the goaltending market is not at all deep, guaranteeing Samsonov will get a solid shot at earning playing time somewhere. 

The 28-year-old’s numbers last year with Vegas – including a 2.82 goals-against average and a .891 save percentage – aren’t going to knock anyone’s socks off, and his next salary won’t be much more than the $1.8 million he made as a Golden Knight last year. But if he’s part of a tandem where his playing time is somewhat limited to 40 games or fewer, Samsonov could prove to be a smart investment.

2. Jack Roslovic, C, Carolina Hurricanes

Roslovic has bounced around the league in recent years, playing on the Columbus Blue Jackets, New York Rangers and Hurricanes since 2022-23. But Roslovic tied his personal best in goals this past season, with 22 markers to his credit. 

Any team seeking offense could do much worse than signing Roslovic, who earned only $2.8 million in 2024-25 and may aim to get back to the $4-million per season he was making in 2022-23 and 2023-24. He’s still relatively young at 28 years old, and Roslovic’s soft hands and nose for the net are valuable skills he’s looking to parlay into a multi-year deal.

3. Matt Grzelcyk, D, Pittsburgh Penguins

Just about all defensemen of consequence are off the board, leaving Grzelcyk as the best available option. The 31-year-old had a career year on offense with the Penguins last season, posting 39 assists and 40 points. 

Any team seeking help on offense should be taking a long look at Grzelcyk, who earned only $2.75-million last season and is likely aiming for a two or three-year contract with a slightly higher annual payday. But after suffering through misery in Pittsburgh last season, Grzelcyk may choose to sacrifice some money to play on a team that’s a virtual lock to make the playoffs in 2025-26.

4. Victor Olofsson, LW, Vegas Golden Knights

Only three years ago, Olofsson was earning $4.75 million and generating 28 goals in a single season for the Buffalo Sabres. But he had a down season for Buffalo in 2023-24, and accepted a pay cut to only $1.075-million with the Golden Knights last season. 

OIofsson’s role in Vegas was smaller than it was in Buffalo, but he still managed to post 15 goals and 29 points while averaging only 14:30 of ice time in 56 games in 2024-25. Teams in need of depth on the wing should be in the race to sign Olofsson, but like Grzelcyk, he may also prioritize playing on a Cup contender.

5. Max Pacioretty, LW, Toronto Maple Leafs

The 36-year-old Pacioretty once again had difficulty staying healthy last season, appearing in only 37 games and potting five goals and 13 points in that span. But Pacioretty roared back in a major way in the playoffs, posting three goals and eight points in 11 post-season games. 

Pacioretty earned $873,770 with Toronto last season, and while he may get a slight raise into the $1-million-per-year range, his priority could be playing close to his Michigan home, and that means he may be choosing between the Maple Leafs and Detroit Red Wings to sign what could be his final NHL contract. Retirement could also be an option for Pacioretty, but if he does play, his professionalism and evolution into a physical forward will be very valuable to a team looking for help on its third or fourth line.

6. Joel Kiviranta, LW, Colorado Avalanche

The 29-year-old Kiviranta was playing on a league-minimum contract in Colorado for the past two seasons, but in 2024-25, he had a breakout year of sorts, with 16 goals and 23 points in 79 games with the Avs. Kiviranta averaged only 12:31 of ice time in Denver last season – a modest career-best for the Finn – but as a plugger on an above-average squad, he could flirt with the 20-goal plateau and wind up being a terrific gamble for a team. 

The Avalanche have the money to bring Kiviranta back, but a lack of agreement at this point may signify they want to move in a different direction. Sooner or later, though, one team or another will bring in Kiviranta as a depth addition. 

7. Robby Fabbri, C, Anaheim Ducks

Staying healthy has been a serious challenge for the 29-year-old Fabbri, who has yet to play a full 82-game season in his nine NHL seasons. And last year, Fabbri appeared in only 44 games with the Ducks, posting just eight goals and 16 points. But the year prior, as a member of the Red Wings, Fabbri matched his career-high of 18 goals, and he did it in only 68 games. 

Fabbri earned $4 million in 2024-25, so his next contract is likely to include a significant pay cut. But if he can stay in the lineup, Fabbri has the finishing skills to get close to the 20-goal mark once again.

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It’s never just a number, it’s a legacy. That sentiment rings true for the newest member of the Vegas Golden Knights, Mitch Marner, who will be sporting the number 93 in the upcoming season. A number that once defined his early days now returns with this new chapter in his career. 

Mitch Marner is a Knight once again... ⚔️ @LondonKnights ➡️ @GoldenKnights#NHLFreeAgencypic.twitter.com/Hpcf3MJxEM

— NHL (@NHL) July 2, 2025

Nearly a decade ago, Marner first wore the number 93 for the London Knights, a tribute to his father’s admiration for the famous forward Doug Gilmour. The Toronto Maple Leafs had retired that number in Gilmour’s honor, preventing Marner from having the opportunity to take it to the ice. But now, with a new beginning in Vegas, Marner finally has the chance to wear 93 again.

“The first time I actually saw it on someone was on my son,” Marner said. “My wife and I were in our hotel room and put it on him, and it was just a really special moment. It’s a jersey that I wore with the London Knights for the three years there, and had great success with it and really enjoyed the number.”

This transition holds personal meaning for Marner off the ice, but Vegas general manager Kelly McCrimmon also emphasized the significant impact Marner is expected to make on the ice.

“With Mitch Marner, we're getting one of the best forwards in the National Hockey League,” McCrimmon said. “Elite playmaker, tremendous passer over his past four seasons, he's averaged 30 goals and 100 points, 102 points this past year. Dynamic, our fans will love this player, he really adds to our team. He adds to our offense. It gives us another, you know, F1 star at the forward position, which we really feel is important. I think that it improves our team tremendously.”

Marner will be the first Knight to wear number 93 on the ice, already solidifying his name in the Vegas history books.  

PHOTO COURTESY: Golden Knights

The signings by NHL clubs have ground to a halt five days into free agency, with the most sought-after players locked up on Day 1 and the biggest fish in Nikolai Ehlers finally signing with the Carolina Hurricanes on Thursday. A pair of former Buffalo Sabres are among the most prominent players still not signed. Jeff Skinner had 16 goals last season with Edmonton, but played sparingly in the playoffs, while Victor Oloffson had a solid injury-shortened season with the Vegas Golden Knights.   

The 29-year-old was a seventh-round pick of the Sabres in 2014 and spent four seasons in Sweden before coming to North America in 2018. After scoring 30 goals with Rochester,  Olofsson played five seasons in Buffalo, scoring 20 or more goals three times, but he was phased out by Don Granato of his role on the power play, and played mostly fourth line duty in 2024 before leaving  as an unrestricted free agent. 

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Olofsson joined the Golden Knights and former linemate Jack Eichel on a one-year, $1.075 million on the second day of free agency last July and had some success in a limited role, posting 29 points (15 goals, 14 assists) in 56 games, and four points (2 goals, 2 assists) in nine playoff games, as Vegas lost to Edmonton in the second round.  

Vegas after the sign and trade for Mitch Marner, the signing of Kaeden Korczak, and the acquisitions of Colton Sissons and Jeremy Lauzon, are over the cap. GM Kelly McCrimmon may make some moves in addition to putting defenseman Alex Pietrangelo on long-term injured reserve to open up cap space to a make a few tweaks. It is possible that Olofsson still factors in the Golden Knights plans, but there may be other teams looking to add a scoring winger/power play specialist for a economical price.  

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Nesbitt may have surprised some, but a former Flyer sees ‘a little bit of Couturier' originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

VOORHEES, N.J. — Jack Nesbitt was aware of the 2025 NHL pre-draft rankings.

“Definitely a little bit,” he said.

Some experts and scouting services had him around the top 20, but others didn’t. He was slotted as low as 48th on EliteProspects.com. So when the Flyers traded two first-round picks (Nos. 22 and 31) to move up and select Nesbitt at 12th overall a little over a week ago, the decision was probably met with a share of skepticism.

But Nesbitt didn’t sound bothered by it.

“I know I was ranked either 10 to 20 or even lower,” the 18-year-old center said Wednesday at Flyers development camp. “I just went into the draft knowing that I could be a first-rounder and if I dropped out of there, it’s OK, it’s just a pick. But I’m very happy about going 12th, I know a lot of people didn’t expect that. I’m very happy about it, proud about it and I’m honored to be in this position.”

Nesbitt sure looks intriguing when you see him up close. He’s between 6-foot-4 and 6-foot-5, he’s highly skilled with the puck and he’s just fine with playing in the trenches. On top of that, his hockey IQ is already there.

Wayne Simmonds, now a consultant for the Flyers’ hockey operations department, saw Nesbitt around four to five times last season while scouting the OHL. The former Flyer was once a teammate of a long, lanky center who developed into a Selke Trophy winner. Simmonds sees some of Sean Couturier in Nesbitt.

“Jack is very smart, huge body,” Simmonds said Wednesday. “When he fills into his body, he’s going to be unstoppable. I think of, to me, when I watch him play, a little bit of Couturier.”

On a loaded Windsor team that featured 124-point Ilya Protas and 119-point Liam Greentree, Nesbitt put up 64 points (25 goals, 39 assists) and a plus-12 rating in 65 games last season. He earned more and more opportunity down the stretch before adding 10 points (one goal, nine assists) in 12 playoff games.

The Flyers have gotten a glimpse of his physicality at development camp.

“He likes those dirty areas, you see him in those corner battles, he is not shying away from anyone out there,” Flyers director of player development Riley Armstrong said Wednesday. “Once he understands how to use his body and come out of the corner with the puck, once he gets stronger, I think he’s going to be a nice addition here in a couple of years.”

Jack Nesbitt showing his size and physicality here on Devin Kaplan.

Nesbitt likes to get into the thick of things. pic.twitter.com/hdaZZS9jNG

— Jordan Hall (@JHallNBCS) July 5, 2025

The 186-pound Nesbitt will have to gain strength and improve his foot speed as he develops with the Spitfires. He’s slated for two more years of junior hockey. After development camp, he’ll be working with Windsor skating coach Kathy McLlwain this summer.

“I think I grew, like, four inches one year maybe three years ago,” Nesbitt said. “It just came along the way and now it’s about putting the weight on. … Growing up, I was always the biggest guy on my team, so my skating wasn’t the greatest.”

Flyers prospects Denver Barkey and Oliver Bonk are familiar with Nesbitt from their matchups in the OHL. Nesbitt had four goals and four assists over six games against their London squad last season.

“Really big body, he has got really good hands around the net, he has got a knack to score,” Barkey said Saturday. “Every time we played him, I think he might have scored at least one goal, he’d always find a way to put one in the back of the net. So he has got a good knack for scoring. He’s not shy, either. He’s a big body, he plays physical, not afraid to fight and mix it up, as well.”

Jack Nesbitt from Thursday’s session at Flyers development camp.

People have said his hands are very good, one of his biggest strengths. pic.twitter.com/eogAF4Jmxj

— Jordan Hall (@JHallNBCS) July 5, 2025

From February to the end of the regular season, Nesbitt had 21 points (eight goals, 13 assists) in 18 games.

“We think his upside is really, really strong,” NHL Central Scouting vice president Dan Marr said last month. “I think teams will step up for him. It was consensus with our group and I think it’s consensus with a lot of NHL teams.”

That could be why the Flyers felt they had to be aggressive if they wanted to grab him.

“I know he’s a player the organization was really high on based on the move that they made to go up and get him, they did that for a reason,” Patrick Sharp, a special advisor to the Flyers’ hockey operations department, said Saturday. “So far, very impressed with him.”

For 19-year-old Pittsburgh Penguins' defensive prospect Harrison Brunicke, it is only a matter of time. 

It is evident through just three days of the Penguins' annual Prospect Development Camp that the young, smooth-skating blueliner is, simply, a level above everybody else. His skating - though it didn't need much improvement - looks more explosive and even smoother than it did at this time last year. His puckhandling skills and offensive instincts have been on display, too, and he's been a mentor of sorts to some of the younger Penguins' defensive prospects who are attending camp for the first time. 

Brunicke nearly made the NHL roster out of training camp last season after a wildly impressive pre-season. He has made it his goal to make it across the finish line this time around. 

“It’s the goal to stay here. That’s the dream,” Brunicke said. “So, I’m going to have the right mindset going into dev camp to start here and then throughout main camp and pre-season.”

In watching the 6-foot-3, 202-pound South African native, it’s clear that he is a level above his peers. Brunicke is probably beyond juniors at this point. 

But, unfortunately, his path to the NHL won’t be an easy one - even if it’s where he probably should be next season. 

The Penguins, as an organization, love Brunicke, and it's easy to see why. In the aftermath of his standout training camp, he took a big step last season when he went to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (WBS) for 10 games after his junior season with the Kamloops Blazers (WHL) ended - registering two points - and he also appeared in both playoff games for WBS, potting his first career AHL goal and an assist.

Penguins Prospect Development Camp: Standouts From Day 1On Thursday, the Pittsburgh Penguins opened their annual Prospect Development Camp, which features 48 players both from the Penguins' system and outside of it.

There were some growing pains in that 12-game stint. It was evident that, at first, Brunicke was adjusting to playing against grown men and professional hockey players, especially in comparison to the ask of him in Kamloops. There, he is - without a doubt - a bad team's best player, and the team relies on him to, pretty much, do it all himself.

“The first couple of games, I was just trying to do too much - kind of bringing those junior habits - and it just wasn’t working,” Brunicke said. “So, I eventually talked to [assistant general manager Jason Spezza] a little bit about just playing more simple and kind of toning that down. I think that really helped me, and I started to play some of my best hockey.”

As he learned, “doing it yourself” is not the case in the AHL, and it won't be the case in the NHL. It's something that Brunicke picked up on - and started to correct - very quickly during that short stint, and that aptitude and adaptability did not go unnoticed by the Penguins.

"I think he took the constructive criticism and was able to apply it right away,” Kostopoulos said. “If you watched his games in Wilkes-Barre, there was growth, but it took off. It was impressive how he grew into the games in the playoffs. He looked very confident for a young kid. 

“So, we’re really excited about his potential that he’s got to be a really good two-way defender with offensive upside.”

There certainly is a lot of potential with Brunicke - who is, arguably, the Penguins’ top prospect. But here’s the thing: If Brunicke goes back to Kamloops this season, the expectation for him is not going to change. He is not yet AHL-eligible - and he signed his entry-level contract, disqualifying him from the NCAA - so he only has two options.

Penguins sign defenseman Harrison Brunicke to entry-level contractThe 44th overall pick in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft is signed through the 2026-27 season

The last thing the Penguins will want is to rush the development of their best defensive prospect, and that’s understandable. As it stands now, there is also a bit of a defensive logjam on the right side at the NHL level, as Erik Karlsson, Kris Letang, new acquisition Connor Clifton, and roster hopeful Jack St. Ivany will all serve to make a final spot less attainable for Brunicke.

However, Brunicke is in a tough spot. The AHL would be the perfect landing spot for him in 2025-26, but since he can’t play there, he either has to move forward to the NHL, where he will burn a year of his entry-level contract but will at least be learning and growing, or move backward to Kamloops, where he risks picking up more bad habits and stunting his development. 

What happens with Brunicke will, likely, largely depend on the fate of Karlsson, who has been the subject of trade speculation. If Karlsson is dealt, it is far more likely that Brunicke has a legitimate shot at the NHL roster out of camp.

But if Karlsson sticks around - and Brunicke has yet another outstanding training camp - the Penguins are truly going to have some tough decisions to make. If he is sent back to juniors, their best hope is that he gets traded to a contending team and isn’t forced to carry the load all by himself. Or, maybe, the best course of action would be to give Brunicke that nine-game trial run from the jump, just to see what he can do with the Penguins and if he can make things even more interesting for management. 

In any case, Brunicke’s time is coming soon. And the Penguins need to make sure they make whatever decision is in the best interest for Brunicke’s development. 

And - based on everything we’ve seen - I’m not sure that his “best interest” lies in junior hockey anymore.

With Breadth Of Positional Depth In The System, Penguins' Defensive Prospects Eager To Take Next StepsWhen Pittsburgh Penguins’ Prospect Development Camp began on Thursday, 48 players took the to the ice - some for the first time in black and gold, others returned to a familiar place.

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Feature image credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images