It makes you wonder, with how popular New York Islanders' star defenseman Matthew Schaefer has become since being selected first overall at the 2025 NHL Draft, if he's destined to find himself on the cover of the NHL video game in the near future.
If Schaefer is named the cover athlete for NHL 28, he'd surpass Celebrini as the youngest to ever do it.
Schaefer turns 19 on Sept. 15, so he'd still be 19 when the announced comes out, around the same time next season.
As mentioned in the story above, the plan, since we spoke with Gustafsson at the podium on night one of the NHL Draft, was for him to return to the SHL for a second season with SV71 before coming over to join the organization.
The Hockey News has been told, despite signing his ELC, that plan has not changed.
Gustafsson is eligible to come over and join the Islanders organization, whether that's at the AHL or the NHL level, when his season comes to an end, like we saw with Victor Eklund this past season.
Like with Eklund, though, don't expect Gustafsson to take part in Islanders training camp this fall.
We’ve already reached the middle of July, and Samuel Montembeault is still a member of the Montreal Canadiens. As things stand, it is conceivable that for a second year in a row, the Canadiens will have three NHL-caliber goaltenders on their payroll.
Last season, Montembeault’s struggles led to Jacob Fowler being called up much earlier than expected, and the Melbourne, Florida native proved that he was up to the task and didn’t look out of place for a second. He may just be 21 years old, but he manned the crease like a seasoned vet and quickly earned his teammates’ trust. In 17 games, he posted a 9-6-2 record with a 2.43 goals-against average and a .908 save percentage, and picked up a shutout along the way.
Meanwhile, the man who was a seasoned vet had only a 10-8-4 record, a 3.43 GAA, and an .872 SV. As for Jakub Dobes, he was in net for most of the Canadiens’ wins and ended the year with a 29-10-4 record, a 2.78 GAA, and a .901 SV. While he did struggle at one stage in the season when he couldn’t seem to win over the coaching staff’s trust, he blossomed when Montembeault was cast aside, and by the time the playoffs came around, he was the undisputed number one choice.
Earlier this month, the Canadiens rewarded the Czech netminder with a three-year contract extension which has a $5,357,575 AAV. That was a clear endorsement of the 25-year-old’s work, and while a contract doesn’t guarantee playing time, as Dobes said himself in his media availability, it at the very least lets him know that he’s got the inside lane right now.
Having three goalies on the roster is far from an ideal situation, especially when two of them are 25 or younger. At that age, goaltenders need to see a lot of action to develop properly, and GM Kent Hughes has been clear: if Fowler stays with the big club this season, he will need to see plenty of action.
The days of the clear-cut number one choice in net seem to be a thing of the past. Nowadays, it seems like teams prefer to bet on a two-goalie system, which allows them to avoid overworking their top guy while also providing the backup with enough playing time.
As things stand, the Canadiens are in win mode; the results matter. They are no longer in rebuilding mode, with the focus being almost exclusively on development. Given Montembeault’s performance last season, one has to wonder whether he could earn the team’s trust back if he were to spend the season in Montreal.
As good a teammate as the Quebecer is, the Canadiens cannot afford another season of uncertainty in net. Time and time again last season, he was beaten on his first shot, putting the team in a hole straight from the start. It wasn’t surprising that eventually, his teammates started to play nervously in front of him.
Of course, given how young Fowler is, he could still be assigned to the AHL for the season and get plenty of ice time even if it’s at a lower level. Does he need more time there, though? There are no set rules regarding the time netminders spend in the AHL. Dobes played 65 AHL games before becoming a regular with the Canadiens after Cayden Primeau’s collapse. Carey Price only skated in 12 AHL games before becoming a regular in the NHL. Andrei Vasilevskiy only patrolled the Syracuse Crunch’s crease for 37 games. Jake Oettinger saw 54 AHL games, while Dustin Wolf saw 138 before becoming the man in Calgary.
Fowler has only played 30 games with the Rocket and another eight in the AHL playoffs. Granted, that’s not a lot, but it may just be enough. Granted, Fowler must see a lot of action, but his development may well be better served in the NHL, and, statistically speaking, his presence in Montreal would give the Habs better odds of winning.
However, should the Canadiens decide to go with a Dobes-Fowler tandem and try to send Montembeault down to the AHL, he would no doubt be picked up on waivers, and it’s hard to imagine the Habs’ brass being willing to lose that kind of asset for nothing. While a lot has been said about the Canadiens’ need to improve their top six, it may be an even bigger need to find Montembeault a new home.
Although the Philadelphia Flyers may have missed out on Leo Carlsson and numerous other external targets throughout the start of the offseason, plenty of worthwhile players are still available for the taking.
The Flyers, of course, led with their biggest need, aiming to acquire a top-six center with trade interest in Mavrik Bourque and the attempted offer sheet on Carlsson.
They still have options, like Elias Pettersson, Shane Wright, and Adam Fantilli, but those players do not present as realistic or reasonable options at this point in time.
So where do we go from here? Well, the Flyers still need to re-sign Trevor Zegras and Jamie Drysdale, who have filed for and seem to be heading towards arbitration, as well as Nikita Grebenkin.
The forward position is already a pretty full group in the absence of a true top-tier upgrade, but the defense is an area where the Flyers can still make significant strides without aiming to steal the moon.
Among the remaining restricted free agents, Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Alexander Nikishin is one of the best out there, still just 24 years old, and now comes with Stanley Cup-winning experience after just one year in the NHL.
The 6-foot-3 Russian had been a KHL regular since the 2019-20 season, when he was still a teenager. Making the jump from the KHL to the NHL at the end of last season, Nikishin played in four playoff games for the Hurricanes and recorded one assist.
This season, Nikishin featured in 81 games for Rod Brind'Amour's group, scoring 11 goals, 22 assists, and 33 points in a depth role, occasionally filling in higher when needed due to injuries.
Brind'Amour, of course, reduced Nikishin's role further and leaned on his more experienced, developed players down the Hurricanes' Cup-winning stretch, and as a result, Nikishin registered only one assist and one point in his 17 playoff appearances.
Quietly, though, the 24-year-old has already played in 21 Stanley Cup playoff games, and his first NHL season was very prolific for the role he was given.
Nikishin, a 10.2.c restricted free agent, is not eligible to sign and receive an offer sheet, so the only way he plays for a team other than the Hurricanes next season is if a trade comes to fruition.
That's where the Flyers should come in.
How Nikishin fits with the Flyers
Behind Travis Sanheim and Cam York, the Flyers have a need for an upgrade on defense with age beginning to catch up to Nick Seeler. And, on top of that, Seeler was never especially great with the puck on his stick, which limits how Rick Tocchet's Flyers can attack in transition.
Emil Andrae, arguably the Flyers' best breakout artist, was traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs earlier in the offseason in the Joseph Woll deal, and even he couldn't feature regularly enough due to his diminutive 5-foot-9 stature.
Andrae has been replaced on the roster by Simon Benoit, who plays a different brand of hockey and doesn't have that same level of skill.
Nikishin, however, does, and he can play the role of a physical thumper if and when needed, too.
If and when the Flyers trade Rasmus Ristolainen, that presence will be needed on the blue line, and even then, we can easily argue that Nikishin has better puck skills and a higher offensive upside.
And if the Flyers manage to land Nikishin, the offensive upside of the defense would suddenly look quite promising, between him, Sanheim, York, Drysdale, David Jiricek, and/or Oliver Bonk.
Just one ambitious move could change the entire outlook of this team going forward.
That all said, one of the bigger obstacles of this whole idea is what Nikishin will want in regards to money and term on his next contract.
TSN NHL insider Darren Dreger believes that the former third-round pick's contractual demands are a "major factor" in any trade getting over the line.
Few teams are capable of paying the Hurricanes' trade price before offering a prolific contract, but the Flyers are one of them.
After all, the Flyers were prepared to sign Leo Carlsson for $18 million a year on top of paying up four first-round picks as compensation.
But if Nikishin wants $8 million or so on his next contract, the Flyers can do that. In fact, they probably should.
Sanheim still makes a modest $6.25 million against the cap, and it's possible Drysdale gets even more than that on his next deal.
Alexander Nikishin's player card. (Evolving-Hockey)
Nikishin has a higher upside than both, provided he continues to develop and improve as he further adapts to the North American game with a full year of NHL experience under his belt.
Even if Nikishin's offense plateaus at 10 goals and 30 points, that's what Cam York did at his best in 2023-24. And after a 17-point 2024-25, York got $5.15 million annually from the Flyers.
As long as Nikishin's defense comes along, the Flyers could, at worst, be paying about $3 million more for a bigger York, who is also a much better shooting threat.
Honestly, it's hard to see the financial risk here from the Flyers' perspective.
Is this a trap set by the Hurricanes?
The common social media argument against trading for Nikishin is, why would the Flyers target a defenseman in Nikishin that a Stanley Cup-winning team is willing to trade away?
But the answer is more simple than that.
As long as Jaccob Slavin, K'Andre Miller, and Shayne Gostisbehere are healthy, Nikishin will be stuck behind them on the depth chart.
The Hurricanes can instead cash in on a young player that they would be otherwise paying money that far exceeds his role on the team, and get assets in return that they can use to bolster the roster in other ways.
Yes, Slavin, Sean Walker, Gostisbehere, and Jalen Chatfield are all 30 or older, but the Hurricanes just won the Cup. Their window is open now, as we have seen.
And if those players age out and the Hurricanes need to replace Nikishin, they can leverage their prospects and/or draft assets to get it done, as they already did once with Miller last offseason.
Carolina also just drafted a very safe, solid defense prospect in William Hakansson during the 2026 NHL Draft last month.
Entertaining a Nikishin trade is just smart GM'ing by Eric Tulsky; he isn't unnecessarily backing himself into corners and has all of his outs and options mapped out in advance.
The Michkov factor
And then there's the Matvei Michkov connection, which is arguably the Flyers' biggest wildcard in this whole thing.
Michkov and Nikishin were once KHL teammates on powerhouse club SKA St. Petersburg, for whom Nikishin served as captain in 2023-24 and 2024-25.
Artemi Panarin, one of the two captains (Mikhail Sergachev) drafting the all-star teams, drafted both Michkov and Nikishin to his squad, reuniting them for the star-studded charity contest set to be played in St. Petersburg on July 25.
Kirill Kaprizov is also on Panarin's team, but that possibility is long gone. So is Pavel Mintyukov, who recently re-upped with Anaheim.
Naturally, the Flyers can instead hope (or ask) Michkov to recruit Nikishin to Philadelphia, where the team has a big need for his talents and services.
The Athletic's Kevin Kurz recently wrote in a mailbag, "My impression is that the organization, particularly the coaching staff, knows that everyone will have to do more to ensure Michkov is more integrated next season into what has become a tight-knit dressing room. Ultimately, it’s going to be up to Michkov — something that Briere seemed to reinforce at the end of the 2025-26 season — but I would expect a more proactive approach."
In recent seasons, the Flyers have had an exodus, of sorts, of players who were close to Michkov on and off the ice.
Ryan Poehling, who was once Michkov's locker room stall-mate that would trade Russian and English phrases with him, was dealt away in the Zegras trade.
Goalie Ivan Fedotov was traded last offseason, and not long after that, Egor Zamula shared the same fate.
The Flyers do have unsigned free agent Nikita Grebenkin as a fellow countryman for Michkov, but he's as young and inexperienced as his phenom teammate.
Over the course of this past season, the integration of youngsters Alex Bump, Denver Barkey, and Porter Martone helped some, as they are all of similar age, but it's not quite the same when you can't communicate in English the same way you can in Russian.
So, there's that aspect, too, where adding Nikishin would give Michkov another buddy he can really relate to and associate with, and one that the Flyers would presumably have a similar level of long-term investment in, in contrast to Fedotov and Zamula.
It was declared that the Flyers are now swashbuckling risk-takers, pirates who will bowl over anyone in their way, after the Carlsson debacle, but there was little risk involved there. The Flyers were giving away what would have been four late first-round picks for a 21-year-old, point-per-game center whose large contract would have just paid him in advance for what he was on track to become.
Trading for a less proven but talented Nikishin, who plays for a division rival? Now that's a real risk. And the coming months will prove how far the Flyers are willing to go, what bumps and bruises they are willing to accept, and how badly they are willing to be burned, on the road to building a winner.
The center-ice position is important for every NHL team, but with the system the Florida Panthers play, the responsibility on their center-ice men is very high.
Coach Paul Maurice demands excellence both offensively and defensively, attention to detail, and coverage all over the ice. Those demands can’t be achieved by just any center in the NHL, but GM Bill Zito has done an excellent job finding players who fit.
The Panthers’ first three-line center spots are occupied by Aleksander Barkov, Sam Bennett and Anton Lundell, as unless injuries occur, those three players have locked down their roles. But heading into the 2026 NHL off-season, the fourth-line role was vacant.
Throughout the 2025-26 season, several players occupied that role. Cole Schwindt was used quite frequently after he was claimed off waivers, Tomas Nosek skated on the fourth line when he returned from his injury, and even Luke Kunin was used in that role to start the season.
Heading into the 2026-27 season, that role is for veteran Lars Eller.
Eller has a very impressive NHL resume. The 37-year-old won a Stanley Cup with the Washington Capitals in 2018, skating as a third-line center and adding seven goals and 18 points in 24 playoff games. He plays a reliable two-way game, winning over 50 percent of his faceoffs in seven of his last eight NHL campaigns.
He might not give the Panthers double-digit goals and 30-40 points as he did in his prime. Still, the Panthers can feel very comfortable using Ellers in defensive situations against any of their opponents’ lines.
Eller believes he is a perfect fit with the Panthers and remains hungry to add another Stanley Cup.
“I’m as hungry as ever,” said Eller when he first spoke to the Florida media. “I want to say I still have that same hunger as when I came into the league almost two decades ago. Once you’ve had a taste of winning, it doesn’t satisfy that hunger to want to go out and do it again. And I think this team has also proved that they have that hunger in them.”
Originally a 13th overall pick by the St. Louis Blues in 2007, Eller has racked up 1184 games of NHL regular season experience, scoring 193 goals and 439 points. In the post-season, Eller has played 116 games, notching 15 goals and 50 points.
While the ability to chip in offensively is appreciated, it’s how Maurice deploys Eller that will show his value.
Eller can hop over the boards to kill penalties and take timely defensive zone faceoffs, which will allow Maurice to give Barkov and Lundell extra rest and more opportunities to start their shifts in the offensive zone.
With just an $850,000 cap hit for one season, Eller could turn out to be a bargain signing in the regular season and in the playoffs.
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They signed Gustafsson to a three-year entry-level deal — which carries an average annual value of $1.575 million, according to Puckpedia — less than three weeks after the draft. Gustafsson told The Post at development camp that he planned to play for HV71 in the Swedish Hockey League again next season, and after signing his deal, that’d mark a similar route to the one that 2025 first-round pick Victor Eklund took last year.
Eklund inked his entry-level deal July 14, played for Djurgårdens IF in the SHL, skated in 11 games for AHL Bridgeport between the regular season and playoffs and then even made his NHL debut in Game 82. If Gustafsson skates in fewer than 10 NHL games next season, the first year of his entry-level deal would likewise slide and he wouldn’t burn that initial season of his deal.
Malte Gustafsson during an Islanders rookie scrimmage on July 1, 2026. Dennis A. Clark for NY Post
Plenty still has to happen for Gustafsson to reach that point, to where he’s potentially an option to help either the Islanders or AHL Hamilton. But he arrived “as advertised” to development camp, head coach Peter DeBoer told reporters earlier this month, and his blend of size, physicality and two-way ability already positioned the 18-year-old as someone who could develop into a critical piece of the Islanders’ blue line in the future.
“He’s mature beyond his years,” DoBoer told reporters after the final day of development camp, “and I thought in the game yesterday, he got better as it went on. I thought the second period of that game, I thought you started to see him get more confident. These rookie camps are tough. I can remember over the years some of the best players I had didn’t look great at rookie camp.
“So you’ve got to take them with a grain of salt sometimes, but I thought Malte came as advertised. He did a great job.”
For the first time since NHL 2001, a member of the San Jose Sharks will be on the cover of an EA Sports NHL video game.
The next generation is here. Macklin Celebrini is the youngest NHL cover athlete in history. Tune in for the #NHL27 Reveal Trailer on July 16 at 11 AM ET.
On Tuesday morning, Sharks star forward Macklin Celebrini was officially named the cover athlete of EA Sports NHL 27. While Owen Nolan was the most recent member of the Sharks to grace the cover of an EA Sports title, Joe Thornton was the most recent Shark to appear on a video game cover overall.
Thornton was the cover athlete on 2k Sports’ NHL 2k7 which was released in October 2006.
It’s fitting that Celebrini is once again passed a torch that once belonged to Thornton, as he broke Thornton’s record for most points by a Shark in a single season during his sophomore campaign and set a benchmark for the next generation of Sharks.
Celebrini is also the youngest player to ever be featured on the cover on an EA Sports NHL game.
Celebrini spoke to ESPN about the cover, stating: “I thought it was amazing. I loved it. Fairly simple process: They just sent it to me and I was just like, 'Yeah, it looks good.'"
Patrick Kane, the NHL’s all-time leading scorer among American-born players, remains unsigned this offseason.
Do the Colorado Avalanche have a realistic chance of signing him this offseason?
Probably not.
At this point, Colorado's offseason appears all but finished unless the front office finds a way to shed salary before training camp. That scenario looks increasingly unlikely. According to PuckPedia, the Avalanche are currently $445,841 over the salary cap, leaving virtually no financial flexibility. Kane would likely command somewhere between $2.75 million and $3 million, not including any potential performance bonuses.
If there's a realistic window for Colorado to pursue Kane, it would likely come closer to the NHL trade deadline. Even then, it raises an important question: Is it worth making a move for a 37-year-old winger?
There are valid arguments on both sides.
The biggest concern is the mixed message it would send. The Avalanche have emphasized getting younger, yet they signed 34-year-old center Jaden Schwartz to a three-year contract despite his lengthy injury history. Kane—who has been linked to Colorado multiple times over the past few seasons, including before signing with the Detroit Red Wings—is hardly a move that aligns with a youth movement.
On the other hand, few players can match Kane's résumé.
The former No. 1 overall pick has built one of the most accomplished careers of his generation. Kane won the Calder Trophy as the NHL's Rookie of the Year in 2007-08 before helping lead the Chicago Blackhawks to three Stanley Cup championships. He captured the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP during Chicago's 2013 title run, and in 2015-16, he put together one of the greatest seasons by an American-born player, winning the Hart Trophy as league MVP, the Ted Lindsay Award, and the Art Ross Trophy after leading the NHL in scoring with a career-high 46 goals and 106 points while appearing in all 82 regular-season games.
One criticism that's surfaced is that Kane simply isn't the 100-point player he once was.
That argument misses the bigger picture.
Yes, Kane is 37 years old, and expecting him to produce at an MVP level is unrealistic. But it's also worth remembering that he surpassed the 100-point mark only twice during his Hall of Fame-caliber career. His value has never been defined solely by gaudy point totals.
Even in the later stages of his career, Kane remains one of hockey's smartest offensive players, capable of driving possession, creating scoring chances, and producing in key moments when surrounded by elite talent.
And that final point is where Kane could potentially make sense for Colorado.
Kane has spent the last three seasons with the Detroit Red Wings, and while injuries have been part of the conversation during that stretch, he has continued to produce at a high level. Last season, he recorded 57 points in 67 games, including 16 goals and 41 assists. The year before, he finished with 59 points in 72 games.
When looking at the numbers, Kane was actually more productive on a per-game basis during the 2024-25 season.
The biggest area where Kane could help the Avalanche is on the power play.
Since Colorado traded Mikko Rantanen, finding consistency on the man advantage has been a challenge. Kane's ability to operate from the right half wall—a spot where he has made a living throughout his career—could address one of the Avalanche's biggest offensive needs.
Kane has scored 140 career power-play goals, which ranks 73rd on the NHL's all-time list, tied with former Avalanche forward Milan Hejduk and Scott Mellanby. He also scored 12 power-play goals during the 2024-25 season, although that number dropped to just two last year.
While his goal-scoring production is no longer what it was during his prime, Kane remains an elite playmaker who understands how to manipulate defenses and create opportunities for teammates.
Colorado's power play has struggled at critical moments since moving on from Rantanen. The Avalanche experienced a brief resurgence after acquiring Nazem Kadri from the Calgary Flames, but that momentum disappeared when the playoffs arrived and the man advantage failed to deliver when the team needed it most.
If the discussion is strictly about offensive skill and power-play production, Kane would be an intriguing gamble.
The concern is that his age has also brought some defensive drawbacks.
Kane has become more prone to costly turnovers, and those mistakes can create dangerous scoring chances the other way. His offensive instincts remain elite, but the margin for error becomes smaller as players get older.
That was highlighted late last season during Detroit's playoff push.
The Red Wings were fighting to keep their postseason hopes alive when they erased a 4-1 deficit against the Minnesota Wild, tying the game in the third period. Shortly after Patrick Kane scored, he was involved in a controversial sequence when his stick caught Jack Hughes' skates while he was heading toward the bench away from the play, resulting in a tripping penalty.
Minnesota capitalized, scoring with fewer than 15 seconds remaining on the power play to secure a 5-4 victory and effectively end Detroit's playoff chances.
Kane later took full responsibility for the mistake, telling reporters the penalty made him feel "maybe the worst I felt personally in my career."
From a hockey standpoint, however, Kane would still bring something Colorado cannot easily manufacture: experience.
He knows what it takes to win. He knows how to handle pressure. He knows the demands of playoff hockey.
Kane has appeared in 143 career playoff games, recording 138 points, including 53 goals and 85 assists. That type of postseason résumé would immediately add another layer of experience to an Avalanche team built around championship expectations.
But the decision is not solely about what Kane can provide on the ice.
The biggest question surrounding Kane's potential fit in Colorado may come from his time with the Chicago Blackhawks and the controversy that followed the organization’s 2010 Stanley Cup championship.
Kane was a member of the Blackhawks during that championship season when former Chicago prospect Kyle Beach alleged that he was sexually assaulted by then-video coach Brad Aldrich. Beach, who was initially identified as John Doe in legal proceedings, filed a lawsuit in May 2021 detailing the allegations.
A subsequent independent investigation examined how the Blackhawks organization handled the claims and found that members of the team's leadership became aware of the allegations during the playoffs but decided to wait until after the Stanley Cup Final before addressing the matter.
After Chicago won the championship, Aldrich was eventually given the option to resign or face termination if the allegations were substantiated. He resigned and was permitted to participate in postseason celebrations.
The fallout from the investigation extended beyond Aldrich and the organization's leadership. Beach later described the treatment he received during his time with the Blackhawks, alleging that he was “subjected to humiliating trash talking by his teammates during scrimmages where coaches were present” and was “repeatedly” targeted with gay slurs.
Beach also described an alleged incident during training camp where a teammate asked if he “missed his boyfriend Brad [Aldrich],” referring to the man Beach accused of assaulting him.
Kane, along with longtime Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews, was one of the established players within the organization during Beach's time in Chicago. Neither player was accused of participating in the abuse, but they certainly did nothing to stop what transpired as established leaders of an elite organization
For Colorado, that history creates another factor to consider.
The Avalanche would have to evaluate not only whether Kane can still provide offensive value at 37 years old, but also whether adding him fits the culture and identity the organization wants to maintain.
Ultimately, the Patrick Kane debate comes down to risk versus reward.
On the ice, there is still plenty to like. He can create offense, elevate a power play, provide veteran leadership, and bring championship experience to a team trying to win another Stanley Cup.
But the Avalanche are also operating with limited cap space, trying to balance an aging core with a desire to get younger, and would have to weigh the off-ice considerations that come with adding one of the most accomplished—and complicated—players of his generation.
Right now, the salary cap alone makes a Kane-to-Colorado reunion unlikely.
But if the opportunity presented itself at the trade deadline, the Avalanche would face a difficult question:
Is the potential reward of adding Patrick Kane worth the risk?
The Montreal Canadiens could use another skilled forward on their roster. With it now being two weeks since the start of free agency, there are not a ton of UFA options still available for the taking. While this is the case, the Canadiens still have an intriguing potential target to consider in future Hall of Famer Patrick Kane.
When looking at the Canadiens' current roster, it is fair to argue that they could use another skilled forward in their top six. While Kane is not as dominant offensively as he was during his prime years, he would still have the potential to be a strong pickup for their second line and power play if signed.
Kane just had another solid season in 2025-26 with the Detroit Red Wings, posting 16 goals, 41 assists, and 57 points in 67 games. This was after he had 59 points in 72 games with the Red Wings in 2024-25 and 47 points in 50 games for Detroit in 2023-24. With numbers like these, he is still plenty capable of providing good offense, and he would be a nice pickup for Montreal because of it.
Kane would also be a good veteran for the Canadiens to have on their roster as they enter their Stanley Cup window. The 37-year-old is a three-time Stanley Cup champion, after all.
Nevertheless, it will be interesting to see if the Canadiens make a push for Kane. On a one-year, affordable deal, there could be a good match here.
Patrick Kane has had some incredible seasons with the Chicago Blackhawks. He has also been great in a supporting role as a member of the New York Rangers and Detroit Red Wings since leaving Chicago behind.
Kane is going to go to the Hall of Fame whenever he decides to retire. He will have his number retired by the Blackhawks, and possibly even have a statue at the United Center.
However, he has some good hockey left in the tank, maybe multiple years, and he is currently looking for his next NHL home. Of all the places that make sense for the greatest American-born player ever, these four stick out the most:
Chicago Blackhawks
The Chicago Blackhawks are in the mix. They are going to be without Connor Bedard for the first month of the season, which would make Kane a solid option during that time. When Bedard gets back, he will have a power-play specialist and another option at even strength.
Whether Kane or Bedard plays together at 5-on-5 would be a mystery, but it's a possibility. If not, Kane would be a great winger for any of the young centers that Chicago is trying to develop.
Not only would he fit in, as he knows the city, building, and organization, but he would also be an incredibly experienced player who would be a great mentor for the kids on the team.
Buffalo Sabres
The Buffalo Sabres are the other "obvious" candidate for Kane. Before making Chicago his home, Western New York was where he learned to play the game as a Buffalo native. This, much like returning to Chicago, would be a homecoming for Kane.
The Sabres are actually good for the first time in a long time, too. Before making the playoffs and winning a round in 2026, they hadn't been in the postseason since 2011. For most of Kane's career, his hometown team was an undesirable place of employment.
Now, they are a great team to join as they are hoping to be a playoff team for the second year in a row, this time getting past the second round.
The Sabres just lost Alex Tuch in free agency. Tuch is the player that Kane would mostly be looking to replace (offensively) if he chose to go to Buffalo.
Toronto Maple Leafs
The Toronto Maple Leafs are an interesting option for Kane. After winning the draft lottery and selecting Gavin McKenna first overall, they are looking to compete in 2026-27 with stars like Auston Matthews, William Nylander, John Tavares, and Darren Raddysh leading the way.
Adding Kane would give them some scoring touch in the middle of their lineup. They missed Mitch Marner's creativity last season, and although Kane won't match Marner at this stage of his career, he can bring that element back to the lineup in a smaller role.
Kane would also bring a sense of calmness to the group. Playing in Toronto is not easy with the coverage that they get nationwide, and Kane has the experience and status necessary to take on some of that responsibility.
Colorado Avalanche
If Kane wants to lock himself onto a sure playoff team that needs a dynamic winger, he'd sign with the Colorado Avalanche on a cheap deal. They have superstars in Cale Makar, Nathan MacKinnon, and Martin Necas, all of whom are good enough to lead a Cup-contending team.
If Kane were to go there, he'd for sure be a factor on one of thier power play units, which needs some help as that was one of their only weaknesses en route to a Presidents' Trophy last year.
Kane's potential fit in terms of his linemates is less important with Colorado than if he were on other teams because they are going to be a well-oiled machine regardless. Of all the truly elite teams in the league right now, if both parties are truly willing, this would make the most sense from a team success perspective.
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The Colorado Avalanche’s offseason has been pretty quiet. Aside from some day 1 signings like Jaden Schwartz and Noah Juulsen, the rest have been depth signings to bolster their roster and fill out AHL Colorado Eagles contracts. While there are still some big names left in free agency, the Avalanche have negative cap space, so it won't be hard to make room, but that leaves out many potential targets.
Though they could go bargain hunting and look to sign potential veteran maximum contracts, something similar to Brent Burns' new contract, low AAV, but with bonuses and signing bonuses to appease the player. Potentially a soon-to-be Hall of Famer looking for a short-term deal in hopes of one more Stanley Cup?
Show Time Coming To Mile High?
OnLeafs Morning Take, NHL Insider for The Fourth Period, David Pagnotta, appeared on the show, and during a discussion on what Patrick Kane’s future looks like, here is what he had to say:
“Is it [Toronto], is it Buffalo, is it back to Chicago, is it Colorado” - Leafs Morning Take (7/10)
Last season with the Detroit Red Wings, Kane finished with 16 goals and 41 assists for 57 points in 67 games, 19 of those points coming from the power play.
During the season, Kane talked about his time in Detroit, and with his contract expiring at the end of the season, what it might look like if he came back to Detroit if he wanted to.
“I think there is mutual interest for me to come back and continue my career here. It’s been a great spot for me, my family, and my son, and I’ve definitely enjoyed my time here," Kane said in April during Detroit's season-ending media availability. "But there’s no rush. I’ll talk things over with my agent and my family, and we’ll see how everything plays out.
As Pagnotta said, there are many options for where he might want to play out the remainder of his career. Does he want to re-sign with the Red Wings and see if they put something together? What about a reunion with the Chicago Blackhawks and helping mentor Connor Bedard and the rest of the prospects over there? Or he heads home to Buffalo and joins the red-hot Sabers.
All places mean something to Kane, but if he wants to join a contending team and potentially push for one more championship, the Avalanche might be the best fit.
Taking The Offense To Another Level
Despite turning 38 heading into next season, Kane has shown during his time with the Red Wings that the skills that earned him the nickname “show time” remain, though he has also shown signs of regression. Though in a system like the Avalanche, there could be ways to enhance those positives while mitigating some of the negatives.
The main aspect of Kane joining the team is the power play. Last season, it was not good at all. At times, it looked like it was progressing better, but it quickly reverted to overpassing and missing shots on net that went wide, ending up reaming all the way back to the other end of the ice. If you're looking for a better player to set up players like Nathan MacKinnon, Martin Necas, or Cale Makar to put the puck on net, it's Kane. Add Arturri Lehkonen as a net front presence and work from there.
As a right-winger who shoots left, he opens up options in the top nine for how they might want to utilize him. You could force either him or Necas to the left if you want a really dynamic top line, but we have seen Necas moved down with Brock Nelson and Valeri Nichushkin. So we could rock a line of Gabriel Landeskog, MacKinnon, and Kane, and the second line would be Lehkonen, Nelson, Necas, bumping Kadri down to the third line as a winger or center.
Steps Needed Before Signing
The biggest issue would be what Kane is asking for and for how long. I can’t imagine it's going to be a long contract, somewhere in the two-year range, but what AAV can work between Kane and management? As stated, the Avalanche are currently over the cap. If they want a contract to go through, they will need to move off some money, likely meaning Nicholas Roy, Parker Kelly, or Lehkonen going out, which is something I imagine the Avalanche don’t want to do.
As another winger, who comes out of the lineup? Is one of the recent additions, Zachary L’Heureux or Fyodor Svechkov, a casualty? While it's not the worst to replace them for Kane, you hoped they'd get playing time to really reignite and further develop their skills.
Is it likely that the Avalanche are done this offseason and are happy with the moves (or lack thereof) they made? For sure, but if there is an opportunity for Kane, I think they should 100% take that chance, given that level of talent is available every offseason. At the same time, it might not be what he showed in Chicago; it's another level this Avalanche offense can add.
The Athletic released its 2026 summer edition of their top NHL-drafted prospects, featuring four St. Louis Blues prospects.
Topping the list was unsurprisingly Gavin McKenna, the first overall pick by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 2026 NHL draft. Following closely behind McKenna in the top tier of Scott Wheeler’s rankings were San Jose Sharks’ Ivar Stenberg, Philadelphia Flyers’ Porter Martone, and Sharks’ Michael Misa.
The four Blues players to feature in these rankings were Tynan Lawrence, Dalibor Dvorsky, Justin Carbonneau and Adam Jiricek, all of whom are first-round picks for the Blues in the past four drafts. Wheeler mentioned left winger Otto Stenberg and defenseman Theo Lindstein as some of the final cuts. He considers those players Tier 6 prospects.
In Wheeler’s rankings, he provides tiers for groups of players, their positional ranks, and blurbs about their games.
Tynan Lawrence, C
Lawrence was the highest-ranking Blues prospect, landing at 27th, good enough for Tier 2 and the 11th-highest-ranked center. The 10 centers ranked above Lawrence were Misa, Caleb Malhotra, Viggo Bjorck, James Hagens, Ilya Protas, Anton Frondell, Berkly Catton, Michael Hage, Caleb Desnoyers, and Jake O’Brien. Five of the 10 centers ranked above him have already played NHL games.
Lawrence is still just 17 years old, as he’ll turn 18 on August 3. Heading into the 2025-26 season, Lawrence was widely considered the top center in the draft, but an injury delayed the start of his season, and after dominating the USHL, he decided to make the big jump to NCAA hockey.
The transition wasn’t smooth, and his production suffered, but he still has plenty of translatable NHL qualities. He plays a sound two-way game, is a strong skater, and is creative with the puck.
He has a natural release, getting pucks off his stick quickly after an intentional move to the inside or a pass into his catch-and-release (though he can overhandle it at times). He’s a good, strong skater who plays with pace and can make plays off the rush as well as inside the offensive zone. He plays pucks into space and under sticks a ton and wants to take the play to the slot. He moves into the middle of the ice and stays around the action. - Scott Wheeler
In his rookie season, Dalibor Dvorsky showcased all the qualities that will allow him to have a long NHL career, as he ranked 37th overall, in Tier 3 and as the 15th-ranked center.
His attention to the defensive side of the puck will, without a doubt, provide him the floor to be a third-line center who can score 20 goals and be a lockdown center.
But it’s the little parts of his offensive game that, with some fine-tuning, will allow him to be a top-six center. On multiple occasions, Dvorsky displayed his lethal shot. Whether it was the one-timer on the power play or his wrist shot in transition, Dvorsky has a heavy, accurate shot.
At the moment, what seems to be holding Dvorsky back is his explosiveness with his skating. He doesn’t have the acceleration to separate himself from his defender and make plays. Dvorsky is reliant on moving the puck to teammates and working off them to find open space. It’s a trait that will allow Dvorsky to score a lot of goals in the NHL, but if he truly wants to be a star, play driving is the next step.
He uses his body to gain inside positioning on defenders and shields pucks from defenders extremely impressively. I don’t think his skating is prohibitive. He has shown more fire and competitiveness as he has developed. I see legitimate finesse skills, point-production upside and power-play tools. He can run the wall or the point on the PP, effortlessly picking coverage apart and feathering pucks through seams. He has excellent touch and weight on his passes (he’s a great saucer passer off his forehand and backhand in particular) and does a beautiful job waiting for lanes to open. - Scott Wheeler
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Justin Carbonneau, RW
By size and frame, Justin Carbonneau isn’t a true power forward, but he’s showing more than a willingness to be aggressive and physical. Coming in at the 39th spot in Wheeler’s rankings, Carbonneau lands in Tier 3 as the fifth-ranked right winger. The four right wingers ranked ahead of Carbonneau were Stenberg, Martone, Roman Kantersov, and Alexander Zharovsky.
Carbonneau was excellent in the QMJHL season once again, and when the campaign concluded, he joined the Springfield Thunderbirds in the AHL for a few playoff games. Standing 6-foot-1, 205 pounds, Carbonneau has become a high-end goal scorer with strong playmaking instincts.
Although Carbonneau has his sights set on earning an NHL roster spot during training camp, it’s more likely he’ll start the season in the AHL and continue to develop. With his NHL-ready attributes, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Carbonneau earn a call-up at some point in the season. A one-two punch of Jimmy Snuggerud and Carbonneau as the top two right wingers of the future is a strong foundation.
Carbonneau is a talented offensive-zone player with naturally quick hands, a quick release that can beat goalies from midrange and change angles on defensemen and strong athletic tools as a solid and sturdy skater, though he could get a little quicker, with a pro frame. He can challenge defenders and threaten offensively on or off the puck. He has good outside-in hands pulling pucks across his body. He has a good wall game and can make plays for himself or play in and out of give-and-gos; he does try to beat guys one-on-one a little too much, but often pulls it off. - Scott Wheeler
Adam Jiricek is often a prospect Blues fans are a bit higher on than most scouts, but it’s for good reason. Wheeler ranked Jiricek 82nd overall, landing in the fifth tier and as the 14th best right-handed defenseman. Jiricek has struggled to stay healthy, but when he is on the ice, he’s a game changer. In the 2025-26 season, Jiricek finally had that spell of good health he desperately needed, and he showed everyone exactly what he is.
In the OHL and at the World Junior Championships, Jiricek was a two-way force, routinely finding his name on the score sheet while also taking on the bulk of the top matchups. On a stacked Brantford Bulldogs team, Jiricek didn’t have to be line-matched, as that roster featured stout defenders like Ben Danford, Vladimir Dravecky, Edison Engle and Owen Protz. But at the biggest junior hockey tournament in the world, Jiricek scored five goals in seven games while logging huge minutes as Czechia won silver.
Jiricek then made the jump to the AHL when his season concluded and impressed once again, skating in six post-season games. Jiricek has the size, puck skills, skating, and defensive awareness to be a potent top-four defender in the NHL. With some more time to develop, the Blues could see a top pairing of Philip Broberg and Jiricek for a long time.
He plays the game with confidence and intention, and has shown ambition and even creativity at times against his peers. He has good four-way mobility, an active disposition — he also showed at the pro level that he could simplify and play a more effective game — and balanced shooting mechanics. Jiricek has an eye for spacing and identifying opportunities to jump on both sides of the puck, plus good skill with the puck, and spent a lot of shifts all over the offensive zone in the OHL. I like his defensive habits, and he has size and ability. He breaks up his fair share of plays in the neutral zone with good timing on surfs and close-outs, though he will occasionally get beaten by being a little overactive. He’s capable of involving himself against his peers. He projects as a No. 4 D for me. - Scott Wheeler
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The Buffalo Sabres took care of some significant business on Monday, avoiding arbitration with forward Peyton Krebs and agreeing to a four-year, $18 million contract extension, making a minor trade with the Washington Capitals (sending Tyler Kopff for Zac Funk) and announcing the addition of veteran NHL executive John Davidson as a senior advisor.
“John and I have a strong working relationship that we have developed over many years. His experience leading multiple organizations, combined with his player evaluation skills and relationships around the NHL make him a great fit for this role.” Sabres GM Jarmo Kekalainen said in a press release. “He will lend his expertise and guidance to all areas within the hockey department as we aim to continue to improve our club."
The 73-year-old has a long history with Kekalainen, who was an assistant GM in St. Louis when Davidson was hired to his first stint as an NHL executive as President of Hockey Operations with the Blues in 2006. After shifting to the same position with the Blue Jackets in 2012, the former NHL goalie fired Scott Howson and replaced him with Kekalainen as GM.
After leaving to serve as president of the NY Rangers, Davidson returned to Columbus for three seasons as president before becoming a senior advisor the last two seasons under Kekalainen and Don Waddell.
“I am excited to join the Buffalo Sabres and look forward to the opportunity to help the organization in any way I can,” Davidson said. “The momentum in Buffalo is palpable throughout the entire league and the passion from Sabres fans makes this opportunity all the more exciting. I look forward to continuing the relationships with many in the Sabres’ front office and building new ones in this role, all with the goal of contributing to a winning culture.”
This continues the transition of ex-Columbus management personnel to the Sabres, as Kekalainen brought in Josh Flynn as an assistant GM after taking over for Kevyn Adams last December. Ironically, on Tuesday the Boston Bruins announced that Adams had been hired as a senior advisor to GM Don Sweeney.
Adams was fired by the Sabres last December, which coincided with the club’s turnaround, but was later given credit for assembling the talent that finally broke through to make the playoffs for the first time in 15 years. The Bruins seem to collecting former Sabres, as Sweeney dealt a pair of first round picks to Utah for JJ Peterka, who will join Casey Mittelstadt, Henri Jokiharju, Nikita Zadorov, and Connor Clifton in Beantown.
Nicholas Robertson, who was acquired by the Penguins on Jul. 1 from the Toronto Maple Leafs for a 2028 fourth-round pick, came to terms on a two-year deal worth $3.75 million annually. In 78 games with the Maple Leafs last season, the 5-foot-9, 180-pound left wing registered 16 goals and 32 points, and he has 48 goals and 88 points in 234 NHL games dispersed across parts of six seasons.
The Penguins elected to take a chance on Robertson when he became available as an RFA trade option on Jul. 1, and they were able to get an original trade deal across the finish line. Robertson requested a trade from the Leafs two summers ago, but Pittsburgh felt now was the right time to take advantage.
"To be honest, this morning, Nick came up," Penguins' assistant general manager Jason Spezza said on Jul. 1. "And, because we had the space and we had the ability and the picks to make the move quickly, we were able to move fast on it."
Robertson, 24, is the younger brother of Dallas Stars superstar winger Jason, who has also been the subject of trade rumors involving the Penguins. Nick joins a crowded cast of forwards for the Penguins, as they have also added Andrei Kuzmenko and Hendrix Lapierre and just signed RFA forward Egor Chinakhov to a three-year extension.
Once upon a not-so-distant time, the Montreal Canadiens were all about Carey Price’s spectacular saves, but that’s no longer the case. On Monday, the NHL released an interesting graphic picturing the highest-scoring players in the league by areas on the ice, and the Habs have claimed two of the 12 areas.
Unsurprisingly, it’s captain Nick Suzuki and sniper Cole Caufield who lead the league in goals on the left side. Caufield scored five goals from the area nearer the net, where he has repeatedly shown just how good his hands can be when scoring in close this past season. As for Suzuki, he’s also scored five lamplighters from a bit higher in the zone and in close to the boards. The centre has indeed proved that he doesn’t need much of an angle to beat netminders.
The list of dominant players in all areas is a who’s who of the best players in the NHL; Suzuki and Caufield are in excellent company. On the doorstep, Tyler Bertuzzi has scored nine goals for the Chicago Blackhawks; from the slot, Dallas Stars’ Wyatt Johnston has converted 27 times; from the right in close, Pavel Dorofeyev has beaten goalies seven times with the Vegas Golden Knights. On the left, around the faceoff circle, is Nathan MacKinnon’s territory; the Colorado Avalanche leader and Rocket Richard Trophy winner has scored 10 of his goals from there.
Macklin Celebrini has ruled the high slot with the San Jose Sharks, finding the back of the net 16 times from there. Around the faceoff dot on the right was Cutter Gauthier’s stomping ground; the Anaheim Ducks RFA has beaten goalies 11 times from there, while the Tampa Bay Lightning’s Nikita Kucherov has converted seven times from near the boards.
From the blueline on the left, it’s rookie of the year and New York Islanders gem Matthew Schaefer, who’s been the most productive with three goals; around the blueline in the middle of the ice, it’s the Lightning’s defenseman Darren Raddysh, who has shown the brightest with nine goals. On the right side of the blueline, the Avs’ veteran defenseman Brent Burns dominated with five lamplighters.
Only three teams had two players on the graphic: the Habs, the Avs, and the Bolts, but only Montreal and Colorado have retained both of their players. When the puck drops on the new season, Raddysh will no longer be in Tampa; he’ll be patrolling the Toronto Maple Leafs’ blueline.
You've got to give extra attention to these players in those spots on the ice! 🚨 pic.twitter.com/OgRzo22FrS
