Chris MacFarland continues to stay busy on the trade block, acquiring forward Mavrik Bourque and defenseman Ilya Lyubushkin for a 2027 second-round pick and a 2028 third-round pick in a trade with the Dallas Stars on Wednesday.
Bourque packed a punch on the Stars' third line last season, recording 41 points off 20 goals and 21 assists in 82 games. It was his most productive season in the NHL since his first season in 2023-24.
The 5-foot-11, 187-pound righty was selected 30th overall by Dallas in the 2020 NHL Draft. He has reached the end of a 1-year, $950,000 contract and is a restricted free agent.
TRADE 🔄
We've acquired forward Mavrik Bourque and defenseman Ilya Lyubushkin from Dallas in exchange for a second-round draft pick in 2027 and Vegas' third-round draft pick in 2028. pic.twitter.com/sVOkpfJxIx
He is the scoring boost that the Predators need from the third line and possibly the second line, giving Nashville a scoring edge lower in the lineup.
Lyubushkin is a veteran defenseman at 32-years old and has logged nearly 500 NHL games over his career. In 53 games last season, Lyubushkin had nine points one goal and eight assists and 40 penalty minutes.
The 6-foot-2, 206-pound defenseman has one more year left on a three-year, $9.75 million contract. He will become an unrestricted free agent at the end of the 2026-27 season.
While he may not have the production Nashville needs on the back end, he is a veteran player from whom younger prospects can benefit greatly. Lyubushkin could also have better chemistry in Nashville than in Dallas.
The Philadelphia Flyers have officially missed out on one of their notable forward trade targets: Mavrik Bourque.
The Nashville Predators have acquired Bourque and defenseman Ilya Lyubushkin from the Dallas Stars in exchange for a 2027 second-round pick and a 2028 third-round pick (from the Vegas Golden Knights).
With Bourque being a young skilled center with good upside, it made sense that the Flyers were among the teams that had him on their radar. However, he is now heading to the Predators with this trade.
Bourque just had a breakout year for the Stars in 2025-26, as he set career highs with 20 goals, 21 assists, and 41 points in 82 games. This was after he had 11 goals and 25 points in 73 games as a rookie for the Stars during the 2024-25 season.
With the Stars having limited cap space and Bourque being a restricted free agent, it makes sense that they have moved him. Unfortunately, the Flyers are not the lucky team to get him, and they will need to explore their options elsewhere.
Robertson is an RFA who received a qualifying offer from the Leafs. He's coming off a one-year contract that was settled in arbitration, earning a $1.825 million salary.
With this move, Robertson will be reuniting with Penguins GM Kyle Dubas, who drafted him 53rd overall in the 2019 NHL draft.
While averaging 12:40 of ice time per game this past year, the 24-year-old scored 16 goals and 32 points for Toronto.
In a new situation, on a retooling team like Pittsburgh, Robertson will get plenty more opportunities under head coach Dan Muse. The Penguins have been inserting younger players into the roster, such as Ben Kindel and Egor Chinakhov, and they acquired 24-year-old Hendrix Lapierre on Thursday.
Therefore, Robertson will likely get more than the 11:52 of ice time that he averaged over his 234 games in Toronto. And with that extra ice time, it wouldn't be a surprise for him to reach the 20-goal plateau as soon as next season.
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St. Louis Blues defensive prospects Luke Schairer, Nick Bogas, and Landon Nycz have been invited to Team USA’s World Junior Summer Showcase roster.
The camp, which will feature practices and games between players from the United States, Canada, Finland, and Sweden, will be held July 26-Aug. 1 at WFCU Centre in Windsor, Ontario. It’s the first evaluation step for the 2027 IIHF World Junior Championship.
But also featured on the roster are a trio of Blues prospects.
Luke Schairer was selected by the St. Louis Blues in the third round, 75th overall, in the 2026 NHL Draft. Schairer is a 6-foot-3 right-handed defenseman set to play with the Peterborough Petes in the 2026-27 season. Schairer is a great skater who projects to be a shutdown defender with a solid NHL frame.
Landon Nycz, another defenseman, was drafted by the Blues one round later, in the fourth round, 107th overall. Nycz is a 6-foot-2, left-handed defender set to play his sophomore season with the University of Massachusetts next season. Nycz is also more of a defensive defenseman, but he was born in late 2007 and is entering his final year of world junior eligibility.
The final player invited to the camp is Nick Bogas. Bogas was taken in the fifth round, 139th overall, by the Blues in the 2026 NHL draft. Although he is listed at just six feet, Bogas is a physical defender who thrives on the defensive side of the puck.
At the moment, these three Blues prospects are the outside looking in for making the 2027 world junior roster, but strong camps could put them on the radar.
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A two-time Stanley Cup Champion (2024, 2025): He anchored the Florida Panthers to back-to-back championships, solidifying his legacy as an elite big-game goaltender.
A two-time Vezina Trophy Winner (2012–13, 2016–17): Won both during his tenure with the Columbus Blue Jackets, making him one of only a handful of active goalies with multiple Vezina Trophies.
Bobrovsky was 27–23–1 and posted an .877 save percentage. The 38-year-old improves Toronto's goaltending. He's reunited with Anthony Stolarz. Both won a Cup together in Florida in 2024.
Bobrovsky To Toronto Imminent?
1:56 p.m. ET — Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman suggests that Bobrovski's arrival in Toronto is imminent.
I do believe the Sergei Bobrovsky to Toronto arrival is upon us
1:35 p.m. ET — Perhaps a Zach Werenski trade will not be happening on July 1.'
According to TSN's Darren Dreger, Werenski, his agent Judd Moldaver and Columbus Blue Jackets general manager Don Waddell all spoke in an effort to clear the air and talk things down.
Sounds like Werenski, his agent Judd Moldaver, and CBJ GM Don Waddell spoke today in an effort to clear the air and calm things down. Werenski is comfortable going back to CBJ. Waddell could present him with a trade in the meantime, but that isn’t on the radar at this point.
The Maple Leafs were reportedly interested in adding Roslovic as a free agent last season but couldn't agree on salary and term. He ended up signing with the Edmonton Oilers.
He scored 21 goals and 15 assists in 69 games with the Oilers last season. The Leafs get someone who can put the puck in the net.
Leafs and Sissons Talking
12:22 p.m. ET — Per TSN's Darren Dreger, the Toronto Maple Leafs are engaging in talks with free agent forward Colton Sissons, but nothing is done yet.
The 32-year-old played in a bottom-six center role with the Vegas Golden Knights last season. His cap hit last season was $2,857,143.
End Of The Nick Robertson Era In Toronto
11:04 a.m. ET — Just two days removed from the Toronto Maple Leafs tendering Nick Robertson a qualifying offer to retain his rights, comes word that the club has moved him to the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for a 2028 fourth-round draft pick
Robertson goes to Pittsburgh, where he will be reunited with former Maple Leafs GM Kyle Dubas.
The 24-year-old has 16 goals and 16 assists in 78 games with the Leafs in 2026.
Werenski chatter
The Maple Leafs are making a play to try to acquire defenseman Zach Werenski. TSN's Darren Dreger was a guest on First Up with Aaron Korolnek and Carlo Colaiacovo, saying chatter between the two clubs has NOT included forward Matthew Knies, who himself has been the subject of much trade speculation.
10:26 a.m. ET, Dreger clarified his comments on Werenski.
It’s been assumed Knies will be part of a package if Toronto lands Zach Werenski. See how things develop, but there’s a chance the Leafs won’t have to give up the power forward if this trade comes together.
There has been a lot of chatter surrounding the Toronto Maple Leafs and goaltender Sergei Bobrovski. The former Florida Panthers goalie is expected to hit the market at noon. According to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman, a last-ditch effort from the Panthers to keep him fell apart after Bobrovski asked for $21 million over three years.
Is that the right price for Toronto? Time will tell.
Bobrovsky Scotiabank Arena Photo Was Real
Hockey Insider Frank Seravalli feels a union between the Leafs and Bobrovsky is inevitable. There was a picture going around a few weeks ago that showed Bobrovsky on the jumbotron at Scotiabank Arena. Seravalli was a guest on The Fan Morning Show on Wednesday and said the photo was real.
"I've confirmed that was real," Seravalli said. "This Bobrovsky thing was a 'hey, get this ready in case he's coming and we can pitch him in person, it was one of those situations. This didn't mean in the moment that it was locked in, but there were planning to be pursuing him."
Updated regularly...
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LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JUNE 14: Kaedan Korczak #6 of the Vegas Golden Knights skates with the puck against the Carolina Hurricanes during the first period in Game Six of the 2026 Stanley Cup Final at T-Mobile Arena on June 14, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ian Maule/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Not every trade or roster move needs to be a franchise-altering move to also be considered a smart move.
Tuesday’s Kaedan Korczak for Parker Wotherspoon trade is a good example of that for the Pittsburgh Penguins.
It is not something you are likely to look back on and say, “that is a major turning point for the franchise.” But it is something that makes a great deal of sense, and I’m a little surprised at the mass confusion (and even some criticism) that it has received.
Wotherspoon ended up being an excellent signing for the Penguins, and one that worked out significantly better than anybody could have hoped for a year ago when it was completed. Wotherspoon shockingly filled out the left-side role on the top-pairing next to Erik Karlsson, was a strong complement to him, and had by far the best season of his career.
And now the Penguins trade him?
Well.
Yeah.
And I completely get it.
For as strong as Wotherspoon played and worked out during the 2025-26 season in his role, there are a few important factors to keep in mind.
He is entering the final year of his contract and, given the ballooning rate of mid-level and lower-level NHL player contracts under the rising salary cap, his number was about to rise. Dramatically.
Would that have been a smart investment for the Penguins? He is going to be 30 years old when that next contract kicks in, and has really only excelled at the NHL level while playing alongside a future Hall of Famer in Karlsson for one season. If you want the Penguins to get younger, giving a 30-year-old defenseman that has a limited track record of NHL success a big-money deal is not going to accomplish that.
Prior to joining the Penguins he had 16 points in 108 games and was mostly an organizational depth defenseman. His numbers and contributions away from Karlsson, even this past season, kind of matched that level of play.
What Wotherspoon did have going for him initially was that despite the lack of production and games played, he had mostly posted strong underlying numbers in smaller roles that he typically won.
The latter point is key for Korczak, because he is basically in the same situation coming from Vegas. He is a younger version of what Wotherspoon initially was for the Penguins.
From an underlying numbers perspective, Korczak has been wildly effective in his smaller, depth roles.
Over the past three seasons the Golden Knights outscored teams by a 102-68 margin when Korczak was on the ice during 5-on-5 play. That was the best 5-on-5 goal-differential among Vegas defensemen, and fourth-best among 295 defensemen that logged at least 500 minutes.
His 54.51 expected goal share was fourth-best among Vegas defenders over that time and 19th among the aforementioned 295 defenders across the league.
His 2.12 expected goals against (and 1.88 actual goals against) per 60 minutes were tops on Vegas. That expected goals against number was third-best in the NHL while the 1.88 actual goals against were ninth-best.
This isn’t to say that Korczak is one of the best defensemen in the league, or that he was even Vegas’ best defenseman. That’s not the point here. The point is he was given a specific role, even in sheltered minutes, and performed exceptionally well in that role. He’s probably earned a bigger opportunity and a bigger role to see what he does with it. Maybe he gets better and handles it well. Maybe he doesn’t and he remains as a highly effective depth defenseman. Either way, it’s a younger player onto the roster.
He is also four years younger than Wotherspoon and already signed long-term with some cost-certainty on what should be a favorable contract with a $3.25 million salary cap number. When you see what bottom-pairing defensemen are going to start going for, it’s going to look even better. Especially as the salary cap skyrockets in the coming seasons. A $3.25 million cap hit on a $104 million cap is the equivalent of a $2.95 million cap hit under the 2025-26 cap of $95.5 million. When the cap rises up to $113 million in 2027-28 it will be the equivalent of a $2.6 million cap number.
The Penguins needed to find a defense version of Egor Chinakhov. They needed to find some younger legs, especially on their back-end where most of their 2025-26 roster was either on the wrong side of 30, or rapidly approach it. This is a nice swing at that. And even if Korczak doesn’t blossom the same way here, it’s still a nice brick to have at the bottom of your lineup that you know can fill a specific role.
Kyle Dubas made mention after the draft of this potentially being a more methodical brick-by-brick process.
This is a brick.
It’s a smart brick with a little bit of upside at a fair cost.
I’m also not overly concerned about the left spot on the top-pairing on July 1, because a year ago at this time we also had no idea who the left spot on the top-pairing would be. If you had proposed it being Wotherspoon, even after he was signed, you probably would have been laughed at. There is a lot of time to fill that spot, and as long as Karlsson is on the roster I am confident the Hall of Famer will make it work. Just as he did with Wotherspoon.
LAS VEGAS, NV - JUNE 14: Defenseman Alexander Nikishin #21, Goaltender Pyotr Kochetkov #52 and Right Wing Andrei Svechnikov #37 of the Carolina Hurricanes celebrate winning the Stanley Cup after defeating the Vegas Golden Knights in game six of the Stanley Cup Final on June 14, 2026 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Matthew Bolt/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
First of all, happy Canada Day to our friends north of the border!
The trade and free agent rumors are hot and continue to be flying. Late last night it was revealed that Zach Werenski vetoed a trade to Dallas. Supposedly the Hurricanes are still trying to sign John Carlson.
Also, Alexander Nikishin’s name has been in everyone’s mouths.
Free agency officially starts at noon today.
The nice thing about all of this is that the Canes are not desperate and they don’t have to do anything if they choose not to. Worst case scenario might be to just keep the rights to Nikishin and let him think about taking a lesser salary than he wanted, or go back to Russia.
Although, I still would not be surprised to see Carolina do something big no one has talked about.
If you have thoughts, feel free to leave them in the comments of our “open thread”
NHL free agency opened at noon ET on Wednesday, July 1, and a lot more could go on than just unrestricted free agents changing teams.
The unrestricted free agent pool includes two-time Stanley Cup winner Sergei Bobrovsky and defensemen John Carlson and Rasmus Andersson.
Players whose contracts run out in 2027 are free to sign extensions. Key players in that group are reigning MVP Nikita Kucherov, Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar, Vancouver Canucks defenseman Quinn Hughes and San Jose Sharks center Macklin Celebrini.
Big-name restricted free agents such as Jason Robertson, Connor Bedard, Leo Carlsson and Cutter Gauthier also need new contracts for next season.
He'll average $7 million in a three-year deal, according to multiple reports. Bobrovsky, 37, has won two Stanley Cups and two Vezina Trophies, but he's coming off his worst season. Still, he's an established goalie who can help the Maple Leafs as they try to come back from the end of their nine-year playoff run. He'll be reunited with Anthony Stolarz, his former backup in Florida.
Sounds like Werenski, his agent Judd Moldaver, and CBJ GM Don Waddell spoke today in an effort to clear the air and calm things down. Werenski is comfortable going back to CBJ. Waddell could present him with a trade in the meantime, but that isn’t on the radar at this point.
He'll average $8.25 million in the deal, up from $8 million in his last contract. He adds a physical presence to the Sharks and he scored 10 goals last season with the Ducks.
He'll average $3.75 million over two years. The question is whether he's a backup or is the No. 1. The Jets are listening to offers on Connor Hellebuyck. By signing Skinner, who has been a No. 1 goalie (albeit up and down), the Jets don't need to get back a goalie if they trade the former Vezina Trophy winner and U.S. Olympian. Skinner went to the Stanley Cup Final with Edmonton twice and was traded to Pittsburgh last season.
He'll average $8.5 million in the seven-year deal, per reports. Andersson was acquired from the Flames during the season and reached the Stanley Cup Final.
He'll average $5 million in the deal, per reports. He played a key role in the Panthers' two Stanley Cups and also played for Finland at the 2026 Olympics, winning bronze.
He will average $2.2 million in the two-year deal. Ersson struggled in Philadelphia last season and was traded to Toronto and then Ottawa. He'll back up fellow Swedish goalie Linus Ullmark in Ottawa.
Korpisalo will take over the backup goalie role from retired Jonathan Quick. The Bruins receive minor league forward Kalle Vaisanen and a 2028 fourth-round pick. Korpisalo has one year left on his contract.
He could get five years with a $7 million average, per Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman. Marchment's late father, Bryan, played six seasons with the Sharks.
Zuccarello is getting a one-year deal with bonuses, according to multiple reports. Haula's deal is two years at $3.6 million a season. per reports. Haula adds to the Kings' center depth after Anze Kopitar's retirement. Zuccarello will help the Kings' power play. NHL insider Frank Seravalli also said the Kings are signing Corey Perry, who started last season in Los Angeles.
He'll average $9.125 million in the extension, which kicks in during 2027-28, according to his agent, Dan Milstein. He finished second in Calder Trophy voting with 62 points in 82 games.
Demidov extension breakdown: 27-28, $11.5 M SB, $1 M salary 28-29, $11.5 M SB, $1 M salary 29-30, $9.5 M SB, $1 M salary 30-31, $6.7 M SB, $1 M salary 31-32, $6.3 M SB, $1.2 M salary 32-33, $6.3 M SB, $1.2 M salary 33-34, $5.8 M SB, $1.7 M salary 34-35, $7.5 M salary
He'll average $1.5 million in his six-year deal, per reports, to help with the Panthers' cap hit. Gudas' rights were acquired this week. He had won the Stanley Cup in 2024 before leaving for the Ducks.
Bourque, a forward, and defenseman Ilya Lyubushkin are headed to Nashville for a 2027 second-round pick and a 2028 third-round pick. Bourque had 20 goals and 41 points last season. The Predators continue to load up on scoring depth after earlier adding Jack Drury, Ross Colton and Nils Hoglander. The Stars gain cap room with restricted free agent Jason Robertson still to sign.
Helene St. James of the Detroit Free Press, part of the USA TODAY Network, reports that GM Steve Yzerman would like a top-six center and a winger in return for Larkin, who has five years left on his deal. Yzerman said after the draft that he would act in the best interest of the Red Wings and "I cannot make any guarantees or did not make any guarantees that that request could or would be met."
Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reports that the Blue Jackets had a verbal agreement on a trade with the Stars, but Norris Trophy winner Zach Werenski vetoed it. Stars defenseman Thomas Harley would have been part of the return package, Friedman said.
Two-time Stanley Cup winner Sergei Bobrovsky is heading to free agency after the Panthers couldn't reach a deal and the team acquired two goalies. Here are the top NHL free agents:
The Flyers got an up-close look at Noel Acciari in the first round of the playoffs.
Now they have him on their roster.
The club agreed to terms with the bottom-six forward on a two-year, $5.6 million contract. The deal has an average annual value of $2.8 million.
Acciari had 13 goals, 12 assists and a plus-14 rating last season with the Penguins. The 34-year-old will replace some of the tough-to-play-against qualities that the Flyers lost in the Garnet Hathaway trade.
As a guy who can play center or winger, Acciari will provide head coach Rick Tocchet with different options. He won 61 percent of his faceoffs against the Flyers in the playoffs. He had an assist and a minus-1 mark during the series, which the Flyers won in six games.
The Flyers got an up-close look at Noel Acciari in the first round of the playoffs.
Now they have him on their roster.
The club is signing the bottom-six forward to a two-year, $5.6 million contract, according to a report Wednesday by Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman. The deal has an average annual value of $2.8 million.
Acciari had 13 goals, 12 assists and a plus-14 rating last season with the Penguins. The 34-year-old will replace some of the tough-to-play-against qualities that the Flyers lost in the Garnet Hathaway trade.
As a guy who can play center or winger, Acciari will provide head coach Rick Tocchet with different options. He won 61 percent of his faceoffs against the Flyers in the playoffs. He had an assist and a minus-1 mark during the series, which the Flyers won in six games.
ST PAUL, MINNESOTA - APRIL 30: Jason Robertson #21 of the Dallas Stars skates with the puck against the Minnesota Wild in the second period of Game Six of the First Round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Grand Casino Arena on April 30, 2026 in St Paul, Minnesota. The Wild defeated the Stars 5-2. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Happy free agency to all who celebrate! NHL Free Agency 2026 opens at 12 p.m. ET on Tuesday, July 1 — and what’s really marked this year’s group is far less about the players available to be signed as unrestricted free agents, and more related to the anarchy that could ensue with established talent.
If you’ve been following along, we already know that this 2026 class of UFAs is fairly weak. Teams worked to get ahead of the best players leaving, either locking them up to long-term deals or trading them around the draft to teams that subsequently got contracts done themselves. This also means that players who didn’t get dealt already are now causing major waves, operating as the dominoes people are waiting to fall before other signings take place. The players we’re really waiting on right now are:
Jason Robertson, LW — Dallas Stars: Robertson is an RFA, but has already informed multiple teams that he won’t sign contracts with them, killing multiple trades. Where Robertson ends up will start the dominoes at forward
Zach Werenski, D — Columbus Blue Jackets: Werenski is one of the best defensemen in the NHL, and wants to be on a contender. Stunningly he killed a potential trade to the Dallas Stars, so now teams are waiting to see whether or not CBJ can get a deal done.
John Carlson, D — Carolina Hurricanes: One of the top free agents this year, Carlson was dealt to the Hurricanes during the late rounds of the NHL Draft solely to give the Canes three extra days to negotiate with him ahead of free agency. The league waits to see whether or not this move was successful, and it will have a huge impact on the rest of the class if Carlson doesn’t end up hitting the market at noon.
We’ll be following along with all the signings as they happen, and giving a full list of the moves.
DENVER, COLORADO - DECEMBER 31: A general view of post-game fireworks after the game between the Colorado Avalanche and the Winnipeg Jets at Pepsi Center on December 31, 2019 in Denver, Colorado. The Jets defeated the Avalanche 7-4. (Photo by Michael Martin/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images
Ah, that new league year smell.
Join us and follow along as we celebrate the official start of the 2026-27 NHL season and witness hundreds of millions of dollars spent on free agents hitting the open market. The festivities begin officially at 10 a.m. MT.
Who will the Avalanche sign to round put their roster? How many AHL level deals to help the Colorado Eagles are on tap? And as always, plenty of intrigue on who will get the largest contract in the NHL on the open market? Some big extensions are eligible starting today as well, will any get filed and announced quickly?
Is the flurry of trades largely concluded for the Avalanche and NHL as a whole or will there be more shocking moves on the horizon? Join us in the comments as it all unfolds.
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The Philadelphia Flyers are unlikely to make a big splash in NHL free agency this year, though it would be unwise to put it past them to chase a feel-good story while addressing a position of need at the same time.
In this year's free agent class, the center position is probably the weakest, unless you're looking for bottom-six depth.
The Flyers, who traded away Garnet Hathaway and Nick Deslauriers, and will probably let Rodrigo Abols walk, need to get some fourth-line grit back, as well as someone who can play center when they need it.
One player who already knows the organization and locker room intimately is Scott Laughton.
According to NHL insider Elliotte Friedman, Laughton, 32, is part of a small crop of veteran centers drawing interest from teams, including the Flyers.
"Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Toronto, Utah, Vancouver. These teams were all around Noel Acciari, Erik Haula, Boone Jenner, Scott Laughton, Colton Sissons (Nashville reunion?), Kevin Stenlund. I believe Utah still lusts after Vincent Trocheck, who prefers the east. Kings tried to get Haula before Laughton, but he was hurt at the time. They like him," Friedman reported for Sportsnet.
If the Kings really do like Erik Haula more than Laughton, it's more likely than not they simply bring in Haula and let Laughton go.
After just 10 goals, six assists, and 16 points in 63 games across two seasons with the Maple Leafs, Laughton was dealt to the Kings for a measly 2026 third-round pick as Toronto's playoff aspirations were more than dashed.
The longtime Flyers forward, now a veteran of 745 NHL regular season games, had his homecoming with the Maple Leafs, and it didn't work.
Laughton never necessarily wanted to leave the Flyers anyway, and he could find himself back in Philadelphia at the perfect time, now that the team just made the playoffs for the first time since 2020.
To that end, it wouldn't be like Laughton is sacrificing the playoffs to return to the Flyers; he can chase both now.
Whether or not he and the Flyers can make a reunion happen remains to be seen, but there appears to be at least tentative interest from the team's side of things.
The New Jersey Devils are in an interesting off-season. They finished in the bottom third of the league, but they must operate as if they are a playoff lock. Injuries to top players last year cut their season short, but they have an opportunity to bounce back.
After Jack Hughes scored the Golden Goal in February, his game was taken to another level in the NHL games that followed. When he is healthy, he is one of the best players in the league.
Sunny Mehta, who is currently in his first offseason as an NHL General Manager, has to make some additions to the roster. The Devils have already announced their qualifying offers to a handful of players, but they have also let a few go.
Other teams around the league let a couple of good players go, and the Devils could consider one or multiple of them to take a flier on someone who could help provide depth:
Philipp Kurashev
Philipp Kurashev had a career year the one time he was linemates with Connor Bedard. During the 2023-24 season, he had 18 goals and 36 assists for 54 points. He hasn’t had more than 20 points in a season since.
After 7 goals and 13 assists for 20 points on the nose with the San Jose Sharks in 2025-26, he is on the market after being non-tendered. As a depth option up front, the Devils make sense.
Kurashev is a Swiss-born player, which would make him the 4th on New Jersey’s roster, including Nico Hischier, Timo Meier, and Jonas Siegenthaler. If anyone could re-unlock some of his production in a bottom-six role for cheap, it’s the team with three of his countrymen there.
Matias Maccelli
Matias Maccelli is a solid offensive depth piece on a team, as he proved on a lousy Maple Leafs team in 2025-26. In 71 games with Toronto in his first year, he had 14 goals and 25 assists for 39 points.
Maccelli isn't going to be a guy who is out there in all situations, but he can provide some secondary scoring to complement the top guys on the team. After being let go by the Maple Leafs, he will be a cheap option for New Jersey (or any team that goes to sign him).
Philip Tomasino
Philip Tomasino is a forward who has spent time in the Nashville Predators and Pittsburgh Penguins organizations. After being a first-round pick (24th overall) in the 2019 NHL Draft, things haven't panned out the way he thought.
He only played in 9 NHL games last season, and he collected one assist. A good reason for New Jersey to get involved with him is that he can improve the Utica Comets.
Utica is in need of some skill to help them have a bounce-back season. They need to surround any young players on the team with quality veterans, and Tomasino can fit that bill as far as an AHL player.
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EDMONTON, CANADA OCTOBER 25: Darnell Nurse #25 of the Edmonton Oilers is pursued by Rickard Rakell #67 of the Pittsburgh Penguins during the game at Rogers Place on October 25, 2024, in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Leila Devlin/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The NHL’s free agency market opens up at 12 noon. The Penguins, by signals from Kyle Dubas, aren’t in a hurry to make a big splash in the free agent market.
“We’ll stay after it, for sure,” Dubas said. “But it might not be the one gigantic-type transaction. We’ll try to stay active on those, but it might be more of a brick-by-boring-brick style.”
That applies to July 1, as Dubas doesn’t want to make the mistake of being too aggressive.
“I try to learn from the past, and we’ll try to steer clear of that,” Dubas said. “Rather than just doing something for the sake of doing it, I’d rather come here and say, ‘Yeah, we aspire to do it and the options weren’t there.’ So, we’ve had to check down and continue to build it up the way that we have.”
That’s probably for the best when taking into account that this year’s class of free agents isn’t the best, and plenty of teams have a lot of salary cap space with the recent increases. That adds up to a bad combination.
Sought out some opinions on what NHL free agency will look like tomorrow.
One prediction: "Never in the history of the NHL will so much money be spent on such little talent." https://t.co/YuNH9urp3p
Jason Robertson: Wants Dallas to budge. Don’t see it now. My guess is they go to arbitration. Unless Yzerman decides he’s the best option for Larkin.
Not sure if some, including Dubas, have completely given up hope for finding a way to wrangle Jason Robertson into Pittsburgh, but it doesn’t look very likely. If he files for arbitration then offer sheets are off the table and he’ll be getting a one-year contract with the Stars. Dallas could always still trade him at some point in the next year but that has already proven difficult with the player’s reluctance to sign a long-term contract with a team like Seattle.
Darnell Nurse: Pittsburgh wanted Edmonton to take back a contract. The Oilers didn’t like whatever was presented to them. Philadelphia’s had a challenge putting all of the different pieces together in and out. Boston’s shown interest, but that’s also about what has to go out to make it work. I believe the Sharks are very interested, but Nurse remains east-focused as I write this.
This makes perfect sense, if the Pens and Oilers even want to have a conversation about sending Nurse and his $9.25 million cap hit for four years to Pittsburgh, Edmonton taking Ryan Graves ($4.5mx3) is an unavoidable starting point. Graves’ involvement in a Nurse trade just has to happen for the Penguins to even consider going forward with negotiations. The Oilers don’t have to accept that condition and can go look for a different trade fit as a result, which looks like is exactly what is playing out in real time. That makes for a natural conclusion to the trade rumors around Nurse and the Penguins; neither side has to jump through hoops that they don’t want to and an acceptable trade match for both teams on this deal might be out of grasp.
Alexander Nikishin: A lot of interest. Carolina will hold until they get what they want, which includes a player. Rangers are believed to have offered a first and another pick. But that didn’t do it. Heavy competition, with many asking: what does he want on his next deal? Can’t sign an offer sheet.
Nikishin fits the age range and position the Penguins need the most, but the price to acquire will be very high. Difficult to see Pittsburgh engaging and coming out on a top in a bidding war in this area.
Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Toronto, Utah, Vancouver. These teams were all around Noel Acciari, Erik Haula, Boone Jenner, Scott Laughton, Colton Sissons (Nashville reunion?), Kevin Stenlund
Noel Acciari’s potential suitors could be among this group. Seems like a lot of ex-Penguins end up migrating to Utah, worth watching to see if that happens again or he ends up somewhere else. Hopefully not Philadelphia..
Stuart Skinner: If Hellebuyck is traded, Winnipeg makes the most sense. Otherwise, I’d take a shot if I was the Mammoth. They need to lighten Karel Vejmelka’s load.
Utah traded for and signed Sebastian Cossa, so I’m not sure where Skinner would fit into the mix for them with Vejmelka also signed for next year. But this will be interesting to see if Skinner doesn’t end up signing today that perhaps could mean he’s waiting to see how the dust settles with other situations like Hellebuyck’s before he can find his next spot. Sergei Bobrovsky is out there as a big fish, and Florida is apparently booked up by acquiring Jacob Markstrom (and Akira Schmid), so there currently aren’t too many teams looking for a 1/1A goalie like Skinner at the moment until something else changes to create an opening.
Ryan Shea: Had a really good year. Heard Lightning really liked him. But they also have their eyes on Werenski and John Carlson, if he doesnt sign in Carolina. Good player.
Tampa has a lot of plates in the air with potentially Werenski and Carlson, Shea’s next spot will be one to track today too. Friedman also mentioned that San Jose is looking to add a defenseman today, that might not be a bad spot to pull up to as a team on the rise over the next 3-4 years for a player like Shea.
Offer sheets: Last year, the Hurricanes threatened the Oilers (who signed Evan Bouchard) and the Rangers (who acquiesced and traded them K’Andre Miller). I think they’re considering doing it again. I have a theory, but I’m too chicken to say it. I also believe Seattle is considering it, as they basically created an offer-sheet trade for Jason Robertson, if he’d taken their cash. I also believe Mavrik Bourque is another potential target. I don’t want to get everyone’s hopes up, but there’s lots of noise out there.
The Penguins, or another NHL team, could offer up to $4.775 million for Bourque and only have to surrender a 2027 second round draft pick if Dallas elects not to match, and that amount could put them in an uncomfortable spot should Robertson head for arbitration. Pittsburgh has two second rounders in 2027 (their own, plus the Rangers) and then three more second rounders coming up in 2028. The Pens certainly have the ammo on hand to force Dallas’ position, if they want to get into that lane. They might have to move quickly to see if Bourque would even sign with them if a team like Carolina is potentially lurking as a consideration.
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Overall, for the Penguins, we’ll see if they dip into the bargain bin for any free agent signings or look to the trade market to reshape their team. Since many/most the Dubas moves (like yesterday’s trade of Parker Wotherspoon) usually come completely out of left field, there could yet be fireworks for the Pens if they decide to keep flipping NHL players around at the start of the free agency period. Whether that means a bigger names like Rickard Rakell and Bryan Rust or smaller pieces like Tommy Novak and Justin Brazeau remains to be seen.
