The New York Islanders enter the quiet part of the 2026 summer with 13 clear NHL forwards, with multiple players pushing for roles elsewhere on the depth chart.
Many expect Victor Eklund to compete for and win a job in the opening-night lineup, but that's far from guaranteed.
The 2026-27 Islanders will not be significantly changed, but a tidal wave of change is bubbling beneath the surface.
Next summer, the Islanders have four pending unrestricted free agents at forward-Kyle Palmieri, Casey Cizikas, Ondrej Palat, and Kyle MacLean.
Matias Maccelli, signed to a one-year, $2.25 million deal, is an RFA, but if the year doesn't go well, he would almost certainly be headed to the UFA market once again.
Simon Holmstrom and Emil Heineman are restricted free agents.
So, as it stands, the Islanders have seven forwards under contract for the 2027-28 season, which becomes eight if you include Eklund.
That number also includes both Anthony Duclair and Pierre Engvall, who remain candidates for a trade as soon as this summer.
That's a wide-open forward group for a crop of young, skilled players to barge right into.
Conveniently, Hamilton's going to be chock-full of those youngsters learning the ropes.
Cole Eiserman, Daniil Prokhorov and Quinn Finley -- Danny Nelson after he finishes his senior season at Notre Dame -- are all very popular names to be the "next" forward to break through after Eklund, with Hamilton first.
One name consistently passed over is Daylan Kuefler, but Kuefler is the closest of them all.
The Islanders originally selected Kuefler, 24, in the sixth round of the 2022 NHL Draft, and he's gone on to become an extremely steady pro for Bridgeport despite multiple injuries.
His skill set translates perfectly to the bottom six, with the potential to become a strong third-line shutdown winger who plays with speed and an edge.
It would not be shocking at all to see Kuefler play NHL games this season, as he's already played 105 AHL games to date.
The Islanders and general manager Mathieu Darche intentionally left the door wide-open for these young forwards to grab hold of roster spots.
Defensively, the Islanders will be open for business soon, too.
After the 2026-27 season ends, the Islanders will be able to trade any of their five NHL defenseman not named Matthew Schaefer.
After seeing Darnell Nurse go for positive value, with Morgan Rielly likely to follow, the Islanders can absolutely bank on getting good returns for any of their defensemen, with each one signed to cheap deals under the rising cap.
On the left side, both Adam Pelech and Alexander Romanov could fetch massive hauls.
Teams called this summer on Romanov, likely hoping to get him for a discount after he did not play another game following a season-ending shoulder injury in November.
Romanov's full no-trade clause kicks in on July 1, 2027.
With Isaiah George ready to push for a roster spot now, Kashawn Aitcheson joining Hamilton, and Malte Gustafsson behind them, the importance of the Islanders having flexibility with their defenseman becomes heightened.
This summer of 2026 will be looked back upon as a prelude to the Islanders' future, one led by Schaefer and the young core behind him.
That core is going to have every opportunity to succeed and explode onto the scene.
Chris Thorburn may not be taking part in the Winnipeg Jets' expanding alumni roster after all. A recent announcement from the St. Louis Blues appears to explain why.
After initially being included on the roster for Winnipeg's alumni game vs. Montreal ahead of the 2026 Heritage Classic this October when the Jets unveiled their growing list of alumni participants earlier this offseason, Thorburn's name has later been removed.
A Jets public relations representative later indicated that the former fan favourite was "no longer a 100 percent commit," with the Blues now confirming the next step in his hockey career.
Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/USA Today
St. Louis announced a series of front-office promotions following Alexander Steen's transition to general manager, including Thorburn's promotion from development coach to director of player development. The Blues also elevated former Winnipeg Jets captain Keith Tkachuk to advisor to president of hockey operations Doug Armstrong after seven seasons as the club's director of recruitment.
Thorburn remains a familiar face to Jets fans after spending four seasons with the organization following its relocation from Atlanta in 2011. The rugged forward appeared in 255 games for Winnipeg between 2011 and 2015, serving as an alternate captain while earning a reputation as one of the club's hardest-working and most respected veterans.
After finishing his 14-year NHL career as a member of the Blues' 2019 Stanley Cup championship team, Thorburn returned to the organization as a development coach in 2021. His latest promotion puts him in charge of helping guide the franchise's next generation of prospects.
Tkachuk's promotion carries Winnipeg significance as well.
Although he never suited up for the current iteration of the Jets, Tkachuk remains one of the most recognizable players in franchise history after captaining the original Jets before the club relocated to Phoenix in 1996. He played 563 games with the franchise, recording 323 goals and 630 points, cementing himself as one of the organization's all-time greats.
Now, nearly three decades after leaving Winnipeg, Tkachuk continues to climb the executive ranks in St. Louis, joining Thorburn in taking on an even larger role within one of the NHL's most established front offices.
NHL Free Agency began almost a week ago on July 1. According to CapWages.com, 389 players were seeking new contracts, and the list has been reduced to roughly 223 heading into the second official week of the NHL off-season.
When free agency kicked off, 19 former Calgary Flames players became free agents, and now that list has dwindled to eight. Today, we are going to look at the top five players still looking for a new team for 2026-27.
Anthony Mantha
Anthony Mantha had a resurgence season last year with the Pittsburgh Penguins, scoring a career-high 33 goals and 64 points on a team that bounced back and qualified for the playoffs.
The 11-year veteran is one of the top wingers still available, and at 31, he may be looking for a long-term deal, but could end up settling on another one-year prove-it deal before landing a multi-year contract. During Mantha's one season with the Flames, in 2024-25, he scored just four goals and seven points in 13 games.
Cam Talbot
Cam Talbot is an ageless wonder, just recently turning 39 and still looking for a gig in the NHL. For the last two years, he'd been in goal for the Detroit Red Wings, posting a 33-28-11 record on a team that failed to qualify for the playoffs in either of the years he was there. After 13 seasons in the league, he's 278-204-53 with a .911 SV% and 2.69 GAA.
Moreover, last season, Talbot produced a .883 SV% and 3.19 GAA, his totals of the decade, making it a little more difficult to land a starting or backup role on a contender.
Calle Järnkrok
For the past four seasons, Calle Järnkrok has played with the Toronto Maple Leafs, beginning his tenure there with a 20-goal season back in 2022-23. Since then, he's tallied a total of 16 games over the past three seasons. Meanwhile, he was minus-15 last year, the seventh-worst total on the club.
After 13 seasons, Järnkrok has 143 goals and 316 points in 774 games. He'll be 35 at the beginning of the season, and could be looking for a fresh start with a new club on one of his final NHL deals.
Travis Hamonic
Travis Hamonic was a teammate of Talbot in Detroit last season, where he played just 26 games and recorded two points with a minus-11 rating. He'll be 36 next month, which may be a reason why he's still looking for a new deal. Considering his most productive seasons came almost a decade ago, he'll be looking for a modest contract to get him closer to retirement after 17 seasons.
Curtis Lazar
Curtis Lazar played for the Flames' provincial rival, the Edmonton Oilers, last season, appearing in 45 games and picking up six points, including four goals. Two years ago, he had a 25-point season, a career-high for the bottom-six player. Considering Lazar has never played 82 games in a single season, he'll be hard-pressed to land a role on a contender, in what would be his 13th NHL season.
Honorable Mentions
The three other former Flames players left looking for new deals also include Derek Forbort, Jordan Oesterle, and Kevin Rooney. Interestingly, all three of them combined to play four games in the league last season, so the likelihood of them landing a new NHL contract is slim, but never say never. Considering all three are still under 35, they could continue playing professionally with a chance of a call-up.
The Utica Comets have undergone a massive overhaul this offseason.
Since taking over as New Jersey Devils general manager, Sunny Mehta has made the organization's American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate a clear priority. One of his first decisions was not to renew the contract of Comets general manager Dan MacKinnon, paving the way for Braden Birch to take over the role just days later.
“When I got here and talked it through, even with ownership, David Blitzer and I talked about what are some of the things we really want to focus on,” Mehta said during his media availability on July 2nd. “He himself brought up Utica also. That needs to be something that we make more of a priority, that we think more about in terms of both not just the success of that organization in terms of wins and losses, but just also in terms of player development.
“As much as we used this sort of decision-making process that I talk about to focus intently on our decisions at the NHL, we really have done the same thing at the AHL,” Mehta continued. “On the screen, when we put up our NHL roster, we've got the AHL roster right next to it, and we're thinking of it all as one big thing, where we are trying to use that same roster strategy in Utica.”
The 2025–26 Comets roster has been reshaped dramatically over the past several days. Below is a complete rundown of every move the organization has made.
Forwards
New Additions
Jeremy Wilmer signed a one-year AHL contract.
Amadeus Lombardi signed to a two-year, two-way contract.
Ben Steeves re-signed a one-year, two-way contract.
Riley Tufte signed a one-year, one-way contract.
Gabe Klassen signed an AHL contract.
Zach Gallant signed an AHL contract.
Returning
Ryan Schmelzer signed an AHL contract.
Xavier Parent re-signed a one-year, two-way contract.
Marc McLaughlin re-signed a one-year, two-way contract.
Jack Malone signed an AHL contract.
Departures
Angus Crookshank was traded to the Florida Panthers along with Jacob Markstrom.
Brian Halonen signed a two-year, two-way contract with the Boston Bruins.
Emil Andrae is set for a new chapter in his NHL career.
The Toronto Maple Leafs acquired the defenseman on June 16 from the Philadelphia Flyers. Along with Andrae, the Maple Leafs received goaltender Samuel Ersson and a 2026 third-round pick in exchange for Simon Benoit and Joseph Woll. The third-round pick was used to select goalie Juuso Ainasto.
Andrae spent parts of three seasons with the Flyers before being dealt to the Leafs. Following the trade from three weeks ago, he posted his farewell on social media on Monday.
"THANKS Philadelphia and all my teammates for 3 amazing years," Andrae captioned on his Instagram post. "Couldn’t be more grateful and honored to have been a part of this organization."
This past season, the 24-year-old reached 100 regular-season games in the NHL, now featuring in a total of 107 after making 61 appearances in 2025-26. In that campaign, he scored a pair of goals and registered 13 points, the most in his young career thus far. He also recorded a plus-15 rating, which was the second-best on the Flyers' roster.
He achieved those numbers while averaging 15:20 of ice time per game, which is about two minutes less than what he logged the year prior.
Indeed, the 5-foot-9 blueliner was sheltered on the back end in Philadelphia. But he's ready to put that behind him and turn the page to a new chapter in Toronto.
"Now it’s on to a new chapter, and I’m so excited to join the Toronto Maple Leafs," Andrae signed off on his post.
Looking at the Leafs' blueline depth chart, a spot in the lineup is certainly not confirmed for Andrae. But with the right effort and performances in training camp, pre-season, and the start of the 2026-27 campaign, he could nab a spot on Toronto's bottom pairing.
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VANCOUVER, CANADA - APRIL 14: Elias Pettersson #40 of the Vancouver Canucks looks on during the first period of their NHL game against the Los Angeles Kings at Rogers Arena on April 14, 2026 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. (Photo by Derek Cain/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman feels Kyle Dubas could potentially consider reuniting new Penguins winger Andrei Kuzmenko with Vancouver Canucks center Elias Pettersson.
Less than a week after the Penguins signed Kuzmenko to a one-year deal, Friedman speculated about Pettersson as a potential Penguins trade target on Monday’s 32 Thoughtspodcast.
“The ground has shifted here in a huge way,” Friedman said about Pettersson’s status in Vancouver. “I’ve sat there and I’ve said, where could he go that could be good for him? I don’t know. I wonder if the Penguins, with Crosby and Malkin, might be good for him.”
TSN’s Pierre LeBrun said in a June appearance on Oilers Now with Bob Stauffer other teams felt Pettersson was “definitely available.”
Any trade talks surrounding Pettersson, who will turn 28 in November, will be complicated by the size of his contract. He’s signed through the 2031-32 season at a $11.6 million AAV, and he’s scored 15 goals in each of the last two seasons.
Four seasons ago, however, Pettersson was a top-10 producer in the NHL. That was back in the 2022-23 campaign, when Pettersson posted 39 goals and 102 points while spending most of the season skating with Kuzmenko on his wing.
That was a relatively brief partnership, as the Canucks traded Kuzmenko the following season.
That connection still makes Friedman mentioning the Penguins as a landing spot intriguing, as does the possibility of what a change of scenery could do for Pettersson.
After all, Teddy Blueger recently spoke about how difficult the culture was in the Canucks organization after experiencing Crosby “setting the tone” earlier in his career in Pittsburgh (h/t Dan Riccio). Maybe a change in organizational structure could result in a change in how much success Pettersson is finding on the ice.
Should that happen, the Penguins could theoretically add depth behind Crosby and Malkin in the short term and, thanks to the length of Pettersson’s contract, set up a succession plan at center in the post-Crosby era.
That would hinge on Pettersson turning things around in Pittsburgh, however, as well as whether Dubas would be willing to make that bet without the Canucks retaining salary.
The player will have some say in the matter, too. Pettersson possesses a full no movement clause – and some believe his preference will be to remain on the west coast.
@JoshYohe_PGH This was always going to be a huge variable. And why the west coast teams were always favoured here. Location & volume matters to EP40 & family. Probably more so than winning
There’s been more buzz lately around the Penguins and Dallas Stars winger Jason Robertson, about whom Friedman confirmed the Penguins have spoken with the Stars. Friedman added he still saw Pittsburgh as a “potential option” for Robertson despite his decision to file for arbitration in Dallas.
“I think they had some conversations with Dallas about Jason Robertson. I don’t know why it didn’t happen, but I heard there were some pretty legitimate talks,” Friedman said Monday. “So I don’t know if this was the Penguins’ call, or if this was Robertson’s call… the belief is he wants to stay there, so maybe it was Robertson’s call, I don’t know. But that is a potential option, ‘cause I heard they had some pretty serious talks about it, and we don’t know where this is going to go for Robertson in Dallas.”
Friedman also provided updates on how the Penguins are viewing two of the franchise’s highest-rated prospects.
He indicated the franchise has high hopes for Owen Pickering, who played a key postseason role for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins despite skating on a broken foot.
“I think that the Penguins are really excited for him,” Friedman said.
Friedman added he feels the Penguins could see this offseason as a make-or-break moment for winger Ville Koivunen, who played 39 NHL games last season but never established a permanent spot for himself on the roster.
“I think they’re hoping that Ville Koivunen can take another step,” Friedman said. “He had a good end to the previous year, he had a rough year this year scoring-wise, and I think they’ve basically told him: ‘You need to have a massive summer, and then we’ll see where we go.’ I don’t think they’ve given up on him by any means, but I think they’ve told him he needs to have a massive summer.”
Pickering is signed for one more season before he is scheduled to hit restricted free agency in 2027.
The Penguins have yet to sign Koivunen after extending him a qualifying offer back on June 29, so he currently remains an unsigned restricted free agent. Pittsburgh has just under $17 million in cap space after re-signing players including Egor Chinakhov and Arturs Silovs earlier this week, per PuckPedia.
The Chicago Blackhawks have made multiple additions to their roster this off-season. Among them is defenseman Ian Cole, as the Blackhawks signed him to a one-year, $4 million contract. His new deal also comes with an additional $750,000 of potential performance bonuses.
The Blackhawks' decision to sign Cole makes sense. With the Blackhawks having a blueline full of youngsters, it certainly is understandable that they have signed Cole to have more experience. He will provide the Blackhawks with a much-needed veteran defenseman who can help mentor their young players.
While a big reason for the Blackhawks signing the 37-year-old Cole was his experience, he is also still a solid defenseman at this stage of his career. He should provide more stability to Chicago's bottom pairing and will be a clear option for their penalty kill because of his shutdown ability.
Cole is coming off a solid 2025-26 season with the Utah Mammoth, as he posted three goals, 20 assists, 23 points, and 151 hits. If he can translate these kinds of numbers over to next season, he will be a nice pickup for a Blackhawks club that is looking to be more competitive in 2026-27.
Overall, there is no real harm in the Blackhawks signing a veteran like Cole to a one-year deal.
Long before the Philadelphia Flyers made their ambitious Leo Carlsson offer sheet, they were planning a big-money heist for an already established NHL superstar.
After the end of the 2025-26 season and the subsequent Stanley Cup playoff run, the Flyers expressed some surprise that more of the top prospective free agents in the 2026 class never made it to free agency.
Some of those star players who could have found new teams in free agency include Artemi Panarin, Jack Eichel, and Kirill Kaprizov, though all three extended with their respective NHL teams.
As a result, the Flyers were left high and dry and ultimately pivoted to Leo Carlsson, though if they had it their way, things would have looked much different.
According to NHL insider Elliotte Friedman, the Flyers had planned on targeting Kaprizov, the superstar Minnesota Wild winger, before the Russian phenom signed a blockbuster eight-year, $136 million contract extension ($17 million AAV) on Sept. 25.
"I had heard that if Kaprizov had hit the market this year, Philly was going to drop bags of cash on his house," Friedman said in his latest episode of the "32 Thoughts" podcast. "Minnesota knew that. Minnesota knew, one of the reasons they did that was that they knew Philly would if they didn't."
So, even before the Flyers made the run they did in the Stanley Cup playoffs, beating the Pittsburgh Penguins in six games before getting swept by the eventual Stanley Cup champion Carolina Hurricanes, general manager Danny Briere and this front office were big-game hunting.
Kaprizov, a four-time 40-goal scorer with a 108-point season under his belt, certainly qualifies, though it is also worth considering that he is a winger, and Carlsson is a natural center.
The Flyers connection with Kaprizov has always been there, too, as assistant general manager Brent Flahr was the one who drafted the Russian superstar to the Wild when he was with the organization back in 2015.
Flahr, of course, now runs the Flyers' drafts, and it is no secret that unearthing Kaprizov as a fifth-round pick is by far Flahr's biggest success and claim to fame at the NHL level.
Regardless of the ultimate outcome with Kaprizov, it speaks volumes about the Flyers' willingness to do whatever it takes to acquire good players and pay the price required to win.
They have doubled down on their bet with the Carlsson offer sheet, apparently steadfast in their belief that the young Swede, too, can develop into a 100-point player, especially with options like Matvei Michkov and Porter Martone flanking him on the wings.
And we can safely assume that if the Flyers come up short in their pursuit of Carlsson, they won't throw in the towel.
For weeks, the Pittsburgh Penguins have been linked to superstar RFA forward Jason Robertson, who just filed for arbitration with the Dallas Stars.
On Monday's edition of the 32 Thoughts Podcast, NHL Insider Elliotte Friedman said that there were "some pretty serious talks" between the Penguins and the Stars regarding a potential trade that would bring Robertson to Pittsburgh. Obviously, it hasn't happened yet, and Robertson filing for arbitration makes things murkier for the entire situation.
But there was something else Friedman mentioned that is getting a fair amount of attention, and it was a suggestion involving another hot-button trade candidate.
"Here's another one that I've wondered about, and that is Pettersson. Elias Pettersson from the Canucks," Friedman said. "And, remember, he has control, but... look, all of a sudden, he's got to play better. And that $11.6 (million), everyone's been talking about that, I know. But, again, the ground has shifted here in a huge way. I've sat there, and I've said, 'Where could he go that could be good for him?'
"I don't know. I wonder if the Penguins with Crosby and Malkin might be good for him."
Pettersson, 27, is a big yet under-the-radar trade candidate from the Vancouver Canucks, as the center's value has faded a bit over the last several years. After posting a 39-goal, 102-point season in 2022-23, his production has decreased. Following one more season above 30 goals and point-per-game in 2023-24, he has just 30 goals and 96 points in the 138 games combined over the past two seasons.
He also carries a cap hit of $11.6 million for six more years, which is, perhaps, the elephant in the room. Sure, that $11.6 million might not look so hefty in a few years given how the market is evolving quickly, but Penguins' POHO and GM Kyle Dubas did caution the idea of throwing a ton of money out there all in one summer and not having enough cap space to, perhaps, be in on better talent in the future.
So, it's worth wondering whether Pettersson is a worthwhile gamble for the Penguins. Here is the case for either side of it.
While $11.6 million may not be a ton of money a few years down the line, it could, potentially, pose some issues for the Penguins - especially if they plan to try adding another key piece via trade and because of the young players they already have.
It also poses a potential issue for the 2027-28 season and beyond, as the Penguins have a projected $71 million in cap space as of right now for next summer but already have obligations. Erik Karlsson's future in Pittsburgh is uncertain, and that cap number includes his $10 million cap hit being off the books. Sidney Crosby will also need a new contract, and they will have a boatload of UFAs and RFAs - many of which are young players.
Aside from UFAs Evgeni Malkin, Tommy Novak, Andrei Kuzmenko, Justin Brazeau, and Samuel Girard, they will also have RFAs Elmer Soderblom, Nick Robertson (assuming he gets the one-year deal out of arbitration), Arturs Silovs, Sergei Murashov, Rutger McGroarty, Tristan Broz, Avery Hayes, Jake Livanavage, Owen Pickering, and - potentially - Ville Koivunen, should his assumed new contract be just one year.
That's a lot, and it will add up, especially since at least a couple of these guys have a chance to break out at the NHL level this season and demand a whole lot more. Adding Pettersson's cap hit only dwindles that $71 million, too.
But, money aside, Pettersson has gained a reputation - fair or not - that questions his effort. Is that apparent reputation and aversion to coachability worth the $11.6 million? Honestly, it may not be, and it's a fair question to ask - even if there is considerable upside.
Well, simply put, it's not everyday that a legitimate second-line center option is available on the market, and especially not one whose acquisition cost will be minimal in the rising cap environment.
Aside from left defense, the Penguins' biggest area of need is another top-six center. While Ben Kindel projects to get there at some point, it's probably best for his development to remain the team's third-line center heading into next season. And, even if he does breach that position - and even if folks don't want to talk about it - Crosby won't be superhuman forever and will eventually need a viable replacement.
Pettersson and Kindel down the middle for a while doesn't sound half bad. Plus, by that point, the Penguins will have several of their young players established on the NHL roster, giving Pettersson and Kindel options.
And, yes, maybe $11.6 million could be a bit tricky next offseason, but what if the Canucks were willing to take on Ryan Graves's $4.5 million average annual value for three more years while they're rebuilding anyway? And what if one or both of Bryan Rust and Rickard Rakell is not on the roster? Then, the cap might be a total non-issue.
Yes, the Penguins would be taking a chance with Pettersson, but there could be enough upside to justify the risk. At worst, Pettersson - who is actually very capable on both sides of the puck - becomes an average second-line center or good third-line center for the Penguins, and at best, they have a long-term solution at first- and second-line center who could help bridge the gap between the Crosby competitive window and the next competitive window.
If the Canucks are willing to take back Graves's contract for Pettersson, it is probably worth the risk. Top-six centers don't grow on trees, and it's even rarer that they can be had at the cost that Pettersson will likely go for, which is, reasonably, a 2027 first-round pick, a roster player, a prospect, and Graves.
The NHL is trying to settle into its brief mid-summer quiet period, but there are major names still out there (trade requests) and arbitration hearing season is also around the corner.
In the post-July 1 dust-settling, Elliotte Friedman’s latest 32 Thoughts podcast made waves among several fanbases (15 minutes on the Ducks losing control, the Blues are still active), among them the Isles. One point was that the Islanders did receive “calls” about Bo Horvat and Mat Barzal, but in the rising cap — and now, with the Leo Carlsson offer sheet — those contracts are suddenly bargains after Danny Briere singlehandedly rewrote the league salary scale.
Rob Taub sums up Friedman’s nuggets and non-nuggets (or scan to the 2:34 mark to listen) on the Isles:
Couple takeaways from @FriedgeHNIC on the #Isles via 32 Thoughts: The Podcast:
-I look at the Islanders, and I know some of their fans were like, do more, do more, do more. I think what it is right now is New York is in a position where they are starting to turn over their…
My favorite part is “I thnk they’ve decided none of these defensive prospects are being blocked. At the end of this year, they’ve got, look at all the guys who are coming off the last year of their contracts. Defense, not so much, but…”
This is our concern, Dude.
So, non-news amid the wait for non-news, but reiteration that Mathieu Darche is treating this coming season as the transition season that last season never quite became.
It’s a few days old, but various Swedes praise Malte Gustafsson’s potential. [Post]
Elsewhere
After speculation he’d head to a former haunt, Claude Giroux returns to the Senators after all. [Sportsnet]
Recent acquisition from the Devils, Simon Nemec signs a five-year deal with the Flames. [NHL]
The Canucks call Jamie Oleksiak “a big body who moves very well” and he calls the Canucks “too good an opportunity to pass up,” so I’m not sure who’s gaslighting whom. [Sportsnet]
The Panthers are happy with their dramatic offseason. [NHL]
Alex Ovechkin is happy with the Capitals’ offseason. [ESPN]
On Sunday, the Pittsburgh Penguins announced a slew of RFA signings, which included one-year deals to goaltender Arturs Silovs and forward Daniel Gustafsson, a two-year deal to netminder Joel Blomqvist, and a three-year contract for scoring forward Egor Chinakhov.
Chinakhov, 25, impressed the Penguins and fans last season with 18 goals and 36 points in 43 games after he was brought over from the Columbus Blue Jackets in a change-of-scenery trade in late December. It was finally the breakout that was expected of him since his debut during the 2021-22 season, as he finished the season with 21 goals and 42 points total - both career-highs.
In years past, a 2-3 year bridge deal worth around $3-4 million average annual value would have been appropriate for a player like Chinakhov. Yes, he flashed brilliance with the Penguins last season using his elite-level shot, his surprisingly keen playmaking skills, and his chemistry in the Penguins' top-six - with almost all of his production coming at even strength since he didn't see top power play minutes.
Despite that, it was still a flash-in-the-pan sample size in what has, largely, been an underwhelming and injury-riddled young career. So, once again, in years past, giving a player like Chinakhov $6.25 million for three years may have seemed a bit steep.
But gone are those days. The market is changing, and Chinakhov's contract is one of several that highlight the pretty seismic shift in the NHL salary cap landscape.
In the past several weeks, we have seen - in different ways - how the market is changing with relation to player value. Brady Tkachuk was dealt to the Florida Panthers for three first-round picks and a second-round pick, something that may have seemed excessive just a year or two ago. Defenseman Bowen Byram - hardly one of the NHL's elite defensemen - returned the 2026 fourth overall pick to the Buffalo Sabres and was extended by the Chicago Blackhawks for six years, $12.5 million average annual value, making him the highest-paid blueliner in hockey.
Then, there was the reported trade offer from the Seattle Kraken for Dallas Stars superstar Jason Robertson - who the Penguins have been interested in - that included three first-round picks and a rostered NHL player. Robertson ended up saying he wouldn't extend in Seattle, rendering the offer moot, but those three first-round picks are a pretty decent bet to be in the lottery zone.
And, most recently, Anaheim Ducks center Leo Carlsson - who is 21 years old and has yet to hit the 30-goal or 70-point plateau - was offer-sheeted $18 million by the Philadelphia Flyers, which demands four first-round picks as compensation and which will make him the highest-paid player in hockey next season despite being nowhere close to hockey's best player.
Pavel Mintyukov isn't ~$7.4 million-caliber yet and doesn't project to be worth that over the next five years, either. The offer sheet effect is real and shaking up the Ducks' cap picture. pic.twitter.com/ubRQLfamqJ
All of a sudden, perceived overpays are quite literally happening everywhere in every facet, whether it be offer sheets, extensions, acquisition cost, or anything else. All of a sudden, acquiring elite talent requires paying a premium on premiums, putting teams attempting to get over the hump by leveraging assets for that talent at a major disadvantage. All of a sudden, "prove-it" deals or bridge deals hardly exist, as NHL general managers are paying forward for potential rather than what the most realistic outcomes are likely to be.
In a market that's so rapidly and drastically changing to favor players and their agency, there is a lot of guessing when it comes to player value. With the cap expected to rise substantially year-by-year, some of the league's best players are going to look vastly underpaid very quickly, and players like Robertson and Connor Bedard, both RFAs, are likely to demand even more money because their perceived worth will be ballooned when compared to a player like Carlsson.
So, it's a tricky game for GMs. That's why Penguins' POHO and GM Kyle Dubas giving Chinakhov $6.25 million for three years is a good bet, even if his salary pretty handily exceeds that of the Penguins' two best and most established wingers in Bryan Rust and Rickard Rakell. If Chinakhov can build on what he did last season with the Penguins and reach the star-caliber ceiling that Pittsburgh believes he can, that $6.25 million is going to look like a bargain contract as early as sometime this season. If not, $6.25 million isn't going to affect them very much, anyway.
Assuming he does continue to blossom, however, it also means that Chinakhov would be due for a hefty raise on his next deal, which would take effect in his age 28 season.
There is a seismic shift happening in the NHL. Players have more say in where they go, and they'll have increased negotiating power when it comes to dollar figures in contract talks. The Penguins may have found a shining jewel in Chinakhov, and although they may be betting on potential here, it's certainly a bet worth taking in what looks to be a new era of the NHL.
Penguins general manager/president Kyle Dubas is a big fan of him and has tried to land him via trade this offseason, per multiple reports.
Heck, just look at the way Penguins assistant general manager Jason Spezza danced around a question regarding Robertson on July. 1.
"I won't speak directly on him, but I will tell you that we've done lots of work and inquired on lots of different players throughout our time here in the last few weeks, and we will continue to," Spezza said. "I think that's the job, and that's what we're trying to do, is to make sure we're always in on everything and understanding what's going on around the league, and where that fits into our puzzle. Jason's obviously a good player that lots of teams have interest in, and we're going to continue to investigate everything that's out there."
That's the closest you'll get an executive to say that a team has called on a certain player without fully admitting it.
Over the weekend, Robertson was one of 15 players to file for arbitration since he's still a restricted free agent. This means that teams cannot sign him to an offer sheet.
15 players have filed for arbitration:
Bourgault, Xavier (Ottawa Senators) Dach, Kirby (Montreal Canadiens) Drysdale, Jamie (Philadelphia Flyers) Greaves, Jet (Columbus Blue Jackets) Jefferies, Alex (New York Islanders) Krebs, Peyton (Buffalo Sabres) McMichael, Connor (St. Louis…
The Stars would like to avoid arbitration with Robertson because if he signs an arbitration deal, he would become an unrestricted free agent after next season.
They can still look for a trade partner for him or potentially offer more money on an extension. Going off that, Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reported on the Monday edition of 32 Thoughts that there's still a "gap" in the contract talks. The Stars are in at $12-12.5 million, while Robertson is asking for around $14 million.
This is definitely a situation that the Penguins will continue to monitor throughout the offseason, especially if the Stars can't get anything done.
According to NHL insider Elliotte Friedman, a potential reunion between Claude Giroux and the Philadelphia Flyers is officially dashed.
Friedman reported Monday night that Giroux, 38, "will return to Ottawa," ending any potential farewell tour fairytale ending to the legendary forward's career.
"Word tonight the Senators remain very much in the Claude Giroux mix. Nothing done yet, though," Friedman initially reported.
Then came the kicker.
"He will return to Ottawa, it is getting done," Friedman posted to his X account a few minutes later.
The Flyers had interest in their former captain until the end, but it was ultimately up to Giroux to decide to run it back in Ottawa with the Senators for his 20th NHL season.
Of course, a potential fit for Giroux became complicated when the Flyers went ahead and signed Leo Carlsson to a $90 million offer sheet that will cost them $18 million against the salary cap.
And in addition to that, the Flyers also signed a veteran right-shot center in free agency with journeyman Noel Acciari, adding even more depth to a suddenly crowded Flyers forward group, even without Giroux in the mix.
Assuming this is really it for Giroux, the veteran of 1,345 NHL regular season games and counting finished his Flyers career with 291 goals, 609 assists, and 900 points in 1,000 games donning the Orange and Black.
There's always next year, of course, if Giroux hits free agency again, but with the amount of deliberation and fanfare it took just to get to this point, that's far from a guarantee.
At least for now, Giroux returns to the Senators as an experienced, well-respected leader who the team will rely on to steady the ship after the rocky departure of former captain Brady Tkachuk.
The hockey world was stunned with the mammoth offer sheet that was made public over the weekend from the Philadelphia Flyers, who targeted Anaheim Ducks forward Leo Carlsson.
The offer sheet, which Carlsson signed, is for five years and a whopping $90 million, carrying a salary cap hit of $18 million. It would make Carlsson the highest paid player in NHL history per season if the Ducks don't match it.
Speaking of offer sheets, could the Detroit Red Wings be victimized by one?
Defenseman Simon Edvinsson was tendered a qualifying offer by the Red Wings, meaning they retain his RFA rights, but that he's still eligible to be extended an offer sheet from an opposition NHL club.
During his recent "32 Thoughts" podcast, NHL Insider Elliotte Friedman openly wondered if the Carolina Hurricanes, who are the current defending Stanley Cup champions, could make such a move - especially if they were to lose RFA defenseman Alexander Nikishin.
"I'll tell you, the other player that I heard in conjunction with them was Simon Edvinsson from the Red Wings," Friedman said. "He's a really good player, and - if they lose Nikishin, they're gonna need a defenseman, right? And I think Edvinsson would be excellent for their system.
So, I've kind of wondered if they're eying him up and down, too."
"Carolina has earned that, sort of - you'd better think of creative things they can do, and they're not afraid to try them," he said.
Selected by the Red Wings with the sixth overall pick in the 2021 NHL Draft, Edvinsson has quickly developed into one of Detroit's most valuable blueliners, trailing only Moritz Seider in terms of overall importance on the back end.
During the season, he skated in 72 games and established a new career high with nine goals while contributing 16 assists for 25 points.
After re-aggravating a lingering injury in a game late in January, Edvinsson underwent surgery but successfully worked his way back into the lineup before the end of February.
Edvinsson has appeared in 175 career NHL games, and has scored 19 goals with 41 assists. He's averaged 21:09 of ice time per game, and is a plus-17.
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Now that it has been multiple days since the start of NHL free agency, many of this year's top unrestricted free agents (UFAs) have been signed. Although this is the case, there are still plenty of UFAs still looking for their next contracts.
Interestingly, a decent amount of the NHL's remaining UFAs are former Flyers players.
Claude Giroux is the most notable former Flyer who is still a UFA at this point in the summer. However, he has been heavily linked to Philadelphia since hitting the market. A reunion between the Flyers and their former captain would make for a fantastic story.
Giroux would provide the Flyers' forward group with a nice boost if successfully brought back, as he is still a very useful player at this stage in his career. In 82 games last season for the Ottawa Senators, he posted 14 goals and 49 points.
James van Riemsdyk is another former Flyer who is still a UFA. The 37-year-old winger is still a solid offensive contributor at this stage of his career. With that, it is possible that he could land a one-year deal if he does not retire. In 72 games last season for the Detroit Red Wings, the 2007 second-overall pick posted 15 goals and 31 points.
Former Flyers goalie Cam Talbot is one of the top goalies still available in free agency. The 39-year-old had a tough year for Detroit, posting an .883 save percentage and a 3.19 goals-against average in 34 games. However, the two-time All-Star also had a .900 save percentage or better in five out of his previous six seasons before 2025-26. This kind of past success could help him get at least a PTO from an NHL club.
Other former Flyers who are also still UFAs include Kevin Hayes, Rodrigo Abols, Luke Glendening, and Petr Mrazek.
