Category: Ice Hockey

The New York Rangers have signed forward Justin Dowling to a two-year contract. 

It’s a one-way deal the first year, two-way the second year. During the first season, Dowling will earn $775,000 while he’ll make $775,000 during the second season when at the NHL level and a minimum of $450,000. 

Dowling has played seven seasons in the NHL for the Dallas Stars, Vancouver Canucks, and New Jersey Devils.

In 152 career games, the 34-year-old center has recorded nine goals, 17 assists, and 26 points while averaging 10:37 minutes. 

Dowling is coming off a season where he played 52 games for the Devils, the most throughout his NHL career.

The Columbus Blue Jackets are signing center Isac Lundeström to a two-year contract. The contract will be worth $1.3 million per season. 

Lundeström has 337 NHL games under his belt, all for the Anaheim Ducks. He's scored 35 goals and totaled 84 points in his career. 

One scouting report said of Lundeström, "Powerful skater... ability to carry the puck deep using good puck protection on both sides to then put dangerous pucks in front from down low."

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Blue Jackets Lose Justin DanforthBob McKenzie has reported that forward Justin Danforth has signed with the Buffalo Sabres on a two-year deal with an AAV of $1.8 million. Columbus Brings Back Owen Sillinger On A One-Year DealColumbus has brought back Owen Sillinger, signing him today to a one-year, two-wat contract.

Connor Bedard is the most important figure in the Chicago Blackhawks organization. He is one of the NHL's brightest young stars with the potential to be a superstar in the league. 

As of July 1st, he is eligible to extend his contract with the Chicago Blackhawks. This is a deal that will come with a big raise, but a well-earned one for an incredibly productive teenager. 

By the middle of Bedard's first non-entry-level contract, it may be seen as a bargain based on his production. General Manager Kyle Davidson may overpay him a little bit at first to get some of his prime locked up at a fair number.

Through 150 career NHL games, Bedard has 45 goals and 83 assists for 129 points. That is one of the most productive starts to a career for a teenager in recent NHL history. The fact that he hasn't even come close to reaching his potential as a player speaks volumes.

If he can develop the intensity and 200-foot game that comes with being a top-line center, the Blackhawks will have hit a home run with the 2023 first overall pick. 

On Tuesday, after Day 2 of Development Camp wrapped up, Davidson spoke to the media, and Bedard's next contract was a topic of conversation. He talked about extensions with not only Bedard, but also other players who are a year away from being a restricted free agent. 

"We have had some conversations with a couple of those players," Davidson said. "Nothing imminent. I think the new salary cap marketplace is going to stall some of that. It is going to make some of these a little more drawn out than maybe they would have been in the past on a more flat cap." 

Part of developing good young players is having to pay them when their time comes. Bedard and his teammates are no exception. 

When talking about Bedard specifically, Davidson confirmed that he is in contact with the player and his camp. 

"We are talking," Davidson said. "I think that's an indicator of an openness to discuss. I think he made his thoughts very clear at the end of the season and then subsequently in interviews about (how) he's committed to Chicago and wants to be here long term. We obviously want him long term, so there is mutual agreement there."

If the Blackhawks are going to take a step in the rebuild at any point in the next handful of years, it will have to be with Connor Bedard leading the way. The coaches know that, management knows that, and the rest of the league knows that. 

"If we're able to get something done, that would be fantastic," Davidson said. "If we don't, I think it's probably more so out of the uncertainty around how the league and the system is going to be growing or impacted moving forward than anything player/team related."

It isn't a contract that is going to get done quickly, but the early stages of it are underway. 

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The Montreal Canadiens have signed forward Sammy Blais to a one-year contract worth $775,000, per TSN's Chris Johnston. 

Blais recorded 40 points in 51 regular season games with the Abbotsford Canucks before a tremendous playoff performance where he had 19 points and 77 penalty minutes in 23 games to help the Canucks win the Calder Cup. 

The 29-year-old last played in the NHL in 2023-24 and notched seven points in 53 games with the St. Louis Blues. 

The Montmagny, Que., native has 71 points in 257 career NHL games and 145 points in 199 career AHL games. He will fight for a bottom-six role with the Canadiens and can be relied upon to produce offense with Laval if he ends up in the AHL next season. 

Sammy Blais is heading to Montreal on a one-year contract, per @reporterchris. pic.twitter.com/RBm4y9uLW1

— TSN (@TSN_Sports) July 1, 2025

Blais has a winning track record, he was a member of the 2019 Stanley Cup champion St. Louis Blues. He also recorded eight points in 10 games, including two goals in the gold medal game, to help Canada win the gold at the 2023 World Championship. 

Check out The Hockey News' Montreal Canadiens team site for more updates. 

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Photo Credit: © Bob Frid-Imagn Images

The chance to acquire a 20-30-goal scorer for a depth defenseman is the kind of deal a good GM is going to make seven days a week.

And it's exactly the trade Montreal Canadiens GM Kent Hughes made on Canada Day when he acquired winger and Trois-Rivieres native Zach Bolduc from the St. Louis Blues for defenseman Logan Mailloux.

It's not that it was a bad trade for St. Louis – Mailloux has all the markings of a solid NHL defenseman – as it was a great trade for the Canadiens, acquiring a potential top-six forward for a guy who didn't really fit into their long-term plans because of the logjam on the Habs' blueline. And, if anyone recalls the circumstances under which Mailloux was taken 31st in 2021, you'll also know this closes a rather sordid chapter for them.

It's another sign that the rebuilding phase is over in Montreal and that this team has – and should have – designs on making noise in the Eastern Conference. Now that they've made the playoffs and meekly bowed out in the first round, next on the docket is being competitive in Round 1 and possibly even winning it. Then you continue the process until you're a legitimate Stanley Cup contender, meaning you're a threat to advance to the conference final every year.

So far, the Canadiens have made moves that suggest they're on that path. Watch today's video column for more.

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Bob McKenzie has reported that forward Justin Danforth has signed with the Buffalo Sabres on a two-year deal with an AAV of $1.8 million.

Danforth played 183 games with the CBJ over the last four seasons. He scored 31 goals and totaled 64 points. 

Don Waddell told the media today that he tried to sign Danforth, it just didn't work out. 

Danforth has a great story on his path to the NHL, and he will be missed by the fans. 

The joy he provided to CBJ fans on March 1, cannot be understated. Watch it again below. 

Columbus comes up CLUTCH in final minutes of Stadium Series 😱🥳Justin Danforth breaks the tie late in the 3rd period and Adam Fantilli nets the empty-netter to seal the Blue Jackets' 5-3 victory over the Detroit Red Wing...

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Columbus Brings Back Owen Sillinger On A One-Year DealColumbus has brought back Owen Sillinger, signing him today to a one-year, two-wat contract. Blue Jackets Sign Defenseman Christian Jaros The Blue Jackets have signed defenseman Christian Jaros to a one-year, two-way contract today.  Former Blue Jackets Defenseman Jordan Harris Signs With BostonFormer Blue Jackets defenseman Jordan Harris will sign with the Boston Bruins per Elliotte Friedman.

After non-qualifying all but one of their pending-restricted free agents (RFAs), it appears that the Pittsburgh Penguins are bringing at least one of them back on a free agent contract.

On Tuesday - Day One of unrestricted free agency - the Penguins re-signed forward Connor Dewar to a one-year deal, first reported by Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet.

The contract carries an average annual value of $1.1 million.

Dewar, 26, was acquired by the Penguins at last season's trade deadline - along with defenseman Conor Timmins, who was traded to Buffalo Friday during the 2025 NHL Draft - from the Toronto Maple Leafs for a fifth-round pick. Despite registering only three points on the season prior to joining Pittsburgh, Dewar put up four goals and seven points in 17 games with the Penguins.

Connor Dewar re-signs in PIT for one year

— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) July 1, 2025

He figures to be part of Pittsburgh's bottom-six next season, as he proved effective in that role and on the penalty kill. Dewar is just two years off of putting together a 10-goal, 14-point campaign with the Minnesota Wild. 

According to Josh Yohe of The Athletic, forward Philip Tomasino - another non-tendered RFA - is expected to re-sign soon as well.

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Feature image credit: John Jones - Imagn Images

2024-25 AHL league leading goal scorer Matej Blumel has signed a one-year, one-way contract with the Boston Bruins, per TSN's Darren Dreger. The contract is worth $875,000. 

Blumel captured the Willie Marshall Award as the league's goal leader after recording 39 goals and 72 points in 67 games with the Texas Stars. 

The 25-year-old has 70 goals over the last two seasons, he was an AHL All-Star in 2024 and was named to the AHL First All-Star Team in 2025. 

The Tabor, Cze., native has two goals in 13 career NHL games, all with the Dallas Stars. He has 89 goals and 178 points in 197 career regular season AHL games and 26 points in 27 career AHL playoff games. 

Matej Blumel signs a one-year deal with the Boston Bruins, per @DarrenDreger. pic.twitter.com/6IkU9RA80Q

— TSN (@TSN_Sports) July 1, 2025

Blumel also captured a bronze medal with Czechia at 2022 World Championship. 

This is a low-risk, high upside play for Boston and Blumel has earned a chance for more NHL ice time after his last two AHL seasons. 

Make sure you bookmark The Hockey News' AHL Page for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns and so much more.   

Photo Credit: © Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

The New York Islanders made three official signings on the first day of NHL free agency. 

Defenseman Tony DeAngelo re-signed on a one-year deal worth $1.75 million annually after proving to be a strong player in Patrick Roy's system.

Mathieu Darche: "We wanted to get Tony DeAngelo done. Tony, you saw it last year, he played really well when he came here. He can run a power play, so we're excited to bring him back at a number that makes sense for us and the term that makes sense for us."

Goaltender David Rittich isn't coming in to serve as the backup to Ilya Sorokin -- that job still belongs to Semyon Varlamov -- but he provides a nice insurance policy at $1 million for one year.

Mathieu Darche:"We just wanted to get more depth at goalie [...] You saw last year, the goalies this team used. So you never have enough goalies. [Varlamov's] rehab is going well, but we still have to prepare in case something happens, right? So David is a veteran around the NHL. He is a is a very capable NHL goalie, so we're excited to have him and increase our depth in net."

The last official signing of the day was forward Jonathan Drouin, who will be playing a top-six role for the Islanders and helping out tremendously on the power play.  He comes in on a two-year deal at $4 million annually. 

Mathieu Darche: "We wanted to bring in a bit of talent up front, especially to help the power play. And that's what Jonathan Drouin is going to do. Like he's an elite power-play player. He can bring some offense. He'll play in our top six. And he's a veteran guy too, without committing to too much term. It's a two-year contract for Drouin. So he fits a need we had, and obviously, we want to improve the power play from last year. He's definitely a very good power-play player, and our new coach, Ray Bennett, had him in Colorado last year, so he actually knows his strength, also how to use him on the power play."

Darche also shared that he's confident he wil get his restricted free agents done, with one signing very close.

Defenseman Mike Reilly and forward Hudson Fasching, his remaing two unrestricted free agents, will not be back. 

Darche also added that his goal was to bolster his depth without locking players to long-term deals. He'll also be signing some two-way deals -- that's Ethan Bear and Matthew Highmore. 

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PHOTO: Christopher Hanewinckel-Imagn Images

Standout Philadelphia Flyers winger Tyson Foerster could miss the start of the new season with an offseason bicep injury, and that's ok.

Recent reports have indicated that Foerster, 23, suffered a potential long-term bicep injury while training last month, and even so, they're built to survive any potential extended absence from one of the cornerstones of the rebuild.

Update: Flyers GM Danny Briere has clarified that Foerster suffered an injury while playing at the summer World Championships, came down with an infection, and needed to have the infection surgically removed. No recovery timeline has been established at this time.

As has been discussed ad nauseam, the Flyers have an overabundance of right wings, which had pigeonholed Foerster into a left-wing role anyway.

The former first-round pick's growing presence on the Flyers' special teams and defensive impact will be sorely missed for however long he's out, but the injury, at worst, just creates more opportunities for other players.

For example, Owen Tippett ended the season on the Flyers' third line, and prospect Devin Kaplan made his NHL debut in Game 82. Bobby Brink, of course, played alongside Foerster for a prolonged period last season.

Right wing prospect Samu Tuomaala made a solid case for making the roster last training camp, only to suffer an injury towards the end, have an underwhelming season, and ultimately suffer a season-ending injury for the second year in a row.

NHL Free Agency: Flyers Quickly Knock Out 3 Big NeedsThe Philadelphia Flyers are on a crusade to start NHL free agency, quickly signing multiple players, including Christian Dvorak, to address some big team needs.

Other prospects who could reasonably push for an NHL role to fill in the void of Foerster include NCAA champ Alex Bump, who the Flyers love, and the affable-but-menacing Nikita Grebenkin.

And, to his benefit, Grebenkin already has a handful of games of NHL experience, which endeared him to former Flyers coach Craig Berube during his short time with the Toronto Maple Leafs last season.

There's also the unlikely but perfectly plausible scenario where top prospect Porter Martone wows Rick Tocchet in training camp and makes the Flyers outright.

Martone will turn 19 shortly after opening night, and you'll remember that the Flyers, albeit with a completely different coaching staff, gave Jett Luchanko a four-game tryout at the start of this past season. It's not out of the question for Martone, especially given his size and skillset that the Flyers don't have much of.

That all said, it's not like the Flyers are hurting for wingers or pieces to fill in the gaps without Foerster.

In the worst case, Foerster tore his bicep, and the recovery for this typically ranges between three and six months depending on severity and rehab. Assuming this injury happened a few weeks ago, an early outcome would see Foerster return towards the end of the NHL preseason.

A six-month recovery timeline takes Foerster and the Flyers into December, which could make for a 30-game absence, give or take. So, a little more than a quarter of the season, in other words.

The Flyers are in a rebuild, after all, and the "next man up" mentality will help carry them through Foerster's injury.

After trading Logan Mailloux to the St. Louis Blues for Zack Bolduc, Montreal Canadiens’ GM Kent Hughes wasn’t ready to call it a day and went right back to work to add some free agents to the organization.

He signed forward Samuel Blais and goaltender Kaapo Kahkonen to one-year, one-way deals. Both spent the last season in the AHL and made it to the Calder Cup final. Blais won it with the Abbotsford Canucks while Kahkonen beat the Laval Rocket in the Conference Final with the Carlotte Checkers but lost in the final to Blais’ team.

Canadiens: Logan Mailloux Traded To St. Louis
Canadiens: What’s Next for Alexander Zharovsky?
Canadiens Did Not Submit A Qualifying Offer To A Few RFAs

In 51 regular-season games in the AHL, Blais put up 40 points and picked up 44 penalty minutes. In the playoffs, he played a significant role in the Canucks’ championship, scoring 19 points in 23 games and accumulating 77 penalty minutes. Blais has played 257 games in the NHL with the St. Louis Blues and the New York Rangers, winning the Stanley Cup with the Blues in the 2018-19 season.

He was drafted in the sixth round by the Blues at the 2014 draft but was traded to New York along with a second-round pick for Pavel Buchnevich after four seasons with the Missouri outfit. After parts of two seasons, the Blues reacquired him with Hunter Skinner in return for Vladimir Tarasenko and Niko Mikkola. Last offseason, he signed a professional tryout contract with the Vancouver Canucks and eventually landed in Abbottsford.

As for Kahkonen, he bounced around the AHL in the regular season, seeing action with the Colorado Eagles and the Manitoba Moose before landing in Charlotte. He kept an 8-4-0 record with his new team in the regular season with a 2.30 goals-against average and a .906 save percentage. In the playoffs, he was 12-6-0 with a 2.18 GAA and a .906 SV.

Both players fully intend to win a roster spot with the Canadiens this upcoming season rather than spending the year with the Rocket, so the table is set for some internal competition come training camp.

Hughes also signed a pair of one-year, two-way contracts with Alex Belzile and Nate Clurman. For Belzile, it’s a homecoming of sorts since he spent five seasons in the Canadiens organization from the 2018-19 campaign to the 2022-23 season. That offseason, he was able to sign a one-way contract with the Rangers and left, but he ultimately spent the next two seasons in the AHL with the Hartford Wolf Pack. He played 127 games with the Wolf Pack and gathered 106 points.

He will bring some much-needed veteran leadership to the Rocket, who saw 27-year-old veteran Brandon Gignac head to Europe to play in the Swiss league. As for Nate Clurman, he is a 27-year-old right-shot defenseman who will fill the void left by Gustav Lindstrom, who departed the organization to sign a five-year deal in the Swedish league.

Clurman was drafted in the sixth round by the Colorado Avalanche at the 2016 draft and has only played one NHL game since then, this season with the Pittsburgh Penguins. He spent the season in the AHL with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, where he picked up 11 points in 31 games.

Those who expected the Canadiens to go out and make a splash on the free agency market to find a second-line center will be disappointed. Still, as Kent Hughes said, speaking to the media, that need was never going to be addressed through free-agent signings. These might not have been spectacular signings, but they were necessary signings for the Canadiens.

Photo credit: Bob Frid-Imagn Images

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Nate Schmidt's time with the Florida Panthers has officially come to an end. The veteran defenseman has signed a three-year contract with the Utah Mammoth. Starting next season, he will have a $3.5 million average annual value. 

Schmidt undoubtedly earned this nice deal from Utah. The 33-year-old defenseman completely bounced back with the Panthers after being bought out by the Winnipeg Jets during the off-season before. In 80 games this regular-season with Florida, he had five goals, 19 points, and a plus-4 rating. He also recorded three goals, 12 points, and a plus-9 rating in 23 playoff games for Florida. 

Schmidt to Utah!

We’ve signed Stanley Cup Champion Nate Schmidt to a three-year contract. pic.twitter.com/lbEpLG9WfT

— Utah Mammoth (@utahmammoth) July 1, 2025

With Utah looking to take that next step and get into the playoffs, it makes a lot of sense that they are bringing Schmidt in. He will give them another veteran to help mentor their young players, and it also does not hurt that he has plenty of playoff experience. Thus, he has the potential to be a good addition to Utah's roster. 

In 741 career NHL games, Schmidt has recorded 52 goals, 187 assists, 239 points, and a plus-106 rating. 

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Photo Credit:  © Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images

The Chicago Blackhawks are through two days of 2025 Development Camp. After their off-ice event was complete on Tuesday, members of the 2024 NHL Draft class spoke to the media. 

That includes Jack Pridham, who was selected by Chicago in the third round (92nd overall). He spoke about a variety of topics, including his rumored plans for the 2025-26 NHL season. 

Ryan Sikes of Puck Preps reported on Monday night that Pridham would no longer be going to college and that staying in the OHL would be his course of action. 

Ryan Sikes (@rms_hockey) on XNEWS: I am told that 4.5⭐️ forward Jack Pridham is no longer committed to BU. Pridham had 27 goals and 54 points for Kitchener (OHL) last season. 2024 third round pick of the Chicago Blackhawks. 📸: Kitchener Rangers

Pridham confirmed this report. He is no longer going to attend Boston University. Instead, he will sign with the Chicago Blackhawks and go back to the Kitchener Rangers if he doesn't make it to the NHL right out of camp. 

Vinnie Parise (@VinnieParise) on XJack Pridham confirms that he is no longer going to Boston University. He will go back to the Kitchener Rangers if he doesn’t make the Chicago Blackhawks.

In 2024-25, Pridham had a strong rookie year in the OHL. In 48 games played, he scored 27 goals and had 27 assists for 54 points. He wants to go back to where he had success to develop his game further. Kitchener is a high-end program that has developed a lot of prospects throughout the years. 

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Toronto Maple Leafs forward Matthew Knies was never interested in signing an offer sheet.

The 22-year-old forward officially inked a six-year extension with the Maple Leafs on Tuesday morning. The annual average value of the contract, $7.75 million, will turn out to be a great deal for both sides in the long term.

"I love the staff there. I love the players. We get treated phenomenally, and I think it's just a great spot for me," Knies told TSN's James Duthie on Tuesday. "I think we really have a winning culture and I think I really trust (Brad) Treliving and (Craig) Berube and the rest of the staff to create a great team and give us the best chance to win."

Year over year, Knies has grown into the powerhouse of a player that many predicted him to be. He first inserted himself into the conversation in 2023, helping the Maple Leafs get past the Tampa Bay Lightning in the first round of the playoffs.

Following that year, the forward scored 15 goals and 20 assists in his rookie season. In the playoffs last year, Knies added two goals and one assist in seven games against the Boston Bruins.

'My Favorite Player Growing Up Was Mats Sundin' Nicolas Roy Reacts To Be Traded To Maple Leafs In Mitch Marner DealNic Roy was on a trip with family and friends when he found out that he was being traded from the Vegas Golden Knights to the Toronto Maple Leafs.

This past season, though, is where Knies took the biggest step. He finished the regular season with a career-high 29 goals and 29 assists in 78 games, plus five goals and two assists in 13 playoff games against the Ottawa Senators and Florida Panthers.

"I just wanted to be here as long as possible, really," Knies said on Tuesday when asked if he preferred a long or short-term deal.

"I wanted longer term, and I think this deal just kind of fit best for me with my trajectory as a player, I think that this was kind of the sweet spot for both of us. I was just excited to get it done and get it done before free agency, and try to help them out as much as possible.

"I don't think the bridge deal was really in my head. I think I really wanted to go long term, and the six years felt the best."

Report: Maple Leafs Sign Former Canadiens Forward Michael Pezzetta To Two-Year, $1.575 Million ContractThe Toronto Maple Leafs have reportedly made their first free-agent signing.

Knies was on his way back from a Morgan Wallen concert in Madison, Wisconsin, when he found out he'd be with the Maple Leafs for six more years.

"I called my parents, and I'm going to see him here shortly. I think that they were really excited," he smiled. All my buddies were excited too, so it was a fun time for sure. I think going into holiday weekend, we can choose to celebrate a little bit more. But yeah, I'm excited that it all got all done and you know that both sides are happy."

Any big purchases after the massive extension?

"Honestly, I haven't thought about it too much. It's only been a few days, but hopefully, I think Morgan Rielly said he'll text me a few ideas and hopefully he'll bounce it back and forth and we'll see," Knies said.

"I think just enjoying my summer, and I think I have one weekend to celebrate it here on the Fourth of July and then it kind of gets back to the summer grind and getting ready for the season."

'Leaving Isn't Easy': Mitch Marner Pens Goodbye Message To Maple Leafs Fans After Joining Golden KnightsMitch Marner has officially departed the Toronto Maple Leafs.

The young forward said he wants to work on all facets of his game, most importantly his skating.

"I think that there's still a lot of room in the skating aspect. I think I can become a much better skater, a faster skater," he added.

"I don't necessarily think I have to get any heavier than I am right now. I think staying where I am and just turning a little bit of that weight more into muscle and becoming quicker and faster on the ice, I think is going to be is going to be huge for me. So I think that's the main focus."

Knies was drafted by the Maple Leafs in the second round of the 2021 NHL Draft, and now he'll be with Toronto for eight more years until 2031.

'I Would Love To Play My Whole Career Here': Inside Steven Lorentz's Three-Year Extension With The Maple LeafsToronto Maple Leafs forward Steven Lorentz is staying at home.

"I think that everyone's so invested. The whole city's constantly wanting the best for us, wanting us to win," he said about his love for playing in Toronto.

"I think that's what every guy on our team wants to do, is just to deliver that to them. And yeah, it's a special place to play. I don't think anyone feels that it's too much or it's not the right spot. I think everyone loves it and enjoys it. Yeah, so I'm pretty fortunate to be playing for them."

(Top photo of Knies: Kim Klement Neitzel / Imagn Images)