Category: Ice Hockey

The backdrop throughout the morning before Tanner Glass’ first news conference as director of player development was fitting. A final day of the Rangers development camp had recently wrapped. Their prospects — from the top ones who will push for NHL spots this season to others who may be a couple of years away — had just filtered off the ice. Head coach Mike Sullivan had been in attendance for the Thursday session at the Tarrytown practice facility, too.

Glass, a Ranger from 2014-17 who skated in 527 NHL games, has been tasked with shaping the potential of those prospects and feeding them to Sullivan, ensuring that they turn into sustainable pieces at the next level, and preventing them from becoming the next flameouts and what-ifs. 

The stakes are high as the Rangers retool, with an influx of prospects in exchange for veterans dealt away, but Glass isn’t fazed.

“I don’t think pressure’s the right word,” said Glass, who had been an assistant director for the last seven years. “At least, that’s not how I look at it. It’s exciting for us. When we get guys that are talented, it’s exciting.”

When Jed Ortmeyer left his director of player development role, president and general manager Chris Drury opted for an in-house promotion. Glass suddenly became a critical piece of their quest to become a contender again. He inherited the Rangers’ recent Achilles heel, with a need for at least some of these prospects to fit into their long-term plan.

The Rangers’ spotty development history looms as Glass’ tenure begins. Brennan Othmann was dumped to the Flames in March.

Brett Berard was flipped for defensive prospect William Trudeau.

Kaapo Kakko and Vitali Kravtsov both underwhelmed before getting traded in past seasons. Alexis Lafrenière hasn’t yet turned glimpses of high-end potential into consistency. 

The Blueshirts have encountered success stories with Gabe Perreault and Noah Laba, but for the most part, they’ve stumbled.

Near the end of his playing career, when Glass ended up in the AHL, he thought he made an impact on the younger players. It became something he wanted to do after his playing days ended and prompted his shift toward player development. Initially, that was in an assistant director role with the Rangers before stepping into the main role in May.

So there Glass was Thursday, fielding questions about the collection of defensive talent on display at the prospect camp. There he was, getting asked about top forward prospect Cole Beaudoin — just acquired Wednesday in the Vincent Trocheck deal — and how it sounds like the Rangers “are getting a great player.” There he was, raving about No. 5 overall pick in last month’s draft Alberts Smits’ details that are “probably beyond his years.”

There’s Liam Greentree, the centerpiece of the return package in the Artemi Panarin trade back in February. There’s Jacob Battaglia, the prospect who arrived in March. There are defensemen E.J. Emery, Drew Fortescue and Smits, too. These are the names with whom Glass and his staff will become synonymous, the ones who could alter the Rangers’ development trajectory.

Ask Glass about something connected to prospects reaching the NHL or draft decisions, though, and he’ll deflect.

That’s not his job, he said as part of his answer on multiple occasions. He’s responsible for getting the most out of every prospect. Across the four-day development camp this week, that meant a focus on skills and operating in contested situations.

“The game’s getting faster all the time,” Glass said, “so there’s not a lot of space out there, so we’re trying to help the guys navigate those tight spaces and create chances and make plays in traffic. So that’s kind of the, I think from a skill perspective, something we tried to instill this week.”

This was the foundation: layers of individual attention and position-specific work, with the dividends following in future seasons when those prospects — after development camps and junior seasons and the first tastes of professional life — step into significant NHL roles.

That’s what the Rangers have been missing. And that’s what Glass will need to fix.

“It’s a great honor to be doing this,” Glass said, “and I feel very fortunate and excited about going forward.”

The past week has been a whirlwind for the NHL, beginning with the 2026 Draft on June 26-27 and continuing with a frenzy of free agent signings and trades made across the league.

As the dust begins to settle, it's time to take a first glance at how the Rangers roster could look next season under head coach Mike Sullivan.

Forwards

Rangers president and general manager Chris Drury spent much of the past seven months expressing his desire to build a younger, faster, and more dynamic Rangers offense. Drury stuck to his word, and the blockbuster addition of Pavel Dorofeyev from the Vegas Golden Knights via trade means that the Rangers top forward line should look and play very differently next season.

Dorofeyev is physical, aggressive, and intelligent as a forechecker, gets into dangerous areas off the puck, and puts away goals by the bucketload. The 25-year-old Russian winger is a two-way star who draws plenty of attention from opposing defenses, meaning he should make life a lot easier for his projected linemates, center Mika Zibanejad and winger Alexis Lafrenière.

Elsewhere in the lineup, Will Cuylle, Noah Laba, and Gabriel Perrault are talented young players each entering the final year of their current contracts, meaning they will all be restricted free agents (RFAs) in the summer of 2027. Cuylle is out to prove that he can be more than a decent middle-six forward following two straight 20-goal seasons. Meanwhile, Laba and Perrault should see increased playing time, and with it, the opportunity to break out into reliable pieces of the forward core.

The Rangers also brought in free agents Oliver Bjorkstrand and Joe Veleno, both on one-year contracts. Bjorkstrand is a crafty winger who lost a bit of his scoring touch last season with the Tampa Bay Lightning, but remains a useful playmaker who can hold his own defensively. Veleno is a fourth-line center who saw his faceoff percentage and penalty kill usage reach career highs last season with the Montreal Canadiens.

The Rangers still have a good chunk of cap space to work with, close to $8 million according to Puckepedia, so don't be surprised if they're not done adding to this new-look group, as the team's depth chart looks a bit thin when it comes to bottom-six forwards.

Defensemen

The duo of Adam Fox and Vladislav Gavrikov is one of the most dynamic and dangerous top-line defensive pairings in the NHL. The issue is that Fox played just 55 games last season due to injuries, and with Fox out of the lineup, the Rangers were a putrid 8-16-3 in 2025-26. As a result, this offseason, the team's front office looked to ensure that the Rangers have multiple defensive pairings that can provide offensive production and puck possession (rather than just one, Fox and Gavrikov).

The performance of New York's brand new second-line defensive pairing of Sean Durzi -- acquired from the Utah Mammoth in the Vincent Trocheck trade -- and Marcus Pettersson -- acquired via trade from the Vancouver Canucks -- will be a massive factor in whether the Rangers can return to the playoffs next season. Both players join the fray in the prime years of their careers, and on paper, their combined skillsets fit very nicely. Durzi is a right-handed defenseman who is a point producer for himself and his teammates with strong offensive zone passing skills. Pettersson is a left-handed defenseman who is no slouch offensively, but really excels by doing the dirty work: retrieving pucks, eating hits, blocking shots, and killing penalties.

The third-line defense for the Rangers projects to be another lefty-righty pairing in the form of Urho Vaakanainen and Braden Schneider. Vaakanainen is a no-frills defense-first defenseman who played just 34 games last season for the team, but held his own and proved that he's worthy of a full-time spot as a depth piece in the lineup moving forward. Schneider, once tipped as a surefire top-four defenseman for the present and future of the team, has seen his stock fall significantly over the past couple of seasons, and currently slots in as a talented but inconsistent bottom-line defenseman. Schneider is currently an unsigned RFA, and although the Rangers just extended Schneider with a one-year qualifying offer, it isn't certain whether he'll be wearing Ranger blue or a different team's uniform come the fall.

Fifth overall selection Albert Smits was considered by many to be the most "NHL ready" defenseman in the 2026 draft class, but the Rangers will likely be in no rush to insert the 18-year-old Latvian draftee into their lineup. Still, Smits could feature at some point in 2026-27 and should be a player worth watching for years to come.

Goaltenders

Igor Shesterkin missed 13 games due to injury in 2025-26. In the 31 games without their franchise netminder between the pipes, the Rangers went 9-20-2 (this includes games where Shesterkin was rotated out of the starting spot, a common occurrence for "workhorse" starting goalies). When healthy, the 30-year-old is one of the best goaltenders on the planet, able to turn potential losses into wins with stunning stops that demoralize the opposition.

The Rangers acquired Joonas Korpisalo from the Boston Bruins, who will compete with Dylan Garand for the role of Shesterkin's backup. Korpisalo is vastly experienced for a 32-year-old (still in his prime in goalie years), as he will enter his 12th NHL season with a proven track record as a solid backup goalie. Garand, meanwhile, made waves despite playing just three games towards the tail end of last season. In those three starts, the 24-year-old posted a .954 save percentage, saving 3.9 goals above expected as the Rangers went 2-0-1. Garand will be looking to carry over that momentum into next season.

The Senators have taken care of another piece of their goaltending puzzle, signing Leevi Merilainen to a one-year contract worth $1.1 million for the 2026-27 season.

The deal is a one-way contract, a detail that could have important implications for the Sens' roster decisions heading into training camp. He was also arbitration-eligible, but after the season he just had, that may not have gone so well for the young Finn.

Merilainen entered last season as the undisputed backup to Linus Ullmark after showing excellent promise during a brief NHL stint in 2024-25. But that opportunity slipped away with some below-average performances early in the year.

He struggled with an 8-10-1 record, a 3.51 goals-against average and an .860 save percentage in 20 appearances.

As his confidence waned, the Senators turned to veteran James Reimer, who had signed as a free agent just before the season. Reimer stabilized the position, playing well enough to keep the backup job for the remainder of the regular season and into the playoffs, while Merilainen returned to Belleville.

With the B-Sens, Merilainen looked closer to the kind of prospect Ottawa had envisioned to start the year. He posted an 8-8-1 record in 19 games with a 2.77 goals-against average and a .909 save percentage.

The Senators selected the Finnish netminder in the third round (71st overall) of the 2020 NHL Draft. He has since appeared in 34 NHL games. Meanwhile, he's compiled a 39-29-6 record, a 2.59 goals-against average, and a .911 save percentage across 84 career AHL games.

The extension also raises an interesting question: Could Ottawa carry three goaltenders on its NHL roster next season?

That approach, used by the Stanley Cup-champion Carolina Hurricanes this season, has become increasingly common around the league. It could be particularly appealing for the Senators given Linus Ullmark's history.

Ullmark has never started more than 50 games in a single NHL season. Last year also served as a reminder that his availability can't always be taken for granted. Ullmark has been injury-prone in Ottawa, and he's also been open about his mental health challenges. To get the best version of Ullmark, the Senators know they'll need to carefully monitor both his workload and overall well-being throughout the season.

Keeping Merilainen alongside Ullmark and newcomer Samuel Ersson would give head coach Travis Green plenty of flexibility while ensuring the club has experienced NHL depth if injuries arise. 

But at the same time, it's probably not the best development model for the 23-year-old Merilainen.

So if the Senators decide against the notion of carrying three goaltenders, they'll face a difficult decision because nobody is waiver-exempt. Both Meriläinen and Ersson would need to clear before being assigned to Belleville.

One thing is clear. The Senators weren't prepared to lose Merilainen for nothing. By giving him a one-way contract, they've signalled they still believe he can become an NHL goaltender.

The challenge now is figuring out where he fits.

By Steve Warne
The Hockey News 

This article was first published on The Hockey News Ottawa Senators site. For full coverage of the Senators, check out one of the latest headlines below:

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Sammy Blais' time with the Montreal Canadiens organization is officially over. 

The Ottawa Senators have announced that they have signed Blais to a two-way contract. 

Blais spent most of this past season in the AHL with the Laval Rocket and was a very important veteran player on their roster. In 35 games with Laval in 2025-26, he posted 14 goals, 24 assists, 38 points, and 62 penalty minutes. He also had three goals, five points, and 20 penalty minutes in five playoff games for the Rocket this spring. 

Blais played in 13 games during this past season with the Habs, where he recorded two goals, three assists, five points, and 78 hits. He also had a brief stint with the Toronto Maple Leafs before the Canadiens claimed him back off waivers, where he had one goal, three points, and 28 hits. 

Overall, Blais was a solid veteran depth player for the Canadiens to have around. Now, he will look to be the same for the Senators after landing this new contract. The possibility of him earning a bottom-six role with the Senators out of training camp is there. 

In 278 career games over eight NHL seasons, Blais has recorded 30 goals, 49 assists, 79 points, 132 penalty minutes, and 913 hits. He also won the Stanley Cup with the St. Louis Blues in 2019. 

The Winnipeg Jets continued to reshape their blueline on Thursday, agreeing to terms with 25-year-old defenceman Henry Thrun on a one-year, two-way deal worth $850K.

The left-shot blueliner arrives after spending last season in the Toronto Maple Leafs organization, splitting time between the NHL and AHL following an offseason trade from the San Jose Sharks.

Originally selected by the Anaheim Ducks in the fourth round in 2019, Thrun has appeared in 119 career NHL games, recording five goals and 20 assists while averaging nearly 18 minutes per game during his time with San Jose. 

While Wednesday evening's signee Mario Ferraro projects to fill a regular role on Winnipeg's third pairing, Thrun gives the Jets another young, mobile option capable of competing for NHL minutes while also providing valuable organizational depth.

Thrun enjoyed a standout college hockey career at Harvard, where he developed into one of the ECAC's top defencemen before signing his first NHL contract in 2023. Since turning pro, he has shown steady growth as a reliable two-way defender with good skating and strong hockey sense.

It is expected that Thrun will battle for that sixth/seventh defensive spot to start the season, but would more so be a relied upon back-end force with the Manitoba Moose - considering the two-way structure of his contract. 

ST. LOUIS -- Mason McTavish is ready and eager for a fresh start.

The 23-year-old is getting one with the St. Louis Blues, who acquired the third overall pick in the 2021 NHL Draft on the opening night of the 2026 draft from the Anaheim Ducks for a pair of 2026 first-round picks (Nos. 15 and 29).

McTavish, who was scratched twice by the Ducks in the Stanley Cup playoffs last season in the second round against the Vegas Golden Knights and had six points (one goal, five assists) in 10 postseason games, saw his numbers dip to 41 points (17 goals, 24 assists) in 75 games under Joel Quenneville last season.

It came after signing a six-year, $42 million ($7 million average annual value) contract last off-season, so a trade was furthest from his mind then. But a year later, moving on brings the 6-foot-1, 219-pound center great motivation.

"Especially the last year, I wasn't happy with the way I performed and I know I have so much more than that," McTavish said Thursday. "Obviously a lot of motivation throughout the start of the summer and going forward. Obviously a lot of excitement with the trade. Definitely a lot of energy being exerted this summer trying to get as better as possible.

"I think my time in Anaheim, I went there when I was 18 and I enjoyed it. It as awesome. It's the right time for me to go to a new team and experience something new. I'm really looking forward to it and I'm really excited."

Yes, McTavish is anxious to start anew, with new teammates and new coaches, including one he's quite familiar with.

"It was my first time being traded in the NHL," McTavish, who joins former Ducks coach Greg Cronin, who was hired to be an assistant under Jim Montgomery, in St. Louis. "I think just a lot of excitement, a little bit of nervousness. But I think the biggest thing is you're just so excited to go to a new city, meet a bunch of new guys and live in a whole new city. I'm super grateful for the Blues kind of trusting me. I had a great time in Anaheim and it was awesome. I'm just excited to get down to St. Louis now.

"I think (Cronin) demands a lot out of his players and it's good. He can get on you. Sometimes you may not love it, but he's probably right. He'll push you to be the best player you can be. I'm excited to see him again. He's great. I'm looking forward to that."

With the addition of McTavish, defenseman Brandon Carlo (6-5, 227) and signing McTavish's Anaheim teammate, Ross Johnston (6-5, 232), the Blues are emphasizing adding muscle and grit to their lineup.

"We do want to be an uncomfortable team to play against," Blues general manager Alexander Steen said. "We want to have a certain identity to our team. What I like about where we're positioned now is the roster allows us to have an identity but also supplied the coaching staff different options game to game. We could have different looks but with the same identity, but we did want to build a little more of the physicality and size and I guess weight too."

McTavish's knack has been his challenges on the defensive side of the puck and skating, and it will be something the coaching staff will hone in working with him on, but an element the Blues lacked overall in was players' inability to consistently get to the front of the net and play with a purpose there.

Mason McTavish, acquired by STL, is a big developing forward with a solid net-front physical tool-kit but poor skating. Has some small-area skill including underrated playmaking, but has really struggled defensively and hasn't been able to make a big impact with the puck. pic.twitter.com/C26tqXaugl

— JFresh (@JFreshHockey) June 27, 2026

"I think that's one of my elements I can bring," McTavish said. "I feel like that's such a key thing come playoff time. You look at where all the goals are scored and it's always around the net and that sort of thing. Every time you can get to the net, you might as well go there because the puck's going to end up there. I think that's one of the things I'll bring for sure.

"... I personally bring a lot of competitiveness and hunger to win games. I would say I'm more of a skilled forward, likes to take the puck to the net. I think my hockey sense is the best thing about my game, just kind of knowing where people are and what reads to kind of make, especially in the offensive zone."

Even at such a young age, McTavish has already played four full seasons and nine games when he first played in the NHL in 2021-22; he has 181 points (77 goals, 101 assists) in 304 games but the growth is still in front of him.

"When you step in at such a young age, it's interesting, but I feel like every year, no matter how old you are, I think there's always areas you can get better at," McTavish said. "I think that you really see it when they're younger, but there's always places where players can improve on. There's that core, a bunch of guys 22-26. I'm looking forward to practicing with those guys and I know how hungry they'll all be to get better and work on their game."

And he's joining a group that's focused on the early-to-mid-20s range.

"It's a great team," McTavish said of the Blues, who have missed the playoffs in three of the past four seasons. "I can speak on whenever we played them in St. Louis or in Anaheim. They played us really hard, they did really well. They have a lot of young, kind of that core. It's very skilled, very fast. They play well defensively and they're up and down the ice and they play really hard. I'm excited to kind of meet them all. I've met Jake Neighbours. Obviously I played with him in the World Juniors, but I've heard it's a great group.

"... I'm beyond grateful for my time in Anaheim. It was awesome. I have no complaints about it. It's a great organization. I've heard the same things about St. Louis. I'm super-excited, super lucky to be going to St. Louis. A lot of the guys have reached out. Obviously doing that speaks to how good of a group it is. I'm very, very excited. I feel like I've used that word a lot, but I truly am excited to be going into a new opportunity at this time in my life. I'm really looking forward to it."

Blues Sign Dillon Dube To One-Year, $850,000 ContractForward spent last season with Blues' AHL affiliate in Springfield after agreeing to an AHL PTO

Blues Sign Ross Johnston To Three-Year, $6 million ContractForward brings grit, toughness to bottom lineup of forwards

Berggren Re-Signs With BluesForward, claimed off waivers from the Detroit Red Wings last season, gets a one-year, $2 million contract

Blues Buy Out Final Year Of Drouin's ContractForward had one year remaining on a two-year, $8 million contract signed with Islanders; was acquired on March 6 in Brayden Schenn trade; Blues owe $1.33 million against cap in each of next two seasons

Blues Promote Tkachuk, Thorburn; Hire Bortuzzo Among Front Office ChangesTkachuk, recently named to Hockey Hall of Fame, was previously director of recruitment; Thorburn was development coach; Bortuzzo hired to be pro scout

Steen Introduced As 12th GM In Blues History, Ready to Hit Ground RunningFormer NHLer of 15 years, including last 12 seasons in St. Louis, takes over for Doug Armstrong, who keeps role as president of hockey operations after taking over as GM in 2010

Robert Thomas: 'I've loved my time in St. Louis. I love it here, I love the organization, the city.'Blues top line center excited by recent acquisitions, affirms his commitment to St. Louis with no desire to be moved

For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.

Since last week’s NHL Draft, the New York Rangers have made a flurry of moves to “retool” the roster and set the foundation for what the future will ultimately look like. 

When president and general manager Chris Drury issued a letter to fans in January outlining the team’s plan to “retool” the roster, the exact direction Drury was looking to go in remained a mystery. 

The last time Rangers management released a letter to fans in 2018, they embarked on a multi-year rebuild, missing the playoffs over consecutive seasons while methodically rebuilding the roster by accumulating picks and prospects.

However, this past week has shown that Drury is not following the same formula from the previous regime. 

Drury made his biggest splash on the night of the draft, acquiring Pavel Dorofeyev from the Vegas Golden Knights in exchange for the 26th-and 92nd-overall picks in the 2026 draft and a top-10 protected first-round pick in 2028. 

The Rangers then went ahead and signed Dorofeyev to a seven-year, $77 million contract extension. 

Dorofeyev, a 25-year-old forward coming off two 30-plus goal seasons, fits Drury’s ideal acquisition in a younger player who can help the team in the immediate future, while also being a foundational piece moving forward. 

“We're excited to obviously add Pav,” Drury said. “His unique skill set, and his production, specifically in goals, is something that we were in need of, and targeted him, and we're thrilled to be able to pull off a trade with Vegas... We're excited to use the assets we had to move for Pav and thrilled to be able to pull the deal off, and then to be able to sign into a long-term contract.”

Drury also made his intentions clear when he drafted defenseman Alberts Šmits with the fifth overall pick instead of defenseman Chase Reid. 

The Rangers chose to select Šmits, the blueliner many tout to be the most NHL-ready in the 2026 draft class as opposed to Reid, the blueliner considered to have the highest upside, proving Drury’s preference of adding younger pieces who are further along in their development and can contribute to the organization in the immediate future, whether that’s at the NHL level or the American hockey League level.

Šmits attended Rangers’ development camp and will be training in New York at the end of the summer, but Drury kept things open-ended regarding if he’ll be on the opening-night roster out of training camp. 

“We're gonna do right by him and the long-term health and well-being of him as a Ranger,” Drury said of Šmits. “This is not a sprint for him. We hope he's a rock-solid defenseman for the Rangers for the next 15 years. We're not going to put him in positions or situations that he can't handle. So excited to add him, but again, not going to do anything that's not in the best interest long term for him.”

Once the free agency period opened up, Drury added players who filled in some of their current roster holes, acquiring veteran goaltender Joonas Korpisalo and defenseman Marcus Pettersson, while signing forwards Oliver Bjorkstrand and Joe Veleno to one-year contracts, respectively.  

Wednesday’s most substantial move from the Rangers came in the form of a Vincent Trocheck trade to the Utah Mammoth. 

It was long rumored that Trocheck would be on his way out of New York, but Drury decided to keep the veteran forward past the trade deadline and for the remainder of the 2025-26 season with the hope that he would garner a stronger return during the offseason. 

In return from Utah in exchange for Trocheck, the Rangers received Sean Durzi, Cole Beaudoin, and a 2027 third-round pick. 

Drury’s preferences were shown once again in this Trocheck package, as instead of going after high-quality draft picks, the Rangers targeted Durzi, a defenseman who can play a top-four role for the team right now, and Beaudoin, a forward prospect who is ready to make the professional hockey jump. 

Targeting NHL-ready players and further-developed prospects over high-valued draft picks has been a common theme of Drury’s retool thus far. The Rangers received 2024 first-round pick, Liam Greentree, from the Los Angeles Kings in February in exchange for Artemi Panarin, and followed suit, adding Beaudoin, another 2024 first-round pick. 

“We were also able to acquire at the deadline a first-round pick that's closer to playing and turning pro this year in (Liam) Greentree, and a little later pick in (Jacob) Battaglia, and obviously Cole (Beaudoin) yesterday was a former first-round pick, so we felt like we plugged some holes with not only real players to put on our roster that can play in key roles, but also added some some other picks and actual draft picks and an actual prospects in those players I mentioned,” Drury said.

The Rangers have also given up three first-round picks between the two trades involving Dorofeyev and Pettersson, which sends mixed signals for a team supposedly looking to get younger. 

Drury explained his rationale for giving up multiple first-round picks, explaining that he feels it’s worth it to lose some draft capital in order to add young, foundational pieces for the franchise.

“My philosophy, and our philosophy was, if they're for the right player or players that are at the right age with the right contract, that can help our lineup — not just in the next year or two, but for a number of years down the road — that would be worth it,” Drury said about his reasoning of giving up three first-round picks. 

There’s been more clarity on the word “retool” written by Drury in his January letter, as all of the moves he’s executed from the middle stages of the 2025-26 season to this week revolve around the same vision and idea.

“Nearly six months ago, we wrote a letter to our fans detailing a new strategic plan for the organization,” Drury stated. “This plan is to retool the roster around our core players and prospects, while targeting young players in their prime that enhance the skill and speed of the team.”

By exact definition, Drury fulfilled his retooling plan, getting younger as a team, adding more professional ready prospects to their pipeline, while also filling in immediate roster holes to help the Blueshirts remain afloat in a competitive Eastern Conference. 

Whether Drury’s retooling plan was the right solution for the Rangers’ long-term future as well as this upcoming season, that is yet to be seen. 

Even with this onslaught of trades and signings, there are still questions about the team’s present and future that hang over the franchise.

Now that July 1 has passed, many of the NHL's top unrestricted free agents this year have found their new homes. While this is the case, there are still some interesting names who remain unsigned on the second day of free agency.

Yet, the top UFA still available for the taking is former Pittsburgh Penguins forward Anthony Mantha. 

While Mantha is still on the market, it is very likely that he has generated a good amount of interest from teams. The 31-year-old winger just had a fantastic 2025-26 season with the Penguins, where he set career highs with 33 goals, 31 assists, and 64 points in 81 games.

Teams looking for more offense in their top nine should be in the mix for Mantha as he continues to be on the market. It would not be surprising if he lands his next contract soon now that he is the top UFA still on the board.

It will be interesting to see where Mantha ends up signing this off-season. He certainly was a great value signing for the Penguins on his one-year prove-it deal with the Metropolitan Division club. 

In 588 career NHL games split between the Detroit Red Wings, Washington Capitals, Vegas Golden Knights, Calgary Flames, and Penguins, Mantha recorded 179 goals, 188 assists, and 367 points.

One year ago, left defenseman Maleek McGowan was invited to Pittsburgh Penguins' prospect development camp, but an injury prevented him from participating. 

This year, there is no such issue - and he arrived at camp with heightened expectations and a new contract.

At the end of AHL affiliate Wilkes-Barre/Scranton's (WBS) season, the team signed McGowan to a one-year AHL contract, which kicks in at the start of the 2026-27 season. He also signed an amateur tryout agreement (ATO) with WBS to conclude the season, earning the opportunity for some exposure to the professional environment to prepare him for what lies ahead.

"It was nice, almost getting a head start, in a way, where I could see what it was like," McGowan said of attending camp but not being able to participate last year. "And, then, now, being able to actually skate is really good."

McGowan, 21, spent the last four-plus seasons with the Kingston Frontenacs of the OHL, and his two-way skills only grew stronger with time. He prides himself on being effective in all three zones, being a physical presence, and separating himself as a difference-maker in transition, which is something that caught the Penguins' eye, too. 

He registered 14 goals and 36 points in 62 games for the Frontenacs last season, playing top-pair minutes and filling an alternate captain post.

'I'm Super Excited To Get Going': Livanavage Learns From Debut, Aims To Make Impression In Training CampPittsburgh Penguins' NCAA signee Jake Livanavage is putting in the work this summer in hopes of securing a spot on the team's opening night NHL roster.

"I was in Kingston for four years. The coaching staff was really good," McGowan said. "The D-coach, head coach, they had a lot of faith in me, so that allowed me to become the player that I am.

"In the d-zone, I'm pretty physical. It's just straight business. You gotta get the puck out, you can't really play it in there. And then, offensively, I like to use my feet, my deception, and my skill to beat guys one-on-one and set up my teammates."

McGowan knows he is joining a crowded blue line in the Penguins' prospect pool. While Pittsburgh has limited young options at the NHL level and prospects who are surefire NHL-ready, they have a crop of defensive prospects who will be vying for precious AHL spots. 

On the right side, Harrison Brunicke, Chase Pietila, Finn Harding, and 111th overall pick Parker von Richter figure to be a large part of the equation. Looking to the left, Owen Pickering could be there or have a look in the NHL, in addition to NCAA signee Jake Livanavage and Ryan Graves, a veteran who spent a large portion of time in the AHL last season. There's also Daniel Laatsch and whoever else might be pushed down to the AHL level, depending on roster movement with the parent club.

'It Means A Lot': Pierce Mbuyi Fired Up To Be With The PenguinsPittsburgh Penguins prospect Pierce Mbuyi is super excited to be with the Pittsburgh Penguins.

He knows it will be an uphill climb to separate himself, and it starts with one simple aspiration: Have the chance to play AHL games to begin with next season.

"First, I've got to make the team," McGowan said. "And, if I do that, I just want to help the team in any way I can. There's nothing specifically that I want to add, but I just want to go in there and do as much as I can, gain as much trust as possible, and just play to the best of my ability."

And he is aware that playing to his strengths is the best way to make an impression.

"I'd say my skating [feeds] into my game," McGowan said. "I feel like my feet play into everything I do, whether that's being physical or making plays or just maybe scoring goals or setting up my teammates. It all starts with my feet.

"So, I'm focusing on the skating portion and that aspect a lot because I feel if I can build my skating, then the rest of my game can pick up with it and I can just become an overall better player."

NEW: Maleek McGown 2025-26 Intro Mixtape. Get to know the new LD for the Penguins system, because after you watch this, he might just become your favorite prospect. A deep dive on the brutally physical, offensive defenseman. https://t.co/7vkt8Vt0lupic.twitter.com/CaQIjNNxz2

— Jesse Marshall (@jmarshfof) April 17, 2026

Amanda Kessel - assistant general manager for WBS - said McGowan's skating as well as his toughness are attributes that led to his AHL signing.

"Maleek, he's somebody that we've kind of identified for the last couple of years and that we've been keeping an eye on," Kessel said. "We had him come to Wilkes at the end of the year and learn what it was to be a pro, and I think that was kind of eye-opening for him, how much downtime there is, and everybody's on their phone, just realizing that there's a lot of grown-ups and men there. 

"But, as far as the player, he has all the physical tools, and he's somebody that's mean. He wants to hurt guys, and we like that about him."

Penguins Sign Upside Forward Prospect To Entry-Level ContractOn Wednesday, also the first day of NHL free agency, the Penguins secured an NHL contract with one of their more intriguing center prospects.

McGowan - like many other Penguins' prospects - has echoed the sentiment that the organization's front office and development staff has a high level of investment in their prospects. They check in frequently, they are direct in their approach about what they are looking for, and they lead players to understand the purpose behind their method of development.

That communication - and the organization's belief in him as a player - has helped McGowan grow substantially as a player and made him feel ready as he can for the next level.

"I think it's been great," McGowan said. "I was in Wilkes for about three and a half weeks after the season, and I feel like I, honestly, got better. The development, they take us through things and they explain what it's going to do for us rather than, you know, just putting it through us and having us figure it out ourselves. For me, I'm a visual learner, so when they're going through step-by-step showing me what I've got to do and what it's going to do for me, then I can follow, and they can show me step-by-step. I feel like that helps me the most.

"Obviously, going from junior to now - like, being officially a professional hockey player - there's a big jump. And, I mean, with these guys, taking it step-by-step, showing me what it takes on and off the ice... they're making it so easy for me."

'It's All About Learning': Penguins' Prospect Ryan Miller Hopes To Build On Strong SeasonPenguins' forward prospect Ryan Miller, a fifth-round pick by Pittsburgh in 2025, put together a strong season WHL season and looks to keep building on that in the NCAA

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Joel Kiviranta's time with the Colorado Avalanche has officially come to an end.

After three seasons in Denver, the versatile forward is heading back to familiar territory, as the Dallas Stars announced Wednesday that they have signed Kiviranta to a one-year contract worth $1 million. The move reunites the 30-year-old with the organization where he began his NHL career before joining Colorado in 2023.

For the Avalanche, Kiviranta's departure marks the loss of one of the club's most reliable depth forwards.

Fresh off a career-best 16-goal campaign in 2024-25, there was optimism that Kiviranta could build on his breakout season and provide another wave of secondary scoring. Instead, injuries never allowed him to establish any real momentum.

A lower-body injury early in the season sidelined him for several months, and he battled additional ailments after returning to the lineup. By year's end, Kiviranta had missed 31 of Colorado's 82 regular-season games, finishing with three goals and six assists for nine points in 51 appearances.

The offensive numbers represented a significant drop from the previous season, but they hardly told the full story.

Even while battling injuries, Kiviranta remained one of Colorado's most trusted defensive forwards. He continued to play an important role on the penalty kill while bringing the relentless forechecking, physicality, and dependable two-way game that earned the coaching staff's trust.

According to Natural Stat Trick, the Avalanche outscored opponents 20-12 during five-on-five play with Kiviranta on the ice while controlling 59.5 percent of the shots. He also averaged 1:03 of shorthanded ice time per game, marking the fourth consecutive season in which he averaged more than a minute per game on the penalty kill.

Kiviranta appeared in five Stanley Cup Playoff games for Colorado this past spring, bringing his career postseason total to 56 contests between the Avalanche and Stars.

Now, he'll return to the franchise where his NHL journey began.

Originally signing with Dallas as an undrafted free agent out of Finland, Kiviranta spent the first four seasons of his NHL career with the Stars before revitalizing his career in Colorado. Across 349 regular-season games, he has totaled 38 goals and 31 assists for 69 points, with his 16-goal breakout in 2024-25 remaining the best offensive season of his career.

"We are excited to welcome Joel back to the Stars organization," Stars General Manager Jim Nill said in a statement. "Our familiarity with Joel made signing him an easy choice, and his versatility as a player gives us some added flexibility to our lineup."

The move also reunites Kiviranta with a strong Finnish contingent in Dallas that includes Miro Heiskanen, Roope Hintz, Esa Lindell, Arttu Hyry, and former Avalanche star Mikko Rantanen.

For Mats Zuccarello, signing with the Los Angeles Kings wasn't simply another stop in a long NHL career. It was the chance to fulfill a dream that had been years in the making.

The 38-year-old veteran had other offers on the table in free agency, but none carried the same appeal as pulling on a Kings sweater. More than a decade after facing Los Angeles in the 2014 Stanley Cup Final with the New York Rangers, Zuccarello now gets the opportunity to wear the crest he once battled against.

"L.A. Kings is a team that I think is a dream to play for, for any player. I played against them in the Final many years ago and lost. It's a team that's always been up there," Zuccarello said.

The move represents another chapter in one of the most remarkable careers ever produced by Norway. No Norwegian-born player has come close to matching Zuccarello's NHL success, as he has accumulated nearly seven times as many career points as anyone else from his home country.

Even so, he believes his legacy may ultimately be measured by what comes after him.

Norwegian hockey has begun producing a wave of young talent, highlighted by players like Detroit Red Wings forward Michael Brandsegg-Nygård and Anaheim Ducks prospect Stian Solberg. The country's national program has also taken significant steps forward, giving Zuccarello optimism about where the sport is headed.

"We have some really talented players coming up, which is really nice to see, and a bunch of people getting drafted, some in the first round. Our national team this year got bronze at the World Championships with a young core group and a couple of veterans. It's on the rise, for sure, Norwegian hockey, which is really, really exciting to see," Zuccarello said.

For someone who has spent more than 15 years representing Norwegian hockey on the NHL stage, watching the country's growth has become just as rewarding as his own accomplishments.

"We're a small country with only five million people and about 30 or 40 rinks in total," Zuccarello said. "It's really exciting for an older hockey guy like me who's been in the game for many years to see that there's progress and a youth movement happening in Norway."

That success has also made Zuccarello one of Norway's most recognizable athletes, though he admits another superstar currently owns the spotlight.

When asked if joining one of the NHL's marquee franchises might be enough to knock soccer sensation Erling Haaland off the front pages back home, Zuccarello laughed.

"I'm pretty sure I'm gonna make Page 2 right now, because the Norwegian national team is doing really well at the World Cup and they deserve every front page they can get, for sure."

While the attention in Norway may fluctuate, Zuccarello's focus is firmly on helping the Kings take another step forward.

He signed a one-year contract worth a $1 million base salary with an additional $5 million in performance bonuses, saying several teams expressed similar interest during free agency. Ultimately, Los Angeles stood apart because of the opportunity it presented and how strongly the organization made him feel wanted.

When asked what role he expects to fill, Zuccarello joked before giving a more thoughtful answer.

"I think I'm gonna be the captain and the GM and the president," he said with a smile.

"I know there's a good opportunity for me to prove myself, and that's the most important thing. I like (Coach Peter Laviolette's) vision of how to play and how to go about the business every day."

Zuccarello arrives in Los Angeles after another productive season in Minnesota. Despite battling injuries and nearing his 39th birthday, he recorded 54 points in 2025-26, including 21 on the power play, continuing to show the elite vision and playmaking ability that have defined his NHL career.

Now, after years of admiring the Kings from across the ice, Zuccarello finally gets the opportunity he always hoped would come — playing for one of the league's most iconic franchises instead of trying to beat it.

The Colorado Avalanche and their prospects will be heading to San Jose, California, to play two games at the 2026 Rookie Faceoff. The games will take place at Tech CU Arena and Sharks Ice in San Jose.

The 2026 Rookie Faceoff will take place from Sept. 12-15 and feature top prospects from the Sharks, Anaheim, Colorado Avalanche, Los Angeles, Utah Mammoth, and Vegas Golden Knights, with all teams playing on Sept. 12 and 13.

The Colorado Avalanche will play on:

• Sat. 9/12 against the Anaheim Ducks, 2 p.m. (MT) 

• Sunday 9/13 against the Vegas Golden Knights, 2 p.m. (MT)

Last year, Colorado hosted the 2025 Rookie Showcase at the Suburban Sports Complex in Highlands Ranch. That was the last time they hosted it, back in 2016.

Predators GM Chris MacFarland Poaches Another Familiar Face From the AvalancheChris MacFarland has returned to familiar territory once again, signing former Colorado Avalanche defenseman Jack Ahcan as the Predators continue adding players with ties to their general manager's former organization.

Alex Ovechkin isn’t done yet. 

The NHL’s all-time leading scorer signed a one-year, $4.25 million contract to return to the Capitals for a 22nd season, the team announced Thursday. 

Ovechkin will earn $9 million next year as long as he plays 10 games, according to The Athletic.

In April, Ovechkin was weighing retirement and said his future would depend on health going into his age-41 season. 

“I’m back!” Ovechkin said in a release. “Thank you to everyone for giving me and my family the time to make this decision. I’m healthy. I love playing hockey and competing to win.”

“I’m excited to come back and join my teammates so we can fight for a playoff spot and have a chance to win. See you in September, DC!” 

The 40-year-old scored 32 goals and tallied 64 points while playing all 82 games last season, but the Capitals missed the playoffs for the first time in three years. 

Though the Capitals missed the postseason, the 2004 first-overall pick has little to add to his résumé entering Year 22. 

In addition to breaking Wayne Gretzky’s record for the most goals scored ever in April 2025, Ovechkin has helped the Capitals to three Presidents’ Trophies as the best regular season team during his tenure. 

He also helped bring the Capitals their first Stanley Cup title in 2018. 

After scoring 15 goals in 24 playoff games, Ovechkin was awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy.

Overall, Ovechkin has 929 career goals and 1,687 points in 1,573 regular-season games, while having 77 goals and 147 points in 161 postseason games. 

In what may likely be the legend’s final season, the Capitals will look to build off a 43-30-9 finish last year and return to the postseason.

It’s been quite a couple days for the Florida Panthers.

As the calendar flipped from June to July and a new league year began, the Panthers kept very busy both signing and trading for new additions to the franchise.

Over the past several days, Florida seemed to get progressively busier, culminating in a wild July 1 that saw them make nearly a dozen moves to fortify their roster for what the team expects to be a return to Stanley Cup contention.

The fun started on Monday, when Florida traded the rights of A.J. Greer to the Anaheim Ducks in exchange to the rights of defenseman Radko Gudas, both of whom were set to hit free agency two days later.

Later that night, the Panthers picked up their first goaltender, acquiring Akira Schmid from the Vegas Golden Knights for a 2028 third-round pick.

It was maybe 12 hours later that Florida completed their goaltending tandem, trading for former Cats tendie Jacob Markstrom, along with forward Angus Crookshank, and sending Evan Rodrigues, Jesper Boqvist and Ben Steeves to the New Jersey Devils.

That leads us to Wednesday, the first of July and the start of a new NHL league year.

To say that the Panthers were busy despite having the majority of their NHL roster being accounted for would be an understatement.

By the time the day was done, the Cats had fortified their depth at the NHL level while adding several pieces that will help their AHL squad who are also prime candidates for call-ups if and when the Panthers need it.

Here are the moves Florida made on Wednesday:

Sign forward Eetu Luostarinen to an eight-year extension

Sign forward Sandis Vilmanis to an eight-year extension

Sign defenseman Radko Gudas to a six-year contract

Sign forward Cole Schwindt to a two-year contract extension

Sign defenseman Alexander Petrovic to a two-year contract

Sign forward Lars Eller to a one-year contract

Sign defenseman Donovan Sebrango to a one-year contract extension

Sign defenseman Toby Bjornfot to a one-year, two-way contract extension

Sign forward John Beecher to a one-year, two-way contract

Sign forward Sam Lafferty to a one-year, two-way contract

Sign forward Boko Imama to a one-year, two-way contract

Sign defenseman Casey Fitzgerald to a one-year, two-way contract

There could be more moves coming, including a new contract for goaltender Akria Schmid, which Zito indicated would be coming at some point. 

“I’m not anticipating real difficulty," he said when asked about Schmid on Wednesday. "I’ve spoken to him, he’s excited to be here.”

Based off their current cast of characters, here is a projected look at their forward lines and defensive pairings could break down when Opening Night arrives.

Keep in mind that an NHL roster can only carry a maximum of 23 players, so there can only be a total of three extra players (healthy scratches). We’re listing several options for those extra spots, as the final decisions will likely come down to how each player performs during training camp.

Brady Tkachuk – Sasha Barkov – Sam Reinhart

Carter Verhaeghe – Sam Bennett – Matthew Tkachuk

Eetu Luostarinen – Anton Lundell – Brad Marchand

Jonah Gadjovich – Lars Eller – Garnet Hathaway

Gus Forsling – Aaron Ekblad

Niko Mikkola – Seth Jones

Dmitry Kulikov – Radko Gudas

Jacob Markstrom

Akria Schmid

Extra forwards: Cole Reinhardt, Cole Schwindt, Sandis Vilmanis

Extra defensemen: Uvis Balinskis, Alex Petrovic

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