Welcome to this edition of The Hockey News' Vancouver Canucks Mailbag. In this series, we answer your questions about what is going on with the Canucks. In this article, we look at the Elias Pettersson-to-Pittsburgh rumour, what will happen to the radio rights for the 2026-27 season, and more. 

Any Smoke Behind Petey To Pittsburgh?

There will always be trade talk surrounding Pettersson. From a purely roster perspective, the Pittsburgh Penguins make a ton of sense. Pettersson slotting in behind Sidney Crosby would give Pittsburgh strong top-six center depth, with the 27-year-old potentially being the missing piece for the Penguins to go on another deep playoff run. 

The biggest issue with the Pettersson-to-Pittsburgh rumours is the no-move clause. The Swedish center is very loyal and wants to be part of the team that eventually brings a Stanley Cup to Vancouver. As of writing, it appears unlikely that Pettersson would waive to join the Penguins. 

What Are The Expectations For Jonathan Lekkerimäki Next Season?  

This is not a make-or-break year for Jonathan Lekkerimäki, but it is getting close to that point. The 21-year-old had his 2025-26 season cut short by injury but is expected to be ready for training camp. Last year, Lekkerimäki found success in the AHL with 13 goals and 20 points in 21 games, but could not replicate his goal-scoring touch at the NHL level. 

With Lekkerimäki, the key is giving him opportunities even if he is struggling at the NHL level. It was clear from his deployment that Adam Foote and his staff didn't trust him, which led to limited ice time and bouncing back and forth between the NHL and AHL. As for next season, the expectations should be that Lekkerimäki finds some success on the power play and shows he can be reliable at both ends of the ice as part of the Canucks' middle six. 

Who’s Picking Up Canucks Radio Broadcasts? Or Will It Be An Online Venture Where The PBP and Colour Are Done While Watching In Vancouver?  

Taking Sportsnet 650 off the air was a terrible decision by Rogers Sports & Media. Not only does it eliminate the only full-time sports radio station in Vancouver, but it also affects teams like the Vancouver Giants and Vancouver Canadians, which broadcast their games on the station. The decision also puts talented hosts and producers out of work. 

For next season, the most likely option is that Canucks games move to Jack 96.9 FM, as it is the only radio station Rogers Sports & Media owns. As for the play-by-play and colour commentators, they will most likely continue to broadcast off monitors for away games. Vancouver has not had a travelling radio crew for the last few years. 

Do You Think They Do Rotating As Or Pick A Leadership Group And Stick With It The Whole Season?

When it comes to the leadership group, I think the Canucks do home and away "A's". At this point, it does not make sense to name a captain unless it is one of the younger players like Zeev Buium or Tom Willander, who will be here for a while. Here is a look at what the "A" rotation could look like:

Full-Time:

Filip Hronek

Rotating Home And Away: 

Elias Pettersson
Brock Boeser
Brendan Gallagher
Luke Schenn

Are You Concerned They Traded Maybe Their Most Popular Player In The Room? (Höglander)

Nils Höglander is an easy player to root for. Even when he is struggling to produce offensively, the effort level is there. Höglander was also a pleasure to deal with from a media perspective, as his positive attitude and willingness to answer questions to the best of his ability created some interesting stories and insight into the player. 

While it would have been intriguing to see Höglander play under Malhotra, it was also time to move on. The 25-year-old gets a fresh start, while Vancouver received a future draft pick that should help with the rebuild. There is no doubt that Höglander will be missed in the market as he became a fan favourite over the past six years. 

What Will The Goalie Situation Be? Are They Carrying 3?

At this point, it appears that the Canucks will have to carry three goaltenders next year. Thatcher Demko and Kevin Lankinen will be the 1A/1B, while Nikita Tolopilo will serve as the practice goaltender who occasionally gets into games. It is not an ideal situation, but it prevents Tolopilo from being lost on waivers. 

The reason this is not ideal is because the move could stunt Tolopilo's development. While working with Goalie Coach Marko Torenius should help the 26-year-old, there is no drill that can replicate what it is like to play a full game. While this plan may work for next year, Ryan Johnson and his team need to come up with a stronger plan for their goaltenders moving forward. 

If You Were The GM, Would You Target More Players To Add As Assets In Free Agency, Or Just Roll With The Roster You Have?

At this stage, the only players Vancouver should be signing are those on two-way contracts. The Canucks roster is full and adding more experienced players on one-way deals would be taking away ice time for younger players. Building up the Abbotsford Canucks roster should be the main priority when it comes to free agents. 

As for trades, if Vancouver is able to move experienced players, bringing back "bad contracts" is worth exploring. Especially those who have one year left on their deals and can be flipped at the deadline. Even if the Canucks can only get a sixth-rounder in return for a player, adding as many future assets is key at this stage of a rebuild. 

If There’s No Changes To The Roster, What Are The Line Combinations You’re Putting Together On Day One? Assuming Everybody Is Healthy.

Assuming everyone is 100% healthy and no player is traded, here is what the 2026-27 23-man opening night roster could look like:

DeBrusk-Pettersson-Karlsson
Öhgren-Rossi-Boeser
O'Connor-Chytil-Lekkerimäki
Cotter-Sasson-Gallagher
Räty

Buium-Hronek
Oleksiak-Willander
Pettersson-Schenn
Mancini

Demko
Lankinen
Tolopilo

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Latest From THN’s Vancouver Canucks Site:

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Detroit Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman has not found what he deems an acceptable trade package for Dylan Larkin from the mere three teams he said he'd accept a trade to. 

Despite various reports from outside sources that Larkin's camp had expanded that list by multiple teams, a new report from longtime beat writer Helene St. James of The Detroit Free Press indicated otherwise. 

However, it looks as though Larkin may have expanded his list by one club to include the Dallas Stars, per fellow beat writer Ansar Khan of MLive.

The Stars are run by former Red Wings assistant GM Jim Nill, but he reportedly shot down Detroit's request for goal-scoring forward Wyatt Johnston in return for Larkin. 

Like Stars forward Jason Robertson, whom the Red Wings have also been linked to, Johnston cleared the 40-goal mark this past season. He's also signed for for the next four seasons with a reasonable $8.4 million cap hit, which is slightly less than the $8.7 million cap hit Larkin's contract carries over the next five seasons. 

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Johnston was selected by the Stars in the opening round (23rd overall pick) of the 2021 NHL Draft, in which the Red Wings selected goaltender Sebastian Cossa with the 15th overall pick.

While Johnston is now one of the top players for the Stars, Cossa appeared in only one NHL game from the time he was selected by the Red Wings, and was traded to the Utah Mammoth late last month. 

Dylan Larkin May Be Faced With Awkward Situation This Fall If Detroit Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman is unable to find an adequate trade package for Dylan Larkin, there remains the possibility of an extremely awkward situation in the fall.

The Stars are in the midst of a difficult salary cap situation, while the Florida Panthers, Vegas Golden Knights, and Minnesota Wild, all of whom were on Larkin's original trade list, haven't been able to present an acceptable offer for him. 

With each passing day that a deal isn't reached for Larkin, the chances of him having to report to Training Camp in the fall and make the best of an awkward situation rise. 

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The Anaheim Ducks matched a five-year offer sheet extended to Leo Carlsson by the Flyers.

The contract, which boasts an average annual value of $18 million, will begin this upcoming season and last through the 2030-31 campaign.

The deal makes Carlsson, 21, the highest-paid player in the NHL.

“Matching the offer sheet was an easy decision, as [general manager] Pat [Verbeek] has intelligently left enough cap space to give us the ability to retain Leo,” Ducks owners Henry and Susan Samueli said.

“We have extremely high expectations for Leo. We firmly believe he will continue his strong growth trajectory and become one of the truly elite centers in the league, while continuing to make a strong impact in our community.”

Carlsson recorded 67 points in 70 games for Anaheim last season. His 29 goals were the second-most goals in a single season by a Ducks player 21 or younger.

“We are very happy to have Leo under contract for five years,” Verbeek said. “We have viewed Leo as a franchise player since the moment we met him prior to the 2023 draft. He’s a character person on and off the ice. Leo is viewed as a top player in this league, and it was always our intention to match any offer sheet.”

Anaheim selected Carlsson second overall in the 2023 NHL Draft, and he’s since appeared in 201 NHL games and earned 141 points.

In 12 postseason games, Carlsson recorded 11 points to lead all NHL players 21 and younger in postseason points and assists.

He was named to the Swedish Olympic team for Milano Cortina 2026, but did not play due to injury. He donned the Sweden jersey in the 2025 Four Nations Face-Off, and appeared in two World Championships and one World Junior Championship.

The Anaheim Ducks have matched the Philadelphia Flyers' five-year, $90 million offer sheet to Leo Carlsson, keeping the rising star and creating a little bit of a cap squeeze for the team.

The $18 million average annual value on the offer sheet makes Carlsson, 21, the highest-paid player in the NHL, passing the $17 million for Minnesota Wild star Kirill Kaprizov. The Flyers would have owed the Ducks four first-round picks if they had not matched.

With the match and the recent re-signing of defensemen Pavel Mintyukov and Tyson Hinds, the Ducks have about $9 million in remaining cap space according to puckpedia.com

Cutter Gauthier, the team's leading scorer, still has to sign and that cap space might not be enough after a 41-goal season. The Ducks' defense also could use an upgrade. That means general manager Pat Verbeek might have to trade a veteran or two to be cap-compliant.

Here's what to know about the Ducks matching the Flyers' offer sheet:

Leo Carlsson contract details

The Flyers' offer sheet was structured to make Carlsson's payouts mostly signing bonuses. Here are the details:

Carlsson offer sheet with #LetsGoFlyers breakdown:

Yr 1: $850K Salary, $19.95M Signing Bonus
Yr 2: $900K/$18.1M
Yr 3: $950K/$17.05M
Yr 4: $1M/$15.2M
Yr 5: $1M/$15M

NMC in Yr 5

Signing Bonus per @reporterchris

Rep’d by Matt Keatorhttps://t.co/dXmNTJXiYu

— PuckPedia (@PuckPedia) July 3, 2026

Leo Carlsson stats

Carlsson was the No. 2 overall pick of the 2023 NHL Draft behind Chicago's Connor Bedard. He had a breakthrough 67 points in 70 games last season. He was named to the Swedish Olympic team but wasn't able to play because of a leg injury.

In his first three years, he has 141 points in 201 games.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Ducks match Flyers' massive offer sheet to Leo Carlsson: What it means

It was only a matter of time, and the Ducks used every last second they had. On Thursday, the Ducks announced that they had matched the Philadelphia Flyers' five-year, $90 million offer sheet to forward Leo Carlsson. If they had decided not to match, they would have received four first-round picks.

Carlsson, 21, was a pending RFA and coming off a 67-point season in his third NHL season. This move locks down the Ducks' No. 1 center for the next five years. It also adds an $18 million-sized cap hit to their 2026-27 salary cap. Per PuckPedia, the Ducks have a little over $9 million in cap space. Cutter Gauthier, who scored 41 goals last season, is still a pending RFA and will surely be looking for an AAV in that range--or higher.

“Matching the offer sheet was an easy decision, as Pat has intelligently left enough cap space to give us the ability to retain Leo,” Ducks owners Henry and Susan Samueli said via press release. “We have extremely high expectations for Leo. We firmly believe he will continue his strong growth trajectory and become one of the truly elite centers in the league, while continuing to make a strong impact in our community.”

“We are very happy to have Leo under contract for five years,” Ducks general manager Pat Verbeek said in the same release. “We have viewed Leo as a franchise player since the moment we met him prior to the 2023 draft. He’s a character person on and off the ice. Leo is viewed as a top player in this league, and it was always our intention to match any offer sheet.”

How did we get here?

In Nov. 2025, Ducks general manager Pat Verbeek said during an interview on Victory+ that contract extension discussions had been paused with the likes of Carlsson and Gauthier, stating that they wanted to see how the market settles. "I really don't want to get into too hard of it because I want the players to keep playing well and not think about their contracts."

In late January, during another interview on Victory+, Verbeek reiterated that he had tabled contract extension discussions with the camps of Carlsson and Gauthier, saying that he wanted both players to be focused on making the playoffs. "There's plenty of time to deal with it," Verbeek said at the time. "We'll deal with it when the season's over and beyond."

That's all fine and dandy, but it didn't sound like much progress had been made in the month and a half between the Ducks' season ending on May 14 and June 26, when Verbeek spoke to the media after Day 1 of the 2026 NHL Draft.

"They're ongoing. That's all I can say. We're talking, and we'll see where it goes."

- -Ducks GM Pat Verbeek when asked about the progress of contract extension talks with Leo Carlsson and Cutter Gauthier.

The bombshell dropped on July 3 shortly after noon PT, when the Flyers tendered the offer sheet that rocked the NHL. $85.3 million of Carlsson's $90 million was made up in signing bonuses, a contract element that the Samuelis do not typically include in their players' contracts.

Just a day before the offer sheet was officially tendered, a report came from Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman that the Ducks were willing to match any offer sheet for Carlsson. Was it meant to be a scare tactic? Perhaps Verbeek--and cap guru Jeff Solomon--felt they had gauged the market well enough that any offer sheet that came their way would be an easy decision to match.

However, nothing could have prepared them for the amount or the structure of the Flyers' offer sheet. Your offer has to be big enough to give the opposing party pause, which is exactly what the Flyers' offer did. "I don't think (the Ducks) thought it was going to go here," Friedman said on 32 Thoughts: The Podcast. "I don't think they thought it was going to go to 18 (million). And that is the lesson that everybody learns now, is that we better take care of our business; we better know our business; we better be sure of our business because we are now more vulnerable than ever. The NHL is changing."

Friedman also said that the morning the offer sheet was tendered, the Ducks reportedly offered a $12-13 million AAV contract extension while Carlsson's representation countered with $15 million. The Ducks said no.

We've seen teams be proactive in locking down their budding stars to long-term extensions before they ever reach restricted free agency. The Montréal Canadiens did it with Lane Hutson and Ivan Demidov. The New Jersey Devils did it with Jack Hughes. The Dallas Stars did it with Wyatt Johnston. The only player that Verbeek has gotten ahead of signing prior to hitting restricted free agency is defenseman Jackson LaCombe, who signed an eight-year, $72 million extension last October.

Troy Terry was arbitration eligible in 2023, when he became an RFA. He filed for arbitration and was just moments away from his arbitration hearing when his seven-year extension was finalized. Goaltender Lukáš Dostál also filed for arbitration last summer when he became an RFA, though a five-year extension was agreed to before a hearing date was ever set. Trevor Zegras, Jamie Drysdale and Mason McTavish all had their contract negotiations extend into training camp, with deals eventually agreed to. But all three of those players now no longer play for the Ducks.

Now, there's no doubt that negotiations are a two-way street, and it's a smart play for Ryan and Matt Keator (Carlsson's camp) and Kurt Overhardt (Gauthier's camp) to delay extension talks until season's end. Why sign now when you could have a breakout season and get even more in the offseason? Gauthier is not offer sheet-eligible, but Carlsson forced Verbeek's hand by accepting the Flyers' offer sheet. Would negotiations have dragged on for Carlsson as much as they had for some of his current and former teammates if he hadn't?

What happens now?

The Ducks have retained their No. 1 center. He was always destined for that spot after being selected with the second overall pick in the 2023 draft, but the exoduses of Zegras and now McTavish have all but cemented that. It's true, the $18 million AAV becomes quite troublesome for the 2026-27 season. With Gauthier still needing a contract and the blue line still a bit depleted after the departures of Radko Gudas, Jacob Trouba and John Carlson, it's difficult to envision this season's team being much stronger than the one from this past season.

As the last six days passed by, there has been mixed reactions and debates from Ducks fans on social media about Carlsson's approach. Some of them have questioned his level of selflessness and desire to remain a Duck. He will have the opportunity to lay out his reasons when the time comes.

With the current team still needing a few reinforcements, Verbeek will have to perform surgery on his roster, working to free up salary any way he can. The most likely scenario is jettisoning Frank Vatrano and his $4.57 million cap hit to a team that needs to hit the cap floor, attaching a draft pick as compensation for doing so. On the backend, players like Tristan Luneau and Tyson Hinds will be relied on heavily to fill everyday NHL roles. 2025 10th overall pick Roger McQueen could also be in the mix for a top-6 forward role.

It wasn't going to be a pretty situation either way. You lose your budding star and No. 1 center, or you get four first-round picks and essentially have to restart your rebuild (again). Verbeek chose the option that would put him in less hot water.

The Chicago Blackhawks are in trouble. They are not going to have Connor Bedard until the middle of November due to shoulder surgery that he had on Wednesday. 

With Bedard out, a potential 30 goal/point per game player is missing from the forward group. A lot of offense coming out of the lineup is less than ideal for a team that has already struggled to score in recent years. 

There are a handful of moves that could be made to help while Bedard is out, and be there as support when he comes back. Whether it is a trade or a free agent signing of whoever is left, Kyle Davidson is likely looking to make another move for a forward who can score. 

Among the options is Patrick Kane, who is a legendary player already, with most of his damage coming as a member of the Chicago Blackhawks from the time he was the number one overall pick in 2007 to 2023, when he was traded away. 

During that stretch, Kane won a Hart Trophy, 3 Stanley Cups, and a Conn Smythe Trophy. Over the course of his entire career, Kane has 508 goals, 892 assists, and 1400 points in 1369 games played. There is no denying that he is one of the greatest American-born players in the history of the sport. 

It's not like Kane is a low-end player at 37 years old, either. On an up-and-down Detroit Red Wings team last year, Kane had 16 goals and 41 assists for 57 points in 67 games played. If he were put in a strictly offensive role (attacking zone starts, power play, top-six line) on the Blackhawks, his production would be right on par with those numbers. 

Would Kane play with Bedard once the young center comes back from injury? It isn't a given at even strength, although they may give it a try here and there, but they would certainly get time together on the power play. 

Not only does Kane bring exceptional skill on the ice, but he has a level of experience that very few ever achieve in an NHL career. He has made so many deep playoff runs, including winning the last game of the year, and he has also had so many disappointments.

That level of wisdom would be great for not only Bedard but also Anton Frondell, Frank Nazar, Artyom Levshunov, and other young players on the team. 

It does not sound like Kane will be making a return to the Detroit Red Wings, no matter what. That leaves the Chicago Blackhawks and his hometown Buffalo Sabres as the top two candidates.

Anything can change with one phone call, as in another team swooping in, but these two teams that he's connected to have a hockey-related need in a market that he's familiar with. 

Visit The Hockey News Chicago Blackhawks team site to stay up to date on the latest news, game-day coverage, player features, and more.

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ST. PAUL, Minn. — The list of potential destinations for Detroit Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin has reportedly grown, but the Minnesota Wild remain firmly in the conversation.

According to recent reports, Larkin has expanded the list of teams he would be willing to accept a trade to by adding the Dallas Stars.

Even with Dallas joining the mix, Minnesota remains one of just four reported destinations on Larkin's approved list, alongside the Vegas Golden Knights and Florida Panthers.

The Wild's continued inclusion is notable.

Minnesota has long been viewed as a team searching for another top-six center, and Larkin would immediately provide a proven offensive presence down the middle.

The 29-year-old has established himself as one of the NHL's premier two-way centers, combining speed, leadership, faceoff ability and consistent scoring throughout his career.

General manager Bill Guerin has never been afraid to make significant trades when the right player becomes available. His acquisition of Quinn Hughes last season demonstrated the organization's willingness to swing big when an opportunity presents itself.

Whether the Wild have the assets, or the salary cap flexibility, to complete a deal is another question entirely. 

Still, as the offseason continues, Minnesota's place on Larkin's reported trade list ensures the Wild will remain connected to one of the NHL's biggest ongoing trade storylines.

For now, the list may have expanded to four teams, but the Wild are still one of the few organizations Larkin is reportedly willing to call home if a trade ever comes together.

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Nikita Kucherov is a critical figure in the Florida rivalry between the Florida Panthers and the Tampa Bay Lightning.

But what if he was on the opposite side?

Former Panthers assistant GM Steve Werier appeared on The Overdrive, a TSN radio show, to answer questions about Leo Carlsson’s offer sheet and how the process works.

To better explain his point, he reflected on real-life experiences, noting how the Panthers approached offer sheets in 2016. 

Werier mentioned that the Panthers made sure to lock up key RFAs before they became offer-sheet eligible, including Aleksander Barkov, Aaron Ekblad, Jonathan Huberdeau, Vincent Trocheck, and Reilly Smith. With their own business handled, the Panthers planned to offer sheet Kucherov.

Werier spent just one season with the Panthers as the assistant GM, during the 2016-17 season, when Kucherov’s entry-level contract expired. 

In the 2016 off-season, Kucherov wasn’t the player he is now, but he was beginning to show signs of it. He was coming off consecutive 60-point seasons and scored 29 and 30 goals. In the playoffs, Kucherov notched 10 goals and 22 points in 26 games during the Lightning’s run to the Stanley Cup final in 2015.

Werier on Carlsson: 'I think they're going to match, I think it's an easy decision'Aaron Korolnek and Dave Feschuk are joined by former Florida Panthers Assistant GM Steve Werier to discuss why he believes the Anaheim Ducks should match Leo...

He may not have been the two-time Hart Trophy winner and three-time Art Ross Trophy winner, just yet, but the Panthers clearly noticed something in his development, and they were right to think that way.

In the end, the Panthers did not offer sheet Kucherov and he signed a three-year bridge deal with the Lightning. Kucherov is now considered the best winger in the NHL, and when he calls it a career, he’ll go straight to the Hockey Hall of Fame, owning all the records in Tampa Bay. 

It’s fun to take a second to imagine how differently the NHL would have looked if the Panthers had successfully offer-sheeted Kucherov. 

---

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Former Avalanche "prospect" Danil Gushchin is leaving North America and the NHL to head back to the KHL. He was one of the few who did not receive a qualifying offer from the Colorado Avalanche and has signed a two-year deal with the Avtomoblist Yekaterinburg, his hometown team, in the Kontinental Hockey League.

Originally drafted by the San Jose Sharks in the third round of the 2020 NHL Entry Draft, Gushchin spent time bouncing between the Sharks and the AHL San Jose Barracuda.

In the summer of 2025, the Colorado Avalanche made a deal with the Sharks that saw them flip Gushchin, a prospect who just couldn't break through, for Oskar Olausson, the Avalanche's own prospect who dealt with injuries and couldn't break through in the AHL and find a roster spot.

Avalanche Swap Prospects with the San Jose Sharks, Acquire Forward Danil GushchinThe Colorado Avalanche announced on Friday that they have acquired forward Danil Gushchin from the San Jose Sharks in return for forward Oskar Olausson.

With the Colorado Eagles, Gushchin finished with 18 goals and 14 assists for 32 points in 49 games, lower totals than what he was used to putting up with the Barracuda. Given how deep the Eagles were, he often wasn't in the lineup, so he only played in three Calder Cup Playoff games and didn't record a point.

Cale Makar Is Worth A Record Contract. The Avalanche Have To Get The Number RightCale Makar has earned a historic contract, but the Colorado Avalanche must balance paying their franchise defenseman with maintaining the championship-caliber roster needed to keep chasing Stanley Cups.

The New Jersey Devils made a handful of small moves that come off as AHL transactions when you look at them from a bird’s-eye view. However, one of those moves could be a hidden gem for Sunny Mehta and his staff in year one of their operation. 

Before the 2026 NHL Draft, New Jersey sent a 4th-round pick (108th overall) to the Detroit Red Wings in exchange for forward Amadeus Lombardi. This is a player who could turn out to be an AHL-lifer, or he could make Mehta look like a genius right away. 

At 23 years old, Lombardi is only scratching the surface of his potential in pro hockey. His first year with the Grand Rapids Griffins saw him learn how to play at the AHL level. He wasn’t an outstanding rookie point producer as he had 26 points in 70 games to open his career, but there were developing tools at work. 

Over the next two seasons, Lombardi took a big step. He had 82 points in 91 games during that stretch. A little bit of bad injury luck plagued him at times, but he is ready for a fresh start in a new organization. 

Scouts love Lombardi's game, and they always have. He's a bit undersized, but there is no denying the offensive output he is capable of displaying if he is on the ice healthy. 

The Utica Comets need to have a competitive AHL team. Sunny Mehta proved his belief in that with all of the transactions that have been made for them so far this summer.

Utica Comets Offseason Tracker: Every Move in a Massive Roster OverhaulThe Utica Comets have undergone a massive overhaul this offseason.

At worst, Lombardi can be a contributor there, but the expectation is that his chance at the NHL level will come too. It's up to him to take advantage of it. 

Lombardi is a versatile forward when it comes to his position, but he likely won't ever play center at the NHL level with the New Jersey Devils. They are too deep to ever think of giving him a spot there, but eight wing spots could be had with the right progression in his game. 

Is it possible that Lombardi sticks to being a top-of-the-line AHL player? It sure is. The Devils didn't give up much to get him, so the risk is outweighed by the potential reward. 

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Former San Jose Sharks prospect Danil Gushchin is heading back to his native Russia. After not receiving a qualifying offer from the Colorado Avalanche, he has signed a two-year deal with his hometown team, Avtomoblist Yekaterinburg, in the Kontinental Hockey League.

Gushchin moved to North America nearly a decade ago, joining the United States Hockey League’s Muskegon Lumberjacks ahead of the 2018-19 season. While with Muskegon, he was drafted by the Sharks with the 76th overall pick of the 2020 NHL Draft. 

Gushchin made his professional debut at the end of the 2021-22 season, appearing in a few games for the San Jose Barracuda after his junior season ended. The following season, he finished his first fully professional campaign and even made his NHL debut, playing a pair of games for the Sharks.

From there, Gushchin was a regular for the Barracuda and occasionally earned NHL opportunities until he departed the Sharks organization following the 2024-25 season.

While a member of the Colorado Avalanche organization, Gushchin played exclusively at the AHL level before being allowed to hit the free agent market this summer.

During his time in San Jose, Gushchin scored 70 goals and a total of 150 points in 182 games at the AHL level. During his limited opportunities with the Sharks, he scored two goals and five points in 18 career NHL games.

Once upon a time, the Montreal Canadiens had a tendency to select many players from the USHL or the NCAA, but in recent years, we’ve seen a new trend emerge: drafting Russian players. The Habs made Ivan Demidov the fifth overall pick at the 2024 draft; they opted for Alexander Zharovsky with their first pick of the 2025 draft in the second round, and just last month they moved up to grab Gleb Pugachyov with the 26th overall selection.

Earlier this week, the International Olympic Committee Executive Board announced that it had provisionally lifted the suspension of the Russian Olympic Committee. They also added that recommendations to International Federations regarding Russian athletes’ participation are no longer applicable.

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While this might not have any immediate repercussions for the Canadiens, it will more than likely have some down the line. Following Russia’s suspension from international events after it invaded Ukraine in 2023, Russian hockey players missed the Olympic Games, the IIHF World Championships, and the World Junior Championships; the NHL also decided to exclude Russia from its own international competition, which explains how the 4 Nations Face-Off came to be.

This decision from the IOC could very well result in Team Russia being reintegrated in all international hockey events. Since the NHL normally follows the IOC and the IIHF’s lead, this could also mean that the Russians are allowed to take part in the 2028 World Cup of Hockey, scheduled for February 2028 in both Canada and Czechia.

If it were the case, it would likely mean that Canadiens’ playmaker Demidov would finally be able to participate in a best-on-best competition, which is a great experience for any player. Nick Suzuki has raved about his participation in the 4 Nations and the Olympics, and it has definitely helped other markets to become aware of just how complete a player the Canadiens’ captain is.

Assuming no changes, by February 2028, Zharovsky should have joined the Canadiens, but it’s much too early to say whether he would be under consideration for Team Russia. After all, there are many talented Russian players in the NHL and beyond. Last season, Nikita Kucherov put up 130 points, Kirill Kaprizov racked up 89 points and pocketed a contract with a $17M cap hit, while Artemi Panarin took his production to the Los Angeles Kings. And that’s just up front; Team Russia could also have some of the top goalies in the league, including Andrei Vasilevskiy, Igor Shesterkin, Ilya Sorokin, and Sergei Bobrovsky, to name a few. On the blueline, the names of Mikhail Sergachev, Dimitry Orlov, Alexander Nikishin, and Pavel Mintyukov come to mind.

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New York Islanders veteran center Bo Horvat was seen training with one of the team's top prospects, defenseman Kashawn Aitcheson, as the two prepare for the coming 2026-27 season:

Early July:

Bo Horvat and Kashawn Aitcheson already getting ready for next season 👀 #Isles

🎥: muskokahockey/IG pic.twitter.com/0vPvijOGtG

— Rob Taub (@RTaub_) July 9, 2026

Aitcheson, who recently attended the team's development camp from June 29 through July 2, was selected by the Islanders with the 17th pick in the first round of the 2025 NHL Draft.

The 19-year-old earned placement on the CHL and OHL First All-Star Teams after leading the OHL in goals (28) and points (70) as captain of the Barrie Colts last season.

Seeing NHL ice in the coming season is not necessarily out of the question, but the extensive depth on the left side of the organization’s blue line and Aitcheson's lack of professional experience make 2027-28 a more realistic timeline for him to push for an NHL roster spot.

Instead, he is expected to start 2026-27 with the Hamilton Hammers of the American Hockey League.

Horvat, who led the Islanders with 31 goals in 2025-26, is once again reflecting his leadership as he remains a candidate to replace Anders Lee as the 16th captain in franchise history.

In a deeply ironic twist, Cutter Gauthier could be the wildcard who makes or breaks the Philadelphia Flyers in their pursuit of a successful Leo Carlsson offer sheet.

Gauthier, 22, is a restricted free agent in need of a new contract, much like teammate Carlsson. And, like Carlsson, it is going to be an expensive one, beyond a shadow of a doubt.

The former top Flyers prospect scored 20 goals and 44 points last season, before exploding for 41 goals and 69 points in his sophomore NHL season this year. We can reasonably assume that the next big milestone for Gauthier is going to be 50 goals, and players who can score that many don't come around too often.

And while that undoubtedly stings for the Flyers and Flyers fans, it may work out to their benefit yet.

We already know that Carlsson and his $18 million cap hit, thanks to the Flyers' offer sheet, is going to put the Anaheim Ducks in a major salary cap bind, and the structure of the contract will require the Ducks and their ownership to pay over $38 million in signing bonuses in the first 12 months of the contract.

What happens, then, when the Ducks dole out another big-money contract from Gauthier--which should come in well over $10 million, and potentially in the $15 million range now--especially if that contract is also laden in signing bonuses?

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That would mean Ducks general manager Pat Verbeek going to (a very wealthy) ownership and asking for their blessing to spend nearly $100 million in up-front cash in signing bonuses in a 12-month period, between the signing of the contract and this time next year.

Are the Ducks going to be allowed to do that, knowing that, by spending all that money, they won't have any left to allocate to actually build a good team that can win games, bring in revenue, and keep a fanbase engaged?

Rich people get rich for a reason, and they typically don't like to invest money into something that isn't going to make them more money, or at least take a very long time to do so.

And that's without even mentioning that the Ducks would have to gut their roster and somehow find suitors for some combination of Chris Kreider (Carlsson's left wing), Alex Killorn, and Frank Vatrano to make the hockey aspect work.

While he may not do so intentionally, Cutter Gauthier is very much in a position to land the team that drafted him into the NHL a No. 1 center of the future.

All he has to do is up the ask on his next contract a bit higher, and the Ducks will inevitably be forced to keep one or the other, but not both.