As the day progressed, we saw the Ottawa Senators flip the No. 9 pick they just acquired from the Florida Panthers in the Brady Tkachuk trade to the San Jose Sharks in exchange for William Eklund, hinting that Ivan Stenberg may be their selection at No. 2.
William is the older brother of Islanders prospect Victor Eklund, who the team selected 16th overall at the 2025 NHL Draft.
The last trade of the day -- the biggest head-scratcher, too -- was the Chicago Blackhawks trading the No. 4 overall pick and No. 45 in the 2026 NHL Draft to acquire Bowen Byram from the Buffalo Sabres, a gambful, for sure.
That second-round pick was the Islanders.
On day two of the 2023 NHL Draft in Nashville, former Islanders general manager Lou Lamoriello traded that pick to Chicago to get them to take the final season of Josh Bailey's deal which carried a $5 million cap hit.
It's time for Chicago to start acquiring NHL talent over prospects, but this deal has to work, especially when you see Byram's AAV on his upcoming extension.
The Islanders, after missing the playoffs for the last two seasons, have yet to get involved in these pre-draft trade shenanigans as we wait and see how general manager Mathieu Darche decides to navi his second free agency on Long Island.
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JUNE 29: Louka Cloutier meets team personnel after being selected 132nd overall by the Colorado Avalanche during the 2024 Upper Deck NHL Draft Rounds 2-7 at Sphere on June 29, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jeff Vinnick/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images
Again, and for the foreseeable future, the NHL Entry Draft is of a different relevance to the Colorado Avalanche as they don’t have a first round pick until at least 2029. Even their lone remaining second round selection for the foreseeable future (in 2027) likely won’t make it through the next trade deadline so picking later in the draft is the new normal for Colorado.
Still, this draft offers more intrigue than usual because the Avalanche hold nine draft picks, though Colorado won’t be on the clock until day two. That might not sound exciting or important but if the Carolina Hurricanes can get a Jackson Blake at 109th overall then it’s no excuse to write-off the goal of getting an impact player outside the top 100 picks.
Colorado’s 2026 draft class splits evenly into two different tiers. First, the newly acquired third round pick from the Ross Colton trade plus a duo of fourth and fifth round picks make for a nice mid-round cluster and then there’s four remaining Hail Mary lotto tickets in the seventh round. Both sections of the draft require a bit of a different strategy but it is still possible to get NHL contributions in each portion of the draft as shown below.
Candidates at 74th Overall
Huzzah! Joe Sakic procured a relevant draft asset in the aforementioned recent Ross Colton trade. This was Nashville’s own third round pick and holds some decent value especially as it sits in the top third of the round. There’s a lot of thought that this pick should just get traded because the Avalanche have made horrendous picks in the third round (and later) as shown below but that shouldn’t be an excuse to stop trying. A good pick needs to be coupled with a development plan and organizational commitment but it can be done to try and reverse previous failures. Let’s be honest, whoever gets selected at 74th overall is in all probability instantly a top five prospect in this organization.
Perhaps it’s time to go back to the Rouyn-Noranda well to look for options in the third round with this rare opportunity for Colorado to pick early on the second day of the draft. Enter Lars Steiner who is a 5-foot-10 right winger import to the QMJHL from Switzerland. He can shoot the puck as evidenced by his 30 goals in 44 games this season and produced 55 points overall. Steiner played on the Swiss team at the World Junior Championship and contributed four points in five games. As a late birthday he will turn 18 this fall and should have many options available to him on where to play next season. Steiner is ranked 89th on NHL Central Scouting’s North American list but many other rankings have him in the third round. He’s the type of talent the Avalanche might be intrigued by as they value goal scoring in their prospects highly.
Candidates at 126th, 128th, 149th, and 152nd Overall
With this much mid-round draft capital it is possible the Avalanche package some of these picks to move around the draft board. This isn’t something the organization has done much of in the past, in fact the only draft selection in the Joe Sakic era they have moved up for was when they ascended ten spots to 139th to select Ryder Rolston in 2020. Of course the idea is contingent on not trading these picks away in other deals for immediate needs on the Avalanche roster.
It is difficult to identify any particular targets 100 picks deep into the draft but there will always be some fallers who were expected to go a round or two higher. Those types of players should be the target here in hopes to rebuild the prospect system. Forecasting particulars, though, Colorado loves their specific targets of overagers, NCAA players and Russians. Potentially a combination of two or three of those attributes would be perfect if they can find it.
One player actually does fit all three criteria and that is Egor Barabanov, ranked number one on The Althetic’s top overager list as the left shot center was fourth in the OHL in scoring for Saginaw with and has recently committed to UMass. We know the Avalanche have a lot of familiarity with that program and have a prospect in defenseman Francesco Dell’Elce heading into his junior year at the school. Listed at 43rd on NHL Central Scouting’s rankings for North American skaters Barabanov might fall out of reach for Colorado but the value of overagers is tough to peg. Still, no doubt the young Russian is on their radar.
Candidates at 195th, 214th, 215th, and 222nd Overall
There has been an interesting draft factoid for the Avalanche is that almost all seventh rounds picks they have taken in their history drafted out of the CHL have been signed to a NHL Entry Level Contract (the lone exception being goalie Ivan Zhigalov drafted in 2022). The CHL produces a deep talent pool will always have some options late in the draft, Nikita Prishchepov’s selection at 217th overall in 2024 as the latest example. While the impetus is to use very late draft selections on long-term projects from either Russia or the NCAA, it’s interesting to note that the CHL seventh round picks have made it a worthy investment.
Speaking of Russian goaltenders, Yegor Rybkin has Avalanche prospect written all over him. He is the second ranked international goalie, stands at 6-foot-7 and was injured for most of the year, which might make him drop in the rankings. He plays in Russia’s MHL for the Nizhny Novgorod system so his NHL rights will be held indefinitely by the team that drafts him. The organization loves large goaltenders and long-term projects. With four seventh round pick at their disposal some selections will fit that criteria.
For the first time since a stunning trade that sent him packing to the City of Brotherly Love, former Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Joseph Woll has broken his silence.
Taking to Instagram, the 27-year-old goaltender posted a heartfelt farewell to the city that drafted him a decade ago, expressing deep gratitude for his time in Blue and White while signaling he is ready for a fresh start with the Philadelphia Flyers.
“From the bottom of my heart, thank you to the organization, the city, my friends and especially, my teammates for helping make my time in Toronto so special. I have enough memories to last a lifetime. I’ll forever be proud and grateful for my time with the Leafs. 🍁Philly, get ready.”
- Joseph Woll on Instagram.
“The trade, the first by newly appointed Maple Leafs general manager John Chayka, caught many by surprise. Toronto sent Woll alongside fan-favourite, hard-hitting defenseman Simon Benoit to the Flyers. In return, the Maple Leafs acquired goaltender Samuel Ersson, 24-year-old Swedish blueliner Emil Andrae, and a third-round selection in the 2026 NHL Draft.
For Woll, the move marks the end of a highly scrutinized tenure in Toronto. Selected 62nd overall by the Leafs in the 2016 draft, “The Brick Woll” showed flashes of brilliant, elite-level goaltending but battled inconsistencies and untimely injuries. He departs Toronto with a career regular-season record of 63-43-9, a 2.94 goals-against average, a .906 save percentage, and four shutouts across 117 games. In the postseason, he went 6-6 with a 2.73 GAA and a .906 save percentage over 14 appearances.
However, the 2025-26 campaign was a grueling one for both Woll and the Maple Leafs, who missed the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time in ten years. Tasked with anchoring the crease alongside Anthony Stolarz, Woll struggled behind a porous Toronto defense that surrendered the second-most goals per game in the league (3.60). He posted a 15-16-7 record, and while he recorded a career-high two shutouts, his 3.34 GAA and .899 save percentage over 39 games were the lowest marks of his NHL career.
See more of The Hockey News on Google — Save us as Preferred Source
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.
The Columbus Blue Jackets took part in their first Entry Draft on June 24th, 2000, in Calgary, Alberta. They left Calgary after drafting 11 players; how did it go?
They took, with the 4th overall pick, Rostislav Klesla from the Brampton Battalion of the OHL. The big defenseman played in 8 games in the 2000-01 season before being sent back to his junior team in Brampton.
Klesla made the team full-time the next season, playing in 75 games. He scored 8 goals and had 16 points. Klesla played with the Jackets until 2011 when he was traded to the Phoenix Coyotes. He would go on to play 3 more seasons in Phoenix, until on November 26, 2013 he was placed on waivers by the Coyotes. On March 4, 2014 he was traded to the Washington Capitals. One day later he was traded to the Buffalo Sabres. On March 8th, he refused to report to the Sabres, and was later suspended. He went back to Europe to his home country of the Czech Republic to play, and then retire in 2016.
Klesla finished his NHL career with a stat line of 48 goals and 159 points in 659 games. Rusty, as his teammates and fans called him, was beloved during his time in Columbus.
The rest of the 2000 Entry Draft for the CBJ did not do so well. Only two other players they picked that year ever played in the NHL. Petteri Nummelin, a defenseman from Finland, played in 139 career NHL games. Slovakian center Andrej Nedorost played in 28 career NHL games.
The 2000 draft class is stacked with stars. From Rick DiPietro, Dany Heatley, and Niklas Kronwall to Ilya Bryzgalov, Justin Williams, and newly elected Hall of Famer Henrik Lundqvist.
But the crazy thing about this draft is how many players found their way to Columbus and played for the Blue Jackets. Besides Rusty Klesla (4), Marion Gaborik (3), Raffi Torres (5), Scott Hartnell (6), and Ron Hainsey (13) all played for the CBJ, and all were first-round picks. Antoine Vermette (55) and Mike Rupp (76) also played for the CBJ. Some of these guys had really good years playing for the Jackets too.
Oh what could have been.
Next Up For Columbus: The NHL Draft is on June 26 and 27 in Buffalo, where the CBJ will own pick #14.
Stay updated with the most interesting Blue Jackets stories, analysis, breaking news, and more!
Tap the star to add us to your favorites on Google News and never miss a story.
Let us know what you think below.
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.
The Chicago Blackhawks and Buffalo Sabres completed a borderline blockbuster trade. Chicago sent the 4th & 45th overall picks, along with Louis Crevier, to Buffalo in exchange for Bowen Byram and Jordan Greenway.
Byram is an incredible defenseman who comes to Chicago hoping to be their number one. He feels that after a career year, it is time for him to get the ice time and paycheck that he deserves. With Rasmus Dahlin, Mattias Samuelsson, and Owen Power already established in Buffalo, Byram felt overshadowed.
As a Blackhawk, Byram will be the number one guy on defense. On most nights, he will lead the team in time on ice, and should be their top offensive producer from the back-end. The team will be better with him on it.
The catch is that Byram has one year left on his deal, which carries a cap hit of $6.25 million. After that, he will require a substantial pay upgrade on a long-term extension. His salary will likely double. He is just 25 years old, which means he has some great hockey ahead of him, but it will still be a hard contract to live up to.
Jordan Greenway is not a game-changer. He will be a fourth-line option for Jeff Blashill, bringing a physical presence to the game, but you can't point to him as a reason the team will be better.
Early in the life of the trade, it has the makings of a legitimate disaster for the Chicago Blackhawks. They gave up a top-five pick and a second-round pick, along with a solid defenseman in Louis Crevier, for Bowen Byram without an extension and a fourth-line forward.
The outlook of the trade will improve if they get Byram signed, but there will also be worry about it becoming an albatross. They gave up a lot, including their most valuable asset, and Connor Bedard still has a huge hole on his wing.
In the likely event that they are unable to get Bedard a true top-line winger, that will make it four years in a row to start his career. That's terrible asset management.
Byram is a really good player, and the Blackhawks should have taken him 3rd overall in 2019, but this is a massive overpay for him 7 years later.
Blackhawks Trade Grade: D+
The trade grade will become a C if Byram signs a fair extension, and it will become an A if he is the true number one defenseman that the Blackhawks need for a large portion of the Connor Bedard era. For now, there are way too many question marks.
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 on the article below on THN.com or by creating your own post in our community forum.
TORONTO, CANADA - APRIL 8: Matthew Knies #23 of the Toronto Maple Leafs looks on against the Washington Capitals during the third period at the Scotiabank Arena on April 8, 2026 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Mark Blinch/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images
Stop me if you’ve heard this one before.
Player X is a free agent. Player X can sign with any team. Player X ultimately decides to sign with Team Y because the GM or head coach of the team is a former teammate. Or they’re from the same hometown and came up through juniors together. Or, to quote a classic film in Spaceballs, he’s their father’s brother’s nephew’s cousin’s former roommate.
I wouldn’t go as far as to say that nepotism is running rampant across the NHL, even though this is a league where we see players drafted all the time in part because of their bloodlines. Heck, the NHL themselves are all too happy to put a PDF out there showing direct ties between players, as they did this as recently as last year’s draft. But I do think connections and networking matter to some extent.
It’s something we see in the real world all the time. People might leave one job for another because of a personal connection with someone who is at the new place. People who are looking for work may leverage their network and talk to people they know until they land somewhere new. Why would the NHL be any different?
Sheldon Keefe had nearly a decade of experience in the Toronto Maple Leafs organization, first with the Marlies and then the Maple Leafs, before coming to New Jersey. New general manager Sunny Mehta was in the Panthers organization from 2020-2026, with a brief consultation stop in Washington between his time in New Jersey and Florida.
Neither Keefe or Mehta are old, but they’ve been around long enough where they know people. They’ve built up those relationships over the years, whether its Keefe coaching someone or Mehta being a part of a front office that brought said player in.
This week, I thought it would be noteworthy to at least take a look at players who either will be or might be available this offseason with some previous connection to Keefe or Mehta. Some of these players will be under contract, but they may or may not be available for a trade. Some of these players might be free agents. But are any of them potential fits for a Devils team that will need to undergo some changes this summer as Mehta reshapes the roster?
I’m well aware there are a lot of players around the league who played for Keefe or Mehta, but for purposes of this article, I’ll try to avoid fourth line types. I already mentioned AJ Greer a few weeks ago and I’m not going to dive deeply into the Ryan Lombergs and Kevin Stenlunds of the world, with all due respect to those players.
Matthew Knies
Contract: 5 years, $7.75M AAV, 10-team no trade list starting in 2030-31
Matthew Knies has been on the trading block for what seems like several months now, and despite the Maple Leafs landing the #1 pick in the NHL Draft and their recent sign-and-trade acquisition of Darren Raddysh, it appears that Knies is very much still in play. In fact, Knies came dangerously close to being dealt to the Montreal Canadiens at the trade deadline for a package including a pair of first round picks and prospect Alexander Zharovsky.
Knies isn’t a perfect player as he doesn’t really drive play and his defensive metrics are so-so, but he does a lot of things well. He’s a big body winger who can get to the dirty areas in front of the net and make things happen with rebounds and redirections. He’s shown that he’s more than capable of playing with elite level players, and one would presume he’ll be tethered to Jack Hughes’s wing if the Devils were to land him. And in a rising cap environment, having a player like Knies locked in at under $8M AAV for the next half decade is a tremendous value. That should not be understated.
Keefe was in Toronto as Knies was breaking into the NHL, and while Knies didn’t have his breakout seasons until after Keefe left Toronto, we’re talking about a player who has yet to turn 24 years old and is still scratching the surface of what he’s going to be as a player.
Morgan Rielly
Contract: 4 years, $7.5M AAV, NMC, 10-team no trade list starting in 2028-29
Rielly, the current longest-tenured Maple Leaf, may or may not be on the trading block in Toronto.
Sportsnet’s Nick Kypreos wrote a few weeks ago that the belief is that Toronto is open to moving on from Rielly and that his NMC “wouldn’t be a major hurdle to overcome”. And Rielly did enjoy some of his finest seasons as a Maple Leaf with Keefe as the head coach, posting 68 points in 2021-22 and 58 points in 23-24. Rielly did struggle the last two seasons under Craig Berube, but it would stand to reason he could be a bounceback candidate if he were to play in a system better suited to his strengths as a player. And if anyone would know what those strengthts are, it’s Sheldon Keefe.
Rielly is not the greatest defensive defenseman, but he is still a good skater and he can move the puck….two things the Devils need more of from the backend.
Rielly could make sense for the Devils if they wind up sending a defenseman back Toronto’s way to help offset some of the salary, and with Raddysh in the fold in Toronto, Rielly might now be expendable to some extent. But with his NMC, Rielly has final say on his destination, so he’d have to want to be reunited with Keefe.
Oliver Ekman-Larsson
Contract: 2 years, $3.5M AAV, 16-team no-trade list
Keeping our eyes on Toronto, let’s take a look at another veteran defenseman on Oliver Ekman-Larsson.
OEL didn’t play for Keefe in Toronto, but he did play for Sunny Mehta in Florida in the 2023-24 season, picking up a Stanley Cup ring as a depth defenseman for the Panthers. OEL parlayed his Florida run into a four-year deal with the Maple Leafs, and while he was nearly traded this past season at the deadline, he ultimately stuck around in Toronto through the end of the season.
Ekman-Larsson enjoyed some of his best seasons in Arizona when he was with now-Leafs GM John Chayka, so its certainly possible that Chayka decides to hold on to the veteran blueliner. Considering Toronto is a team that has already been active this summer, I don’t know if that future includes Ekman-Larsson. But he’d be, at least from a contractual perspective, a relatively inexpensive veteran option who should help provide a little more offense from the backend.
I don’t know what the trade market would even look like for Ekman-Larsson, but I don’t think he’d cost a first-round pick to acquire.
Radko Gudas
Contract: Unrestricted free agent
At 36 years old, I don’t know how much Gudas has left in the tank in terms of being an effective hockey player.
Gudas, who spent three seasons in Florida with Mehta, is what he is at this stage of his career. He’s a defensive defenseman who blocks shots, hits people, and provides veteran leadership. He will not help a team offensively, and it’s debatable whether or not he’s helping the team enough defensively anymore. He’ll also throw the occasional and unnecessary dirty hit that will draw faux outrage from the Department of Player Safety.
The Devils would need to completely overhaul their backend to create enough openings where then I could justify considering Gudas for a 1-year deal. They may trade some defensemen, but I doubt its to create a spot for this type of player.
Anthony Duclair
Contract: 2 years, $3.5M AAV, 16-team no-trade
Duclair is a speedy winger who has generally been a decent source of secondary offense, but fairly or unfairly, has always managed to wear our his welcome no matter where he’s been. For a player who turns 31 this summer, there’s a decent chance he’ll be on his TENTH NHL team next season, and he hasn’t managed to last with any one team more than three seasons. Duclair was also benched by now-former Islanders coach Patrick Roy this past season.
I don’t write all of that to pick on Duclair or make fun of him. He’s a guy who can skate well and he has a good shot. He also had some of his best seasons in Florida with Sunny Mehta. Add in that the Islanders likely need to clear some cap space if they want to make additions to a group that nearly made the playoffs this past season and Duclair could be an odd man out in Elmont.
I’m not really interested in Duclair unless the Islanders were retaining salary, but he could be a name to keep an eye on if they choose to buy him out. In that scenario, I would have some mild interest in Duclair as a depth forward if he’d take a 1-year prove-it deal.
Vladimir Tarasenko
Contract: Unrestricted Free Agent
Admittedly, I had this article done and ready to publish. Then I saw the news that Vladimir Tarasenko is switching agents for what seems like the hundredth time and remembered that it was just over two years ago that the Panthers acquired Tarasenko for what would be a Stanley Cup winning run.
Tarasenko has been a long-time goalscorer, topping the 30+ goal plateau six times in his career with the Blues before bouncing around the league for much of the last half-decade, with stops in Minnesota, Detroit, South Florida, Ottawa, and that team across the Hudson River. Injuries and aging have seen a bit of a dip in his production, but he is coming off of a season where he scored 23 goals in Minnesota. That would place him fourth on the 25-26 Devils behind Nico Hischier, Jack Hughes, and Timo Meier. Tarasenko wound up finishing third on the Wild in even-strength goals, showing he doesn’t need to be a power play specialist to be productive.
I don’t really know what to make of Tarasenko switching agents. Players don’t typically do that and then simultaneously sign team-friendly deals. AFP Analytics might be underselling Tarasenko with a one-year projection at roughly $3.4M AAV considering the rising cap and he’s coming off of a deal that paid him $4.75M AAV the last two years. Tarasenko might be a bit of a one-trick pony at this stage of his career, but it just so happens that that one trick is something the Devils could use more of in their lineup in goal scoring.
That said, Mehta was part of a Panthers front office that thought enough of him to bring him in as a depth piece and to provide secondary offense for a championship run. Tarasenko fit in well on that Panthers team before departing as a free agent. I could see Mehta being interested, and if Tarasenko is interested in another short-term deal, this is one that could make a lot of sense for the Devils.
Owen Tippett
Contract: 6 years, $6.2M AAV, 10-team no trade
I’ll preface this next part of the article saying this is from David Pagnotta, so take it with a grain of salt. But he did mention Owen Tippett’s name as a potential trade option recently, and it does seem like there’s a least a little smoke there, so let’s talk about it.
To be clear, the Flyers trading Tippett now makes little to no sense. They’re a team emerging from a multi-year rebuild, they made the playoffs this past season, and Tippett was arguably one of their best players during Philadelphia’s playoff run. Danny Briere signed Tippett to a contract extension not too long ago. They really shouldn’t be looking to move off of Tippett unless they’re convinced this is fool’s gold or someone makes them an offer they can’t refuse, and if I were the Devils, I’m not emptying the tank on an Owen Tippett trade as much as I respect the player.
That said, there’s a connection there as Mehta and Tippett overlapped in Florida. Florida did wind up moving Tippett, along with draft picks, in the Claude Giroux trade, and I can understand why Florida moved on when they did. To Tippett’s credit, he established himself as a regular with more consistent playing time in Philadelphia.
I don’t blame Mehta if he kicks the tires here. I just think its more likely he’ll have to try to find the next Owen Tippett rather than trading for the actual Owen Tippett. I think if the Devils and Flyers were to hook up on a trade, its unlikely to be involving a player of this magnitude.
Frank Vatrano
Contract: 2 years, $4.571M AAV, 7-team no trade
Vatrano overlapped with Mehta in Florida from 2020-2022 and was ok there as a secondary source of offense. But he took his game to another level when he initially landed in Anaheim.
Vatrano found a good landing spot on a team that had young players that had yet to establish themselves as NHL regulars. He saw the most ice time in his career, played in all situations, and posted career high marks in goals and points in 2023-24. He earned a nice three year contract extension with a modest pay raise as a result.
Unfortunately for Vatrano, he saw his role diminish this past season under the first one with new head coach Joel Quenneville in Anaheim. His ice time? One of the lowest of his career. His production? Career worst considering he appeared in 50 games. His playoff performance this season? Non-existent, as he was scratched for Anaheim’s run.
Vatrano needs a change of scenery, and to be clear, I have ZERO interest in Vatrano at his current number. But he might be worth keeping an eye on if Anaheim chooses to buy him out. And they might, as they’d save $4M against the cap the next two seasons by doing so and they have several key RFAs who need new contracts.
Michael Bunting
Contract: Unrestricted Free Agent
At this stage of his career, Bunting is a journeyman veteran winger who on his best day can chip in 15-20 goals over the course of a season.
That said, it wasn’t too long ago that under Sheldon Keefe, Bunting enjoyed some of the finest seasons of his career, with 112 points over 161 games with Toronto before departing in free agency.
With the benefit of time and hindsight, it’s clear that Bunting was more than adequate playing the Robin to the Batman of the Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner’s of the world. It’s also clear that he’s not quite the same player away from elite NHL talent. That’s not a knock, just an acknowledgement of the situation and an analysis of the player.
There are a lot of things about Bunting’s game that are easy to like though, such as his ability to get under the skin of the opposition, his compete level when it comes to winning puck battles, and a willingness to drive to the net.
Bunting is another guy where if his contract demands are anywhere near close to his AFP analytics projection of 4-years and $5.8M AAV, he’s probably a non-starter as far as the Devils are concerned given their cap situation. But he’s also coming off of a not-so great season between Nashville and Dallas, and I suppose an argument could be made that he’d be the goal-scoring, agitator compliment that Jack Hughes and Jesper Bratt could use to round out that line. I don’t think he’d have to take a one-year, prove it type of deal, but maybe New Jersey is a situation given Keefe’s history with him makes sense.
Evan Rodrigues | Eetu Luostarinen
Rodrigues’ Contract: 1 year, $3.075M AAV
Luostarinen’s Contract: 1 year, $3M AAV
Florida is a team that probably doesn’t need to make cap casualty moves as they currently have roughly $15M in available cap space.
That said, Florida is a win-now team that will surely be looking to get back to the Stanley Cup playoffs next season. Florida will be a threat to win a championship next season if they get in. And perhaps most importantly, Florida is a destination NHL city. They literally just traded for Brady Tkachuk. Dylan Larkin wants to play in Florida. Connor Hellebuyck likely wants to as well. And why wouldn’t they? Florida provides warm weather, no taxes, and a legitimate chance to win.
If I’ve learned anything in recent years, its never say never when it comes to teams like Vegas and Florida when it comes to big game hunting. If they want whoever the next star player is that wants to go there, they’ll probably find a way to make it happen. And while it might be possible the players I just mentioned could go the other way in a potential deal to offset costs, it’s also possible they’re spun off in a different direction entirely if Florida needs to free up cap space in a hurry. Most of Florida’s big money players have some sort of no move clause or trade protection. Rodrigues and Luostarinen do not.
Rodrigues has been a perfectly fine role player for the Panthers for the last three seasons. He can play anywhere in the lineup and not look out of place. He can shift to center if needed, which may be ideal for a Devils team that could use a few more options in that respect. He’s a versatile Swiss army knife type of piece that fits on good hockey teams. As for Luostarinen, he’s another big, left-handed center slash winger option who plays a good two-way game, is physical, and provides secondary offense.
Sunny Mehta is obviously familiar with both players, and while I’m not saying they’re definitely going to be available this summer, I could see him being interested if either one was dangled out there on the open market, particularly Luostarinen.
Final Thoughts
All in all, I’d call this exercise…..mostly uninspiring.
The Devils aren’t really in a position to take on a big salary player unless they move more money out. They’re not in a position to pay top of the market prices in UFA, nor should they in a weak UFA class. And even if they were, history has shown time and again that’s not a winning formula in the long-term.
I do think a couple of the forward options could make sense if their respective teams ate salary and/or bought the players out entirely. I do think most of the defensemen could make sense if the Devils make drastic sweeping changes on their blueline. But we’re talking about some drastic changes moving on from several players with no-trade clauses of some sort and overhauling the operation at this point, which doesn’t seem likely given the contractual situations Sunny Mehta is inheriting.
Still, I think a few of these names are probably worth keeping in mind in the off-chance they do become available. In the former Panthers cases, Mehta was a key voice in a front office that ultimately signed off on bringing them in. There’s something there with these players that he likes. And in Keefe’s case with the former Leafs, we’re talking about players he has coached before and has that familiarity with, as opposed to exclusively bringing in external free agents with no previous ties.
These players probably won’t become Devils in the next month or so. But would it be all that surprising if a few of them passed through Newark in the next 12-24 months? Probably not.
While it may be disappointing to see the Philadelphia Flyers again miss out on a coveted trade target, at least they aren't stretching themselves thin by paying ridiculous prices.
On an action-packed Tuesday in the NHL, the Buffalo Sabres traded defenseman Bowen Byram, alongside fourth-liner Jordan Greenway, to the Chicago Blackhawks for the fourth overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft, the 45th overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft, and 6-foot-8 defenseman Louis Crevier.
Byram, 25, hasn't quite lived up to his draft status as a former fourth overall pick himself, but buried on Buffalo's depth chart, the Sabres still managed to get surplus value on his original draft slot and then some.
For the Flyers, paying that kind of cost for someone who may or may not grow into a No. 1 defenseman would be indefensible and ludicrous.
To start, the Flyers don't even have a top-five draft pick this year, and an equivalent to that value likely starts with the names Matvei Michkov or Porter Martone.
Then, to add a serviceable bottom-pair defenseman with size, as well as another top-50 pick, to acquire a grinder like Greenway, makes it that much more unfathomable.
The Flyers already have their de facto No. 1 defenseman Travis Sanheim, who is signed at a modest $6.25 million cap hit.
Byram is reportedly looking for double digits on his next contract, and he has just one more year remaining on his current deal at a $6.25 million cap hit of his own.
Yes, Sanheim is older, but he is more proven and established, and will be cheaper this time next year.
The risk of adding Byram at that trade cost, then paying the financial cost to keep him, just made no sense for the Flyers.
Plus, the Flyers need the breathing room to develop their own players--namely David Jiricek and Oliver Bonk--into top-four caliber defenders, and we can assume that the majority of Jiricek's NHL value will come on the power play.
If Byram usurps that quarterback role and doesn't do it like one of the best in the league, Jiricek's chances of becoming a useful player for the Flyers are undermined significantly.
If Byram was one of the best in the league, then it wouldn't have mattered. We, and the Flyers, can't put that cart before the horse.
Sometimes frustratingly so, the Flyers are very good at conducting risk assessment on the trade market and finding deals that work for them.
Adding Byram would have been nice, to be clear, but it's also clear that there was no scenario in which this would have made sense for the Flyers from a value standpoint.
The trade market for a second-line center isn’t exactly booming right now; the potential candidates are few and far between, and if the Montreal Canadiens want to land a pivot who could really unlock Ivan Demidov’s potential, it won’t be cheap. On Tuesday morning, BPM Sports and RG Media’s Marco D’Amico reported that the Vancouver Canucks are open to retaining some salary to trade Elias Pettersson. Could he be a fit for the Canadiens?
To me, the most interesting trade and bounce-back candidate is Elias Pettersson.
Hearing that Vancouver is open to retention (to a degree) on his deal. At 9M/9.5M with the cap rising, that would quickly become 2C money.
Playing behind Suzuki would be a huge load off for him.
At 27 years old, he fits right in with the Canadiens’ core age group. Captain Nick Suzuki will be 27 himself in October, and both were products of the 2017 draft. Suzuki was taken 13th overall by the Vegas Golden Knights while the Canucks used the fifth overall pick to claim the Swedish center. Pettersson is a right-shot, something the Canadiens do need down the middle, and he’s already proven that he can perform at center in the NHL, unlike Kirby Dach or Alex Newhook when Kent Hughes acquired them.
The pivot signed an eight-year contract with Vancouver back in March 2024, and since then, he’s been struggling. In 2022-23, he put up 102 points in 80 games, then followed up with 89 points in 82 games in 2023-24. After signing his contract, he dropped to 45 points in 64 games in 2024-25 and put up 51 points in 74 games this past season. Those numbers are not worthy of a player who has an $11.6 million cap hit for the next six seasons, and it’s hardly surprising that the Canucks are looking to move him.
Pettersson is a former Calder Trophy winner as the rookie of the year in 2018-19 and is definitely a talented and skillful player, but he has a full no-movement clause and will need to approve any trade. Could he be able to bounce back in Montreal? That remains to be seen. If the Canucks retain part of his salary and he becomes the elite performer he once was, it could be a great deal for the Canadiens. A bit like when the Vegas Golden Knights traded for Jack Eichel with the Buffalo Sabres.
Vancouver doesn’t want to unload Pettersson at any cost, though, and a team that wants him will have to pay handsomely for the privilege. Elliotte Friedman said last month that a team that wants the pivot will have to be ready to send a center back the other way. Who could that mean for the Canadiens? Oliver Kapanen and other pieces? Michael Hage and other pieces? It’s not yet a guarantee that he will become a center in the NHL. Would Vancouver be ready to roll the dice on that?
Sending Brendan Gallagher to the Pacific Division team would make sense, as he has said that he would like to go home, and it could help make money work, but his trade value isn’t great right now.
The Canadiens would really have to do their due diligence on Pettersson to understand what went wrong and whether they feel Montreal could be the right destination for him to bounce back. If he were able to do so for less than his full cap hit, he could be a great fit for the Habs. But it wouldn’t be a risk-free investment. With just three days to go before the draft, all GMs are currently working the phones, and this is just one of the possible avenues the Canadiens could choose to go for. On the plus side, given that he’s a Swede, the Habs wouldn’t have to worry about the current exodus of American players to the USA…
A busy lead-up to the draft. Here are your links for today:
Devils Links
Farewell to Simon Nemec:
TRADE ALERT: We’ve acquired two conditional first-round picks, a 2026 second-round selection, and defenseman Etienne Morin from Calgary in exchange for defenseman Simon Nemec and forward Maxim Tsyplakov.
Assessing the Simon Nemec trade: “This trade ensures the Devils avoid a risky contract and arms them with draft picks that can be leveraged as currency to add top-six winger help.” [The Athletic ($)]
“The Brady Tkachuk blockbuster to the Florida Panthers underscores an unfolding truth in today’s NHL. Power is shifting in favor of the NHLs star players. New Jersey Devils fans watching the Hughes speculation might feel uncomfortable. However, they’re not in a Tkachuk-like predicament… yet.” [New Jersey Hockey Now]
NEWS | The Washington Capitals have acquired forward Jordan Kyrou from the St. Louis Blues for forwards Connor McMichael and Milton Gastrin and Washington’s first-round pick (16th overall) in the 2026 NHL Draft.#ALLCAPS | @Shift4
Seems like Morgan Rielly could be on the move soon:
Morgan Rielly’s agent J.P Barry has submitted a list of 4 Western based teams Rielly is willing to go to. This will be a team by team assessment and depending on the fit, there could be some flexibility to add teams to the list.
“Commissioner Gary Bettman said that the NHL found no basis to prevent the Edmonton Oilers from hiring coach Mike Babcock but that the league expects ‘a certain level of decorum and conduct’ from him.” [ESPN]
“The NHL is exploring putting a second team in Texas, with Austin and Houston as potential targets, commissioner Gary Bettman announced on Tuesday following a board of governors meeting.” [ESPN]
“Will Connor Hellebuyck be the next American-born star to leave a Canadian NHL franchise? It appears the Team USA Manifest Destiny is real, and we have to take the trade rumors seriously at this point.” [Daily Faceoff]
“For decades, NHL teams asked players to be loyal and commit on long-term deals that locked them up from their teenage years until retirement. These teams then acted in cutthroat ways to buy out or otherwise dump them, however, when their play declined. That paradigm has now changed entirely, to where star players (and their agents) realize they hold the cards, especially with how free agency has been hollowed out and how vital the trade market has become to building a top team. Whether that shift has created a permanent imbalance in the league, with talent flowing from north to south, remains an open question. But it’s one worth asking yet again, as another top player heads to Florida and another Canadian team’s GM is left scrambling to fill a gaping roster hole.” [The Athletic ($)]
Feel free to discuss these and any other hockey-related stories in the comments below.
Morgan Rielly’s long and distinguished chapter with the Toronto Maple Leafs may be approaching its final pages. Late Tuesday, TSN Hockey Insider Darren Dreger reported that Rielly’s agent, J.P. Barry, has submitted a list of four Western-based teams the veteran defenseman would be willing to join in a trade. The list is fluid; Dreger noted it will be evaluated team-by-team and could expand based on fit and circumstances.
In the 2025-26 regular season, Rielly skated in 78 games and recorded 11 goals and 25 assists for 36 points while posting a minus-18 rating. It was a down year by his standards for a player long counted on for his elite skating, transitional play, and steady presence on the back end.
A Shift in Stance?
What makes Tuesday’s development noteworthy is the apparent change in posture. Rielly has historically been one of the organization’s most vocal supporters of staying in Toronto. Past trade speculation was routinely shut down, and he has spoken publicly about his desire to remain a Maple Leaf through multiple front-office regimes. Recent reporting, however, suggests the longest-serving Leaf has become more open to a move under the new front office led by general manager John Chayka.
Morgan Rielly’s agent J.P Barry has submitted a list of 4 Western based teams Rielly is willing to go to. This will be a team by team assessment and depending on the fit, there could be some flexibility to add teams to the list.
The fact that Rielly’s agent provided a short list of Western destinations signals that conversations between the player and the organization have advanced beyond preliminary discussions. While no trade is imminent and the process remains in the early, exploratory stage, the move represents the clearest indication yet that Rielly and the Leafs are aligned on at least testing the market.
Contract Realities and Market Context
Any potential deal is complicated by the combination of Rielly’s age, recent production, and the $7.5-million cap hit. At 32, he is no longer the dynamic, high-minute driver he was in his prime, yet he remains a respected veteran who can still log significant even-strength minutes and contribute on the power play. Teams acquiring him would be taking on real money for a player whose underlying numbers and plus/minus have declined.
Western Conference clubs with cap flexibility or specific defensive needs, San Jose, Utah, Anaheim, and others frequently mentioned in speculation, could view Rielly as a short-term veteran addition who brings leadership and playoff experience. Because the list is limited to Western teams and remains subject to expansion only where fit exists, the Leafs’ options are narrower than they would be in a fully open market.
What Toronto Might Receive
Returns for a player in this situation are typically modest. Comparable recent deals involving veteran defensemen with similar cap hits and no-move protection have produced mid-round picks, prospects, or salary retention as sweeteners rather than blue-chip assets. The Leafs, under Chayka, appear willing to explore case-by-case offers rather than force a deadline deal. With the NHL Draft approaching, Toronto holds leverage to wait for the right partner rather than accept a lowball offer simply to move the contract.
Franchise Implications
For the Maple Leafs, trading Rielly would close a significant chapter. He has been a constant through the team’s transition from lottery participant to perennial contender and back again. His departure would accelerate the roster turnover already underway and free both cap space and a top-pairing role for younger or incoming defensemen. It would also send a clear signal about the new regime’s willingness to make difficult, asset-driven decisions even when they involve franchise icons.
See more of The Hockey News on Google — Save us as Preferred Source
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.
I suppose you expect us to embrace you now… | Getty Images
The Brady Tkachuk trade was only the beginning; lots of trades of name players continue to roll around the league in the lead-up to the draft.
Meanwhile, the Islanders made a front-office move that I will take some getting used to, because I’m petty like that.
Islanders News
The Islanders have drafted 13th overall twice before, to bipolar results. [Isles]
Get ready to talk yourself into rooting Pascal Dupuis or, alternately, harshly judging his work as the ex-NHLer who is heavy with the Stench of Penguin has joined the Islanders front office as Director of Player Development. [Isles]
Here’s the Isles draft hub, where you can remind yourself that the second of their five picks isn’t until the fourth round. [Isles]
Elsewhere
Holy cow, Bowen Byram got his trade wish and was sent to {gulp} Chicago for the 4th overall pick. Also exchanged were a 2nd-rounder and Jordan Greenway. [NHL]
The Senators sent their 9th overall pick to San Jose for William Eklund. [Sportsnet]
The Flames acquired Simon Nemec (and Max Tsyplakov!) for top-10-protected first-round picks in 2027 and 2028. [TSN]
The Blues traded Jordan Kyrou to the Capitals for a good haul, no-longer-so-young forward Connor McMichael, prospect Milton “stapler” Gaston and the 16th overall pick. Kyrou, who has five years left on a deal with a $8.125 million AAV, had become a whipping boy among fans (I was one holding said whip) and was healthy scratched by a succession of coaches, but hopefully he thrives with a fresh start under Spencer Carbery. [NHL]
(A Blues beatwriter did mention at one point that Kyrou might be open to a trade to Long Island, alas the Lighthouse Hockey manager was not open to such a move. But still: we’re not on EVERYone’s no-trade list!)
Morgan Rielly [sic] has submitted a list of teams he’d OK a trade to, including four Western teams. [TSN]
The Faustian Oilers say they are willing to do whatever Mike Babcock says to win. Good luck, guys! Whenever I think the Islanders franchise is paying a long-term debt for their ’80s success I look at Edmonton and think…yeah, that theory may have legs. [NHL]
Babcock chose his introductory press conference to indirectly defend how he treated Mike Modano at the end of his career, ’cause he’s one class act. To borrow from Radiohead’s Exit Music: “We hope…that you choke.” [NHL]
From the Mind of Mirtle: “NHL’s Canada-to-U.S. Talent Drain Starting to be a Problem for the League.” (Yeah…like how Dylan Larkin wants out of…Detroit and Jack Eichel wanted out of…Buffalo, and John Tavares wanted out of Long Island.) [Athletic]
This should help: NHL enters a “term sheet” with the owner of Everton and Roma to explore NHL expansion in Texas — either Houston or Austin. [NHL | Athletic]
The Chicago Blackhawks may have found the cornerstone of their blue line — and it's a player Colorado Avalanche fans know well.
On Tuesday, the Blackhawks acquired defenseman Bowen Byram and forward Jordan Greenway from the Buffalo Sabres in exchange for the fourth overall pick, the 45th overall selection in Friday's NHL Draft, and defenseman Louis Crevier.
For Chicago, the deal is about far more than adding another defenseman. It's a bet that Byram can finally become the top-pairing force many envisioned when the Avalanche selected him fourth overall in the 2019 NHL Draft.
Now 24, Byram arrives in Chicago with both pedigree and experience. A key contributor to Colorado’s 2022 Stanley Cup championship team, he has steadily evolved into one of the NHL’s more dynamic puck-moving defensemen. Last season, he set career highs with 11 goals and 42 points while appearing in all 82 games for Buffalo.
That durability stood in stark contrast to his early years in Colorado. Across four seasons with the Avalanche, Byram was repeatedly sidelined by injuries — including concussion issues — and never played more than 55 games in a single campaign. He missed significant time in each of those seasons, with availability often interrupting his development path.
His path to Chicago has hardly been straightforward.
In Colorado, opportunities were limited by an already-loaded defensive corps that featured future Hall of Fame-caliber talent in Cale Makar alongside Devon Toews, Samuel Girard, and Josh Manson. Despite showing flashes of top-pair potential, Byram became a valuable trade asset, and the Avalanche dealt him to Buffalo during the 2023-24 season.
With the Sabres, Byram joined a young defensive group headlined by former No. 1 overall picks Rasmus Dahlin and Owen Power. Alongside Mattias Samuelsson, the quartet played an important role in helping Buffalo finally snap its 14-year playoff drought last season.
While Byram established himself as a reliable top-four option, Buffalo faced difficult decisions elsewhere on its roster.
The Sabres entered the offseason needing financial flexibility with several contracts looming. Veteran forward Alex Tuch is among six pending unrestricted free agents, while restricted free agents Zach Benson and Peyton Krebs also require new deals.
According to multiple sources who spoke with The Hockey News, there is believed to be more than a 95 percent chance that Tuch will not return next season, a development that would further reshape Buffalo’s forward group as it navigates an increasingly tight roster and cap structure.
By moving Byram's $6.25 million cap hit and Greenway's $4 million salary — both entering the final years of their contracts — Buffalo significantly increased its financial flexibility. The move also gives the Sabres additional draft capital, including two first-round selections and a second-round pick this week.
For Chicago, however, this trade signals something larger.
The Blackhawks have spent the past several years stockpiling draft picks as part of their rebuild, making the decision to part with the fourth overall selection a notable shift in strategy. Rather than waiting for another prospect to develop, Chicago targeted a player who is already entering his prime years.
Byram joins a growing young core that includes Connor Bedard, Frank Nazar, Kevin Korchinski, Wyatt Kaiser, Artyom Levshunov, Oliver Moore, Spencer Knight, and Alex Vlasic.
The Blackhawks finished last season near the bottom of the NHL in both defensive play and offensive production. Adding a defenseman capable of driving play, creating offense from the back end, and handling significant minutes addresses one of their most pressing needs.
Whether Byram ultimately develops into the No. 1 defenseman Chicago believes he can be remains to be seen.
But after years of waiting behind one of hockey's deepest blue lines in Colorado and navigating a crowded defensive group in Buffalo, he'll finally get an opportunity that has largely eluded him throughout his NHL career: the chance to prove he's a top-line defenseman.
So, in other words, prices are nuts. And, when you consider what players across the league could be getting back as far as returns, it's becoming increasingly more difficult to overlook how the Pittsburgh Penguins have three very nice trade chips on their hands.
Dating back to the 2025 trade deadline, there has been trade chatter surrounding Penguins' veterans Bryan Rust, Rickard Rakell, and Erik Karlsson. Each of them are high-value players - even at their respective ages of 34, 33, and 36 - and given what the going price is for surefire NHL talent right now, even if they're older, they should each demand quite a sizeable return.
Rust is fresh off his seventh-consecutive season of 20 or more goals, and his last three seasons have, arguably, been the three best of his career production-wise, as his three highest career goal totals (28, 31, 29) are from his last three seasons. Rakell has had three of the best seasons of his career as well, with his last two being his best in Pittsburgh. And Karlsson found his vintage form last season with 15 goals and 66 points in 75 games to complement stellar 200-foot play.
It's been a point of emphasis that the Penguins want to take big steps next season and get better while simultaneously getting younger, and if the needle is thread correctly, there is a path for the Penguins to trade all three players and still accomplish that. Hypothetically, if the Penguins were to trade one or two of them to move higher up in the draft and the other one(s) to either recoup assets to flip for or straight-up build a trade package for NHL talent - players like Elias Pettersson, Pavel Mintyukov, Jordan Spence, and Jason Robertson come to mind - there's a chance it could work.
However, given the integral role all three players had in their push to the playoffs last season, it will be difficult to pull that off, no matter how much value each can return.
Trading both Rust and Rakell means two of their three most productive top-six players are out. Dealing Karlsson means that their best blueliner, by a country mile, is out. When a team like the Penguins is trying to rebuild without bottoming out, it's hard to do that and trade everyone that has value.
So, it's highly likely that not all three of Karlsson, Rust, and Rakell will be dealt. Karlsson has a full no-movement clause, and his situation is different because of the fact that the Penguins will not be better next season if they move Karlsson without an immediate stopgap replacement, at least until promising blue line prospect Harrison Brunicke is ready for top-four NHL minutes.
The situation is not the same for the two forwards, however.
The Penguins may very well trade both Rust and Rakell, especially given the kinds of returns we're seeing prior to the draft. Rust has no trade protection, while Rakell has an eight-team no-trade list. But, if they want to compete next season, it might behoove them to hold onto one of them until, at least, the 2027 trade deadline, when another younger player or prospect may have had some runway to establish himself and when the team has a good idea of where it's at.
Chances are that neither player will, all of a sudden, experience a drastic fall-off if they are tethered to Sidney Crosby. And, because of their cap hits relative to their production and roles - Rust makes $5.125 million and Rakell $5 million, both for two more years - the Penguins should still be able to recoup significant assets if they choose to deal the second one later on.
Many folks are flooding social media with trade proposals - whether to move up in the draft or to acquire a younger NHL player - involving Rakell, which is understandable. He has spent parts of five seasons in Pittsburgh, while Rust has spent all 12 seasons of his career as a Penguin.
From a sentimental point of view, and from the vantage point that Rust has been Crosby's longtime winger preceding Rakell, there is a general consensus that if only one of the two are dealt, it should or would more likely be Rakell. After all, Rust - beyond his tenure in Pittsburgh - is a huge presence in the Penguins' locker room, and his intangibles are invaluable.
Josh Yohe: Re Bryan Rust/Penguins: Kyle Dubas doesn’t want to trade him, but contending teams have wanted Rust for years and still do - The Athletic (6/16)
— NHL Rumour Report (@NHLRumourReport) June 24, 2026
But - from a logistical point of view - if only one of Rust or Rakell is to go, it should be Rust.
When it comes to Rust and Rakell, at the end of the day, they are actually very similar players in very similar spots. They are a similar age, both are at respectable and similar point-per-game paces, they are good for 25-30 goals every season, barring health, and they have been mainstays alongside 87.
Rust's reputation and history - as well as his consistency - have made him a coveted veteran asset for many contending teams for years now. Given their similar production, it's fair to assume that the "reputation" factor gives Rust a small nod over Rakell in the trade market.
However, just because Rust likely has more perceived value on the trade market than Rakell, that doesn't mean that he is the better player now. Yes, Rust is still an effective penalty killer, he produces at a high clip, and he can still generate on the forecheck. In a lot of ways, Rust was a better and more complete player in his prime than Rakell ever was historically.
But there are other areas of Rust's game that have fallen off pretty drastically. For one, he has become a near liability on defense. His ability to hold onto pucks, especially in the offensive zone, has also waned, he loses a lot of puck battles, and his speed isn't nearly as much a factor as it was for him in his younger days. A lot of Rust's game is built around his speed and hardline north-south play, and that's not necessarily a sustainable style for someone well into their 30s.
Rakell's last two seasons in Pittsburgh have been very good ones, and in their push to the playoffs this season, he - along with Karlsson - was one of the team's most valuable players in a March stretch that was largely played without Sidney Crosby and was their toughest and most crucial stretch of the season. In fact, he had 14 goals and 24 points in a 20-game stretch from Mar. 1 - Apr. 5, going pointless in just three of those games. Rust also had nine goals and 23 points in that same stretch, but Rakell found ways to drive play from a relatively unfamiliar position in addition to producing on his own.
He can play center and wing, and - taking away his less-than-ideal work in the faceoff dot - he manned the center position pretty well by the end of the season. He is an effective power play presence, he can kill penalties, he forechecks well, he is decent at the net-front, his shot is well above NHL average, and he began to show more of a playmaking side to his game this season. Plus, he has a higher ceiling as a goal-scorer with three 30-plus goal seasons under his belt.
At this juncture, Rakell - who is also a year younger than Rust - is probably the better overall player, and his positional versatility could help the Penguins a great deal as they transition the roster to becoming younger. And, if Rust is dealt, Rakell will likely become Crosby's go-to trigger man, which could uptick his production even more and make a trade something they can revisit later on next season, when he should still net pretty significant value.
If Rust's current value is higher, and teams covet him a bit more than they covet Rakell despite Rakell showing evidence of being a more effective all-around player in the now, Rust is the no-brainer as the one to go.
No, the Penguins cannot trade everyone if they hope to execute the type of rebuild they're trying to pull off. But some have to go to make it work, too, and it appears that time has arrived. Rust is one of the most underrated Penguins' players of all-time, and the two-time Stanley Cup champion built a legacy in Pittsburgh as one of its longest-tenured members of the Crosby era.
But, in order to move forward, some significant parts of the past must be parted with. If trading Rust is what helps the Penguins land a young NHLer who can help them now and moving forward or a top-five draft pick who will be a franchise-type player, it has to be done. And he should be the first of the three big dominoes to fall for the Penguins.
Trades are starting to fly in the NHL in the lead-up to the 2026 draft, including a big one Tuesday night that saw a playoff team leap into the top five.
The Chicago Blackhawks sent the fourth overall pick, a second-round pick and defenseman Louis Crevier to the Buffalo Sabres for defenseman Bowen Byram and forward Jordan Greenway.
Who won the deal, and what does it mean? We break it down:
This ... is a really big gamble by Chicago. The Blackhawks had the fourth overall pick because they have been, uh, really bad. They haven't qualified for the playoffs in a full 82-game season since 2017 and despite showing an 11-point improvement in 2025-26, they were still the second-worst team in the league.
Is Byram, the focal point of this deal, good enough to justify the cost? He's a good player, no doubt, recording a career-high 42 points this past season. A former fourth overall pick himself in 2019, Byram, who just turned 25, has also now been traded twice already in his career − perhaps an indication of how his teams have valued him.
He'll likely pile up points on the back end in an expanded role ... which could have the 2027 unrestricted free agent looking at a hefty contract extension if a deal isn't already in the works. If he accelerates Chicago's rebuild and leads to a true playoff return, perhaps it will all be worth it.
That's a big if, though. For Buffalo, it's hard to look at this deal as anything other than a big win.
The Sabres just made the playoffs for the first time in 15 years and nearly pushed to the conference final, falling in overtime of Game 7 in the second round. They now will add a premium young talent to their roster in the immediate or not-too-distant future in exchange for a defenseman who'd been a past subject of trade rumors and who clearly didn't fit into the Sabres' long-term plans.
Beyond resolving their question about Byram's future, the Sabres also freed up significant cap space in this deal, with Byram's number set for $6.25 million and Greenway − a hard-nosed veteran role player − set for $4 million. And Crevier isn't nothing, either. The 25-year-old defenseman put up 25 points in 78 games, his -2 the best mark by any defenseman on Chicago's roster.
This feels like a move that should help the Sabres build on their breakthrough season.
The Columbus Blue Jackets will be a team to keep an eye on once free agency begins. The Blue Jackets could end up being a busy team on July 1, as they are entering the summer with multiple pending free agents and roster needs to address.
One area that the Blue Jackets could focus on this off-season is their center depth. This will especially be the case if they are unable to re-sign pending unrestricted free agent (UFA) forward Boone Jenner.
When looking at this year's free agents, one player who the Blue Jackets should consider signing for their bottom six is Vancouver Canucks center Teddy Blueger.
If the Blue Jackets signed Blueger, they would be bringing a veteran two-way center who works well in the bottom six and kills penalties. While he would not be the flashiest of off-season additions, he would give the Blue Jackets' forward group a bit of a boost as they look to take that next step and become a playoff team in 2026-27.
On a bad Canucks team in 2025-26, Blueger quietly had a strong season, even if he was sidelined for more than half of it. In 35 games this past season with the Canucks, he recorded nine goals, eight assists, 17 points, and 55 hits. This is after he had eight goals and 26 points in 82 games for the Canucks during the 2024-25 season. With numbers like these, he is capable of providing some secondary offensive production.
However, the Blue Jackets would not be signing Blueger for his offensive production. Instead, the 31-year-old center provides his most value when it comes to his defensive play and penalty killing ability. Because of this, he could be a sneaky good signing for the Blue Jackets if they signed him to a short-term deal.
Nevertheless, it will be interesting to see if the Blue Jackets end up making a push for Blueger this off-season. He would have the potential to be a strong pickup for Columbus' fourth-line center spot, but also could move up the lineup if needed.
In 453 career NHL games split between the Pittsburgh Penguins, Vegas Golden Knights, and Canucks, Blueger has recorded 58 goals, 111 assists, 169 points, and 603 hits. He also won the Stanley Cup with Vegas back in 2023.
Next Up For Columbus: The NHL Draft is on June 26 and 27 in Buffalo, where the CBJ will own pick #14.
Stay updated with the most interesting Blue Jackets stories, analysis, breaking news, and more!
Tap the star to add us to your favorites on Google News and never miss a story.
Let us know what you think below.
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.
Devils Trade Defenseman Šimon Nemec to FlamesSunny Mehta has made his first trade as general manager of the <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-jersey-devils/latest-news/devils-q-a-jake-allen-discusses-fatherhood-balancing-hockey-family">New Jersey Devils</a>.
Ottawa Senators Acquire William Eklund From San Jose SharksThe Ottawa Senators traded the No. 9 pick to the San Jose Sharks in exchange for William Eklund, Kasper Halttunen and Brandon Svoboda.
Capitals Acquire Jordan Kyrou For Connor McMichael & Milton Gastrin, First-RounderThe Capitals landed their skill forward.
BREAKING NEWS: Blackhawks Trade 4th & 45th Overall Pick, Louis Crevier To Sabres For Bowen ByramThe Chicago Blackhawks have completed a trade with the Buffalo Sabres, acquiring Bowen Byram. 
