It appears the Pittsburgh Penguins are adding a franchise icon to their front office staff.

On Friday, president of hockey operations and general manager Kyle Dubas announced that the team has named Ron Francis as Special Advisor, Hockey Operations. According to the press release from the Penguins, Francis will "assist the Penguins' hockey operations leadership group with strategic planning, roster construction and optimization of all internal systems and processes to help further implement best practices within the organization."

He will also support the minor league and player development staff, and he will play an advisor role in next week's NHL Entry Draft as well as free agency, training camp, and the trade deadline. 

"Ron's playing experience, management experience, and familiarity with the Penguins and Pittsburgh will be a great benefit to our organization and all members of our management team," Dubas said in the press release. "We look forward to having a person of Ron's experience and character in our front office as we continue to work to build the Penguins back into a perennial Stanley Cup contender."

A native of Sault Ste. Marie, Francis's NHL career resume speaks for itself, as the two-time Stanley Cup champion finished his 23-year NHL career with 549 goals and 1,798 points, which ranks fifth all-time. He spent eight seasons with the Penguins from 1990-98, winning both of his Stanley Cups in Pittsburgh in 1991 and 1992 and notching the best season of his NHL career in 1995-96 with 119 points. 

He is a three-time Lady Byng Trophy winner (1995, 1998, 2002) and also won the King Clancy Memorial Trophy in 2001-02 as well as the Frank J. Selke Trophy as the league's best defensive forward in 1994-95.

Most recently, Francis was with the NHL's newest team, the Seattle Kraken, starting in 2019 as their general manager and as their president of hockey operations in 2025-26. Prior to that, he spent 12 years as a member of the the Carolina Hurricanes' front office staff from 2006-2018.

What Should The Penguins Do With Their 22nd Overall Pick? Here's The Case For Each Scenario.The 2026 NHL Entry Draft is officially eight days away, and speculation is beginning to run rampant for a lot of teams. Trade rumors are flying high. Draft boards are populating social media and various substack sites. Names are circulating like crazy.

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WINNIPEG, Manitoba (AP) — Jonathan Toews announced his retirement Friday, ending a decorated NHL career that included three Stanley Cups, two Olympic gold medals and a comeback season with his hometown Winnipeg Jets.

The 38-year-old center returned to the NHL in 2025-26 after a two-year absence related to Chronic Immune Response Syndrome and long COVID, recording 11 goals and 18 assists while appearing in all 82 games for Winnipeg.

Toews spent 15 seasons with the Chicago Blackhawks, captaining the franchise to Stanley Cup titles in 2010, 2013 and 2015 while winning the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP in 2010.

He finished his NHL career with 383 goals and 529 assists in 1,149 regular-season games and was recognized as one of the league’s premier two-way forwards.

Toews also starred for Canada on the international stage, winning Olympic gold twice in 2010 and 2014, the World Cup in 2016, a world championship in 2007 and consecutive world junior titles in 2006 and 2007.

His final season allowed one of Manitoba’s most accomplished hockey players to complete a full-circle return home before stepping away from the game.

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AP NHL: https://apnews.com/NHL

The Columbus Blue Jackets seem to be on everyone's tongue this offseason. 

Everyone is the media expects and hopes GM Don Waddell does something to bolster the lineup. From trading up to trading down, to trading players, everything seems to be on the table. 

Just recently, a national NHL talking head suggested that anyone who plays for the Columbus Blue Jackets is a trade target. I'm not sure if he was joking or not, but you can see where we're at. 

Someone even suggested that Kirill Marchenko is on the trade block? Yeah, I'm not so sure about that one. 

Yesterday, though, Dave Pagnotta of The 4th Period reported that Jake DeBrusk doesn't want to sit through a Vancouver rebuild. He even mentioned that the CBJ were interested in the 29-year-old left winger.

It's intriguing to think about. He's going into year three of a seven-year, $38.5 million contract. At $5.5 million AAV, that's not a bad contract. 

He's coming off of a season where he scored 23 goals and totaled 42 points. His career high in goals and points is 27 and 50, set when he played for the Boston Bruins during the 2022-23 season. The Bruins had the best regular season in NHL history, winning 65 games and finishing with 135 points. Everyone on that team had good seasons. 

DeBrusk has played the last couple of seasons with Conor Garland, and before that, played with Charlie Coyle in Boston, so the familiarity is there. 

But would a DeBrusk trade move the needle for the CBJ fans? And more importantly, would he provide a spark enough to get this team over the hump and into the playoffs?

I guess it depends on what Don Waddell would need to give up to get him. Personally, I don't think he's worth the #14 pick alone. What about a player in return? The Canucks are all about getting picks back, I'm assuming, unless it's a young prospect. 

I think landing DeBrusk is a start, but I don't think it's enough to get the team over the hump. There would need to be other moves made. 

As long as were looking at Canucks, might I interest you in one Brock Boeser. 

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Next Up For Columbus: The NHL Draft is on June 26 and 27 in Buffalo, where the CBJ will own pick #14.   

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Last summer, the Buffalo Sabres faced a dilemma in getting defenseman Bowen Byram signed to a contract extension. The Stanley Cup winner went into mid-July as a restricted free agent while reportedly Sabres GM Kevyn Adams pondered trading the young blueliner, but after not finding a satisfactory return, the Sabres inked the British Columbia native to a two-year, $12.5 million deal in mid July. Less than a year later, after posting career-high numbers and helping Buffalo reach the postseason for the first time in 15 years, Byram’s name has popped up again in trade chatter. 

The 25-year-old put up 42 points (11 goals, 31 assists) in 82 games, and seven points (4 goals, 3 assists) in 13 playoff games last season, and in his season-ending comments to the media last month, Sabres GM Jarmo Kekalainen expressed a desire to get Byram signed to a long-term extension when he becomes eligible on July 1. 

"(Keeping that top four intact as long as possible is) very important. I said that to Bo today. I'd like to lock him up for a long time," Kekalainen said. "I think the top four of our defense is our driver, our engine, and their mobility, ability to move the puck, ability to support offense, but also play good defensively. There's a lot of untapped potential there too. I think Bowen is still a young defenseman. He can get better."

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Byram switched agents to Darren Ferris last summer, the same agent as Vegas Golden Knights forward Mitch Marner. Ferris is a tough negotiator who usually recommends players to go to unrestricted free agency, as Marner did by orchestrating his exit from the Toronto Maple Leafs last summer. Entering the walk year of his bridge deal and with the salary cap projected to going up again next season, it likely would necessitate the Sabres to pay market rate to get him extended.

TSN’s Darren Dreger said that multiple teams are exploring a trade for Byram, and NHL reporter Frank Seravalli indicates that Byram likes playing in Buffalo, but that the opportunity to be a #1 defenseman and hitting the jackpot in free agency may be foremost on his agenda. 

The bridge deal signed by Adams last summer pushed the issue down the road, and that paid off this season with him being an integral part of their success, but the issue has returned and Kekalainen must deal with it. Offers from potentially interested teams will be less due to the fact that acquiring Byram will likely be a one-year rental, and that could manifest itself in the Sabres getting a package of futures or keeping him for another playoff run and potentially losing him for nothing next July, as it appears they will be losing Alex Tuch next month.  

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In The Athletic’s recent NHL mock draft, senior NHL prospects writer Corey Pronman had the New York Rangers selecting defenseman Carson Carels with the No. 5 overall pick.

Carels is coming off of a season with the Prince George Cougars of the Western Hockey League, in which he recorded 20 goals, 53 assists, and 73 points in 58 games. 

The 17-year-old defenseman is committed to playing NCAA hockey this upcoming season for the University of North Dakota.

Ranked third among all North American skaters in the NHL Central Scouting Rankings, Carels is known as a defenseman who plays a strong two-way game, capable of producing offense while also playing a shutdown role against the opposition's best forwards.

“Carels is a unique all-around defenseman who has offensive talent and brings a physical element while playing sound defensively,” via NHL Central Scouting. “He can play big minutes and is deployed in all situations with the ability to run a power play. 

“An excellent puck transporter and distributor who drives offence and shows some elite offensive skill. He skates very well with excellent mobility and agility and can defend with speed. A potential top-pairing defenseman.”

In Pronman’s latest mock draft, Carels is the second defenseman off the board, with Chase Reid being slotted to be selected by the Chicago Blackhawks at the No. 4 overall pick. 

Standing at 6-foot-2, 198 pounds, some scouts described Carels as the most physical defenseman when compared to some of the top blueliners in the draft class, according to The Athletic’s Vincent Mercogliano. 

During his time in the WHL, Cougars head coach Brad Lauer relied heavily on Carels, who led the league in ice time, averaging 27:39 minutes per game.

Other defensemen the Rangers could look to draft with the No.5 pick include Alberts Šmits and Keaton Verhoeff.

Three-time Stanley Cup winner Jonathan Toews announced his retirement on Friday, June 19 after his one-season comeback with the Winnipeg Jets.

The former Chicago Blackhawks captain had joined his hometown Jets in 2025-26 after missing two years with health issues. He played all 82 games, finishing with 11 goals, 18 assists and 29 points.

Toews, 38, was a standout with the Blackhawks, recording 372 goals, 511 assists and 883 points in 1,067 career-regular season games over 15 seasons. He was named captain at age 20, and "Captain Serious" helped the team win Stanley Cup titles in 2010, 2013 and 2015.

Toews said winning one Stanley Cup — let alone three — was surreal.

"When (Patrick Kane) scored that (2010 overtime) goal, I think I was one of the last guys off the bench," he said during his retirement announcement at the Jonathan Toews Sportsplex in Winnipeg. "I wasn't ready to let go until I knew for sure that it was over. Next thing you know, you're hoisting the Cup and you have it back home and in your living room and you're just like, 'How is this happening to me right now?'"

Toews won the 2010 Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP after leading all postseason scorers with 29 points as the Blackhawks ended a 49-year championship drought.

He won the Selke Trophy as top defensive forward during the lockout-shortened 2012-13 season. The Blackhawks opened that season with a 24-game point streak and captured the Stanley Cup. He had 21 points in 23 games during the 2015 Cup run.

He also won Olympic gold medals with Canada in 2010 and 2014, scoring in both championship games.

Toews' final years in Chicago were marked by health issues.

He missed the COVID-shortened 2020-21 season because of chronic immune response syndrome and also sat out for two months in 2021-22 because of the effects of that and of long COVID. After playing in 2022-23, he skipped two seasons in order to get healthy.

After his comeback season, he was a finalist for the Masterton Trophy for perseverance.

"Sometimes I catch myself wishing that things had gone differently and I could have finished my career on a different note these last five years or so, but truth be told, I'm grateful for the struggle and learning experience I've been through," he said. "Ironically, I feel I've learned so much more about myself and about life through the low points than I ever did when my career was at its heights."

Is Jonathan Toews a Hall of Famer?

Easily. He was a captain of three Stanley Cup championship teams and won several individual awards.

The Hall of Fame also factors in international play and he won two Olympic gold medals. He's a member of the triple gold club, winning a Stanley Cup, Olympics and world championships.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Jonathan Toews retires, won three Stanley Cups as Blackhawks captain

Top NHL free agent defenseman Darren Raddysh is off the market after being acquired by the Toronto Maple Leafs from the Tampa Bay Lightning in a sign-and-trade deal on Friday, June 19.

Raddysh gets an eight-year deal worth a reported $8.5 million a year. The Lightning received a fifth-round pick in the trade.

The 30-year-old defenseman had a breakout season with 22 goals and 70 points and filled in well while Tampa Bay's Victor Hedman was out with injuries and personal leave. His top season before that was 37 points, so there's some risk with the term in the deal.

"Darren has emerged as one of the NHL’s premier two-way defensemen, combining elite puck-moving ability with poise, competitiveness, and strong play in all three zones," Maple Leafs general manager John Chayka said.

This year's once-spectacular crop of free agents has been whittled down with Connor McDavid, Kirill Kaprizov, Jack Eichel, Artemi Panarin, Adrian Kempe, Kyle Connor, Evgeni Malkin and others signing extensions.

But there are intriguing names left on the board. Here's what to know about NHL free agency:

When does NHL free agency open?

The free agent market opens at noon ET on July 1.

Who are the top NHL unrestricted free agents?

10. Anders Lee, New York Islanders

He has been the Islanders' captain since 2018 and is good for 20-plus goals, though he had 19 in 2025-26. Current cap hit: $7 million.

9. Bobby McMann, Seattle Kraken

He had a career-best 29 goals in 2025-26 and took off after his trade from Toronto to Seattle, getting 10 goals and 14 points in 18 games. Current cap hit: $1.35 million

8. Mason Marchment, Columbus Blue Jackets

He struggled with the Seattle Kraken after his offseason trade, but his trade to Columbus revived his season with 32 points in 39 games. He's also an agitator. Current cap hit: $4.5 million.

7. Anthony Mantha, Pittsburgh Penguins

He's the third-highest-scoring player on the free agent list with 64 points after he signed a one-year deal with Pittsburgh. Will a general manager be tempted to think he can do that again or look at his subpar production before that? Current cap hit: $2.5 million.

6. Viktor Arvidsson, Boston Bruins

The forward bounced back from a couple subpar seasons and had 25 goals and 54 points after being traded to Boston. Current cap hit: $4 million.

5. Sergei Bobrovsky, Florida Panthers

The goalie won back-to-back Stanley Cup titles and two Vezina Trophies. He'll be 38 next season. Current cap hit: $10 million.

4. Alex Ovechkin, Washington Capitals

The NHL's all-time leading goal scorer is expected to either re-sign with the Capitals or retire. Otherwise, he'd be higher on the list. He scored 32 goals at age 40. Current cap hit: $9.5 million.

3. John Carlson, Anaheim Ducks

Carlson, the Capitals' all-time leader in scoring among defensemen, was traded to the Ducks in a shocker. He totaled 60 points in 71 games. Current cap hit: $8 million.

2. Rasmus Andersson, Vegas Golden Knights

The defenseman was traded to the Golden Knights this season by the Flames. He can provide offense with one 50-point season and others topping 40 points, including 47 points in 2025-26. He had an average playoffs. Current cap hit: $4.55 million.

1. Alex Tuch, Buffalo Sabres

The forward can score (two 36-goal seasons) and also kills penalties. He had 33 goals this season as the Sabres ended a 14-season playoff drought. After scoring four goals in the first round, he was held without a point in the second round as the Sabres lost in seven games. Current cap hit: $4.75 million.

Others to watch: Patrick Kane, Frederik Andersen, Mats Zuccarello, Brent Burns

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Darren Raddysh off market in Maple Leafs deal; top free agents left

Heading into the 2026 NHL Draft and then Free Agency, many Calgary Flames fans are discussing which direction the 2026-27 team will head and whether they can collectively take a step forward in their rebuild. 

At the moment, the Flames have four free agents, Ryan Lomberg, Victor Olofsson, Jake Bean, and John Beecher (RFA), who may or may not be with the team next season. According to PuckPedia, General Manager Craig Conroy has roughly $22.7 million in cap space, giving him plenty of room to swing a deal to boost the lineup or trade a veteran like Blake Coleman or Jonathan Huberdeau. 

Although it is way too early to talk about the end of Dustin Wolf's contract or when Yegor Sharangovich's contract comes off the books, it is interesting to see who Calgary has committed to on long-term deals. 

Possible Free Agents in 2027

At the conclusion of the final season at the Saddledome, several players may or may not still be in the lineup for that last game, including Ryan Strome ($5 million), Morgan Frost ($4.38 million), Adam Klapka ($1.25 million), Joel Hanley ($1.75 million), Brayden Pachal ($1.19 million), Yan Kuznetsov ($954k), and Coleman ($4.9 million).

Among the future free agents, Coleman's name ranks among the top 25 on most NHL trade boards, as many await to see whether the Flames work on an extension or opt to trade one of their veteran leaders.  

If all the previous names depart the organization, Calgary could reallocate possible $20 million in savings to lock up prospects or acquire younger talent on team-friendly deals. 

Whose Sticking Around in 2028?

Although the summer of 2028 is two years away, the Flames may be a completely different franchise, with only nine contracts on the books. Those deals include Huberdeau ($10.5 million), Matt Coronato ($6.5 million), Sharangovich ($5.75 million), Martin Pospisil ($2.5 million), Kevin Bahl ($5.35 million), Olli Määttä ($3.5 million), Zach Whitecloud ($2.75 million), Zayne Parekh ($954k), and Wolf ($7.5 million)

Many of the team's core will still be under contract at the conclusion of the first season at Scotia Place, including Coronato, Pospisil, Bahl, Parekh, and Wolf. But the question then will be, which prospects have stepped up and earned a spot in the Flames lineup, and which veterans could be interested in playing in Southern Alberta in the league's newest arena. 

Meanwhile, Parekh will enter the final year of his entry-level deal. If he turns into the team's best defenseman, he could be in line for a significant pay increase, one that could rival Huberdeau's salary. In addition, 2028 also marks the end of captain Mikael Backlund's current deal, meaning the longest tenured Flames player could hang'em up instead of seeking a new start with another team. Finally, that summer will also be the end of Connor Zary's entry-level deal, and it will be interesting to see whether he blossoms into the player the Flames hope for or becomes trade bait for someone else. 

2028 and Beyond

Ahead of the 2029-30 season, the Flames will have five contracts still guaranteed as of today, including Huberdeau, Coronato, Sharangovich, Bahl, and Wolf. In 2030, Sharangovich's deal runs out, followed by Huberdeau and Bahl in 2031, Coronato in 2032, and Wolf in 2033.

During the recent CBA renegotiation, the NHLPA and NHL agreed that teams can re-sign their own free agents for up to seven seasons and free agents for up to six seasons. By that point, which current Flames prospect will be in line for a max deal, or could a high-profile player like Cale Makar come home in a free agency blockbuster?

As mentioned before, thinking about roster construction for 2028 and beyond is a little far-fetched, since the 2026 NHL Draft hasn't taken place yet. However, the moves Conroy makes today could go a long way toward shaping the roster at the end of the decade, a point when long-suffering Flames fans would hope their team is contending. 

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Will the Flames be a playoff team in 2028? Which prospects are you hoping to be NHL regulars by that time? Let us know in the comments. 

Connor Ungar probably wasn't thinking about Grant Fuhr when he signed his contract with the Edmonton Oilers.

He was probably thinking about how far he'd come.

From Calgary to Brock University. From U Sports to the ECHL. From being largely ignored to becoming one of the better stories in the Oilers' system. Yesterday, all that work resulted in a one-year contract and another step toward what every young goalie dreams about.

An NHL crease.

Good for him.

But the thing is, being a goaltending prospect in Edmonton isn't quite like being one anywhere else. Around these parts, goalies are less developed than they are debated. Every rough outing becomes a referendum while every hot streak sparks a round of "maybe he's the answer."

And everybody wants an answer; they've wanted one for decades.

Curtis Joseph left. Tommy Salo broke hearts. Dwayne Roloson came close. Cam Talbot had his moments. Mikko Koskinen was alternately loved and blamed. Mike Smith somehow became both cult hero and lightning rod. Stuart Skinner experienced the full emotional roller coaster, and now Tristan Jarry and Connor Ingram find themselves carrying the latest version of the NHL's least enjoyable group project.

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So yah, there was something amusing about the reaction to Ungar's signing.

Oil Country has developed a habit over the years. Every time a new goalie emerges, somebody starts wondering whether this is finally the one.

As if the position itself can be solved.

The funny thing is, maybe Ungar has a chance.

His path hasn't exactly been conventional, but unconventional isn't necessarily bad when it comes to goaltenders. Tim Thomas was nearly 31 before becoming a full-time NHL player. Adin Hill bounced around before helping Vegas win a Stanley Cup. Logan Thompson wasn't drafted at all. Goalies are strange creatures. 

Nobody handed him anything. He wasn't a first-round pick. He wasn't even a draft pick. Every level he's reached has been earned. And after putting together strong numbers in Bakersfield, he's done enough to convince the organization that he's worth another look.

Oilers To Formally Begin Process of Hiring Mike Babcock, NHL Clears Him For ReturnFollowing a league investigation into his conduct, the veteran coach prepares for a high-stakes comeback in Edmonton as contract negotiations move toward an official announcement next week.

That's all you can really ask for.

Still, perspective matters.

Twenty-four years old isn't old for a goalie, but it's not young either. He hasn't played an NHL game, and other names are ahead of him. Fans should expect setbacks, because that's what happens.

Some nights you're the future. Some nights people are wondering if you'll ever make it.

Just ask Stuart Skinner.

The Oilers themselves seem to understand this better now than they once did. Instead of rushing prospects and declaring them saviours, they're trying to build depth. 

The truth is, nobody knows whether Connor Ungar will become a starting NHL goaltender. Nobody knows whether he'll spend ten years in the league or ten years riding buses in the minors.

Are Buyout-Proof Contracts Going To Lead the Oilers to More Trades?Despite the buyout window opening, Edmonton faces real challenges using buyouts as a way to get out of some unfortunate contracts. Heavy signing bonuses and long-term penalties may force management into trades.

Not even Connor Ungar knows.

But after everything he's already overcome to get this far, betting against him seems foolish.

As for whether he's the guy?

Well, Oilers fans have asked that question about almost every goalie who has come through town over the last thirty years.

Maybe the better question is whether Edmonton fans are capable of giving one enough time to find out.

If Connor Ungar is going to become the answer, he's going to need something that has been in short supply around these parts.

Patience.

And if history is any indication, that might be asking for more than stopping pucks.

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While a lot has been written and said about how Kent Hughes will be looking to improve the Montreal Canadiens over the summer, it must be remembered that he’ll also have to deal with a few expiring contracts. Joe Veleno, Kirby Dach, Zachary Bolduc, and Arber Xhekaj will all be RFAs at the end of June.

The easiest case to deal with will likely be Bolduc. The 23-year-old has just completed his ELC, and while he’s proven to be a promising young player, it feels like we’ve only just scratched the surface. In 78 regular-season games, Bolduc has put up 30 points, including 12 goals. In 2024-25 with the St. Louis Blues, he gathered 36 points and 19 goals, but 12 of his goals came on the power play. With the central division team, he had a plus-20 differential, but finished with a minus-6 with the Canadiens this past season.

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That’s not regression, that’s needing some time to adapt to a new way to play the game, the Martin St-Louis way. It’s a game that relies on reads and reactions rather than an established system, a man-on-man defensive system, which takes time to understand and process. If the youngster looked lost in defensive coverage early in the season, that happened a lot less in the later stages of the year.

While he averaged 1:36 of power play time per game, that was with the Canadiens’ less successful second unit, not with the big guns, so to speak, so it’s not all that surprising that his man-advantage production dropped from 12 points with the Blues to just six with the Habs.

Clearly, Bolduc has more to show, and that’s why he won’t be signing a long-term deal. Just like Dach and Alex Newhook, he’ll have to sign a bridge deal, which will allow the Canadiens to see what he can do as he develops as a hockey player under St-Louis’ tutelage. The former signed a four-year deal with a $3,362,500 million cap hit coming off a 26-point season in 70 games with the Chicago Blackhawks, while the latter had a four-year pact with a $2.9 million cap hit coming off a 30-point season in 82 games with the Colorado Avalanche. Both were former first-round picks, just like Bolduc. Dach went third overall, while Newhook was 16th overall, and Bolduc was 17th overall at the 2021 draft.

Bolduc’s last ELC year was quite similar to Dach and Newhook’s, so it’s highly likely that Hughes will follow the same blueprint with the Trois-Rivieres native. Given the fact that the salary cap will be going up for the next few seasons, his cap hit is likely to be higher than what Dach and Newhook had, but he really shouldn’t be all that expensive. He’ll likely come in somewhere between $3.5 and $3.75 million, since the GM will no doubt use his tried and tested recipe to sign his player to a team-friendly contract, giving himself as much cap flexibility as possible moving forward.

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The Penguins announced that Ron Francis is back with the organization as special advisor for hockey operations.

A champion returns.

After winning two Stanley Cups with the Penguins, Ron Francis is back with the organization as Special Advisor, Hockey Operations.

Details: https://t.co/7CJ096x5c1pic.twitter.com/N6xNfayC8V

— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) June 19, 2026

From the team:

The Penguins have named Ron Francis as Special Advisor, Hockey Operations, it was announced today by President of Hockey Operations and General Manager Kyle Dubas.

In his new role, Francis will assist the Penguins’ hockey operations leadership group with strategic planning, roster construction and optimization of all internal systems and processes to help further implement best practices within the organization. Francis will provide expertise and counsel during key events during the season including training camp, the NHL Draft, trade deadline and free agency, while also supporting the Club’s minor league operations and Player Development staff.

“Ron has a deep affinity for the city of Pittsburgh and the Penguins. He cherishes his time spent here as a player where he had tremendous success and is an outstanding ambassador for the Penguins and the city of Pittsburgh,” said Dubas. “Ron’s playing experience, management experience, and familiarity with the Penguins and Pittsburgh will be a great benefit to our organization and all members of our management team. We look forward to having a person of Ron’s experience and character in our front office as we continue to work to build the Penguins back into a perennial Stanley Cup contender.”

Francis, 63, most recently spent the past seven seasons with the Seattle Kraken organization, joining them in 2019 as their first General Manager in franchise history, holding that role until 2025 when he was promoted to President of Hockey Operations. While with Seattle, Francis oversaw the buildout of the Kraken from the ground up, spearheading the hiring of all members of their hockey operations department, the construction of their practice facility, their affiliation agreement with their AHL club, Coachella Valley, as well as the selection of their inaugural NHL roster via expansion draft.

Seattle’s best season under Francis came during their second in existence, the 2022-23 campaign, as the Kraken eclipsed 100 points, going 46-28-8 to finish fourth in the Pacific Division and earn the first Stanley Cup Playoff berth in franchise history.

Prior to his time in Seattle, the native of Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, spent 12 years in management with the Carolina Hurricanes (2006-18), holding various roles including Executive Vice President and General Manager (2014-18), Director of Hockey Operations (2011-14), Director of Player Personnel (2008-11), Associate Coach (2008-11), Assistant General Manager (2007-08) and Director of Player Development (2006-07).

While with the Hurricanes, Francis was part of the management group that acquired multiple key players via draft or trade that played integral parts on Carolina’s 2026 Stanley Cup Championship team including Sebastian Aho (2015), Jacob Slavin (2012) and Jordan Staal (2012). 

The Penguins have built up a robust front office under Dubas, Francis’ experience as a general manager makes him a natural fit and value add on the managerial side as the Pens look to continue to reshape their team.

2026 NHL mock draft roundup: Best fits for Bruins in first round originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

The Boston Bruins had a chance to make a top 10 pick in the 2026 NHL Draft if they had gotten the Maple Leafs’ first-round pick, but Toronto won the draft lottery and will pick first overall.

As a result, Boston will get the Leafs’ first-rounder in 2027 or 2028 to complete the Brandon Carlo trade from March of 2025. This also means the Bruins’ only 2026 first-round pick is their own selection at No. 23 overall.

The Bruins really need a top-six center, particularly a No. 1 center. They don’t have one at the NHL level, although it’s possible that recent first-round picks James Hagens and/or Dean Letourneau could develop into that kind of player.

The B’s also need a right-shot defenseman. If you look at Boston’s top 10 prospects, maybe one of them is a defenseman (Frederic Brunet). The rest are forwards. The organization needs more high-end skill on the blue line.

Even though the Bruins have plenty of specific needs to address, they really should just take the best player available, regardless of position. Boston’s prospect pool came in at No. 19 on The Athletic’s most recent rankings, which is a great improvement from being ranked No. 30 in those rankings in 2025.

But the Bruins still lack elite-level talent in their system, so if a player falls to them at No. 23 and he has a high ceiling, it’s worth taking a shot on him. They took a home run swing on Letourneau at No. 25 in the first round of the 2024 NHL Draft, and two years later, that pick is looking very nice for Boston.

Which players should the Bruins target in the first round? Here’s a roundup of predictions from recent expert mock drafts.

Scott Wheeler, The Athletic: JP Hurlbert, LW, Kamloops (WHL)

“The Bruins haven’t used a top-50 pick on a defenseman since 2017, and I’m sure they’d consider Bleyl. But I’m not convinced he gets here, and if he doesn’t, I’m not convinced that Jakub Vanecek, Adam Goljer, Juho Piiparainen or William Håkansson fit in this range when there are likely going to be forwards who are hard to pass up on for their group. All of Hurlbert, Hextall, Novotný and Maddox Dagenais would give them a future top-nine forward with a different look from James Hagens and Dean Letourneau.”

Fluto Shinzawa, The Athletic: Casey Mutryn, RW, U.S. NTDP (USHL)

“The Bruins keep the Boston College pipeline active. Mutryn, who will be a BC freshman, aims to become the next version of James Hagens. Mutryn is a different type of forward than the explosive Hagens, but he projects to be a dependable middle-of-the-lineup wing/center with a pro game.”

Corey Pronman, TheAthletic: Elton Hermansson, RW, Modo (Sweden)

“Hermansson goes to the Bruins, who, after selecting James Hagens last year, continue to add talent and scoring to their farm system. Hermansson is extremely skilled, but his effort level can waver.”

Mike Morreale, NHL.com: Maddox Dagenais, C, Quebec (QMJHL)

“Dagenais (6-4, 196), the son of retired NHL forward Pierre Dagenais, is known for his strong offensive toolkit. The left-handed shot added a welcome layer of physicality to his power game this season, something that would resonate well with Bruins fans. In 62 games, the 18-year-old had 62 points (30 goals, 32 assists) and 25 power-play points (10 goals, 15 assists), highlighting his effectiveness with the man advantage.”

Ben Pope, Chicago Sun-Times: Elton Hermansson, RW, Modo (Sweden)

“Hermansson is an eye-opening offensive talent who struggles with consistency.”

Hannah Stuart, Bleacher Report: Elton Hermansson, RW, Modo (Sweden)

“So who is Hermansson at his best? A highly skilled playmaker who can create in a variety of situations and who has especially been dominant against his own peer group. Driving play is second nature to him thanks to high-end handling abilities and the good facets of his skating; namely, his top speeds and the edgework that allows him to be slippery and elusive.

“His skating posture could use some work, but that’s what skating coaches are for. His physicality could use some improvement, and we’d like to see greater clarity on whether he can translate those creation abilities to the professional level.”

The Toronto Maple Leafs made a big splash by acquiring and signing defenseman Darren Raddysh to an eight-year deal reportedly worth $8.5 million per season. It’s no secret that a top defenseman who can help in all situations was Toronto’s top priority to address this offseason, and acquiring Raddysh certainly helps in that regard. After signing Raddysh, the Leafs have 19 contracts signed with a projected salary cap space of $18,795,951, according to PuckPedia.com.  

That’s plenty of cash remaining to make a big splash, and there could be more if Max Domi isn’t cleared to return to the Leafs when he is examined at training camp following complications that arose from off-season back surgery.

Given where things are going in that regard and John Tavares entering next season at age 35, the Leafs will definitely want to target a top-six centre who can play in difficult matchups, while freeing up someone like Auston Matthews to help turn up his production offensively.

Does someone like a 33-year-old Boone Jenner make sense for the Leafs? Perhaps a better solution comes via a trade. If the Leafs part ways with Morgan Rielly, that $7.5 million plus Domi’s $3.75 million could give Toronto an additional $10.25 million to work with, increasing Toronto’s space to $29,045,951.  

The Leafs have decisions to make on several restricted free agents including Nick Robertson, Mattias Maccelli, and Jaco Quillan. Newly acquired defenseman Emil Andrae is in the same boat. Same with goaltender Sam Ersson. Arbitration awards could be so high that it may not make sense to qualify guys like Robertson or Maccelli with arbitration rights that could set those numbers to be higher than desired. The Leafs have until June 29 at 5 p.m. ET to tender qualifying offers to their restricted free agents. If they are not tendered, they will become unrestricted free agents.  

In the span of four days, the Leafs pulled off a trade with the Philadelphia Flyers, hired a new head coach in Jim Hiller, and now acquired Raddysh. With the NHL Draft set for next week, expect the Leafs to remain busy.

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The Chicago Blackhawks have some options with the 4th overall pick, but it will mostly depend on what the teams ahead of them do. 

Chicago needs forwards more than they need defensemen at both the NHL level and within the pipeline, which begs the question about best player available vs organizational need. 

The truth is, if Gavin McKenna, Ivar Stenberg, and Caleb Malhotra are the first three picks, that doesn't mean that the Blackhawks are forced into taking a defenseman.

If they don't think that one of Chase Reid, Keaton Verhoeff, or Carson Carels is going to be better than Artyom Levshunov or Sam Rinzel, and there is a fourth forward that they really like, they must not hesitate to take the risk. 

Forwards like Viggo Bjorck, Tynan Lawrence, Ethan Belchetz, and Wyatt Cullen are projected to be NHL-caliber forwards in the future, and the Blackhawks need as many of those as they can.

If one of them is at the top of their board, even more than any of the defensemen, there is no shame in that. Kyle Davidson has to do what he feels will make the team better in the long term, even if it goes against popular opinion. 

Of those forwards, Viggo Bjorck and Tynan Lawrence appear to have the highest ceiling. For Bjorck, he shone at the World Juniors and World Championships, which featured other young stars like Ivar Stenberg and Anton Frondell. 

If the Blackhawks ended up with a forward like him, he has the mold of a player who could slot in on a line with his countryman Frondell. The success that they've had with Sweden on the national stage could translate to the NHL. 

As for Lawrence, he had times when he was projected to be a top-three pick in the draft. His time at B.U. showed just how hard the transition to college hockey can be, and he wasn't the only one who dealt with that reality check in 2025-26. 

Chicago also doesn't have to use the 4th overall pick. If those top-three forwards are gone, there is the option of trading the selection. Trading down could still land them one of the other forwards mentioned, plus another asset. 

As with any other team that has selected 4th overall in the past, some decisions must be made depending on what the three teams ahead of them decide. For the Blackhawks this year, positional need could come into play.

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