For what it’s worth, it was worth all the while. | NHLI via Getty Images
Today could be the day the Islanders and captain Anders Lee say goodbye after 14 seasons and 923 games together.
Lee will turn 36 in a couple of days, so while both parties would like to continue their relationship under the right conditions, there is apparent disagreement over term or rate and what not.
Such is reality in the NHL when you gotta make room for 15-points-at-age-35 Ondrej Palat.
As NHL free agency officially kicked off, word was that Lee was headed to market. Maybe, if whatever his definitely-not-tampering agent tells him is out there fails to emerge, he’ll come back to the Isles after all.
Or maybe he’ll sign with the Wild.
The Islanders were informed this morning that captain Anders Lee is headed to the UFA market. Not a decision that was taken lightly. The Isles improved their offer in late stages, but still not there. So Lee heads to market. Door open to Isles as well while hearing from other…
DALLAS, TEXAS - NOVEMBER 28: A detail view of a puck during warmups prior to the game between the Dallas Stars and the Utah Mammoth at American Airlines Center on November 28, 2025 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Wednesday marks the first day of July, which is historically one of the busiest days on the NHL calendar as free agency begins and general managers hand out money by the Brink’s truck to lure shiny new toys to their respective franchises.
Pittsburgh Penguins general manager Kyle Dubas has gone on record saying he doesn’t anticipate being super active in the early hours of the 2026 free-agent frenzy, preferring to make his moves, if he can, via trade.
With that, let’s hop in the time machine and take a trip back to look at the start of the last 10 free agency periods to see how the Penguins constructed their roster while reminiscing or recoiling at some of those signings.
Note that this list is not meant to be exhaustive. Apologies to all the Mark Donk and Buzz Flibbet fans out there.
2016
Just days removed from winning the franchise’s first Stanley Cup championship since 2009, the architect of the Penguins’ championship team, general manager Jim Rutherford, was signed to a three-year contract through the 2018-19 season.
Former blue liner Chad Ruhwedel signed a one-year deal with Pittsburgh on July 1, 2016, where he would remain for the better part of the next eight seasons.
The team also made several depth signings, inking forwards Tom Sestito, Garrett Wilson and defensemen Steve Olesky, David Warsofsky, Cameron Gaunce and Stuart Percy. All of whom (except for Percy) made at least one appearance for the NHL club.
2017
One year later, the Penguins are once again Stanley Cup champions. General manager Jim Rutherford had already begun tinkering with the makeup of the team a few days prior, clearly wanting to become a heavier, tougher team to play against. He wound up trading forward Oskar Sundqvist and the Penguins’ 2017 first-round pick (No. 31 overall) to St. Louis for winger Ryan Reaves and a 2017 second-round draft pick (No. 51 overall).
On July 1, Rutherford brought in two more new faces, signing defenseman Matt Hunwick to a three-year contract and goalie Antti Niemi to a one-year deal.
Pittsburgh also signed forward Greg McKegg (there’s a guy) to a one-year deal.
Zach Trotman and Kevin Czuczman were signed as organizational defensive depth on July 1 and July 3, respectively.
2018
Not even one year later, on June 27, 2018, the Penguins had shipped off Hunwick and forward Conor Sheary to the Buffalo Sabres for a conditional 2019 fourth-round draft pick.
On July 1, the Penguins re-signed forward Matt Cullen to a one-year deal after he had spent the 2017-18 season with the Minnesota Wild.
The Penguins also handed out one of the more controversial contracts in franchise history–signing free agent defenseman Jack Johnson to a five-year, $16.25 million contract.
Johnson would only spend two seasons in the black and gold. The Penguins bought out the remainder of his contract in October 2020. Johnson’s contract accounted for dead cap space through the 2025-26 season and is officially off the books as of today with the start of the NHL’s 2026-27 calendar.
2019
The Penguins were active on (and near) the free agency start date in 2o19. The team signed forward Brandon Tanev to a six-year contract on July 1, 2019.
Forward Andrew Agozzino and defenseman David Warsofsky were both signed to two-year deals on July 1.
The franchise also handed head coach Mike Sullivan a four-year contract extension through the 2023-24 season on July 5, 2019.
2020
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic disrupting the 2019-20 season, the league’s standard July 1 opening date was delayed to Oct. 9, 2o2o. The NHL draft, usually held right before free agency, was also moved to Oct. 6-7, 2020.
On Oct. 8, the team signed forward Sam Lafferty to a two-year contract running through the 2021-22 season.
On Oct. 9, the “official” start of free agency, the Penguins signed forwards Evan Rodrigues, Mark Jankowski, and Frederick Gaudreau to one-year contracts.
Pittsburgh also reinforced its blue line, giving Cody Ceci a one-year deal on Oct. 16.
Goalie Maxime Lagacé was also brought in on a one-year contract.
2021
The effects of the pandemic were still being felt into the 2021 season, with free agency returning to July, albeit a bit later than the traditional July 1 date, this time coming on July 28.
New general manager Ron Hextall made his biggest splash, signing forward Brock McGinn on July 28 to a four-year, $11 million contract.
Other, smaller moves included signing forward Danton Heinen to a one-year deal on July 29, bringing back forward Dominik Simon for a second tour of duty, and signing defenseman Taylor Fedun to a one-year deal, providing the Wilkes-Barre Penguins with a quality veteran presence on the backend.
Forward Radim Zohorna signed a two-year contract with Pittsburgh on Aug. 3, 2021, and forward Zach Aston-Reese signed a one-year contract on Aug 5, 2021.
2022
The biggest transactions around this time were contract signings for some of Pittsburgh’s core players. Franchise defenseman Kris Letang was signed to a six-year contract extension.
After a bit of drama into the 11th hour, Evgeni Malkin eventually re-upped with the Penguins on a four-year, $24,000,000 contract. Winger Rickard Rakell was also given a six-year, $30,000,000 contract.
On the external transaction front, defenseman Jan Rutta was poached from the Stanley Cup-winning Tampa Bay Lightning and signed to a three-year, $8,250,000 contract.
Defenseman Xavier Ouellet agreed to terms with the organization on a two-year deal, primarily serving as a veteran AHL defender.
The Penguins also signed goalie Dustin Tokarski and forwards Josh Archibald and Drake Caggiula to one-year deals. Danton Heinen also returned to Pittsburgh on a one-year contract.
2023
Kyle Dubas was hired as president of hockey operations on June 1, 2023. And while he was hired to guide the Penguins into a post-Sidney Crosby era, he came out of the gates firing on all cylinders, giving Crosby and co. another chance at a Stanley Cup.
July 1 saw a flurry of action.
Forward Noel Acciari was signed to help Pittsburgh’s bottom six, agreeing to a three-year contract. Veteran Lars Eller was given a two-year deal, again primarily deployed as a lower-line forward. Winger Matt Nieto was brought on with a two-year contract, but injuries largely derailed his tenure.
Dubas’ focus was also on reloading the AHL team, ensuring they remained competitive as well. Forwards Vinne Hinostroza, Joona Koppanen, and Marc Johnstone were brought in to round out the WB/S forward group. Radim Zohorna also returned to the organization on a one-year deal.
Defensemen Ryan Shea and Will Butcher were both signed as organizational depth, and in Shea’s case, he eventually blossomed into an NHL regular who is now primed for a payday on the open market in 2026.
For Pittsburgh’s defense, Dubas’ largest free agent acquisition to date was signing Ryan Graves to a six-year, $27 million deal. That one… hasn’t worked out.
Goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic came over from the Detroit Red Wings to give Tristan Jarry a running mate. And netminder Magnus Hellberg was brought in as an AHL backstop.
Dubas’ biggest swing would come later in the summer in a massive, three-team blockbuster when he now famously acquired defenseman Erik Karlsson from the San Jose Sharks.
2024
Dubas was firmly on a mission to rebuild the aging Penguins while also acquiring future draft capital to restock a barren prospect cupboard.
Defenseman Matt Grzelcyk left the Boston Bruins as a free agent and was signed to a one-year, $2.75 million contract for the 2024-25 season.
Blake Lizotte agreed to terms on a two-year deal, coming over from the Los Angeles Kings, reinforcing Pittsburgh’s bottom six and penalty kill unit. Anthony Beauvillier was the classic buy-low, sell-high candidate who would eventually be flipped at the following trade deadline.
At the AHL level, forwards Boko Imama, Corey Andonovski, and Jimmy Huntington were signed. Defensemen Mac Hollowell and Nate Clurman signed one-year deals. Fellow defender Sebastian Aho also signed a two-year contract.
2025
Anthony Mantha, signed last summer, enjoyed a career year this past season and looks primed to cash in on the open market after one year. Justin Brazeau can also be lumped into the same category after an impressive 2025-26 campaign from him, but the good thing for the Penguins is they have Brazeau under contract for another year.
Defenseman Caleb Jones, brother to Seth, signed a two-year deal with the team, and after an injury-plagued first season with Pittsburgh, could be looked at as the seventh defenseman or one of the first AHL callups in the event of injury on the blue line.
Defenseman Parker Wotherspoon signed a two-year deal and enjoyed one of the best seasons of his professional career last year, being partnered with Erik Karlsson. Still, Wotherspoon was traded to the Vegas Golden Knights not even 24 hours ago for Kaedan Korczak.
The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins also welcomed some new faces with the arrivals of Rafael Harvey-Pinard, Philip Kemp, and Alexander Alexeyev.
—
There have been a few pretty positive free agent signings, especially more recently, with the likes of the aforementioned Wotherspoon, Brazeau, Lizotte, and Mantha contributing to an unexpected playoff run last season.
Penguins management has also been prone to whiffing, sometimes big, when looking back at how they dished out money for players like Jack Johnson, Ryan Graves, and Brock McGinn.
And as mentioned above, Kyle Dubas seems set on going big-game hunting via the trade market over the next few weeks with a weaker free agent class this year, so any new faces that arrive via free agency may be more in line with organizational depth or the low-risk, high-reward type rather than an impact player receiving a five-year deal.
An unexpected option may have just emerged for the Colorado Avalanche as they continue navigating NHL free agency.
Veteran forward Jonathan Drouin is once again available after the St. Louis Blues placed him on unconditional waivers Tuesday for the purpose of buying out the final season of his contract. With the NHL's buyout window now officially closed, Drouin becomes one of the more intriguing unrestricted veterans still on the market—and a familiar name for Colorado.
Drouin's stint in St. Louis proved to be brief. Acquired from the New York Islanders in a March trade that sent Blues captain Brayden Schenn to New York, the 31-year-old appeared in just nine games, recording one goal and two assists before the organization elected to move on. He had one year remaining on a contract carrying a $4 million cap hit.
Before arriving in St. Louis, Drouin spent two productive seasons with the Avalanche, where he revitalized his NHL career alongside longtime friend Nathan MacKinnon. The pair first became teammates with the Halifax Mooseheads in the QMJHL before reaching the NHL together years later, and their chemistry translated immediately in Denver.
Over 122 regular-season games with Colorado, Drouin totaled 30 goals and 63 assists for 93 points, becoming a reliable top-six contributor and an important part of one of the league's highest-scoring offenses. His playmaking ability and familiarity with head coach Jared Bednar's system made him a seamless fit throughout his time with the Avalanche.
Following the 2025-26 season, Drouin made it no secret that he hoped to remain in Colorado, expressing a desire to continue his career with the organization. Instead, he ultimately landed in St. Louis, where his stay lasted less than three months before ending with Tuesday's buyout.
Originally selected third overall by the Tampa Bay Lightning in the 2013 NHL Draft, Drouin has appeared in 671 NHL games, compiling 111 goals and 287 assists over his career.
Colorado's offseason priorities remain centered on improving its roster, with the front office still expected to explore additional help up front and potentially add another defenseman. But with Drouin suddenly back on the open market—and his history with both the organization and MacKinnon well established—the circumstances have changed.
Whether that opens the door for a reunion is another question entirely, but one that has suddenly become much more interesting.
The Utah Mammoth have made it clear that their trade for Sebastian Cossa was about more than adding organizational depth.
Just days after acquiring the former first-round pick from the Detroit Red Wings in exchange for the 23rd overall selection in the 2026 NHL Draft, Utah announced Wednesday that the 23-year-old goaltender has signed a two-year contract carrying an average annual value of $2 million. The deal immediately solidifies Cossa as a central piece of the organization's long-term plans between the pipes.
Cossa arrives in Utah after spending the past four seasons developing with the American Hockey League's Grand Rapids Griffins, where he established himself as one of the league's top young goaltenders. He owns a career 70-33-19 record with a 2.46 goals-against average, a .911 save percentage and eight shutouts across 123 regular-season appearances.
His strongest campaign came in 2025-26, when he posted a 26-8-4 record, a 2.33 goals-against average and a .915 save percentage while recording five shutouts in 39 games. The performance earned him his second consecutive selection to the AHL All-Star Game after also receiving the honor in 2025.
Although most of his professional experience has come in the AHL, Cossa has already made his NHL debut. He appeared in his first game with the Detroit Red Wings on Dec. 9, 2024, stopping 12 of 14 shots to earn his first career victory against the Buffalo Sabres.
Before beginning his professional career, Cossa emerged as one of the premier goaltending prospects in junior hockey with the WHL's Edmonton Oil Kings. He compiled a 71-16-7 record with a 2.12 goals-against average, a .921 save percentage and 14 shutouts over 98 games from 2019 through 2022.
His dominance was particularly evident during the 2020-21 season, when he led the WHL with a 1.57 goals-against average and a .941 save percentage. One season later, he backstopped the Oil Kings to a league championship, finishing the postseason with a 16-3 record, a 1.93 goals-against average, a .919 save percentage and five shutouts in 19 playoff appearances.
That championship run also carries a familiar connection for Utah. Cossa spent all three of his WHL seasons alongside current Mammoth forward Dylan Guenther, giving the two an opportunity to reunite as teammates at the NHL level.
Internationally, the Hamilton, Ontario, native captured a gold medal with Team Canada at the 2022 IIHF World Junior Championship after previously representing Team Canada White at the 2018 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge.
Originally selected 15th overall by the Red Wings in the 2021 NHL Draft, Cossa now joins the Mammoth with a proven track record of success at every level he has played. By following last week's trade with a new contract, Utah has made an early statement that it views the towering netminder as an important part of the franchise's future.
The Los Angeles Kings could be preparing to address one of their offseason priorities as NHL free agency approaches.
With veteran forward Scott Laughton widely expected to move on when the market opens July 1, Los Angeles is expected to explore options to reinforce its forward depth. One name that has already surfaced is veteran winger Erik Haula, whom NHL insider Elliotte Friedman believes could be headed to the Kings.
Speaking on The Game Nashville, Friedman was asked whether he had heard of any potential free-agent destinations before the market officially opens. Haula was the first player he mentioned.
"The one name I did hear is that Erik Haula might end up in LA," Friedman said.
Haula would bring experience, versatility, and secondary offense to a Kings roster looking to add reliable depth under new head coach Peter Laviolette. The 35-year-old has spent parts of 14 NHL seasons with seven different organizations and has built a reputation as a dependable two-way forward capable of contributing throughout the lineup.
He spent the 2025-26 season with the Nashville Predators, recording 14 goals and 38 points in 81 games. Across 840 career NHL contests, Haula has totaled 147 goals and 375 points while logging minutes in a variety of offensive and defensive roles.
For Los Angeles, the fit makes sense beyond the production. If Laughton leaves as expected, the Kings will have another opening among their veteran forwards, making an experienced player like Haula a logical target. He offers lineup flexibility, playoff experience, and should come at a manageable price compared to some of the higher-profile options available in free agency.
Haula is coming off a three-year, $9.45 million contract and is expected to command a similar annual salary on a shorter-term deal. A one- or two-year contract in the $3 million to $4 million average annual value range appears to be a realistic projection despite the NHL's rising salary cap.
Because Haula is 35 years old, he is also eligible to sign a one-year contract that includes performance bonuses. That structure could provide additional flexibility for the Kings, who have roughly $11 million in available salary cap space entering free agency. A deal with a lower guaranteed salary and attainable performance incentives could allow Los Angeles to maximize its cap flexibility while adding another proven veteran to its forward group.
On Tuesday, the Vegas Golden Knights added an experienced voice to their coaching staff, hiring former NHL forward Mark Letestu as an assistant coach. Letestu joins head coach Ryan Craig's staff for the 2026-27 season, with the remainder of the Golden Knights coaching group set to return as well.
Letestu brings both playing pedigree and a steadily building coaching resume to Vegas. The former forward spent 11 seasons in the NHL with the Pittsburgh Penguins, Columbus Blue Jackets, Edmonton Oilers and Winnipeg Jets, appearing in 567 regular season games and producing 210 points on 93 goals and 117 assists.
His NHL career painted a picture of a reliable two-way centre who carved out a long professional career through intelligence, faceoff ability and a willingness to embrace whatever role his team needed.
His final NHL stint came with the Jets, where he appeared in seven games during the 2019-20 season before transitioning out of playing and into coaching. The move to the bench suited him well. Letestu spent four seasons as an assistant coach with the AHL's Cleveland Monsters, helping build a winning culture in the organization.
The Monsters qualified for the postseason in each of the final two seasons of his tenure, capturing the North Division title during the 2023-24 campaign and advancing to the Eastern Conference Final that same year.
From there, Letestu took his biggest step yet in coaching, becoming head coach of the AHL's Colorado Eagles ahead of last season. He wasted little time making an impact, guiding Colorado to a 41-20-11 record and a berth in the Calder Cup Playoffs, with the Eagles advancing all the way to the Western Conference Final in his first and only season behind the bench.
The strong showing made Letestu one of the more attractive coaching candidates available this summer and clearly caught the attention of the Golden Knights front office.
The connection to Craig also likely played a role in the hire as the two shared the ice together in Columbus during the 2013-14 and 2014-15 seasons. For Vegas, the addition of Letestu rounds out a coaching staff built around Craig, who is entering his first season leading the Golden Knights after the team fell short in the Stanley Cup finals under interim hire John Tortorella.
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The Nashville Predators are likely to lose one of their centers to the free agency market on Wednesday.
Erik Haula, who has reached the end of a three-year, $9.45 million contract, will be an unrestricted free agent on Wednesday, as the Predators have not extended him a qualifying offer.
The 35-year-old center scored 38 points in 81 games last season as one of the Predators' anchors in the bottom six. He was acquired last June in a trade for Jeremy Hanzel and a 4th-round pick in the 2025 NHL Draft.
Haula was also one of four Predators players who competed in the 2026 Winter Olympics, representing Finland and scoring six points (three goals and three assists) in six games en route to a bronze medal.
It's his second time around in Nashville, as he was with the team during the 2020-21 season, scoring 21 points in 51 games.
General Manager Chris MacFarland has opted to go with a younger Jack Drury to fill the center role in the bottom six, trading for and signing the 26-year-old center to a five-year, $22.5 million contract.
According to NHL Insider Elliotte Friedman, Haula could end up in Los Angeles.
He is not the only UFA that could be on the move, as Tyson Jost was not extended a qualifying offer.
The 28-year-old forward was claimed off waivers in the 2025-26 preseason on a 1-year, $775,000 contract. He played in 69 games, scoring eight goals and eight assists for 16 points.
Defenseman Kevin Gravel, who played just one game in Nashville this past season, was also not extended a qualifying offer and is now an unrestricted free agent. He just finished a two-year, $1.555 million contract.
Restricted free agent defenseman Justin Barron and newly acquired forward Chase Bradley were both extended qualifying offers on Tuesday.
NHL free agency opens on Wednesday at 11 a.m. CST.
‘Twas the night before Free Agency, and all through the house,
Not a creature was stirring, except for Kelly McCrimmon.
On Tuesday night, Elliotte Friedman reported that the Vegas Golden Knights signed pending Unrestricted Free Agent Jeremy Lauzon to a long-term contract extension: six years, with a $4 million AAV.
In year one of the contract, Lauzon will count for $5.7 million against the cap and has a full No-Trade Clause. In year two, the cap hit drops to $4.3 million, and the No-Trade Clause becomes a 16-team no-trade list. For the remaining four years, Lauzon’s cap hit will be $3.5 million; in years 3-4, he has a 10-team no-trade list, and in years 5-6, that becomes a 7-team no-trade list.
After missing most of the 2024-25 season with a lower-body injury, Lauzon returned to action and played 68 games. He struggled out of the gate, but eventually, the rust wore off, and he settled in. Lauzon is more of a stay-at-home defender, but he registered a goal and 13 points during the regular season. He averaged 17:10 TOI, 1:54 of which came on the penalty kill.
Lauzon is best known for his physicality, and he’s often described as someone who is ‘difficult to play against.’ He led all Golden Knights defensemen— and was second on the team— in hits with 251. He also led the team in penalty minutes with 79.
The Golden Knights are now in an interesting position, as all five contracted defensemen on their roster are left shots. They traded right-shot Kaedan Korczak to the Pittsburgh Penguins on Tuesday, and received Parker Wotherspoon, a cheaper left-shot defenseman, in return. Shea Theodore has already been playing on his offside for several seasons; now, it seems like one of Lauzon or Wotherspoon will have to join Theodore in that endeavor.
Monday, June 29 at 2 PM PST, qualifying offers for pending NHL RFAs were due for clubs to retain the rights to their RFAs. If pending RFAs were not tendered qualifying offers by the aforementioned deadline, they are scheduled to become UFAs on July 1 at 9 AM PST if they are unsigned before then.
The Anaheim Ducks had 11 pending RFAs due QOs, but only tendered seven of them.
Among the players who were qualified were goaltender Vyacheslav Buteyets, center Leo Carlsson, goaltender Calle Clang, left winger Cutter Gauthier, defenseman Tyson Hinds, defenseman Pavel Mintyukov, and left winger Sasha Pastujov.
The NHL roster players (Carlsson, Gauthier, Mintyukov, Hinds) were no-brainers to receive QOs, as were the two AHL roster players (Buteyets, Pastujov). Clang (24) was a bit of a surprise to receive a QO, as he recently signed a two-year contract with Rogle BK in the SHL, the club he played for before making the jump to North America to play for the San Diego Gulls in the AHL.
It appears the Ducks’ logic behind Clang’s QO is to retain his rights should he benefit from a reset in his home nation of Sweden and, in the future, express interest in returning to North America.
The four players who did not receive QOs are defenseman Jeremie Biakabutuka, defenseman Kyle Masters, center Jan Mysak, and right winger Jaxsen Wiebe.
Biakabutuka (24) was a piece sent Anaheim’s way from the St. Louis Blues along with a 2027 second-round pick in exchange for long-time Ducks defenseman Cam Fowler and a 2027 fourth-round pick. During his time in the Ducks organization, Biakabutuka played just 11 games in the AHL with the Gulls and 75 games in the ECHL with the Tulsa Oilers.
Masters (23) was acquired just two days before he wasn’t tendered a QO, on the second day of the 2026 NHL Entry Draft, along with a sixth-round pick (Noah Kosick) from the Carolina Hurricanes in exchange for the signing rights to defenseman John Carlson. His signing rights have since been traded back to the Canes in exchange for the signing rights to AHL center Noah Philp (27).
Mysak (24) was acquired by Anaheim two years ago from the Montreal Canadiens in exchange for Jacob Perreault. Like Clang, Mysak signed a two-year contract to play in the SHL for HV71. Over two and a half years with the Ducks organization, he played 138 games with the Gulls.
Jaxsen Wiebe (24) signed an entry-level contract as an undrafted free agent in March 2023. He yo-yoed between the AHL and ECHL during his time in the Ducks organization.
It’s been a busy few days for the Florida Panthers.
After acquiring Brady Tkachuk from the Ottawa Senators earlier this month, the Panthers addressed several of the team’s needs via trades.
Mainly, the two vacancies in goal.
Before getting to the goaltenders though, the Panthers made a trade with the Philadelphia Flyers on Thursday, bringing in gritty forward Garnet Hathaway in exchange for a 2026 fifth-round pick and a 2027 fourth-round selection.
The Flyers retained half of Hathaway’s $2.5 million salary in the trade.
Then on Monday, Florida got to the goaltenders, acquiring Akira Schmid from the Vegas Golden Knights in exchange for a 2028 third-round pick.
Then about 12 hours later on Tuesday morning, news started to trickle out that the Panthers were trading for veteran netminder Jacob Markstrom.
The former Panthers draft pick was brought back, along with forward Angus Crookshank, in a trade with the New Jersey Devils for Evan Rodrigues, Jesper Boqvist and Ben Steeves.
Florida making a pair of moves for goaltenders also meant that the team would not be bringing back longtime netminder Sergei Bobrovsky.
After the dust settled, The Hockey Show hosts Roy Bellamy and David Dwork were joined by Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald to make sense of it all.
You can see their thoughts in the video posted below:
The 2026 NHL Free Agency period officially begins at 12 p.m. ET on Wednesday, and while most of the speculation surrounding the Detroit Red Wings is the ongoing trade request saga of Dylan Larkin, the club still has multiple pending unrestricted free agents.
As of 8:00 p.m. ET on Tuesday, Patrick Kane remains unsigned. The club has spoken openly about wanting him back for another season, and Kane himself said there was mutual interest during his season-ending media availability.
And while the Red Wings are expected to move on from the likes of James van Riemsdyk and Cam Talbot, one pending UFA they could potentially retain is David Perron.
According to NHL Insider Pierre LeBrun, the Red Wings and Perron are "talking" about a new contract, though there is still a chance he could head to the open market.
"David Perron, 38, intends to play again next season," LeBrun wrote. "Perron, who had 13 goals between the Ottawa Senators and the Detroit Red Wings last season, is still talking to the Red Wings, but if something can’t be worked out there, he is looking to hit the open market."
Perron, who signed a two-year contract with the Red Wings in 2022, was a valuable veteran voice in the locker room and provided timely scoring. But he departed the club in 2024 to sign a two-year deal with the divisional rival Ottawa Senators, whom he helped reach the Stanley Cup Playoffs last spring.
However, he missed a good portion of this most recent season after undergoing surgery, and was re-acquired by the Red Wings at the Trade Deadline for a conditional fourth-round pick.
In the 15 games he played after returning to Detroit, Perron scored three goals with no assists.
The 38-year-old veteran has played in 1,239 career NHL games, and has accumulated 332 goals with 480 assists. He also helped the St. Louis Blues win the Stanley Cup In 2019.
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The Vegas Golden Knights didn't just end the Colorado Avalanche's Stanley Cup hopes this spring—they've now taken another piece of the organization.
Less than two months after sweeping Colorado out of the Western Conference Final, Vegas has hired Colorado Eagles head coach Mark Letestu as an assistant coach, adding another respected figure from the Avalanche pipeline to its NHL staff.
The Golden Knights announced Tuesday that Letestu has joined Ryan Craig's coaching staff as an assistant coach for the 2026-27 season, ending his brief but successful tenure as head coach of the Avalanche's American Hockey League affiliate.
Letestu spent just one season behind the bench in Loveland, but it proved to be a productive one. He guided the Eagles to a 41-20-11 record before leading the club to the Western Conference Finals in the Calder Cup Playoffs, marking one of the organization's deepest postseason runs in recent years.
His departure creates another vacancy within Colorado's development system while strengthening the coaching staff of the team that eliminated the Avalanche from the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Before taking over the Eagles, Letestu spent four seasons as an assistant coach with the Cleveland Monsters. During his time there, Cleveland reached the Calder Cup Playoffs twice, captured the North Division title in 2023-24, and advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals that same season.
The 40-year-old transitions to Vegas with plenty of NHL familiarity. Letestu played 11 seasons in the league with the Pittsburgh Penguins, Columbus Blue Jackets, Edmonton Oilers, and Winnipeg Jets, appearing in 567 regular-season games while recording 93 goals and 117 assists for 210 points.
His connection to the Golden Knights extends beyond his coaching résumé. Letestu and Craig were teammates with the Blue Jackets during the 2013-14 and 2014-15 seasons, reuniting them on Vegas' coaching staff.
Letestu originally signed with Pittsburgh as an undrafted free agent after one season at Western Michigan University and four years with the Bonnyville Pontiacs of the Alberta Junior Hockey League. He also appeared in 255 AHL games during his professional playing career.
For the Avalanche organization, the move represents another offseason change following Colorado's run to the Western Conference Final. While the Golden Knights eliminated the Avalanche on the ice, they've now added one of the coaches who helped develop the club's next wave of talent.
Apr 4, 2026; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Florida Panthers goalie Sergei Bobrovsky (72) looks on against the Pittsburgh Penguins during the first period at PPG Paints Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark Alberti-Imagn Images
Mark Alberti-Imagn Images
The goaltender known as “Bob” is on the verge of changing places once more in his illustrious NHL career.
Sergei Bobrovsky is the most intriguing player available when free agency opens Wednesday after backstopping the Florida Panthers to Stanley Cup championships in 2024 and ‘25. Also a two-time Vezina Trophy winner as the league’s top goalie, Bobrovsky turns 38 just before next season begins and could be the final piece for a contender looking for help at the most important position in hockey.
Florida in two days traded for Akira Schmid from Vegas and Jacob Markstrom from New Jersey to fill its needs in the crease and pave the way for Bobrovsky’s exit. Bobrovsky is expected to have no shortage of suitors, with the Devils, reigning champion Carolina Hurricanes and the Edmonton Oilers — who lost to him and the Panthers in each final — all looking for help in net.
With the salary cap getting another record increase to $104 million per team, price tags will be high.
“There’s always the danger of July 1st where you make you make a mistake and you’re immediately regretting it in a year or so,” San Jose general manager Mike Grier said. “July 1 is always a tricky time for general managers and organizations, so this year even more so.”
The top free agents available:
Forwards
Teams looking for wingers have a variety of options at different ages.
Anders Lee heads to the market ahead of his 37th birthday later this week after spending more than a decade with the New York Islanders since making his debut in 2013. Three-time Cup champion Patrick Kane is also available after spending the past three years with Detroit.
Matias Maccelli was not tendered a qualifying offer by Toronto, so he is available ahead of turning 26 in October. Eeli Tolvanen is a free agent at 27.
Anthony Mantha is coming off setting career highs with 33 goals, 31 assists and 64 points with Pittsburgh at 31. Boone Jenner is 33, not likely to return to Columbus and could fit the bill for a contender that wants to add leadership and depth.
Defensemen
Rasmus Andersson could be in for a significant payday if Vegas is not able to work out a deal to bring him back. After the Golden Knights acquired him from Calgary in January, the 29-year-old Swede skated over 23 minutes a game on their run to the Cup final.
John Carlson is another right-handed shooter, and at 36 he brings title-winning experience from his 16-plus seasons in Washington. Carlson helped Anaheim reach the second round of the playoffs after the Capitals traded him to the Ducks. He is expected to seek a return to the East Coast — which may come with Carolina after the Hurricanes traded for his rights over the weekend.
Hard-hitting Jacob Trouba is a candidate to benefit from a fresh start free of the contract that played a role in the New York Rangers sending him to Anaheim in December 2024.
Like Mantha, Ryan Shea had a breakout season with the Penguins with 35 points and is line for a big raise from the $900,000 he had been making.
Goaltenders
Whoever loses out on the Bobrovsky sweepstakes will go shopping at a lower price range.
Stuart Skinner, who was on the losing end of those finals with the Oilers, is among the options and is in his late 20s. So is Daniil Tarasov, who was Bobrovsky’s backup last season in Florida.
The prospect of Winnipeg trading three-time Vezina winner and 2024-25 MVP Connor Hellebuyck could also shake up the market.
With one day to go until NHL free agency, there are a whole lot of big stories dominating headlines.
And, while the Pittsburgh Penguins trading a reliable yet unspectacular defenseman might not make the front page, it could, potentially, be setting up something much bigger.
On Tuesday, the Penguins sent top-pair left defenseman Parker Wotherspoon to the Vegas Golden Knights in exchange for right defenseman Kaeden Korczak, who is under contract for three more seasons at an average annual value of $3.75 million.
In 78 regular season games for the Knights last season, Korczak registered three goals and 16 points to go along with a plus-6 on their third pairing. The 6-foot-3, 206-pound defenseman is a smooth skater, hard hitter, and has some upside offensive potential if given a bigger role in the right situation, and the Penguins' coaching staff gained a reputation for getting the most out of their blueliners.
It's a pretty curious move for the Penguins, who are already anemic on the left side and have several legitimate right-side options. Korczak will join Erik Karlsson, Kris Letang, and promising rookie Harrison Brunicke on the right side, while Wotherspoon's departure leaves just Sam Girard and Ilya Solovyov with prospects Owen Pickering and Jake Livanavage in the mix.
Of course, there's always the possibility that Dubas could target a cheap upside left defender in a trade or in free agency, similar to his targeting of Wotherspoon last summer. It would make sense, given Dubas's difficulty in engaging the price tags in the market for a top-four left-side defender.
However, I'm more inclined to think that this move is a precursor to a bigger one later. Three noteworthy defensemen, Zach Werenski, Alexander Nikishin, and possibly Thomas Harley, are on the trade block, and the Penguins have already been linked to the Dallas Stars, who employ Harley.
Could the Penguins execute a trade for Harley? They are rumored to be in on Robertson, but could it be Harley and his $10.75 million AAV for eight years that comes back? He is a legitimate top-four defenseman who is only 25, which is the exact kind of mid-20s player Dubas covets.
Nikishin also makes a fair bit of sense, although there is a bit more uncertainty there despite the upside. He also plays both sides, which could be very useful for the Penguins, especially if Karlsson vacates either by trade or at the end of his contract next summer.
So, on the Penguins' end, it seems they need to make another left-side move one way or another, whether that's a small move or a higher-profile one.
With Doug Armstrong officially stepping down as general manager of the St. Louis Blues, the NHL's longest-tenured general manager title now belongs to Winnipeg Jets GM Kevin Cheveldayoff, the only man who has ever held that role in the Jets' modern era.
Armstrong's time as Blues GM came to an end as of July 1, with former Blues forward Alexander Steen taking over as the club's new general manager. Armstrong will remain with the organization as president of hockey operations through 2029.
His tenure in St. Louis was one of the most decorated in recent NHL history, highlighted by the Blues' first Stanley Cup championship in 2019, but his departure clears the way for a new era in St. Louis and reshuffles the hierarchy of the league's longest-serving front office executives in the process.
Cheveldayoff has led the Jets since June 8, 2011, when he was hired to build the hockey club that was relocating from Atlanta to Winnipeg ahead of the 2011-12 season. Fifteen years later, he remains the only general manager the Jets 2.0 era has ever known, a run of organizational continuity that is virtually unheard of in professional hockey.
The numbers over that stretch paint a picture of a franchise that has built itself into a consistent contender. Since taking over in the 2011-12 season, the Jets have compiled a 610-438-111 regular season record, good for the 11th-best mark in the NHL over that span and tied with the Tampa Bay Lightning for tenth-best team defence with a 2.80 goals-against average per game.
Offensively, the Jets have ranked 13th in the league during that stretch with a 2.96 goals per game average, figures that reflect a franchise that has prioritized defensive structure while gradually building out its offensive depth.
Much of that success traces back to Cheveldayoff's ability to identify and develop elite talent through the draft. He drafted Mark Scheifele, Adam Lowry, Jacob Trouba, Connor Hellebuyck, Nikolaj Ehlers, Josh Morrissey, Kyle Connor and Dylan Samberg, and oversaw their development into key pieces of the franchise's core.
What separates Cheveldayoff's tenure from many of his contemporaries, however, is not just the ability to find that talent but the capacity to build a culture and an environment that convinced those players to stay. Scheifele, Hellebuyck, Morrissey and Connor have all committed to long-term futures in Winnipeg, a feat that is particularly notable given the market challenges that come with playing in a smaller Canadian city.
The Jets advanced to the Western Conference Final for the first time in franchise history in 2018 and won the Presidents trophy in the 2024-25 season with a 56-win campaign. That sustained competitiveness has allowed the Jets to make the playoffs in seven of the last nine seasons, cementing their standing as one of the league's perennial contenders rather than a boom-and-bust franchise.
With Armstrong's departure, Cheveldayoff is now the NHL's longest-tenured general manager, a milestone that speaks to both his track record and the trust True North Sports and Entertainment has placed in him over a decade and a half of building the franchise from the ground up.
Whether his next chapter brings the one prize that has so far eluded him and the Jets, a Stanley Cup, will be the defining question of an already remarkable run at the helm of one of the NHL's most loyally supported franchises.
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