Teams around the National Hockey League have wasted no time trying to improve their roster as there have already been a plethora of notable trades.
However, the Los Angeles Kings have been one of the few teams that haven't done anything in the trade department. They did sign Brandt Clarke to a new five-year deal, but aside from that, they have remained rather quiet.
But, that could change according to NHL Insider Elliotte Friedman who said on the latest episode of '32 Thoughts' that the Kings are among teams with serious interest in acquiring Alexander Nikishin from the Carolina Hurricanes.
After just one season in Carolina, Alexander Nikishin has already found himself in trade talks. The Stanley Cup Champion Hurricanes have yet to make any progress when it comes to signing the pending RFA. The Canes aren't trying to give the 24-year-old away, but they are rumoured to be taking calls.
It appears that one of those teams potentially calling Eric Tulsky and company is the Los Angeles Kings. After signing Clarke to a long-term extension, the Kings may be searching for his long-term partner.
Nikishin, 24, and Clarke, 23 would immediately become one of the NHL's best and most promising young defensive pairings.
In his rookie season in 2025-26, Nikishin put together a very strong campaign. In 81 games, he scored 11 goals along with 22 assists for 33 points. He was solid defensively as well, accumulating a +18 rating.
If not for this year's incredibly strong rookie class, Nikishin likely would have gotten more votes for the Calder Trophy which is award to the Rookie of the Year in the NHL. Regardless, he finished 7th in Calder voting and found himself on the NHL's All Rookie Team.
It has been rumoured that Nikishin grew frustrated with his role as he played majority of the Playoffs on the Canes third pair while they made their Stanley Cup run. This could be an avenue for Carolina to explore options as they would likely acquire a sizeable return in exchange for Nikishin.
It may take a lot, and the Kings front office would have to negotiate a new contract with the Russian defender, but it could be worth a shot to cement a dynamic top pairing for years to come.
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The Vancouver Canucks are bringing Brendan Gallagher home. On Monday, the Canucks acquired the former Vancouver Giants forward from the Montréal Canadiens for future considerations. As part of the deal, Montréal will also be retaining 50% of Gallagher's $6.5 million cap hit.
In the press release, Ryan Johnson wrote, "Brendan is a quality individual and a very good hockey player. We love the way he competes and leads by example. Bringing in veterans like Brendan will help us set the standard for our younger guys to follow. We are excited to add someone who has ties to the Lower Mainland, wants to be here with the Canucks, and knows firsthand how passionate and knowledgeable our hockey market is in Vancouver. This is an important acquisition for our hockey club."
Gallagher has spent his entire 14-year career with the Canadiens. The 34-year-old played 911 regular-season games, where he scored 246 goals and recorded 487 points. As for the playoffs, Gallagher recorded 34 points in 79 games and was part of Montréal's run to the Stanley Cup Final in 2021
Before making the NHL, Gallagher was a star in the WHL with the Giants. He is still the franchise leader in both goals (136) and points (280). Gallagher was drafted 147th by Montréal in the 2010 draft and made his NHL debut on January 22, 2013.
Gallagher brings grit and leadership to Vancouver's lineup. He has worn an "A" for the Canadiens since 2015 and is known as one of the hardest working players on the ice. Gallagher has one more year left on his current deal and will be a free agent at the end of the 2026-27 season.
Jan 12, 2026; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; Montreal Canadiens right wing Brendan Gallagher (11) waits for a face-off against the Vancouver Canucks during the third period at Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: David Kirouac-Imagn Images
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This past weekend, the Winnipeg Jets closed out their 2026 NHL Draft with a pick that transcended hockey, selecting Edmonton Oil Kings defenseman Noa Ta'amu in the seventh round in what became one of the most historic moments of the entire weekend.
Ta'amu made history as the first player of Samoan descent ever drafted into the NHL, a milestone that speaks to the growing diversity and reach of the sport on a global level.
The pick adds another meaningful chapter to a draft weekend that saw hockey continue to broaden its cultural footprint. Earlier in the draft, Jaxon Cover became one of the sport's most compelling stories when the Cayman Islands native was selected 32nd overall by the Ottawa Senators to close out the first round, having taken up ice hockey after years as an inline skater and emerging as a naturally gifted player.
Ta'amu's selection carries a similar significance, representing a community that has not previously seen one of its own drafted into the NHL. The son of former NFL player Ed Ta'amu, Noa brings an imposing physical profile to the Jets organization.
The six-foot-two, 227-pound defenseman is built like a prototypical defensive blueliner, using his size and strength to disrupt plays, separate pucks from opponents and make life difficult for forwards in his own zone. While his offensive production of 18 points in 105 games over the last two seasons is modest, the underlying numbers tell a more compelling story.
Ta'amu posted a plus-33 rating during that span, a strong indicator of his impact on the defensive side of the puck even at this early stage of his development. Some scouting outlets have also noted that Ta'amu is surprisingly quick for a player his size, adding another dimension to an already intriguing defensive profile.
At just 18 years old, Ta'amu has plenty of runway ahead of him before the Jets will look to bring him into the fold at the professional level. The path forward will be about continuing to develop his game in the WHL, adding offensive instincts to complement the defensive foundation he has already built and growing into the kind of player that can some day make a case for a roster spot in Winnipeg.
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The forward has been dealt to the Nashville Predators in exchange for a third-round pick in the 2029 NHL Entry Draft.
“We would like to thank Nils for his time in Vancouver, and we wish him the best with his new team Nashville,” Canucks General Manager Ryan Johnson said in a press release. “Picking up another draft pick is important for us as we continue to try and accumulate assets for our rebuild.”
Höglander was selected 40th-overall by Vancouver in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft and was the final player remaining in the organization from that draft class. He made his NHL debut on January 13, 2021 against the Edmonton Oilers, scoring his first-career goal in that game. The winger finished his rookie NHL season with 13 goals and 14 assists 56 games played.
After a couple of down seasons that saw him spend time with the Abbotsford Canucks in the AHL, Höglander returned to Vancouver for the 2023-24 season, during which he scored a career-high of 24 goals and 12 assists in 80 games. All 24 of these goals were scored at even-strength.
With Höglander traded, the Canucks now have only five players currently under contract who took part in the team's playoff run during the 2023-24 season.
Mar 9, 2026; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Vancouver Canucks forward Nils Hoglander (21) handles the puck against the Ottawa Senators in the first period at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-Imagn Images
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The Colorado Avalanche have announced they have re-signed Taylor Makar to a two-year extension worth $1.75 million. The first year of the contract is two-way, making him waiver-exempt.
Makar played his first full professional season last year, splitting time between the AHL Colorado Eagles and the Colorado Avalanche as a call-up. In 56 games with the Eagles, he finished with 14 goals and 10 assists for 24 points, while with the Avalanche, he scored 12 goals but didn’t record a point.
With the Eagles, he finished sixth on the team in goals and was tied for 10th in scoring. In the Calder Cup playoffs, he had two goals and four assists for six points in 17 games.
A younger brother of Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar, Taylor played all 12 games with the Avalanche alongside his brother and became the first siblings in Avalanche history to both appear in the same game since Colorado relocated from Quebec. Joining Anton, Peter, and Marian Stastny as the only brothers in franchise history to do so.
The 6-foot-4, 109-pound winger turns 26 this upcoming season on March 13 and will look to be another top candidate for the Avalanche as a call-up if any injury occurs.
June 29, 2016, will forever remain a big day in NHL history. On that day, two blockbuster trades took place, and one NHL star announced he would be remaining with the only team he ever played for. At 3:34 PM, the New Jersey Devils announced that they had acquired Taylor Hall from the Edmonton Oilers in return for Adam Larsson, and just 20 minutes later, the Montreal Canadiens announced that they had acquired blueliner Shea Weber from the Nashville Predators in exchange for P.K. Subban. Just three minutes later, news came that Steven Stamkos had signed a new contract with the Tampa Bay Lightning.
In Montreal, the second announcement took the spotlight. While Subban will always remain a polarizing figure with Canadiens’ fans, there is no denying that when he played for the Habs, he was an extremely entertaining player. Not only because of his persona, but because of his playing style. He was one of the few players of the Carey Price era who were first and foremost about offense. When he took flight in his own zone and carried the puck to the other end of the ice, the Bell Centre would buzz with excitement. When Lane Hutson started his career with the Habs, he was the first defenseman since Subban to generate that kind of buzz with his exciting manoeuvres all over the ice.
When Marc Bergevin traded the blueliner to the Preds, Subban had spent seven seasons in Montreal, skating in 434 games, putting up 278 points, and winning the James Norris Trophy as the league's best defenseman after the lockout-shortened 2012-13 season. In 42 games that season, he put up 38 points. In his final season in Montreal, the flashy rearguard put up 51 points in 68 games as his season ended early because of an injury suffered in what would turn out to be his final game as a Hab on March 10, 2016, against the Buffalo Sabres. He had spent 29:55 on the ice before being taken off the ice on a stretcher following a collision with Alexei Emelin. Needless to say, that wasn’t how he had pictured his time with the Canadiens ending.
Subban would play only six more seasons in the NHL, three with the Predators and three with the New Jersey Devils, before retiring. As for Shea Weber, he played just five seasons with the Canadiens before being forced to retire by injuries. In his five years in Montreal, Weber only skated in 275 games out of a possible 373 games and put up 146 points, including 58 goals.
Weber had a rugged style of play and could land some game-altering hits on opponents all over the ice, providing a much more physical presence than Subban ever did, a style better suited to the Bergevin brand of hockey. The big defenseman also had a booming shot from the blueline, which became the Canadiens’ default play on the power play. While Weber could never lead the Canadiens to their 25th Stanley Cup conquest, he did captain them to the Stanley Cup final in his final season, in 2020-21. Although no one knew back then, when the Lightning beat the Canadiens in five games, the curtain fell on Weber’s career. He played with a torn meniscus, a broken ankle, torn thumb tendons, and a torn groin. It was when Weber was left unprotected for the expansion draft that doubts about his future surfaced, before the GM announced in October 2021 that he would sit out the season and may never play again. Which unfortunately turned out to be true.
In the end, the trade that promised to alter both franchises for years to come saw both players retire earlier than anyone thought, but both athletes will forever hold a special place in Canadiens’ fans hearts; one for being a rare offensive bright spot and giving so much to the city and the other for getting the Habs nearer to the Cup than they had been since 1993, when they won their 24th.
The Boston Bruins, for the first time since 2023, did not make a first-round pick.
They entered the first round of the 2026 NHL Draft on Friday with the No. 23 overall pick, but they traded it as part of a package to acquire left wing JJ Peterka from the Utah Mammoth.
The B’s ended up making seven picks by the end of Saturday.
Let’s look at a couple key takeaways from Boston’s 2026 draft class:
JJ Peterka gamble was worth taking
The odds of the Bruins drafting and developing a player as talented or better than JJ Peterka with the No. 23 overall pick was low. Therefore, trading for the speedy top-six left wing and giving up the No. 23 pick and the Panthers’ 2028 first-rounder (top-10 protected) was a risk worth taking.
Peterka is dangerous off the rush and should be a consistent 30-goal scorer in Boston, especially if he plays alongside David Pastrnak.
“He’s got an elite shot,” Bruins general manager Don Sweeney told reporters Friday night. “Probably gives us another look on the elbows in a power-play situation. His power-play minutes dipped a little bit last year. His 5-on-5 production has been really good. Plays both wings. Could probably play with a couple different types of centers, help drive a line, but also complement the better guys in situations that we’re certainly trying to improve.”
Peterka is only 24 years old, too, so he can help the B’s win now and be part of the team’s next core. He’s also signed through 2029-30 with a reasonable salary cap hit of $7.7 million.
Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images
JJ Peterka has scored 25-plus goals in three straight seasons.
Taking goalie in second round was bold
The Bruins need more forwards with speed and skill, and there’s a severe lack of high-end talent on the blue line in their prospect pool (more on that below). So it was surprising that Boston decided to take Russian goalie Yury Ivanov with the No. 56 overall pick in the second round.
The B’s were well-aware of these rankings, but they like Ivanov’s potential.
“Certainly we’re cognizant of the public lists and what’s out there, but for us, we’ve got to look at the attributes and value the players the way we value them. We had the opportunity to watch him play live a number of times,” Bruins director of amateu scouting Ryan Nadeau told reporters Saturday. “We watched him on video, we tracked him. Certainly as the year went on, we got a little bit more excited about his game…We’re just really excited about where his game could get to.”
The Bruins have plenty of depth in net. Jeremy Swayman was a Vezina Trophy finalist this past season and is only 27 years old. His contract runs through the 2031-32 season. Michael DiPietro is coming off a fantastic campaign for the AHL’s Providence Bruins in which he went 34-8-1 with a .930 save percentage. He’s also just 27 and deserves a chance at the backup job in Boston at some point.
Even if the point of the Ivanov pick was to give Boston depth at the position well into the future, it felt odd to use the Bruins’ most valuable pick in this draft (after trading No. 23 overall on Friday) on a player who might not step onto the TD Garden ice for many more years.
In fairness, the Bruins develop goalies better than most teams, but they had much more glaring roster needs to address in Round 2.
Bruins waited too long to take a defenseman
The No. 1 weakness in the Bruins’ prospect pool is a lack of skilled defensemen. If you look at their top 10 prospects, Frederic Brunet is the only defenseman who would make the list, and he’s not a slam dunk to have a successful NHL career.
The Bruins didn’t take a defenseman in this draft until the fifth round. They selected Jacob Vandeven at No. 157 overall. It was another reach.
Vandeven does have an intriguing skill set and physical profile. He became a full-time defenseman this past season. He’s 6-foot-6 and 207 pounds, and he does bring some offensive ability to the ice. There’s definitely some potential there.
But when blue line depth is a major weakness in your prospect pool and you don’t take a defenseman until Round 5 (and then again in Round 7), that’s not a great outcome.
Zero centers drafted
The Bruins have made a strong effort in recent seasons to find a top-six center through the draft. They selected James Hagens at No. 7 overall in the first round last year, as well as his Boston College teammate Dean Letourneau in Round 1 in 2024. Both players had fantastic 2025-26 seasons for the Eagles.
In total, the Bruins drafted four centers in 2025, two in 2024, two in 2023 and three in 2022. So it wasn’t too surprising that the B’s focused on other positions this year.
Early grades are not promising
Here’s a roundup of Bruins draft class grades. They haven’t received high marks so far.
“After trading its first-round pick, Boston was limited in what it could walk away with. Nils Bartholdsson in the third round brings some interesting traits, and I liked Oscar Olsson where the Bruins got him. I could see one depth player emerging, or Yuri Ivanov getting some games as a backup goalie.”
“Acquiring a proven NHL player is almost always better than taking a chance with a draft pick. JJ Peterka is who the Bruins opted for, sending a first-round pick to Utah in the deal. Yuri Ivanov is a very young goaltender who is going to take time but has solid NHL potential. Oscar Olsson is a decent bet in the fourth round with potential.
“The Bruins might not get any NHL players from their draft class, but using their first pick as part of a package to acquire a proven talent is good business for where the team is in its competitive window.”
“Yuri Ivanov may have carried Spartak Moskva to the MHL finals, but our team didn’t believe much in his upside due to play-reading and postural issues, giving him late-round value. Boston is banking on athleticism with that selection.
“For our staff, their most exciting pick was Roberto Leonardo Henriquez, who we ranked at No. 71 and went 170th. The dynamic-skating goaltender became a high-end puck stopper in the USHL, and has the tools to be an undersized NHL tandem-level goalie.”
(Click the link above for St-Louis’ full analysis)
Bruins still in good shape for future drafts
The Bruins own all of their future first-round picks, and they’ll also get a 2027 or 2028 first-round pick from the Maple Leafs to complete the Brandon Carlo trade.
They also picked up an extra fourth-rounder in a trade with the Pittsburgh Penguins on Saturday. The B’s sent the Penguins a 2026 fourth-round pick (No. 111 overall) for a 2026 sixth-rounder (No. 170 overall) and the Winnipeg Jets’ 2027 fourth-rounder.
May 16, 2026; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; Buffalo Sabres left wing Beck Malenstyn (29) looks on during warm-up before the game against the Montreal Canadiens in game six of the second round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: David Kirouac-Imagn Images
David Kirouac-Imagn Images
The Buffalo Sabres re-signed checking-line forward Beck Malenstyn to a six-year, $17.5 million contract on Monday, retaining the player two days before he was eligible to hit the free agent market.
The average salary of $2.9 million more than doubles the $1.35 million Malenstyn made in each of his first two seasons in Buffalo. And it represents the value the 28-year-old brought to the team in a secondary role.
Last year, Malenstyn set a Sabres’ single-season record with 282 hits and finished second on the team with 75 blocked shots. He scored a career-high seven goals as part of a 14-point season.
The sixth-year NHL player spent his first four seasons in Washington and was acquired by Buffalo in a trade that sent a second-round pick to the Capitals at the 2024 draft.
Mike and Dan recap the Islanders picks in the 2026 NHL Entry Draft, look ahead to a shallow free agency pool and bring forth a new, delusional Master Leaf Theatre.
The Islanders didn’t make any big splashes in Buffalo but didn’t come away as one of the draft’s big losers, either. By focusing on defensemen – highlighted by first round pick Malte Gustafsson, who sounds like a Swedish clone of Adam Pelech – they went the safest route possible. Which is fine, but hardly sexy. And while some fans wonder why so many of their defensive prospects shoot from the same side, the fact is there’s no guarantee any of these guys make the big club any time soon. We also discuss Matthew Schaefer’s entertaining performance at this draft and the re-signing of Tony DeAngelo to another safe, fine deal.
In the second half, we talk about some free agents we could see (and would rather not see) the Islanders take a run at. None of these older guys deserve any kind of term, but some might be helpful on shorter, more frontloaded deals. We also look at how some teams in the Metro Division got much better over the weekend, which is never not annoying, and serve up a Master Leaf Theatre that not only boosts the Boys in Blue and White but also changes the trajectory of the NHL and every American player in it. Cancel those plane tickets to Florida, fam.
Luke Fox really let his galaxy brain do the walking on this one.
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Toronto Maple Leafs GM John Chayka insists that there are holes in his roster that need to be filled.
The Maple Leafs seem to improve on paper, especially with the addition of defenseman Darren Raddysh, as well as drafting Gavin McKenna first overall in the 2026 NHL draft.
The first overall pick revealed that he received a text message from Patrick Kane after he was drafted. It was a particularly neat moment for McKenna because not only is that an idol of his, but one player whom he's modelled part of his game after.
"He's who I grew up watching," McKenna said after he was drafted. "I don't know if it was all the YouTube highlights that kind of made me play like him. But, yeah, he's someone I always watched, and just how creative he was and how smart he was. Someone that's just, I don't know, he kind of rubbed off on me, I guess."
With all the talk about Kane, a future Hall of Famer, the veteran right winger is available on the free-agent market this summer.
So, would the three-time Stanley Cup champion, Conn Smythe Trophy winner and Hart Trophy winner make a good fit with Toronto?
There's no doubt that he'd have an impact with some of the young players on the Leafs, specifically McKenna, as well as 21-year-old Easton Cowan. In that sense alone, he'd be a great veteran leader who knows how to be successful in the NHL.
To add to the leadership that the 37-year-old Kane would bring to the roster, he's still a talented and effective player.
In his third season with the Detroit Red Wings this past year, Kane finished fifth on the team in scoring, putting up 16 goals and 57 points in 67 games. His 0.85 points-per-game average was an improvement from the 2024-25 season.
That should allow the Maple Leafs to compete for a spot in the Stanley Cup playoffs. Not to mention, there will still be scoring depth in the bottom six with the likes of Cowan, Nick Robertson and Matias Maccelli (if the latter two are re-signed).
Ultimately, with the talent and youth to support Kane in case his age begins to show, the only issue that could present itself is who wears the No. 88 between him and Nylander.
It should be noted that Kane coming in would add another left-handed shooter to Toronto's forward group, a group that only has one right-handed player on the projected roster.
However, the longtime member of the Chicago Blackhawks didn't cost a whole lot against the salary cap on his previous contract. Kane signed a one-year contract at $3 million with the Red Wings. He signed three one-year deals during his tenure with Detroit.
His cap hit last season was lower than that of players like Maccelli, Dakota Joshua and Max Domi. Furthermore, ignoring the players with expiring contracts, a $3-million cap hit for Kane would rank 13th on Toronto's main roster.
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The Montreal Canadiens should be looking to add to their forward group this off-season. One of their needs is another impactful winger for their top nine.
Due to this, one player who the Canadiens could be worth targeting if he hits the free agent on July 1 is New York Islanders captain Anders Lee.
If the Canadiens signed Lee, he could slot well in their middle six. This is because the 35-year-old winger is still capable of producing solid offense at this point in his career. He would also provide the Habs with another option to work with on their power play.
Lee would also be a valuable addition if signed by the Canadiens because he is a well-respected veteran leader. This could make him a good player to have for a young Canadiens club that is on the rise.
In 82 games during this past season with the Islanders, Lee posted 19 goals, 23 assists, and 42 points. This was after the veteran forward posted 29 goals, 25 assists, and 54 points in 82 games with the Islanders during the 2024-25 campaign. With numbers like these, he would have the potential to provide the Canadiens with a bit more secondary offensive production if signed.
However, given how important of a player Lee is to the Islanders, there is certainly a chance that he will end up re-signing there. If he does not, the Canadiens should consider targeting him.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Nashville Predators signed forward Jack Drury to a five-year, $22.5 million contract on Sunday night, four days after he was acquired from the Colorado Avalanche.
The 26-year-old Drury had a career-high 10 goals last season and matched his personal best with 27 points while playing in all 82 regular-season games for the Avalanche.
He was acquired by the Predators on Wednesday along with forward Chase Bradley and a third-round pick in the 2029 NHL draft from the Avalanche for forwards Zachary L’Heureux and Fedor Svechkov.
“Jack Drury is a hard-working, reliable, full-sheet of the ice center who can handle the tough assignments while being elite in the faceoff circle,” Predators general manager and president of hockey operations Chris MacFarland said after the trade. “His addition to our forward group bolsters our depth in the middle of the ice, and we’re thrilled to have him.”
Drury established himself as one of the NHL’s top faceoff players by winning 58.1% of his draws — the fifth-highest percentage among players who took at least 900 faceoffs last season. He also had three goals and two assists in 13 playoff games while helping the Avalanche reach the Western Conference Final.
Drury is the son of former NHL center Ted Drury and nephew of former NHL center and current New York Rangers general manager Chris Drury. He was a second-round draft pick of Carolina in 2018. When MacFarland was with Colorado as the Avalanche’s GM, he acquired Drury from the Hurricanes in 2025.
In 268 career regular-season games, Drury has 30 goals and 52 assists and a 57.1 faceoff percentage.
Editor’s note: Sheng Peng is a regular contributor to NBC Sports California’s Sharks coverage. You can read more of his coverage on San Jose Hockey Now, listen to him on the San Jose Hockey Now Podcast, and follow him on Twitter at @Sheng_Peng.
The Sharks have signed Michael Kesselring.
San Jose signed the 26-year-old defenseman to a three-year, $13.5 million contract ($4.5 million AAV), buying up two of his UFA seasons. There were no trade protections. Kesselring was a pending RFA.
The #SJSharks signed recently acquired 26 y/o RFA RD Michael Kesselring to 3 year $4.5M Cap Hit Deal.
Kesselring is an RFA. The deal covers 1 RFA & 2 UFA seasons.
Contract is $4.5M salary each season and does not include trade protection.
Kesselring was coming off a tough season with the Sabres, posting two assists in 34 games. He was a frequent healthy scratch and also dealt with injuries.
But Kesselring broke out with the Utah Mammoth in 2024-25, notching seven goals and 29 points, skating 17:41 per game. He also was used on the second-unit power play.
The Sharks are hoping for at least that type of return to form from Kesselring.
The Buffalo Sabres are keeping one of their pending unrestricted free agents (UFAs) around.
According to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman, the Sabres are signing forward Beck Malenstyn to a six-year contract extension with an average annual value around $3 million.
It was known that the Sabres were working hard to keep Malenstyn in Buffalo. Now, once this deal comes to fruition, the big winger will be a long-term part of the Sabres' roster.
Malenstyn's grit and speed make him a valuable asset to the Sabres' bottom six, and they are rewarding him for it with this six-year deal.
The 28-year-old appeared in 81 games last season for the Sabres, where he recorded seven goals, seven assists, 14 points, and a franchise-record 282 hits.
The Sabres acquired Malenstyn from the Washington Capitals during the 2024 NHL off-season. In 157 games over two seasons with the Sabres since then, the 6-foot-3 winger has posted 11 goals, 13 assists, 24 points, and 473 hits. It will be interesting to see how he builds upon these stats after landing this long-term deal from Buffalo from here.
With Malenstyn staying in Buffalo, the Sabres' most notable pending UFAs remaining are Logan Stanley, Luke Schenn, Joshua Dunne, and David Kampf, who was recently acquired from the Washington Capitals in the Alex Tuch trade.
Breaking News: Kings Lock Up Brandt Clarke With Five-Year, $7.4 Million ExtensionThe future of the Kings' blue line is officially secured. Los Angeles signed rising star Brandt Clarke to a five-year, $7.4 million contract extension, keeping the young defenseman in Hollywood through the 2030-31 season.
Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images
