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Who Is The Newest Seattle Kraken Player, And What Do You Need To Know? ​

Who is the newest Seattle Kraken player, and what do you need to know?

​The Seattle Kraken announced on Sunday, June 21st, that the team had acquired Mackie Samoskevich from the Florida Panthers in exchange for the 25th overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft and a conditional second-round pick in 2027. ​

The 23-year-old has played in three NHL seasons and won the Stanley Cup in 2024-25, his second NHL season.

​In 156 NHL games, Samoskevich has recorded 27 goals and 36 assists.

​Prior to joining the NHL, Samoskevich played at the University of Michigan for two seasons. While there, he earned two honors. ​

  • Big Ten All-Freshman Team (2022)
  • Big Ten Second All-Star Team (2023)

The 5’11” center spent the three seasons prior to joining the NCAA with the Chicago Steel of the USHL, where he continued building his game.

Samoskevich was fifth among USHL rookies in 2019-20 with 34 points (13 goals, 21 assists) in 47 games.​

Last season, he recorded a career high of 32 points in 77 games played, adding another strong season to his résumé. ​

Kraken general manager Jason Botterill also spoke to NHL.com about the newest addition to the team.

​“For me, there’s the fact that, at such a young age, he’s been able to win a Stanley Cup already, and he’s been a part of a very successful organization in Florida,” Botterill said. “I just love his age, love his speed, and I love his shot. So, I think he’ll fit in very well with the style of play that we’re trying to play on an everyday basis here.”​


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Carolina Hurricanes follow Stanley Cup title by figuring out to how to improve a largely set roster

MORRISVILLE, N.C. — At first glance, Carolina Hurricanes general manager Eric Tulsky doesn’t have a ton to do with the roster as the Stanley Cup champs head into the offseason.

Then again, the Hurricanes have never been the type to just sit back, either.

They’re fresh off beating the Vegas Golden Knights to claim the Cup for the second time, the first coming 20 years ago when coach Rod Brind’Amour was captain. The team has most of its core locked up to long-term deals, though that won’t stop the Hurricanes from looking to bolster the roster all the same.

“There’s always room to improve, there’s always spots we can get better,” Tulsky said Friday night after the first round of the NHL draft.

“Our goal is to build a team that even when we’re not playing our best, even when we have some injuries, we still can win the Cup. ... We need to keep taking steps to get to where we can be favorites year in and year out no matter what comes our way.”

On Saturday, Tulsky bought an exclusive negotiating window with pending free agent defenseman John Carlson, sending a late pick to Anaheim to jump the queue ahead of the market opening Wednesday.

What business is ahead on the roster?

The Hurricanes headed into the offseason with 36-year-old veteran Frederik Andersen — who anchored the net during Carolina’s 12-1 march through the Eastern Conference playoffs — as their biggest-name unrestricted free agent. Reserve forward Nicolas Delauriers and seventh defenseman Mike Reilly were the other unrestricted free agents, though the Hurricanes signed Deslauriers to a two-year deal on the stage of their downtown-Raleigh championship rally.

There’s another variable with defenseman Alexander Nikishin. The 24-year-old former top prospect became a lineup regular and worked in the third pairing through the playoffs, so the Hurricanes must decide whether to sign him — bridge or long-term — or potentially trade him.

Nikishin’s name has been popular for trade speculation. Tulsky said the Hurricanes had to pivot quickly to draft preparations and next week’s start of free agency, so contract negotiations for him hadn’t been a priority yet.

“It’s easy to punt for a little bit and let the dust settle and take care of the things that are pressing, then figure out where we’re going to go from there,” Tulsky said.

There’s another issue to monitor: the health of top-line forward Seth Jarvis. Tulsky said Jarvis is expected to be out up to six months after shoulder surgery, a timeline that would could linger into next season. That could open a lineup spot for rising prospect Bradly Nadeau or someone else.

The Hurricanes haven’t been afraid to take big swings

The Hurricanes had been aggressive before in trying to push a perennial playoff team over the top, notably by adding Jake Guentzel and Mikko Rantanen to find more high-end finishers. But they ended up dealing Guentzel’s rights to Tampa Bay in summer 2024 shortly before his expected departure in free agency, then had to move Rantanen after just 13 games in 2025 when it became clear he wouldn’t sign an extension.

The latter deal, however, worked in securing forward Logan Stankoven as the primary return from the Rantanen pivot. Stankoven centered the second line with Taylor Hall and Jackson Blake that scorched its way through the playoffs, with that trio combining for 25 goals and 55 points in the playoffs.

The question now is how much to tinker after rolling to a 16-3 playoff record en route to the Cup, especially with the roster set to return largely intact.

The motivation, though, won’t change.

“I promise you, we’re going to try to do it again,” Brind’Amour told fans during the team’s championship rally.

Carolina’s roster is filled with players locked up on long-term deals

Five of Carolina’s top nine forwards are signed through at least 2030-31, while physical forward Andrei Svechnikov is signed through 2028-29. Among the outliers, 37-year-old captain Jordan Staal — who won the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP — and Jordan Martinook each have one more year on their deals.

Staal wasn’t ready to retire on a high note, telling The North State Journal after the June 20 parade: “No, I want to win another one.”

As for defensemen, Jaccob Slavin and K’Andre Miller are notably lined up through 2032-33, while top-four defenseman Sean Walker is signed through 2028-29. Blue-liners Jalen Chatfield and Shayne Gostisbehere are each entering their final contract year.

Beyond Andersen in net, Stanley Cup Final hero Brandon Bussi is entering a three-year deal signed in February and reserve Pytor Kochetkov has one more year on his deal.

“That can’t make you complacent,” Tulsky said of winning the Cup. “That can’t have you saying, ‘You know what? We’re fine where we are.’ Other teams are taking steps, things change year to year. We need to keep finding ways to get better every time we can.”

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Ex-Avalanche Forward Jack Drury Lands Massive Five-Year Deal in Nashville

Jack Drury has spent the past several days in the Bahamas enjoying a well-earned vacation with his family. Judging by the smiles in the photos circulating on social media, it's safe to say life has been treating him well.

Now the former Colorado Avalanche forward has another reason to celebrate.

Just days after being acquired by the Nashville Predators, the 26-year-old center has secured the biggest contract of his NHL career. Nashville has signed Drury to a five-year contract worth $22.5 million, keeping him with the organization through the 2030-31 season at an average annual value of $4.5 million.

The deal will pay Drury $4 million during the 2026-27 season before increasing to $4.625 million annually over each of the final four years. Beginning in 2027-28, he'll receive full no-trade protection for two seasons before that converts to an eight-team no-trade list for the final two years of the agreement.

It's another clear indication that new Predators general manager Chris MacFarland wasted little time investing in a player he knows well.

MacFarland acquired Drury from the Avalanche earlier this week in a deal that sent former first-round picks Zachary L'Heureux and Fedor Svechkov to Colorado, along with Nashville receiving forward Chase Bradley and a third-round selection in the 2029 NHL Draft. The price reflected how highly MacFarland values Drury, having watched his development firsthand during his time with the Avalanche.

While Drury has never been known as a prolific scorer, he quietly put together the best offensive season of his career in 2025-26. He established a new personal best with 10 goals while matching his career high with 27 points after adding 17 assists. More importantly, he appeared in all 82 regular-season games, giving Colorado dependable depth down the middle every night.

His value extended well beyond the scoresheet.

Drury developed into one of Colorado's most reliable faceoff specialists, winning 58.1 percent of his draws during the regular season. That number climbed above 61 percent during the Stanley Cup Playoffs, where he chipped in three goals and two assists across 13 postseason games.

Those are the types of details coaches and general managers notice, even if they don't always generate headlines.

MacFarland is clearly betting that there's still more offense to unlock. Through parts of five NHL seasons split between the Carolina Hurricanes and Avalanche, Drury has totaled 30 goals and 52 assists for 82 points in 268 career games. Nashville believes those numbers are only part of the story.

Had the two sides not reached an agreement before free agency, Drury would have entered the offseason as a restricted free agent with arbitration rights after finishing the final season of his contract with the Avalanche. Instead, Nashville wasted little time rewarding its newest acquisition with long-term security, underscoring just how strongly MacFarland believes Drury can become an important piece of the Predators' future.

Even after committing $22.5 million to Drury, the Predators still have nearly $20 million in salary cap space to work with. That gives MacFarland plenty of flexibility as he continues putting his stamp on the roster during his first offseason as general manager.

If his track record in Colorado is any indication, MacFarland isn't interested in making minor adjustments. He's intent on building a team in his vision, and Nashville appears well-positioned to remain one of the NHL's more aggressive clubs as it works toward reestablishing itself as a legitimate Stanley Cup contender.

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LA Kings re-sign defenseman Brandt Clarke to 5-year, $37 million deal

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — Defenseman Brandt Clarke has agreed to a five-year, $37 million deal to stay with the Los Angeles Kings.

The Kings announced the deal Friday for Clarke, the eighth overall pick in 2021 who has grown into the new cornerstone of their defense.

Clarke had career highs of eight goals and 32 assists while playing in all 82 regular-season games last season for the Kings, who lost in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs for the fifth consecutive year. He was third in the NHL with 185 blocked shots, and he finished fourth on the LA roster in scoring.

The 23-year-old Clarke spent parts of the past four seasons with the Kings, but has been an NHL regular for only two years. Los Angeles general manager Ken Holland still saw enough to lock down the mobile defenseman through the 2030-31 season.

The Kings hired Peter Laviolette as their head coach earlier this month, and Clarke’s offensive skill fits well into the team’s possible evolution away from its traditional defense-first mentality to a more aggressive club under Laviolette.

Clarke was the Kings’ most prominent restricted free agent heading into the summer, but Holland also must make decision on unrestricted free agents Andrei Kuzmenko and Scott Lawton.

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Joe Sakic already making big deals, bringing back veterans in his return to role as Avalanche GM

DENVER — Joe Sakic wasn’t content to simply run it back. Far from it, even if the Colorado Avalanche did have the best record in the regular season.

“Super Joe,” his nickname as a Hall of Fame player, has certainly lived up to his reputation of “Trader Joe” since stepping back into his role of GM for the Avalanche. He already has orchestrated several deals in this young offseason.

Because if there’s one thing Sakic knows all about, it’s championship windows. His squad, back in the day, won a pair of Stanley Cup trophies in 1996 and 2001.

The Avalanche are in the midst of another window with Nathan MacKinnon, captain Gabriel Landeskog and Cale Makar leading the way (they won in 2022). Sakic is giving the team a mini-reboot after the Avalanche were swept by the Vegas Golden Knights in the Western Conference Final.

“We’re trying to move on to next year, but if we’ve got to look back, that’s what it was — we just didn’t play well,” Sakic said Friday night before the start of the NHL draft. “We’re always looking to find a way to just, even if it’s a little bit better, to try and get better.”

Sakic inherited the GM job again — on top of his responsibilities as president of hockey operations — when Chris MacFarland recently left for the front office of the Nashville Predators.

The good friends already have executed several trades, with Sakic sending Ross Colton to MacFarland’s Predators and later Jack Drury.

“We weren’t friends,” Sakic cracked. “No, it was good. (MacFarland) did what he thought was best for his group. I thought we did what was best for our group. Obviously, those decisions for us really were cap decisions, freed up some space. We couldn’t have brought everybody back.”

Not done tinkering with the roster, Sakic made a splashy deal with Columbus that sent Valeri Nichushkin to the Blue Jackets for draft picks. It’s a way to free up space given Nichushkin had four more seasons left on his contract at a salary cap hit of $6.125 million. That savings could be used to negotiate a long-term extension with Makar, a two-time Norris Trophy winner as the league’s top defenseman.

“They’re tough decisions,” Sakic said. “But when you have a cap you’re dealing with and you’re trying to make the best decisions for your team to try and get under — it was a tough phone call to make to Val for the great things he’s done for our organization.”

Sakic used some of the resources to re-sign blueliners Brent Burns and Brett Kulak on Friday. The 41-year-old Burns will return for a 23rd season and another crack at a Stanley Cup title that’s eluded him. He is a powerful leader in the locker room and a reliable player on the ice. Burns enters the 2026-27 season needing 57 games to tie Phil Kessel for the longest regular-season ironman streak in NHL history.

Burns is set to earn the veteran minimum of $850,000 and can make up to $3 million in incentives, according to a person familiar with the deal. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because financial terms were not disclosed.

Sakic certainly knows the value of a grizzled defenseman: He had Hall of Famer Ray Bourque on board when the Avalanche won the Stanley Cup in 2001.

Also back is Kulak, who agreed to a five-year contract from the Avalanche worth a reported $22.5 million. The 32-year-old Kulak was acquired by the Avalanche on Feb. 24 as part of a deal with Pittsburgh. He averaged just over 19 minutes of ice time in 27 regular-season games.

Sakic doesn’t figure to be done revamping this roster, either. The Avalanche could always use another forward or two.

“It’s going to be the players that we feel are a good fit for us, for what we’re trying to do,” Sakic said. “Hopefully it works out. If it doesn’t work out, we’re going to have a good amount of cap space and draft capital for things to happen during the year.

“There’s no panic on our end. We’re not rushed. If we’ve got to start out with some kids this year to see what they got, what they can do, we’re perfectly happy with that as well.”

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3 Michigan Hockey players selected during 2026 NHL Draft

BUFFALO, NEW YORK - JUNE 26: NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman looks on Jeffrey (JP) Hurlbert of the United States is drafted by the Detroit Redwings with the twenty-third overall pick during day one of the 2026 NHL Draft on June 26, 2026 in Buffalo, New York. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Michigan Hockey will have its usual star-studded roster come the fall, and there will be even more NHL logos on the pregame lines chart after three Wolverines were selected during the 2026 NHL Draft.

J.P. Hurlbert: 1st round, 23rd overall, Detroit Red Wings

A Texas native, Hurlbert spent last season with the Kamloops Blazers in the WHL. He set the league on fire as a rookie, notching 42 goals and 97 points across 68 games while wearing an “A.”

Hurlbert is versatile enough to line up all over, and considering his great shot and one-timer, he should be particularly valuable for the Wolverines at his natural left wing spot or playing alongside playmaking center Michael Hage.

He is not a burner, but he does well to anticipate the play, times his shots well and plays with plenty of creativity. These are traits that will translate to head coach Brandon Naurato’s offensive philosophies.

Expect Hurlbert to receive top-six minutes, record plenty of tucks, and compete for power play minutes. The question is whether Naurato has enough space for him on that top unit.

Adam Valentini: 3rd round, 96th overall, Utah Mammoth

The lone draftee we have already seen take the ice at Yost, Valentini does so many of the little things right. He forechecks like an animal, wins puck battles, screens goaltenders and plays with that tenacious edge required to compete at the NCAA Division I level.

Valentini should see an uptick in production next season; he went for 11 goals and 27 points in 40 games for Michigan last year. His talents are probably better suited for middle-six responsibilities where he can focus on agitating the opposition and accumulating quality shifts.

Noah Kosick: 6th round, 192nd overall, Anaheim Ducks

Kosick will not join the program until the 2027-28 season, but it is still encouraging to have future talent in the pipeline. He spent time with the WHL’s Swift Current Broncos (10 goals, 34 points in 37 games) and Seattle Thunderbirds (six goals, 20 points in 32 games).

Kosick is a smooth, left-shot forward with good hands and offensive prowess. It will be interesting to see how he develops over the next campaign before venturing to Ann Arbor.

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Rangers acquire Pavel Dorofeyev from Vegas, Boston gets JJ Peterka from Utah at the NHL draft

Pavel Dorofeyev is heading to the New York Rangers as part of a trade at the NHL draft on Friday night, as they hope the high-scoring winger helps supercharge their retooling effort.

The Rangers acquired Dorofeyev from Vegas for the Nos. 26 and 92 picks this year, plus a conditional first-rounder in 2028. The 25-year-old is coming off scoring 12 goals on the Golden Knights’ run to the Stanley Cup Final.

On their way there, they defeated the Utah Mammoth, who also made a big subtraction by sending a winger to the Eastern Conference. JJ Peterka is going to the Boston Bruins for the No. 23 pick and Florida’s top-10-protected ’28 first-rounder.

Peterka is changing places for a second consecutive offseason following his move from Buffalo just over a year to the day ago. The 24-year-old from Germany now gets to play for the league’s only German coach, Marco Sturm.

“I would like to thank JJ for his commitment to our organization,” Utah general manager Bill Armstrong said. “JJ is a great person and will be a dynamic player for Boston.”

Midway through the first round, the St. Louis Blues acquired forward Mason McTavish from Anaheim for the Nos. 15 and 29 picks, getting a player entering his prime at 23 who’s signed through 2031 at a salary cap hit of $7 million.

The Mammoth flipped the 23rd pick to Detroit for 23-year-old restricted free agent goaltender Sebastian Cossa.

Pre-draft trades aplenty

Getting Dorofeyev was New York GM Chris Drury ‘s second move of the day after sending forward Brett Berard to Montreal for defenseman William Trudeau, who has been in the minors and is still awaiting his NHL debut.

Also Friday, Buffalo got defenseman Olen Zellweger, who also needs a new contract, from Anaheim for the 45th pick and forward prospect Anton Wahlberg. Zellweger, who turns 23 in September, replenishes depth for the Sabres after they traded Bowen Byram to Chicago earlier in the week.

Chicago sent winger Andre Burakovsky to Ottawa for a 2027 sixth-round pick. Burakovsky joins the Senators more than three decades since his dad, Robert, played 23 games for them in the 1993-94 season.

The Blackhawks clear his $5.5 million salary cap hit off the books for next season, while the Senators get a 31-year-old winger who has twice won the Stanley Cup.

General manager Steve Staios said the Senators were happy to add a player of Burakovsky’s pedigree because he “adds skill and playmaking ability to our forward group.”

Staios was busy in the hours before adding Burakovsky, acquiring the rights to goaltender Samuel Ersson and re-signing another pending restricted free agent, defenseman Jordan Spence. Ottawa sent a 2027 fifth-rounder to rival Toronto for Ersson, whom the Maple Leafs got along with Emil Andrae in a cap space-clearing trade with Philadelphia for Joseph Woll and Simon Benoit.

Spence, 25, signed a four-year, $20 million contract. He was a big part of the team enduring injuries at the position and still making the playoffs, scoring a career-high seven goals and finishing with 31 points while skating an average of nearly 19 minutes over 73 games.

“Jordan was an excellent addition to our hockey club and proved to be a valuable asset on our blue line and stepped up when it counted last season,” Staios said. “We’re excited to have him as part of our core group.”

Teams take care of in-house business

Colorado re-signed defensemen Brent Burns and Brett Kulak, fresh off winning the Presidents’ Trophy and losing in the conference final to Vegas.

Burns, 41, signed for next season, his 23rd in the league, at the veteran minimum of $850,000 and can make up to $3 million in incentives, according to a person familiar with the deal. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because financial terms were not disclosed.

Burns has skated in 1,007 consecutive regular-season games and is 58 away from passing Phil Kessel for the longest ironman streak in NHL history.

Kulak got a five-year contract from the Avalanche worth a reported $22.5 million. President of hockey operations and franchise great Joe Sakic is reshaping the roster after reclaiming GM duties when Chris MacFarland left for Nashville.

The Islanders re-signed defenseman Tony DeAngelo to a two-year contract worth $9 million. He will count $4.5 million against the salary cap through the 2027-28 season.

DeAngelo, 30, is returning to the Islanders for a second full season after joining them upon returning to the NHL from a stint in the Russia-based KHL in January 2025.

“Tony has been great since he’s been here,” GM Mathieu Darche said on a video call with reporters after the draft. “It’s tough to find puck-moving defensemen, never mind a right-shot puck-moving defenseman, so Tony’s a big part of our team. We’re excited to have him back.”

Los Angeles re-signed defenseman Brandt Clarke for $37 million over the next five years.

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"Very Impressed": Steve Yzerman Looks Ahead To Michal Postava's Future

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While the Detroit Red Wings had originally envisioned goaltender Sebastian Cossa as potentially anchoring their crease for years to come, that hope officially ended on Friday.

Cossa, whom the Red Wings selected in the first round (15th overall pick) of the 2021 NHL Draft, was traded to the Utah Mammoth in return for the 23rd overall pick, which was then used to select forward J.P. Hurlbert. 

Cossa was no longer waivers-exempt, and is still in need of a new contract as a pending restricted free agent. 

Meanwhile, the Red Wings welcomed a new goaltender into their system from Czechia last offseason, and he made the most of his opportunity in Grand Rapids. Michal Postava earned the bulk of the starts down the stretch for the Griffins and was given the starting responsibilities in the Calder Cup Playoffs.

Ultimately finishing with a 17-6 record with a 1.71 goals-against average and a .937 save percentage during regular season play, Postava could very well earn himself a full-time job in Detroit next season if he impresses enough in Training Camp. 

Unlikely to retain veteran Cam Talbot, GM Steve Yzerman said that while the club is "very impressed" with how Postava performed, he is still coming off of what was his first year in North America and the club could potentially look to free agency to fill the backup role behind John Gibson. 

Bookmark The Hockey News Detroit Red Wings team site to stay connected to the latest news, game-day coverage, and player features. 

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“Regarding Michal, we’re very impressed with the season he had last year and the playoffs,” Yzerman said. “Having said that, it’s just his first year over here. We’ll look at all various options leading into free agency (starting Wednesday) and the off-season and decide what is the best option.”

Red Wings Trade Goaltender Sebastian Cossa To Western Conference Red Wings Trade Goaltender Sebastian Cossa To Western Conference Sebastian Cossa will not be part of the Red Wings future, as he's been traded to the Utah Mammoth in return for the 23rd overall selection in the 2026 NHL Draft.

Postava is signed for one more season with a $975,000 salary cap hit. 

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2026 NHL Draft Recap: Sharks Add High-End Talent, Drastically Improve Organizational Depth

The San Jose Sharks were one of the teams to watch heading into the 2026 NHL Draft, and they certainly didn't disappoint.

In the first round, they selected Ivar Stenberg second overall to kick off their weekend. The Swedish winger is projected to make an immediate impact, and could fill a top-six role for the Sharks as soon as this season, especially with William Eklund's departure leaving a hole that Stenberg could easily fill. Stenberg had one of the top performances by an 18 year old in the history of the Swedish Hockey League, a league often known for low offensive production.

BREAKING: Sharks Select Ivar Stenberg With Second Overall Pick in 2026 NHL DraftBREAKING: Sharks Select Ivar Stenberg With Second Overall Pick in 2026 NHL DraftAfter weeks of speculation regarding who Mike Grier and the San Jose Sharks would select with the second overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft, we've finally got our answer.

Then, after some tense moments, the Sharks were lucky enough to have one of the top defensemen in the draft drop to them with the ninth overall pick. Keaton Verhoeff, who was at one point ranked as the best defenseman in this draft class, and even potentially a rival for Gavin McKenna to go first overall, was still on the board when Mike Grier's management team sent in their pick. 

Verhoeff had some struggles adapting to the collegiate game, but a large portion of that can be contributed to his age. He played his freshman year at the University of North Dakota as a 17 year old, an impressive feat in its own right. Had Verhoeff stayed in the Western Hockey League, he probably would've been a top-five pick, but instead, the Sharks were able to get an elite prospect with the ninth overall pick.

BREAKING: Sharks Select Keaton Verhoeff With the Ninth Overall Pick in the 2026 NHL DraftBREAKING: Sharks Select Keaton Verhoeff With the Ninth Overall Pick in the 2026 NHL DraftThe San Jose Sharks had no time to rest, as shortly after they selected Ivar Stenberg with the second overall pick, they were back on the clock with the ninth overall selection.

After selecting Verhoeff, Grier started working the phones to move up from the 27th overall pick. Eventually, he struck a deal with the Philadelphia Flyers for the 21st overall pick, just one spot behind the pick they gave to the Buffalo Sabres earlier this month in exchange for Michael Kesselring and the 27th overall selection. 

With their third pick in the first round, the Sharks added their second right-handed defenseman of the night, selecting Ryan Lin from the Vancouver Giants of the WHL. Lin, like Verhoeff, is making the move to the NCAA though, as he'll join the University of Denver this season. Lin likely dropped due to the fact that he's 5-foot-11, as many have said that he has the potential to be the steal of the draft.

LINSANITY: San Jose Sharks Trade Up to the 21st Overall Pick, Select Ryan LinLINSANITY: San Jose Sharks Trade Up to the 21st Overall Pick, Select Ryan LinThe San Jose Sharks have acquired the 21st overall pick from the Philadelphia Flyers in exchange for picks 27, 62, and 120 in the 2026 NHL Draft.

The Sharks then had a bit of time to relax, as they didn't have another pick until the fourth round. That didn't stop Mike Grier from getting some work done in the meantime though, as he signed forward Zack Ostapchuk to a four-year contract extension while they awaited their first pick on the second day of the 2026 NHL Draft.

Sharks Sign Zack Ostapchuk to Four-Year Contract ExtensionSharks Sign Zack Ostapchuk to Four-Year Contract ExtensionWhile the San Jose Sharks were awaiting their first pick on day two of the 2026 NHL Draft, Mike Grier got some other business taken care of. On Saturday, the Sharks announced that they had signed forward Zack Ostapchuk to a four-year contract extension with an average annual value of $2.35 million.

The time finally came for the Sharks to make their first pick on Saturday, and they opted to select a goaltender. With the 127th overall pick, the Sharks added Brady Knowling from the United States National Team Development Program. Knowling will be moving around quite a bit in the near future, as he's currently expected to head to the Ontario Hockey League's Saginaw Spirit for the 2026-27 season before moving to the collegiate ranks, as he's committed to Boston University for the 2027-28 season. 

Sharks Select Brady Knowling With 127th Overall PickSharks Select Brady Knowling With 127th Overall PickAfter a busy day on Friday during the first round of the 2026 NHL Draft, the San Jose Sharks had a long wait before they made their first pick on Saturday. When they finally were put on the clock with the 127th overall pick, they selected goaltender Brady Knowling out of the United States National Team Development Program.

When the Sharks were on the clock again for the 174th overall pick, they didn't have to look far outside of their own organization. They selected San Jose native, and San Jose Junior Sharks alumnus, Jake Gustafson from the Portland Winterhawks of the WHL. Gustafson's father is a high-ranking executive in the Sharks organization, mainly in regards to the San Jose Barracuda, the SAP Center, and Sharks Ice. 

Gustafson, like a few of the previously mentioned prospects, is going to be making the jump to collegiate hockey this season. He's currently committed to join Colorado College for the 2026-27 season after a single campaign in Portland.

Sharks Select Jr. Sharks Alum Jake Gustafson 174th Overall in 2026 NHL DraftSharks Select Jr. Sharks Alum Jake Gustafson 174th Overall in 2026 NHL DraftWith their second pick on Saturday, the San Jose Sharks selected San Jose native, and San Jose Jr. Sharks alumnus, center Jake Gustafson in the sixth round, 174th overall, in the 2026 NHL Draft.

The Sharks then made history, in multiple ways, with their final pick in the 2026 NHL Draft. With the 201st overall pick, the Sharks added 7-foot-1 defenseman Alexander Karmanov to their prospect pool. Karmanov is not only the tallest player to be drafted to the NHL, but he's also the first player from Moldova to be selected in the NHL Draft as well. He's seen as a massive longshot to ever make it to the NHL, but if it somehow does work out, it's hard to imagine a team finding a player with a more impressive frame than Karmanov.

Sharks Select Alexander Karmanov 201st Overall in 2026 NHL DraftSharks Select Alexander Karmanov 201st Overall in 2026 NHL DraftWith their final pick in the 2026 NHL Draft, 201st overall, the San Jose Sharks selected 7-foot-1, 280-pound left-handed Moldovan defenseman Alexander Karmanov. 

It was certainly an interesting draft class for the Sharks. They added some high-end talent on Friday, then added a couple of players with interesting backstories and profiles on Saturday. One thing is certain though, the Sharks entered the weekend with defense, especially right-handed defensemen, being a major weakness in their prospect pool, now it's more of a strength.

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Florida Panthers Announce Roster, Dates For 2026 Development Camp

The Florida Panthers have announced the details for the team’s annual development camp.

Generally, the camp takes place in the days following the NHL Draft, and this year will be no different.

Florida’s 2026 Development Camp will begin on Monday at the Baptist Health IcePlex in Fort Lauderdale and run through Thursday.

This year, the Panthers have invited 24 prospects to participate in D-camp, a group that includes 11 forwards, eight defensemen and five goalies.

Among them are all six of the players Florida selected at this weekend’s NHL Draft in Buffalo: Simas Ignatavicius, Ryder Cali, Jonas Kemps, Vilho Vanhatalo, Cole Zurawski and Louis-Antoine Denault.

You can check out the full roster in the image below: 

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All on-ice sessions are open to the public and free to attend, with the ample seating inside the IcePlex coming on a first come, first served basis.

Development camp will consist of four days of ice time. The schedule is as follows:

Monday, June 29: One full group on-ice session from 1:15 p.m. to 2:15 p.m.

Tuesday, June 30: One full group on-ice session from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

Wednesday, July 1: One full group on-ice session from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

Thursday, July 2: One full group on-ice scrimmage from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.

Are there any players you are excited to see at Florida’s development camp? Let us know in the comments below.

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Were The Canadiens Draft Losers?

Over the weekend at the NHL Draft, the Montreal Canadiens put emphasis on drafting players of a certain type, big bodies who like to play with grit and physicality. While that’s a big need for the organization, not everyone appreciated what the Habs tried to do. In his latest article analyzing the draft, Scott Wheeler from The Athletic identifies the Tricolore as one of the three teams he dubbed losers of the event.

The journalist notes that he understands the Habs’ desire to add more size and athleticism, but he feels they might have put too much emphasis on it and “chased it a little”. In other words, he feels the players the team selected were taken too high. He labels Gleb Pugachyov as a third-line winger, Cooper Cleaves as an AHLer, Tim Runtso as a potential third-pairing blueliner, Parker Trottier as a fourth-line AHLer, and Brayden Klimpke as organizational depth. It certainly sounds like a harsh prognosis.

Canadiens Fans Shower Gallagher With Gifts
Canadiens Go For Size On Day Two
Update On Gleb Pugachyov And His Potential Impact On The Prospect Pool

If Wheeler didn’t appreciate the latest influx of Canadiens’ prospects, codirectors of scouting Nick Bobrov and Martin Lapointe were certainly pleased with their harvest when they spoke to the media after the draft was finally over on Saturday afternoon.

“With his size, he already played in the KHL, he’s already played against men, so I think he’ll be ready faster than others for sure, said Lapointe of first-round pick Pugachyov. This guy is a unicorn we love the way he plays, shift in, shift out. The details in his game, at his age is rare. So, to be playing in the KHL and blocking shots and diving to block shots, backchecking hard, finishing his checks on the forecheck, bringing pucks to the net. I mean, that’s what you wish for in a player. We feel, this guy was the guy that we needed, and he was there and I feel lucky to have him.
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The way Lapointe describes Pugachyov, he sounds like the kind of player who can do what Juraj Slafkovsky does, but with more aggression and enthusiasm. He has accepted his role and knows that’s what’s expected of him while it took Martin St-Louis years to make Slafkovsky understand that the Canadiens needed him to get involved physically in puck battles and retrieval on the forecheck.

When the first-round pick spoke to the media, he said through his translator, Sam Shore, that he had known both Ivan Demidov and Alexander Zharovsky for years, adding he was excited to form the “Russian Three” with them, so to speak. It’s true that they could form quite an impressive line with a gritty winger in Pugachyov, a more skillful one in Zharovsky and a star in the making in Demidov, but someone would have to play center. Even if they weren’t forming a line, though, it would certainly feel good for them to have so many Russians on the team. Right-shot defenseman Bogdan Konyushkov could also join the fold eventually.

Bobrov and Lapointe also seemed rather hopeful that their first-round pick could potentially arrive early on this side of the pond:

“Yes, there are two years left, but you know, his agent [Dan Milstein] is very good at negotiating, said Bobrov. So we’ll leave it to Dan to do it. It’s flexible enough so that a lot of different situations can unfold. He knows what he is doing, and it’s all about making sure the kid is ready to come over at the right time. It’s a big change, so we have to be mindful of timing on a number of different fronts.”
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As for the fact that the team made a conscious effort to get bigger and they're picking a lot of blueliners, Bobrov explained:

Well, the defensemen are always in demand, and we always talk about different buckets and which ones are full and which ones are becoming empty. So we know where the best fishing holes are, as we say, and it’s different draft to draft […] in this case, it just so happened that the defenders were the best players, you know, at particular spots, and obviously, you want to create more organizational depth in each position. Every organization needs that depth, and we happen to have pretty good depth right now; it never hurts to have a deeper pool. We felt that with each individual we addressed something. Timmy Runtso is more offensive, more flashy, I guess. Cooper Cleaves is more stay-at-home, mature, big, and defends, and Brayden Klimpke is a puck mover, an elite skater. So we felt those three at the right spots were the way to go, and you can never have enough ds.
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Fans will have an opportunity to see what this latest crop of prospects brings in the coming days, as the Canadiens’ development camp kicks off on June 30th with physical testing, followed by two days of on-ice sessions, including scrimmages on Thursday. As always, it will take place at the CN Sports Complex in Brossard, and those who wish to watch are welcome to do so. Bobrov and Lapointe appeared optimistic that their picks over the weekend would be able to attend. Was Wheeler right in calling the Canadiens draft losers? Fans will have an opportunity to make up their own minds in the coming days and years…

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Penguins organizational outlook heading into free agency

PITTSBURGH, PA - MARCH 21: Rickard Rakell #67 of the Pittsburgh Penguins celebrates with Sidney Crosby #87 after a 5-4 shootout win over the Winnipeg Jets at PPG PAINTS Arena on March 21, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images

It ended up being a mostly uneventful draft weekend for the Pittsburgh Penguins as far as major short-term changes went. They acquired Hendrix Lapierre for draft picks, used some of their stockpile future of picks to get extra 2026 mid-round selections and went about their business of drafting players without many fireworks going down with massive moves.

The big landmark for the NHL offseason is coming up on Wednesday for the July 1st free agency market that officially opens up at noon. Heading into that event, here’s where the Pens stand.

First line forwards: Sidney Crosby, Rickard Rakell, Bryan Rust

There’s always at least moderate smoke in the national media picture regarding the potential availability of Rakell and Rust to be traded, yet no trade has happened or seemingly been close. If you look at the ice time splits under Dan Muse last season, there’s these three forwards (who all averaged between 18-20 minutes per game) and then everyone else. The team could always opt tactically to nudge Egor Chinakhov to play with Crosby-Rust again and place Rakell on the second line, but these three right now are the central figures on the team as far as forwards go.

Other key NHL forwards: Evgeni Malkin, Egor Chinakhov, Ben Kindel, Tommy Novak

As of now, these four forwards look to be the base of the ‘second’ and ‘third’ lines, though nomenclature is about the only differential given how Muse has split ice time and assignments. Malkin averaged 14:26 of ES ice time last year, compared to Kindel’s 12:36 – based on the ages of both those numbers will likely be evening out a bit next season. These names can bounce around the lineup, including between center and wing in some cases, but all are in place to take important roles for the team for the players that will probably be in the 13-14 minute of ES ice time per game next year. As mentioned above, there’s the possibility that Chinakhov will grow further into the higher classification of player as the year goes along, but starting him out in this pile feels right for this moment.

‘Fourth’ liners: Connor Dewar, Blake Lizotte

Most fourth liners across the league aren’t pushing 14 minutes per game like these two who tend to take regular shifts throughout the game and are relied on for a ton of defensive zone starts while matching up against scoring line opponents. Dewar and Lizotte will be the backbone of an important line next season that will be listed as a ‘fourth’ line it will still carry a very important part of the action.

Fill out forwards (3 lineup spots): Elmer Soderblom, Justin Brazeau, Hendrix Lapierre, Rutger McGroarty, Avery Hayes, Ville Koivunen, Filip Hallander, Tristan Broz

This group of players will likely float between different roles as the season goes along. Brazeau has played a limited amount but in key places in the lineup, he could yet reprise his role with Kindel and still end up seeing 11-12 ES minutes per game. Soderblom performed well down the stretch. Wingers like Brazeau and Soderblom could see time on lines with good players and yet still end up as the third and seldom-used part of the puzzle.

Lapierre was acquired for two draft picks, including a third rounder, so one would presume he will factor into the lineup at the start of the season in some form. What line that would be, and even whether that is at center or on the wing still could be considered up in the air right now.

Younger forwards who finished the season in the AHL will be knocking on the door but will need strong preseasons to find a role and/or trades sending out vets who currently occupy spots above them. Lapierre’s acquisition without any forwards under contract departing serve to make the math that much worse for players in the grouping of forwards attempting to graduate into the NHL full-time, at this moment anyways.

Left Defense: Parker Wotherspoon, Sam Girard

There’s not a lot currently in the rumor mill tying the Pens to Darnell Nurse, despite Pittsburgh being on a list of three places Nurse would accept a trade. If that avenue isn’t one Pittsburgh is interested in travelling, left defense could be an area to watch for offseason moves since it’s arguably the weakest spot on the roster. Ryan Shea’s camp has to be encouraged that Brett Kulak signed a $4.5 million contract for five years as an indicator the free agent market will be very rewarding for Shea. The Pens will have to find a Shea replacement or risk going into camp depending on a young player like Owen Pickering or Jake Livanavage to step into the playing lineup or have Ilya Solovyov go from a depth option to regular. What the Pens would truly need and want is to find the 2026 version of Wotherspoon as a free agent that wouldn’t cost an arm and leg on his contract and still be able to fill an important role. Finding and securing such a target is usually a very tall task.

Right Defense: Erik Karlsson, Kris Letang

It might already be time to put Harrison Brunicke’s name in pencil (or a sharper writing implement) to round out the lineup after a strong showing in the AHL playoffs. Regardless, at the very least the need is obvious that Pens could use more depth, a swing player like Connor Clifton would be a small but important piece of insurance. That might not be Clifton himself as he heads to free agency but given the ages of Karlsson and Letang plus the inexperience of Brunicke, another NHL caliber right shot defender wouldn’t be an unnecessary add even with the suspected elevation of Brunicke.

Goaltender: Arturs Silovs, Sergei Murashov/Joel Blomqvist

All indications are that the Pens are comfortable with going very young in net next year by having one of Murashov or Blomqvist in their goalie tandem. Murashov has clearly edged ahead of Blomqvist on the organizational depth chart, though Blomqvist being an older and more experienced player makes it easy to project NHL action next season at some point. Neither goalie will require waivers in 2026-27, so the possibility is open to rotate these goalies on/off the NHL roster depending on how circumstances dictate. That wouldn’t happen as a yo-yo after one bad performance, it’s just good news for the Pens that they don’t have to place all their hopes in one singular AHL goalie moving up next year when they have two decent options. That depth makes the situation encouraging after Murashov’s great year in Wilkes, if he stumbles or shows a need for more development time the team looks fairly content with having Blomqvist there to pick up any slack or in the event of an injury.

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Overall, the Penguins don’t look like they have a splashy move up their sleeves for this summer. The thought of giving 30-year old players like Alex Tuch or Darren Raddysh eight years on a contract likely never entered their minds, just as they have shown no signs of wanting to keep Anthony Mantha. The free agent class isn’t terribly impressive and in a climate where players have more say in trades than ever, Pittsburgh doesn’t look like it’s the destination of preference for players like Dylan Larkin – and there’d be no reason to suspect Zach Werenski or any other high-profile players that get to pick their spots either. The draft going by without dealing a veteran like Rakell or Rust might be an indicator that both players will return for another season with the Pens now that the event is over and 2026 picks have been made.

After the draft in 2025, the Pens made three summer trades. Most were fairly minor in the big scheme of things that saw backup goalie Alex Nedeljkovic and Vlad Kolaychonok traded out with the Silovs and Matt Dumba as a cap casualty joining the team. Summer 2024 was similar, there was a prospect swap (McGroarty for Brayden Yage), a couple of cap-related moves that saw Cody Glass and Kevin Hayes added while the ill-fit of Reilly Smith was sent away but little else in terms of truly impactful movement.

This summer could still see a name from the NHL roster above traded out before the league settles into ‘cottage season’ and activity dies down later in the summer, but at this point of the calendar in the usual flow of player movement most of the activity could be limited to whatever free agency deals end up getting struck. An outlook on the Pens shows they have some veteran players that could still be trade targets and a need to address defensive depth either in a trade or by signing a free agent or two.

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Edmonton Was Never Really Close On Trade for High-Ceiling Goalie

The Sebastian Cossa era in Detroit is over, and some Edmonton Oilers fans might be wondering whether Stan Bowman missed a golden opportunity. There was chatter that Cossa was a goaltender the Oilers had on a short list of goalies they'd targeted.

Ultimately, the netminder was traded in a different deal, and it's probably for the best. That might sound odd to say, but if you're in the camp that Edmonton missed out, here's why you shouldn't lose any sleep over it.

Utah acquired the 23-year-old goaltender from the Red Wings on Friday, with a 2026 first-round pick as the centerpiece of the deal. It was a fairly high price to pay, and an asset the Oilers didn't have to match.

Ultimately, this wasn't a decision Bowman passed on — it was never really on the table. The Oilers lacked draft capital to make the deal. Frankly, the lack of a stocked cupboard of picks to make any number of trades is a problem. 

But even if the price had been different, the fit was questionable. Cossa has been excellent in the AHL, posting a 26-8-4 record with a 2.33 GAA, a .915 save percentage and five shutouts this past season. He's a legitimate prospect with a big future. What he isn't, yet, is a proven NHL starter — and that distinction matters enormously for a team trying to win a Stanley Cup around Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl right now.

What's key to remember here is, this is a goalie with a grand total of one NHL game on his resume. 

Going into 2026-27 with a Tristan Jarry-Cossa tandem would have been a bet on potential over production at the worst possible time. Edmonton needs a goaltender who has been there, handled pressure, and won meaningful games — not one still working his way up. Utah, a younger team with more runway, is the right landing spot for Cossa at this stage of his development.

They can afford to be patient. 

The Oilers need to solve their crease situation this summer, and Cossa was never going to be that solution. The fact that Utah made that decision easier by outbidding everyone with assets Edmonton didn't have is, frankly, a lucky break. It allowed Bowman to get out of his own way and focus on adding a proven veteran. Time will tell if he can do so. 

Yes, a potential option is off the board. And yes, the Mammoth might have acquired a terrific goaltender. Then again, there's a chance it takes Cossa a couple of years to get close to realizing his potential. It could be years before he hits his ceiling, whatever that might be. 

The Oilers don't have time to wait, and it would have been a high price to pay, especially if the risk didn't pay off. 

On to the next option, Stan.

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THN Archive: Predators Take Shape

The Hockey News has released its archive to all THN subscribers: 76 years of history, stories, and features.

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Predators Take Shape —July 1, 1998 - VOL. 59, Issue. 39 - Jeff Legwold

Nashville Predators’ GM David Poile has the requisite combination of realism and optimism for a man at the helm of an expansion team in today’s NHL.

“Obviously we’re not going to compete for the Stanley Cup right away,” Poile said following the June 26 expansion draft and June 27 entry draft in Buffalo. “But our thinking is we want to be better in the second year than the first, better in the third than we were in the second. We’re trying to build this up.”

The biggest building block so far came in the entry draft when the Predators moved up from No. 3 to No. 2-by surrendering their second round selection-to secure Plymouth Whalers’ center David Legwand. The 17-year-old from suburban Detroit-he turns 18 in August-has already been called the possible cornerstone of the franchise. (See pg. 31 for more on Legwand).

Poile also obtained nine players through trades just hours after the expansion draft and signed another in free agency (left winger Patrie Kjellberg) the same night. He subsequently traded center Mike Sullivan, who the team selected from the Boston Bruins in the expansion draft, to the Phoenix Coyotes for a seventh round pick in the 1999 entry draft.

“I think people now see David will make the deals he thinks will help us,” Trotz said. “He’s not afraid.”

But he is a realist. Poile drafted three unrestricted free agents in the expansion draft with the knowledge he wouldn’t even open negotiations with two of them (defenseman Al lafrate being the exception). Instead, the Predators will gladly take the compensatory draft picks they’ll be awarded when defenseman Uwe Krupp and goalie Mike Richter sign elsewhere later this summer.

Armed with the knowledge he wasn t going to lure big-name players to Nashville right away, Poile had to decide what kind of team to mold. With the recent push to find ways to open up the game, the GM figured it would be prudent to acquire speed, both up front and on the defense corps.

So the Predators selected players such as center Greg Johnson from the Chicago Blackhawks and defenseman Joel Bouchard from the Calgary Flames. They also went for guys who had put up decent scoring numbers in the minors, but who hadn’t yet done it consistently at the NHL level. Included in that group are forwards Craig Darby from the Philadelphia Flyers, Andrew Brunette from the Washington Capitals and Paul Brousseau from the Tampa Bay Lightning.

“Maybe a player blossoms because he gets more of a chance with us,” Poile said. “That’s how we are selling it, that they can come in and have a chance to contribute if they want to make the commitment.”

“And we wanted some character guys, guys who were going to show up every night,” Trotz said. “I’ve said we’re going to play in-your-face hockey and we’re going to.”

Trotz has called Doug Brown, selected from the Detroit Red Wings, the “poster child” for the Predators. “Here’s a guy who plays every game as hard as he can play it, is a great person on and off the ice and has terrific leadership skills.”

The Predators also have grit in the form of defenseman Jayson More (a free agent signee), and center Scott Walker, taken from the Vancouver Canucks in the expansion draft.

Since Brown’s 19 NHL goals for the Stanley Cup champions in 1997-98 is the most by any player on the current Predators’ roster, grind-it-out hockey will be the team’s trademark.

“We all need goals,” Poile said. “But 50-goal scorers are not available in the expansion draft. We took players who we think are hard-working, character guys who will not be afraid of challenges. We want people who persevere.”

New goalie Mike Dunham meets that criteria. The 26-year-old has played well during his pro career, but not often. That’s because with the New Jersey Devils he was cemented behind star Martin Brodeur. “At every level of his career he has had success,” Poile said of Dunham. “Now we have lifted away that obstacle (Brodeur).”

“This is a great opportunity,” Dunham said. “I’m going to approach it one save at a time. You can’t overwhelm yourself.”

In the end, the Predators likely came away with more speed and fewer goals than they anticipated. Now Nashville will wait for the likes of Legwand to grow up, for those such as Brunette to help it along, for those such as Brown to show it the way.

And they’ll look for those such as tough left winger Denny Lambert and rugged defenseman Bob Boughner to make sure they have enough room.

“We challenged (management) to come up with the best players for our franchise,” said owner Craig Leipold. “And we feel absolutely great about this team.”