The post-Brady Tkachuk era began at least one season earlier than anyone could have imagined on Sunday night, and the announcement ruined many a Father's Day dinner.

Tkachuk was traded to the Florida Panthers for the 9th and 25th overall selections in Friday’s NHL Draft, a conditional, lottery-protected first-round pick in 2029, and a second-round pick in 2027.

GM Steve Staios met the media on Monday and made it very clear this was not his idea and that he felt it best to accommodate the trade request rather than play a waiting game.

Though many Sens purists were in denial about this day ever coming, the signs were there. Matthew relocated to Florida, won two Stanley Cups, played with Brady at the 4 Nations Faceoff, and captured Olympic gold alongside his brother.

Now that the deal is done, rather than roasting the departed, it's important to note what this might mean in the big picture, not just for the Senators, but for all Canadian NHL markets.

1) What Canadian Teams Can Learn From The Brady Tkachuk Trade

This is not the first time this has happened in the NHL or even to the Senators.

Tkachuk was selected in the 2018 draft, and Alex DeBrincat was acquired in a blockbuster trade with the Chicago Blackhawks in 2022.

Neither was ultimately committed to a long-term future with the Senators, and for their own reasons, wanted to return to play in the States. 

The template for this kind of move was set by Matthew Tkachuk, who forced Brad Treliving’s hand in Calgary and landed himself in Florida via trade.

Making a star American-born player the linchpin in a Canadian market via the draft or a blockbuster trade can carry an extra risk if they hope to keep them after free agency hits. Canadian teams need to be cautious and understand that.

2) American Players Currently Available Through Trade or Free Agency 

Potential replacement players in the marketplace for Tkachuk and to fill the already existing top-six scoring forward dilemma are the talk of the town. The Sens got started with a deal on Tuesday for San Jose's William Eklund and two prospects, but their search may not be over.

They've also been linked to American players like RFA Jason Robertson and UFA Alex Tuch.

Robertson seems like a no-brainer if he wanted to come. He would really take the sting off losing a player like Tkachuk. Would he come in a sign and trade scenario? That is the $12 million question.

3) No Movement Clauses in Negotiations

These clauses have become more common with top players.

However, the Tkachuk trade is not the only trade where this sort of clause, regardless of the player’s citizenship, has put the team and others around the league in a bad position when it comes to negotiations and finding them new NHL homes.

Policy on the use of these clauses should be particularly stringent in negotiations with American players where it might be best to pay the higher AAV to ensure maximum return when an asset needs to be moved.

Contracts like Dylan Larkin’s, where the full no movement is in the early years of the player’s contract before any decline has occurred, seem to make more sense than a full NMC end-to-end.

There is a path forward, and there is life after Brady Tkachuk. If Steve Staios believes the team does not need to take a step backwards to recover from this, then let him execute his plan. 

When push comes to shove, the lessons listed above need to be on the minds of all Canadian NHL General Managers.

By Pat Maguire
The Hockey News

What was supposed to be an easy episode about the draft turned into a look at a wild few days in the NHL and where the Islanders sit among the craziness.

We don’t know anything about prospects. So we reached out to our Patrons and asked them who they’d like to see the Islanders draft this Friday. A few names rose to the top for a variety of reasons, some good and some silly. Most of all, we want the Islanders to come out of Buffalo this weekend with a clear direction and a plan forward. Some nice prospects would be good, too, of course. But there’s a difference between working towards a goal and just keeping the lights on.

A few teams around the NHL are certainly working towards their goals, although it’s hard to see what some of those are. The Panthers grabbed Brady Tkachuk with the goal of winning another Stanley Cup, and the Senators replaced their captain by using one of their acquired picks to get William Eklund from the Sharks. The Blackhawks and Capitals spent a lot to get Bo Byram and Jordan Kyrou, respectfully, which makes us think the Islanders might be better off playing it safe. But the reality is, they might not have a choice. With a lot of older players locked into long, expensive contracts, they don’t have the wiggle room to maneuver the way other teams do, which means there’s a good chance next season’s team looks a lot like last season’s. That’s certainly a direction. Just not the one we want.

Along the way, we make some predictions about the draft, come to a startling revelation about the Islanders involvement in one of Wednesday’s trades and lament the hiring of longtime Islander villain Pascal Dupuis to their front office. Really, guys?

REFERENCES:

• Seriously? This guy?
• Welcome back, Ethan Bear.
• Might want to keep an eye on this page.

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The Pittsburgh Penguins have found a new owner after a Florida-based company struck a deal that's set to cost a little shy of $2 billion.

The sale has yet to officially close, but with the NHL Board of Governors approving the deal on June 23, it's expected to go through shortly.

Here's what to know about the Penguins' buyer.

Who bought the Pittsburgh Penguins?

The sale of the Pittsburgh Penguins from The Fenway Sports Group to Hoffman Family of Companies was unanimously approved by the NHL Board of Governors on June 23.

The sale was announced more than six months ago on Dec. 19, 2025, and it's expected to close imminently.

How much did the Pittsburgh Penguins sale cost?

NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman told NHL.com the transaction is set to cost about $1.75 billion.

In 2021, Fenway Sports Group bought controlling interest of the Penguins for $900 million from Mario Lemieux and Ron Burkle. FSG owns several sports properties, including the Boston Red Sox and Fenway Park in Boston.

"Actually, the deal was made a year ago, so based on the valuations at that time, that was consistent with what Sportico and Forbes and CNBC were doing, although at the time and even now I think it was low," Bettman said of the $1.75 billion valuation for the Penguins to NHL.com. "Having said that, it's nice that the Hoffmans got a good deal and it's nice that Fenway in five years doubled its investment. I still think it's low, but that's OK."

What are the Hoffmann Family of Companies that bought the Penguins?

The Hoffman Family of Companies, or HF Companies, is owned by couple David and Jerri Hoffman of Naples, Fla. The company owns a large catalog of area real estate, businesses, the Florida Everblades minor league hockey team and Hertz Arena.

With the acquisition of the Penguins, Geoff Hoffmann, CEO of HF Companies' Private Equity arm, will serve as Governor. Greg Hoffmann, CEO of the firm’s Real Estate arm; Kyle Dubas, General Manager & President of Hockey Operations of the Pittsburgh Penguins; and David Hoffmann, Founder & Chairman of HF Companies, will each serve as Alternate Governors.

David Hoffman bought Florida's Everblades and Hertz Arena in August 2019. The Blades were affiliated with the St. Louis Blues for the last two seasons, but the Blues announced June 22 that they have moved their ECHL affiliation to the Worcester (Mass.) Railers with an agreement through the 2030-31 season, leaving Florida looking for a new partner. Pittsburgh has had an affiliation agreement with the Wheeling Nailers for 29 years.Four years ago, Geoff Hoffman and his wife Megan founded Type 1 Timer Hockey in 2022. Inspired by their son Henry's experience of living with Type 1 diabetes, it's the only hockey camp in the United States intended specifically for kids with the diagnosis and is held annually at Hertz Arena.

"The Penguins represent everything Hoffmann Family of Companies stands for — community, excellence and long-term thinking," Geoff Hoffman said in a release. "We look forward to building on the team’s success by providing support and resources to both Kyle Dubas and the hockey operations team, as well as the established leadership group on the business side. We're proud to represent this storied franchise and are eager to become an active, invested part of the Pittsburgh community."

Finch Walker is the Pittsburgh Connect Reporter for the USA TODAY Network. Contact Walker at FWalker@usatodayco.com. Instagram: @finchwalker_. X: @_finchwalker.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Key details of Pittsburgh Penguins $2B sale to Florida-based company

According to David Pagnotta of the Fourth Period, one name to watch this week, and as NHL free agency opens, is former Edmonton Oilers forward Jesse Puljujarvi.

Pagnotta writes, "We’re a week away from the free agent doors swinging open. One player to look out for: Jesse Puljujarvi." He adds, "He had a monster season in the Swiss League. His hip issues are a thing of the past, I’m told, and there’s already lots interest from several teams eyeing a mid-six upgrade."

Could the Oilers be among them?

This is a different management team that has no real history with Puljujarvi. There's a new coaching crew that would be able to give him a fresh look and while many of the same players are here that saw Puljujarvi struggle, if accountability and effort are going to be the focus of training camp and the 2026-27 season, maybe Puljujarvi thrives under someone like Mike Babcock. Perhaps he needs that structure and no-nonsense leader to finally break through. 

Unapologetic Mike Babcock Says of Oilers Coaching Job: "They're The Ones Asking For This"Refusing to soften his hard-nosed reputation, Edmonton’s new coach insists Connor McDavid and the Oilers' leadership demanded his rigorous style to finally secure a Stanley Cup championship.

He scored 52 points in 52 games this past season playing for Geneve Servette. Prior to leaving the NHL, he spent time with both the Pittsburgh Penguins and Florida Panthers in 2024-25. He's shown flashes of a high ceiling in the NHL, but not been able to put it all together. 

If he gets another shot in the NHL, this could be his last. He'll be extremely motivated and as a big body with skill, maybe he's a fit on a low-cost, relatively risk-free contract. 

He was taken fourth overall by the Oilers in the 2016 draft and there may be a part of this organization that would love to see that selection finally pay off. 

Bookmark The Hockey News Edmonton Oilers team site to never miss the latest news, game-day coverage, and more. Add us to your Google News favourites, and never miss a story.

If you’re reading this story, there is a good chance that you remember where you were on June 24, 2024.

It was on that night, inside a packed Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise, that the Florida Panthers became Stanley Cup champions for the first time in team history.

Florida defeated the Edmonton Oilers 2-1 in Game 7 that night, ending an epic series that was an intense roller coaster of emotions for both the teams and their fans.

The Panthers jumped out to a 3-0 series lead, winning the first three games of the Final by a combined score of 11-4.

It looked like they were an unstoppable force destined to cruise their way to a Stanley Cup.

Then the Oilers dominated Game 4, turning Downtown Edmonton into a party zone after beating down the Panthers 8-1.

They followed that up with a 5-3 road win in Game 5 and a strong 5-1 win in Game 6, pulling off the unthinkable and forcing a seventh and deciding game.

With all the momentum squarely on Edmonton’s side, it was an unbelievable situation for the Panthers and their fans to find themselves in ahead of a do-or-die Game 7.

The Panthers got back to their roots, grinding down Edmonton and holding them to only a handful of high-end chances while skating to a resounding 2-1 victory.

For all the blood, sweat and tears it took to reach the pinnacle, it sure seemed worth it during that night of celebrating.

Enjoy the memories today, and relive some of the magic in the videos below.

LATEST STORIES FROM THE HOCKEY NEWS - FLORIDA

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Brady Tkachuk Welcomed To Florida Panthers, Excited To Join 'Closest Group In The League'

Florida Panthers Unwilling To Include Anton Lundell In Any NHL Trade 

Brady Tkachuk To Wear No. 8 For Florida Panthers, Will Be Officially Introduced Tuesday

NHL Insider Reportedly 'Hears Noise' Involving Panthers' Evan Rodrigues

The Hockey Show: Reaction To Panthers Acquiring Brady Tkachuk, Exploring Florida's Goaltending Situation

Photo caption Jun 24, 2024; Sunrise, Florida, USA; Florida Panthers forward Aleksander Barkov (16) hoists the Stanley Cup after defeating the Edmonton Oilers in game seven of the 2024 Stanley Cup Final at Amerant Bank Arena. (Sam Navarro-Imagn Images)

The St. Louis Blues, after a long time under consideration, have parted ways with Jordan Kyrou, sending him to the Washington Capitals for a package of two players and a pick.

The Blues received 25-year-old Connor McMichael, prospect Milton Gastrin, and the 16th overall pick in the 2026 NHL draft. 

That’s a very positive haul for the Blues, who add another skilled forward prospect in Gastrin, a fourth first-round pick in this year’s draft, and McMichael, an established NHL center with recent success in the league.

McMichael and Kyrou each finished the 2025-26 season with 46 points, although both players clearly had down years. 

The year prior, McMichael scored 26 goals and 57 points in 82 games as the Capitals finished in first place in the Eastern Conference. 

While McMichael’s history of success isn’t as strong as Kyrou’s, McMichael brings versatility to play center or wing. 

Stylistically, McMichael and Kyrou have similarities. McMichael is a speedy winger, ranking in the 77th percentile in max skating speed, while ranking in the 69th percentile of players recording 20-22 miles per hour bursts, according to NHL EDGE.

McMichael is also a dual-threat offensive player, possessing a strong shot and goalscoring instincts while also maintaining a playmaker’s mindset. The former 25th overall pick of the 2019 NHL draft i a capable puck handler, willing to skate with the puck in transition.

But that’s not the only way McMichael is effective. He is a smart player, which makes him an offensive threat without the puck. McMichael is efficient at timing his entrances to high-danger areas. 

His defensive game isn’t as polished as Kyrou’s has become, but there is still plenty of time for him to improve in that aspect of the game.

Blues Own Four First-Round Picks Following Jordan Kyrou Trade; Is A Bigger Move Next?The St. Louis Blues own an embarrassment of riches, holding four first-round picks in the 2026 NHL draft. Is a bigger move on the way, or could the Blues package their picks to move up in the draft?

McMichael is an RFA who was earning $2.1 million on his last contract. His qualifying offer is also $2.1 million, but the expectation is that McMichael is looking for a deserved pay raise. 

Where McMichael fits in the lineup will be an interesting aspect to watch. Robert Thomas is the first-line center, and Dalibor Dvorsky will skate on either the second or third line. Could McMichael play up the middle for the Blues, or will he be shifted to the wing?

The Blues have an abundance of left-handed wingers: Dylan Holloway, Jake Neighbours, Pavel Buchnevich, and Otto Stenberg. On the right side, they have Jimmy Snuggerud and possibly Justin Carbonneau, if the Blues believe he is ready to play in the NHL next season. 

McMichael is a skilled, adaptable forward, who should be able to play anywhere in the Blues lineup.

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The New York Islanders announced their preseason schedule on Wednesday:

#Isles preseason schedule is out: pic.twitter.com/Wz71g2MGWK

— Stefen Rosner (@stefen_rosner) June 24, 2026

The NHL's new Collective Bargaining Agreement cut preseason down from six games to four. This upcoming preseason will be the first time since 2014 that the Islanders hand't faced the Philadelphia Flyers. 

Also included in the preseason release is the scheduling of two rookie camp scrimmages against the New Jersey Devils. 

On Sept. 13, the Islanders rookies will face the Devils' in New Jersey at their practice facility before hosting them at Northwell Health Ice Center on Sept. 15. 

Islanders rookie camp opens a week before NHL camp does.

On Tuesday, Calgary Flames General Manager Craig Conroy made a blockbuster trade with the New Jersey Devils, acquiring 21-year-old defenseman Simon Nemec and forward Maxim Tsyplakov.

Nemec joins the youth movement in Calgary, one led by 19-year-old Zayne Parekh, 23-year-old Matt Coronato, 24-year-old Dustin Wolf, 24-year-old Connor Zary, and 26-year-old Martin Pospisil. 

“I’m pretty excited to join Calgary, it’s a good young team. I think it can be a really good spot for me, so I’m really happy.”

Simon Nemec is eager to join the squad and reunite with his fellow countrymen!https://t.co/ZuN2Mxq3rJ

— Calgary Flames (@NHLFlames) June 23, 2026

Moreover, the Flames not only acquired a young player with three years of NHL experience, but Nemec has logged a lot of minutes for Slovakia in international hockey. 

Here are five fascinating statistics about Nemec's career.

5. Named MVP of the Hlinka Gretzky Cup

Nemec had a great 2020-21 season. First, he played 39 games with HK Nitra, scoring 26 points. Then, he led all Slovakian U18 skaters in points and earned a Top 3 Player on Team award at the U20 World Juniors. 

However, the following year, in 2021-22, he skated for the first time at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup and won the tournament's MVP award and captured a silver medal. As captain, he had one goal and five assists in six games. 

4. Nemec Will Be Only the 7th Slovakian Player in Flames History

As of 2026, Nemec is one of just 95 players from Slovakia to play in the NHL, and just the 29th defenseman to skate in a game. Moreover, he is about to become only the 7th player from Slovakia to put on a Flamin' C sweater, joining current teammates Martin Pospisil and Samuel Honzek.

Interestingly, Nemec will become the first and only defenseman from his country to play in Calgary, since everyone else has been a forward. Former Flames players from Slovakia include Adam Ruzicka, Ronald Petrovicky, Robert Dome, and Marek Hrivik.

3. Enjoys Playing Flames Goalies, Past and Present

Nemec has scored only 16 goals in the NHL, with his first coming against Philipp Grubauer and the Seattle Kraken on Dec. 7, 2023. So far, he's lit the lamp against 12 goalies, with Spencer Knight of the Chicago Blackhawks surrendering the most, since he gave up Nemec's only career hat trick on Nov. 12, 2025.

Interestingly, the former Devils' defenseman has beaten both of his new teammates, Wolf and Devin Cooley, while also getting one past former Flames goalie Dan Vladar. With five career goals against the Blackhawks, Nemec should enjoy playing in the Western Conference, as the two teams will meet three times.

2. Third-Highest Scoring Defenseman from 2022 Draft

As the second overall pick in the 2022 NHL Draft, Nemec is just one of 76 players from his class to suit up for a game in the league. Of course, that year's leading scorer is first overall pick Juraj Slafkovsky of the Montreal Canadiens with 184 points, while Nemec ranks 10th overall in scoring. 

With 49 points in 155 games, he is the third-highest scoring defenseman from 2022, behind the Canadiens' Lane Hutson (146 points) and the Anaheim Ducks' Pavel Mintyukov (69 points). Regarding games played, Nemec moves up to 8th and is one of 12 skaters in his draft class to surpass 100 games.

1. Won an Olympic Bronze Medal in 2022 

Because Nemec had not yet made the jump to North America in 2022, he had a chance to represent Slovakia at the Winter Olympics. At just 18 years old, he captured a bronze medal when his team defeated Sweden. To make the lineup, Nemec had to play in qualifying games, where he picked up an assist in three contests. At the Winter Olympics, he played in seven games, picking up another assist.

In 2026, Nemec returned to the Slovakian lineup, first in two qualifying games, and six more at the Olympic Games. Once again, they played in the bronze medal game, except this time around, Slovakia lost 6-1 to Finland. Through two appearances, Nemec has already played 13 Olympic games.

New Jersey Devils defenseman Dennis Cholowski will hit the free agent market on July 1st, his agent confirmed with The Hockey News on Wednesday morning.

The 28-year-old served as one of the club’s depth defenseman, appearing in 17 games for the Devils in 2025-26 and 13 in the American Hockey League with the Utica Comets. He was acquired by New Jersey in March 2025 from the New York Islanders for forward Adam Beckman.

Drafted in the first round in the 2016 NHL Draft, he has additionally played for the Detroit Red Wings, Washington Capitals, and Seattle Kraken.

Cholowski was among the handful of unrestricted free agents facing uncertain futures with the Devils, alongside Evgenii Dadonov, Zack MacEwen, and Colton White.

When NHL free agency opens at 1 p.m. ET on July 1, it will mark Sunny Mehta's first opportunity to navigate the market as the Devils' general manager.

Make sure you bookmark THN's New Jersey Devils site for THN's latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more.

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With the 2026 NHL Draft taking place on Friday, some NHL teams got active in a major way on Tuesday.

The New York Islanders were not one of the teams involved, but a few of their former pieces were. 

The day started with the New Jersey Devils deciding to move on from disgruntled defenseman Simon Nemec to the Calgary Flames. 

In that deal was former Islanders forward Maxim Tsyplakov who was flipped to New Jersey in exchange for Ondrej Palat and their 2026 third-round pick. 

Devils Trade Defenseman Šimon Nemec to FlamesSunny Mehta has made his first trade as general manager of the <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-jersey-devils/latest-news/devils-q-a-jake-allen-discusses-fatherhood-balancing-hockey-family">New Jersey Devils</a>.

As the day progressed, we saw the Ottawa Senators flip the No. 9 pick they just acquired from the Florida Panthers in the Brady Tkachuk trade to the San Jose Sharks in exchange for William Eklund, hinting that Ivan Stenberg may be their selection at No. 2. 

William is the older brother of Islanders prospect Victor Eklund, who the team selected 16th overall at the 2025 NHL Draft. 

Ottawa Senators Acquire William Eklund From San Jose SharksThe Ottawa Senators traded the No. 9 pick to the San Jose Sharks in exchange for William Eklund, Kasper Halttunen and Brandon Svoboda.

As the day progressed we saw the Washington Capitals acquire Jordan Kyrou from the St. Louis Blues.

Kyrou waived his full no-trade clause. 

Capitals Acquire Jordan Kyrou For Connor McMichael & Milton Gastrin, First-RounderThe Capitals landed their skill forward.

The last trade of the day -- the biggest head-scratcher, too -- was the Chicago Blackhawks trading the No. 4 overall pick and No. 45 in the 2026 NHL Draft to acquire Bowen Byram from the Buffalo Sabres, a gambful, for sure. 

That second-round pick was the Islanders. 

On day two of the 2023 NHL Draft in Nashville, former Islanders general manager Lou Lamoriello traded that pick to Chicago to get them to take the final season of Josh Bailey's deal which carried a $5 million cap hit. 

It's time for Chicago to start acquiring NHL talent over prospects, but this deal has to work, especially when you see Byram's AAV on his upcoming extension. 

BREAKING NEWS: Blackhawks Trade 4th & 45th Overall Pick, Louis Crevier To Sabres For Bowen ByramThe Chicago Blackhawks have completed a trade with the Buffalo Sabres, acquiring Bowen Byram.

The Islanders, after missing the playoffs for the last two seasons, have yet to get involved in these pre-draft trade shenanigans as we wait and see how general manager Mathieu Darche decides to navi his second free agency on Long Island. 

Again, and for the foreseeable future, the NHL Entry Draft is of a different relevance to the Colorado Avalanche as they don’t have a first round pick until at least 2029. Even their lone remaining second round selection for the foreseeable future (in 2027) likely won’t make it through the next trade deadline so picking later in the draft is the new normal for Colorado.

Still, this draft offers more intrigue than usual because the Avalanche hold nine draft picks, though Colorado won’t be on the clock until day two. That might not sound exciting or important but if the Carolina Hurricanes can get a Jackson Blake at 109th overall then it’s no excuse to write-off the goal of getting an impact player outside the top 100 picks.

Colorado’s 2026 draft class splits evenly into two different tiers. First, the newly acquired third round pick from the Ross Colton trade plus a duo of fourth and fifth round picks make for a nice mid-round cluster and then there’s four remaining Hail Mary lotto tickets in the seventh round. Both sections of the draft require a bit of a different strategy but it is still possible to get NHL contributions in each portion of the draft as shown below.

Candidates at 74th Overall

Huzzah! Joe Sakic procured a relevant draft asset in the aforementioned recent Ross Colton trade. This was Nashville’s own third round pick and holds some decent value especially as it sits in the top third of the round. There’s a lot of thought that this pick should just get traded because the Avalanche have made horrendous picks in the third round (and later) as shown below but that shouldn’t be an excuse to stop trying. A good pick needs to be coupled with a development plan and organizational commitment but it can be done to try and reverse previous failures. Let’s be honest, whoever gets selected at 74th overall is in all probability instantly a top five prospect in this organization.

Perhaps it’s time to go back to the Rouyn-Noranda well to look for options in the third round with this rare opportunity for Colorado to pick early on the second day of the draft. Enter Lars Steiner who is a 5-foot-10 right winger import to the QMJHL from Switzerland. He can shoot the puck as evidenced by his 30 goals in 44 games this season and produced 55 points overall. Steiner played on the Swiss team at the World Junior Championship and contributed four points in five games. As a late birthday he will turn 18 this fall and should have many options available to him on where to play next season. Steiner is ranked 89th on NHL Central Scouting’s North American list but many other rankings have him in the third round. He’s the type of talent the Avalanche might be intrigued by as they value goal scoring in their prospects highly.

Candidates at 126th, 128th, 149th, and 152nd Overall

With this much mid-round draft capital it is possible the Avalanche package some of these picks to move around the draft board. This isn’t something the organization has done much of in the past, in fact the only draft selection in the Joe Sakic era they have moved up for was when they ascended ten spots to 139th to select Ryder Rolston in 2020. Of course the idea is contingent on not trading these picks away in other deals for immediate needs on the Avalanche roster.

It is difficult to identify any particular targets 100 picks deep into the draft but there will always be some fallers who were expected to go a round or two higher. Those types of players should be the target here in hopes to rebuild the prospect system. Forecasting particulars, though, Colorado loves their specific targets of overagers, NCAA players and Russians. Potentially a combination of two or three of those attributes would be perfect if they can find it.

One player actually does fit all three criteria and that is Egor Barabanov, ranked number one on The Althetic’s top overager list as the left shot center was fourth in the OHL in scoring for Saginaw with and has recently committed to UMass. We know the Avalanche have a lot of familiarity with that program and have a prospect in defenseman Francesco Dell’Elce heading into his junior year at the school. Listed at 43rd on NHL Central Scouting’s rankings for North American skaters Barabanov might fall out of reach for Colorado but the value of overagers is tough to peg. Still, no doubt the young Russian is on their radar.

🆕 at @TheAthletic: Ranking the top 20 overagers in the #2026NHLDraft.

🎁 Free to read, with full reports: https://t.co/9TXucxxpLTpic.twitter.com/jgXPuP9Of8

— Scott Wheeler (@scottcwheeler) May 27, 2026

Candidates at 195th, 214th, 215th, and 222nd Overall

There has been an interesting draft factoid for the Avalanche is that almost all seventh rounds picks they have taken in their history drafted out of the CHL have been signed to a NHL Entry Level Contract (the lone exception being goalie Ivan Zhigalov drafted in 2022). The CHL produces a deep talent pool will always have some options late in the draft, Nikita Prishchepov’s selection at 217th overall in 2024 as the latest example. While the impetus is to use very late draft selections on long-term projects from either Russia or the NCAA, it’s interesting to note that the CHL seventh round picks have made it a worthy investment.

Speaking of Russian goaltenders, Yegor Rybkin has Avalanche prospect written all over him. He is the second ranked international goalie, stands at 6-foot-7 and was injured for most of the year, which might make him drop in the rankings. He plays in Russia’s MHL for the Nizhny Novgorod system so his NHL rights will be held indefinitely by the team that drafts him. The organization loves large goaltenders and long-term projects. With four seventh round pick at their disposal some selections will fit that criteria.

Croskery. Zurawski. Hrenak. McLaughlin. Olsson. Ruzicka. Sparks. Sivertson.

30 intriguing #2026NHLDraft prospects who just missed the cut for my upcoming final draft board. 🎁 Free to read: https://t.co/MGdcZYzCkgpic.twitter.com/HBtf9GcY7x

— Scott Wheeler (@scottcwheeler) May 28, 2026

What type of targets would you like to see the Avalanche pick on draft day?Let us know in the comments!

For the first time since a stunning trade that sent him packing to the City of Brotherly Love, former Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Joseph Woll has broken his silence.

Taking to Instagram, the 27-year-old goaltender posted a heartfelt farewell to the city that drafted him a decade ago, expressing deep gratitude for his time in Blue and White while signaling he is ready for a fresh start with the Philadelphia Flyers.

“From the bottom of my heart, thank you to the organization, the city, my friends and especially, my teammates for helping make my time in Toronto so special. I have enough memories to last a lifetime. I’ll forever be proud and grateful for my time with the Leafs. 🍁Philly, get ready.”

- Joseph Woll on Instagram.

“The trade, the first by newly appointed Maple Leafs general manager John Chayka, caught many by surprise. Toronto sent Woll alongside fan-favourite, hard-hitting defenseman Simon Benoit to the Flyers. In return, the Maple Leafs acquired goaltender Samuel Ersson, 24-year-old Swedish blueliner Emil Andrae, and a third-round selection in the 2026 NHL Draft.  

For Woll, the move marks the end of a highly scrutinized tenure in Toronto. Selected 62nd overall by the Leafs in the 2016 draft, “The Brick Woll” showed flashes of brilliant, elite-level goaltending but battled inconsistencies and untimely injuries. He departs Toronto with a career regular-season record of 63-43-9, a 2.94 goals-against average,  a .906 save percentage, and four shutouts across 117 games. In the postseason, he went 6-6 with a 2.73 GAA and a .906 save percentage over 14 appearances.  

However, the 2025-26 campaign was a grueling one for both Woll and the Maple Leafs, who missed the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time in ten years. Tasked with anchoring the crease alongside Anthony Stolarz, Woll struggled behind a porous Toronto defense that surrendered the second-most goals per game in the league (3.60). He posted a 15-16-7 record, and while he recorded a career-high two shutouts, his 3.34 GAA and .899 save percentage over 39 games were the lowest marks of his NHL career.  

With two seasons left on the three-year, $10.98 million contract ($3.67 million AAV) he signed in 2024, Chayka ultimately decided it was time to pivot, leveraging Toronto’s goaltending depth to accumulate future assets and roster flexibility. 

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The Columbus Blue Jackets took part in their first Entry Draft on June 24th, 2000, in Calgary, Alberta. They left Calgary after drafting 11 players; how did it go?

They took, with the 4th overall pick, Rostislav Klesla from the Brampton Battalion of the OHL. The big defenseman played in 8 games in the 2000-01 season before being sent back to his junior team in Brampton. 

Klesla made the team full-time the next season, playing in 75 games. He scored 8 goals and had 16 points. Klesla played with the Jackets until 2011 when he was traded to the Phoenix Coyotes. He would go on to play 3 more seasons in Phoenix, until on November 26, 2013 he was placed on waivers by the Coyotes. On March 4, 2014 he was traded to the Washington Capitals. One day later he was traded to the Buffalo Sabres. On March 8th, he refused to report to the Sabres, and was later suspended. He went back to Europe to his home country of the Czech Republic to play, and then retire in 2016.

Klesla finished his NHL career with a stat line of 48 goals and 159 points in 659 games. Rusty, as his teammates and fans called him, was beloved during his time in Columbus.

The rest of the 2000 Entry Draft for the CBJ did not do so well. Only two other players they picked that year ever played in the NHL. Petteri Nummelin, a defenseman from Finland, played in 139 career NHL games. Slovakian center Andrej Nedorost played in 28 career NHL games. 

The 2000 draft class is stacked with stars. From Rick DiPietro, Dany Heatley, and Niklas Kronwall to Ilya Bryzgalov, Justin Williams, and newly elected Hall of Famer Henrik Lundqvist. 

But the crazy thing about this draft is how many players found their way to Columbus and played for the Blue Jackets. Besides Rusty Klesla (4), Marion Gaborik (3), Raffi Torres (5), Scott Hartnell (6), and Ron Hainsey (13) all played for the CBJ, and all were first-round picks. Antoine Vermette (55) and Mike Rupp (76) also played for the CBJ. Some of these guys had really good years playing for the Jackets too.

Oh what could have been.

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

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The Chicago Blackhawks and Buffalo Sabres completed a borderline blockbuster trade. Chicago sent the 4th & 45th overall picks, along with Louis Crevier, to Buffalo in exchange for Bowen Byram and Jordan Greenway. 

Byram is an incredible defenseman who comes to Chicago hoping to be their number one. He feels that after a career year, it is time for him to get the ice time and paycheck that he deserves. With Rasmus Dahlin, Mattias Samuelsson, and Owen Power already established in Buffalo, Byram felt overshadowed. 

As a Blackhawk, Byram will be the number one guy on defense. On most nights, he will lead the team in time on ice, and should be their top offensive producer from the back-end. The team will be better with him on it. 

The catch is that Byram has one year left on his deal, which carries a cap hit of $6.25 million. After that, he will require a substantial pay upgrade on a long-term extension. His salary will likely double. He is just 25 years old, which means he has some great hockey ahead of him, but it will still be a hard contract to live up to. 

Jordan Greenway is not a game-changer. He will be a fourth-line option for Jeff Blashill, bringing a physical presence to the game, but you can't point to him as a reason the team will be better. 

Early in the life of the trade, it has the makings of a legitimate disaster for the Chicago Blackhawks. They gave up a top-five pick and a second-round pick, along with a solid defenseman in Louis Crevier, for Bowen Byram without an extension and a fourth-line forward. 

The outlook of the trade will improve if they get Byram signed, but there will also be worry about it becoming an albatross. They gave up a lot, including their most valuable asset, and Connor Bedard still has a huge hole on his wing. 

In the likely event that they are unable to get Bedard a true top-line winger, that will make it four years in a row to start his career. That's terrible asset management. 

Byram is a really good player, and the Blackhawks should have taken him 3rd overall in 2019, but this is a massive overpay for him 7 years later. 

Blackhawks Trade Grade: D+ 

The trade grade will become a C if Byram signs a fair extension, and it will become an A if he is the true number one defenseman that the Blackhawks need for a large portion of the Connor Bedard era. For now, there are way too many question marks. 

Social Media Reacts To Sabres Trading Byram, Greenway To Blackhawks For No. 4 Pick And MoreSome posts on social media described the Chicago Blackhawks sending picks Nos. 4 and 45 and Louis Crevier to the Buffalo Sabres for Bowen Byram and Jordan Greenway as one of the worst trades ever. Others defended the deal.

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