On Tuesday, Quebecers celebrated their national holiday, Saint-Jean-Baptiste. A day that has been eventful in Montreal Canadiens’ history, from the blockbuster in 2017 that was meant to solve the first center conundrum when Jonathan Drouin arrived in Montreal in return for Mikael Sergachev to Artturi Lehkonen’s Cup Final trip-clinching goal.

On that special day for the province, it felt like a good idea to list who would be featured on my Mount Rushmore of Quebec hockey players. Of course, the list cannot only include Tricolore players, but they do dominate. Without further ado and in no particular order, here we go.

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Maurice Richard

Any Mount Rushmore of Quebec-born players has got to include the Rocket. The original Richard was so much more than a hockey player; he was the idol of a people and the leader the province needed to undergo social and political changes. He empowered the people of Quebec to shine and excel in their fields. The first player to score 50 goals in 50 games, the Rocket now has a trophy named after him, which is awarded annually to the league’s top goal scorer. When he left the game, Richard was leading all players in career points with his 966 points in 978 games.

Mario Lemieux

It’s impossible not to put the Magnifique on this list. Lemieux is arguably the best player in history, and it’s impossible to know what heights he could have reached had he not had to deal with chronic back pain and cancer. When he hung up his skates for good, he had played 915 games and picked up 1723 points for a 1.88 point-per-game average, not far behind Wayne Gretzky’s 1.92 PPG average. In addition to being a fantastic player, Lemieux saved the franchise that drafted him, the Pittsburgh Penguins, twice. Once as a player and once as an owner, when you think of hockey in Pittsburgh, you think of Super Mario, even though it is now the home of Sid the Kid.

Patrick Roy

I may catch some flak for this one since Roy doesn’t lead the NHL in goalie wins, but I believe he was an absolute force on the ice, not just because of how well he played, but also because of his mental strength. There should be a picture of Roy next to the word “clutch” in the dictionary. To this day, Roy remains the only player in history to win the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoffs MVP for two different teams and to win it three times in four Stanley Cup wins, which demonstrates the significant contribution he made to those victories. Brodeur might have won three Cups, but he never was the playoffs' MVP. In his 1,029-game career, Roy has a 551-315-131 record. Furthermore, he led the Canadiens to their last two Stanley Cups; without his elite goaltending, Montreal would still be stuck on 22 Cups.

Guy Lafleur

I was torn here between Flower and Le Gros Bill, but Lafleur is the last absolute offensive superstar who wore the Sainte-Flanelle and was part of that Canadiens’ dynasty in the 1970s. When Beliveau skated into the sunset, Flower took over the torch, and although it took him a couple of years, he eventually held it high for all to see. In 1,126 games, Lafleur put up 1,353 points while Beliveau, in just one less game, put up 1,219 points. Perhaps I’m showing my age here, and I went with Lafleur because I was lucky enough to see him play; that’s a possibility, but just like Richard, Lafleur was the people’s idol. Unlike many players, he was always frank and ready to give his opinion, which is another reason why people loved him. Quebecer’s reaction to his death in April 2022 said it all…

Photo credit: Eric Bolte - Imagn Images

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The Rockford IceHogs have signed forward Brett Seney to a two-year deal, it was announced Monday. 

Seney, a 2015 sixth-round pick of the New Jersey Devils, spent the entire 2024-25 season with Rockford, putting up 10 goals and 29 assists for 39 points in 58 regular season games. With the IceHogs having made the playoffs, Seney got into seven games with the team and accumulated three points. 

Having turned pro at the end of the 2017-18 season, Seney has gotten into 66 career NHL regular season games with the Devils, Toronto Maple Leafs and the Chicago Blackhawks. In that span, he has scored six goals and added eight assists for 14 points. 

Having served as the captain of Rockford this past season, the organization clearly values Seney as someone who can help guide the younger players coming through the system while also still being an important contributor himself. Although it remains to be seen whether Seney will see another NHL game, he seems content in his role with the IceHogs and that is a good thing. 

With former Toronto Maple Leafs winger Mitch Marner set to hit the free agency market on July 1st, no one will be surprised to hear that the Vegas Golden Knights would like to clear some cap space to make a firm offer to the 28-year-old offensive dynamo. Since joining the NHL, Vegas has had a habit of going after the big game and getting their target. Just think about Jack Eichel or Max Pacioretty when the Montreal Canadiens wanted to trade them.

Vegas has no problem moving on from big names, either. Just remember how they got rid of Marc-Andre Fleury after he posted 36 wins, a 1.98 goals-against average, and a .928 save percentage just four years after rolling out the red carpet for him at the expansion draft.

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With their sights set on Marner, the Knights need to clear cap space. They currently $9,615,000 in projected cap space with 17 of their 23 roster players signed. Two players who could be good candidates to move are centers, which could potentially interest the Canadiens, even if they could be stop-gap solutions.

32-year-old left-shot center William Karlsson has two years left on his eight-year pact, which had a $5.9 M AAV. After producing 60 points in 70 games during the 2023-24 season, there was a significant dip in his production last season, when he could only pick up 29 points in 53 games playing primarily on the Knights’ third line alongside the likes of Brett Howden, Reilly Smith, and Alexander Holtz. The fact that he missed two months of action certainly didn’t help either.

His contract includes a modified no-trade clause, according to which he can provide a 10-team no-trade list. It’s conceivable that the Canadiens could be on that list, even if it is a short one. After all, not everyone wants to play North of the border.

The price tag on his acquisition shouldn’t be too high either, after all, the Knights need to clear cap space, so they’re unlikely to be after roster players, and they have more or less given players away in the past, as seen with Logan Thompson or Pacioretty, for instance. The Habs have plenty of draft picks and prospects to trade, while Vegas only has six picks in this week’s draft and five at next year’s and no first-round pick in either year. Meanwhile, Montreal has 12 this year and nine next season.

The other possibility, which would clear even more cap space for Vegas, would be to move Tomas Hertl. The 31-year-old is also a left-shot center and has five years left on a contract with a $6.75M cap hit. He was acquired by the Knights in March 2024 and had already signed that big contract with the San Jose Sharks before being traded. The central issue, aside from the higher cap hit, is that he has a full no-movement clause, so the Canadiens would need to convince him to waive it to acquire him.

Last season, Hertl put up 61 points in 73 games playing on Vegas’ second line, and he sounds like a player who has the talent necessary to get the best out of Ivan Demidov and perhaps even Patrik Laine. However, a sizable contract with a 31-year-old that still has six years to go is quite a commitment, and chances are, the pact would hurt in the long run.

While an aging veteran with a big contract may not be Kent Hughes’ plan A to shore up his top six, the reality is that the market is saturated by buyers right now. With so few sellers, there will be plenty of disappointed sides once Summer is over.

Photo credit:  Brian Bradshaw Sevald-Imagn Images

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If the Philadelphia Flyers wish to move up in the first round of the 2025 NHL Draft, the Los Angeles Kings have presented them a golden opportunity to do so.

With an aging cupboard of core players, the Los Angeles Kings have traded a number of draft picks in recent seasons for the purpose of adding win-now talent.

Without a second- or fourth-round pick in the 2025 draft, the Kings are actively looking for ways to move their first-round pick, 24th overall, to patch the holes.

The Flyers, who still have six picks in the first two rounds of the upcoming NHL draft even after the Trevor Zegras trade, are in pole position to take advantage of such an opportunity. In fact, the Kings themselves think this.

In a recent interview with Zach Dooley, Kings director of amateur scouting Mark Yannetti pegged the San Jose Sharks and the Flyers as two teams his club could strike a deal with for mutual benefit.

“If you look at movement scenarios, like moving from 24 to 25, you’re very limited in your movement scenarios at 24," opined Yannetti. "Ones that make sense might be San Jose and Philadelphia, especially, would make sense. You can have too many draft picks, people are starting to realize that I think. It used to be that more is better but you’re starting to see logjams."

Yannetti is right in this assessment, at least as far as the Flyers are concerned. Matvei Michkov, Owen Tippett, Travis Konecny, and Tyson Foerster all spent time playing on their off-wings at varying points last season.

“It makes sense for a team like Philly or San Jose to move, and this is just me reading a situation. It doesn’t mean that they believe the same thing, but it makes sense for me,” added Yannetti. “I think the majority of teams would say in eight picks, you know, 24 to 31 or 24 to 32 you’re losing a tier. So, while we’re giving up that tier potentially, if you’re taking a 40, 45, or 48, you’re making up for losing that tier with a much higher level guy than we’d get at 88.”

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Notably, 40, 45, and 48 are all picks the Flyers have or had; the 45th pick was dealt to the Anaheim Ducks in Monday's Zegras trade.

It sounds a lot like Yannetti has a deal with the Flyers in mind at some point this week, though it's something Philadelphia would only do if and when a player they covet slides within range of a hypothetical trade with the Kings.

And that can be difficult to assess, given the Flyers themselves pick just two picks earlier at 22.

It's worth adding that there's a marked chance a deal between the Flyers and Kings could come together at some point, given the recent trade history between the two teams.

The Flyers got a 2027 third-round pick from the Kings at the NHL trade deadline on March 7 in exchange for Andrei Kuzmenko, 50% salary retention, and a seventh-round pick in this year's draft.

A little less recently, back on June 6, 2023, the Flyers received Helge Grans, Sean Walker, Cal Petersen, and a 2024 second-round pick. Walker, of course, eventually yielded Philadelphia the 22nd overall pick in this year's draft by way of Colorado.

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As for what the Flyers might have to trade the Kings for the 24th pick, the Montreal Canadiens acquired the 21st pick from L.A. in last year's draft in exchange for Nos. 26, 57, and 198. A value equivalent for the Flyers might be this year's 31st and 48th picks.

Who the Flyers might trade up for, and at what position, remains unclear. But what is clear is that the Kings are unusually publicly congenial about the possibility.

John Tavares has made it clear he wants to remain a member of the Toronto Maple Leafs, but the club and the player are reportedly struggling to find a middle ground on a fair contract. At market value, it’s been speculated that Tavares could fetch a 3-year, $7.5 million contract extension, much like his former New York Islanders teammate Brock Nelson just inked with the Colorado Avalanche. Alternatively, Matt Duchene's recent contract extension in Dallas, where the forward signed for just $4.5 million per season, offers a different perspective.

On the recent edition of  TSN's Insider Trading, Pierre LeBrun opined that a four-year deal at $5 million per season might be enough to get it done. While that apparently hasn’t happened yet, the Leafs should be looking at shoring up the position regardless, and perhaps Mikael Granlund could be the right fit.

Tavares, at his peak, was a No. 1 center, which is why he signed a seven-year, $77 million deal when he came to Toronto on July 1, 2018. While his value may have diminished as a 34-year-old, he scored 38 goals last season as Toronto’s second-center option behind Auston Matthews. While an elite offensive player, Tavares has never been known for his skating. He’s made up for this, especially in recent seasons, with a high hockey IQ. He particularly excels on the power play and in the faceoff circle, an area of his game that has only improved over time since he became a Leaf.

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Granlund, much like Tavares, entered the NHL with a high pedigree when he was selected 10th overall by the Minnesota Wild in the 2010 NHL Draft. Dubbed the "Finnish Army Knife" by Stars GM Jim Nill upon acquiring him from the San Jose Sharks in March, Granlund has proven his ability to be a cerebral playmaker who would fit well on a line with someone like William Nylander. Granlund and Tavares differ massively, however, on the penalty kill and at the faceoff dot. While Tavares has excelled in the circle, Granlund has struggled; conversely, Granlund has been the better defensive player and penalty killer. As the Leafs focus on better defensive play, that might tip things in Granlund’s favor.

To make an informed decision, the Leafs' management would need to weigh the distinct advantages and disadvantages of making such a change. Here’s a breakdown of what the team would lose and gain by swapping Tavares for Granlund:

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What is Lost if Tavares Departs:

• Elite Faceoff Ability: The most significant and unavoidable loss would be at the faceoff dot. The team would go from having a top-5% faceoff specialist to a below-average one, resulting in a tangible loss of puck possession at every stoppage.
• Proven Goal Scoring: The team would lose a proven 30-35 goal scorer. Tavares's finishing ability, particularly from in close, is a reliable source of offense that would be difficult to replicate from that position.
• A Premier Power-Play Weapon: The first power-play unit would lose its premier net-front presence and one of the league's most effective finishers in that specific role.

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What is Gained if Granlund Replaces Tavares:

• Penalty Killing Contribution: The team would gain a top-six forward who can be a core member of the penalty kill. This is a significant addition that addresses a perennial area of need and improves the team's overall defensive structure.
• Positional Versatility: The team would gain a player who can seamlessly transition between center and wing, granting the coaching staff immense flexibility for in-game line adjustments, injury management, and matchup optimization.
• A High-End Playmaker: The team would add a high-end, pass-first playmaker whose primary instinct is to distribute the puck, potentially unlocking even greater offensive output from the team's elite goal-scorers.
• Improved Team Speed and Transition: While not an elite skater himself, Granlund's high-end hockey sense and responsible puck management could lead to a more fluid 5-on-5 transition game, helping to mitigate the notable skating deficiencies of the player he would be replacing.

Granlund is a free agent on July 1 and is coming off a four-year deal that carried an average annual value of $5 million. If the Leafs could sign both players, it would certainly go a long way toward addressing their center depth issues.

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NHL free agency opens on July 1, and UFAs will be in high demand. 

To that end, THN.com has been chronicling the free agents who will be available if they don’t sign with their current clubs. We began with the top defensemen on the market, followed by the top wingers available, the top centers and the top goalies. 

We now turn our attention to the other best 10 depth forwards who will be playing for the highest bidder next year. Let’s get to it, in alphabetical order:

Anthony Beauvillier, C, Washington Capitals

The 28-year-old Beauvillier is a journeyman now, playing for five teams in the past three seasons alone. He’s capable of providing 10 to 15 goals in a full season, but his 2024-25 salary of $1.25 million won’t be increased by much, if at all, making him a second- or third-tier option for teams seeking scoring depth in their bottom six forwards.

Connor Brown, RW, Edmonton Oilers

Brown was terrific for the Oilers this past season, generating 13 goals and 30 points in 82 games and another five goals and nine points in 20 playoff games while earning just $1 million. Edmonton no doubt wants the 31-year-old back, but there could be a minor bidding war for Brown’s services, and he may choose to depart for a team that offers him more money.

Jonathan Drouin, LW, Colorado Avalanche

Drouin was injured and limited to 43 games for the Avalanche, but he still managed to produce 11 goals and 37 points after putting up 19 goals and 56 points in 79 games in 2023-24. Thus, Drouin is in a position to get a raise on the $2.5 million he earned last year. The 30-year-old has a lot of solid hockey left in him, and on the right team and line, he can have a massive impact on the scoresheet.

Joel Kiviranta, LW, Colorado Avalanche

Kiviranta posted 16 goals in 79 games this past season, a career high for the 29-year-old Finn while making only $775,000. He won’t break the bank by any means on his next contract, but a team looking for a bargain investment could do much worse than signing Kiviranta, who will almost assuredly get at least $1 million next season. 

Steven Lorentz, LW, Toronto Maple Leafs

The 29-year-old Lorentz won a Stanley Cup with the Florida Panthers in 2023-24, and he followed that up with a very solid eight goals and 19 points in 80 games with the Leafs this past year. But you’re not signing Lorentz for his offense. Rather, it’s his physical play and abilities on defense that make him valuable, and that will give him a healthy raise on the $775,000 he earned last season.

Andrew Mangiapane, LW, Washington Capitals

In 2021-22, Mangiapane amassed 35 goals and 55 points for the Calgary Flames, setting himself up for the $5.8-million cap hit he’s earned for the past three seasons. Unfortunately, he hasn’t put up more than 17 goals in those three years, so while he still has potential be an effective depth scorer on Washington or elsewhere, Mangiapane’s asking price on a new contract will fall considerably. He may need to sign a prove-it deal.

Victor Olofsson, LW, Vegas Golden Knights

The Golden Knights are famous for churning and burning through talent, and the 29-year-old Olofsson, who generated 15 goals and 29 points in 56 games last season, could be moving on. Olofsson made only $1.075 million last year, but some teams will look at his offensive production with the Buffalo Sabres, for whom he posted a combined 48 goals and 89 points in two seasons from 2021-23, and give him a better payday than what he settled for with Vegas.

Brandon Saad, LW, Vegas Golden Knights

Saad was cut loose by the St. Louis Blues halfway through the 2024-25 campaign, but he signed with the Golden Knights for a pro-rated $1.5-million cap hit, and he amassed six goals and 14 points in 29 regular-season games. At 32 years old, Saad is in the back nine of his NHL career, but any team seeking depth on the wing will take a look at him and potentially offer him the same amount of money on a one- or two-year deal. 

James van Riemsdyk, LW, Columbus Blue Jackets

The 36-year-old van Riemsdyk is one of the elder statesmen of the NHL, and he’s bounced between three teams – the Philadelphia Flyers, Boston Bruins, and Blue Jackets – in the past three seasons. That said, van Riemsdyk put up a respectable 16 goals in 71 games with Columbus last year, and his salary of $900,000 likely won’t increase. He can still offer a decent-enough net-front presence and above-average finishing skills.

Brandon Tanev, LW, Winnipeg Jets

Tanev had a combined 10 goals and 22 points split between the Seattle Kraken and Jets this past year at a salary of $3.5 million. The 33-year-old is a bottom-six winger who can add grit and snarl to a team, but his salary is certainly going to drop. He may ultimately choose a team that gives him his best shot at a Cup rather than choosing a team based on the money he’s offered.

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Canadian defenseman Brady Keeper, 29, has signed a one-year contract with the Glasgow Clan, the Scottish-based EIHL club announced on Tuesday.

“Happy to be getting the opportunity to play and I can’t wait to get the games going,” Keeper is quoted in the club’s announcement. “Super excited to see the rink packed and loud.”

A one-time NHLer, injuries have forced Keeper to miss two of the last four seasons completely, limiting him to just 59 competitive games in that time frame.

“Brady is a rugged defensive defenseman who skates well and is highly competitive,” said Glasgow coach Corey Neilson. “He enjoys confrontation, blocking shots and winning. He’s had some unlucky seasons of late with injuries and is excited to get back to playing at a high level.”

Born in Cross Lake, Man., Keeper played junior hockey for the OCN Blizzard of the MJHL and played two years of college hockey for the University of Maine Black Bears.

Undrafted, Keeper signed as a free agent with the Florida Panthers in the spring of 2019 and played one of his three NHL games right away. He spent the following two seasons in the Florida organization, playing in a playoff game in the 2020 Eastern Conference bubble in Toronto and another regular-season game in 2021.

Anton Lundmark ‘Shocked’ By Panthers’ Contract Offer Two years ago, Anton Lundmark was playing in a semi-professional regional league in the third tier of Swedish hockey. This season, at age 23, he made his SHL debut with Timrå IK, where he scored five goals, had four assists and zero (!) penalty minutes in 53 regular-season and playoff games.

Keeper signed as a free agent with the Vancouver Canucks but broke two bones in his leg during the pre-season and missed the entire 2021-22 season. He spent the following two seasons with the AHL affiliates of the Canucks and Montreal Canadiens but did not play another NHL game.

Last summer, Keeper signed with HK Poprad of the Slovak Extraliga but he did not appear in any games for the club. In November, the club reportedly stated, “He has a valid contract in Europe with HK Poprad for this season, although he is currently not receiving a salary due to non-fulfillment of the contract. If family reasons finally allow him to come, he is welcome in the team.”

Last season, Glasgow finished seventh in the 10-team EIHL. The club seems determined to improve its standing this season, having already signed Finnish goaltender Sami Aittokallio, a former Colorado Avalanche prospect. The team also has British national team players Robert Lachowicz and Cade Neilson.

Photo © David Kirouac-Imagn Images: Brady Keeper playing for the Montreal Canadiens in the 2023 pre-season. 

Finnish Ex-Avalanche Goalie Signs In Scotland Finnish goaltender Sami Aittokallio, 32, has signed a one-year contract with the Glasgow Clan,

Why Bruins shouldn't trade No. 7 pick in 2025 NHL Draft for veteran help originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

It’s very hard to win in the NHL, and especially deep into the Stanley Cup Playoffs, without a legit No. 1 center or at the very least two top-six caliber centers.

We just watched a Stanley Cup Final where the Florida Panthers and the Edmonton Oilers put on a scoring clinic — 45 combined goals through six games — with elite centers such as Aleksander Barkov, Sam Bennett, Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl leading that effort.

The Winnipeg Jets won the Presidents’ Trophy with Mark Scheifele as their top center. The Toronto Maple Leafs won the Atlantic Division with Auston Matthews. The Vegas Golden Knights won the 2023 Stanley Cup title with Jack Eichel as their No. 1 center. The Colorado Avalanche won the Stanley Cup in 2022 with Nathan MacKinnon, who might be the second-best player in the world. The Carolina Hurricanes have reached the Eastern Conference final two of the last three seasons with Sebastian Aho playing as a No. 1 center.

It’s not a coincidence that pretty much every contending team has an elite player at this position. And it’s not a surprise that the Bruins struggled throughout the 2024-25 season without one.

Sure, the Bruins were able to get by in 2023-24 after the retirements of longtime center duo Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci. But those absences finally caught up to the Bruins this past season, and it’s time for the franchise to find its next great center.

Luckily for the Bruins, they have the No. 7 overall pick — their highest first-round selection since 2011 — in the 2025 NHL Draft on Friday night. The 2025 class is very deep at center, and it’s possible that six or seven centers could be taken in the first 10 picks.

It’s a great opportunity for the Bruins to select a player who can be a top-six center and consistently drive offense for a decade or more. This is why trading the No. 7 pick for a veteran player who can help the Bruins win next season would be a foolish move.

The best way to find No. 1 centers is through the draft. These kinds of players are super expensive to acquire on the trade market and free agency. For example, four of the five-highest salary cap hits last season belonged to centers. Very few No. 1 centers even reach free agency anymore. Teams just don’t let that happen.

The Bruins also don’t have a center prospect who is capable of filling a top-six role anytime soon. Boston’s prospect pool is consistently rated among the worst in the league. For example, The Athletic’s Scott Wheeler rated the Bruins No. 30 out of 32 teams in his latest prospect pool rankings back in January.

Matt Poitras and Georgii Merkulov could become NHL regulars, but they are not going to be franchise centers. Veteran Elias Lindholm is being paid like a top-six center, but he did not perform at that level in his debut season with the Bruins.

Several players who could be available at No. 7 in this year’s draft — such as James Hagens, Jake O’Brien, Brady Martin and Roger McQueen — do have the potential to be top-six centers someday.

One argument for trading the No. 7 pick is that the Bruins have a core of players in their primes and the team needs to capitalize on that window. But the Bruins’ franchise pillars — David Pastrnak (29), Charlie McAvoy (27), Jeremy Swayman (26) and Hampus Lindholm (31) — are not old. Only Lindholm is above the age of 30. If the Bruins draft a good center and develop him for a year or two, that player should be ready to make a genuine impact at the NHL level while those aforementioned veterans still have several good years remaining.

Look at the Washington Capitals. They drafted Boston College forward Ryan Leonard with the No. 8 pick in 2023, and less than two years later he was playing for them in the playoffs.

If the Bruins really want to add a veteran forward who can help the team win next season, they should try to use some of their future draft picks in a potential trade. Boston has two first-round picks in 2026 and also could have two in 2027. They also have four second-round picks over the next three drafts, including two this year. They might not need to trade the No. 7 pick to get immediate help.

The Bruins desperately need a franchise center. The best way to get one is a top-10 draft pick. In a stroke of good luck, the Bruins have one of those picks in a year where lots of center prospects are worthy of a high first-round selection.

It’s the perfect opportunity for the Bruins to add an elite talent at a premium position. Wasting it could be a catastrophic mistake.

We are less than a week away from the start of NHL Free Agency.

When July 1st arrives, we’ll find out where many of the league’s top unrestricted free agents will sign their next contracts.

That group of UFAs include a trio of Florida Panthers, each who have played key roles in the team’s recent Stanley Cup success.

They are forwards Sam Bennett and Brad Marchand and defenseman Aaron Ekblad.

Bennett is fresh off his amazing run in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, helping Florida win the historic trophy while earning the Conn Smythe Trophy as the playoff MVP.

During Florida’s first days after winning the Cup, Bennett made a few public statements indicting his intention to stay with the Panthers, and it sounds like both sides are making progress toward making that happen.

Look for Bennett to take a deal in the range of $8 million per season, give or take, over an eight-year deal.

Marchand is also reportedly looking for some term on his next deal.

He was very happy in South Florida after being traded to the Panthers at the Trade Deadline and proved to be one of their best contributors during the playoffs.

According to David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period, Marchand may be working to obtain a multi-year deal with an average annual value (AAV) in the range of $5-$6 million.

What does that mean for Ekblad?

Well, Florida only has $19 million in cap space for next season.

If both Bennett and Marchand take the lower end of those figures, it would still leave less money for Ekblad than what he was paid on his last contract.

Would the 29-year-old former first overall selection be willing to take a pay cut on what could be the last big deal of his career?

In addition to the three aforementioned players, Florida has several others who played key roles in their Stanley Cup win who are also set to be UFAs next week.

They are Nate Schmidt, Tomas Nosek, Nico Sturm and Vitek Vanecek, and rookie Mackie Samoskevich will be a restricted free agent this summer.

Point being, the Panthers have more than a few holes to fill ahead of next season and they need to have enough money to do so.

One final thing to keep in mind is that Florida doesn’t have to be under the cap until Opening Night.

We’ll see how things play out over the coming days.

Stay tuned.

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Panthers Struck Gold Signing Veteran Defenseman

Panthers celebrate second straight Stanley Cup victory with sun-soaked parade along Fort Lauderdale Beach

Photo caption: Jun 4, 2025; Edmonton, Alberta, CAN; Florida Panthers center Brad Marchand (63) reacts after scoring a goal against the Edmonton Oilers during the second period in game one of the 2025 Stanley Cup Final at Rogers Place. (Walter Tychnowicz-Imagn Images)

2025 Rookie Tournament

Colorado Avalanche PR announced on Monday afternoon that the organization will be hosting the 2025 Rookie Showcase. This is a showcase that cycles around the league, giving the prospects in participating organizations a chance to shine.

Denver, CO 📍

The schedule is set! pic.twitter.com/qfY1ltNFU5

— Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) June 23, 2025

The dates and times are as follows:

• Friday, 9/12 @ 6:00 p.m. MT: Colorado Avalanche vs. Utah Mammoth
• Saturday, 9/13 @ 3:00 p.m. MT: Utah Mammoth vs. Vegas Golden Knights
• Sunday, 9/14 @ 1:00 p.m. MT: Colorado Avalanche vs. Vegas Golden Knights

All games will take place at South Suburban Sports Complex in Highlands Ranch, Colorado

2025 Prospect Development Camp

On Tuesday, Avalanche PR also announced the official dates and times for this year's prospect development camp. As previously reported, the Family Sports Center schedule had significant time blocked off on their schedule for the week of July 1st.

Avalanche Training Facility Schedule Alludes to Upcoming Prospect Development Camp DatesWhile official dates for the 2025 Colorado Avalanche Prospect Development Camp have yet to be announced, a quick glance at the

Official dates and times are as follows:

• Tuesday, July 1st, 8:10 - 11:45 a.m. MT
• Wednesday, July 2nd, 8:10 - 11:45 a.m. MT
• Thursday, July 3rd, 9:00 - 11:00 a.m. MT

All on-ice sessions will be held at Family Sports Center, the Avalanche's official practice facility, and will be open and free for the public to spectate.

Locker room media availability will follow every on-ice session.

Rosters and on-ice groups will be announced at a later date.

Free Agency

Speaking of July 1st, Free Agency is set to begin that same day at 10:00 a.m. MT/12:00 p.m. ET. The Avalanche have a 4th round pick in this year's NHL Entry Draft, as well as $1.2 Million left in cap space. 

Jonathan Drouin (F), Jimmy Vesey (F), Joel Kiviranta (F), Erik Johnson (D), Ryan Lindgren (D), and Tucker Poolman (D) are listed as UFAs heading into this free agency period. Sam Malinski (D) is the only listed RFA from last year's roster.

A Closer Look at Sam Malinski's Role in the Avalanche’s Offseason DecisionsWith 16 days remaining until the 2025 Free Agency period begins, the Colorado Avalanche have to make some big decisions when it comes to how they want to free up cap space to re-sign their pending unrestricted free agents and their one restricted free agent.

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There is a lot on the table for the Pittsburgh Penguins this summer, as it's widely been reported that they're going to be the only "true sellers" on the market.

And, according to a new report, there is an update on one of their stars on the trade block.

Per David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period, veteran defenseman Erik Karlsson - who is actively being shopped by the Penguins - is willing to waive his full no-movement clause to be dealt to a contender. The Penguins are also, apparently, willing to retain some of the $10 million salary they owe him. 

Karlsson, 34, was dealt to Pittsburgh in a massive three-team blockbuster during the summer of 2023. Expectations were high for the three-time Norris Trophy-winning blueliner, who - in addition to coming off of an historic 28-goal, 101-point campaign with the San Jose Sharks - had the pressure of helping return the Penguins to the playoffs after their first miss in 17 years.

Unfortunately, not a whole lot has gone right for the Penguins since, and Karlsson's tenure has been a mixed bag. He is owed $10 million by the Penguins for two more years, as San Jose retained $1.5 million as part of the initial trade. 

Should The Penguins Deal Erik Karlsson? It May Not Be As Simple As It Seems.With the 2025 NHL Draft just two weeks away and free agency to follow directly after, the trade market is beginning to heat up.

If Pittsburgh is able to move Karlsson, it would also present a challenge in terms of roster-building, as they are currently already thin on their blue line and would require a contingency plan to replace Karlsson's role. Matt Grzelcyk is likely to hit the unrestricted free agent market, Kris Letang is due for his role to be a bit more diminished, and top defensive prospects Owen Pickering and Harrison Brunicke aren't quite ready for top-four roles yet. 

Karlsson is one of three Penguins' players - the others being top-six scoring forwards Rickard Rakell and Bryan Rust - generating some buzz on the trade market ahead of the NHL Draft on Friday and Saturday as well as free agency on Jul. 1.

NHL Rumors: 3 Penguins Off-Season Trade CandidatesThe off-season is now officially here, and the

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Feature image credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

Former New Jersey Devils defenseman Daniil Misyul is heading overseas, as he has signed a one-year contract with Lokomotiv Yaroslavl of the KHL.

Misyul, 24, was traded by the Devils at the 2025 NHL trade deadline to the Boston Bruins in exchange for forward Marc McLaughlin. Now, the former Devils blueliner is on the move again after signing this KHL deal.

Before being traded to the Bruins, Misyul made his NHL debut for the Devils this season on Oct. 22 against the Tampa Bay Lightning. During it, the 6-foot-3 defenseman recorded one hit, one block, and a minus-1 rating. This would be his lone NHL appearance with the Devils. 

Misyul appeared in 47 games this season with the Devils' AHL affiliate, the Utica Comets, where he recorded eight assists, 33 penalty minutes, and a minus-8 rating. This was after he had four goals, 14 points, and a plus-1 rating in 44 games with the Comets during the 2023-24 season.

Misyul was selected by the Devils with the 70th overall pick of the 2019 NHL Entry Draft. 

Report: Devils Made Push For Jonathan ToewsOne of the main areas that the

Photo Credit:  © Ed Mulholland-Imagn Images

Former Pittsburgh Penguins forward Scott Wilson is on the move, as he has signed a two-year contract with Sibir Novosibirsk of the KHL.

Wilson appeared in 60 games split between Metallurg Magnitogorsk and Salavat Yulaev Ufa during the 2024-25 season, where he posted 13 goals, 17 assists, and a plus-14 rating. This was Wilson's third straight season in the KHL, and he will now be staying in the league after landing this two-year deal with Sibir Novosibirsk. 

Wilson was selected by the Penguins with the 209th overall pick of the 2011 NHL Entry Draft. From there, he spent his first four NHL seasons from 2014-15 to 2017-18 with the Penguins, where he recorded 13 goals, 32 points, 218 hits, and a minus-2 rating in 106 games. He also had six points in 23 playoff games during his time with the Penguins and also won the Stanley Cup with Pittsburgh in 2017. 

In 193 career NHL games split between the Penguins, Detroit Red Wings, and Buffalo Sabres, Wilson posted 20 goals, 31 assists, and 365 hits. His last appearance in the NHL was during the 2019-20 season with the Sabres, where he recorded one goal, one assist, and a plus-1 rating in six games. 

Pittsburgh Penguins Release 2025-26 Preseason ScheduleWith the off-season here, the

Photo Credit: © Tim Fuller-Imagn Images

In 2024-25, Ryan Donato had a career year with the Chicago Blackhawks. After setting out to improve his skating and offensive numbers a summer prior, it paid off for him, which led to a new contract. 

After a 31-goal and 31-assist for 62-point season, Donato knew that he would be getting paid this off-season. After not being extended ahead of the 2025 trade deadline, it became unclear if the next deal would come in Chicago. Luckily for everyone involved, it did. Last week, the Blackhawks announced a new four-year deal with a $4 million cap hit. 

Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) on XFOUR MORE YEARS OF RYAN DONATO‼️ 📰 ➡︎ https://t.co/dmJ0ENjlc0

On Tuesday, Donato had his first media availability following his contract extension. He had a lot to say in regards to playing for the Chicago Blackhawks and why he chose to stay. 

"There's temptations of the free market, but for me, I love Chicago," Donato said. "I'm a pretty loyal guy. I've always wanted to be a Blackhawk. I didn't want change."

At 29 years old, you're not expecting a career year again, but you can expect him to be a great mentor for the young talent coming through Chicago. He will score goals and make plays as well, which will certainly help them win more games as the team comes together with more skill. 

"[They're] pushing themselves to make a big jump right away at the beginning of the season. Obviously, there's a lot of young guys, so the internal competition is going to be great. It's an incredible bright spot for the Blackhawks." 

Donato knew that this was an interesting situation to be in at his career stage. He isn't getting any younger, but he's young enough to make an impact on a youth-filled core. He made it clear that he recognizes that the future is bright in Chicago, and he wants to be a part of it. 

Next up for Chicago is taking a big step in the rebuild. 2025-26 might not be the year that they make the playoffs for the first time in a while or anything like that, but they'd like to have more meaningful improvement along the way. With that comes pressure. However, Donato has an interesting approach to that idea. 

"It's hard to say pressure. I've always had a confidence for what I can do. For me, it's an opportunity league. I was very thankful for the opportunities that I've gotten here playing in Chicago. With that opportunity, I think I can do a lot."

For the first time in his NHL career, Donato is secure in a spot where he has found an elevated level of success. He wants to be in Chicago, his family wants to be in Chicago, and the Blackhawks organization wants him. 

Will Donato play with Connor Bedard on the top line over the entire contract duration? Probably not. However, he knows that his role will redefine over time, and that will be his way of helping the organization become a winner again. 

"I never really wanted to go anywhere else," Donato said of his negotiations. When a good player wants to stay that bad, believe them. He has been a great warrior throughout his NHL tenure up to this point. Now, it's time for the team to grow with the youth and veterans alike, all feeling good. 

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Thanks to a surplus of draft picks he stockpiled, Flyers GM Daniel Briere was able to land a much-needed center to play on one of the top two lines.

Hello, Trevor Zegras.

Goodbye, playoff drought?

OK, adding Zegras alone isn’t going to end the Flyers’ string of futility – five straight years without a playoff spot, just one playoff-series win in the last 13 seasons.

But it’s a start.

Now, Briere must improve the Flyers’ massive hole in the net, where his team was last in the NHL in save percentage (.879) last season and 28th out of 32 teams in goals-against per game (3.45). (Yes, the defense was partially to blame.)

Briere was able to acquire the creative Zegras at a surprisingly modest price: sending the Anaheim Ducks fourth-line center Ryan Poehling and a second-round draft pick (45th overall) this year and a fourth-rounder in 2026. The Flyers still have six picks left in the first two rounds later this week, including three in Round 1.

For the Flyers, the 24-year-old Zegras checks all the boxes. He’s young, shifty on his skates and, when healthy, productive. Oh, and he plays the position the Flyers desperately needed to bolster.

Selected ninth overall in the 2019 NHL draft and once touted as the face of Anaheim’s franchise, Zegras was named to the NHL’s all-rookie team in 2021-22 and had back-to-back 60-plus-point seasons in his first two years in the league.

Plagued by injuries this past season, he managed 12 goals and 32 points in 57 games, playing mostly at wing. The previous year, injuries limited him to 15 points in 31 games.

So Zegras – who had back-to-back 23-goal seasons earlier in his career – is on a mission to show he can stay healthy for an 82-game campaign. If successful, the Flyers hope he will jump-start a power play that was 30th in the NHL and an offense that ranked 24th.

The Philadelphia Flyers Get An Early Steal By Trading For Trevor ZegrasLast week, Philadelphia Flyers GM Daniel Briere spoke about the difficulty of acquiring a first- or second-line center. 

Briere will have his sights on the draft Friday and Saturday. He will also keep an eye on adding a goalie in the near future. 

Jake Allen, Ilya Samsonov, Dan Vladar, Alex Lyon, Ville Husso, Anton Forsberg and Vitek Vanecek are among the UFAs. Allen (2.59 GAA, .908 save percentage) is the best of the mediocre group, and Briere, who has the draft picks to make a deal, may have to trade for a goalie. If oft-injured Vancouver Canucks goalie Thatcher Demko becomes available in the final year of his contract, there’s the option of reuniting with former Canucks coach Rick Tocchet. St. Louis Blues backup Joel Hofer also surfaced in trade speculation, although GM Doug Armstrong put a stop to it.

On average, the Flyers have finished 26th out of 32 teams in goals allowed over the past five seasons. That, of course, has contributed mightily to missing the playoffs in each season during that span.

But their overall defensive issues go well beyond the last five years. The Flyers have not had a top-10 finish in fewest goals allowed in 19 of the last 20 years, finishing in the bottom-third during most of those seasons.

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