It’s Draft Day in the NHL, and this week has lived up to promises of years past from an entertainment standpoint. Tuesday was one of the most impactful landscape shakeup days in the history of the NHL, with four major trades finalized and the NHL coaching carousel finally coming to a stop for the time being. 

The Anaheim Ducks didn’t get in on the week’s trade action, but were able to re-sign young right-shot defenseman Ian Moore to a two-year, $1.15 million AAV contract. The Mason McTavish trade saga seems to be on the verge of a conclusion, but until then, here’s what some of the top NHL insiders have been reporting or speculating on when it comes to the Ducks this offseason. 

Ducks Sign Ian Moore to Two-Year Contract Extension

Anaheim Ducks 2026 Draft Preview

Mason McTavish

A McTavish trade seems imminent at this point in time. If a deal does go through, he’ll be the third straight former top-ten pick to take contract negotiations into a training camp following the expiration of his ELC, only to be eventually traded before that contract concluded. 

Anthony Di Marco from dailyfaceoff.com reported earlier in the week that the Calgary Flames and Philadelphia Flyers have either called or have been keeping tabs on McTavish’s availability.

“Among the teams who have called on McTavish are the Calgary Flames, Daily Faceoff was told. According to a team source, the Flames don’t feel like they have what the Ducks are looking for in exchange for McTavish; the same source said that Verbeek is looking to make ‘hockey deals,’” Di Marco reported in his column. 

“When speaking with an Eastern Conference executive, DFO was told McTavish’s value is not as high across the league as it was a season ago,” He continued

“One team who is believed to be keeping tabs on McTavish is the Philadelphia Flyers, who have been on the lookout to add a center all offseason. Despite McTavish playing on the wing for large stretches of last season, the Flyers believe he is a true center, according to a team source.”

It now seems the Ducks are deciding between two offers: one from the St. Louis Blues and one from the New York Rangers. Frank Seravalli first reported the Rangers’ involvement on Thursday evening, followed by TSN’s Pierre LeBrun and ESPN’s Emily Kaplan reporting that another offer was on the table from the Blues. 

SportsNet’s Elliotte Friedman furthered the reporting late Thursday night on his “32 Thoughts” podcast, when he hinted at potential pieces from each organization. 

“I think the Blues, one of the key parts of their offer, is the 11th overall pick, and the Rangers, it’s a player, I believe,” Friedman said. “I don’t want to guess the name of the player. I’m not sure”

Friedman went on to report Ducks general manager Pat Verbeek’s desire for win-now pieces as opposed to draft picks. 

“I don’t think the Ducks want picks. I think they want someone that can help them now,” Friedman continued/ “They’re in win-now mode. They want someone that can help them now. He (Verbeek) thinks he takes his time. So, we’re on his timetable, not ours. If I’m right about the St. Louis pick, the 11th overall pick, being the key part of their offer, I don’t think it’s necessarily something he wants to keep. So, if he does take the Blues offer, one of the things I think here, he might be saying, ‘Okay, I have the 11th pick, what can I do with it?’”

Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Citizen has connected McTavish to the Ottawa Senators throughout this process, reporting the organization’s interest. It appears now that the price has become too rich for the Sens. Friedman confirmed Garrioch’s report. 

“I don’t believe the Senators are in on McTavish. The asking price has gone up,” Garrioch reported on Twitter. 

“Ottawa, I heard, was in this. It was believed Ottawa had a lot of interest in Mason McTavish,” Friedman said. “There are a lot of ties in there. I think at the end of it, Verbeek liked what was being offered more from St. Louis and the Rangers.”

Defensemen

Last week, defenseman John Carlson relayed his intention to forgo re-signing with the Ducks after the organization traded for him at the 2026 trade deadline. It seems like the Tampa Bay Lightning are the frontrunners for Carlson, and fellow right-shot blueliners Radko Gudas and Jacob Trouba will likely join him in free agency. 

“Anaheim’s D, Carlson, is now going to market. I think a lot of people wouldn’t be surprised if he ended up in Tampa Bay,”  Friedman said. “Trouba, I think, is going to market, and it looks like Gudas is too. There was some talk about Gudas in Toronto. But I don’t think that’s going to be happening.”

Seravalli reported on Twitter that the Ducks are hoping to trade Carlson’s signing rights for a draft pick before the veteran defenseman hits the market. 

“Preference of the Ducks is to move the rights to John Carlson in exchange for a pick, but it sounds like the handful of teams interested in jumping the queue for the top free agent D have irons in the fire at the moment,” Seravalli tweeted.

Finally, the Ducks have been connected to Blues defenseman Colton Parayko since the trade deadline, but Seravalli reported via Twitter that the Blues have removed Parayko from the trade block and are no longer taking calls on him. 

“One player coming off the trade targets board today is Colton Parayko. The Blues have told inquiring teams Parayko is unavailable, same answer for Robert Thomas,” Seravalli said. 

Ducks Assistant GM Martin Madden on 2026 NHL Draft, Prospects & More

Revisiting the Ryan Poehling-Trevor Zegras Trade

The National Hockey League is set to host the 2026 NHL Draft in Buffalo, New York, over the course of the weekend. The first round will take place on Friday night, while the rest of the event will take place on Saturday. 

The Toronto Maple Leafs are currently on the clock for another day, as they will make the first overall pick. They will be followed by the San Jose Sharks, who won the second lottery spot. The Vancouver Canucks, who had finished in last place in the league in 2025-26, will round out the top three. 

Although the New Jersey Devils had a lackluster season, the 12th overall pick is a decent consolation prize. They may use the selection on a player that they believe will help them down the line, or they will trade it for immediate help. 

Surrounding New Jersey's selection are the 16 picks that were involved in the lottery. Lots of parts have already been moved through trades this week, and more are sure to follow. This is a mock of all those lottery picks, including New Jersey's selection at 12:

1. Toronto Maple Leafs - Gavin McKenna, LW, Penn State

The Toronto Maple Leafs had one rough year and lucked into the top spot via the lottery. Now, they have the right to select Gavin McKenna, who has superstar NHL potential. 

2. San Jose Sharks - Ivar Stenberg, LW, Frolunda

After some moves made this week, the San Jose Sharks select Ivar Stenberg out of Sweden. They had some lottery luck once again, and now they have a legit star winger in the making coming to play with Macklin Celebrini and Will Smith. 

3. Vancouver Canucks - Caleb Malhotra, C, Brantford

The Vancouver Canucks could use some help down the middle of the ice in the short and long term. They address that need with their new head coach's son, Caleb Malhotra, at third overall. 

4. Buffalo Sabres via Chicago Blackhawks - Chase Reid, D, Sault St. Marie 

After trading Bowen Byram to the Chicago Blackhawks, the Buffalo Sabres have the fourth overall pick. With it, they use it on a defenseman in Chase Reid. One day, the hope for them will be that Reid is as good as Byram but much younger. 

5. New York Rangers - Carson Carels, D, Prince George

The New York Rangers have their pick of defensemen outside of Reid here, and they opt to go with Carsen Carels for a safer pick. 

6. Calgary Flames - Keaton Verhoeff, D, North Dakota 

The Calgary Flames need help everywhere, but they have a wonderful pipeline in the making. If Keaton Verhoeff, who has tremendous puck skills, can reach his potential at the pro level, the Flames will have an even brighter future. 

7. Seattle Kraken - Viggo Bjorck, RW, Djurgarden

The Seattle Kraken need a star with some offensive flair. They have had Artemi Panarin and Jason Robertson turn them down over the last couple of months, despite big money. Viggo Bjorck has that type of talent worth taking a risk on. 

8. Winnipeg Jets - Alberts Smits, D, Jujurit

The Winnipeg Jets have a wonderful ability to draft and develop defensemen. Alberts Smits, who is kind of a buffer to the next wave of blue-liners in the draft, makes great sense for the Jets organization. 

9. San Jose Sharks via Ottawa Senators via Florida Panthers - Daxon Rudolph, D, Prince Albert 

This pick has had its fair share of movement. It was supposed to belong to the Chicago Blackhawks, but then the Florida Panthers protected it by being in the bottom ten. Then, they traded it to the Ottawa Senators for Brady Tkachuk, who flipped it to the San Jose Sharks for William Eklund. If they use the second overall pick on a forward, which all signs point to, they are likely to use the ninth pick on a defenseman. Daxon Rudolph would be great for their organization. 

10. Nashville Predators - Tynan Lawrence, C, Boston University

The Nashville Predators take Tynan Lawrence here, who was once a top-three pick possibility. Boston University wasn't as smooth a transition for him, so his stock fell a little bit. A team like Nashville would love to take him on as a project who could become a star forward. 

11. St. Louis Blues - Oscar Hemming, RW, Boston College 

The St. Louis Blues have four picks in the first round, and three of them are in the lottery portion of the draft. They could go with any position at any time, especially with the needs that they have. Boston College forward Oscar Hemming is the selection for them here. With Jordan Kyrou gone, they will need eventual help up front. 

12. New Jersey Devils - Wyatt Cullen, F, USNTDP

The New Jersey Devils are, as currently constructed, a team designed to use their speed and skill. They didn’t score a lot of goals in 2025-26, and they’d like to stock their pipeline with players who can help them be a fast team over the course of the next few years. Wyatt Cullen is someone who fits that mold as a prospect. It will take some time to become a full-time NHL player, but he is worth considering if the Devils don’t trade the pick. 

13. New York Islanders - Ethan Belchetz, LW, Windsor

The New York Islanders made two incredible picks in the first round of the 2025 NHL Draft, headlined by rookie superstar Matthew Schaefer. Now, they can follow that up with a great selection in Ethan Belchetz of the Windsor Spitfires. 

14. Columbus Blue Jackets - Alexander Command, C, Orebro HK

The Columbus Blue Jackets have a lot of question marks within their organization, including Norris Trophy-winning defenseman Zach Werenski. For now, however, a forward in Alexander Command could help them brighten their future. 

15. St. Louis Blues via Detroit Red Wings - Malte Gustafsson, LD, HV71

The St. Louis Blues make their second of three picks within the top 16 using the 15th overall pick acquired in the Justin Faulk deal. Malte Gustafsson, a defenseman, helps them re-stock their prospects at the position as they retool. 

16. St. Louis Blues via Washington Capitals - Ryan Lin, D, Vancouver

Making consecutive picks is scheduled to be the reality for the Blues, as they also hold 16 from the aforementioned Jordan Kyrou deal. Another defenseman makes sense for them, and this time it's Ryan Lin. 

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One of the biggest questions facing the Detroit Red Wings amidst the ongoing saga with the trade request from captain Dylan Larkin is what kind of package they'll receive in return. 

Speculation has ranged everywhere from getting NHL ready players and prospects in return to simply getting a futures-driven package of draft capital, the latter of which would do nothing to help Detroit in the short-term. 

In recent days, it has been reported that the Dallas Stars have emerged as a potential frontrunner for Larkin, and the most obvious return request that GM Steve Yzerman could ask from former Red Wings assistant GM Jim Nill are the rights to pending RFA forward Jason Robertson. 

However, acquiring Robertson and getting him signed to a new contract that Yzerman would be comfortable with may prove difficult.

According to NHL Insider Elliotte Friedman, Robertson rejected a contract offer from the Seattle Kraken, whom he was granted permission to speak with, that would have paid him $15 million annually over eight years. 

Jason Robertson has rejected an 8-year, $15mil AAV contract offer from the Seattle Kraken, per @FriedgeHNIC

The Stars granted Robertson permission to speak with Seattle pic.twitter.com/zWaltpdP9g

— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) June 26, 2026

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An annual salary of $15 million would have made Robertson the second-highest paid player in the NHL behind only Minnesota Wild forward Kirill Kaprizov, who now earns $17 million per season, and ahead of Edmonton Oilers forward Leon Draisaitl, who earns $14 million annually. 

Meanwhile, the Stars themselves are experiencing difficulties in signing their three-time 40-goal scorer. According to ESPN's Emily Kaplan, Robertson rejected a contract that would have paid him $12 million annually, the same AAV that star forward Mikko Rantanen is now earning. 

"According to one NHL source, the Stars had offered Robertson a contract of eight years with $12 million AAV, which would match the contract they handed Mikko Rantanen after acquiring the winger from the Hurricanes," Kaplan reported. 

What's more, Robertson also reportedly rejected a move that would have sent him to the St. Louis Blues, as he's allegedly not interested in joining them.

Sources indicating the St Louis Blues offered a package that included multiple first round picks to the Dallas Stars for Jason Robertson but he is not interested in signing there.

— Jeff Marek (@JeffMarek) June 26, 2026

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The Columbus Blue Jackets have announced that they've re-signed forward Mikael Pyyhtia.

The deal is a two-year extension and will be a one-way NHL deal for the 2027-28 season. Getting a one-way deal in the final year is huge for the young Finn. 

Per a CBJ PR release, "Mikael is a versatile, two-way forward who brings speed, energy and competitiveness to the lineup,” said Waddell. “He was very good in Cleveland last season, and we are excited about his future."

Pyyhtia has 5 goals and 11 points in 71 NHL games for the CBJ. 

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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BUFFALO, NY -- It was about a year ago when the New York Islanders traded pending restricted free agent defenseman Noah Dobson to the Montreal Canadiens in exchange for forward Emil Heineman, and the No. 16 and No. 17 in the 2025 NHL Draft.

BREAKING: Islanders Trade Noah Dobson To Montreal Canadiens<b>LOS ANGELES</b> -- The<a href="http://thn.com/isles"> New York Islanders</a> have traded defenseman<a href="https://www.theelmonters.com/p/noah-dobson-trade-new-york-islanders"> Noah Dobson</a> to the<a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/montreal-canadiens"> Montreal Canadiens</a>, first reported by Kevin Weekes.

The trade occurred after Dobson and first-year general manager Mathieu Darche could not come to terms on a contract extension. Although Dobson didn't have any trade protection, he had all the leverage given that he would only move to a team that he was interested in signing with. 

Dobson was believed to be asking for something in the $10 million range from the Islanders, but ended up signing an eight-year deal worth $9.5 million annually in Montreal. 

Flash-forward a year later and the Dallas Stars find themselves in the same situation with pending RFA forward Jason Robertson. 

The 26-year-old goal scorer, who just concluded the final season of a four-year deal worth $7.75 million, turned down an eight-year extension worth $12 million annually.

While Dallas is hoping they can still bring him back, time is ticking and other teams are lining up. 

The St. Louis Blues, who own four first-round picks in this draft, were told no by Robertson's camp. 

The Seattle Kraken, who have been trying to go big-game hunting for a few years now, were given permission to speak with Robertson, but he turned down $15 million annually on an eight-year deal. 

I believe Dobson turned down extensions with the Boston Bruins and the Columbus Blue Jackets before the Islanders sent him to Canada.

While there's been some chatter that the asking price for Robertson is similar to the one that Dallas sent to the Carolina Hurricanes for Mikko Rantanen -- Logan Stankoven, a conditiional 2026 first-round pick, a conditional 2028 first-round pick, a 2026 third-round pick and a 2027 third-round pick -- I was told that isn't accurate.

The accurate ask is what the Colorado Avalanche got for Rantanen when they sent him to the Hurricanes -- Martin Necas, Jack Drury, a 2025 second-round pick and a 2026 fourth-round pick. 

It doesn't sound like Dallas wants futures, but impact players given that they are a Stanley Cup contender and would like to stay that way, with or without Robertson. 

One would expect that every team has called Stars general manager Jim Nill regarding Roberston, including the New York Islanders.

However, the Islanders are a team that doesn't have an impact winger to send back the other way -- not many teams do. 

On June 26 and 27, the 2026 NHL Draft will take place at the KeyBank Center in Buffalo, NY. This year, the Calgary Flames have 10 picks, with plenty of cap space and draft currency to make a move or two, either to move up or to acquire another player to assist in the rebuild.

For Flames fans everywhere, The Hockey News is the place to follow the team's moves at the draft. Whether it's news about their latest pick or post-draft analysis, everything you need will be below and updated as the event unfolds.

As always, join in the conversation to let us know where you are watching the NHL Draft, and provide your opinions about General Manager Craig Conroy's move over the weekend. 

The first night of 2026 NHL Draft will be available on ESPN, Sportsnet, and TVA Sports. On Saturday, for rounds two through seven, coverage will be available on EPSN+, NHL Network, and Sportsnet.

Flames 2026 Draft Selections

• 6th Overall
• 30th Overall (from Vegas)
• 36th Overall
• 51st Overall (from Utah)
• 55th Overall (from Utah/Ottawa)
• 65th Overall (from Vancouver)
• 68th Overall
• 100th Overall
• 132nd Overall
• 164th Overall

The Hockey News Draft Coverage

- Could Viggo Bjork Be the Calgary Flames' Pick at No. 6 Overall? 

- Flames Projected to Select Verhoeff in PuckPedia's PuckGM Mock Draft

- Craig Conroy Just Revealed Calgary's NHL Draft Strategy - And It Changes Everything

- Why The Flames' 2026 Draft Could Quietly Accelerate Their Rebuild Faster Than Expected

- Former First-Round Picks Who Could Define the Calgary Flames' Rebuild

- Calgary Flames Prospects Who Could Earn NHL Ice Time in 2026-27

- Flames Make Surprise First-Round Pick in Sportnet's Bold Predictions

- 2026 NHL Draft: Five Prospects the Calgary Flames Should Consider at No. 6

- Flames Projected to Take E.J. McGuire Award Winner Alberts Smits in Latest Mock Draft

- Where Are They Now? Revisiting Conroy's Flames Draft Picks

- Flames Add Blue-Line Talent in Latest Mock NHL Draft

- 2026 NHL Draft: Is It Possible for Calgary to Trade Up to Second Overall?

- Flames Set to Pick No. 6 Overall in 2026 NHL Draft

Mock Drafts

- Bleacher Report 

- ESPN

- NHL.com

- PuckPedia

- Elite Prospects

- The Athletic

Top Prospects 

Rankings based on Sportsnet's final rankings, released on June 17, 2026

1. Gavin McKenna (LW)
2. Ivar Stenberg (LW)
3. Chase Reid (RD)
4. Caleb Malhotra (C)
5. Carson Carels (LD)
6. Viggo Bjorck (RW)
7. Keaton Verhoeff (RD)
8. Daxon Rudolph (RD)
9. Alberts Smits (LD)
10. Ethan Belchetz (LW)
11. Malte Gustafsson (LD)
12. Wyatt Cullen (LW)
13. Alexander Comman (C)
14. Tynan Lawrence (C)
15. Ryan Lin (RD)
16. Elton Hermansson (RW)
17. Oscar Hemming (LW)
18. Nikita Klepov (RW)
19. Adam Novotny (LW)
20. J. P. Hurlbert (LW)
21. Ilia Morozov (C)
22. Maddox Dagenais (C)
23. Tommy Bleyl (RD)
24. WIlliam Hakansson (LD)
25. Oliver Suvanto (C)
26. Xavier Villeneuve (LD)
27. Simas Ignatavicius (RW)
28. Nikita Shcherbakov (LD)
29. Egor Shilov (C)
30. Tobias Trejbal (G)
31. Maksim Sokolovskii (LD)
32. Liam Ruck (RW)

On June 23, 2017, Cody Glass became the answer to the trivia question: Who did the Vegas Golden Knights select with their first pick in franchise history?

Taking off his black suit jacket, Glass grabbed an Adidas Golden Knights hat and put it on before shaking the hand of Gary Bettman, commissioner of the National Hockey League. Watching him walk across the stage at the United Center and pose for those first photos with the Vegas brass, one wouldn’t know the panic he felt on his journey to Chicago, Illinois.

“I remember my flight got canceled the day or two days before the draft,” Glass told The Hockey News. “I almost missed all the media availabilities. I was panicking. I ended up making it just in time. My dad ended up getting me there.

“It was a crazy, crazy experience.”

Glass was selected in the first round, sixth overall. He was drafted five spots after his now teammate, Nico Hischier, was selected first overall by the New Jersey Devils.

“It is really cool just getting to experience that with your family,” Glass recalled. “You watch it as a kid growing up, and it is really cool to experience it. When I got drafted to Vegas, it was a brand-new team, so I thought oh, brand new start.

"But at the end of the day, it is the opportunity you get with the team, and what you do after the draft that really matters," he continued.

Glass spent two seasons playing hockey in Vegas before he was traded at 21, when the Golden Knights sent him to the Nashville Predators. After spending three years in Music City, he was traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins before landing in New Jersey in March 2025.

The 26-year-old will be the first to admit that there is an expectation to make an immediate impact, especially offensively, when a player is picked high in the draft, saying, “I think there is elevated pressure just producing and all that kind of stuff.”

“They said they needed offense, and I kind of chucked a little bit. I was on the fourth line, playing PK.”

This was one of my favorite moments from yesterday's #NJDevils exit interviews. Keep in mind Cody Glass scored a career high of 19 goals this season. pic.twitter.com/g2d32nFtSh

— Kristy Flannery (@InStilettos_NHL) April 16, 2026

He has now concluded his seventh season in the NHL, and during the team’s 2025-26 exit interviews, spoke about how his role on the Devils helped propel him to a successful campaign.

“I had a really good sit-down with (head coach Sheldon Keefe) on my first day here, and he just told me he believed in me, and he told me exactly what my role was going to be, and he told me not to worry about anything else,” he said. "I never had that conversation before in my career, and so I kind of rolled with it. I knew what was expected, and I didn't have to worry about putting up points or being someone I wasn't.”

Last season, Glass scored a career-high 19 goals, finding success on the team’s third line with rookies Lenni Hämeenaho and Arseny Gritsyuk. A critical depth piece, the Winnipeg native made the most of his 13 minutes of ice time.

Glass may not be the top-six player some projected in 2017, but over time, he has carved out an important role for himself, one where his absence is immediately noticed if he is not on the ice. Part of that evolution was accepting that value can be found throughout an NHL lineup.

“At the end of the day, now that I look back on (everything), I wish I had the mindset I do now,” Glass said. “Everybody needs a role, and there are different opportunities for different people. You can help a team win in different ways. I look at our team now, and having Hischier and (Jack Hughes), two centers that I am not going to be them. It is more about what can I do to help them out and let them be better.”

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The Buffalo Sabres reportedly have one of the NHL's top trade candidates on their radar.

The Fourth Period's David Pagnotta recently shared that he believes that the Sabres have inquired about Toronto Maple Leafs forward Matthew Knies. 

"Some late evening chatter: Belief Sabres inquired about Knies," Pagnotta posted on X.

With the Sabres moving on from Alex Tuch, there is no question that they could use another top six winger to replace him. When noting that Knies is a high-impact power forward like Tuch, it makes a lot of sense that the Sabres are reportedly interested in him. 

If the Sabres managed to land Knies, he would have the potential to be a perfect fit on their first line with Tage Thompson and Zach Benson. He would also be a long-term addition for the Sabres, as he has a $7.75 million cap hit through the 2030-31 season.

However, with Knies being a 23-year-old top-six forward with a good contract, the Maple Leafs are going to expect a serious offer for them to even consider moving him. The Sabres have this year's fourth-overall pick after trading Bowen Byram to the Chicago Blackhawks, and that would be a good starting point for a potential trade package. 

Kyle Dubas often talks about urgency and wanting to push the Penguins towards being as strong as they can be now and in the future. Somehow wrangling three-time 40+ goal scorer Jason Robertson out of Dallas would be the biggest and best move Dubas could make, provided he could pull it off.

Any tidbit is nice enough this time of year, and which team wouldn’t be at least somewhat ‘interested’ in a player the caliber of Robertson? To a degree that should apply to just about any and everyone.

An item that gives pause is think about the amount of reported interest that the Penguins had in any of the following names prior to their trade acquisition: Egor Chinakhov, Sam Girard, Connor Dewar, Stuart Skinner, Elmer Soderblom, Arturs Silovs, heck even yesterday’s pick up of Hendrix Lapierre. The answer is zero, almost every trade the Pens have made recently has come with little early forewarning or a build up of expectations via reports getting out to the media. Conversely, plenty of players linked to the Penguins in the rumor mill have not ended up with completed transactions (though the protracted saga of Erik Karlsson back in 2023 is one example).

So take that’s for what it’s worth.

There’s other areas of concern about the reality of dealing for Robertson. Namely two big issues. One: does he even want to make a long-term contract in Pittsburgh? Two: what does Dallas want in a trade?

Starting with the last part first, Dallas is still in control of the situation. They apparently can’t get Robertson to agree to a contract themselves, but the Stars hold all the cards for now. What is a rival team going to do, send an offer sheet that would require four unprotected first round picks to sign him away? Not likely. First things first, if a team wants Robertson, they are going to have to give Dallas enough value to have them sign off on it, and it’s going to have to be a lot. The Stars are a club that recently gave up two first round picks and a quality youngster in Logan Stankoven to acquire Mikko Rantanen just last year, they’re well aware of the price of operating in this area. Their manager Jim Nill didn’t win the NHL’s GM of the year award three years in a row from 2022-25 due to making foolish moves.

Second, Robertson’s signability has to be in question. The Seattle Kraken reportedly did offer the Stars enough value (believed to include the seventh overall pick in tonight’s draft) but Robertson turned down the Kraken’s contract offer of approximately $15 million over eight years. Saying no to about $120 million makes a major statement – at that point this isn’t a money motivated case and his next spot will have to do with career aspirations. Whether or not Robertson thinks he could accomplish those goals with the Pens and an almost 39-year old Sidney Crosby is questionable at best. There’s a reason why every big player is open to going to the same teams like Florida and Vegas, and it’s not all because of nice weather, low taxes and being left alone by fans/media — can’t remember too many players that wanted to be traded to the Panthers 10 or 15 years ago when all the other factors were still the same besides their on-ice irrelevance. Players today, more than ever, are tending to angle themselves towards joining a team where they think they have a very good chance to win the next Stanley Cup. That isn’t seen as Seattle, and Pittsburgh is a lot more Seattle than they are Vegas/Florida.

So, all that to say, Robertson to the Penguins is a fun dream but doesn’t line up to make a lot of sense. The Pens probably aren’t moving the needle that much by offering, say, Rickard Rakell, the 22nd pick tonight, a first round pick in 2027 and other modest chips like second round picks and B-level prospects. Robertson rebuking Seattle’s massive contract shows it’ll be an uphill climb to earn his signature for a franchise with a mid-level outlook for championship contention in the short-term. Most names that get tied to Pittsburgh these days end up being rumors that fall short of the finish line, and the moves that do get made have tended to come out of nowhere with no warning or lead up.

Add it all up and while it wouldn’t hurt to make the attempt (or hope one is made), it’s probably not something that will end up happening for a myriad of reasons. It doesn’t hurt to try but file this one as very skeptical at best.

June 26th and June 27th the NHL will hold its draft. A few days after the NBA saw no Spartans drafted, the NHL draft could be quite the opposite. The Spartans icemen ended another promising season in disappointment and have more roster turnover than they’ve seen in a few years. The good news, is there are some top tier talented guys headed to East Lansing and many will see their name called on Friday night. Here’s a quick look at who to keep an eye on in the draft.

First and foremost potential top four pick, Chase Reid. Reid is a defensemen who is considered to be the best in a deep draft of defensemen. Reid is scouted as having vision, skating, and puck moving ability to be elite. His skill set could see him on a similar trajectory as Martone and only playing one season in East Lansing before going to the big stage. As a Blackhawks fan I thought there was a chance that he’d be drafted there to play opposite another former Spartan, Levshunov. However, the Hawks traded that number 4 pick to Buffalo and it looks like Reid will potentially head there. If he doesn’t go four he won’t get by the Rangers at five.

Speaking of Martone, MSU has his heir apparent lined up in Ethan Belchetz. He’s a beast in the paint and nearly impossible to control, which is very much like Martone. He’s 18 years old and 6’5, 230 and he’s got some bite too. He needs to improve on his skating some, but he is another that could be in the NHL after a year. Mock Drafts have him headed to New Jersey at 12 but I could see Nashville or St Louis grabbing him at 10 or 11.

Right Winger, Nikita Keplov is the next Spartan likely to go in the first. He turns 18 on Saturday and has been compared to Patrick Kane with his ability to score. He had 97 points in his first OHL season with 37 goals and, like Kane, won the scoring title as a rookie. He’s small at just 6′, 180 but is a very good skater and scouts are in love with his hockey IQ. He could go as early as Washington at 18 or still be around for the Canucks at 24 but I’m going to guess Pittsburgh at 22.

Jack Hextall and Brooks Rogowski are two more Spartans who could squeeze in at the tail end of the first. Rogowski isn’t slated to hit E.L. until 2027, but he’s been moving up mock draft charts and is being looked at by St Louis and Montreal. He’s 18 years old, 6’7 and 235. He’s a center who actually skates well for his size. He’s one of the biggest in the draft class. He’s a good puck protector on the boards but needs to develop a bit more. Specifically in the passing game and his vision for developing plays. He has a ton of upside though and will fit right in with Nightingale’s plans.

Jack Hextall is another 18 year old center. He has shown consistency is improving his game. He’s known for finding open lanes and is becoming a more viable scoring threat. He averaged nearly a point a game last season in the USHL. Hextall is seen in mock drafts heading to Stanley Cup Champs, Carolina Hurricanes. He fits into their prospect needs and would potentially be coached by a former Spartan in Brind’Amour.

I think one thing is clear with MSU Hockey and that is players and NHL teams believe in Nightingale and his staff and their ability to develop kids into NHL ready talent. TOC readers, where do you see these future Spartans headed? Will Reid sneak up to two or three? I don’t know about you, but with all the upheaval and disappointments coming out of East Lansing, it feels good to see some positive upside headed to town.

The Post’s Mollie Walker and Ethan Sears predict who the Rangers and Islanders will select Friday in the first round of the NHL draft:

Rangers

No. 5

With Chase Reid unavailable, the Rangers will take Keaton Verhoeff out of the University of North Dakota.

No. 26

If a big-bodied center like Brooks Rogowski is still on the board, the Rangers will pounce.

— Mollie Walker

Islanders

No. 13

6-foot-5 winger Ethan Belchetz isn’t the best skater in the draft, but has the shot, the hockey sense and the physicality to suggest the Islanders won’t pass him up if he’s still on the board.

A Michigan State commit who played last year with the OHL’s Windsor Spitfires, Belchetz has the sort of profile the Islanders could use in their system.

That said, it wouldn’t be a shock if Mathieu Darche chose to move his pick, should the chance arise.

— Ethan Sears

The 2026 NHL Draft begins tonight. Here are your links for today:

Devils Links

The preseason schedule is out:

We have more trades:

“Even if Nemec has more to give, the Devils don’t have the ability to put him in situations to squeeze that juice out of him. It was time to move on.” [Infernal Access ($)]

Hockey Links

One last mock draft ahead of the start of the draft tonight: [ESPN]

“Sources indicate the Carolina Hurricanes made a pitch this week for United States Olympic gold medalist and three-time Vezina Trophy winner Connor Hellebuyck. The offer was believed to include a first-round pick along with pending RFA defenseman Alexander Nikishin, a player swirling in trade winds this week. Nikishin, 24, scored 11 goals in his freshman season as a blue liner and was selected to the All-Rookie team alongside Matthew Schaefer.” [Hockey 24/7]

“The Minnesota Wild will sign Quinn Hughes to a new contract and would like to make it a long-term deal, owner Craig Leipold said. The defenseman is entering the final season of a six-year, $47.1 million contract ($7.85 million average annual value) he signed with the Vancouver Canucks on Oct. 3, 2021. He would be eligible to become an unrestricted free agent after next season.” [NHL.com]

“According to multiple sources, the Seattle Kraken were given permission by Dallas to talk to Jason Robertson, and offered him approximately $15 million per year on a eight-year deal — but the offer was declined.” [Sportsnet]

Colorado clears some space:

“The Washington Capitals completed a sign-and-trade for Alex Tuch from the Buffalo Sabres on Wednesday that saw Tuch sign an eight-year extension with the Capitals averaging $10.5 million a year, and the Sabres getting a third-round draft pick in 2026 and forward David Kampf in return.” [ESPN]

Zach Benson gets a seven-year deal:

The 2026 Hockey Hall of Fame class has been announced: [NHL.com]

Feel free to discuss these and any other hockey-related stories in the comments below.

22 years ago today, Evgeni Malkin was selected by the Pittsburgh Penguins with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft.

Before he was drafted by the Penguins, Malkin made his professional debut in Russia, playing for Metallurg Magnitogorsk when he was 17 years old.

The 2004 NHL Draft was held in Raleigh, North Carolina and the Penguins held the second pick after finishing the previous season with a league-worst 58 points, but were jumped in the draft lottery by the Washington Capitals, who landed the top pick and selected Alex Ovechkin.

Malkin’s arrival to Pittsburgh after being drafted with the second pick in 2004 would be delayed for some time due to both a transfer dispute and the NHL lockout.

In 2006, Malkin became the subject of what could be referred to as an international incident as the young Russian had to leave his team’s training camp in Finland, in some ways escaping for America and Pittsburgh.

Malkin was ultimately able to sign his entry-level deal with the Penguins in September 2006, making his NHL debut a short time later.

In his first preseason game with Pittsburgh, Malkin was injured when he collided with teammate John LeClair, meaning his first regular season game with the Penguins would have to wait.

In his debut game against the New Jersey Devils, Malkin scored one of his most memorable goals, being legendary goaltender Martin Brodeur.

Now 22 years, 533 goals, 874 assists, and three Stanley Cups later after being drafted, Malkin could be heading into his final season with the Penguins.

Why Bruins should prioritize defensemen in 2026 NHL Draft originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

The Boston Bruins have been searching for a No. 1 and No. 2 center since Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci retired after the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

They tried to find one in free agency in 2024 by signing Elias Lindholm to a seven-year contract worth $54.25 million. The B’s also have tried to acquire one of these players through the draft. They’ve tried pretty hard, actually.

The Bruins drafted four centers in 2025, including their first-round pick James Hagens and second-round pick Will Moore. Two of their four picks in 2024, including Dean Letourneau in Round 1, were centers. Boston also drafted two centers in 2023 and three in 2022.

It remains to be seen whether any of these players will become top-six centers. Hagens, Letourneau and Moore have the best chance.

There’s another position the Bruins need to start investing heavily in, especially in the draft.

Defensemen.

If you look at the Bruins’ top prospects, none of them are defensemen. In fact, The Athletic’s Scott Wheeler ranked Boston’s top 14 prospects back in April and Frederic Brunet (No. 9) was the only defenseman to make the list.

There is a severe lack of high-end blue line talent in the Bruins’ prospect pool. Specifically, there is a lack of puck-moving defensemen with high offensive upside who can quarterback a power play.

This is a problem because one of the Bruins’ most glaring roster weaknesses at the NHL level right now is the need for another top-four defenseman, preferably a right shot. The solution to that problem is not going to come from within, at least not any time soon. Brunet is nowhere near ready for that role. Mason Lohrei has impressive offensive talent, but his defensive liabilities are impossible to ignore. Henri Jokiharju played well at the Olympics for Finland, but he was a healthy scratch multiple times in the playoffs. Jordan Harris and Jonathan Aspirot are not top-four defensemen on a true contender.

If the Bruins want to acquire a top-four defenseman in the near term, the free agent and trade markets are the only options. Should they pursue Rasmus Andersson in free agency? He is the top defensemen who could hit the market this summer. Andersson is 29 years old, and even though he is a very good player, he isn’t a game-changer. An expensive, long-term contract for Andersson could end up being a huge mistake.

A trade for a defenseman player like Owen Zellweger of the Ducks is a risk worth taking. But the price to make that kind of move could be quite high.

Regardless of what the Bruins do to upgrade their blue line for next season, they need to start investing more valuable draft capital in defensemen.

The 2026 draft class is actually pretty deep at the position, and there are a couple of intriguing options for the Bruins with the No. 23 overall pick.

One of them is Adam Goljer, a right-shot defenseman who currently plays in his home country of Slovakia. Corey Pronman of The Athletic predicted the B’s would take Goljer in a recent 2026 NHL mock draft.

“Goljer is trending up with teams after a strong U18 worlds,” Pronman wrote. “He skates well, breaks up plays effectively and makes a good first pass, even if he doesn’t project as a major offensive driver. He projects as a two-way defenseman of whom the Bruins have very little of in their system.”

Ryan Lin of the Vancouver Giants (WHL), Tommy Bleyl of the Moncton Wildcats (QMJHL), Maksim Sokolovskii of the London Knights (OHL), Sweden’s William Hakansson and Finland’s Juho Piiparinen are other potential options for the Bruins in the first or second rounds if they target a defenseman. Xavier Villeneuve of Blainville-Boisbriand Armada (QMJHL) is a tremendous skater with exciting offensive talent who might still be available at No. 23.

The last time the Bruins selected a defenseman in the first round was Urho Vaakanainen at No. 17 overall in 2017. He was eventually traded to the Ducks as part of the deal that brough Hampus Lindholm to Boston.

The Bruins have a No. 1 defenseman on the NHL roster in Charlie McAvoy. He’s 28 years old and should have several more excellent seasons ahead of him. But he was the only Bruins defenseman who tallied more than 26 points last season. There’s not enough offensive firepower on Boston’s blue line. McAvoy can’t shoulder that burden alone.

Lindholm is 32 years old. Nikita Zadorov is 31 years old. Andrew Peeke could leave in free agency. The Bruins need an influx of impressive young talent on the blue line, and they need it very soon. It’s one reason why accelerating that process by taking a defenseman in Round 1 of the upcoming draft is a great idea.

Tonight’s the night…the first round of the NHL Draft takes place via conference calls and hopefully through less-awkward TV means than last year (though we’ll never forget that Matthew Schaefer moment).

Islanders News

• With the 13th overall pick, the Islanders…will probably select someone. [Newsday]
• This is the Islanders preseason schedule, feel the excitement. [Isles]
• Some more mock drafts…Oscar Hemming enters the chat. [NHL]
• Oh and here’s another mock draft, another one sending Tynan Lawrence to the Isles. [ESPN]
• ERMEGRD, the Canadiens supposedly called the Isles about Bo Horvat and the Isles said no. {click} [THN]

Elsewhere

• Here’s another draft ranking, a top 100. It has Stenberg above McKenna. [Sportsnet]
• And here’s another mock draft. It has OHL LW Ethan Belchetz to the Isles. [Sportsnet]
• Here are some random late thoughts about random top 100 prospects. [Athletic]
• How do 13 NHL scouts feel about the top defensemen in this draft? [Athletic]
• Rumor roundup: Buffalo isn’t done dealing, Blue Jackets will have conversations with Werenski. [Sportsnet | NHL]
• Here’s Kyper’s latest trade board. [Sportsnet]
• The Blue Jackets sent three draft picks to Colorado for Valeri Nichushkin, who probably won’t be happy there and they’ll hope will stay out of trouble and off IR. [NHL]
• The Flyers send asshat Garnet Hathaway to the Panthers for some late-round picks, and retain half his salary. [NHL]

Not the Draft

• The Capitals have tampered done a sign-and-trade for 33-goal scorer Alex Tuch, inking him to an eight-year, $84 million contract. He is 30. [TSN | NHL]
• The Predators and Avalanche swapped a bunch of That Guys. [TSN]
• Why…why did the Blackhawks swing so big for Bowen Bryam? [Athletic]
• Jason Robertson reportedly declined something like eight years and $15 million AAV from the poor Kraken. [Sportsnet]
• He also reportedly declined interest from the Blues, who offered “multiple first-round picks” if they could do a sign-and-trade. [@JeffMarek]
• The “ins and outs” of the NHL exploring expansion in Texas. [TSN]
• Connor McDavid says the Oilers top players all agree it’s high time they have a coach who abuses them; enter Mike Babcock. [Sportsnet]
• The Senators have another uphill climb after having to trade Brady Tkachuk. [Sportsnet]