Category: Ice Hockey

American defenseman T.J. Brennan, 36, has signed a contract to play for HK Olimpija Ljubljana, the Slovenia-based ICEHL club announced on Monday. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Originally from Willingboro, N.J., Brennan played in the QMJHL for the St. John’s Fog Devils and Montreal Juniors. He was taken in the second round, 31st overall, by the Buffalo Sabres in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft.

Brennan played 53 NHL games between 2011 and 2016 for the Sabres, Florida Panthers and Toronto Maple Leafs, recording 13 points and 29 penalty minutes.

“T.J. was a top priority for our coach, who knows and trusts him well from their time together in Salzburg,” said Olimpija GM Anže Ulčar, referring to new head coach Ben Cooper, who was an assistant coach of Red Bull Salzburg and previously and NHL assistant coach for the Vancouver Canucks and Florida.

“T.J. himself was looking for a new challenge in the ICE League, and I’m very happy we reached an agreement,” Ulčar continued. “We’ve acquired an excellent power-play specialist with a very high execution rate.”

Rasmus Asplund Leaves Florida Organization For Switzerland Swedish forward Rasmus Asplund, 27, has signed a two-year contract with HC Davos, the National League club announced on Tuesday.

Brennan played professionally in North America until 2020, mostly in the AHL. In addition to his NHL stops, he also played in the organizations of the Nashville Predators, New York Islanders, Chicago Blackhawks and Philadelphia Flyers.

In Europe, Brennan played one season each for HC Thurgau in Switzerland and in Salzburg in Austria, which was his first tenure in the ICEHL. For the last three seasons, he has played in Switzerland’s top-tier National League for HC Ajoie.

In each of the last two seasons, Olimpija has lost in the play-in round of the playoffs ahead of the quarterfinals. In addition to Brennan, this year’s team includes former NHLer Zach Boychuk and Slovenian national team captain Robert Sabolič. The team also had ex-NHLer Nick Bonino under contract before he suddenly retired in June to become an assistant coach with the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Photo © Tom Szczerbowski-Imagn Images: Ottawa Senators center Jean-Gabriel Pageau (44) fights against Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman T.J. Brennan (25) during the 2014-15 NHL season.

Ex-NHLer, Social Media Influencer Signs In SloveniaCanadian forward Zach Boychuk, 35, has signed a one-year contract to play for HK Olimpija Ljubljana, the Slovenian-based ICEHL club announced via social media on Monday.

Angus Crookshank sees an opportunity in New Jersey. 

Using an objective approach to free agency, the 25-year-old left the Ottawa Senators and signed a two-year deal with the New Jersey Devils on July 2. 

The contract breakdown is a two-way contract in the first year, worth $775,000 at the NHL level and $425,000 ($475,000 guaranteed) at the American Hockey League (AHL) level. The second year of the deal is a one-way contract worth $775,000.

"It is a good situation there," Crookshank explained on SENS TALK. "I am fortunate that it was the terms that we were looking for, especially in the second year. The second year was a big deal for us.

"To have the shown interest, commitment, and belief from the Devils meant a lot to me," he continued. "If I am looking at this very objectively, I am used to Ottawa, but when you take the emotions out of it, objectively, it was going to be a better situation and better opportunity in New Jersey. I can't wait to get down there." 

The 5-foot-10 winger has played 21 NHL games for the Senators over two seasons and 202 over four seasons for the Belleville Senators of the American Hockey League. 

One thing to note from last season is his 11 power-play goals in Belleville tied for sixth among all AHL skaters. His 40 points would have been tied with Brian Halonen for second-most on the Utica Comets. 

As for what type of players Devils fans can expect when the training camp opens in September, Crookshank describes himself as somewhat of a pest to the opposition. 

"I will bring energy," he said. "I will be in your face, probably annoy you, all that sort of stuff. I mean, you play a different game when you are in the NHL vs. when you are in the American League. I feel like I have gotten much better at managing those two different styles of play, so to speak. From an intangible standpoint, I am going to be flying around the ice and bringing energy every night."

When he arrives in New Jersey and prepares for his first NHL training camp away from Ottawa, he will have his sights on one thing: making the New Jersey Devils roster. 

Crookshank made his NHL debut on Dec. 17, 2023, against the Vegas Golden Knights at T-Mobile Arena. He celebrated his first career NHL goal in his second career game against the Arizona Coyotes. With the Senators, he played in 21 career NHL games and collected four points (two goals, two assists), including one game-winning goal. 

His first career assist was against the Devils as well as one of his two career goals. 

Crookshank will report to Prudential Center for Devils training camp in mid-September. The club's first preseason game is scheduled for Sept. 21 against the New York Rangers. 

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Seven NHL RFAs could have salary arbitration hearings this week.

As is normally the case, some of the 11 RFAs who filed for arbitration – Anaheim Ducks goalie Lukas Dostal and defenseman Drew Helleson and Winnipeg Jets forwards Gabriel Vilardi and Morgan Barron – agreed to a new deal before the scheduled hearing.

While RFAs such as Mason McTavish, Marco Rossi and Connor Zary are eligible for offer sheets, seven others are scheduled to have hearings between July 20 and Aug. 4. 

These players’ circumstances may have been affected by what their teams have done since the start of NHL free agency on July 1. Here are the seven players and their predicament.

Conor Timmins, D, Buffalo Sabres

Timmins was traded for the second time in four months, from the Pittsburgh Penguins to the Sabres in a salary dump deal on the second day of the NHL draft in exchange for veteran blueliner Connor Clifton and a 2025 second-round pick.

GM Kevyn Adams appears to have plans to fit the 26-year-old righty on the bottom-pairing with Mattias Samuelsson, since Buffalo re-signed Bowen Byram for two years.

Arvid Soderblom, G, Chicago Blackhawks

The 25-year-old split time between Spencer Knight and Petr Mrazek this past season. Mrazek was traded to the Detroit Red Wings at the deadline, leaving Soderblom to battle youngster Drew Commesso for the backup job.

The Blackhawks have over $21 million in cap space, so it is likely they will settle with Soderblom on a one-year deal. 

Jayden Struble, D, Montreal Canadiens

The 23-year-old American likely slots in as a bottom pairing option with David Savard retiring, Logan Mailloux dealt to the St. Louis Blues for Zack Bolduc and the Canadiens not wanting to rush David Reinbacher after the 2023 first-rounder missed most of this past season with a knee injury. Struble put up 13 points and 124 hits in 56 NHL games.

Maxim Tsyplakov, RW, New York Islanders

The Russian right winger signed a one-year entry-level contract after scoring 31 goals in the KHL in 2024. Tsyplakov recorded 35 points this past season, and with the departure of Brock Nelson and Noah Dobson, GM Mathieu Darche will be relying on the 26-year-old along with another KHL import, right winger Maxim Shabanov, to pick up some of the slack on offense.

The Islanders have less than $4 million in cap space, so a one-year deal that walks Tsyplakov to unrestricted free agency makes the most sense.

Kaapo Kakko, RW, Seattle Kraken

The 2019 second overall pick found new life in the Pacific Northwest after struggling in the Big Apple, with 30 points – 10 goals, 20 assists – in 49 games with the Kraken.

The 24-year-old is one year away from being a UFA, so a settlement on a multi-year deal that buys unrestricted years will be costly. Seattle has five high-priced veterans on expiring contracts, so they can afford Kakko’s potentially hefty price tag.  

Nick Robertson, LW, Toronto Maple Leafs

The diminutive scorer does not fit with Maple Leafs GM Brad Treliving’s penchant for bigger players, but the 23-year-old has scored in double figures the last two seasons in limited ice time under Sheldon Keefe and Craig Berube.

With the departure of Mitch Marner, Toronto may want to keep Robertson, with multiple years under control, or at least settle with him to facilitate a trade.

Dylan Samberg, D, Winnipeg Jets

With Vilardi signing a six-year, $45-million extension on Friday, GM Kevin Cheveldayoff checked off his biggest off-season issue.

Samberg is not an offensive dynamo, putting up a career-high 20 points this past season. With one year before unrestricted free agency, a rising salary cap and the prices for defensemen skyrocketing, the 26-year-old will likely get a big payday this summer or next. He led Winnipeg in blocked shots this past season, with 120.

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Rory Kerins isn’t just a feel-good story — he’s becoming a real factor in the Flames organization.

The 23-year-old forward signed a one-year, two-way deal with Calgary on July 17, giving him another shot to prove he belongs in the NHL. Based on last season’s strides, he’s earning more than just a second look.

Kerins made his NHL debut on January 13, 2025, and didn’t waste time making an impression. He picked up two assists in his first-ever game against the Chicago Blackhawks and finished his five-game stint with the Flames posting four points (4a) and a plus-3 rating. 

Small sample size? Sure. But the kid looked comfortable.

Where he really turned heads was in the AHL. Kerins lit it up for the Calgary Wranglers last season, notching 33 goals - a career best - and leading the team with 61 points. His offensive instincts were on full display, and he’s quietly becoming one of the best late-round value picks Calgary has made in recent years.

Let’s not forget: Kerins was a sixth-rounder — 174th overall — in the 2020 NHL Draft. Players taken in that range don’t usually carve out clear NHL paths, but the Caledon, Ontario native has steadily climbed the ladder. From the ECHL, to the AHL, to skating with the big club last season — he’s checked every box along the way.

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Kerins has amassed 95 points (50g, 45a) in 127 AHL games with the Wranglers, and the former Flames affiliate, the Stockton Heat. That production, combined with his relentless pace and developing two-way game, is putting him on Calgary’s radar for good.

At 5-foot-11 and 190 pounds, Kerins might not tower over opponents, but he plays with bite and intelligence — and he’s clearly not done growing as a player.

With a cap hit of $775,000 on his new deal, the Flames get flexibility — and Kerins gets another well-earned shot to show he’s ready to stick with the big club for good.

© Joe Puetz-Imagn Images

© Sergei Belski-Imagn Images

American defenseman Jack Dougherty, 29, has signed a one-year contract with the Sheffield Steelers, the EIHL club announced on Monday.

“Jack is a versatile defenseman that does all the little things right needed to win hockey games,” said Steelers head coach Aaron Fox. “He will play physical and get stops defensively, he blocks a ton of shots and is really smart on executing his retrievals and regroups.”

“Aaron Fox didn’t have to work hard on selling the Steelers to me,” said Dougherty. “I had heard many great things about the club and organization, so when the chance came up I was very happy to listen to what was being said.

“Then you add to that the signing of Evan Jasper who I played with last year and I thought Sheffield was the place for my wife and I head to.”

Dougherty was born in St. Paul, Minn. And came through the U.S. National Team Development Program, winning a gold medal at the 2014 IIHF U-18 World Championship. He then played one year of college hockey at the University of Wisconsin and then one year in the WHL with the Portland Winterhawks.

Dougherty was selected in the second round, 51st overall, by the Nashville Predators in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft. Although Dougherty never played a regular-season NHL game, he spent time in the minor-league systems of the Predators, Buffalo Sabres, Ottawa Senators and Boston Bruins, appearing in several pre-season games.

In 317 AHL regular-season and playoff games, Dougherty recorded 62 points and 156 penalty minutes.

Finnish Former Predator Returns Home Finnish forward Miikka Salomäki, 32, has signed a one-year contract with SaiPa Lappeenranta, the Finnish Liiga club announced on Friday.

Since 2023, Dougherty has played in Germany with Kölner Haie and the Nuremburg Ice Tigers and in Austria with the Vienna Capitals.

“Jack was a full time AHL D man with European stops in the DEL and Austria,” said Fox. “I think he will complement our group very well and will be someone we rely heavy on for the PK.”

“I’m a two way defenseman that can play in all situations,” said Dougherty. “I love killing penalties and I’m the guy you send over the boards in the last two minutes of a game to see it out – that’s my gig. I work hard, I’m an experienced guy and I hope that rubs off on the team. I’m here to do whatever is needed to help us win.”

Dougherty joins a Steelers team that is used to success – they have not finished worse than third in the past six seasons. In addition to former teammate Jasper, the team includes former NHL prospect Cliff Pu and British national team captain Robert Dowd, who is also the EIHL’s all-time scoring leader.

© Steve Roberts-Imagn Images

Former Sabres, Hurricanes Prospect Signs In England Canadian forward Cliff Pu, 27, has signed a one-year contract with the Sheffield Steelers, the EIHL club announced on Thursday.

On Thursday, July 24, Montreal Canadiens’ coach Martin St-Louis will be taking part in a the “Shoulder Check” hockey game and since the roster announcement doesn’t specify that he’ll be behind the bench, it seems he’ll hitting the ice rather than standing behind the bench.

The event with NHL stars is held annually and prides itself on making kindness a contact sport. The initiative aims to remind people that we can all be there for one another and that sometimes, being there can mean just putting your hand on someone’s shoulder and letting them know you’re there for them.

The event will take place in Stamford Connecticut, not far from where the Canadiens’ bench boss used to have a waterfront mansion. St-Louis doesn’t spend the off-season in Montreal, he goes back to the USA and spends the Summer with his family residing in South Burlington, Vermont.

If you’re interested in seeing the Habs’ coach play, you can stream the game on Thursday night on the organization’s Instagram account. The game is set to start around 18:30 but players will get there earlier to interact with fans. Before the game starts, Swaggy P will be on hand to show some of his impressive skills on the ice.

St-Louis will be the only Canadiens’ representative but the lineup is still quite interesting: new Philadelphia Flyers forward Trevor Zegras will lead the charge as always and will be joined by the likes of former teammates Mason McTavish, Fank Vatrano, Sam Colangelo and Cutter Gauthier.

Some of the NHL's best will be on display at the 2025 Shoulder Check Showcase, taking place on July 24th at 4pm ET! https://t.co/7CNa5ohiD9pic.twitter.com/aLeAf1OA7b

— NHL Network (@NHLNetwork) July 20, 2025

Goaltenders Spencer Knight, Jonathan Quick and Jake Oettinger will be manning the nets and facing players like Matty Beniers , Shane Pinto, Adam Fox, Ryan Leonard and Will Smith.

It will be interesting to see what St-Louis can still do on the ice, but there’s absolutely that he’ll be able to compete, the former player has kept himself in great shape and still likes to jog up and down the Bell Centre’s lower bowl stairs.

The Canadiens’ coach had an impressive NHL career, despite never being drafted. He spent 16 seasons in the NHL with the Calgary Flames, the Tampa Bay Lightning, and the New York Rangers. In 1134 games, he gathered 1033 points.

Photo credit:  Kim Klement-Imagn Images

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NHL.com released a highlight reel of young stars' best dangles for this past season, and two Montreal Canadiens made the cut. Of course, Calder Trophy-winning defenseman Lane Hutson is featured, but so is the late addition to the season, Ivan Demidov.

Hutson had the most electrifying rookie season seen in Montreal since Ken Dryden won 39 games, including eight shutouts, while keeping a .930 save percentage to claim the Calder. The previous season, he had also backstopped the Canadiens to a Stanley Cup and won the Conn Smythe Trophy as the playoffs' MVP.

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Granted, I wasn’t born when Dryden dominated the 70s and won six Stanley Cups with the Sainte-Flanelle, but I’ve seen Hutson lit up the Bell Centre this season, and it was quite something. Before the crowd could get used to it and see his fantastic dangles as routine, Demidov arrived in the tail end of the season to steal the show.

These young stars have hands for daaays... 😮‍💨 #NHLYoungStarsWeekpic.twitter.com/9pA0BJvmyp

— NHL (@NHL) July 20, 2025

The night he joined the Canadiens to face the Chicago Blackhawks, the press gallery was “sold out,” so to speak, as many teams had sent representatives and/or scouts, creating a special energy in the building. When he scored his first career goal, late in the first period, the building erupted, including the press gallery.

Journalists in the press gallery usually do an excellent job of staying neutral. Still, there were some exclamations when Demidov found the back of the net, there were quite a few impressions of Lucien “Lulu” Bouchard celebrating the National’s goals in Lance et Compte (there I go showing my age again). Even Connor Bedard was shown watching the big screen to see how history was made.

Watching Demidov and Hutson in this short highlight reel is yet more proof that the future is bright in Montreal. Stay tuned.

Photo credit:  David Kirouac-Imagn Images

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Over the past several seasons, the Florida Panthers have evolved into one of the NHL’s premiere franchises.

Florida has advanced to each of the past three Stanley Cup Finals, winning back-to-back championships in the process.

They’re also built to last, with the team’s entire core locked into long-term, team-friendly contracts that will allow Florida to remain one of the top teams in the NHL for years to come.

The success of the Panthers has provided some incredibly fun and memorable moments for their fans, and the team has done an excellent job of creating and curating the events into consumable content that can be rewatched and revisited time and time again.

One thing that the Panthers have done during each of their three runs to the Final that fans have really seemed to enjoy engaging with on social media has been their postgame puck tradition.

It started back in 2023, which was the year that Florida squeaked into the playoffs as the eighth seed.

Facing a first-round matchup against the historically good Boston Bruins, who had set a new NHL record for wins and points in the regular season (with 65 wins and 135 points), the Panthers were a massive underdog.

After falling behind three games to one in the series, Matthew Tkachuk scored the overtime winner in Game 5 in Boston, sparking Florida’s incredible, improbable run to the Stanley Cup Final.

In the Panthers’ postgame locker room, the game puck went Tkachuk, and he famously said to his teammates, “Remember this room, we’ll be back here for (Game) 7.”

Those videos have become something of a thing in the two years since, though it surely helps that Florida has done so much winning once the playoffs arrive.

Considering the team’s postseason prospects for the coming years, we may just be scratching the surface on these fun videos.

As we did last season here at THN Florida, we’ve compiled a list of every postgame puck moment, starting with the first game of the postseason in Tampa Bay.

ROUND ONE VS. TAMPA BAY

Game 1: Matthew Tkachuk 

Game 2: Sergei Bobrovsky

Game 4: Aaron Ekblad 

Game 5: Brad Marchand 

ROUND TWO VS. TORONTO

Game 3: Tomas Nosek 

Game 4: Sergei Bobrovsky 

Game 5: Seth Jones 

Game 7: Sasha Barkov 

ROUND THREE VS. CAROLINA

Game 1: Niko Mikkola 

Game 2: Carter Verhaeghe 

Game 3: Jesper Boqvist 

Game 5: Evan Rodrigues 

STANLEY CUP FINAL VS. EDMONTON

Game 2: Brad Marchand 

Game 3: Jonah Gadjovich 

Game 5: Vitek Vanecek 

Game 6: Bill Zito 

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Photo caption: Florida Panthers postgame playoff puck board following Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Final at PNC Arena in Raleigh, North Carolina. (David Dwork)

The Pittsburgh Penguins will have a lot of decisions to make regarding some of their young players before the puck drops on the regular season Oct. 7 against the New York Rangers.

As of now, they have 13 forwards, eight defensemen, and two goaltenders on their active roster. The forward battle situation will be interesting, especially since Rutger McGroarty and Ville Koivunen are not on the active roster as of now. But the battle on the back end may be even more intriguing.

And one Penguins’ defensive prospect has an uphill climb in order to assert himself onto the NHL roster out of training camp. 

Owen Pickering - selected 21st overall by the Penguins in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft - got a taste of NHL action last season, as he was called up from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (WBS) midway through the season and played in 25 games for Pittsburgh. In those 25 games, he registered a goal and three points as well as a minus-5 to go along with an 14:49 of ice time on average.

The 21-year-old impressed so much in the first handful-plus of games that the Penguins elected to keep him around despite having the option to send him down - and he even saw some top-four minutes alongside Kris Letang. His play dropped off a bit toward the end of his stint, which ultimately led to his re-assignment to the AHL on Jan. 25.

But Pickering said that he is ready for full-time NHL action in 2025-26, and he’s going to come ready to prove he’s worthy.

"You never want to get sent back," Pickering said. "You always want to be in the NHL. I feel like I proved to myself that I can play in the NHL.

"I want to be full-time next year, I want to be [in Pittsburgh] the whole year. That's the goal."

While the 6-foot-5, 200-pound Pickering appears to be ready to make the jump to the NHL, it may not be that simple - especially with the current situation on the left side of the Penguins’ blue line. 

As it stands, the Penguins have four defensemen on each side of the blue line on their active roster. Erik Karlsson, Kris Letang, Matt Dumba, and Connor Clifton occupy the right side, while Ryan Graves and Ryan Shea as well as free agent signees Parker Wotherspoon and Alex Alexeyev have left-side roster spots. 

Pickering - a left defenseman - will already have to fight hard to make the roster because of the fact that the Penguins already have several candidates in the mix at the NHL level. Graves’s contract makes him difficult to move off the roster. Shea was just re-signed. And the other two were just signed out of free agency. 

Without some movement prior to training camp, it’s hard to see Pickering having a leg–up on any of those guys. And even Penguins GM and POHO Kyle Dubas said that the young blueliner needs to have a great camp in order to stand out.

“He's got to have a great summer,” Dubas said in his press conference with the media following the conclusion of the Penguins’ 2024-25 season. “We can't have him same as we had him go down, settling into a 12-13 minute a night role. He needs to come in and push his way into 17-18-19-20 minutes and earn that.” 

And in terms of Pickering potentially playing in a top-four role?

“He played for the team [last] year, but is he ready to step into one of those roles?” Dubas said. “I don't think so.”

But - even though Dubas may think that Pickering is not ready for an elevated role in the lineup, the one advantage he has is that there isn’t really anyone who is a lock to be playing in the top-two spots on the left side at this point, so those spots are literally anyone’s for the taking. If Pickering has a good enough training camp, he very well could be considered for one of those roles if he shows he is capable of handling it.

If the Penguins had their way with Pickering, he would likely be on the bottom-pairing at the NHL level and getting sheltered minutes next season. But, given the logjam situation, that may be a difficult to accomplish. They may think it’s better for him to be logging top-pair minutes in WBS rather than getting sheltered minutes in the NHL.

Regardless, Pickering will be a player to watch in training camp, and he probably deserves to start the season continuing his development on the NHL roster. Only time and performance will tell whether or not this ends up being the case, but rest assured that the Penguins are confident that Pickering will be part of their future.

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Feature Image Credit: James Guillory-Imagn Images

There was still some bad blood between the Detroit Red Wings and the Pittsburgh Penguins in the spring of 2010, considering they were less than a calendar year removed from their second straight battle in the Stanley Cup Final.

While the Red Wings' most recent Stanley Cup victory came in 2008, the Penguins unfortunately returned the favor in 2009, ultimately winning a tightly-contested Game 7 by a 2-1 final score and celebrating in front of a stunned crowd at Joe Louis Arena. 

The sight of Sidney Crosby receiving the Stanley Cup and triumphantly raising it above his head while letting out a jubilant bellow continues to live in the nightmares of Red Wings fans despite being over 16 years ago. 

The Penguins visited The Joe on March 22, 2010, and it was a new face in the Detroit crease that quickly made a name for himself. Jimmy Howard, playing in his rookie campaign after successfully supplanting Chris Osgood as Detroit's starter, not only made 26 saves as part of a 3-1 victory but also permanently won himself a spot in the hearts of Red Wings fans. 

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Late in regulation as the final seconds ticked off the clock, a frustrated Sidney Crosby immediately began trying to mix it up with Henrik Zetterberg. Howard clearly did not appreciate this, and immediately went after Crosby and gave him a face wash with his catcher as a scrum formed.

Jimmy Howard vs. Sidney Crosby 🧼 pic.twitter.com/GC91O1K9ZJ

— Red Wings Goals In Order (@RedWingsVids) July 20, 2025

Considering Crosby's firm status as a villain in Hockeytown, especially following the result of the previous season's Stanley Cup Final, the sellout crowd roared in approval for Howard, loving every second of the action. 

Howard tried to downplay his actions, saying he was simply coming to Zetterberg's aid.

“Just helping out a teammate, that’s all,’’ Howard said after the game. “It’s become quite the rivalry, and we stick together out there.’’

"(The game) was a little bit more special considering who it was. It’s turned into a heated rivalry. I wasn’t participating (in the last two Cup finals), but I was right there on the sidelines watching. Just being there, you got a sense of the rivalry." 

In the Penguins' dressing room, Crosby wasn't quite sure what to make of what had transpired and wasn't a fan of Howard coming after him.  

“I don’t know what he was doing,’’ Crosby said. “It was one of those things, a couple guys battling at the end. I knew the linesman was in there. I don’t know whether (Howard) wanted a free shot, but I don’t think it was any place for him to be.’’

The Red Wings and Penguins have experienced a downturn in their fortunes in recent years, and both clubs were battling for the final Wild Card playoff spot near the tail end of the 2024-25 season. 

The good news for Detroit is that they're trending back in the right direction, while the Penguins appear headed for a long stay in hockey purgatory. 

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Nico Daws is currently in an interesting position as the third-string goaltender for the New Jersey Devils. 

While his track record has shown he can be a valuable piece of the puzzle, trade rumors continue to swirl around the 24-year-old netminder.

Daws is entering the second year of his contract with the Devils, and for the first time, it's a one-way deal. Last season, he was on a two-way contract, earning $775,000 at the NHL level and $350,000 in the AHL. Now, he’s locked into an $850,000 NHL salary. 

With Jake Allen re-signed in free agency and Jacob Markstrom acquired as the starter, the Devils have solidified their goaltending duo. That leaves Daws in a difficult position.

On one hand, he could reprise his familiar role, ready to step in when injuries hit. On the other, he may not see any NHL ice time this season. If the latter scenario plays out, New Jersey may want to consider trading him to a team in need of goaltending depth.

Two potential landing spots stand out: the Vegas Golden Knights and the Edmonton Oilers.

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Vegas Golden Knights

The Golden Knights are actively looking for a dependable backup. With Adin Hill firmly entrenched as the starter, Vegas knows a single goalie can’t handle the full load of an 82-game season.

They need a reliable, experienced backup who can step in at any moment, and Daws fits the mold. He has served in a similar role with the Devils, and prior to that, he was a dependable presence in the Ontario Hockey League. He’s been called up to the NHL three times and posted a .898 save percentage.

Daws could be an ideal low-cost, low-risk option to help shoulder the workload in Vegas.

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Edmonton Oilers

Another potential fit is Edmonton, a team that’s been painfully close to winning it all but has struggled with goaltending consistency.

The Oilers have reached the Stanley Cup Final two years in a row, led by superstars Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. But shaky performances in net have kept them from finishing the job.

Stuart Skinner was their starter last season and played well in the regular season, but was frequently substituted for backup Calvin Pickard in the playoffs. That rotation cost them stability in the crease when it mattered most.

While the Oilers may target a veteran like Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, that move would require significant assets. Daws, meanwhile, presents a cheaper alternative. He’s younger, has NHL experience, and could provide just what the Oilers need.

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What’s Next?

Goaltending is always in demand, and Nico Daws could be a fit for several teams across the league.

Or, as he’s done before, he could once again step up and save the day for the Devils.

© Ed Mulholland-Imagn Images

The Buffalo Sabres would seemingly have work to do at the NHL level, as the club has not adequately replaced the offensive production of winger JJ Peterka. Peterka, who was second on the Sabres in scoring with 68 points last season, was dealt to the Utah Mammoth for defenseman Michael Kesselring and winger Josh Doan before the NHL Draft.  

GM Kevyn Adams may be investigating the last few options in free agency or the trade market, but the club this week has continued to fill holes in AHL Rochester.  After the signing of former NHLer Jake Leschyshyn to a one-year, two-way contract earlier this week, the club announced the signing of center Trevor Kuntar and defenseman Peter Tischke to one-year AHL deals. 

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Kuntar, a 24-year-old Buffalo native and son of former NHLer and longtime minor leaguer Les Kuntar, was a 2020 third round pick of the Boston Bruins, who played three seasons at Boston College and two years for the Bruins AHL affiliate in Providence. After scoring 10 goals and accumulating 113 penalty minutes in his first pro season with the Bruins, the 6’0”, 201 lb. center dipped to 12 points in 57 AHL games last season. 

Tischke, 29, played four years at the University of Wisconsin from 2015 to 2019, saw spot duty with the AHL Colorado Eagles for two seasons before playing two seasons with the Amerks and ECHL Cincinnati. Last season, the veteran blueliner had 13 points in 54 games with the Sabres ECHL affiliate in Jacksonville. 

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Very quietly this week, longtime NHL forward Blake Wheeler announced his retirement. Wheeler hadn’t played since the 2023-24 season, but even after waiting a year to hang up his skates, Wheeler has played 1,172 regular-season games and 66 more Stanley Cup playoff games. He can hold his head high on a career well done.

What helped set Wheeler apart from his peers was his decision not to sign with the team that drafted him – the Phoenix Coyotes, who selected him with the fifth-overall pick in the 2004 draft. Instead of hammering out an entry-level contract with the Coyotes, Wheeler opted to become an unrestricted free agent coming out of his days at the University of Minnesota. And from there, Wheeler quickly came to terms with the Boston Bruins, where he spent his first two-and-a-half NHL seasons starting in 2008 before he was traded to the Atlanta Thrashers in February of 2011.

Like other NHLers, including Anaheim Ducks forward Cutter Gauthier, Edmonton Oilers forward Isaac Howard, New York Rangers defenseman Adam Fox and Pittsburgh Penguins forward Rutger McGroarty, Wheeler was unique because he essentially engineered a move away from the team that drafted him. But unlike many of those aforementioned players, success came right away for Wheeler, as he potted 21 goals and 45 points in his rookie NHL season, then had double-digit goal totals in each of the next two seasons as a Bruin.

But it wasn’t until Wheeler got traded to the Thrashers that he really settled in as a legitimate scoring threat. In his fourth year with the franchise, which by then had relocated to become the Winnipeg Jets, Wheeler put up 28 goals and 69 points. And for each of the next six seasons, Wheeler produced at least 20 goals and 61 points, and his point total went as high as 91 in two consecutive seasons when he was at his peak from 2017-2019.

At the end of his NHL days, Wheeler was playing as a secondary scoring option for the Rangers, and in his final season in hockey’s top league, he amassed nine goals and 21 points in 54 games. In the previous four seasons, Wheeler had trouble staying healthy, as he never played in more than 72 games at any point in that span. But as evidenced by his final post-season with the Jets, Wheeler still had something to offer, as he posted two goals and six points in five playoff games in 2023.

Wheeler isn’t the first talented player never to win a Cup, and he won’t be the last. But he produced 321 goals and 943 points in his regular-season career, and he had another 10 goals and 45 points in playoff games. He’s going to be fondly remembered by Jets fans who appreciated him playing so long in Winnipeg. 

And while he’s not a Hockey Hall of Famer, Wheeler has made his mark on the game, both on the Jets organization and on the NHL. He accomplished much more than most NHLers accomplish, and he deserves his flowers for his 16-season NHL career.

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After nearly three weeks of NHL free agency coming into full effect, there are still a handful of NHLers available in the UFA market. Not only are these players expected to be regular NHL players in the upcoming 2025-26 campaign, but some could also be difference-makers.

Here are five players who remain UFAs and the pros and cons of signing each one.

Jack Roslovic, C

Jack Roslovic is undoubtedly the top name on the list of current UFAs. The center, who can also play on the wing, has two 20-goal seasons under his belt, including last season. He put up 22 goals and 39 points for the Carolina Hurricanes.

Roslovic is coming off a one-year contract that saw him earn $2.8 million, much less than the $4-million per year that he earned in his previous contract he signed with the Columbus Blue Jackets.

The pros of signing the ripe 28-year-old are getting a player who can play center, and receiving a two-time 40-point scorer. He would be an effective secondary scorer on any team, contender or not.

However, because Roslovic is alone at the top of the UFA list, he’s right-handed and can play down the middle, there’s a great chance that a team will need to overpay for the Columbus, Ohio native to obtain his services.

Ilya Samsonov, G

Ilya Samsonov has had plenty of ups and downs in his six-year career. He’s gone from being a tandem goaltender to a starter, to a backup. Last season with the Vegas Golden Knights, he made 29 appearances, all of which were starts. 

Samsonov ended the campaign with a respectable 16-9-4 record. Although his save percentage and goals-against average were average. He recorded a 2.82 GAA and .891 SP.

While he may not be a popular choice, the pro in signing Samsonov would be receiving a relatively experienced goaltender who has seen all situations in terms of his spot on the roster.

The downside of bringing in the 28-year-old Russian is that he’s proven to be inconsistent. With the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2022-23, he posted a 2.33 GAA and .919 SP in 40 starts.However, in the following season for Toronto, he finished with a 3.13 GAA and .890 SP. He went from a career high to a career low in the span of two consecutive seasons.

Matt Grzelcyk, D

The Pittsburgh Penguins decided not to sign defenseman Matt Grzelcyk after he registered one goal and 40 points, a career high in the points department. Grzelcyk is coming off a one-year contract with Pittsburgh worth $2.75 million. 

Penguins coach Mike Sullivan heavily utilized the 31-year-old defenseman as he averaged 20:37 of ice time, the most in his nine-year career. 

With that, he had the joint-most power-play points on the team, tied with Sidney Crosby’s 15 points. He recorded more than potential Hall of Fame offensive blueliners, Erik Karlsson and Kris Letang.

It’s easy to say that the pros of signing Grzelcyk are that he is a reliable D-man who is capable of running a power play. Not only that, he is an experienced defenseman and has notable playoff experience, featuring in 66 post-season games from his time with the Boston Bruins.

As for cons, he and his agent might believe he’s worth more than what teams are willing to offer him, which might be the reason he’s still on the market. 

Victor Olofsson, LW

Victor Olofsson is a three-time 20-goal scorer and was on pace to accomplish that feat again last season in his first year with the Golden Knights. He scored 15 goals and 29 points in 56 contests with Vegas. 

If he reached another 20-goal milestone, he’d have four in six full seasons. Not to mention, he’s never played more than 75 games in a season. Imagine if he played more games throughout his career.

When the left winger is given the required ice time, he can put the puck into the back of the net like anyone else. Scoring has always been a strength for Olofsson, dating back to his years with the Buffalo Sabres.

The pro of bringing on the 30-year-old Swede is his ability to score, and he would bring scoring depth to any team that is willing to sign him.

The con of Olofsson’s game at times is that he is a streaky scorer rather than a consistent one at times. For instance, he went on a two-month goalless drought for Vegas last season, as he went 20 consecutive games without scoring a goal.

Luke Kunin, C

Luke Kunin is a bottom-six center, and like Roslovic, he is right handed and can play the wing. The 27-year-old is known for his two-way game and penalty killing. Last season, he averaged 1:41 of ice time on the penalty kill – among the top 100 forwards in the league per Natural Stat Trick.

Kunin played 63 games for the San Jose Sharks before he was traded to the Blue Jackets on trade deadline day. He played an additional 12 games for the Jackets for a total of 75 appearances last year.

In that span, he recorded 11 goals and seven assists for 18 points, perfectly matching his offensive production from the season before. Kunin didn’t get his name on the scoresheet in any fashion during his time with Columbus.

The pro of acquiring Kunin is that he is a regular NHL player who can fill in on the PK at any given time. 

However, in contrast, the center hasn’t shown signs of steady progression in terms of production since his 15-goal, 31-point season in 2019-20 with the Minnesota Wild. Even with his penalty killing ability and two-way game, teams could likely find a player with a similar arsenal at a cheaper price.

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