The Sebastian Cossa era in Detroit is over, and some Edmonton Oilers fans might be wondering whether Stan Bowman missed a golden opportunity. There was chatter that Cossa was a goaltender the Oilers had on a short list of goalies they'd targeted.
Ultimately, the netminder was traded in a different deal, and it's probably for the best. That might sound odd to say, but if you're in the camp that Edmonton missed out, here's why you shouldn't lose any sleep over it.
Utah acquired the 23-year-old goaltender from the Red Wings on Friday, with a 2026 first-round pick as the centerpiece of the deal. It was a fairly high price to pay, and an asset the Oilers didn't have to match.
Ultimately, this wasn't a decision Bowman passed on — it was never really on the table. The Oilers lacked draft capital to make the deal. Frankly, the lack of a stocked cupboard of picks to make any number of trades is a problem.
But even if the price had been different, the fit was questionable. Cossa has been excellent in the AHL, posting a 26-8-4 record with a 2.33 GAA, a .915 save percentage and five shutouts this past season. He's a legitimate prospect with a big future. What he isn't, yet, is a proven NHL starter — and that distinction matters enormously for a team trying to win a Stanley Cup around Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl right now.
What's key to remember here is, this is a goalie with a grand total of one NHL game on his resume.
Going into 2026-27 with a Tristan Jarry-Cossa tandem would have been a bet on potential over production at the worst possible time. Edmonton needs a goaltender who has been there, handled pressure, and won meaningful games — not one still working his way up. Utah, a younger team with more runway, is the right landing spot for Cossa at this stage of his development.
They can afford to be patient.
The Oilers need to solve their crease situation this summer, and Cossa was never going to be that solution. The fact that Utah made that decision easier by outbidding everyone with assets Edmonton didn't have is, frankly, a lucky break. It allowed Bowman to get out of his own way and focus on adding a proven veteran. Time will tell if he can do so.
Yes, a potential option is off the board. And yes, the Mammoth might have acquired a terrific goaltender. Then again, there's a chance it takes Cossa a couple of years to get close to realizing his potential. It could be years before he hits his ceiling, whatever that might be.
The Oilers don't have time to wait, and it would have been a high price to pay, especially if the risk didn't pay off.
Predators Take Shape —July 1, 1998 - VOL. 59, Issue. 39 - Jeff Legwold
Nashville Predators’ GM David Poile has the requisite combination of realism and optimism for a man at the helm of an expansion team in today’s NHL.
“Obviously we’re not going to compete for the Stanley Cup right away,” Poile said following the June 26 expansion draft and June 27 entry draft in Buffalo. “But our thinking is we want to be better in the second year than the first, better in the third than we were in the second. We’re trying to build this up.”
The biggest building block so far came in the entry draft when the Predators moved up from No. 3 to No. 2-by surrendering their second round selection-to secure Plymouth Whalers’ center David Legwand. The 17-year-old from suburban Detroit-he turns 18 in August-has already been called the possible cornerstone of the franchise. (See pg. 31 for more on Legwand).
Poile also obtained nine players through trades just hours after the expansion draft and signed another in free agency (left winger Patrie Kjellberg) the same night. He subsequently traded center Mike Sullivan, who the team selected from the Boston Bruins in the expansion draft, to the Phoenix Coyotes for a seventh round pick in the 1999 entry draft.
“I think people now see David will make the deals he thinks will help us,” Trotz said. “He’s not afraid.”
But he is a realist. Poile drafted three unrestricted free agents in the expansion draft with the knowledge he wouldn’t even open negotiations with two of them (defenseman Al lafrate being the exception). Instead, the Predators will gladly take the compensatory draft picks they’ll be awarded when defenseman Uwe Krupp and goalie Mike Richter sign elsewhere later this summer.
Armed with the knowledge he wasn t going to lure big-name players to Nashville right away, Poile had to decide what kind of team to mold. With the recent push to find ways to open up the game, the GM figured it would be prudent to acquire speed, both up front and on the defense corps.
So the Predators selected players such as center Greg Johnson from the Chicago Blackhawks and defenseman Joel Bouchard from the Calgary Flames. They also went for guys who had put up decent scoring numbers in the minors, but who hadn’t yet done it consistently at the NHL level. Included in that group are forwards Craig Darby from the Philadelphia Flyers, Andrew Brunette from the Washington Capitals and Paul Brousseau from the Tampa Bay Lightning.
“Maybe a player blossoms because he gets more of a chance with us,” Poile said. “That’s how we are selling it, that they can come in and have a chance to contribute if they want to make the commitment.”
“And we wanted some character guys, guys who were going to show up every night,” Trotz said. “I’ve said we’re going to play in-your-face hockey and we’re going to.”
Trotz has called Doug Brown, selected from the Detroit Red Wings, the “poster child” for the Predators. “Here’s a guy who plays every game as hard as he can play it, is a great person on and off the ice and has terrific leadership skills.”
The Predators also have grit in the form of defenseman Jayson More (a free agent signee), and center Scott Walker, taken from the Vancouver Canucks in the expansion draft.
Since Brown’s 19 NHL goals for the Stanley Cup champions in 1997-98 is the most by any player on the current Predators’ roster, grind-it-out hockey will be the team’s trademark.
“We all need goals,” Poile said. “But 50-goal scorers are not available in the expansion draft. We took players who we think are hard-working, character guys who will not be afraid of challenges. We want people who persevere.”
New goalie Mike Dunham meets that criteria. The 26-year-old has played well during his pro career, but not often. That’s because with the New Jersey Devils he was cemented behind star Martin Brodeur. “At every level of his career he has had success,” Poile said of Dunham. “Now we have lifted away that obstacle (Brodeur).”
“This is a great opportunity,” Dunham said. “I’m going to approach it one save at a time. You can’t overwhelm yourself.”
In the end, the Predators likely came away with more speed and fewer goals than they anticipated. Now Nashville will wait for the likes of Legwand to grow up, for those such as Brunette to help it along, for those such as Brown to show it the way.
And they’ll look for those such as tough left winger Denny Lambert and rugged defenseman Bob Boughner to make sure they have enough room.
“We challenged (management) to come up with the best players for our franchise,” said owner Craig Leipold. “And we feel absolutely great about this team.”
BUFFALO, NEW YORK - JUNE 26: Alexander Command poses for a portrait after being selected 12th overall by the New Jersey Devils during day one of the 2026 NHL Draft on June 26, 2026 in Buffalo, New York. (Photo by Joe Hrycych/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Good afternoon, Devils fans. Today, we’re doing a short rundown of the Devils’ picks and draft-related moves from the past few days. Below, you can find links to each of the relevant picks and trades.
* Acquired when trading down from 35th to 37th ** Acquired when trading down from 140th to 149th
The New Jersey Devils truly did not have a ton of draft capital leading up to this year’s event. Prior to the Simon Nemec trade, they lacked third and seventh-round selections. By acquiring the 35th overall pick (along with two future firsts) for Simon Nemec and making two trade down moves, Sunny Mehta was able to spin a few extra picks over what the Devils were supposed to be selecting. This is quite good, as it seemed the Devils were targeting Vanhanen in the early second round along with a goalie in Rusakovich when they traded down in the fifth round.
In all, I think the Devils largely did a good job of getting value equal to or above their draft slots throughout the draft, with few exceptions. As I mentioned in the Alexander Command post, our 12th overall selection had an identical NHLe projection to third overall pick Caleb Malhotra (32 draft year NHLe/32% star probability and 67% NHLer probability per Hockey Prospecting). Vanhanen, meanwhile, was much lower on the NHLe boards (8% star probability and 29% NHLer probability) while being very well regarded by microstat trackers. I would give the Command pick an A (especially when considering his super-high compete level and intensity) and the Vanhanen pick a B+.
The Devils’ third pick, Nikita Shcherbakov, is not someone who is going to be well-liked by NHLe-focused draft projectors. Shcherbakov is a large Russian mobile defenseman. On tape, his skating looks awesome, but he has not been an eye-popping point producer in Russian juniors. However, with a decent 10 points in 35 VHL (second-tier to the KHL) games, Shcherbakov may be able to get into a full-time role with Salavat Yulaev Ufa of the KHL next season. To be honest, I am not sure they had to grab Shcherbakov this early in the draft, but maybe a suitable trade down was not available. I would give this pick a C+.
The trade of the Devils’ 108th pick for Amadeus Lombardi, while going down prior to the draft, is important to note. Lombardi, a center, has had 35 goals and 82 points over his last 91 AHL games across the last two seasons, which is far more than the Devils have had from any AHL center over the last couple of years. Per AHLTracker, Lombardi has been very good at five-on-five, with his team having a 58.7 goals for percentage with him on the ice this season. Considering that fourth round picks are usually a few years away from the NHL, I thought it was a solid, B-grade move to acquire someone who is ready for that chance to see if he’s capable of a fourth or third-line role in the NHL.
My favorite Day Two pick came in the pick they gained when trading down from 35th to 37th. That 119th pick was used to select Lavr Gashilov out of the Russian junior MHL, and he may have been the highest-NHLe value forward pick they could have made in this slot. Gashilov is a super-skilled center whose rankings are all over the place, but his raw point production could have been that of a player justifiably selectable in the mid-first round. His tape may be more limited, and he does have to work on his skating and defense, but players who go the farthest in the NHL are generally those who are dominant scorers in their teenaged years. With Gashilov only under contract through the upcoming season, it may be less difficult to get him over to North American hockey as well. Since skating is one thing I have little problem letting a young prospect work on (it’s not like he has to learn how to score), I give this one an A+. He had one of the best seasons ever for a draft eligible player coming out of the MHL.
After trading down from 140 to 149, the Devils selected their annual goalie in Daniil Rusakovich, and he had some pretty good numbers in Russian juniors. Rusakovich had a ,913 save percentage in 20 MHL games this season after having a .909 save percentage in 31 Belarusian U17 games the year prior. HockeyProspecting gives him a 35% NHLer probability based on his draft year performance and league, which is in line with many future NHL goaltenders with a wide range of abilities, from Nico Daws to Joel Hofer to Igor Shesterkin. Goalies are hard to predict, so this gets a flat B.
The Devils’ pick at 172 was probably the “weakest” of the draft, but it was the sixth round. Luke Wilfley did not have the kind of profile I would consider selecting, but he grades high as a physical rush shooter with average transition skills who has not turned the puck over much at all in juniors. If Wilfley was not so young, I would probably give this pick a D, but the fact that he is still 17 at the time of this article means I will bump him up to a C-. Adding in that he has learned over the years from David Clarkson tells me he has a good idea of what his path to the higher levels is. I am not super high on the pick, but he could surprise.
With the third-to-last pick of the draft, it’s almost impossible to project a future NHLer. But we will be hoping that Quinn McKenzie, who honestly had a decent draft season with 51 points in 65 OHL games, has something in store for us. Selected 222nd overall, McKenzie grades rather well as a defensive forward with some offensive and transitional drive in microstat evaluations, though he does have a bit of a turnover problem. Scouts regard McKenzie as a super high motor player, with Brock Otten from OHL Prospects saying, “he reminds me a bit of when you hit the Go-Kart track.” McKenzie will need that motor to make his game work at his smaller stature, but I would give this pick a A, all things considered. Even though McKenzie is not in the HockeyProspecting database, Thomas Vandenberg, who went in the fourth round to Los Angeles, had 50 points in 59 OHL games and had a 14% star probability with a 59% NHLer probability. With a few fewer goals and one more point in six extra games, I would estimate that McKenzie would come in around 6-8%/25-40% if he were available.
And, I mean, fun fact: if you look at the “Devils in the System” page on Elite Prospects, these are the top ten players ranked by their most recent raw production outside of NHL games:
Matias Vanhanen, 87 points in the WHL
Lavr Gashilov, 69 points in the MHL
Quinn McKenzie, 51 points in the OHL
Jeremy Hanzel, 49 points in the ECHL
Alexander Command, 45 points between the U20 Nationell (44) and U18 Region (1)
Amadeus Lombardi, 42 points in the AHL
Xavier Parent, 39 points in the AHL
David Rozsival, 37 points in the USHL
Angus Crookshank, 36 points in the AHL
Brian Halonen, 34 points in the AHL
What Sunny Mehta understood here is that not only does the prospect pipeline desperately need forwards, it needs scoring forwards. When Tom Fitzgerald made his first pick of the 2025 Draft at 50th overall, he selected Conrad Fondrk, who only had 39 points in 55 games between the U.S. National U18 Team and the USNTDP Juniors. He proceeded to have eight points in 25 NCAA games this season, the lowest of their three 2025 draftees to play NCAA games this year. North American reputations for defense don’t mean much when your players can’t put the puck in the net. Also adding a player with more AHL points than any of their potentially returning AHLers with a fourth round pick is a solid immediate depth move.
Adding a goalie, a large shutdown defenseman, and a gritty shooting forward on top of that tells me that overall, I would give Sunny Mehta about a B+ on his first NHL Draft with the Devils. Retrospectives will be telling here, but if I had to predict where I think each of these guys will end up right now, it would be this:
Alexander Command: middle six two-way all-around pest center (ideal NHL ETA: 2027-28)
Matias Vanhanen: plug-anywhere top nine playmaking wing, to be paired with shooting centers (ideal NHL ETA: 2028-29)
Nikita Shcherbakov: sixth or seventh defenseman with penalty killing use (ideal NHL ETA: 2029-30)
*Amadeus Lombardi – fourth-line center for the New Jersey Devils in 2026-27 for at least 40 games*
Lavr Gashilov: NHL power play monster and sheltered scoring line center or wing (ideal NHL ETA: 2028-29)
Daniil Rusakovich: Second or third rotational goaltender (ideal NHL ETA: 20230-31)
Luke Wilfley: AHL grit forward, probably some super-high scoring ECHL seasons or a trip overseas at some point (ideal NHL ETA: 2030-31)
Quinn McKenzie: AHL scorer or NHL high-intensity fourth-line plug-in forward who can spark teams; possibly someone who spends his 30s overseas after a few partial or full NHL seasons (ideal NHL ETA: 2030-31)
In all, I am pretty good with that draft. I don’t think it will be too long before all of Command, Vanhanen, and Gashilov are in the NHL and able to contribute, as they are the players I am definitely most hopeful for out of this year’s Devils draft pool. I think I would have preferred to see a trade with one of their second-round picks for someone who can help in 2026-27, but the Devils do have a lot of first-round draft capital to work with in their next two drafts that could be leveraged in the days after July 1, when some no-trade clauses weaken. We will see: this B+ grade is on the value and fit of the picks taken and not representative of the whole offseason, which may not even be at its peak. I am particularly excited about the fit that Command will have on the Devils, lining up behind Hischier and Hughes and possibly being the guy who successfully takes pressure off of them. Beyond Command, I think Gashilov is a steal in the making.
But what do you think of the draft as a whole? If you have not yet done so, check The Feed for any polls that are still open on the draftees, and I will update this post here with the full results when all of them close later tonight. For now, thanks for reading.
The 2026 NHL Draft has come and gone, and the Anaheim Ducks, a team who took a massive step forward in their build in 2025-26 by making the playoffs and advancing to the second round, are even younger and have even more cap space than they did on Friday morning.
Friday’s Day 1 of the draft is one of the bigger organizational shifts in the history of the Ducks franchise, as they parted with two pieces that had become NHL regulars in Mason McTavish (3rd overall in 2021) and Olen Zellweger (33rd in ’21) in exchange for two first-round picks (15th overall and 29th overall) in the 2026 draft, a second-round pick (45th overall) in the 2026 draft, and forward prospect Anton Wahlberg (39th in ’23).
As it stands, the Ducks have nine NHL forwards, four defensemen, and two goaltenders under contract for the 2026-27 season, with four RFAs in need of new deals. One of their NHL forwards is Troy Terry, who will miss approximately 25-35 games to start the season as he recovers from hip surgery.
A glance at the depth chart will reveal the Ducks have holes up and down their lineup with NHL Free Agency set to begin in just three days, on July 1 at 9 AM PT. With two of their most valuable roster trade chips already moved, the Ducks may have to find a trade partner who covets futures if they intend to improve their roster via the trade market.
That brings us to Free Agency.
The Ducks currently have a projected $44.6 million in cap space, and the biggest items presumably on their shopping list are one or two top-four defensemen to play alongside Jackson LaCombe and Pavel Mintyukov, a middle-six center upgrade, and one or two complementary wingers to balance out the depth chart.
The 2026 Free Agency class is notoriously barren, especially at Anaheim’s two biggest areas of need: right-shot defense and center.
Defense
Two of the top three UFA right-shot defensemen are former Ducks Jacob Trouba and John Carlson (though the Carolina Hurricanes traded for his signing rights), who are both reported to be heading to market and unlikely to return to Anaheim. Another player seemingly heading to market is Radko Gudas, which leaves Rasmus Andersson, Andrew Peeke, Troy Stecher, and Vincent Desharnais as the only available RHDs who played top-four minutes a year ago and who aren’t former Ducks.
An unorthodox, but perhaps necessary, approach if the Ducks intend to improve their blueline this offseason would be to target players who shoot left and deploy a lineup with one or two left shots on the right side. Doing so would open up countless options on the trade and free agency markets, as left shots are in far less demand league-wide. It’s a proven viable strategy, as each of the last four Stanley Cup-winning teams (2023 Vegas Golden Knights, 2024 Florida Panthers, 2025 Florida Panthers, 2026 Carolina Hurricanes) iced a lineup that featured four left shots and two right shots on their blueline, which should increase confidence in the strategy for teams.
In terms of the free-agent class, opting to target left-shot defensemen would allow the Ducks to pursue a higher number of players who fit their depth chart, such as Mario Ferraro, Ryan Shea, Jeremy Lauzon, Jamie Oleksiak, and Logan Stanley.
Forwards
If they can’t improve through trade, the Ducks may be forced to enter the season with what they currently have in the organization down the middle. The only projected UFA forwards capable of playing middle-six center minutes are Boone Jenner and Erik Haula. Ducks general manager Pat Verbeek stated after the first round of the NHL draft that the Ducks have organizational options at the position, and mentioned specifically Mikael Granlund, along with the potential of prospect Roger McQueen or Cutter Gauthier filling in down the middle in the upcoming season.
If improving down the middle is too tall an order, there are several useful wingers available on the market. As mentioned, Terry will miss the opening stretch of the upcoming season, and veterans like Alex Killorn and Chris Kreider aren’t getting younger and will be lucky to maintain their output from the 2025-26 season.
Sophomore Beckett Sennecke may be rendered as the only bona fide top-six winger on the Ducks’ current roster. The hope of a bounce-back season from Frank Vatrano or breakouts from younger players like Nikita Nesterenko, Sam Colangelo, or another from the San Diego Gulls of the AHL are possible, but less likely outcomes.
The trade market will likely feature several quality available wingers, but in the UFA market, wingers like Mats Zuccarello, Ilya Mikheyev, Mason Marchment, Jaden Schwartz, Eeli Tolvanen, Kasperi Kapanen, Anthony Mantha, Vladimir Tarasenko, and Anders Lee each offer differing, yet intriguing potential for the Ducks. Perhaps even a reunion between former Chicago Blackhawks superstar Patrick Kane and former Hawks head coach Joel Quenneville could offer an interesting storyline.
Moving Forward
Though the Ducks may not be able to directly fill needs in the next week or even between now and training camp, there are options available for them to improve the roster as a whole. There’s a real possibility that adding along the wing and bringing in a left-shot or two to solidify their blueline could keep the Ducks afloat in the 2026-27 standings long enough for Terry to return to the lineup and/or allow a potential breakout campaign from a younger player who could become a big piece of the team’s future like Jackson LaCombe did a couple of seasons ago.
Relying on a breakout season isn’t a recommended strategy, but one wouldn’t be too surprised to see a player like Roger McQueen or Tristan Luneau immediately contribute, or even see a player like Sam Colangelo or Ian Moore elevate their game if afforded the opportunity to do so.
With this year's free agency class not being the strongest, there has been a lot of trade activity around the NHL. This should only continue to be the case as the off-season rolls on, and the Montreal Canadiens could be a team to watch in the trade market.
NHL insider Frank Seravalli put three Canadiens on his trade board for Hockey 24/7, as Samuel Montembeault, Kirby Dach, and Brendan Gallagher all made the cut.
Montembeault was given the No. 19 spot, and it is not difficult to understand why. He was passed on the Canadiens' depth chart by Jakub Dobes and Jacob Fowler last season, and the Habs should be looking to move him because of it. In 25 games last season for Montreal, he had a 10-8-4 record, an .873 save percentage, and a 3.43 goals-against average.
Dach was given the No. 22 spot by Seravalli on his trade board. The big center is a pending restricted free agent and could be a player the Canadiens dangle if they do not view him as a long-term part of their plans. In 37 games this past season with the Habs, the 6-foot-4 forward posted eight goals, 15 points, and 53 hits.
As for Gallagher, he landed the No. 34 spot. He was transparent at the end of the season that his time in Montreal was coming to an end, and it is no secret that the Canadiens are looking to move him. The veteran winger posted seven goals, 23 points, and 98 hits in 77 games last season for Montreal.
BUFFALO, NEW YORK - JUNE 26: A general view during day one of the 2026 NHL Draft on June 26, 2026 in Buffalo, New York. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Ohio State men’s hockey saw four players drafted on Saturday in the 2026 NHL Draft.
Unlike the NFL and NBA Drafts where when a player is drafted they can no longer play at the college level, the NHL allows players to play college hockey and the team that drafts them retains their rights for a certain amount of time.
Then again, using the NBA Draft as an example to describe how college eligibility works might not be the smartest thing to do since we saw some strange rulings over the past year on players who were already drafted and wanted to return to college.
The Buckeyes finished the 2025-26 season with a 14-21-2 record, missing the NCAA Tournament after losing in the Big Ten Tournament Championship Game. All four of the players drafted on Saturday are incoming freshmen and are still scheduled to come to Columbus in the fall to don the scarlet and gray.
With these four additions to the roster, Ohio State could be in for a bounce-back season in 2026-27.
Ben Wilmott – 92nd overall pick – Las Vegas Golden Knights
The Las Vegas Golden Knights traded forward Pavel Dorofeyev on Friday to the New York Rangers for a number of draft picks. One of those picks Las Vegas received was the 92nd overall pick, which the Golden Knights used on Saturday to select Ben Wilmott, who will turn 20 years old in August.
The Seattle native split last season between the London Knights and Barrie Colts in the Ontario Hockey League. In 37 games with London, Wilmott scored 12 goals and dished out 22 assists in 37 games. Wilmott would then play in 27 regular season games for Barrie, netting 15 goals and 17 assists before adding 11 goals and 11 assists in 20 games in the playoffs.
What stood out about Wilmott during his time in the OHL is the work he does around the net. Wilmott is a bit of a late bloomer and needs to work on his speed and his play away from the puck. If Wilmott is able to build on what he did in the OHL last year, the rest of the Big Ten could be in trouble this season.
Evan Jardine – 121st overall pick – Columbus Blue Jackets
The most notable pick involving an Ohio State player on Saturday was the selection of Evan Jardine by the Columbus Blue Jackets with the 121st overall pick. The Blue Jackets traded down a couple times earlier in the fourth round, accumulating a few more picks before taking Jardine.
While Jardine was already committed to Ohio State, where he is playing his hockey in a few years could just be a few miles down the road from campus.
Jardine has played in the USHL with the Youngstown Phantoms since 2023-24. Last year Jardine not only scored 27 goals and recorded 34 assists, he showed a bit of a mean streak, racking up 70 penalty minutes in 53 games. Much like Wilmott, Jardine has the ability to get under the skin of his opponents.
Jardine has a great mix of skill and grit, which could lead to him being a fan favorite in Columbus for both the Buckeyes and the Blue Jackets.
This season we saw Jakub Dobeš take over as the starting goaltender in Montreal, helping the Canadiens reach the Eastern Conference Finals before they were eventually eliminated by the Carolina Hurricanes, who went on to win the Stanley Cup.
Tobias Tvrznik hopes to find success in the NHL in the future after he was drafted by the Colorado Avalanche on Saturday in the fourth round.
The Czechia product will have a few years before he reaches the NHL, as he won’t even turn 19 until the end of July. Before committing to Ohio State, Tvrznik appeared in 39 games for the Wenatchee Wild of the Western Hockey League, posting a 3.10 goals against average and .913 save percentage.
While the goals against average is a little high, Tvrznik’s save percentage is impressive. With a pretty crowded pipeline at goalie, Tvrznik can afford to spend some time in Columbus to develop.
Will Tomko – 204th overall pick – Seattle Kraken
The final future Buckeye selected on Saturday was Will Tomko, who was drafted by the Seattle Kraken in the seventh round with the 204th overall pick.
There are a lot of similarities between Tomko and Evan Jardine, who was taken in the fourth round by Columbus. Tomko and Jardine are similar in size, standing at six-feet tall and weighing about 185 pounds.
In 59 games with the Sioux City Musketeers, Tomko scored 24 goals and handed out 36 assists. Tomko also spent a lot time in the penalty box, racking up 115 minutes in the sin bin last season. If his play with Sioux City is any indication of what he brings to the table, expect to see Tomko all over the ice during his time as a Buckeye.
The writing was on the wall for Brendan Gallagher and the Montreal Canadiens. While everyone saw the split coming, it wasn’t expected to be that sudden. When the alternate captain broke down in tears on dressing room clear-out day and said it was pretty obvious he would be moving on, a whole generation of fans’ hearts broke.
While GM Kent Hughes hasn’t been able to trade the veteran out of town yet, there is no doubt that one way or another, the organization will grant his wish. Owner Geoff Molson, who spoke at the City of Montreal ceremony that made Gallagher an honorary citizen, said it will be different when he returns to play against the Canadiens next season, but that he will still be treated as a hero by the fans.
On Saturday, the owner was proven right. Generally speaking, when a player leaves the Canadiens, collectors tend to try to sell the items they’ve accumulated over the years, but that’s not happening with Gallagher. Quite the opposite, in fact. So much so that Mascouche-based Memorable Authentic owners Francis Benoit and Julie Potvin decided to organize one last signing session with the man who wore the Sainte-Flanelle with pride for 14 years, and the response was overwhelming. Over 500 fans bought tickets to attend the signing session with Gallagher and his good friend Jake Evans.
While most were there to get their item signed and bid farewell to the man they had cheered on for years, Jean-Claude Tremblay had a different mission. The lifelong Canadiens fan is an accomplished collector who often acquires items at NHL auctions. During the playoffs, he won the Tampa Bay Lightning auction for what would turn out to be Gallagher’s last-goal puck with the Tricolore. With fees and taxes, the collectible set him back around $450, and since Gallagher’s impending departure was announced, he has received numerous offers in excess of $1,000 to buy the famous puck, but he refused them all. He felt the puck belonged to Gallagher:
“It belongs to him, said Tremblay. I’m a fan of his, but he was first and foremost my son’s idol. He was a great role model for him and for so many kids. It’s the least I could do [gifting him the piece of history].”
Tremblay presents Gallagher with his framed last goal puck with the Canadiens.
When he found out about the signing session, Tremblay asked Benoit if he could have a moment with Gallagher to gift him the puck. Not only did the organizers agree, but they also took it upon themselves to frame the goal puck with a picture of Gallagher scoring against the Bolts. That’s how, on Saturday, before the Canadiens’ warrior started signing autographs, Tremblay presented him with the gift. The gesture moved number 11 and was very appreciative, as shown by the picture of the moment.
Gallagher's last goal with the Canadiens
While Tremblay didn’t want to be reimbursed for the puck, Gallagher’s agent asked that he be given a few autographed items and mentioned that he would make arrangements to get him a game-used stick signed by the forward later.
As for Patricia Neron, Bailey Larouche, and Lucie Lachance, they spent a few weeks collecting fans’ messages for the winger and compiled them into a scrapbook, which they presented to him at the signing session. If the names sound familiar, it might be because Neron was the fan who put together a similar scrapbook full of positive comments for David Reinbacher after his selection at the 2023 NHL Draft wasn’t well received by fans and led to online abuse. As for Lachance, she was the fan who gave Gallagher his practice-worn Hockey Fights Cancer jersey after his mother Della lost her battle with brain cancer.
It’s heartwarming to see how much fans love and appreciate Gallagher, even if he was never a superstar. The fanbase instantly took to him when he joined the Canadiens for the lockout-shortened 2012-13 season. His work ethic and devotion to the team were obvious straight from the start, and they never wavered. Even though he was progressively pushed out of the lineup this past season, he remained a great leader and teammate for the good of the team, never complaining and telling the media he understood the situation.
My friend shared this, when we gave the book to Gally…He definitely loved it!! pic.twitter.com/pY4IDWyrgQ
There’s no doubt that Gallagher has made a lot of memories over his 14 years in Montreal, but yesterday, he was able to see, perhaps for one last time before he moves on, how much Canadiens fans care for him.
The Vancouver Canucks are starting to build a strong prospect pool. Whether through the draft, trade or free agency, there are quite a few prospects who could make an impact at the NHL level sooner rather than later. Here is a look at the top ten prospects in Vancouver's system following the 2026 NHL Entry Draft.
*Note: To qualify for this list, players must be 23 or under and have played fewer than 25 combined NHL regular-season and playoff games. Players are ranked based on age, position, potential, and overall performance during the 2025-26 season.
Honourable Mention: Ty Mueller- Abbotsford Canucks, AHL
C, 5'11", 185 lbs- 105th Overall in 2023
Ty Mueller continues to develop into a late-round steal for the Canucks. The 23-year-old recorded 37 points in 61 games last season with the Abbotsford Canucks while also scoring his first career NHL goal. Mueller will most likely start next season in the AHL, but could be one of the first players called up if injuries or trades occur during the year.
10. Riley Patterson- Abbotsford Canucks, AHL
C, 6'0", 192 lbs- 125th Overall in 2024
Riley Patterson had a strong final campaign in the OHL. The 20-year-old led the Niagara IceDogs with 84 points in 60 games before producing eight points in five playoff games. After his OHL season concluded, Patterson joined Abbotsford, where he scored his first career AHL goal and recorded two points in four games.
9. Sawyer Mynio- Abbotsford Canucks, AHL
LD, 6'1", 173 lbs- 89th Overall in 2023
One player who really stepped up for the AHL Canucks in 2025-26 was Sawyer Mynio. The 21-year-old took full advantage of his opportunities and produced 21 points in 58 games. Mynio is projected to be a top-four defender for Abbotsford in 2026-27 and should see time on both the penalty kill and power play.
8. Ty Young- Abbotsford Canucks, AHL
G, 6'3", 181 lbs- 144th Overall in 2022
For the second straight season, Ty Young split the campaign between the AHL and ECHL. He finished with a record of 6-10-1 for the AHL Canucks, while posting a record of 7-5-1 with the Kalamazoo Wings. Based on Vancouver's current goaltending situation, Young should get more opportunities with Abbotsford this year.
7. Alexei Medvedev- London Knights, OHL
G, 6'2", 178 lbs- 47th Overall in 2025
The 2025-26 campaign was not kind to Alexei Medvedev. He posted a 16-15-3 record, but lost his starting job before the start of the playoffs. Medvedev is scheduled to return to the OHL next year and should be in store for a bounce-back season in 2026-27.
6. Niklas Aaram-Olsen- Boston University, NCAA
LW, 6'1", 183 lbs- 41st Overall in 2026
Niklas Aaram-Olsen is coming off an impressive season in the J20 Nationell over in Sweden. The 18-year-old scored 20 goals while recording 40 points in 29 games for Örebro HK's U20 program. On top of heading to the NCAA, Aaram-Olsen is projected to be named to Norway's 2027 Division IA World Juniors team.
Kirill Kudryavtsev continues to demonstrate why he is the steal of the 2022 draft. The 22-year-old was able to produce 20 points despite being limited to 44 games due to injury. Just like the last two years, Kudryavtsev will most likely receive a call-up to the NHL next season.
4. Brooks Rogowski- Oshawa Generals, OHL
C, 6'7", 235 lbs- 33rd Overall in 2026
The Canucks picked up one of the tallest and biggest prospects in the 2026 draft with Brooks Rogowski. The 18-year-old had a solid rookie season in the OHL, producing 42 points in 46 games. If Rogowski can have a strong start to his campaign, he could be in the conversation for Team USA at the 2027 World Juniors.
3. Adam Novotný- Peterborough Petes, OHL
LW, 6'1", 205 lbs- 24th Overall in 2026
With their second pick of the first round, Vancouver selected Adam Novotný from Czechia. The 18-year-old had a successful rookie campaign in the OHL last year with 65 points in 58 games. Novotný is projected to be named to Czechia's World Juniors team for the second straight year.
2. Braeden Cootes- Prince Albert Raiders, WHL
C, 5'11", 183 lbs- 15th Overall in 2025
After a dominant season in which he posted 63 points in 45 games and led his team to the WHL final, it looks like Braeden Cootes is ready to make the jump to the pro level. With the new AHL rule, the 19-year-old could be assigned to Abbotsford if he does not make the Canucks full-time. There is a good chance that Cootes at least gets a shot in the NHL and very well could be in the starting lineup when the season opens.
Oct 9, 2025; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Vancouver Canucks forward Braeden Cootes (80) during a stop in play against the Calgary Flames in the third period at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-Imagn Images
1. Caleb Malhotra- Boston University, NCAA
C, 6'2", 182 lbs- 3rd Overall in 2026
Vancouver's newest top prospect is Caleb Malhotra. The 18-year-old had a season to remember in the OHL as he produced 84 points in 67 games and led the Brantford Bulldogs to the Eastern Conference Final. Malhotra will be headed to the NCAA next year, but it should not be long before he is making an impact at the NHL level.
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Fabian Lysell arrives in Denver as the latest low-risk, high-upside swing for a Colorado Avalanche team that has made a habit of betting on talent others couldn’t quite unlock.
The track record is real. Andre Burakovsky turned a fresh start into a Stanley Cup ring in Colorado. Valeri Nichushkin—once written off by some around the league—became an indispensable piece of a championship core after arriving in Denver via a change of scenery.
Valeri Nichushkin's impact on the Colorado Avalanche was undeniable. Credit: Jerome Miron - Imagn Images
Nichushkin’s path stands as the clearest blueprint. After his career stalled with the Dallas Stars amid questions about consistency, fit, and whether his game would ever fully translate at the NHL level, he found new life in Colorado and eventually developed into one of the Avalanche’s most important players.
Now, it’s Lysell’s turn to see if he can follow a similar trajectory.
The Avalanche acquired the former first-round pick from the Boston Bruins in exchange for Ivan Ivan, a depth forward who spent much of last season with the Colorado Eagles but left a strong impression on teammates and within the organization.
Drafted 21st overall in 2021, Lysell has appeared in just 12 NHL games to this point in his career. The flashes are easy to spot—the pace, the hands, the creativity that once made him a top prospect—but he has yet to find real traction at the NHL level or steady consistency in Providence.
A 50-point season in 2023-24 looked like a potential turning point. Instead, it was followed by 34 points in 52 games in 2024-25 and 42 points in 57 games this past season, leaving his development stuck in neutral rather than accelerating forward.
Part of that responsibility sits with the player, as it does with any prospect trying to establish himself. But there’s also a broader question of fit and development in Boston—whether Lysell was ever given the runway to lean fully into the offensive instincts that made him a first-round pick, or instead asked to adapt before his game was truly ready.
Bruins general manager Don Sweeney hinted at that complexity when addressing the move.
“He hasn't fully grasped at the NHL level what it probably requires to play each and every night. He took ownership of that today,” Sweeney said. “We took ownership that, could we have done more and better in supporting him? Probably.”
Now, the reset begins.
When Lysell eventually makes his way to Denver for offseason training and pre-camp preparation, the spotlight shifts to how quickly he can translate talent into trust at the NHL level—and whether the Avalanche can unlock something Boston couldn’t consistently sustain.
Before turning pro in North America, Lysell developed in Sweden, spending parts of two seasons with Luleå HF in the SHL while also starring for Frölunda’s junior program. He posted three points (2G, 1A) in 26 SHL games during the 2020-21 season.
After being selected in the first round of the 2021 NHL Draft, he came to North America and found immediate offensive success with the WHL’s Vancouver Giants in 2021-22, finishing with 62 points (22 goals, 40 assists) in 53 regular-season games. He elevated further in the postseason with 21 points (4 goals, 17 assists) in 12 playoff games, leading the WHL in assists that spring.
Internationally, Lysell has represented Sweden at the 2021 U18 World Championship and back-to-back World Junior Championships in 2022 and 2023, earning bronze medals at both the U18 and 2022 World Junior tournaments.
For Colorado, the talent is the easy part to see. The harder question is whether structure, opportunity, and patience under Jared Bednar can turn it into something permanent.
Fabian Lysell arrives in Denver as the latest low-risk, high-upside swing for a Colorado Avalanche team that has made a habit of betting on talent others couldn’t quite unlock.
The track record is real. Andre Burakovsky turned a fresh start into a Stanley Cup ring in Colorado. Valeri Nichushkin—once written off by some around the league—became an indispensable piece of a championship core despite a turbulent path that included a recent trade to the Columbus Blue Jackets in exchange for the 43rd overall pick in the NHL Draft.
Valeri Nichushkin was traded to the Columbus Blue Jackets on Thursday for three draft picks. Credit: Jerome Miron - Imagn Images
Nichushkin’s own path serves as a reminder of what’s possible. After his career stalled with the Dallas Stars for similar reasons—questions about consistency, fit, and whether his game would ever fully translate at the NHL level—he arrived in Colorado and, over time, developed into one of the Avalanche’s most important players and a key piece of a Stanley Cup-winning core.
Now, it’s Lysell’s turn to try and follow that same blueprint.
The Avalanche acquired the former first-round pick from the Boston Bruins in exchange for Ivan Ivan, a depth forward who spent much of last season with the Colorado Eagles but left a strong impression on teammates and within the organization.
Drafted 21st overall in 2021, Lysell has appeared in just 12 NHL games to this point in his career. The flashes are easy to spot—the pace, the hands, the creativity that once made him a top prospect—but he has yet to find real traction at the NHL level or steady consistency in Providence.
A 50-point season in 2023-24 looked like a potential turning point. Instead, it was followed by 34 points in 52 games in 2024-25 and 42 points in 57 games this past season, leaving his development stuck in neutral rather than accelerating forward.
Part of that responsibility sits with the player, as it does with any prospect trying to establish himself. But there’s also a broader question of fit and development in Boston—whether Lysell was ever given the runway to lean fully into the offensive instincts that made him a first-round pick, or instead asked to adapt before his game was truly ready.
Bruins general manager Don Sweeney hinted at that complexity when addressing the move.
“He hasn't fully grasped at the NHL level what it probably requires to play each and every night. He took ownership of that today,” Sweeney said. “We took ownership that, could we have done more and better in supporting him? Probably.”
Now, the reset begins.
When Lysell eventually makes his way to Denver for offseason training and pre-camp preparation, the spotlight shifts to how quickly he can translate talent into trust at the NHL level—and whether the Avalanche can unlock something Boston couldn’t consistently sustain.
Before turning pro in North America, Lysell developed in Sweden, spending parts of two seasons with Luleå HF in the SHL while also starring for Frölunda’s junior program. He posted three points (2G, 1A) in 26 SHL games during the 2020-21 season.
After being selected in the first round of the 2021 NHL Draft, he came to North America and found immediate offensive success with the WHL’s Vancouver Giants in 2021-22, finishing with 62 points (22 goals, 40 assists) in 53 regular-season games. He elevated further in the postseason with 21 points (4 goals, 17 assists) in 12 playoff games, leading the WHL in assists that spring.
Internationally, Lysell has represented Sweden at the 2021 U18 World Championship and back-to-back World Junior Championships in 2022 and 2023, earning bronze medals at both the U18 and 2022 World Junior tournaments.
For Colorado, the talent is the easy part to see. The harder question is whether structure, opportunity, and patience under Jared Bednar can turn it into something permanent.
NHL insider Frank Seravalli released his latest trade board for Hockey 24/7, and three Pittsburgh Penguins were among the players featured on it. Tommy Novak, Rickard Rakell, and Bryan Rust all made the cut.
Novak was given the No. 23 spot on Seravalli's trade board. The 29-year-old forward is entering the final season of his contract in 2026-27 and will be a pending UFA. With this, he could be a decent trade chip for the Penguins to dangle if they do not view him as a long-term part of their plans. He is a solid top-nine forward, as evidenced by his 16 goals and 42 points in 82 games last season.
Rakell was given the No. 24 spot, and it makes sense when noting that he has created plenty of chatter in the rumor mill for a long time now. With this year's UFA class not being strong, the Penguins could get a significant return for a top-six forward like Rakell. In 60 games last season for Pittsburgh, he had 24 goals and 48 points.
As for Rust, he landed the No. 37 spot on Seravalli's trade board. Like Rakell, he has been a popular name in the rumor mill for a while now. The Penguins trading Rust would be significant, as he has spent his entire 12-year career in Pittsburgh. However, it could be worth dealing him if they get a significant offer. In 72 games last season, he had 29 goals and 65 points.
All things square, the Philadelphia Flyers failed to leave the NHL Draft with more than one or two good-value selections. and it makes you wonder about where things are headed for the organization in the near future.
The crown jewel of their draft class, the Flyers drafted Maksim Sokolovskii with the 27th overall pick after trading down with the San Jose Sharks to recoup some mid-round draft capital.
In a vacuum, I actually liked this pick.
Reviewing the Flyers' 2026 Draft Class
Sokolovskii, a 6-foot-7 monster on defense who actively seeks to punish his opponents, has a ton of potential. He's quite young for this draft class, is already filled out at 240 pounds, and defends well and hits hard.
The best way to look at this pick is that the Flyers basically have five or six years to teach him how to play offense and do stuff with the puck.
Sokolovskii is a wildly good skater for his size and has enough talent to put moves on defenders, but his passing ability isn't very expansive, needs to learn how to shoot (when and where, not how hard), and needs to practice making decisions under pressure.
The physicality and stick work are already good, but the Flyers are going to need to teach Sokolovskii how to do anything with the puck on his stick and in the opposing zone. Flyers general manager Danny Briere believes that the massive Kazakh rearguard made significant strides throughout the year, and how far Sokolovskii can go will determine if he's a first-pair guy or a third-pair guy at the NHL level.
Another question I have with the Sokolovskii selection: who is he going to play with? As a natural insulator, you have to imagine he would be best suited playing alongside an offensive player. Is that Jamie Drysdale? That's looking increasingly unlikely.
The Flyers left this draft without a true power play specialist or offensive defenseman, and that's a sticking point for me, even if it doesn't have anything to do with Sokolovskii directly.
He already struggles with the puck, and the last thing the Flyers should want to do is stick him with another defenseman who either can't skate or pass the puck, or both.
Grade: B
I was less a fan of the Brek Liske pick at 53rd overall in the second round.
Liske is a 6-foot-2 right-shot defenseman, but the Flyers already have a ton of those. Think names like Oliver Bonk, David Jiricek, Spencer Gill, Carter Amico, Luke Vlooswyk, Austin Moline, and even Helge Grans. Why use a third second-round pick in as many drafts on another right-shot?
Liske is a well-rounded defender who doesn't do anything particularly special, and his draft stock was undoubtedly boosted by a WHL playoff run that saw him score 17 points in 18 games, despite having only 24 in 52 regular season games.
Left-shot defensemen Alexander Bilecki and Ben MacBeath, who are both highly regarded for their skating ability and are both 6-foot-2, would have been much better choices if defense was the play.
Grade: C
Goalie Martin Psohlavec was a fine bet at 62nd overall, but this goalie class was not the greatest, and a second-round pick felt a bit rich, even with his outstanding size (6-foot-5) and production. He went one spot ahead of MacBeath, who was picked by the rival New York Rangers.
With their next selection, the Flyers went with another Czech goalie in Marek Sklenicka, who is 6-foot-4 and quite athletic for his size. Sklenicka, all things considered, was a better value pick than Psohlavec was.
Grade: B
Flyers' Strange Asset Management
The Flyers hadn't drafted a goalie since 2023 before this draft, but it is a bit strange that they both drafted two of them and did so back-to-back.
It is unfortunate that high-upside talents like Mikey Berchild and Lavr Gashilov went to two rivals in the Carolina Hurricanes and New Jersey Devils, respectively, in the same round the Flyers drafted Sklenicka.
Sure, the Flyers didn't have many draft picks, but it would have been nice to see them get aggressive and move up to get someone they really want.
Berchild (105th) and Gashilov (119th) weren't out of reach with the Flyers sitting at 120th, but they opted for the goalie in Sklenicka instead of a forward.
Speaking of forwards, the only forward the Flyers drafted in 2026 was K.J. Sauer, who played high school hockey for Andover High in Minnesota before getting into 13 games with the USHL Lincoln Stars.
He's big and physical, but we'll have to wait until he plays for the WHL's Edmonton Oil Kings next year to get a better read.
Alex Bump was drafted out of high school, after all, but this is a file-it-away pick until this time next year. Beckham Edwards and Giorgos Pantellas were still on the board here, and better options at that.
Grade: D
With their last pick in the 2026 draft, the Flyers took Max Laatikainen, a smaller Finnish defender at 5-foot-11 who played in some Liiga games last season, 213th overall. He picked up two assists in six games for Kiekko-Espoo.
Laatikainen was one of five draft-eligible players to record multiple points in Liiga this season.
Alberts Smits, Oliver Suvanto, and Juho Piiparinen were all first-round picks (and regulars), and Anttoni Uronen went to Columbus in Round 6.
Laatikainen played in 23 fewer games than Piiparinen and had only one less assist, so there's potential there.
Grade: A
Similarly to Max Westergard last year, I liked that the Flyers threw a dart at a kid who already played some pro hockey and was productive doing it, especially compared to much more esteemed peers.
The Flyers' Path Ahead
Overall, though, it was a pretty uninspiring draft for the Flyers, who made some boring picks going after the same traits as always: size and experience.
The Flyers did not draft any speed or skill this year whatsoever, and that isn't hyperbole.
It is a recurring theme, at this point, in the fourth draft I covered since I started writing about the Flyers in 2023.
It hasn't all been bad, to be fair, but the lows have been too low, and the highs haven't been high enough.
That 2023 draft saw the Flyers take Carter Sotheran and Matteo Mann, and neither player signed a contract with the team. Alex Ciernik, injury issues notwithstanding, was probably lucky to get a contract from the Flyers, too.
The 2022 draft was Cutter Gauthier and... that was what it was. In 2021, the Flyers traded their first-round pick for Rasmus Ristolainen, and used their second-round pick to take Samu Tuomaala, who isn't with the team anymore and has yet to play an NHL game, over Logan Stankoven and Matthew Knies.
In 2024, it was Jett Luchanko over Konsta Helenius, and in 2025, it was Jack Nesbitt over Jackson Smith and Cam Reid.
Overall, the Flyers have just made a habit of making uninspiring picks and hunting for concepts of players, rather than the players themselves.
The outlook in Philadelphia hasn't changed much after this draft, and that isn't a good thing. This draft class will likely hinge entirely on the continued development of Sokolovskii.
If the first-round of the 2026 NHL Draft dragged on, things proceeded much faster on Saturday, as is customary; still, the seven rounds took over five hours to wrap up. As always, there was a lot of pick swapping, and the feel-good story of the day was the Pittsburgh Penguins picking Markus Ruck at 39th overall, allowing him to join his twin brother, Liam, who they had picked up on Friday. Meanwhile, the Detroit Red Wings drafted Derek Roy’s son, Victor, two years after picking his brother Max.
Just like on Friday, the Montreal Canadiens made a trade to move up in the second round. They sent pick 61 and pick 125 to the Carolina Hurricanes and then selected Timofei Runtso. The 6-foot-2 and 186-pound right-shot defenseman was ranked 48th among North American skaters. Playing in the WHL with the Victoria Royals, he put 44 points in 68 games. The soon-to-be 19-year-old was ignored at last year's draft but became a fast riser on the Central Scouting list thanks to a breakthrough season with the Royals after joining from the St. Cloud Norsemen of the North American Hockey League, a tier two junior league.
At number 93, they picked Cooper Cleaves, yet another big right-shot defenseman out of Dartmouth College. The 6-foot-3 blueliner weighs in at 203 pounds and put up 10 points in 30 games. He projects as a depth defenseman and describes himself as a two-way defenseman. Last summer, he attended the Canadiens development camp. He also played with Emmett Croteau, a Canadiens’ goaltending prospect this season. Interestingly, he played with Martin St-Louis’ kids growing up and told the media he was very tight with them. He’ll be going back to college for his sophomore season.
With pick number 117, the Canadiens went for yet another defenseman, a left shot one who’s 6-foot and 174 pounds and in his first year of eligibility: Brayden Klimpke. He put up 46 points in 68 games with the Saskatoon Blades. Described as big and tough, he’s a two-way defenseman and was an alternate captain last season. He has some leadership qualities, and he’s described as a character guy with a high compete level.
Montreal then went for a couple of forwards at picks 189 and 190. The former was used to select Parker Trottier, the grandson of former NHL legend Bryan Trottier. While the youngster has great bloodlines, his game is not the same as his grandad’s. At 6-foot-1 and 185 pounds, the USNTDP product is a power forward who loves to finish his checks, works hard on the forecheck and is good at puck retrieval. All the little things Canadiens’ coach Martin St-Louis classifies as “not fun to do” but that must be done to win hockey games.
At 190, the Habs picked up Wesley Royston, also a winger but with an even bigger body at 6-foot-4 and 186 pounds. He only picked up 19 points in 59 games played, mostly with the Owen Sound Attack in the OHL. He has rare speed for a player of his size, and he loves laying big hits all over the ice.
The Canadiens had three picks in the seventh and last round: 221, 223, and 224, but they traded pick 223 to the Los Angeles Kings in return for the California side’s seventh-round pick in 2027. With pick number 221, Montreal selected Jean-Samuel Daigneault, a 6-foot-3 and 190-pound left-shot blueliner who specializes in hitting opponents hard and often. Finally, with pick 224, they opted for forward Tyler Deakos, a 6-foot-1, 174-pound right winger.
This year's draft for the Canadiens can be summed up in two words: size and aggression. As Kent Hughes said on Friday night, the team is no longer just looking to add talented pieces; they are also looking for pieces to address particular needs. Should the Habs fail to address their size issue via trade, this draft class should definitely help down the line.
In his first media availability following the conclusion of the 2026 NHL Draft, Maple Leafs general manager John Chayka addressed a wide range of topics, but questions about the club’s goaltending future carried particular weight. With a veteran Florida Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky set to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1, getting a tender of quality like the two-time Stanley Cup champion could certainly look like an upgrade, for the right price.
“For Brandon, I think it was a fresh start. And so I think that’s important to him. I think it’s a good fit with St. Louis,” he said. “And I think it’s a good fit for us to get some fresh blood in the back end.”
The move also aligned with Chayka’s desire to alter how the team defends and transitions the puck. It’s a position he’s been consistent about since taking on the role in May.
“He was a part of the transaction, and the harvesting of their asset off of that transaction made a lot of sense for us,” he explained.
Talks with Ersson’s camp about a potential fit and contract ultimately led the Leafs to prioritize the return over retention.That backdrop made Chayka’s comments on the current goaltending situation and future plans especially relevant. The Leafs enter the summer with Anthony Stolarz as their primary netminder and a developing pipeline that includes recent draft selections Artur Akhtyamov and Dennis Hildeby. But is that enough to go with next season?
“We’ve got this really interesting goalie pipeline,” he said. “And part of our evaluation is the young guys and what they’ve shown. So I think we’re trying to balance that. Anthony’s (Stolarz) been, by our models, a top goalie the last two years. Obviously health and durability has been the question, but we can’t guarantee that it’s going to be different. On another goalie that we bring in, that’s always a bit of a question mark. So we’re trying to find some balance in all of that, but it’s a key position, and if there’s a chance to make it better, like any position, we’ll do that. But that’s where we’re at today.”
Toronto selected two goalies as part of a broader 10-pick haul at the Draft.
Financially, the Leafs are well-positioned to act if the right opportunity presents itself. Following the Carlo trade and other adjustments, Toronto projects to have approximately $22 million in cap space for the 2026-27 season against the NHL’s $104 million ceiling, per PuckPedia.com.
“I think we’re going to try to make the team better. I think that’s an avenue for us. And up to today we created more flexibility even with the move,” he said.
Would the Leafs be willing to pull off a Darren Raddysh-style move before free agency? Chayka poured cold water on the idea. But you have to wonder if they are done in goal or if another move at the position is coming.
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The Vegas Golden Knights weren’t expected to make much noise during the 2026 NHL Entry Draft. Their earliest draft pick was a third-rounder, 95th overall. But if the past nine years have taught us anything, it’s that with this team, you have to be ready for anything.
The Dorofeyev trade should have been an indication of what was to come. When the Draft finally came to an end on Saturday, the Golden Knights had made a total of five trades and seven selections.
Here’s a breakdown of the players they selected.
29th overall: Juho Piiparinen
Despite entering the day without a first-round draft pick, the Golden Knights found themselves on the clock at 26th overall. They traded down twice, but eventually selected Finnish defenseman Juho Piiparinen out of Tappara, Liiga.
At 17 years of age, Piiparinen stands 6’3” and weighs in at 203 lbs. He’s a smooth-skating right-shot defenseman who likes to create offense with breakout passes.
“[Piiparinen is] a really good two-way defenseman,” said Golden Knights Director of Amateur Scouting Raphaël Pouliot. “He’s really good in transition; he’s a good skater. He can contribute in every aspect of the game, and I think he’s got lots of places to grow. His game is really mature. He played in the World Junior this year, started as a 7th defenseman for Finland, and worked his way up and was really effective. He didn’t make many mistakes. And I think there’s the potential for his game to grow as well.”
92nd overall: Benjamin Wilmott
The Golden Knights used the second 2026 Draft pick they acquired in the Pavel Dorofeyev trade to select Benjamin Wilmott out of the OHL Barrie Colts.
Wilmott is a 6’1”, 190 lb player who plays bigger than his size. He’s a great playmaker who likes to do his damage off the rush.
“He’s a really versatile player,” said Golden Knights Director of Amateur Scouting Raphaël Pouliot. “He could play the wing; he can play center. He’s a guy who can play both special units— power play and PK.
“He was really good in the playoffs,” Pouliot continued. “In the Conference Final, his team was down 3-1, and they lost their first-line center, who was a first-round pick by Utah. And they came back. They won Games 5, 6, and 7, and two games on the road against Branford, which was arguably one of the best teams in the league; they have 4 first-round picks on their team. I thought [Wilmott] really elevated this game in the playoffs.”
Wilmott is committed to playing D1 hockey at the Ohio State University for the 2026-27 season.
95th overall: Sean Burick
The Golden Knights used the 95th overall pick in the 2026 Draft to select defenseman Sean Burick out of the WHL Penticton Vees.
Burick is a giant, clocking in at 6’8” and 214 lbs. He’s a physical defensive defenseman who doesn’t shy away from dropping the gloves.
“[Burick is] a really interesting player,“ said Golden Knights Director of Amateur Scouting Raphaël Pouliot. “He’s got a really big frame, but for his size, he can move pretty well… He’s a guy that’s hard to play against. He’s long, and he makes really good use of his stick. He’s able to be physical. He’s really good at puck retrieval, too; he’s able to absorb contact and make good transition passes.”
Burick will spend another year in the WHL before heading to the University of Denver to play D1 hockey for the 2027-28 season.
113rd overall: Jonah Sivertson
The Golden Knights used the 113th overall pick in the 2026 Draft to select forward Jonah Sivertson out of the WHL Prince Albert Raiders.
Sivertson is a 17-year-old sharpshooter who weighs in at 6’3” and 194 lbs. He scored 24 goals and 53 points in 66 games during the 2025-26 season. He’s not the fastest skater, but he makes up for his lack of footspeed with his heavy shot and physical play.
Sivertson was a player the Golden Knights expected to go before the fourth round, so when he was still available, they traded up to get him.
“He’s got lots of tools,” said Golden Knights Director of Amateur Scouting Raphaël Pouliot. “ It was his 1st year this year with Prince Albert in the WHL. He started on the fourth line on a contending team that made it to the League Final. Even though they added three forwards at the deadline, he made his way up the lineup all year, and he was a solid contributor in the top six in the second half. And I think there’s some growth that can be made in his game.
“We really like his smarts, too,” Pouliot continued. “I think he’s got really good hockey sense, that’s one thing we really like about his game. It was his 1st year in the league, and I thought he adapted really well as the year went on and added some layers to his game. He’s got good puck skills as well, really reliable player.”
159th overall: Will McLaughlin
The Golden Knights used the 159th pick in the NHL Draft to select defenseman Will McLaughlin out of the WHL Portland Winterhawks.
McLaughlin is yet another big blue liner, and stands at 6’3”, 185 lbs. He’s a mobile, two-way defenseman who uses his exceptional skating to create offense. He registered nine goals and 30 points in 68 games during the 2025-26 season.
McLaughlin is committed to playing D1 hockey at Colorado College for the 2026-27 season.
191st overall: Matthew Minchak
The Golden Knights used the 191st pick in the 2026 Draft to select goaltender Matthew Minchak out of the OHL Kingston Frontenacs.
Minchak, who weighs in at 6’5” and 194 lbs, was one half of a goaltending tandem in Kingston. He earned his net and made the most of every opportunity, posting a 12-12-3 record and an average save percentage of .910 in 30 games played during the 2025-26 season.
“[Minchak] came in, he earned his ice, and was really solid, especially the first half of the season,” said Golden Knights Director of Amateur Scouting Raphaël Pouliot. “I think he was second in the league in save percentage and goals against average. So I think there are lots of tools for him. He’s got a really likable size. He’s got a good development path as well. So, this guy, we were really excited to get in the 6th round.”
Minchak is committed to playing D1 hockey at Colgate University for the 2026-27 season.
207th overall: Noel Pakarinen
The Golden Knights used their seventh and final pick in the 2026 NHL Draft to select forward Noel Pakarinen out of Kiekko-Espoo, Liiga.
At 17, Pakarinen is already 6’2”, 198 lbs. He’s a power forward who plays a 200-foot game. He has a heavy shot and notched 16 goals and 35 points in 44 total games across Kiekko-Espoo’s three squads.
Pakarinen will spend one more year overseas before playing D1 hockey at Michigan Tech for the 2027-28 season.
