Category: Ice Hockey

Flyers, in need of goalie help, agree to terms with Vladar on 2-year deal originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

The Flyers had to address the goaltending position this offseason.

They did that Tuesday in the form of Dan Vladar. The club and the 27-year-old agreed to terms on a two-year, $6.7 million contract. The deal has an average annual value of $3.35 million.

Vladar is expected to form a tandem with Samuel Ersson, who has one more year left on his contract. Ivan Fedotov and Aleksei Kolosov also have one more year to go on their respective deals and will compete for playing time.

At 6-foot-5, 209 pounds, Vladar comes to the Flyers after spending the last four seasons with the Flames. He’s coming off a career-high 30 appearances (29 starts) in which he went 12-11-6 with a 2.80 goals-against average and an .898 save percentage.

His best season came in 2021-22, when he went 13-6-2 with a 2.75 goals-against average, .906 save percentage and two shutouts. Time will tell if Vladar is the short-term answer to helping the Flyers stabilize in net.

Last season, the Flyers had an .872 save percentage, the worst in the NHL. The season before that, they were tied with the Senators for the league’s worst mark at .884. It has arguably been the Flyers’ most costly flaw since Carter Hart left the team in January 2024 because of the Hockey Canada sexual assault case.

On Day 1 of NHL free agency, the Flyers also added center Christian Dvorak and defensemen Noah Juulsen and Dennis Gilbert.

Flyers add another center in offseason by agreeing to terms with Dvorak originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

The Flyers opened Day 1 of NHL free agency Tuesday by agreeing to terms with Christian Dvorak on a one-year, $5.4 million contract.

The 29-year-old center is coming off a season in which he played all 82 games for the Canadiens, putting up 12 goals and 21 assists.

A little over a week ago, the Flyers started their addition down the middle by trading for 24-year-old Trevor Zegras.

Center has been a position of need for the Flyers. Dvorak gives the Flyers a solid bottom-six boost after they lost Ryan Poehling in the Zegras trade.

Dvorak, a 6-foot-1, 190-pounder, won 55.2 percent of his faceoffs over four seasons with Montreal. Last season, he started in the defensive zone a career-high 69 percent of the time, so he’s a center who can be trusted in tough spots.

In 2019-20, playing under Rick Tocchet with the Coyotes, Dvorak put up career highs in goals (18) and points (38). In the playoffs last season with the Canadiens, he had a pair of goals over five games.

The Flyers have to like the one-year commitment to Dvorak. It doesn’t block anyone and it gives the Flyers a good look at if Dvorak will be a fit.

Right now, the Flyers’ competition at center includes Dvorak, Zegras, Sean Couturier, Noah Cates, Jett Luchanko, Rodrigo Abols and Karsen Dorwart.

With the trade of Joel Farabee and Morgan Frost, Tony DeAngelo, Andrei Kuzmenko, Cal Petersen and Jakob Pelletier coming off the books and the NHL salary cap rising, the Flyers had some room to spend this offseason.

They opened free agency with $15.14 million in cap space, according to PuckPedia.com. They ended up adding Dvorak, goaltender Dan Vladar and defensemen Noah Juulsen and Dennis Gilbert. They still need to re-sign restricted free agent defenseman Cam York.

“There’s a little bit of a window to add from the outside,” general manager Danny Briere said about free agency in April. “We’re not going to be able to fix every problem, but it would be nice to be able to, if the situation is right, add a player or two to come in and help on that front. That also should help taking a step forward.”

The Flyers have not changed their rebuilding plans, but they do need and want to get better this season. They hit “rock bottom” last season and the 2025-26 campaign will be Year 3 under Briere and president of hockey operations Keith Jones.

The club also added a depth center Tuesday by agreeing to terms with Lane Pederson on a one-year, two-way, $775,00 contract. The 27-year-old is projected to open this season with AHL affiliate Lehigh Valley.

The NHL's annual free-agent market opens at noon ET on July 1. 

Many of the notable names, including Mitch Marner, Brad Marchand, and Aaron Ekblad, have already come off the market. Nevertheless, several notable players remain eligible for UFA status.

Brock Boeser: David Staples of the Edmonton Journalcited several NHL insiders linking Boeser to the Edmonton Oilers. However, they're still trying to free up salary-cap space by shopping Viktor Arvidsson. TSN's Chris Johnston believes the 28-year-old right winger will be “Plan A” for the Winnipeg Jets.

Nikolaj Ehlers: Jets GM Kevin Cheveldayoff said last week he intended to continue contract talks with the 29-year-old right winger until the last minute. Meanwhile, ESPN's Emily Kaplan considers the Carolina Hurricanes to be the front-runners for Ehlers. Nick Goss of NBC Sports Boston believes the Bruins should pursue the long-time Jet.

Vladislav Gavrikov: The Los Angeles Kings want to re-sign Gavrikov, but the 29-year-old left-shot defenseman could be eyeing the free-agent market. TSN's Pierre LeBrun reported Monday that the Kings were waiting for a response to their final offer. If Gavrikov goes to market, Mollie Walker of the New York Postbelieves the New York Rangers intend to pursue him.

Mikael Granlund: The limited number of quality centers in this summer's UFA market should make the 33-year-old Granlund a much-sought-after commodity. Cam Robinson of Elite Prospects claimed the St. Louis Blues, San Jose Sharks and Hurricanes could be among his suitors.

Jake Allen: This summer's free-agent market is thin on goaltenders, which could work to Jake Allen's advantage. The 34-year-old put up solid numbers last season as the New Jersey Devils backup. Anthony Di Marco of Daily Faceoff reported last week that he was in talks with the Devils, seeking a two-year deal worth around $5 million. If he doesn't stay in New Jersey, he could draw interest from the Oilers or Philadelphia Flyers. 

NHL Free Agency Frenzy 2025: Live Tracker And AnalysisWelcome to the NHL Free Agency Frenzy of 2025.

Corey Perry: The 40-year-old right winger was still hopeful about returning with the Edmonton Oilers. However, their recent re-signings of Evan Bouchard and Trent Frederic likely mean the well-travelled Perry will be moving on to another contender in search of another Stanley Cup run. 

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NHL clubs decided whether to present qualifying offers to their pending RFAs or not. 

Players who didn’t receive qualifying offers by the 5 p.m. ET deadline on Monday become UFAs on Tuesday’s NHL free agency opener.

There are some talented and solid players who were let go by their teams and will hit the open market. Here are some of the top players becoming UFAs.

Philipp Kurashev, C

The Chicago Blackhawks let go of Philipp Kurashev after he had a down year. The 25-year-old scored seven goals and 14 points in 51 games last season. The team had four pending RFAs, and Kurashev was the only player who didn’t receive a qualifying offer.

It may come as a shock to some because in 2023-24, Kurashev recorded 18 goals and 36 assists for 54 points. The Swiss center had the second-most points on the team that season behind Connor Bedard’s 64.

Jordan Harris, D

In a world where right-handed defensemen are in high demand, Jordan Harris became available in free agency. The 24-year-old joined the Columbus Blue Jackets as part of the trade that sent right winger Patrik Laine to the Montreal Canadiens.

It didn’t seem to work out in Columbus, as Harris’ average ice time went down by six minutes from this past season compared to 2023-24. The D-man finished this past campaign with a goal and five points in 33 appearances with the Jackets.

Nikolai Kovalenko, RW

Nikolai Kovalenko could fly under many teams’ radars this off-season. The Russian right winger is coming off his first NHL season, playing for the Colorado Avalanche and San Jose Sharks.

In 57 games, the 25-year-old scored seven goals and 20 points while averaging 12:20 of ice time. Before entering the NHL, he was a respectable scorer in the KHL with Nizhny Novgorod. Kovalenko scored 11 goals and 35 points in 42 games in his final season overseas.

Philip Tomasino, C

Philip Tomasino is the youngest player among all the RFAs who didn’t receive qualifying offers. On top of that, the 23-year-old had the most points last season among those unqualified RFAs.

Tomasino scored 11 goals and 24 points in 61 contests with the Pittsburgh Penguins and Nashville Predators last season. He played up and down Pittsburgh’s lineup, ending the season averaging 13:27 of ice time.

NHL Free Agency Frenzy 2025: Live Tracker And AnalysisWelcome to the NHL Free Agency Frenzy of 2025.

Pontus Holmberg, RW

The Toronto Maple Leafs let go of Pontus Holmberg. The 26-year-old Swede is coming off a career-high season, scoring seven goals and 19 points.

The Maple Leafs leaned on Holmberg several times this past season during tough stretches of injuries. Holmberg played the second-most games of the unqualified RFAs, sitting only behind Anaheim Ducks center Isac Lundestrom, who played 79 games.

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Bruins acquire Viktor Arvidsson from Oilers in pre-free agency trade originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

The Boston Bruins made a trade with the Edmonton Oilers shortly before the NHL free agent market opened Tuesday.

The Oilers are sending forward Viktor Arvidsson to the Bruins in exchange for a 2027 fifth-round draft pick, the teams announced. Arvidsson waived his no-trade clause to allow the deal to go through, per TSN’s Pierre LeBrun.

Arvidsson is entering the final season of a two-year, $8 million contract ($4 million salary cap hit). The Bruins will have about $8.7 million in cap space after this trade.

The 32-year-old left wing provides some much-needed scoring depth to Boston’s lineup.

He had a bit of a down 2024-25 season with the Oilers, scoring 15 goals with 12 assists in 67 games. He scored 26 goals for the Los Angeles Kings during the 2022-23 campaign. He has scored 20-plus goals five times in his career.

Viktor Arvidsson, acquired by BOS, is a rushing scoring winger who generates basically all his offence in transition. #NHLBruinspic.twitter.com/KAwOsqdVgo

— JFresh (@JFreshHockey) July 1, 2025

Arviddson can be a dangerous player off the rush and isn’t afraid to fire pucks on net — two attributes the Bruins need to add.

There were 380 forwards last season who logged at least 500 even-strength minutes, per Natual Stat Trick, and Arvidsson ranked 19th with 9.56 shots per 60 minutes.

Arvidsson isn’t going to be a huge difference-maker for the Bruins, but he’s a solid buy-low addition.

New Bruins head coach Marco Sturm was an assistant during Arvidsson’s first season with the Kings in 2021-22, so he already has some familiarity with the Swedish forward.

Welcome to the NHL Free Agency Frenzy of 2025.

Catch up on the latest NHL free agency coverage and follow along as we track all the big deals from the beginning of the signing season.

Stay tuned to The Hockey News as free agency opens at 12 p.m. ET. We're tracking the big signings and trades while featuring our free agency coverage, including lists, rumor roundups, analysis, news and more.

Also tune into The Hockey News' Free Agency Frenzy Live, going live at noon ET on YouTube, X, Facebook and more.

Signings Tracker

Catch up on some of the notable re-signings in the week leading up to July 1.

Detroit Red Wings: Patrick Kane (UFA), 1 year, $3 million cap hit (up to $4 million in performance bonuses). Read more

Columbus Blue Jackets: Ivan Provorov (UFA), 7 years, $8.5 million AAV. Read more

Los Angeles Kings: Andrei Kuzmenko (UFA), 1 year, $4.3 million AAV.

Florida Panthers: Brad Marchand (UFA), 6 years, $5.25 million AAV, per reports. Read more

Vegas Golden Knights (in a sign-and-trade from Toronto): Mitch Marner, 8 years, $12 million AAV, per reports. Read more

Edmonton Oilers: Evan Bouchard (RFA), 4 years, $10.5 million AAV. Read more

Florida Panthers: Aaron Ekblad (UFA), 8 years, $6.1 million AAV. Read more

New York Islanders: Alexander Romanov (RFA), 8 years, $6.25 million AAV. Read more

Nashville Predators (after trade from Vegas): Nicolas Hague, 4 years, $5.5 million AAV. Read more

Boston Bruins: Morgan Geekie (RFA), 6 years, $5.5 million AAV. Read more

Toronto Maple Leafs: Matthew Knies (RFA), 6 years, $7.75 million AAV. Read more

Ottawa Senators: Claude Giroux (UFA), 1 year, $2 million cap hit (up to $2.75 million in performance bonuses). Read more

Columbus Blue Jackets: Dante Fabbro (UFA), 4 years, $4.125 million AAV. Read more

St. Louis Blues: Joel Hofer (RFA), 2 years, $3.4 million AAV. Read more

Calgary Flames: Kevin Bahl (RFA), 6 years, $5.35 million AAV. Read more

Florida Panthers: Sam Bennett (UFA), 8 years, $8 million AAV. Read more

Buffalo Sabres: Jack Quinn (RFA), 2 years, $3.375 million AAV. Read more

Montreal Canadiens (in a sign-and-trade from NY Islanders): Noah Dobson (RFA), 8 years, $9.5 million AAV. Read more

Toronto Maple Leafs: John Tavares (UFA), 4 years, $4.38 million AAV. Read more

Edmonton Oilers: Trent Frederic (UFA), 8 years, $3.85 million AAV. Read more

Dallas Stars: Jamie Benn (UFA), 1 year, $1 million cap hit (up to $3 million in performance bonuses). Read more

Utah Mammoth (after trade from Buffalo): JJ Peterka (RFA), $7.7 million AAV. Read more

Boston Bruins: Mason Lohrei (RFA), 2 years, $3.2 million AAV. Read more

Trade Tracker

Check back here for some of the notable recent trades during the off-season.

To Toronto: Matias Maccelli
To Utah: Conditional 2027 third-round pick (becomes 2029 second-rounder if Leafs make playoffs and Maccelli records at least 51 points in 2025-26)

To Minnesota: Vladimir Tarasenko
To Detroit: Future considerations

To Nashville: Nicolas Hague, conditional 2027 third-round pick
To Vegas: Colton Sissons, Jeremy Lauzon, 2027 third-round pick

To Detroit: John Gibson
To Anaheim: Petr Mrazek, 2026 fourth-round pick, 2027 second-rounder

To Ottawa: Jordan Spence
To Los Angeles: 2025 third-round pick, 2026 fourth-rounder

To Montreal: Noah Dobson
To NY Islanders: Two 2025 first-round picks, Emil Heineman

To Columbus: Charlie Coyle, Miles Wood
To Colorado: Gavin Brindley, 2025 third-round pick, conditional 2027 second-rounder

To Utah: JJ Peterka
To Buffalo: Michael Kesselring, Josh Doan

To Vancouver: Evander Kane
To Edmonton: 2025 fourth-round pick

To Philadelphia: Trevor Zegras
To Anaheim: Ryan Poehling, 2025 second-round pick, 2026 fourth-rounder

Top UFAs

Check out each UFA, their age and previous cap hit.

Centers

Mikael Granlund, 33, $5 million

Pius Suter, 29, $1.6 million

Jack Roslovic, 28, $2.8 million

Lars Eller, 36, $2.45 million

Adam Gaudette, 28, $775,000

Anthony Beauvillier, 28, $1.25 million

Pontus Holmberg, 26, $800,000

Nick Bjugstad, 32, $2.1 million

Luke Kunin, 27, $2.75 million

Mason Appleton, 29, $2,166,667

Wingers

Brock Boeser, 28, $6.65 million

Nikolaj Ehlers, 29, $6 million

Jonathan Drouin, 30, $2.5 million

Andrew Mangiapane, 29, $5.8 million

Gustav Nyquist, 35, $3.185 million

Victor Olofsson, 29, $1.075 million

Evgenii Dadonov, 36, $2.25 million

Connor Brown, 31, $1 million

Corey Perry, 40, $1.15 million

Jeff Skinner, 33, $3 million

Christian Dvorak, 29, $4.45 million

Philipp Kurashev, 25, $2.25 million

Max Pacioretty, 36, $873,770

James van Riemsdyk, 36, $900,000

Justin Brazeau, 27, $775,000

Defensemen

Vladislav Gavrikov, 29, $5.87 million

Brent Burns, 40, $8 million

Dmitry Orlov, 33, $7.75 million

Matt Grzelcyk, 31, $2.75 million

Ryan Lindgren, 27, $4.5 million

Brian Dumoulin, 33, $3.15 million

Cody Ceci, 31, $3.25 million

Tony DeAngelo, 29, $775,000

Nate Schmidt, 33, $800,000

Ryan Suter, 40, $775,000

Goaltenders

Jake Allen, 34, $3.85 million

Ilya Samsonov, 28, $1.8 million

Alex Lyon, 32, $900,000

Dan Vladar, 27, $2.2 million

Vitek Vanecek, 29, $3.4 million

David Rittich, 32, $1 million

Anton Forsberg, 32, $2.75 million

James Reimer, 37, $1 million

Alexandar Georgiev, 29, $3.4 million

Georgi Romanov, 25, $910,000

NHL Free Agency Coverage

Mitch Marner Leaves The Toronto Maple Leafs For Vegas, Per Report. How Did Nine Years Lead To This?In what has felt like an inevitability since the NHL’s 2024-25 Stanley Cup playoffs ended, star right winger Mitch Marner is leaving the Toronto Maple Leafs for the Vegas Golden Knights via a sign-and-trade deal. 

- Golden Knights Release Update On Defenseman Alex Pietrangelo

- 10 Enticing Depth Forward Options

- The Art Of Keeping Quinn: Nearing Demko Extension, Latest Move To Keep D-Man Hughes In Vancouver

- Double Play: Tavares, Knies Extensions Give Maple Leafs Financial Clarity

- With Gibson Off The Board, Oilers’ Goalie Hunt Gets Harder

- Patience Over Paydays: Why Waiting Until 2026 Free Agency May Be The Best Move For Some NHL GMs

- Four Tiers Of Players Who Can Sign Extensions On July 1

- Why A Bowen Byram Trade To The Canucks Could Save A Rebuild

- Jonathan Toews Agrees To Sign With His Hometown Winnipeg Jets In NHL Return

- Leafs' Mitch Marner Could Be The NHL's Biggest Free-Agent Signing Of The Past Decade

- The NHL's No-Tax Team Advantage Is Not A 'Ridiculous Issue,' But Bettman Has Won The Argument

- Vancouver Canucks' Conor Garland Is 'Really Excited' About New Coach Adam Foote

- With Cap Room To Burn, Hurricanes Could Aim To Fix Familiar Playoff Failures This Off-Season

- Marchand And Perry Could Shift UFA Market Amidst Strong NHL Playoff Runs

NHL Rumor Roundups

- Latest On Bowen Byram, Mike Matheson And K'Andre Miller

- Notable Trade Candidates Before The 2025 NHL Draft

- Latest On Brock Boeser And Jason Robertson

- Could Rasmus Andersson Hit The Trade Block?

- The Latest Round Of Rangers Speculation

The Philadelphia Flyers picked a bad time to need a goalie from the NHL free agent market.

Of the 12 unrestricted free agent goalies, two had a save percentage of .900 or higher, and none of the 12 recorded more than 16 wins this season.

The top option in free agency, Jake Allen, is still playing at a high level and will draw attention from Stanley Cup contenders, including his own team, the New Jersey Devils. The former Stanley Cup champion will receive offers more suitable from elsewhere around the NHL.

So what does that leave the Flyers with? An old friend and a bunch of redemption stories.

Leading the pack, and perhaps the most likely of the bunch if for no reason other than a feel-good story to carry us through what could very well be another long year, is Alex Lyon, who spent five years with the Flyers organization after going undrafted out of the USHL.

Lyon, 32, fell apart after a strong start to his pro career, but re-emerged with the Florida Panthers two seasons ago.

The former Flyers goalie has spent the last two seasons - his first and only two as a full-time NHLer - with the Detroit Red Wings, going 35-27-6 in 74 games to the tune of a 2.96 GAA, a .901 save percentage, and three shutouts.

Spectacular numbers? Certainly not, but the Flyers can do (and have done) worse at the position. Lyon is a veteran and has been through the grind of the AHL, which should help set a positive example for the younger goalies in the organization, like Aleksei Kolosov and Carson Bjarnason.

Among 45 goalies who played 30 or more games this season, Lyon's 2.4 goals saved above expected ranked 26th in the NHL, per MoneyPuck.

Flyers starter Sam Ersson ranked 45th out of 45 with -19.9.

Another name to watch - and there aren't many - is Ottawa Senators netminder Anton Forsberg.

Ex-Flyers Defenseman Ivan Provorov Signs Absurd Contract Ahead of NHL Free AgencyThe Philadelphia Flyers have won the Ivan Provorov trade in more ways than one.

The 32-year-old Swede has been with Ottawa since 2020-21 and has generally never played for great teams at the NHL level, aside from a three-game stint with Carolina in 2019-20.

Despite that, Forsberg owns a respectable .904 career save percentage. In Ottawa, Forsberg was 62-56-10 in 142 games, posting a 2.99 GAA, a .905 save percentage, and eight shutouts.

Again, like Lyon, not spectacular, but achieves the goal the Flyers are setting out for this summer.

It should be noted that Forsberg is coming off a three-year contract worth $2.75 million a year and could easily bargain for the same on this market.

That could prove to be a little rich for the Flyers' tastes, especially knowing that Lyon was pulling in a more modest $900k for his services.

In terms of goals saved above expected this season, Forsberg finished right behind Lyon, placing 27th with 2.2 goals saved above expected.

One last free agent goalie the Flyers should be considering is none other than former Toronto Maple Leafs goalie Ilya Samsonov, who has seen his fair share of ups and downs after once being considered one of the most exciting goalie prospects in the world.

Flyers Reportedly Rejected Islanders Trade to Secure Porter MartoneThe Philadelphia Flyers were open to lots of things ahead of the NHL Draft, but, ultimately, a bold New York Islanders trade offer wasn't enough to pull them away from selecting Porter Martone with the sixth overall pick.

The 28-year-old has posted .890 and .891 save percentages in consecutive seasons, but also has two seasons under his belt with save percentages of .913 or higher.

If and when he leaves the Vegas Golden Knights, Samsonov will be on his third team in three years, so a one-year prove-it deal is in the cards if the Flyers make an offer.

By most metrics recorded by MoneyPuck, Samsonov performed about how he was expected to this season, even despite his underwhelming raw stats.

For instance, MoneyPuck has him at 0.6 goals saved above expected for the year, a save percentage 0.0004% above expected, and a GAA 0.02 above expected.

Basically, Samsonov was not actively crushing his team's chances of winning games, but also not providing any surplus value beyond that.

Interestingly, Samsonov's 0.825 high-danger save percentage was 0.135 above expected, which is considerable.

The talent has always been there for the Russian, but consistency has not. If the Flyers feel they can get any value out of a short-term stay, Samsonov is worth a dart throw in free agency this year.

On the eve of free agency, it was the deadline for teams to submit qualifying offers to their pending RFAs. For the Montreal Canadiens, that meant goaltenders Jakub Dobes and Cayden Primeau, forwards Rafael Harvey-Pinard, Sean Farrell, Xavier Simoneau, and defensemen Jayden Struble, William Trudeau, Gustav Lindstrom, and Noel Hoefenmayer.

In Lindstrom’s case, it matters very little since the right-shot 26-year-old blueliner has already signed a five-year deal with Djurgårdens in the SHL. Considering his age and the length of the agreement, it would be surprising to see him return this side of the pond.

Very Different Fortunes For Two Former Canadiens Defensemen
Will The Canadiens Go Big Game Hunting?
Canadiens’ Christian Dvorak: Will He Stay Or Will He Go?

As for Rafael Harvey-Pinard, who had made the most of his opportunity when the Injury Ninja hit the Canadiens hard during the 2022-23 season when he recorded 20 points in 34 games with the Habs and turned that into a 2-year deal with a $1.1 M AAV, he did not receive a qualifying offer. That doesn’t necessarily mean he’s done in Montreal; they could still sign him as a free agent, but it does mean the Canadiens weren’t ready to offer him $1,000,000, which was his qualifying offer.

Simoneau and Hoefenmayer didn’t receive an offer either. Simoneau is a 5-foot-7, 24-year-old left-shot center who had a rough season with the Laval Rocket this year. In 58 games, he could only muster 21 points, down from 38 in 2022-23 and 37 in 2023-24. He was a sixth-round pick by Montreal at the 2021 draft, and in nine playoff games this postseason, he notched three points.  

As for Hoefenmayer, he was obtained in a trade with the Oilers in December in which the Canadiens sent Jacob Perreault their way. The 26-year-old left-shot defenseman was a fourth-round pick by the Arizona Coyotes at the 2017 draft. In 32 games with the Rocket this season, he recorded 14 points in 32 games but was only dressed in six of the Laval outfit’s playoff games.

Photo credit: Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-Imagn Images

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Toronto Maple Leafs forward Steven Lorentz is staying at home.

The 29-year-old forward was trekking the back nine of a golf course on Monday afternoon when he agreed to a three-year, $4.05 million contract with an annual average value of $1.35 million. Lorentz was creeping towards the open market, with less than 24 hours until free agency, though he knew he'd always remain in Toronto.

"There was no doubt in my mind that I'd be back in Toronto again. It definitely has been a process, and maybe it went a little bit longer than I'd hoped, but that's part of being unrestricted," Lorentz said Monday evening.

"In my heart, I knew I wanted to come back. I knew that I wanted to stay, I didn't want to go anywhere else, and I'm just so proud and happy to be able to get it done, and I'm already looking forward to next year."

Lorentz's story isn't different from many who grew up as Maple Leafs fans in the Greater Toronto Area, except for one aspect: he now plays for them. As a child, Lorentz watched Toronto push toward a Stanley Cup, hoping that they'd get across the finish line every year.

They won two rounds, in 1999 and 2002, but that's the closest they ever got.

Report: Maple Leafs Trade Mitch Marner To Vegas Golden Knights, Agrees To Eight-Year Deal Worth $12 Million AAVMitch Marner is on his way to Las Vegas.

After basking in being a Maple Leaf this past season, Lorentz will now have three more years to go into battle with Toronto in hopes of bringing the historic trophy back home.

"Honestly, that's what I wanted more than anything, was just the longevity. I would love to play my whole career here in Toronto. Last year was even better; it exceeded expectations," he said.

"Just being able to wear the Leaf with pride and being able to play at home, with friends and family, and trying to bring a cup to a city that's been longing for it for so long, and it deserves it...

"We still have that goal that we want to be the hardest-working team. We want to be the best team. We want to be the team that comes out on top in June. It was kind of a no-brainer, working out the contract details and stuff like that."

Report: Maple Leafs Lose Out On Brad Marchand Who Signing Six-Year Extension With PanthersBrad Marchand reportedly won't be hitting NHL free agency after all.

Bursting onto the scene with his puppy-like personality at training camp last September, Lorentz and the Maple Leafs agreed on a one-year, $775,000 contract after the preseason. He had just won a Stanley Cup a couple of months earlier with the Florida Panthers and wanted to return home so that he could do the same here.

"I've tried (to imagine winning the Stanley Cup in Toronto)," Lorentz said with a grin last September. "This is such a hockey city, and it's no secret it would just be mayhem if the Leafs were ever to do it."

Ultimately, after a 19-point season, which tied a career high, plus two assists in the playoffs, Toronto was ousted in the second round by the very same team that he won with the year prior. The year didn't finish how he and many others would've liked it to, but what it means to be a Maple Leaf isn't lost on Lorentz.

"I don't think I'll ever forget skating out for Game 1 of playoffs," he grinned.

"I remember looking at [Scott Laughton] on the bench, just a couple of local boys, and we're like, holy you know what, this is sick. I still remember the first 10 minutes and we came out flying. That's something I don't think I'll ever forget, so that's one that sticks out, but there was so many (memories).

"Little things on the ice, off the ice, in the community, at practice, it was a blur, but I don't think there was a bad day, minus the day we lost out. It was just so disappointing, but it was such a fun year, and like I said, it's such a great group there, and I wouldn't really want to go to war with anybody else."

Maple Leafs Trade for Matias Maccelli: Why Toronto Acquired Winger From Utah MammothThe Toronto Maple Leafs have acquired Matias Maccelli from the Utah Mammoth in exchange for a conditional third-round draft pick in 2027, which will convert to a second-round draft pick in 2029 if Maccelli record at least 51 points in the 2025-26 NHL season.

Lorentz is already feet-first into his offseason work, skating with several players from the Kitchener-Waterloo area. There's one thing, though, left to tick off his summer bucket list: getting married to his fiancée, Erin. 

And after that, it's back to Maple Leafs land—with a three-year extension in his hands—to begin the quest of bringing hockey's ultimate prize back to Toronto for the first time since 1967.

"My head's kind of still buzzing right now," he smiled.

"It's been a crazy couple of weeks in just trying to get this thing done, but more than anything, I'm just excited, and like I said, it's such a great group that, it didn't take a lot of decision-making. I knew my heart was here."

(Top photo of Lorentz: Nick Turchiaro / Imagn Images)

The Chicago Blackhawks have officially reached July. The draft is in the rear-view mirror, and NHL teams only have free agency and trades left to improve their franchises. 

On Monday, the last day of June, Ben Pope of the Chicago Sun-Times reported the news that the Blackhawks have extended qualifying offers to Wyatt Kaiser, Louis Crevier, and Arvid Soderblom. All of them remain restricted free agents.

Philipp Kurashev did not receive one and will become an unrestricted free agent. This will likely end his five-year tenure in Chicago, the team that drafted him. 

Ben Pope (@BenPopeCST) on XBlackhawks have given qualifying offers to Wyatt Kaiser, Louis Crevier and Arvid Soderblom, per source. They all remain RFAs. Crevier and Soderblom have arbitration rights. Kaiser does not. Philipp Kurashev was not qualified and becomes a UFA.

Kaiser and Crevier are defensemen who will likely rotate in and out of Chicago’s lineup during the 2025-26 season. They are both solid and deserve playing time. Each of them may even get some games in the AHL to stay fresh. Chicago has a lot of serviceable defenders, which is a good problem to have. 

As for Soderblom, unless the Blackhawks make a move on an established veteran goalie, an extension would likely mean an opportunity to be Spencer Knight’s backup in 2025-26. 

Soderblom had an outstanding year in different roles for Chicago. Whether he was the number one, the backup, or splitting time at any point in the year, the Hawks knew that they had a reliable player between the pipes. 

As for Kurashev, he fell out of favor with the current folks in charge. After a strong 2023-24 season that saw him have 18 goals and 36 assists for 54 points in 75 games, he took a major step back with just 7 goals and 7 assists for 14 points in 51 games in 2024-25. He was mostly a healthy scratch down the stretch. 

Kurashev will find work elsewhere. Another team will give him a chance based on his good moments in the past. Kyle Davidson and his staff are much more focused on players that they brought into the organization. 

Visit The Hockey News Chicago Blackhawks team site to stay updated on the latest news, game-day coverage, player features, and more.

We’re in the final hours before the NHL free agency period officially opens.

Starting at noon on Tuesday, teams can officially begin signing players who are unrestricted free agents to new contracts.

The NHL salary cap is also going up, increasing by $7.5 million to a total cap ceiling of $95.5 million.

That represents the largest jump between seasons since the salary cap was implemented back in 2025.

As of Monday at noon, 24 hours before the official open of free agency, the Florida Panthers had $11 million in cap space to work with based off the players – 11 forwards, five defensemen and a goaltender – who were under contract with Florida for the 2025-26 season.

For those wondering, they are Sasha Barkov, Sergei Bobrovsky, Matthew Tkachuk, Sam Reinhart, Sam Bennett, Carter Verhaeghe, Seth Jones, Gus Forsling, Anton Lundell, Evan Rodrigues, Eetu Luostarinen, Niko Mikkola, Jesper Boqvist, Dmitry Kulikov, A.J. Greer, Uvis Balinskis and Jonah Gadjovich.

Well, the Panthers are now seemingly out of cap space thanks to a pair of signings that sent shockwaves across the hockey world.

Defenseman Aaron Ekblad and forward Brad Marchand have each agreed to long-term extensions to stay in South Florida.

For Ekblad, he signed an eight-year deal that carries an average annual value (AAV) of $6.1 million.

Marchand inked a six-year deal with the Panthers with an AAV of $5.25.

Those are two massive signings by Florida, and it sets up the Panthers with an amazing core of players who are all locked into contracts for the foreseeable future.

Signed at least through 2030 are Barkov, Tkachuk, Reinhart, Bennett, Jones, Forsling, Lundell and now Ekblad and Marchand.

But the Panthers likely aren’t done.

At the moment, they are over the cap by $350,000, and they still need to sign a backup goalie.

The likely candidate is restricted free agent Daniil Tarason, who Florida acquired last week during the NHL Draft. 

It’s also been reported by David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period that the Panthers are looking into bringing back Tomas Nosek, another unrestricted free agent.

Could Florida be exploring a potential trade?

Is there a possibility that a player could start the season on LTIR?

These are questions that could be answered in the coming hours, or in the coming weeks and months.

We’ll have to wait and see, but don’t think that just because Florida had a busy June 30th, they won’t be active on July 1st.

Stay tuned.

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Photo caption: May 7, 2025; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Florida Panthers center Brad Marchand (63) scores a goal and celebrates with defenseman Aaron Ekblad (5) against the Toronto Maple Leafs during the second period in game two of the second round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena. (Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images)

The Winnipeg Jets have extended qualifying offers to seven players those being Tyrel Bauer, Isaak Phillips, Dylan Samberg, Morgan Barron, Parker Ford, Rasmus Kupari and Gabe Vilardi, but have not extended offers to Simon Lundmark and Mason Shaw.

Bauer, Phillips and Ford almost exclusively played in the AHL. Bauer, a 23-year-old right-handed defenseman, skated in 59 games with the Manitoba Moose, recording two assists. Phillips was acquired from the Chicago Blackhawks during the season and played in 39 games with the Moose, scoring three goals and eight points. The 23-year-old is a 6'3 defensive defenseman with 56 games of NHL experience under his belt. 

Ford accumulated his first bit of NHL experience this season, scoring one goal in three games. In the AHL, the 24-year-old forward registered 14 goals and 21 points in 41 games. 

Samberg, Barron, Kupari and Vilardi are all restricted free agents who spent the entirety of the 2024-25 season with the Jets. Kupari will spend the next two seasons with Lugano HC in Switzerland, but extending him a qualifying offer will keep his rights with the team if he elects to make a return to the NHL when his contract concludes.

Barron played in 74 games with the Jets this season, scoring eight goals in 15 points and emerging as the fourth-line center the team needed. His size and physical brand of hockey are valued additions to the Jets' bottom six.

Samberg and Vilardi are the two big-name RFAs the Jets desperately need to sign. A recent report stated the Jets are engaged in ongoing negotiations with the 25-year-old, and both parties feel confident that a deal will formulate.

Samberg is just as, if not more important, to the Jets' success as Vilardi. The 2024-25 season emerged as a breakout campaign for the 26-year-old, averaging a career-high 21:08 of ice time and becoming recognized as one of the NHL's top defensive defensemen. 

Although it may be difficult, signing Vilardi and Samberg to long-term contracts would go a long way to extending the Jets' window for success. 

Lundmark and Shaw will become unrestricted free agents and still could re-sign with the Jets, although most signs point towards Lundmark leaving the organization. The 24-year-old was a second-round pick (51st overall) in the 2019 NHL Draft, but has yet to make his NHL debut. He finished his fourth AHL season with the Moose this year but has yet to record more than five goals and 17 points despite little defensive improvements. Several rumours have been shared linking Lundmark with a return to Sweden in the SHL.

Shaw is a 26-year-old forward who wrapped up his first season with the Jets organization, scoring 17 goals and 37 points in 72 AHL games. Shaw has played just 82 NHL games throughout his career and could be looking to sign with a team with a more visible path to the NHL next year. 

Qualifying offer price tags according to Puckpedia:

Vilardi: $3,600,000 (arbitration eligible)
Barron: $1,400,000 (arbitration eligible)
Kupari: $1,100,000 (arbitration eligible)
Ford: $813,750 (arbitration eligible)
Samberg: $1,500,000 (arbitration eligible)
Phillips: $813,750 (arbitration eligible)
Bauer: $813,750

Stay updated with the most interesting Jets stories, analysis, breaking news and more! Tap the star to add us to your favourites on Google News to never miss a story.

Jets Re-Sign Defenceman Haydn Fleury to Two-Year ContractThe Winnipeg Jets have re-signed defenceman Haydn Fleury to a two-year contract.  Which Restricted Free Agents Do The Jets Prioritize?General manager Kevin Cheveldayoff and the Winnipeg Jets head into the offseason with four restricted free agents, each of which has provided the Jets with reasoning of why they should be re-signed.

The Vegas Golden Knights have extended qualifying offers to five players, maintaining their restricted free-agent rights. The five players include Lukas Cormier, Alexander Holtz, Raphael Lavoie, Jonas Rondbjerg and Cole Schwindt. 

Cormier, a 23-year-old left-handed defenseman, was drafted in the third round (68th overall) in the 2020 NHL draft. Since the selection, Cormier has seen almost all of his action in the AHL but has accumulated two games of NHL experience. In the AHL, Cormier has scored 14 goals and 64 points in 139 games, continuing to round out his game on both sides of the puck. 

The 2024-25 season was difficult for Cormier, as he played just 19 games after recovering from an injury. With the recent news about Alex Pietrangelo's hip injury and Nicolas Hague's departure to the Nashville Predators, Cormier is likely the next man up to step into an NHL role.

Holtz's first season with the Golden Knights was up-and-down. In the NHL, he struggled to take a firm grasp of any role he was assigned, recording four goals and 12 points in 53 games. In the AHL, the 23-year-old netted seven goals and 13 points in just 16 games, proving to be too skilled at times for the minors. The 2025-26 season could be a career-defining season for the former seventh-overall pick in the 2020 NHL draft, as many predict he'll sign a one-year deal. 

Lavoie and Schwindt also played their first seasons as Golden Knights after the pair was claimed off waivers in the preseason. Lavoie spent the majority of the season with the Henderson Silver Knights, registering 17 goals and 27 points in 42 games. In nine games of NHL action, the 24-year-old failed to record a point. 

Schwindt served as the Golden Knights' fourth-line centre prior to his injury and additions at the trade deadline. The 24-year-old scored a goal and eight points in 42 games, gaining plenty of trust from HC Bruce Cassidy, averaging 9:15 of ice time. 

Out of the five, Rondbjerg is the longest-tenured Golden Knight, but he's struggled to break through the lineup and take a firm grasp of a roster spot. This season, Rondbjerg skated in 13 games but did not record any points. With the Silver Knights, the 26-year-old scored 11 goals and 26 points in 53 games. 

Price tags for each qualifying offer according to PuckPedia:

Cormier: $813,750
Holtz: $874,125
Schwindt: $840,000
Lavoie: $813,750
Rondbjerg: $813,750

Stay updated with the most interesting Golden Knights stories, analysis, breaking news and more! Tap the star to add us to your favourites on Google News to never miss a story.

Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Alex Pietrangelo and general manager Kelly McCrimmon have both issued statements regarding the two-time Stanley Cup winner’s status for the 2025–26 season.

Vegas Golden Knights Provide Update on Defenseman Alex Pietrangelo #VegasBorn

MORE: https://t.co/zaVm6JWy4Opic.twitter.com/JqUJ6b0rZf

— Vegas Golden Knights (@GoldenKnights) July 1, 2025

Pietrangelo was set to compete for Team Canada in the 4 Nations Face-Off back in February but withdrew due to undisclosed injuries, hoping to recover in time for the remainder of the regular season. However, he never returned. Since then, there has been widespread speculation and persistent questions, especially following reports of the surgeries he required.

“After exploring options with doctors as well as my family, it’s been advised to remove the intensity of hockey to see if my body can improve so that I can return to a normal quality of life,” Pietrangelo said in the statement. “The likelihood is low that my body will recover to the standard required to play, but I know this is the right decision for me and my family.”

Pietrangelo has played 17 seasons in the NHL, 12 with the St. Louis Blues, four in which he was captain, and five with the Knights. He has appeared in 1,087 regular-season games, putting up 637 points (148 Goals, 489 Assists) with a career plus/minus rating of +123 rating. In the postseason, he has played in 149 games tallying 80 points (15 Goals, 65 Assists) and a +26 rating. During those playoff runs he won the Stanley Cup twice, once with St. Louis in 2019 and again with Vegas in 2023. The 35-year-old defenseman’s 149 postseason appearances are the most by any player taken in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft; he was the Blues fourth overall pick. 

“Alex has given everything to the game and to the Golden Knights and has played through significant challenges in the pursuit of trying to win another Stanley Cup in Vegas,” general manager Kelly McCrimmon said. “He is one of the most respected players in the league, not only for his elite talent but for his character, leadership, competitiveness, and professionalism.” 

PHOTO COURTESY: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports 

In the aftermath of every NHL Draft, the analysis always comes due.

This is especially true for a rebuilding team like the Pittsburgh Penguins, who had 13 picks in the 2025 draft. There were many who thought - for sure - that the Penguins were not going to use all of those picks to draft, and - instead - would leverage some in trades for young talent or to move up in the draft. It was the highest volume of draft picks they've had since 1994, when they had 14.

But that wasn't the case.

Much of the discourse surrounding the work that general manager and president of hockey operations Kyle Dubas - as well as vice president of player development Wes Clark - did on Friday and Saturday involved discussions of "quality v. quantity." Many want to see the Penguins shift in the direction of accruing high-quality assets, so they were disappointed to see Dubas and Clark make the decision to trade down in the first round to acquire three first-round picks instead of drafting back-to-back at 11 and 12.

Yes, 13 is a large quantity of picks, no matter how you slice it. But don't assume that "quantity" and "quality" - in this case - are separate things.

There were a handful of players who folks hoped to see the Penguins draft back-to-back. Names like Victor Eklund, Justin Carbonneau, Jackson Smith, and Kashawn Aitcheson were still on the board when the Penguins were selecting at 11, yet they went a bit off-the-board by selecting center Ben Kindel.

Many saw that as a confounding, "galaxy-brain" move. But that's not giving enough credit to the caliber of player Kindel is.

The deeper you look, the more you like the pick. Ben Kindel flew under the radar for many scouts.

He led all WHL draft-year skaters with 99 points and dominated his team in playoff scoring with 15 (next best had 9).

Skilled and a playoff riser—Pens fans should be excited. pic.twitter.com/4vAg1B0vJT

— Wyatt Leblanc (@wleblanc15) June 30, 2025

The 5-foot-10, 176-pound center was highly touted by several Western Hockey League (WHL) scouts. His production - he had 35 goals and 99 points in 65 games last season for the Calgary Hitmen - matched, and even bested, some top-10 talents in the draft:

     - Eighth overall pick Jake O'Brien recorded 32 goals and 98 points in 68 games for the Brantford Bulldogs of the OHL
     - Sixth overall pick Porter Martone posted 37 goals and 98 points for the Brampton Steelheads of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
     - Fifth overall pick Brady Martin registered 33 goals and 72 points in 57 games for the Soo Greyhounds of the OHL
     - Fourth overall pick Caleb Desnoyers had 35 goals and 84 points in 56 games for the Moncton Wildcats of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL)

The only real, conceivable quality that was holding Kindel back from being a top-10 pick is his size. And - as many have been quick to point out - his ability to outsmart, outskate, and beat opponents one-on-one, coupled with his top-notch skill and scoring ability, has the high likelihood of making his size a non-factor.

Reaction: Penguins Select Center Ben Kindel 11th Overall In 2025 NHL DraftThe 2025 NHL Draft is finally upon us.

Kindel is, easily, now the best prospect in the Penguins' system. Other players like Rutger McGroarty, Ville Koivunen, Harrison Brunicke, and Sergei Murashov have higher-end potential, but Kindel is the only one who could blossom into a star at the NHL level. And the Penguins need that - desperately need that - in their system.

However, Kindel isn’t the only quality prospect the Penguins added. The Penguins traded that 12th overall pick - given to them by the New York Rangers to satisfy the condition of the Marcus Pettersson and J.T. Miller trades - to draft two more players later in the first round, which resulted in Bill Zonnon at 22nd overall and Will Horcoff (after the Penguins traded back up from 31st overall) at 24th overall.

The jury is out on Horcoff's ceiling, although he profiles as someone who has the potential to be an effective third-line center. But scouts everywhere have praised Zonnon, whose stock had risen considerably over the past year. 

The tough-as-nails, all-around forward registered 28 goals and 83 points in 64 games with the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies of the QMJHL last season, and many see him as a future middle-six forward with the potential to be in some Selke conversations. Zonnon has a complete toolset that includes strong puck skills, playmaking ability, versatility, hockey sense, defensive acumen, and physicality.

But it doesn't stop at the first round. Perhaps the two most underrated selections by the Penguins in the 2025 draft were both defensemen: Quinn Beauchesne and Charlie Trethewey.

I’m very early in my process here and don’t want to get carried away but, folks: Quinn Beauchesne looks really good. I’m very confused by why he was available as late as he was. Very confused.

— Jesse Marshall (@jmarshfof) June 29, 2025

Beauchesne - one of three fifth-round picks (148th overall) by the Penguins - is a great skater and has great defensive instincts. He is prone to turnovers and mistakes from time to time, but he's mobile, he has a good stick, he's good on the breakout, and he's got a good shot. 

Trethewey - who is a homegrown prospect of sorts due to his participation in the youth Pittsburgh Penguins Elite program and his father's family roots in the area - may end up being one of the biggest steals of the 2025 draft class, as he was projected as a first-rounder by most draft boards heading into the 2024-25 season. His booming shot, knack for physicality, and dynamic mobility already make him one of the Penguins' most intriguing defensive prospects.

Penguins Select Homegrown Defensive Prospect In Third RoundIt will be a homecoming for one of the Pittsburgh Penguins' third-round draft selections.

There are other potential upside guys, too. Horcoff is one of them, as is defenseman Peyton Kettles. So, too, is goaltender Gabriel D'Aigle.

Is every one of these 13 prospects going to pan out? No. Are even half of them going to make it at the NHL level? Probably not. 

But, some of them - a few of them, at least - will make it. And they will pan out. The nice thing about having so many draft picks is that the numbers start to work in your favor. The higher the volume of prospects, the higher the chance that some of them will make a difference. 

And, again - even when looking at sheer volume - that doesn't mean quality wasn't a focus. There are four higher-upside potential players in this draft class, which is four that the Penguins didn't have before. There is one star-potential player in this draft class, which is one more than the Penguins had before. 

"Quantity" doesn't always mean "quality." But, sometimes, those two things can coexist. 

"I think the 'quantity' part is objective that we drafted a lot of players," Dubas said. "Wes phrased it the other day, that, there's risk in all of them, regardless of first to the 200s. None of them are sure things.

"So, now, it's on us. We drafted them all for a reason. We all think they have a path to play in the NHL. Whether they become 'quality' is incumbent on the effort that they put in and the type of people that they are, but it's incumbent on us on the developmental side to get the most out of all of them."

'We’re Thrilled With The Players That We Have': 3 Takeaways From Penguins' Day One DraftDay One of the 2025 NHL Draft is officially wrapped, and the Pittsburgh Penguins were certainly one of the more active teams in the first round.

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