The NHL Draft Combine is now in the books, as it stretched from June 2 through June 7, during which teams conducted interviews with upcoming draft-eligible prospects and saw them go through various exercises and measurements.

The 2025 combine may have carried slightly more weight than in years past, as it is the last league event before the draft, where scouts and front offices from every team would be together, in the same vicinity. The 2025 NHL Entry Draft will be the first decentralized draft, so typical face-to-face dealings won’t be as present this year.

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The draft is scheduled for June 27 and 28, with free agency starting on July 1. Rumors and speculation drive conversation at this time of year and take on new life.

The Anaheim Ducks have a projected $38.69 million in cap space for the 2025-26 season and plan to be aggressive in pursuit of their first playoff appearance since 2017-18.

Four players have made their way into speculative conversation and rumors this offseason and could be intriguing additions for the Ducks, who are looking to take significant steps toward sustained contention: Jason Robertson, Martin Necas, Marco Rossi, and K’Andre Miller.

Jason Robertson

Daily Faceoff’s Jeff Marek speculated on the availability of the Dallas Stars forward in his “The Sheet Blog” on June 2. Dallas has just under $5 million in cap space ($4.96 million) heading into the summer with only 16 players under contract for 2025-26.

Robertson (25) has one year remaining on his contract, which carries an AAV of $7.75 million, and will become an RFA upon expiry, with his UFA years commencing in 2027. If they don’t think he’s interested in remaining with the club on a long-term basis and feel they can disperse his cap hit more economically throughout their lineup, they could theoretically command a tremendous haul for the 25-year-old winger, as his value will likely never be higher.

Robertson is a native of Arcadia, CA, roughly 35 miles from Honda Center, and is one of the more consistent star players in the NHL. He’s only missed 12 regular season games in his five-year NHL career and is a lock for at least 80 points year in and year out, and he eclipsed the 100-point mark in 2022-23.

The only aspect of Robertson’s game that could be considered a flaw is his skating, but he does incredibly well to mitigate that with some of the highest hockey IQ and skill in the NHL. If the Ducks have interest, he would raise the tide of one of the youngest and most talented forward groups in the league and could fit seamlessly next to a center like Leo Carlsson or Mason McTavish.

Martin Necas

SportsNet’s Nick Kypreos added the Colorado Avalanche forward to his first offseason trade board on June 2, stating there “was a sense Necas wasn’t overly thrilled with his experience in Colorado and that he wants to explore other options.”

Necas (26) was traded from the Carolina Hurricanes on Jan. 24 in a deal that sent superstar forward Mikko Rantanen to the Canes. Necas has one year remaining on his current contract, which carries an AAV of $6.5 million and will make him a UFA upon its expiry. Colorado has a projected $1.2 million in cap space heading into next season, with 19 players under contract. The Avs recently signed center Brock Nelson to a three-year contract extension with an AAV of $7.5 million.

Necas finished the 2024-25 season with a career high 83 points (27-56=83) in 70 games, including 28 points (11-17=28) in 30 with Colorado after he was traded. He added five points (1-4=5) in seven playoff games. It’s been speculated that Necas may want to become a full-time center despite playing on the wing for the majority of his career.

Carolina doesn’t play a system that lends itself to gaudy individual point totals, like some other teams around the league, but Necas had been able to eclipse the 70-point mark once in his career and was well on his way again in 2024-25 before his trade.

He’s a rare combination of speed and skill who had to round out his 200-foot game in Carolina. He’s as tenacious as he is creative and works to manufacture his own looks and gets pucks to dangerous ice at will.

If he’s dead set on becoming a long-term center, his addition would be a somewhat awkward fit in Anaheim, as they would be adding another top-nine center who likely doesn’t have the defensive capability to take on shutdown responsibilities, a significant need on the Ducks roster.

However awkward the fit, an exception can and should likely be made for a talent like Necas, a 2024 World Championship gold medal-winning teammate of current Ducks Lukas Dostal and Radko Gudas. He was also Dostal’s teammate at the 2019 World Junior Championship.

Marco Rossi

It’s been long-reported that the Minnesota Wild and Rossi (23) don’t see eye-to-eye in terms of his role on the team and his deserved contract. He was demoted to a fourth-line role in the 2025 playoffs, where he still managed to score three points (1-2=3) in six games while averaging 11:08 TOI, after a sophomore season that saw him tally 60 points (24-36=60) in 82 games.

Rossi heads into the 2025 offseason in need of a new contract, as his ELC has now expired. He’s an RFA under team control until his UFA years start in 2029.

He possesses every tool a successful NHL team needs down the middle: speed, skill, tenacity, and defensive fundamentals. His only perceived drawback is his height, as he’s plenty solid at 193 pounds, but only stands 5-foot-9.

Like if Necas were to switch to center, Rossi’s potential fit on the Ducks roster could be awkward, but it never hurts to add such a talent. Another potential drawback could be that Rossi’s agent reiterated on June 3 that a bridge deal “no longer makes sense” for the young Austrian center. Verbeek has stated his penchant for bridge deals when it comes to players coming off their ELCs.

K’Andre Miller

Cam Robinson from Elite Prospects reported that the New York Rangers “have let teams know he’s available,” and there “appears to be significant interest” in the 25-year-old defenseman. Robinson also reported that Miller’s name “keeps popping up” at the Draft Combine, and teams are weighing whether they want to pursue a trade or go the offer sheet route.

Miller is an RFA with arbitration rights and is two years from UFA status in the summer of 2027. He just wrapped up his fifth season in the NHL for the Rangers, who have $8.42 million in cap space with 19 players under contract, but they feel the need for significant changes to their roster before next season.

Stylistically, Miller could fill a specific need and round out the Ducks’ blueline perfectly. He’s a big-bodied (6-foot-5, 210 pounds) defensive-oriented defenseman who has exceptional four-way mobility and is a capable puck-mover. He set a career high for points in 2022-23 with 43 (9-34=43) in 79 games and has only missed 14 games in his five-year NHL career. He led the Rangers in TOI on the penalty kill in 2024-25, who ranked 11th in the NHL by killing at an 80.3% clip.

The 2024-25 Ducks were inconsistent with their desire to ice a nightly lineup with three right and three left-shot defensemen on their blueline. If handedness is less of an issue under newly-hired head coach Quenneville, Miller’s fit is undeniable. The two participating teams in the Stanley Cup Final, the Edmonton Oilers and Florida Panthers, are each deploying bluelines with four left-shot and two right-shot defensemen.

Ducks Potential Free Agent Fits: Mobile Defenseman

Ducks Potential Free Agent Fits: Middle Six Center

Ducks Potential Free Agent Fits: Top of the Lineup Point Producer

Photo Credit: David Banks-Imagn Images

Nearly three weeks after Max Pacioretty contemplated his NHL future in front of the cameras at Ford Performance Centre in Toronto, a reunion could be possible.

According to The Athletic's James Mirtle, who was at the NHL Scouting Combine in Buffalo, New York, this past weekend, the 36-year-old forward is intrigued about returning to the Toronto Maple Leafs next season.

"One piece of good news over the past few days," Mirtle wrote, "is that UFA Max Pacioretty is leaning toward a return after the Leafs expressed considerable interest in keeping him following a terrific postseason, according to a league source."

It wasn't an easy season for Pacioretty. He dealt with numerous injuries, one of which kept him out of Toronto's lineup for nearly two-and-a-half months because of the Maple Leafs' cap situation. (He jokingly called it a "mid-to-upper-lower-body" injury as he exited his final interview of the season.)

Eventually, though, the veteran forward rejoined the lineup in the playoffs and scored three goals and five assists through 11 games.

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One of those goals was the series-winner against the Ottawa Senators in round one. Another was an insurance marker in Game 6 against the Florida Panthers. Pacioretty's eight points were the fourth-most on the team, behind Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, and William Nylander.

"This year was very difficult for me, being away from my family," Pacioretty said in his end-of-season media availability on May 20. "I'm really excited to just get home and be with them, and talk to them about what's next in life. But in terms of playing, that's difficult to answer right now."

Pacioretty admitted that signing a one-year, $873,770 contract in Toronto was more or less to play in the playoffs. He has a lengthy postseason history, appearing in 89 playoff games split between the Maple Leafs, Washington Capitals, Vegas Golden Knights, and Montreal Canadiens.

The New Canaan, Connecticut, native scored 28 goals and 30 assists for 58 points in that span.

'I'll Be Ready For Camp': Why Maple Leafs Prospect Easton Cowan Believes He's Prepared For The NHL After Memorial Cup WinToronto Maple Leafs prospect Easton Cowan has his eyes peeled for the NHL next season.

Drafted by the Montreal Canadiens in the first round (22nd overall) of the 2007 NHL Draft, Pacioretty had first-hand experience of playing in a pressure-filled market. Sixteen years later, after countless ups and downs in his career, including two Achilles injuries, Pacioretty landed in Toronto, another pressure-cooker, and succeeded during his time in the Mecca of hockey.

"It's a privilege to play under pressure, and you probably don't realize that when you're in it or when you're younger, but it's a privilege to have this many people care about how we do and I certainly never felt this way early on in my career, but it kind of builds winners and turns you into men and helps you achieve who you're ultimately trying to become," Pacioretty said.

"I have been there before, and it makes me realize that I don't have regrets with how I've handled it in the past, but I do know that adversity and going through that amount of pressure kind of built me into the person and the player that I am today, and I'm thankful for it."

'Not Always Necessarily The Best Thing': Thriving With Oilers Kasperi Kapanen Reflects On Pressure-Filled Maple Leafs Media ExperienceEdmonton Oilers forward Kasperi Kapanen is among many former Toronto Maple Leafs performing strongly during the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs, and ahead of the Stanley Cup Final, he was asked about his tenure in Toronto.

Maple Leafs GM Brad Treliving has other items on his to-do list this summer, with Mitch Marner and John Tavares closing in on NHL free agency. But if Pacioretty does return for another year, there's a chance his playoff experience could pay off in dividends for Toronto next year.

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Could a 6-foot-5, ‘just blossoming' defenseman be a fit for Flyers at No. 6? originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

The 2025 NHL draft is a huge one for the Flyers’ rebuild.

Not only does Danny Briere have a lot of high-round picks at his disposal, but he also could be creative in how he uses them.

“There are all kinds of possibilities here,” the Flyers’ general manager said in April. “I think it’s really exciting going into it. It’s powerful to have so many picks like that. I think a lot of teams will be wanting to have discussions with us to make some things happen — teams that don’t have picks or teams that want to tweak things.”

So it’s a busy time for the Flyers leading up to the draft, which will be held June 27-28. The first round is Friday at 7 p.m. ET, while Rounds 2-7 are Saturday starting at noon ET.

“There are really good players in this draft,” TSN director of scouting Craig Button said May 27 in a phone interview with NBC Sports Philadelphia. “Maybe people say it’s not a good draft; I’m not buying it. I think this draft has got lots of good players.”

The Flyers are slotted to make 11 picks, including three first-rounders and four second-rounders. Their first-round selections will come at No. 6 (own pick), No. 22 (Sean Walker trade) and either No. 31 or 32 (Oilers trade).

Before the draft arrives, we’re breaking down first-round targets for the Flyers.

Next up:

Radim Mrtka

Position: Defenseman
Height: 6-foot-5
Weight: 202
Shoots: Right
Team: Seattle

Scouting report

Mrtka is a long, mobile, puck-moving blueliner who enjoyed a highly effective transition to North America and the WHL this season.

The Czech product debuted for the Thunderbirds toward the end of November and went on to record 35 points (three goals, 32 assists) and a plus-10 rating in 43 games. He did so at just 17 years old.

“He really, really took charge once he got to Seattle in the Western Hockey League,” Button, a former NHL GM and scout, said. “Like a spring flower, he’s just blossoming, he’s just blossoming. A 6-foot-5 ½, right-shot defenseman that can think and play — boy, oh, boy.”

Celebrating his 18th birthday Monday, Mrtka is the ninth-best player in the draft on Button’s list and the second-ranked defenseman, behind only consensus top overall pick Matthew Schaefer.

“The first thing you notice about Radim, when you first watch him, here’s this big, rangy defenseman,” Button said. “He was almost Bambi-like, like a deer kind of finding his legs underneath him. But as he has physically matured, his game has just continuously taken strides forward.

“He’s a good skater and his skating will become better as he gets more strength. He’s smart, he makes plays under pressure, he can play physical and he understands how to jump into the attack.”

With his willowy frame, Mrtka will have to add more muscle and prove he can play a hard style in the defensive zone. But he uses his length to quickly close gaps and kill plays, as well as push the puck up ice.

EliteProspects.com has him slotted at No. 15 overall, while NHL Central Scouting has him pegged as the fifth-rated North American skater.

“To me, a really good defenseman, in today’s game, you’ve got to be able to make a play with the puck,” Button said. “The days of just wiring the puck around the boards or just flipping it out … you’ve got to be able to make plays with the puck. Radim not only thinks the game well, but he can also execute the game well in terms of making plays with the puck.”

Fit with Flyers

Given how top-heavy the draft is with centers, Mrtka very well could be viewed as a reach for the Flyers at No. 6.

The Flyers have a pair of young, righty-shot defensemen in their system with Oliver Bonk (first round — 2023) and Spencer Gill (second round — 2024). But rebuilding teams can never have enough depth on the back end, so that probably wouldn’t sway the Flyers too much if they felt Mrtka was the best player available.

Still, it looks like the Flyers should have a shot to land a high-end forward at No. 6. While Mrtka would be a fine addition to the Flyers’ future defensive picture, he might not be the ideal pick at this spot. If for some reason he fell in the first round, the Flyers could potentially move up from No. 22 to make him their second selection.

More targets

• Hagens is ‘Matt Duchene type of player’ who could be on Flyers’ radar at No. 6

• Flyers would probably love if Barkov-like prospect is available at No. 6

• ‘Fascinating,’ 6-foot-5 center has tons of intrigue for Flyers at No. 6

• Younger brother of Flyers prospect is ‘complete’ center and option at No. 6

• ‘David Krejci-like’ center with plenty of upside would give Flyers good decision

Could a 6-foot-5, ‘just blossoming' defenseman be a fit for Flyers at No. 6? originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

The 2025 NHL draft is a huge one for the Flyers’ rebuild.

Not only does Danny Briere have a lot of high-round picks at his disposal, but he also could be creative in how he uses them.

“There are all kinds of possibilities here,” the Flyers’ general manager said in April. “I think it’s really exciting going into it. It’s powerful to have so many picks like that. I think a lot of teams will be wanting to have discussions with us to make some things happen — teams that don’t have picks or teams that want to tweak things.”

So it’s a busy time for the Flyers leading up to the draft, which will be held June 27-28. The first round is Friday at 7 p.m. ET, while Rounds 2-7 are Saturday starting at noon ET.

“There are really good players in this draft,” TSN director of scouting Craig Button said May 27 in a phone interview with NBC Sports Philadelphia. “Maybe people say it’s not a good draft; I’m not buying it. I think this draft has got lots of good players.”

The Flyers are slotted to make 11 picks, including three first-rounders and four second-rounders. Their first-round selections will come at No. 6 (own pick), No. 22 (Sean Walker trade) and either No. 31 or 32 (Oilers trade).

Before the draft arrives, we’re breaking down first-round targets for the Flyers.

Next up:

Radim Mrtka

Position: Defenseman
Height: 6-foot-5
Weight: 202
Shoots: Right
Team: Seattle

Scouting report

Mrtka is a long, mobile, puck-moving blueliner who enjoyed a highly effective transition to North America and the WHL this season.

The Czech product debuted for the Thunderbirds toward the end of November and went on to record 35 points (three goals, 32 assists) and a plus-10 rating in 43 games. He did so at just 17 years old.

“He really, really took charge once he got to Seattle in the Western Hockey League,” Button, a former NHL GM and scout, said. “Like a spring flower, he’s just blossoming, he’s just blossoming. A 6-foot-5 ½, right-shot defenseman that can think and play — boy, oh, boy.”

Celebrating his 18th birthday Monday, Mrtka is the ninth-best player in the draft on Button’s list and the second-ranked defenseman, behind only consensus top overall pick Matthew Schaefer.

“The first thing you notice about Radim, when you first watch him, here’s this big, rangy defenseman,” Button said. “He was almost Bambi-like, like a deer kind of finding his legs underneath him. But as he has physically matured, his game has just continuously taken strides forward.

“He’s a good skater and his skating will become better as he gets more strength. He’s smart, he makes plays under pressure, he can play physical and he understands how to jump into the attack.”

With his willowy frame, Mrtka will have to add more muscle and prove he can play a hard style in the defensive zone. But he uses his length to quickly close gaps and kill plays, as well as push the puck up ice.

EliteProspects.com has him slotted at No. 15 overall, while NHL Central Scouting has him pegged as the fifth-rated North American skater.

“To me, a really good defenseman, in today’s game, you’ve got to be able to make a play with the puck,” Button said. “The days of just wiring the puck around the boards or just flipping it out … you’ve got to be able to make plays with the puck. Radim not only thinks the game well, but he can also execute the game well in terms of making plays with the puck.”

Fit with Flyers

Given how top-heavy the draft is with centers, Mrtka very well could be viewed as a reach for the Flyers at No. 6.

The Flyers have a pair of young, righty-shot defensemen in their system with Oliver Bonk (first round — 2023) and Spencer Gill (second round — 2024). But rebuilding teams can never have enough depth on the back end, so that probably wouldn’t sway the Flyers too much if they felt Mrtka was the best player available.

Still, it looks like the Flyers should have a shot to land a high-end forward at No. 6. While Mrtka would be a fine addition to the Flyers’ future defensive picture, he might not be the ideal pick at this spot. If for some reason he fell in the first round, the Flyers could potentially move up from No. 22 to make him their second selection.

More targets

• Hagens is ‘Matt Duchene type of player’ who could be on Flyers’ radar at No. 6

• Flyers would probably love if Barkov-like prospect is available at No. 6

• ‘Fascinating,’ 6-foot-5 center has tons of intrigue for Flyers at No. 6

• Younger brother of Flyers prospect is ‘complete’ center and option at No. 6

• ‘David Krejci-like’ center with plenty of upside would give Flyers good decision

2025 NHL mock draft roundup: Updated Bruins first-round predictions originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

The Boston Bruins need a top-six center who can be a franchise player for a long time. And with the No. 7 overall pick in a 2025 NHL Draft class that’s loaded with quality centers, now is a good time to find that kind of building block.

In fact, it’s possible we could see six or seven centers taken in the first 10 picks of the first round.

One player who could be available when the Bruins are on the clock is Brady Martin of the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds in the Ontario Hockey League. He tallied 72 points (33 goals, 39 assists) in 57 games this past season, a major improvement from the 28 points in 52 games he posted in 2023-24.

Several NHL teams took Martin out to dinner last week during the NHL Draft Combine in Buffalo, and the Bruins were among them, he told reporters on Friday. Martin said he had dinner with the Philadelphia Flyers, Nashville Predators and Utah Mammoth as well.

Martin has an impressive two-way skill set and sets a physical tone each shift. His playmaking skills are very strong, and he has the kind of shot release/power to be an effective goal scorer.

The combination of high-end offensive ability and defensive responsibility would likely make him a good fit with the Bruins — an organization that really values a 200-foot game.

Which prospects, in addition to Martin, should the Bruins consider at No. 7? Here’s a roundup of predictions from recent expert mock drafts.

Scott Wheeler, The Athletic: Brady Martin, C, Sault Ste. Marie (OHL)

“If Martin doesn’t go in the 4-6 range, the sense I get is that he doesn’t get past the Bruins. If he does go in the 4-6 range, I think that could mean Hagens surprises a little and gets here, or they pivot to O’Brien. They’re probably the start of where Roger McQueen gets consideration as well.”

Corey Pronman, The Athletic: Brady Martin, C, Sault Ste. Marie (OHL)

“Martin brings an intense, physical two-way game while also having an excellent skill level. He is a potential top-two-line center that Boston desperately craves and plays the way the Bruins like.”

Adam Kimelman, NHL.com: Jake O’Brien, C, Brantford (OHL)

The Bruins will pick in the top 10 for the first time since 2011, and could target O’Brien, who elevated his game during the second half of the season with his poise, vision, playmaking ability, and willingness to play hard all 200 feet. The 17-year-old can slow the game down in the offensive zone and find scoring opportunities for himself or his teammates, can check other teams’ top players and play in all situations.

Mike Morreale, NHL.com: Porter Martone, RW, Brampton (OHL)

“The right-handed power forward (6-3, 208) has a proven scoring touch, leading Brampton with 61 assists, 98 points and 29 power-play points (seven goals, 22 assists) in 57 games while serving as captain. Boston certainly could use a powerful forward with game-breaking potential and Martone, who has been compared to Edmonton Oilers forward Corey Perry, fits the bill.”

Tab Bamford, Bleacher Nation: Jake O’Brien, C, Brantford (OHL)

“O’Brien’s stock continues to climb; he’s gone from a guy in the early teens to being a clear-cut top-ten prospect with potential to slide all the way into the top five. The Bruins desperately need to add depth down the middle, and will have options here. I’m leaning O’Brien. Boston moved back two spots in the draft in the lottery, which actually makes O’Brien a more comfortable pick. They still need a new head coach, though.”

Tankathon: Jake O’Brien, C, Brantford (OHL)

(No explanation provided)