The offseason is ending the same way it started for forward Luke Evangelista and the Nashville Predators, as both parties have not agreed on a new contract. 

Tuesday, upon the announcement of the Predators' training camp roster and preseason schedule, The Fourth Period's David Pagnotta posted on Twitter/X that contract negotiations between the Predators and Evangelista were ongoing, but both parties "remained far apart on a deal."

It's the first news pertaining to Evangelista's contract that has been made public since July 15, when Evangelista did not sign his original qualifying offer, which was extended on July 1. 

Following the opening of the free agency market, General Manager Barry Trotz was asked about Evangelista's contract negotiations and he said both sides were still trying to "figure out a term that fits." 

Trotz also called Evangelista "the future" of the organization, showing that the Predators do want to keep Evangelista in Nashville for a longer term. 

His previous deal with his entry level contract, which was three-years, $2,392,50. 

Drafted 42nd overall by the Predators in the 2020 NHL Draft from the London Knights, Evangelista has quickly developed into a top-six forward. Last season, he scored 32 points in 68 games, and the season prior, he had 39 points in 80 games. 

It's not surprising that the Predators are trying to lock Evangelista into an extended contract as they have done so with other players, and have been criticized for it this offseason. 

Brady Skjei's seven-year, $49 million contract and Nic Hague's four-year, $22 million contract were ranked as two of the worst contracts in the NHL by The Athletic. The Athletic also scrutinized Juuse Saros' eight-year, $61.92 million contract. 

Jonathan Marchessault came to Nashville on a five-year, $27.5 million contract in the 2024 offseason because Vegas wouldn't sign him to the length Nashville eventually gave him. 

Evangelista is still on the Predators training camp roster, which will commence on Sept. 17 with team meetings. The first practice will be held on Sept. 18 and the first game is a split-session against the Florida Panthers on Sept. 21 at Bridgestone Arena. 

Evangelista contract saga 

Predators extend qualifying offer to forward Luke EvangelistaAfter Sunday's trade, sending defenseman Jeremy Lauzon and center Colton Sisson to Vegas for defenseman Nicolas Hague, the Nashville Predators have extended a qualifying offer to forward Luke Evangelista.  'Fixing defense' was focus for Trotz, Nashville Predators in free agency Compared to a year ago, the start of free agency was very quiet for the Nashville Predators. Nashville Predators qualifying offer to Luke Evangelista expires TuesdayThe Nashville Predators have been waiting patiently for the decision on forward Luke Evangelista.  Analysis: Do the Nashville Predators have issues signing players to the 'right' contracts? For the second time in less than a week, the Nashville Predators players' contracts have come under scrutiny again by The Athletic's Dom Luszczyszyn.  Column: Whatever happens with Evangelista's contract will dictate confidence in Nashville Predators front officeIs this an actual crisis or is this just spiraling in the offseason?  

Connor McDavid’s pending contract with the Edmonton Oilers is more than just a story about one player's tough decision and how it will affect him and his family. This is potentially a story about the dominoes that fall after McDavid makes his extension preference clear.

The reality is, while there is no one like the Oilers' captain, what McDavid chooses to do could reshape the NHL’s free-agent landscape.

The amount of money McDavid ultimately makes as the market drastically changes amid a rising salary cap could send ripples through the NHL. The NHLPA knows that McDavid's deal -- whatever it looks like when it's finally agreed upon -- will impact other high-profile unrestricted free agents waiting to see what the superstar signs for. 

'Absolutely I Want To Stay In Edmonton': Veteran D-Man On Possible Extension

“Is This Real?” Insider Says McDavid’s Comments Has NHL on Alert

TSN’s Frankie Corrado said on Domino’s That’s Hockey, elite UFAs are going to fall in line after McDavid's deal is finalized. That means players like Jack Eichel, Martin Necas, and Adrian Kempe could take their cue from McDavid, all knowing they'll be making a little (or a lot) less than he will.

Players Are Waiting On McDavid, Who Is Taking His Time

Let's say Eichel wants to sign in Vegas, and he'd prefer to re-up with the Golden Knights sooner rather than later. If he believes he's worth $14-$15 million per season, he could ask for that, but not necessarily if McDavid takes $15 to stay in Edmonton over the next two or three seasons.

On the other end, and where a player might benefit, Pierre LeBrun reported on Tuesday:

"Adrian Kempe, entering last year of his contract, just sat down with our media gathering at the NHL Player Media Tour in Vegas. He says there's no rush from his end or the team on an extension but he feels talks will pick up in the next few weeks or months. Wants to stay in LA."

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It makes sense there would be no rush. If McDavid signs for $16 million per season, Kempe can get well above $10 or $12 million, suggesting he's not $4 or $5 million less valuable per season than Edmonton's superstar.

The rare exception might be Minnesota Wild star Kirill Kaprizov. His situation is clear, as he's aware the Wild can't afford to lose him, and he'll get $15 million or more per season on a long-term deal if he asks. Corrado hinted Kaprizov could use his incredible leverage to ask for whatever he'd like, regardless of McDavid's extension terms. 

Is The NHLPA Pressuring McDavid?

Some reports suggest McDavid may also be weighing league-wide implications. The NHLPA, according to insiders, may be quietly applying pressure to McDavid not to take too big a discount.  A steep team-friendly deal affects several players, and too big a pay cut could lower salaries for other members. The NHLPA does not want that. 

Kurt Leavins of The Edmonton Journal writes:

“On Friday I was speaking with an old colleague of mine who is now in labor law. He commented on the Connor McDavid contract situation and mentioned the “quiet” pressure on 97 from the NHLPA to set the new standard for how players are paid going forward. Connor and his family are truly in a “push and pull” situation in the middle of it all. Take too much, your team has cap issues. Take too little, it sets a different salary precedent for other players. That is a lot of pressure. No wonder he wants to take his time. But I still expect a deal done before Game One of the regular season.”

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If true, it's a tough spot for McDavid to be in. Perhaps he doesn't care and will do what he feels is in his best interest. Again, he's a unicorn. However, what we know from McDavid is that he steps up when the league asks. He's been instrumental in the All-Star formatting and trying to put the best product on the ice. It would make sense he'd feel an obligation to his fellow star players.

McDavid Says All That Matters Is Winning

Despite these considerations, McDavid’s priority appears to be winning. He is focused on keeping the Oilers competitive, and NHL insider Elliotte Friedman said, “The one thing I can absolutely tell you with 100 percent certainty about this summer, is that everybody who was around him feels that the back-to-back Stanley Cup defeats have only made him more hungry to win.” 

One social media post read, “He doesn’t care about anyone outside this organization. Money is NOT the issue. It is something more intrinsic.”

NHL Officially Closes LTIR Investigation Into OilersAccording to Michael Russo of The Athletic, the Edmonton Oilers are off the hook for whatever it was the NHL was looking into regarding Evander Kane and the team's use of LTIR last season. 

If winning is the only medicine for what's ailing McDavid, perhaps what other players want or need, or where the NHLPA lands doesn't come into play.

David Staples of the Edmonton Journal said, “I don’t see McDavid feeling beholden to the NHLPA. But I can’t read his mind. No one can. As for the NHLPA, more money for one member just means less for another. Not sure ceiling matters in context of hard cap.” 

What is clear is that McDavid’s decision is about more than personal gain. With other top-tier UFAs watching closely, his contract could set the ceiling—or at least signal the market—for the NHL’s next wave of superstar deals. 

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The ice hockey world mourned the death of Ken Dryden, Hockey Hall of Fame goaltender. Dryden not only won six Stanley Cups, but he was also on the call for the Miracle on Ice.

He passed away at age 78 after battling cancer. As one of the top goaltenders in NHL history, the hockey world paid tribute to the legend. One man in particular who shared a message was Devils legend Martin Brodeur.

In a post shared on multiple social media platforms, Brodeur wrote:

“I always looked up to Ken Dryden. He revolutionized the position & rose to the occasion in big moments. Beyond his greatness on the ice, he was a remarkable person, and the hockey community will miss him dearly. My condolences to the Dryden family. Photo by my dad, Denis Brodeur.”

I always looked up to Ken Dryden. He revolutionized the position & rose to the occasion in big moments. Beyond his greatness on the ice, he was a remarkable person, and the hockey community will miss him dearly. My condolences to the Dryden family. Photo by my dad, Denis Brodeur pic.twitter.com/vmgANLIa9O

— Martin Brodeur (@MartinBrodeur) September 6, 2025

Brodeur made history for the Devils and the NHL as one of the greatest goaltenders of all time. He won three Stanley Cups with the Devils, claimed the Vezina Trophy four times, and remains the all-time wins leader for goaltenders with 691 victories.

His message to Dryden shows just how profound Dryden’s impact was on the hockey world.

Other notable figures also released messages expressing their condolences. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney posted on social media:

“Few Canadians have given more, or stood taller, for our country. Ken Dryden was Big Canada. And he was Best Canada. Rest in peace.”

NHL commissioner Gary Bettman also shared a statement:

“From the moment Ken Dryden joined the Montreal Canadiens as a 23-year-old rookie in 1971, he made an immediate and lasting impact on the NHL, the Canadiens franchise, and the goaltending position. Ken’s love for his country was evident both on and off the ice.”

Not only did Dryden have an impact on the ice and in the broadcast booth, but he also stepped away from hockey in 1973 to work at a Toronto law firm, giving back to his community.

He played just eight seasons in the NHL before pursuing a different career path. In 397 starts, he earned 258 wins, ranking 63rd all time.

While Brodeur leads the list of all-time wins, the impact that Dryden had on his career — and on the hockey community as a whole - cannot be ignored as the sport mourns a legend.

The Pittsburgh Penguins have Sidney Crosby locked up for the next two seasons, but that hasn't stopped some of the national media from discussing him leaving the franchise. 

He has shown no interest in even thinking about leaving the Penguins. However, Pat Brisson, Crosby's agent, was asked about some of those rumors by The Athletic's Pierre Lebrun on Wednesday and didn't exactly squash them. 

“I mean, I’m answering something that, let’s put it this way, it’s always a possibility, you know?” Brisson told Lebrun in an interview. 

Brisson added that he believes Crosby should be playing playoff hockey every year. Crosby hasn't been in the playoffs since the 2021-22 season, when the Penguins lost to the New York Rangers in the first round. The Penguins had a 3-1 series lead on the Rangers before losing in seven games.

Since then, the Penguins have missed the playoffs in three-straight seasons and are in the middle of a rebuild. General manager Kyle Dubas is trying to return the Penguins to contention as urgently as possible, but it's going to take some time. 

Despite Brisson's comments, Crosby will play his 21st NHL season with the Penguins when the 2025-26 season starts in October. The Penguins will open the year against the Rangers October 7 inside Madison Square Garden.

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Heading into his first full season with the Kings, Kuzmenko looks to continue where he left off with the Kings.

Andrei Kuzmenko had a very interesting 2024-25 NHL season. He started with the Calgary Flames, where he played 32 games in which he registered 4 goals and 11 assists for 15 points. He was then traded to the Philadelphia Flyers alongside Jakob Pelletier.

Kuzmenko played only 7 games for the Flyers, registering 2 goals and 3 assists for 5 points. Then, on the trade deadline, the Flyers would trade Kuzmenko to the Kings in exchange for a 2027 third-round pick. Kuzmenko achieved moderate success with the Kings, scoring 5 goals and registering 12 assists in 22 games, totalling 17 points. He also performed well in the playoffs, contributing 3 goals and 3 assists in 6 games. 

After the Oilers eliminated the Kings in 6 games, Kuzmenko would sign a 1-year $4.3 million contract with the Kings during the offseason. 

2025-26 Expectations and Predictions

Kuzmenko will look to try to replicate his first year in the NHL, where he was 1 goal shy of the 40-goal mark for the Canucks. According to PuckPedia, Kuzmenko is on the first line alongside Kopitar and Kempe, so he will have the opportunity to have a positive impact on the Kings. Playing alongside Kempe and Kopitar is one of the best things for Kuzmenko because Kempe leads the team in points. Kopitar led the team in assists, making this a very good opportunity for Kuzmenko to showcase his scoring and offensive playmaking abilities, and to prove why he should stay with the Kings after his contract expires at the end of the 2025-26 season. 

My prediction for Kuzmenko is that we will see flashes of his first-year performance with the Canucks, but I do not expect him to reach that point total this year. Playing alongside some of the best offensive Kings players, I wouldn't be shocked if Kuzmenko had a 30 to 40 point total at the end of the season. Ever since his first season in the NHL, it has been a slow decline, and both he and the Kings are hoping he can produce like he did in his first year. Kuzmenko has to prove why he deserves to stay with the Kings, but with him playing on the top line and getting power-play minutes, he will be able to make a good case for the Kings to keep him. 

You can say many things about NHL icon Sidney Crosby.

For instance, he’s not a rah-rah, heart-on-his-sleeve dramatic leader like, say, Mark Messier was. Crosby is his own terrific hockey ambassador in his own way, but he’s a hockey fan who knows his legacy in the sport. And Crosby can see the optics at play with where he’s at in his career right now, and where his Pittsburgh Penguins are at.

When asked by The Athletic if it were possible that Crosby would consider a trade away from his beloved Penguins organization, Crosby’s agent, Pat Brisson, did not flat-out reject all trade possibilities involving No. 87.

“I mean, I’m answering something that…let’s put it this way, it’s always a possibility, you know?” Brisson said. “It’s been three years (the Penguins) haven’t made the playoffs. It all depends on how (Crosby) is going to be and how the team is going to do. I maintain the same position that I do believe that he should be playing playoff hockey every year. In my opinion.”

Now, Brisson is allowed to have feelings about the situation that may not be 100 percent in line with Crosby’s feelings. But Crosby understands he’s still got a say in how the rest of his NHL days play out.

If he were quicker and more rash to act, Crosby would be an ex-Penguin by now. But it’s a measurement of his love for the Penguins that he’s still trying to see what can be salvaged in Pittsburgh before he and the team even remotely consider going down two different roads.

“I understand it,” Crosby said at the NHL/NHLPA Player media tour in Vegas. “You’d rather be talking about who we’re getting at the (trade) deadline or where we’re at as far as are we one-two-three in the division. That’s the hard part about losing.

“Everybody thinks the buzzer goes, you lose the game and that sucks, but there’s so much more. It’s the turnover, the uncertainty, the question marks. That’s tough. It makes you appreciate all those years we were competing and going after that big acquisition every trade deadline. I didn’t take it for granted, but I definitely appreciate it that much more now.

“But it hasn’t changed my approach. I still go out there trying to win every single game and be the best I can be. That youth and having that energy around you isn’t a bad thing, either. We have a lot of hungry guys and a lot of competition for spots so you find different things to feed off and continue to learn from.”

Crosby’s favorite team as a young hockey fan was the Montreal Canadiens. So you can see that the possibility of Crosby being traded to the Canadiens makes many Habs fans all but drool in anticipation. And Crosby didn’t shy away from acknowledging the mania that undoubtedly would follow Crosby pulling on a Habs jersey.

“Trust me, I get it,” Crosby said. “Growing up a Montreal fan, I understand how passionate they are. My first or second year in the league, I was in Montreal for a CCM thing in June and they were already projecting the lines for training camp in September. I was like, ‘This is wild’. They’re so into it and I get it as to why that would come up. It doesn’t make it any easier to hear those things when you’re losing, but knowing a team like that wants you isn’t the end of the world.”

Despite Crosby’s delicate handling of the current situation in Pittsburgh, it’s readily apparent that he isn’t yet ready to move on from this Penguins organization.

Who knows – once Crosby does retire, maybe there’s a universe in which he’s in a key management role and keeps his connection to the game fully intact. He wouldn’t be the first superstar to take a run at being a GM or president of hockey operations, and he won’t be the last.

Still, Crosby just turned 38 years old. As a player, he’s got more miles behind him than ahead of him. But taking one more run with Pittsburgh – and one Olympic run with Team Canada – sounds like the immediate road ahead for him. No one can question his loyalty, nor his ability. We’re watching one of the final chapters of Crosby’s Hockey Hall of Fame play out in real time, and only time will tell if Crosby finishes his NHL days in the only professional jersey he has ever worn.

“We want Sidney to hopefully be in the playoffs every year,” Brisson said of Crosby. “We want him to hopefully win another Cup or two. So, each year the team that he’s playing for fails to make the playoffs, it creates a lot of speculation.

“In reality, he’s not getting any younger. We’re here to support him. It’s the beginning of the season here. Let’s see how things are going. Hopefully they have a great season, and the speculation will go away.”

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