Category: Sports News

NHL free agency began over a week ago, and as is the case every year, there are under-the-radar signings that stand out upon reflection. 

Whether it’s a veteran taking a cheap deal, a young player trying to crack an NHL lineup or a good re-signing, some of the smaller deals deserve a closer look.

Here are five of the most under-the-radar signings, in no particular order.

Brent Burns, D, Colorado Avalanche

One year, $1 million, plus $4 million in performance bonuses

It’s not often that an upper-level defenseman for two decades at the NHL level is considered an under-the-radar player, but it’s because the 40-year-old Burns remains one of the oldest active players in the NHL.

Burns’ offensive numbers have fallen off in recent years, but this past season in Carolina, he still got 29 points while averaging 20:57 of ice time. In Colorado, he’ll play considerably less than that, keeping him fresh throughout the year and allowing him to focus on his strengths, including shooting and making solid breakout passes.

Burns will earn a $3-million bonus at 10 games played, but he’ll get another $1 million if he plays 70 games and averages 23 minutes or more, which is unlikely. It’s a good signing for Avalanche GM Chris MacFarland, and we expect he will thrive playing alongside Colorado’s many top-tier talents.

Evgenii Dadonov, RW, New Jersey Devils

One year, $1 million, plus $2.25 million in performance bonuses

Dadonov, 36, has bounced around the NHL since 2020-21, playing on four different teams during that span. 

He has performance bonuses that could boost the cap hit of the deal to $3.25 million, including $250,000 every 10 games played until he reaches 50 and $300,000 for making the playoffs and playing at least 40 games. New Jersey will be thrilled to pay out those bonuses if he reaches them, because he can still put up some excellent secondary scoring.

Getting someone who scored 20 goals and 40 points for Dallas last season is the type of depth signing that will likely only look like great business by Devils GM Tom Fitzgerald.

Radek Faksa, C, Dallas Stars

Three years, $2 million AAV

Faksa has produced a maximum of 20 points in each of his past six seasons, so $2 million might seem a bit high at first glance.

Faksa is still only 31 years old, however, and his defensive acumen, faceoff success and mistake-free game are what brought him back to Dallas after a season away from the organization in St. Louis. Faksa’s three-year pact is a wise depth investment from Stars GM Jim Nill. He won’t make many highlight reels, but he’ll be an important bottom-six forward for the cap-strapped Stars, which lost Mikael Granlund in free agency.

Alex Steeves, LW, Boston Bruins

One year, $850,000

After a successful NCAA career at Notre Dame, Steeves has spent the past four years in the Maple Leafs organization, becoming one of the most potent AHL players in that span. 

This past season, Steeves was named a second-team AHL all-star after putting up a career-best 36 goals and 62 points in 59 games. But he’s never gotten a long look with the Leafs, playing only 14 NHL games. The 25-year-old could get a much longer look with the retooling Bruins, and at the bargain basement price tag of $850,000, he could prove to be one of the NHL’s best investments this coming year.

Steven Lorentz, LW, Toronto Maple Leafs

Three years, $1.35 million AAV

Despite being an ECHLer in 2018-19, Lorentz won a Calder Cup in the AHL that season and a Stanley Cup with the Florida Panthers in 2023-24. 

This past season in Toronto, Lorentz matched his career high in points, with 19. But it’s Lorentz’s skills as a physical forward and penalty-killer that have earned him a three-year deal with the Leafs. 

His 199 hits were the second-most on the Leafs in 2024-25. He also averaged only 10:33 of ice time, but 1:08 of that was on the PK. 

As the cap rises in the coming years, Lorentz’s salary will be close to the league minimum, making his contract a savvy move by Buds GM Brad Treliving.

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Before Toronto Maple Leafs forward Ryan Reaves calls it a career, he hopes to hit the milestone of 1,000 games.

The 38-year-old sat down with Andy Strickland and Cam Janssen of the Cam & Strick Podcast this week. Reaves reflected on his career, living in Vegas during the summer, the Toronto traffic, and what it's been like to be part of the Toronto Maple Leafs.

This past year wasn't the easiest for Reaves. The veteran forward cleared waivers and was sent to the AHL's Toronto Marlies at the trade deadline to make room for the incoming additions of Scott Laughton and defenseman Brandon Carlo.

It was the first time Reaves had been in the AHL since 2011. He played three games with the Marlies, scoring one goal.

"They didn't tell me I had to go play. I was actually skating with the skills coach for a couple weeks, but the boys went on the road for a couple road trips and I started getting bored. I hadn't seen anybody, I just wanted to be part of something," he said.

"So I called and said I'm going to come down and practice with the Marlies, and it was just a really good group of guys down there, so I was like, I'll jump into a couple home games and stay ready if I was called on. Unfortunately, I wasn't, but I think I just got to the point where I just wanted to be around the boys again and not just sit at home and bag skate by myself."

'I Know I'm A Better Player Than I Was In Utah': Matias Maccelli Believes He's Ready For Top-Six Role With Maple LeafsMatias Maccelli was attempting to make a putt when his friend began yelling about a trade to the Toronto Maple Leafs.

One particular moment that went viral while with the Marlies was when his visor was pushed all the way up during warmups. Per AHL rules, Reaves had to wear a visor during games, a rule that doesn't exist in the NHL.

"It's funny about the visor because the first game, it was tilted all the way up, right, and I didn't really think anything of it, I just thought it was just going to fly under the radar, but it was all over the internet. So then, I was like, 'Oh s**t, everybody's tweeting this out.' Game two I played, I was like, somebody's going to say something and nobody said anything," he smiled.

"And then game three, the GM (Ryan Hardy) down there came up to me and said, 'Okay, the league called and they said they want you to put the visor down.' So I was like, 'Ah, damn.' So I go out there and I look at one of the refs and was like, 'Hey, how low do you want this thing to go?' He's like, 'What do you mean?' I was like, 'Well, they said they called and that I got to put this low.' The ref goes, 'I don't give a s**t what you do."

'Couldn't Ask For Anything Better': How Former Maple Leafs Defenseman Jake Muzzin Is Helping Develop The Next Crop Of Toronto DefendersAs Toronto Maple Leafs 2024 first-round pick Ben Danford finishes a battle drill at the organization's development camp, he receives a stick-tap from Jake Muzzin.

Reaves spends his summer in Vegas. He played four seasons with the Golden Knights from 2018 to 2021. When Mitch Marner departed the Maple Leafs for the Golden Knights, signing an eight-year contract with a $12 million annual average value, he had mentioned Reaves as a player with whom he's had conversations about the living situation in Vegas.

"I went out for dinner with Mitchy yesterday," he smiled.

"Mitchy earned the right to go wherever he wants, and he's dedicated his whole career to Toronto, a hometown guy, and he's poured everything he had into it, and sometimes it's just time to move on. There's not much else to say about that. I'm happy for him. He deserved the contract he got. Wish him the best here for sure."

Mitch Marner Reveals When He Knew He’d Test NHL Free Agency While Under Maple Leafs ContractMitch Marner is a Vegas Golden Knight, officially unveiled on Tuesday in an introductory news conference with the Vegas local media.

But does Reaves believe Marner received unfair treatment in Toronto?

"I think they can be a little ruthless to him. I guess just because he's the hometown guy and sometimes fans want to point fingers at somebody," he said.

"I think there's two sides to the fans in Toronto. I think there's the ones that just want to win so bad that they're willing to drag anybody through the dirt, and then there's the loyal fans that just want to cheer on a good team. There's a lot of fans there, so you get a lot of both. It's tough for any player when you're reading all the hate that you get and it's probably just frustrating."

Maple Leafs Sign Former Canadiens Forward Michael Pezzetta To Two-Year, $1.575 Million ContractThe Toronto Maple Leafs have made their first free-agent signing.

Reaves, though, added that as a player, you're going to find negative fans anywhere you play.

"There's always going to be people who find something negative to say. Doesn't matter what market you're in, there's always somebody who just wants to drag you down, and you just can't pay attention to that," said Reaves.

"I like Toronto. To be honest, I don't go out a lot there. I cannot stand the traffic, and so I don't make my way downtown, it's like a 45-minute drive for me because they just shut down a couple lanes there. I've probably been downtown, besides a game, maybe three, four times the whole year."

'My Favorite Player Growing Up Was Mats Sundin' Nicolas Roy Reacts To Be Traded To Maple Leafs In Mitch Marner DealNic Roy was on a trip with family and friends when he found out that he was being traded from the Vegas Golden Knights to the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Reaves was then asked about a couple of Toronto's core players, such as Auston Matthews, who just finished up his first year as captain of the Maple Leafs. "I feel like he looks a little more reserved than he is when he's talking to the cameras," he said, "but he's a great guy that loves to joke around, hangs out with the boys. He was one of boys in Toronto for sure."

Matthew Knies had another career year with Toronto and just signed a massive seven-year, $46.5 million extension with the Maple Leafs. Reaves called him a player who doesn't come around very often in the NHL.

"I said at the very beginning of the year last year, he's the one guy I was most excited to see. You do those skates before training camp and you're just kind of playing five-on-five shinny. He just looked, like his confidence was sky-high and he's a big, strong guy," Reaves said.

"Again, one of those guys that they don't come around very often, where they play really physical, they can put the puck in the net, it's hard to take the puck off him, he's good in front of the net, has got good hands. He's kind of the complete package of what you want out of a player."

Why Matthew Knies 'Wanted To Go Long-Term' On Six-Year Extension With The Maple LeafsToronto Maple Leafs forward Matthew Knies was never interested in signing an offer sheet.

He also spoke glowingly about William Nylander.

"He's one of the most skilled players I've ever played with," Reaves said, before being asked to compare both Matthews and Nylander.

"I think they're just different. I think Matthews is very good at finding spots to score. He is one of the most accurate shots out there. He plays very hard defensively, a really good stick. Willy, you just can't take the puck off him because he's so good on his edges, and he can fly with the puck, going any direction. He'll make one move and make you miss, and Matty can do that too. I think they're just a little bit different skill-wise."

'This Is For Real Now': Matthews, Tavares, Nylander Texts Help Welcome New Maple Leafs ProspectsIn the hours—and likely days—after the Toronto Maple Leafs selected Tyler Hopkins with their third-round pick in the 2025 NHL Draft, the 18-year-old sifted through all of the messages received about being selected.

There are questions about Reaves' future with the Maple Leafs. He's someone who's nearing the end of his playing career, and his enforcer play style isn't used in the league anymore. He played 35 games this past season with a Maple Leafs team that's looking to contend for a Stanley Cup and didn't register a goal.

Reaves only has one more year left on his contract, which he signed with Toronto in 2023, but what's next? Does he see himself back in Toronto for the start of next season? What are his goals as his career begins to wind down?

"I still want to play. I'm 83 games from 1,000 right now, so I would love to be able to hold on for another two years and hit that and then ride into the sunset. I don't think I can make it past two more years, but I would love to get that, and I think the dream is always the Stanley Cup.

"When I first came into the league, I remember looking at my wife and I was like, 'Wouldn't it be cool if I hit 100 games in the NHL?' And then I hit 100 and I was like, 'Imagine I hit 200.' All of a sudden I was at 500 and then thought maybe I chase 1,000 here.

"For a player who plays like me, I think it would be a pretty cool accomplishment, so Stanley Cup, 1,000 games, in that order, so I would love to have the opportunity to try and get it."

(Top photo of Reaves: Wendell Cruz / Imagn Images)

The Senators' 2025 development camp wrapped up this past Friday after three days of on and off-ice sessions.

The first two days of camp provided the public and local media with their first opportunity to observe many of the draft picks from the past few years, as well as the organization's latest selections from the 2025 NHL Draft.

There were a few noted absentees. Lucas Ellinas (104th, 2024, shoulder) and Tyson Dyck (206th, 2022, undisclosed) were missing because of their situations, while the two Russians the Senators selected in this year's draft -- Dmitri Isayev (149th, LW) and Andrei Trofimov (213th, G) -- remained at home.

The camp still featured 29 skaters, 20 of whom were drafted by the Senators.

The majority of the first two days were spent with the group split, with half working on hockey drills on one pad of the Bell Sensplex and the other half sharing a separate pad with skating consultant Shelley Kettles.

One of the most obvious observations from camp was the sheer size of the blue liners.

Tomas Hamara, a left-shot puck-moving defenceman who will graduate to the AHL this season in Belleville after three seasons in the OHL, is listed at 6'0". The other nine defencemen listed on the development camp roster were all 6'2" or taller.

Their pipeline of defensive prospects is comprised of redwoods, aligning it with recent trends within the league. No defenceman shorter than 6'0" was taken at the 2025 NHL Draft.

"If you look at all the teams that have won over the last handful of years, the back ends are big and long and can play physical," player development coach Andrew Gordon outlined while explaining why the Senators have so many tall defencemen. "(They) can move the puck, but they all have similar characteristics.

"If you look league-wide, there was not a single (defenceman) drafted this year under six feet. So, it's not just us. The (way the) draft went last year, it was kind of funny, but it wasn't by design. We knew the type of player we wanted to get, but we just picked the next best player in line.

"It's not exactly like we're looking for a guy above six four every time, but that's the way it fell on our list. So we'll take it, because in the long run, if you want to compete with teams like Florida, Vegas and Colorado, which have been winning lately, those are the teams that have the big back ends."

It is a tall collection of talent, but in watching the drills, many of the defencemen can skate at a high level.

Throughout the week, Logan Hensler, the 23rd overall selection in this year's draft, put his four-way skating ability on full display in the drills.

Hensler's talent extends beyond his skating, however.

"When you throw puck in the corner, he's able to handle himself against big boys," stated Gordon while detailing what impressed him about Hensler's camp. " He's able to make plays out of the corners in tight spaces.

"When I saw him in the winter, that was one of the things I liked. He could take the puck in the corner in his (defensive) zone, and he could do what he wanted with it. It is just a matter of time. He can put a guy on his back and make a play. He's got the vision and the skill set to do it. What I saw (in camp) was an extension of what we believed he was. He's going to be a good player."

Prognosticators have been quick to point out that the Senators' system has depth at several positions but lacks a lot of safely projectable high-end skill.

What separated last year's seventh overall selection, Carter Yakemchuk, from his peers in camp was the noticeable leap in skill.

The only thing that stood out more than Yakemchuk's skill on the back end was Gabriel Eliasson's thirst for violence. Even in a friendly environment, the 6'7" Swede, asserted himself physically and tried to impose his size on his competitors. Eventually, on the second day, it culminated in a skirmish with undrafted free agent invitee Owen Pilling.

Getting back to Yakemchuk's unique combination of size, skating, and offensive aptitude, his talent almost earned him the opportunity to start the season in Ottawa, but those same traits were on full display in his on-ice sessions.

Yakemchuk's standout skill would have been dulled by a display of skill from the Senators' collection of forwards, but much like their defensive counterparts, their forwards are characterized by their size and skating ability.

Some skill was on display, however. In the first day's cycle drills, Bruno Idzan, the Senators' sixth-round pick in the 2025 NHL Draft, showed an ability to navigate tight spaces with some solid handles. Cameron O'Neill, a fifth-rounder from the 2022 NHL Draft who is playing out of UMass, had some nice moments as well.

Fresh off his Memorial Cup victory with the London Knights, Blake Montgomery's blend of size and speed was entertaining to watch firsthand (see above video). He already looks like a projectable top-nine player for the Senators in the future, but if his processing and hands can approach his quickness, perhaps there is a chance he can be more.

"Mainly just using my speed with my size better," said Montgomery when describing what he wants to improve this season. "I feel like at a lot of points, I could skate around fast. But, (I want to) feel good about using my frame as much as I can. I just want to fill (my body) out and be better at that."

Oskar Pettersson looked more polished than many of the forwards, but at 21 years of age and having played parts of two seasons in Belleville, that should not come as a surprise. He consistently finished plays throughout his two days, which was intriguing because he has not produced a ton at the AHL level yet.

In 67 games in Belleville last season, Pettersson only tallied nine goals and 15 points. The AHL can be a tough league for young players experiencing their first full season of professional hockey in North America, but in speaking with a Belleville source, Pettersson also spent a majority of the season learning a new position, centre, on the team's third line.

Pettersson was awarded the Jonathan Pitre Award as the camp's hardest-working player, but his progress will be worth monitoring this season. If he ascends the lineup and takes on a larger offensive role playing with more skilled players, he could have an opportunity to play games with the Senators this season.

Finally, the size and athleticism of the Senators' goaltenders were notable. Newcomers like Lucas Beckman (4th rd, 2025) and the recently signed Jackson Parsons were impressive, but Vladimir Nikitin shone with some remarkable saves.

Many organizations have put a premium on drafting tall goalies. Filling a net and giving shooters little room to take a shot can be crucial, but technical skill and athleticism remain vital to any goaltender's success. Although the sample size was small, it is encouraging to see the Senators strike a balance with the goaltending talent they have on the ice. Although it will always feel odd to hear players like Beckman refer to themselves as small when they stand at 6'2".

Coming up tomorrow: Sam Gagner, the Senators' new Director of Player Development, offered some thoughtful perspectives on hockey IQ during development camp. Stay tuned for a closer look at his approach.

By Graeme Nichols
The Hockey News/Ottawa

More Sens Headlines:
Is Carter Yakemchuk In The Ottawa Senators' NHL Plans For This Fall?
Dissecting The Senators' Intriguing New Right-Shot Defensive Depth Chart
Claude Giroux Reveals Why He Signed Back In Ottawa
Senators Sign Lars Eller, Offseason NHL Additions Are Now 'Most Likely' Complete
Senators Clarify Their Goaltending Picture for Next Season
Senators Acquire Defenseman Jordan Spence From Los Angeles

Over the three days that the Montreal Canadiens’ development camp lasted, fourth-round pick and 133rd overall selection LJ Mooney stood out to me. It wasn’t because he was only 5-foot-7 and 157 pounds; no, it was because of how intensely he played on the ice. He skated with Gallagher-like determination or Hutson-like intensity when trying to recover a puck that had just been stolen from him.

Martin Lapointe said post-draft that they were trying to hit a homerun when they selected Mooney in the fourth round despite his small frame, because the talent and the skills were there to make him a much earlier selection. Those words came back to me while watching him, and it made sense.

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Since then, I came across a scouting report written by Elite Prospects’ USHL/NCAA scout Sebastian High (with an assist from @HabsOnReddit), and it was an interesting read, especially considering how vital size and physicality turned out to be in the playoffs this past season.

Thinking back to this LJ Mooney game report I wrote (while on a bus through the Rockies to Canmore).

The Montreal Canadiens are the perfect organization to optimize the odds of Mooney’s NHL upside.#GoHabsGo have both a good eye for development paths and the patience required. pic.twitter.com/0Tm8dYcmCN

— Sebastian High (@high_sebastian) July 9, 2025

High praised the impressive level of violence in his play, and that he had no qualms launching himself into players that were a foot taller and 50 pounds heavier than himself, he even called him a pint-sized hurricane to deal with.

Of course, like most, if not every, 18-year-old prospect, Mooney is not a finished product, and High did cover his downsides. Most notable was the fact that he tends to try the impossible play, the Hail Mary passes. To me, that’s not overly worrying. Lane Hutson had a tendency to try too hard when he first joined the Canadiens, but he learned to pick his spots in time, and the Canadiens are the type of team that will allow for growing pains, especially under Martin St-Louis.

It used to be that if you made a mistake in Montreal, Michel Therrien or Claude Julien would sit you on the bench, and you’d spend the rest of the game with a front-row seat to watch the action. This is no longer the case. Not for young players learning in any case, it takes quite a few occurrences for the coach to crack the whip.

High even concludes by saying that the prospect will need to work on numerous aspects of his game in college, but that there's a path, even if it’s a narrow one, to a top-six role in the NHL. Encouraging words to say the least, but it’s now all down to the play and how hard he’ll be willing to work in college, but watching him at development camp made it abundantly clear that there is nothing to worry about there. Mooney said it himself; he uses his side, and the fact that people doubt him serves as motivation to work harder and prove them wrong. That’s always been a winning formula.

Photo credit: © Pierre Bourgault/Club de hockey Canadien inc.

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The Hockey News Big Show is here to discuss the biggest topics as the NHL off-season is well underway.

How Many 2025 NHL Draft Picks Could Immediately Make The Jump? by The Big Showundefined

Here’s what Michael Traikos, Ryan Kennedy and Drew Shore discussed in this episode:

01:30: Are hockey’s enforcers the same off the ice as on the ice?

04:00: Gavin McKenna commits to Penn State. What does it mean for the junior hockey and NCAA landscape? For Drew, what was it like playing college hockey?

06:55: Does college hockey benefit players more than major junior?

09:00: Is the NCAA more difficult than the WHL?

11:30: The Edmonton Oilers traded Sam O’Reilly to the Tampa Bay Lightning in exchange for Isaac Howard. Thoughts?

14:30: Where do we see Howard playing? Is it OK when young players call their shots and refuse to sign with the team that drafted them? Why didn't Howard want to play for the Lightning? 

16:40: What was Drew’s experience like in rookie and development camps?

18:30: Are there any surprises from the NHL’s summer development camps?

21:00: Summer training: what are the early summer routines like? How long after a season ended should someone start to train? What’s the diet like? What kind of gym work happens?

23:00: Would Drew be on the ice constantly in the off-season?

25:30: How much did Drew’s diet change in the off-season?

28:40: How many players from the 2025 draft could go straight to the NHL?

32:45: What makes you able to tell if players are ready for the NHL level right away?

35:00: Who's the best UFA still on the market?

40:00: In honor of the Nittany Lions signing McKenna, what's your favorite NCAA mascot name?

42:00: What's the best summer food?

42:55: Yay or nay: kids playing organized hockey in the summer

Watch the full Episode here 

Subscribe to The Hockey News Big Show on your preferred platform.

Last off-season, the Chicago Blackhawks went on a shopping spree in free agency. They added an array of veteran players, including Teuvo Teravainen, Tyler Bertuzzi, TJ Brodie, Alec Martinez, Craig Smith, and Pat Maroon, in hopes of taking a step forward in their rebuild. 

However, Blackhawks general manager Kyle Davidson had a different game plan when it came to July 1 this year. Instead of using their high amount of cap space to bring in new talent, the Blackhawks were incredibly quiet in free agency, only signing depth forward Dominic Toninato to a two-year, two-way contract.

During a recent episode of 32 Thoughts: The Podcast, NHL insider Elliotte Friedman revealed that the Blackhawks were not very happy with how last season went with some of their veteran additions, so they went in a different direction this year in free agency. 

"They weren't exactly thrilled with how things went last year with some of their vets, and I think they just decided 'we're not going to do that again,'" Friedman said about the Blackhawks. "So, I'm not surprised they were pretty quiet."

Friedman then noted that the Blackhawks aren't a club that the NHL's top free agents will sign with as they continue to build their roster.

"I can understand why the Blackhawks did not want to repeat what happened a year ago. The best free agents, they aren't going there right now. They aren't going there right now. So, you're not going to sit there and say we're making some of the same mistakes we thought we had a year ago."

With this, it is understandable that the Blackhawks took a more conservative approach with free agency this year. This is especially so when noting that this year's free agency class was notably weaker. In addition, the Blackhawks have several impressive prospects who should be competing for spots on the NHL roster in training camp.

Nevertheless, it is going to be fascinating to see how the Blackhawks perform next season after their quiet off-season from here. 

NHL Rumors: Blackhawks Should Target Top Free Agent LeftThe Chicago Blackhawks currently have over $22 million of cap space to work with. Because of this, they are in a prime position to add to their roster, and one area that they could look to improve before the season is here is their forward group. 

Photo Credit: © David Kirouac-Imagn Images

LAS VEGAS -- Golden Knights star Jack Eichel knows what it means to leave an organization and city that brought you into the NHL, and then having to start over in a brand-new city.

Which is why the 2015 second overall pick is more than willing to lend a hand with the newest Golden Knight, Mitch Marner, who arrived last week via a sign-and-trade deal with the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Marner, an area native of Toronto, was taken by the Maple Leafs two picks after Eichel in the same draft.

"Having went through the situation of leaving an organization in the city and having a fresh start in Vegas, I think I can relate, to a point, to some of the things he's going through," Eichel said. "I think he's obviously had his own situation, and however that ended, I'm sure he's super excited to have a fresh start and be in a place like Vegas, and I know he'll excel.

"I'm looking forward to continuing to get to know him and then getting the opportunity to play with him."

Eichel spoke to The Hockey News via phone call Tuesday, discussing the Marner acquisition, his summer vacation on the East Coast, preparation for the 2025-26 campaign, and looking forward to returning with a fresh mindset in September.

During the "Leaf Morning Take" podcast, Vegas coach Bruce Cassidy said it's hard to predict if Eichel and Marner will end up on the same line, but he is looking forward to seeing the two when camp opens in September.

"There needs to be chemistry, first of all," Cassidy said. "And there might be some automatically, and there might be none, you never know. They're going to get an opportunity at some point, whether it's early on or later, to play together. Because you want to see what it looks like.

"Mark Stone was up there with Jack last year, pretty good hockey player, right? So we have (Tomas) Hertl, we have (William) Karlsson, so (Marner's) going to get a good center, and what's the best fit where he can play his game? I'll say this about Jack and Mitch, they're probably both distributors first, so it'll be interesting to see if they do play together. And I'm sure they will in situations, even if they're not in the same line, and see how that works out if one of them becomes more of a shooter. But those questions will all get answered as we go along."

Said Eichel: "Obviously, incredible signing in addition to our team, world-class player and somebody whose game I really admire and respect. Somebody who can create so much and do so much in different areas of the game. Had some brief conversations with Mitch, and everyone that I've spoken to that knows him, that's been around him, has the best of things to say about him. So we're super excited to have him in Vegas."

With training camp still a couple of months out, Eichel said his summer vacation at home in Massachusetts has been nothing short of relaxing.

"It's been good," he said. "I mean, it's always nice to be able to come home and see some friends and some family and catch up.

"Obviously, the season is a whirlwind and you're constantly in the mode of preparing for the next game and trying to put your efforts towards winning hockey. In the offseason, I think it's just a little bit of a mental reset, given the time and demand of the season. Give your body a rest, and then get back to training and figure out what you want to try and do to improve yourself and come back in good shape."

Outside of spending time with family and friends, breathing in life off the ice, Eichel said he hasn't done anything special or out of the ordinary in the gym during the offseason, but has stuck to a regimen that will have him ready for the start of camp in September.

"I think it's about being consistent and then obviously finding ways or things that you want to try and improve on in your body, and something that will help you respond better on the ice," he said. "So, for me, it's always been the simple things. You want to lift weights, you want to try and get some running in, obviously keep your conditioning and cardio at a good point, and just try and give yourself the opportunity to feel as good as you can on the ice. I don't really think that there's necessarily a special sauce. It's more so, for me, about consistency."

Eichel is coming off his best season, which saw him register career-bests in points (94) and assists (66). The 28-year-old earned his fourth All-Star bid, and finished fifth in voting for both the Hart and Selke awards.

He also finished third in the voting for the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy, presented each year to the "player adjudged to have exhibited the best type of sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct combined with a high standard of playing ability."

His high character has been on display this week, with time dedicated toward community outreach, beginning Monday with Vegas coach Bruce Cassidy's second annual Cassidy Murray Golf Classic.

The event benefits the Cassidy Murray Foundation, named in honor of 13-year-old Cassidy Murray, who was killed in a water accident in Aruba in 2022. Cassidy Murray and Bruce Cassidy’s teenage daughter, Shannon, were classmates and best friends.

On Tuesday, the star center was in Vermont, making an appearance at a hockey camp.

Saturday, the fan favorite will captain a squad of current and former Golden Knights in the Battle For Vegas charity softball event at Las Vegas Ballpark.

Later this month his JE9 Hockey Camp will be held at City National Arena.

With most of the components in place and the Knights signing players almost daily, questions continue to revolve around a contract extension that could make Eichel the highest-paid player in franchise history.

Eichel, who helped deliver Vegas its first Stanley Cup in 2023, said it's the last thing he's worried about while enjoying his summer vacation.

"Obviously, happy in Vegas, the organization has been great to me," Eichel said. "I think that that stuff kind of takes care of itself, and I kind of worry more so about the things I can control and try to prepare for next season."