Trade & contracts

When the puck drops for another NHL season this fall, it will be three seasons since Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews had the league’s attention captivated by his quest to reach the 70-goal mark, a plateau the league has not seen surpassed since Teemu Selanne and Alexander Mogilny each reached 76 goals in the 1992-93 season. Matthews’ 69-goal campaign in 2023-24 remains the most goals scored in a single season by anyone in three…

Edmonton Oilers superstar centers Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl were effusive in their praise for new coach Mike Babcock at Monday's Zach Hyman Charitable Golf Tournament.

Since they were eliminated in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs this past season, the Oilers have been in a state of flux. They added goalies Frederik Andersen and Devon Levi, as well as defensemen Ryan Shea and Shakir Mukhamadullin. But the biggest change in…

Don Granato will find his next coaching role behind the Columbus Blue Jackets bench. The club announced that Granato will join Rick Bowness‘ staff as an assistant coach. He will join Jared Boll and the recently-promoted Trent Vogelhuber in assistant roles.

Columbus has also hired video coach Cody Ward.

This will be Granato’s first NHL role since being relieved of his duties as the Buffalo Sabres’ head coach in 2024. Granato oversaw the Sabres for…

Welcome to a new episode of The Wraparound during the NHL off-season.

Here's what Emma Lingan, Michael Augello, and Jim Parsons discussed in this episode:

0:00: Reacting to Macklin Celebrini's five-year extension with the San Jose Sharks

5:48: Projecting Will Smith's next contract with the Sharks

9:20: Will Adam Fantilli end up staying with the Columbus Blue Jackets?

12:55: Which remaining free agents are surprisingly still unsigned?

The Detroit Red Wings were wishing captain Dylan Larkin a happy birthday on Thursday. Larkin is celebrating his 30th birthday.

It’s kind of unusual that you would be wishing someone a happy birthday when they are requesting a bon voyage.

Then again, this summer certainly hasn’t been business as usual for the Red Wings.

Since missing the Stanley Cup playoffs for the 10th successive season, the good ship Red Wings has been riding the rapids through…

On the heels of a banner campaign that saw Macklin Celebrini amass 45 goals and 115 points, earn Hart Trophy votes, compete at his first Olympics, and captain Canada at the world championships, the 20-year-old phenom capped it all off by making history with his San Jose Sharks.

On Wednesday, the club announced Celebrini had inked a five-year, $94-million deal that keeps him in California through 2031-32. The extension gives the Sharks talisman…

The Detroit Red Wings are now two weeks away from “promoting” Steve Yzerman out of the General Manager position. Still, although there has been much speculation regarding potential candidates, nobody has yet been firmly linked to the vacancy.

In a recent article by Max Bultman of The Athletic, he explains that the reason for the quietness from the Red Wings organization is that they are still very early on in their process. However, since no…

The International Ice Hockey Federation announced on Thursday that Russia will not play in four tournaments this upcoming season.

Russia is not allowed to participate in the IIHF men's World Championship, World Junior Championship and the World Men's and Women's Under-18s in 2027.

A decision on the 2027 women's World Championship is expected to be reviewed separately in November 2026.

The Russian Ice Hockey Federation said it's appealing the IIHF…

Alex DeBrincat after the season spoke to how much he loves being a Detroit Red Wing, how the Farmington Hills native considers this home with extension talks looming as he heads into the final year of his contract.

The NHL has a new highest cap hit, thanks to Macklin Celebrini.

With the San Jose Sharks' signing of Celebrini to a five-year contract extension worth $18.8 million per season, he has leaped over Anaheim Ducks center Leo Carlsson's $18-million cap hit.

With Carlsson and Celebrini's new deals, it's looking like the first NHLer to reach a $20-million cap hit is closer than once thought.

If we had to make a calculated prediction, the player most…

Penguins Chat: Offseason Grade, Ask Dan Anything…

When defenseman Jacob Trouba hit free agency on July 1st, many expected him to receive a multi-year deal, including AFP Analytics, which projected a four-year deal worth $25.6MM ($6.4MM annually). While that figure seemed lofty for a player who was a cap dump just a year and a half prior, Trouba exceeded it by nearly $2MM annually, leaving some fans scratching their heads.

The deal divided fans, with some arguing that San Jose has plenty of cap…

Trading Brady Tkachuk to the Florida Panthers last month placed additional pressure on Ottawa Senators GM Steve Staios to bolster his offense.

Staios moved quickly, acquiring left winger William Eklund from the San Jose Sharks and Andre Burakovsky from the Chicago Blackhawks. Meanwhile, Tkachuk's departure also put more urgency on his efforts to lock up Drake Batherson to a new contract.

Batherson is among the Senators' most consistent offensive…

The New Jersey Devils announced that they’ve signed forward Colin White to a one-year, two-way contract for the 2026-27 season. White will earn a $900K salary in the NHL and $400K in the AHL.

White, 29, is a former first-round pick of the Ottawa Senators. He spent a few of his post-draft seasons in the NCAA with Boston College until finally signing his entry-level contract with the Senators toward the end of the 2016-17 campaign.

There are only 61 days until the 2026-27 NHL season gets going.

Anyone else see 61 and think of Bruins’ Pat Maroon? Just me? I’ll carry on.

In Bruins news, the newly appointed head coach in Providence spoke yesterday and outlined his priorities for his new job. He made it clear that player development remains a top priority, but maintaining a winning culture driven by leadership plays a role. Also, Charlie McAvoy.

He joined the fan-favorite…

It looks like the Red Wings found some another diamond in the rough in their latest second round draft selection. Victor Plante has been vital to Team USA’s offense in the World Junior Summer Showcase.

Playing on the top line centered by Sammy Nelson, Plante has only been held scoreless once so far in his WJSS matchups, in the opening game against Finland. Plante followed it up with a three assist performance against Sweden on Monday, and notched…

Mar 10, 2026; Raleigh, North Carolina, USA; Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Alexander Nikishin (21) and Pittsburgh Penguins center Noel Acciari (55) fight during the second period at Lenovo Center. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-Imagn Images The NHL trade chatter picked up again around Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Alexander Nikishin, but it’s not the Pittsburgh Penguins who are publicly named as the suitor.

The San Jose Sharks opened their…

You look at the numbers in the goals column for 2026 Detroit Red Wings first-round draft pick JP Hurlbert – 42 for the WHL Kamloops Blazers – and your immediate thought is pure goal scorer.

Yeah, that’s part of what makes Hurlbert so good. But when you combine his natural ability as a finisher with his dogged determination, that’s what makes him a truly dangerous offensive threat.

” USA World Junior coach Adam…

Matvei Michkov‘s sophomore season was a rocky one. After an impressive rookie campaign in which he tallied 26 goals and 63 points as the 2023 seventh overall pick, Michkov did not get off on the right foot with Rick Tocchet and staff at last year’s training camp. Reports of an offseason ankle injury, combined with criticism about showing up for the season out of shape, opened the door for heavy criticism from fans and media alike.

A tale as old…

It’s been a long time coming for new Providence Bruins head coach Trent Whitfield, who was named the 14th head coach in franchise history on Monday morning.

Whitfield spent the last 10 years as an assistant in Providence. He worked alongside Kevin Dean, Jay Leach, and most recently, Ryan Mougenel, but now it’s his turn to steer the ship.

“I was really excited,” Whitfield said to reporters gathered in Providence. “It’s been a long time. I’ve been…

See more Toronto Sun on Google — save as a Preferred Source How does an 1828.21% raise sound? It’s Macklin Celebrini’s time to celebrate that as the highest-paid player in the National Hockey League — for now. As the summer of super contracts rolls on, the San Jose Sharks centre got his big pay day, a five-year extension worth $18.8 million US annually starting next season, announced Wednesday.

The $94-million total put him ahead at present of…

Stop me if you’ve heard this one before, the NHL might see a newly highest-paid player this summer.

Yes, they already gave a massive pay grade to star Russian forward Kirill Kaprizov, who makes $17MM a season until 2034, but GM Bill Guerin wants to ensure he can re-sign top defenseman Quinn Hughes as well ahead of next season. So much so, according to Michael Russo of The Athletic, both parties are meeting this week to discuss that very next…

If it weren't for Leo Carlsson's obstinance around getting a cap hit of at least $15 million, Macklin Celebrini would probably not be in the position he's in now.

The San Jose Sharks center, who just signed a five-year, $94-million contract starting in 2027-28, is the beneficiary of the new window on what constitutes a reasonable deal.

When Carlsson accepted the Philadelphia Flyers' offer sheet, it was universally understood as an overpayment,…

See more Toronto Sun on Google — save as a Preferred Source The all-important job of leading the amateur scouting staff of the Maple Leafs will be filled by Dan Palango. Wednesday’s news that the former Minnesota Wild amateur scout is coming aboard follows the arrival last month of Judd Brackett from the Wild to be one of general manager John Chayka’s assistants, in charge of player evaluation.

Palango had been with the Wild since 2020-21 after…

The Islanders are one of ten NHL teams without a captain.

They have a few options, and according to Dave McCarthy on NHL.com, who spoke with Isles GM Mathieu Darche, they could have their next leader before the team opens the season on Sept. 30.

“I wouldn’t be surprised if we do, (but) there’s no rush on that front. We have a lot of leaders on our team. We have former captains, so I’m not worried about the leadership on our team, that’s for sure,”…

It's been two weeks since the Detroit Red Wings announced Steve Yzerman was out as their GM. So far, there's no sign that they're close to naming his replacement.

Most of the media focus was on how Yzerman's departure as GM would affect Dylan Larkin's trade request. It also raised speculation over Alex DeBrincat's future with the Red Wings.

DeBrincat, 28, is a year away from UFA eligibility. That prompted questions about his tenure in Detroit over…

Sometimes players make the NHL roster because they’re no longer exempt from waivers and the team isn’t prepared to risk losing them by sending them back to the AHL.

The San Jose Sharks signed budding superstar center Macklin Celebrini to a new NHL-high cap hit on Wednesday.

The 20-year-old signed a five-year contract extension worth $18.8 million in average annual value. That price tag will make him the highest-paid player in the NHL annually, surpassing Anaheim Ducks center Leo Carlsson, who's set to earn $18 million per season after his team matched an offer sheet from the Philadelphia Flyers.

SAN JOSE, Calif. — San Jose Sharks superstar Macklin Celebrini signed a five-year, $94 million extension Wednesday that will make him the highest-paid player in the NHL.

Celebrini had one year remaining on his three-year, $2.925 million entry-level contract before signing the deal that keeps him locked up with the Sharks through the 2031-32 season.

The $18.8 million average annual value of the deal that Celebrini reached with general manager Mike…

The San Jose Sharks have signed Macklin Celebrini to a five-year, $94MM contract extension. The deal was first reported by Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman. Celebrini’s deal will carry an annual average value of $18.8MM, which would make him the highest-paid player in the league should nobody sign for higher before the deal goes into effect in 2027.

Celebrini will be 26-years-old when he’ll be up for re-negotiation as an unrestricted free agent in…

The New Jersey Devils have come to terms on a new contract with defenseman Topias Vilen. He has signed a one-year, two-way deal for the 2026-27 season that will pay $850K at the NHL level and $150K at the AHL level per James Nichols of NJD Hockey Now. Vilen was New Jersey’s final restricted free agent.

This deal will offer Vilen another chance to fight his way up the Devils’ ranks. He put together a productive AHL season in 2025-26, netting a…

The NHL offseason has been quiet for a while now, but there was a decent amount of news in the cycle yesterday.

A lot of extension talk fills today’s Daily, including some regarding a young Boston Bruins forward. Fraser Minten has been eligible for an extension since the beginning of the month, and while the Bruins do not need to rush to a deal, they have less than two months until they lose the option for an eighth year, and they risk the market…

Nailers Trade Penguins Prospect D’Aigle to Florida, Ending Entanglement

We braced for a boring July 1 in 2026 and, for the most part, our low expectations were justified once the unrestricted free agent market opened.

Sure, the Toronto Maple Leafs snagged a future Hall of Famer away from a division rival by signing goalie Sergei Bobrovsky, while San Jose threw top dollar at middle-of-the-lineup players like winger Mason Marchment and defenceman Jacob Trouba.

For the most part, though, the “Whatever’s” outweighed the…

It seems as if the off-season is finally beginning to pick back up again as we approach the final weeks before training camp. The unsigned free agents are slowly trickling down to their new teams, which leaves some hope that the Red Wings roster may still be improved.

The biggest names of the year are off the board, and so are some of the surprises like Patrick Kane and risers like Anthony Mantha, who finally signed with New Jersey earlier this…

Oct 21, 2025; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Vancouver Canucks defenseman Quinn Hughes (43) moves the puck against Pittsburgh Penguins center Blake Lizotte (46) during the third period at PPG Paints Arena. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images For just about everyone who is already a little irritated by the streaming juggling act, Amazon made a play for more hockey coverage in Canada, which will undoubtedly soon spread south along with…

The Detroit Red Wings have re-signed goaltending prospect Carter Gylander to a one-year, two-way contract.

The Detroit Red Wings officially have all of their Carters under contract. Restricted free agent goaltender Carter Gylander has agreed to terms on a one-year pact. The financial terms of the deal would see Gylander paid $850,000 at the NHL level and $90,000 in the minor leagues.

Earlier this offseason, the Red Wings signed RFA forward Carter Mazur.

Gylander might not get the attention of other goalie prospects in the Detroit system like Michal…

The Detroit Red Wings shared this evening that goaltender Carter Gylander has agreed to terms on a one-year, two-way contract. The 25-year-old had been a restricted free agent.

Drafted in the seventh round by the Wings in 2019, Gylander went on to Colgate University and proved he was capable of stepping up to the next level after four years of solid results. Playing in 106 collegiate games from 2020-24, the Alberta native broke program records…

Much of the Toronto Maple Leafs' roster has changed drastically.

If you count No. 1 draft pick Gavin McKenna, the Maple Leafs have nine new faces likely in the lineup on Night 1 of their 2026-27 season. But there's one Leaf whose future is very much in question – and that's veteran defenseman Morgan Rielly.

Since the season ended, there have been wild, persistent rumors regarding Rielly's future in Toronto.

Rielly holds all the cards with a no-move…

The Anaheim Ducks put their rebuild in the rearview mirror this past season.

From 2018 to 2025, the Anaheim Ducks failed to make the Stanley Cup playoffs and finished sixth or worse in their division. It's been a tough slog, regardless of who's been the Ducks' coach.

In their first season under coach Joel Quenneville, however, Anaheim finished third in the Pacific Division and beat the Edmonton Oilers in the first playoff round. Quenneville…

The Anaheim Ducks have signed forward Sean Farrell to a one-year, two-way contract. This deal comes on the heels of Anaheim’s acquisition of Farrell in a deal that sent winger Sasha Pastujov back to the Montreal Canadiens. Farrell’s contract will carry a $850K salary in the NHL and $155K salary in the AHL per PuckPedia.

Farrell will secure a year in the Ducks organization with this contract. He spent the last three seasons trying, unsuccessfully,…

The Boston Bruins have time to make this move, but they only have until September to capitalize on an eighth year.

Fraser Minten’s entry-level contract expires at the end of the 2026-27 season, and he has been eligible to sign an extension since July 1. The 22-year-old is coming off a breakout season, one where he won NESN’s Seventh Player Award, finishing with 35 points (17-18–35) and a plus-21 rating.

There is no rush to put pen to paper with…

Quinn Hughes and his representatives are expected to meet with Minnesota Wild general manager Bill Guerin this week to discuss his next contract, The Athletic reported Tuesday.

The 26-year-old defenseman is entering the final season of a six-year, $47.1 million contract ($7.85 million average annual value) he signed with the Vancouver Canucks on Oct. 3, 2021. He would be eligible to become an unrestricted free agent July 1, 2027.

For quite some time, the Ottawa Senators have struggled to truly become contenders.

After back-to-back playoff berths, now-former captain Brady Tkachuk requested and received a trade to the Florida Panthers. In return, the Senators acquired draft capital.

What they did with those picks was admirable. The Senators acquired William Eklund from the San Jose Sharks for the ninth overall pick and then made some really solid selections late in the first…

Who is minding the store? That’s what Detroit Red Wings fans want to know as their team has gone dark since the team parted ways with GM Steve Yzerman.

In their July 15 media release announcing the change, it was stated that Yzerman was handling the day-to-day management duties until a successor has been found.

But fans are wondering if that is occurring and, if it is, does Yzerman have authority to make decisions? Or does he have to receive…

In a recent mailbag, Jeremy Rutherford of The Athletic reported that the St. Louis Blues have expressed interest in Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Alexander Nikishin. Nearly a month into free agency, Nikishin remains one of 10 RFAs without a contract heading into the 2026-27 season.

Shortly before the start of the 2026 NHL Draft, it was reported by TSN’s Darren Dreger that the Hurricanes were including Nikishin in trade talks. Essentially,…

After a promising rookie season, Matvei Michkov hit a wall in Year 2.

The classic sophomore slump can be part of the reason, but there were several layers to a poor campaign for the Philadelphia Flyers right winger.

Michkov quickly lost the trust of Flyers coach Rick Tocchet, as Tocchet said the 21-year-old showed up to camp out of shape. Some of the blame can be put on an injury he said he was recovering from during the off-season, but…

Ouch, How Much NHL Players Really Keep After Taxes

The taxman. It has never been more taxing to play in the NHL, both literally and figuratively, and as the salaries skyrocket and money becomes a bigger story across the league, from high-tax areas losing players to low-tax areas becoming very attractive, the external dollars and cents matter.

And those taxes can hurt.

A player’s expenses start with the agent. Three to four percent of a player’s…

Former NHL enforcer turned color commentator Todd Fedoruk recently raised eyebrows when he suggested the Philadelphia Flyers could be a destination for Connor McDavid if the Edmonton Oilers struggle this season.

"He is going to be a player who will be calling teams," Fedoruk said. "His agent is going to be looking for him to go places. There are rumors that Philadelphia is a place that Connor McDavid wants to go.

McDavid is in the first season of…

A former NHL veteran is headed back to Switzerland to continue his professional career. According to a team announcement, forward Nick Shore has signed with the NL’s HC Lugano for the 2026-27 season.

It’s been some time since Shore, 33, has featured in the North American professional circuit. A standout at the University of Denver, Shore was drafted with the 82nd overall pick of the 2011 NHL Draft by the Los Angeles Kings. After a few solid…

We are only getting further into the depths of the NHL offseason; there are 63 days until opening night.

In Bruins news, the big club announced the next coach in Providence yesterday. He’s a familiar face, and he is the eighth straight assistant coach to be promoted to the head spot in Providence. The Bruins are also bringing in a new assistant coach who spent the last four years in the USHL.

Further, the new assistant spent this past season with…

7/30: Two days after announcing the deal, the SHL’s Färjestad BK has decided to dismiss their contract with former first-round pick defenseman Cal Foote. In a team statement, Färjestad announced that this decision was reached after consulting team partners and stakeholders. The team added that the presentation of the person and his history were misaligned with expectations.

Foote will return to free agency, while Färjestad has acknowledged that…

With the United States roster split into two teams for the first half of the World Junior Summer Showcase, it can be hard to balance such a large locker room. It seems like the US team has done just that though, with both USA Team White and Team Blue winning their matchups yesterday.

Team White, carrying three Red Wings prospects recovered from an opening day loss to Finland with a 6-4 victory over Sweden, while Team Blue kept their record…

Jan 10, 2026; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby (87) and defenseman Kris Letang (58) talk during a break against the Calgary Flames during the third period at PPG Paints Arena. Mandatory Credit: Philip G. Pavely-Imagn Images The hockey world didn’t leave a lot of meat on the bone for us today.

Still, after a lot of searching, we’ve got enough for a real Daily after the Edmonton Oilers went to bat for Mike…

Jan Mursak has finally made up his mind, and the former Detroit Red Wings forward is of a mind to have a go at one last hurrah.

After weighing his decision for much of the summer, the 38-year-old Mursak has made the determination that he will play a farewell season for Austrian club EC-KAC of the European League ICEHL.

Admittedly, he had been leaning toward retirement, but was swayed to play again.

“I’ve decided to play another season, but this…

Blackhawks prospect Xavier Villeneuve won’t take part in the World Junior Summer Showcase after all. Scott Wheeler of The Athletic relays (Twitter link) that the blueliner is still rehabbing the hip injury that bothered him last season. He was limited to 37 games with QMJHL Blainville-Boisbriand, averaging just over a point per game with six goals and 32 helpers.

Villeneuve is set to play for Boston University this season.

Meanwhile, Wheeler adds…

The Senators were one of the top teams in the NHL offensively last season, ranking eighth in goals scored with 275, an improvement of 33 on the 2024-25 campaign. However, if GM Steve Staios had his way, he’d be adding more firepower to the mix. In a recent appearance on TSN 1200 (audio link), he indicated that he’d like to add more firepower to the mix if he could:

On the surface, do we have a pure sniper? I think everybody’s sort of looking at…

According to an announcement from the Winnipeg Jets, goaltender Michael Hutchinson has hung up his skates. Hutchinson spent 11 years in the NHL with the Jets, Florida Panthers, Toronto Maple Leafs, Colorado Avalanche, Columbus Blue Jackets, and Detroit Red Wings.

Hutchinson, 36, was originally drafted by the Boston Bruins with the 77th overall pick of the 2008 NHL Draft. Hutchinson spent a few years with the Bruins organization before signing as…

There has been a lot of goaltending turnover in the Atlantic Division over the summer, including Sergei Bobrovsky leaving the Florida Panthers for the Toronto Maple Leafs.

With the Buffalo Sabres possibly still in the running to acquire Connor Hellebuyck, perhaps there's more change to come.

But this is the division that produced two of the three finalists for the Vezina Trophy as the league's best netminder last season and is still home to two…

The New York Rangers are trying not to get stuck in the mushy middle for years to come.

Unfortunately for them, the past two years have put them in a bad position.

They've had some really high picks in recent years, but they haven't managed to develop them into true impact players.

Now, the Rangers have some really intriguing prospects in the pipeline, and they must produce a few NHLers, including some high-impact players.

It's the Rangers' turn in…

Detroit’s Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) team made a one-of-a-kind signing Monday by adding forward Akane Shiga to its roster for the next two seasons.

Two years ago, Akane Shiga made history by becoming the only Japanese player to play in the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL). After playing 24 games for Ottawa in 2023-24, she played with Lulea HF in Sweden’s SDHL. In 36 games last season with Lulea, Shiga posted 12 goals and…

There’s no question that Michael Bunting‘s career trajectory has not gone as he had hoped. After stalling out with the Arizona Coyotes, Bunting burst onto the scene with the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 2021-22 season, scoring 23 goals and 63 points in 79 games, finishing third in Calder Trophy voting as a 26-year-old.

Although it wasn’t as good, Bunting had a solid follow-up performance with the Maple Leafs, registering 23 goals and 49 points in…

The Hockey News Big Show dives into some off-season NHL storylines as we near the end of July.

Watch the full episode of the Big Show here

Here's what Katie Gaus, Michael Traikos and Michael Augello discussed in this episode:

0:36: Will John Tortorella have another chance at coaching in the NHL?

2:12: Where could you see Tortorella fitting in if he returns?

4:32: Who should the Buffalo Sabres pursue on offense after missing out on Patrick Kane?

The Anaheim Ducks announced that they have acquired forward Sean Farrell from the Montreal Canadiens in exchange for forward Sasha Pastujov. Both players remain without contracts for the 2026-27 season.

Farrell, 24, used to be an intriguing prospect for the Canadiens. Montreal drafted him from the USHL’s Chicago Steel with the 124th overall pick of the 2020 NHL Draft. Farrell dominated in the USHL in his post-draft season, scoring 29 goals and…

After moving on from Alex Tuch this off-season, the Buffalo Sabres were heavily connected to Patrick Kane.

The Buffalo native went another direction, however. He reunited with the Chicago Blackhawks, signing a two-year contract worth $8 million annually.

Now that the Sabres missed out on Kane, they should strongly consider browsing the trade market for forward help.

They would benefit by adding another top-six right winger to replace Tuch as they…

The Montreal Canadiens and Anaheim Ducks have made a minor-league trade.

The Canadiens acquired forward Sasha Pastujov from the Ducks in exchange for forward Sean Farrell, the teams announced on Monday.

The deal is one-for-one.

Pastujov, who has yet to appear in an NHL game, played 71 games for the AHL's San Diego Gulls in 2025-26, recording 21 goals and 36 assists.

The 23-year-old was drafted by the Ducks 66th overall in 2021.

Nick Foligno knows a little something about playing with family.

At the 2026 trade deadline, the elder Foligno was acquired by the Minnesota Wild and played 28 games alongside brother Marcus before re-upping on a one-year deal to keep him with the Wild for his 20th NHL season.

Now, Foligno is using that experience to pitch star defenceman Quinn Hughes on putting off uniting with his brothers in favour of re-signing in the State of Hockey.

Mar 21, 2026; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Kris Letang (58) moves the puck as Winnipeg Jets left wing Cole Koepke (45) chases during the second period at PPG Paints Arena. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images Following the 2025-26 season, Pittsburgh Penguins general manager Kyle Dubas termed Sidney Crosby and Kris Letang physically “in a different bucket” than most other players careening toward…

After promising to remain in Sweden, a Winnipeg Jets top prospect is headed to North America instead.

According to Martin Jansson of hockeysverige.se, Alfons Freij is set to play under the Jets organization this upcoming season, following this year’s development camp. The 20-year-old defenseman ended his 2025-26 season with Timrå IK on loan; he scored 11 points in 42 SHL games. Freij added seven assists in seven games at the 2026 IIHF World…

In late June, reports were claiming Columbus Blue Jackets right winger Kirill Marchenko didn't intend to sign a contract extension when eligible to do so next July.

Marchenko hadn't requested a trade, and Columbus GM Don Waddell insisted the 26-year-old scoring forward wouldn't be traded. Nevertheless, it was rumored the Montreal Canadiens were attempting to acquire him, with NHL insider Frank Seravalli claiming they were prepared to make a…

At least we are moving closer to hockey season.

There are 64 days until the Boston Bruins’ home opener and 51 days until training camp opens at Warrior Ice Arena.

As for the Bruins, it’s not breaking news that Michael DiPietro will assume the backup goalie role this fall. Don Sweeney pointed to him after the July 1 frenzy, just hours after freeing up the role. DiPietro has been with the organization since 2022 and has nothing more to prove in…

Mar 30, 2026; Elmont, New York, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins right wing Avery Hayes (85) celebrates his goal against the New York Islanders with centers Ben Kindel (81) and Tommy Novak (18) and defensemen Connor Clifton (75) and Ryan Shea (5) during the third period at UBS Arena. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images There are conflicting reports now from more reputable sources that poured ice-cold water all over the exploding NHL trade chatter…

Jun 4, 2026; Raleigh, North Carolina, USA; Vegas Golden Knights right wing Keegan Kolesar (55) comes off the ice after the warmups before the game against the Carolina Hurricanes in game two of the 2026 Stanley Cup Final at Lenovo Center. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-Imagn Images It was a mixed bag for Team USA yesterday as the 47-person roster under coach Adam Nightingale was split in two to face off against Team Finland and Team Sweden in…

Earlier this week we took a look at those in the Western Conference who have currently captain vacancies, helping make up the 10 total NHL teams in that position, which is thought to be the most at one time in NHL history. Having covered Anaheim, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Jose, St. Louis, and Vancouver, now it’s time to do the same for their counterparts in the East; Boston, Columbus, New York (Islanders), and the Ottawa Senators.

When Alex Jefferies filed for salary arbitration earlier this month, it was a surprising move on the surface. After all, he was coming off back-to-back 29-point seasons in the AHL and has yet to make his NHL debut. These aren’t typically the types of players who file for arbitration.

However, his filing ultimately gave the Islanders a second buyout window. Now that Jefferies has agreed to a new contract, GM Mathieu Darche has a decision to make…

Last season was a rough one for Evgenii Dadonov in his first and only season in New Jersey. An unrestricted free agent once more this summer, it seems like interest in North America has been limited at best.

However, that’s not the case when it comes to his native Russia. Last month, Championat’s Maxim Makarov reported that Traktor Chelyabinsk of the KHL was showing interest in the veteran. Now, Sport-Express’ Artur Khairullin reports (Twitter…

More than three weeks into unrestricted free agency, there are still a handful of intriguing players left on the open market. Among the more interesting ones is winger Eeli Tolvanen.

Drafted by Nashville at the end of the first round in 2017, Tolvanen took a couple of years to really make his mark but established himself as a decent secondary scoring threat in the 2020-21 campaign when he had 22 points in 40 games as a 21-year-old. Unfortunately…

When the NHL’s 2026-27 season begins, most, if not all, players will have something to prove. Whether it’s rookies trying to make their mark or veterans still trying to win a Stanley Cup, there’s no shortage of NHLers who need to demonstrate their value.

However, some big-name players in particular have something more to prove. Most of whom are joining a new team, earning an elevated role, signing a new contract or working toward a new deal.

Nearly a month into the beginning of free agency, Adam Fantilli of the Columbus Blue Jackets remains one of the most prominent restricted free agents without a contract for the 2026-27 season. There’s no concern of Fantilli not having a contract for the 2026-27 campaign, but the Blue Jackets’ framework may have changed after Leo Carlsson and Connor Bedard, the two players drafted ahead of Fantilli in the 2023 NHL Draft, signed big-ticket…

The Boston Bruins’ crease will look a little different for the 2026-27 season, and that seems to be the only guaranteed part of the lineup as it’s currently constructed.

On July 1, the Bruins shipped out goaltender Joonas Korpisalo for a fourth-round pick and a minor-league forward. The move frees up the NHL backup role, and Don Sweeney pointed to Michael DiPietro as the primary reason why the trade happened.

“Yeah, primarily why,” the Bruins GM…

Frank Nazar is in the middle of talking about what it meant to have the trust of the Chicago Blackhawks’ coaching staff this season when he lets out a knowing chuckle.

The laugh comes as he’s explaining the importance of this particular off-season. “This summer is extremely important and going to be a good summer to fine-tune things and get better all around,” Nazar said. “The goal is then to come in next year and help the younger guys that are…

Only 10 active teams have never won a Stanley Cup, which might be fewer than you might have thought. But when you hear what the teams are and how recently most of them came into the league, it starts to make a lot more sense.

The Buffalo Sabres and Vancouver Canucks are two of the longest-active teams without a title, both of which joined the league in 1970-71. The Winnipeg Jets also haven't won a Stanley Cup in either of the city's two NHL…

Despite spending most of the 2025-26 season in the AHL, veteran defenseman Justin Holl has a strong chance of making the Capitals’ opening-night roster as long as he has a good training camp, writes Sammi Silber of The Hockey News. According to Silber, Holl will need to fend off challenges from younger players such as David Gucciardi and Ryan Chesley for a roster spot, as well as compete against veteran mainstay Dylan McIlrath.

The NHL’s coaching business is unforgiving, to say the least. Coaches face the firing line from the moment they’re hired, and not even a lengthy and lucrative contract extension prevents them from being pink-slipped if they can’t put their team on the right road.

In the midst of constant turnover, others thrive, driving growth and consistency within their respective teams. Those successful bench bosses are coming to the forefront…

NHL Draft, Pittsburgh Penguins; Photo by Dan Kingerski The Wheeling Nailers, the Pittsburgh Penguins trade rumors, and the patient Penguins fans who have surprisingly not taken up pitchforks in either direction this summer mark the winding-down offseason. Perhaps it was the playoff appearance that satiated the wild beast? Or maybe it was knowing that (trigger warning) Jack Johnson came off the Penguins payroll on June 30 and is now part of the…

Only 77 players in the history of the NHL have played at least 20 seasons in the league.

Four NHL players joined the club in 2026-27. That includes Evgeni Malkin, Kris Letang, Anze Kopitar, and Jordan Staal. Staal's 20th NHL season also resulted in him winning the Stanley Cup and Conn Smythe Trophy with the Carolina Hurricanes.

Now, at least three more players will play in their 20th NHL seasons in 2026-27. Here's who those three veterans are.

Despite some online chatter about the Columbus Blue Jackets being engaged with other teams on a potential trade of star winger Kirill Marchenko, there does not appear to be any imminent trade involving the Russian forward.

The Athletic’s Aaron Portzline has reported there is “nothing happening with [the Blue Jackets] on the Kirill Marchenko front.”

While Portzline did add the caveat that things can still change “later this summer,” he made sure to…

The Edmonton Oilers have one of the league’s more interesting goaltending situations to track entering the 2026-27 season, with three goalies who, in all likelihood, will occupy spots on the team’s NHL roster. The team acquired Tristan Jarry from the Pittsburgh Penguins in a trade last season, and he is under contract at a $5.375MM AAV for another two seasons.

Edmonton also acquired Stanley Cup champion Frederik Andersen on a one-year, $1MM deal…

We are in the depths of the NHL offseason, with just 65 days until the Boston Bruins host the New York Rangers on September 29.

It’s Sunday, and Boston Hockey Now’s prospect week has concluded. The Bruins have not made a move since early July, aside from some off-the-ice changes, so we dove into some prospects to keep an eye on, as well as the pipeline of goaltenders the Bruins have in their system.

In other league news, a potential trade is…

May 20, 2026; Denver, Colorado, USA; Vegas Golden Knights right wing Keegan Kolesar (55) passes during the third period against the Colorado Avalanche in game one of the Western Conference Final of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images Outgoing general manager Steve Yzerman is leaving Detroit Red Wings fans with a lovely parting gift beyond Moritz Seider, Lucas Raymond, Simon Edvinsson and…

The past week at Little Ceasar’s Arena has been quite busy, even if the NHL season still isn’t due to start for almost more than two months now. The World Junior Summer Showcase going on next week in Windsor, Ontario has Team USA temporarily using the Red Wings home as their training center, and for three of the members of the 47 man roster, it isn’t an entirely unfamiliar environment.

Red Wings prospects JP Hurlbert, Victor Plante, and Brent…

Jan 17, 2026; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Columbus Blue Jackets right wing Kirill Marchenko (86) takes a break away in front of Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby (87) for a goal during the second period at PPG Paints Arena. Mandatory Credit: Philip G. Pavely-Imagn Images We are reportedly on young-player trade watch.

It seems the Columbus Blue Jackets are about to trade Kirill Marchenko at any moment, and the Montreal Canadiens are in…

In his first official reappearance with the Chicago Blackhawks, Patrick Kane came to praise the Detroit Red Wings.

And he kinda buried them, too.

He started on the right track. Kane acknowledged what his three seasons wearing the legendary winged wheel had meant to him.

“It was truly an honor to be a Red Wing, and I enjoyed every minute of it,” Kane said in a post on his X feed. “To be part of such a storied franchise and to be welcomed with open…

What a difference a few months can make. The Pittsburgh Penguins entered the playoffs as perhaps the feel-good story of the season, defying many NHL projections that had them as a lottery team and instead making the playoffs to everyone’s surprise. A quick playoff exit tempered those good vibes, but the Penguins entered the summer feeling ready to add to their lineup and perhaps have one last ride with Sidney Crosby and company.

General manager…

There’s no question that the Detroit Red Wings are not having the offseason they hoped for. After climbing out of obscurity and inching toward postseason play in the Eastern Conference gauntlet, the Red Wings’ path back to competitiveness hit major roadblocks this summer.

Nearly a month before the beginning of free agency, Detroit’s captain, Dylan Larkin, requested a trade from the organization. As is typically the case with Steve Yzerman-run…

The Seattle Kraken entered this offseason as a team to watch, given their cap situation, holes in the lineup, and recent history of offseason transactions. But it’s been awfully quiet in the Pacific Northwest, and it appears the Kraken may be poised for another season of mediocrity. The team entered the offseason with several key items to address, and while they haven’t been completely void of activity, they haven’t really improved a lineup that…

The Ducks have signed their top pick from last month’s draft. The team announced that they’ve signed winger Nikita Klepov to a three-year, entry-level contract. Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed by the team but PuckPedia reports that it carries a $1.075MM cap hit, a $1.575MM AAV, and breaks down as follows.

Year NHL Salary Signing Bonus Perf. Bonus AHL Salary Year 1 (TBD) $922.5K $102.5K $500K $87.5K Year 2 (TBD) $967.5K…

The Vegas Golden Knights shocked the hockey world when they hired John Tortorella in late March of this past season. Tortorella nearly guided the Golden Knights to a Stanley Cup victory, but he couldn’t steer Vegas past the Carolina Hurricanes in the Cup final.

At the end of this season, the Knights announced Tortorella wouldn’t return as coach, as they went along with Ryan Craig to lead the team behind the bench for 2026-27.

On Friday, Tortorella…

When the Blackhawks acquired defenseman Bowen Byram from the Sabres before the draft, there was some sticker shock on two fronts. The first was the price paid to acquire him with a package including the fourth-overall pick. The second was the subsequent six-year, $75MM contract extension he signed earlier this month.

While a $12.5MM price tag for Byram’s services is certainly high, it could have been even higher. His agent, Darren Ferris, told…